Also Mostly Live from the NA 4th Sailing

[oaktreerb]

2 hours ago, Trentjr said:

Hello everyone and thanks zgscl for the fantastic updates. We are on the September 4 sailing, our first time on HAL and to Alaska. Very excited but my wife tends to get chilly. Does HAL offer a spare blanket in verandah staterooms, or will they provide one if asked?

Also, walking around the ship interior may be chilly.   I always try to have a wrap or sweater of some kind handy.

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

According to Fordor's Travel HAL's cruise style is a Premium cruise line. The author of this thread would like to have a better offering commensurate with price paid for the Neptune and Pinnacle Suites as well as the Pinnacle breakfast dining option . We don't think some fresh hash browns or home fries for a hundred people a day is unreasonable request .

 I guess I missed that if that was the case.  I think if it’s in the pinnacle restaurant for a Neptune suite guest that could be a reasonable request.  It’s not one I would care to make such a request but everyone has different preferences.  The poster I quoted is not the original poster (author) and is not on the ship so I’m confused why you are quoting me.  The poster I quoted made it sound like expectation was for the mdr not the pinnacle.

[aliaschief]

23 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Nothing wrong with the taste of them.  But, if I patronize my local diner for breakfast, why should I not expect freshly prepared hash browns?  If this small establishment can do so, then the Chefs in the Galley can produce such a product for my breakfast when I am dining in the MDR for breakfast.  Acceptable in the Lido Restaurant?  OK.  Given the nature of service in that venue:  yes, such would be acceptable.  

I cannot report on MDR but the breakfast in Pinnacle Grill had fresh hash brown potatoes last week. Not those Molded McDonalds style hash browns.

[Boytjie]

3 hours ago, Trentjr said:

Hello everyone and thanks zgscl for the fantastic updates. We are on the September 4 sailing, our first time on HAL and to Alaska. Very excited but my wife tends to get chilly. Does HAL offer a spare blanket in verandah staterooms, or will they provide one if asked?

We have two blankets in our cabin closet. 

[scubacruiserx2]

34 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

3 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

According to Fordor's Travel HAL's cruise style is a Premium cruise line. The author of this thread would like to have a better offering commensurate with price paid for the Neptune and Pinnacle Suites as well as the Pinnacle breakfast dining option . We don't think some fresh hash browns or home fries for a hundred people a day is unreasonable request .

 I guess I missed that if that was the case.  I think if it’s in the pinnacle restaurant for a Neptune suite guest that could be a reasonable request.  It’s not one I would care to make such a request but everyone has different preferences.  The poster I quoted is not the original poster (author) and is not on the ship so I’m confused why you are quoting me.  The poster I quoted made it sound like expectation was for the mdr not the pinnacle.

Expand  

 

Sorry if I misread but I agree with what was said an the hash browns were in the Pinnacle photo .

[Florida_gal_50]

20 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Sorry if I misread but I agree with what was said an the hash browns were in the Pinnacle photo .

It’s very possible she did.  I’m not interested in looking for it as it wasn’t  relevant to the post I quoted so I’m still confused.  I wasn’t replying to the original poster.  As much as I love potatoes I can’t imagine making that a special request.  I’d be wanting to have something that I can’t or won’t make at home.

[rkacruiser]

11 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Hal is a mainstream line.  Frankly, I’d rather them concentrate on them making nice lunches and dinners rather than peeling and chopping potatoes for freshly made hash browns.

 

6 hours ago, Overhead Fred said:

 

Hi Bob!

To each his own, but I would point out that this type of hash brown was very common in Full English breakfasts when I was traveling in England and Europe for work. Even in posh restaurants, I don't remember seeing other kinds (which may just be a reflection of my powers of recollection!)

 

3 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

We don't think some fresh hash browns or home fries for a hundred people a day is unreasonable request .

 

HAL has been a "mainstream" cruse line for quite some time.  Their advertising of a "bit more than such", i.e. Signature of Excellence, causes me to expect more than a McDonald's Hash Brown Potato Patty to be served to me at breakfast.  

 

Does anyone remember when Lyonnaise Potatoes were offered during breakfast?  Does the preparation of such require a bit more work from some one in the Galley?  Yes.  But, does not the offering of such an item aid in portraying the "image" of a "premium cruise line"?  

[Florida_gal_50]

2 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

 

 

HAL has been a "mainstream" cruse line for quite some time.  Their advertising of a "bit more than such", i.e. Signature of Excellence, causes me to expect more than a McDonald's Hash Brown Potato Patty to be served to me at breakfast.  

 

Does anyone remember when Lyonnaise Potatoes were offered during breakfast?  Does the preparation of such require a bit more work from some one in the Galley?  Yes.  But, does not the offering of such an item aid in portraying the "image" of a "premium cruise line"?  

Don’t believe the marketing hype 😏.  I have beautiful menu copies from around 10 or 15 years ago.  The day to day menus were a thing of beauty.  I know someone will say “cruising is so much more reasonable now”.  Nope.  It’s be a very long time since I’ve seen a good deal, probably at least 6 plus years.  Maybe it is you are getting the free casino deals.

[rkacruiser]

2 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Don’t believe the marketing hype 😏.  I have beautiful menu copies from around 10 or 15 years ago.  The day to day menus were a thing of beauty

 

As do I.  

3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 I know someone will say “cruising is so much more reasonable now”.  Nope.  It’s be a very long time since I’ve seen a good deal, probably at least 6 plus years.  Maybe it is you are getting the free casino deals.

 

The only "good deal" that I ever had from HAL was after I booked a veranda stateroom and was offered a reasonable upsell to a Signature Suite.  Took it.  48 hours before departure, I was offered another reasonable upsell to a Neptune Suite with a choice between two Suites,  I accept that as well.  

 

"Free casino deals"?   🤣   I  don't participate. 

[zgscl]

We are returning to Ketchikan with a medical emergency. No further details at this time. Hope the passengers are OK and that it is not Covid related 

 

Update we have stopped and USCG is sending a vessel to disembark the passenger 

Edited August 20, 2021 by zgscl

[BSR]

Hope they are ok. 

[canadianbear]

21 minutes ago, zgscl said:

We are returning to Ketchikan with a medical emergency. No further details at this time. Hope the passengers are OK and that it is not Covid related 

 

Update we have stopped and USCG is sending a vessel to disembark the passenger 

Sending positive thoughts for person involved.  

[ontheweb]

9 hours ago, zgscl said:

We are returning to Ketchikan with a medical emergency. No further details at this time. Hope the passengers are OK and that it is not Covid related 

 

Update we have stopped and USCG is sending a vessel to disembark the passenger 

🤞 that it is nothing serious, and that your cruise continues without any more drama.

[caribill]

Is HAL still putting chocolates on your bed each evening?

[Nodakboiler]

We got the chocolates each night but our friends in a sig suite didn’t- their steward told them they had to ask for them!

[rkacruiser]

7 minutes ago, Nodakboiler said:

We got the chocolates each night but our friends in a sig suite didn’t- their steward told them they had to ask for them!

 

 

🤣    Pre-Covid; during Covid, with only the Eurodam and the Nieuw Amsterdam in service, HAL remains consistent.  Inconsistency of a cruise experience on a HAL ship continues. 

 

Comforting to know by this guest?  No.  Disappointing to know?  Yes.  The downtime that they had to experience was a great time to re-calibrate and once again plan to return to a consistent cruise experience for all guest regardless of the ship, the stateroom booked, etc.  

 

The lack of a "bed time chocolate" for some guests is most certainly a "very tiny potatoes item", but, for me, it reflects a "lack of discipline concerning the product offered to the guest" by someone(s) in the chain of command to the Cabin Steward.  

[rkacruiser]

On 8/19/2021 at 6:47 PM, aliaschief said:

I cannot report on MDR but the breakfast in Pinnacle Grill had fresh hash brown potatoes last week. Not those Molded McDonalds style hash browns.

 

As it should be.  

[boze9999]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

As it should be.  

I love this updated report! A small item but obviously someone was paying attention!!

[Boytjie]

9 hours ago, caribill said:

Is HAL still putting chocolates on your bed each evening?

i just realized we only got chocolates the first night. Perhaps it was because we declined evening turndown service. The first night the beds had to be remade into a queen.  

[DaveOKC]

4 hours ago, Boytjie said:

i just realized we only got chocolates the first night. Perhaps it was because we declined evening turndown service. The first night the beds had to be remade into a queen.  

Almost certainly the reason!

 

[NavArch64]

Just a few minutes late arriving at Pier 91 this morning. Looks like all is well.

[syesmar]

@zgscl Thank you so much for all the excellent posts! Sounds like this cruise has been wonderful, really appreciate all your time to include us. Thankfully, I’m able to “like” posts consistently again on CC and replies don’t seem to disappear! 

Any word on how the person with the medical emergency is? I pray they will be okay.

Hope all goes smoothly with disembarkation. Thanks again, much appreciated!

Edited August 21, 2021 by syesmar

[12cruise2]

6 hours ago, Boytjie said:

i just realized we only got chocolates the first night. Perhaps it was because we declined evening turndown service. The first night the beds had to be remade into a queen.  

I think that is correct--if you decline turndown service, they don't put out chocolates.  However, that's been a policy for quite a few years we found.  We, too, decline evening turndown service; however, we always make friends with the stewards and one way or another they always have some for us; we like the dark chocolate, so they might give us four at a time since they alternate milk choc. with dark chocolate, at least pre-covid.  I think we usually see them right when we return to the cabin after early evening dining around 6:30-7:00 while they are turning down other cabins.  Can you tell we enjoy the sweet treat 🙂 

[RuthC]

28 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

we like the dark chocolate, so they might give us four at a time since they alternate milk choc. with dark chocolate, at least pre-covid.

You can request the kind of chocolate you want. I prefer milk chocolate, so ask for two of those when I meet them the first day. 
I always come home with a nice supply of milk chocolate HAL candies as a souvenir. 

[1ANGELCAT]

4 hours ago, RuthC said:

You can request the kind of chocolate you want. I prefer milk chocolate, so ask for two of those when I meet them the first day. 
I always come home with a nice supply of milk chocolate HAL candies as a souvenir. 

Also love the milk chocolate. Ruth C.  Please stay safe in the storm 🙏