Price of HAL Hotels

[dfish]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That is terrible that they didn't collect the bags.  That should have been known before so a person could make an informed decision.

They did collect them in the lobby and once we turned them over there, they were taken care of.  I agree that it was not a good move, but it was small in relation to everything else in life.  It was so unimpactful that I had forgotten about it until this thread came up.  

[dfish]

31 minutes ago, iancal said:

I do not see an issue with price.   People make a choice.  Buy the cruise line package or DYI.  

 

If the cruise lines can enhance their bottom lines by offering products that are are attractive to some at prices some  are willing to pay then I say good luck to them.   It is just good business.

Exactly.   There are times when I have booked the HAL hotel and times when I don't.  It all depends on what it is worth to me at that time.  

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 hours ago, atexsix said:

No worries, I didn't take it that way at all. 

 

I really want Lisa to chime in here because she stayed at the Sheraton twice during the Alaska season and would know for sure if it was the hotel or that particular cruise that something was different.

Hi, Yes still around but busy, Yes both in July and September staying at the Sheraton they did not pick up our luggage from the hotel room like it had previously been done with Holland America Pre cruise hotels. I was told on our first stay that the hotel was short staffed and would not be providing that perk for hotel guest this season. They stated once they were back to full staff they would again offer it.

 

Just my opinion  they will not. Most of the hotels and other business that are able to get rid of things they did in the past are not at all likely to go back to the way things were. If they can get away with less they will. Including not hiring more staff. (But blame it on not being able to get more people to apply for jobs) They are getting away with doing the bare minimum why should they offer the additional perk and pay people. 

[Florida_gal_50]

22 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Hi, Yes still around but busy, Yes both in July and September staying at the Sheraton they did not pick up our luggage from the hotel room like it had previously been done with Holland America Pre cruise hotels. I was told on our first stay that the hotel was short staffed and would not be providing that perk for hotel guest this season. They stated once they were back to full staff they would again offer it.

 

Just my opinion  they will not. Most of the hotels and other business that are able to get rid of things they did in the past are not at all likely to go back to the way things were. If they can get away with less they will. Including not hiring more staff. (But blame it on not being able to get more people to apply for jobs) They are getting away with doing the bare minimum why should they offer the additional perk and pay people. 

I agree that covid has gotten rid of things and companies will never bring things back if they feel they can get away with it.  Look at hal doing cabin service once a day but upping the grats.  I know you can request the 2 x but I’m guessing most won’t including myself.  I’m guessing that will mean less staff because hal isn’t going to pay  people to sit around.

[rkacruiser]

Interesting to learn of the different cruisers experiences with the airport to hotel transfers as part of a HAL hotel package.  Most of mine have been in a mini-bus type of vehicle.  Twice, once in Seattle and once in Vancouver, the HAL representative who met me escorted my luggage and me to a taxi just for me and whisked me off the the hotel.

 

As I have posted, my potentially worst experience with luggage transfer from the hotel to the ship was in 2008 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Hotel prior to the start of the world cruise.  Our instructions were to leave the luggage in the room and not in the hallway for a Bellman to pick-up.  As I sat in the hotel's lobby and watched cart after cart of luggage being brought for loading onto a truck, I didn't see mine.  I went to the hotel's front desk and asked for a key card to access my room in order to see if my luggage had been removed.  My request was granted.  Went to the room and the luggage was still there!  I returned to the Lobby and informed my travel agent's staff as well as the Front Desk personnel.  Apologizes from both entities with the Front Desk Manager saying "the Bellman will be dealt with" since my room had been checked off by him as having been cleared of the luggage.  Before I boarded the transfer bus to the Amsterdam, an agent with my TA informed me that my luggage had been collected and was on the truck.  

[syesmar]

On 10/16/2021 at 11:59 AM, cruisemom42 said:

…Once when I was on a cruise on Westerdam doing Egypt and the Holy Land, HAL offered an overnight tour in Israel -- the cost of which for me (as a solo) was more than I paid for the entire cruise!!!

Oh my🤦‍♀️ Do you remember which overnight tour it was?

[syesmar]

5 hours ago, zgscl said:

Interesting update to this, if you book under transfers which is the default it will charge double. If you go under City Stays & Pre-post overlands there are double occupancy rates which are more in line (roughly $50-70 per person for the second guest).

Thanks for sharing that info!

Edited October 17, 2021 by syesmar

[cruisemom42]

18 minutes ago, syesmar said:

Oh my🤦‍♀️ Do you remember which overnight tour it was?

 

Too many years and trips since then but it was a packed two-day tour that included many of the Christian sites, I am sure a similar one is still being offered. They wanted to charge me double or nearly double because of the hotel stay. In vain did I point out that the hotel stay was only one piece of the entire excursion....  

 

At any rate it all ended VERY well as I was able to locate a private guide whose interests matched mine exactly and had a much more fulfilling time. For less than the price of the big-bus tour HAL offered I had two full days of private touring -- one day with just myself and the guide and the second day with one other couple. 

 

Edited to add: Those on that overnight tour -- and there were quite a few buses -- were very late getting back to the ship; we had to hold departure for at least 90 minutes if not longer. And I heard after that they were very short on time in Jerusalem, which must've been the last stop.

 

Edited October 17, 2021 by cruisemom42

[Cruzin Terri]

17 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

For you, you are spending your money more “wisely”.  I would be a nervous wreck so that wouldn’t be wisely for me.  It depends on your risk tolerance.  I don’t know how someone can make a promise to get you back no matter what.  People love to talk.

Obviously you are not familiar with Abercrombie and Kent.  They are a world class organization not some fly-by-night company. They have a stellar reputation. If they say they will get you back to the ship, they will.

Terri

Edited October 18, 2021 by Cruzin Terri

[cruisemom42]

18 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

It’s all about comfort level.  It wouldn’t matter how much research I’d do, I would not feel comfortable on my own in a strange place.  I would never suggest to anyone that my comfort level should be the comfort level of everyone.  You do you, I’ll do me.

 

I wasn't trying to change anyone's mind with my earlier post who already has a firm conviction. But there may be people reading these threads who would like to try doing things on their own and are just looking for positive examples and/or feedback.

[iancal]

On 10/16/2021 at 7:10 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

This was the hotel that my TA provided for our included pre-world cruise booking with them.  Rooms were fine; food was OK; facilities were OK; service was OK with one major slip-up on the morning of the bellman taking our luggage from the room for transfer to the ship.  But, the location?  Once was enough for that property for me.  

We were there for two nights in an upgraded room.  Did not eat there but the bed was the most comfortable that we experienced in months of travel!

Edited October 18, 2021 by iancal

[Loreto]

On 10/17/2021 at 2:21 PM, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Hi, Yes still around but busy, Yes both in July and September staying at the Sheraton they did not pick up our luggage from the hotel room like it had previously been done with Holland America Pre cruise hotels. I was told on our first stay that the hotel was short staffed and would not be providing that perk for hotel guest this season. They stated once they were back to full staff they would again offer it.

 

Just my opinion  they will not. Most of the hotels and other business that are able to get rid of things they did in the past are not at all likely to go back to the way things were. If they can get away with less they will. Including not hiring more staff. (But blame it on not being able to get more people to apply for jobs) They are getting away with doing the bare minimum why should they offer the additional perk and pay people. 

Hi Lisa,

For our July 31 Alaska sailing with family I had at first booked the SEA Hilton hotel/Conference Center with a precruise package on my own.  We have always stayed there with HAL in the past.  The closer we got to sailing date, and the unknowns of boarding time, I cancelled and booked with HAL 2 rooms, just for peace of mind since we were given different boarding times for our son and family.  I hated to pay the price and get no Hilton Honor points, but it was worth the peace of mind to let HAL take care of everything...and they did.  They picked up our bags from our room like they always have and we saw them next on the ship.

 

I am surprised for the price HAL charged for the Sheraton that they didn't pick up your bags!  We have stayed there in the past with HAL; they put us on the Club Floor, which was an unexpected perk.

Karen

[LAFFNVEGAS]

39 minutes ago, Loreto said:

Hi Lisa,

For our July 31 Alaska sailing with family I had at first booked the SEA Hilton hotel/Conference Center with a precruise package on my own.  We have always stayed there with HAL in the past.  The closer we got to sailing date, and the unknowns of boarding time, I cancelled and booked with HAL 2 rooms, just for peace of mind since we were given different boarding times for our son and family.  I hated to pay the price and get no Hilton Honor points, but it was worth the peace of mind to let HAL take care of everything...and they did.  They picked up our bags from our room like they always have and we saw them next on the ship.

 

I am surprised for the price HAL charged for the Sheraton that they didn't pick up your bags!  We have stayed there in the past with HAL; they put us on the Club Floor, which was an unexpected perk.

Karen

Karen, I totally agree but somewhat understood when we sailed July 24th the very first cruise but when we sailed September 4th and I asked ad check in and got the same answer as July I figured they just decided to be cheap.

[zgscl]

1 hour ago, Loreto said:

Hi Lisa,

For our July 31 Alaska sailing with family I had at first booked the SEA Hilton hotel/Conference Center with a precruise package on my own.  We have always stayed there with HAL in the past.  The closer we got to sailing date, and the unknowns of boarding time, I cancelled and booked with HAL 2 rooms, just for peace of mind since we were given different boarding times for our son and family.  I hated to pay the price and get no Hilton Honor points, but it was worth the peace of mind to let HAL take care of everything...and they did.  They picked up our bags from our room like they always have and we saw them next on the ship.

 

I am surprised for the price HAL charged for the Sheraton that they didn't pick up your bags!  We have stayed there in the past with HAL; they put us on the Club Floor, which was an unexpected perk.

Karen

 

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Karen, I totally agree but somewhat understood when we sailed July 24th the very first cruise but when we sailed September 4th and I asked ad check in and got the same answer as July I figured they just decided to be cheap.

 

 

The other thought I have is that the hotel may have said they cannot accommodate baggage handling this season due to staffing limitations. Hotels are still running very lean and are struggling to hire, or it may not make sense for them to bring in someone to move the bags vs whatever they charge HAL for the service. At the end of the day I guess it doesn't really matter - it is a downgrade for the traveler. Hopefully this comes back sooner rather than later. I will certainly report my experience from San Diego next month. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

This often seems to be the case with pre-cruise hotels. There is value in booking through them though, because they include transfers from the airport and then transfers to the port; plus there is usually a representative at the hotel for questions if you have any. Some people prefer to be escorted semi along the way, and that serves as some extra value. If that doesn’t matter to you, you can definitely save a lot of money booking independently.

[atexsix]

On 10/17/2021 at 3:01 PM, rkacruiser said:

Interesting to learn of the different cruisers experiences with the airport to hotel transfers as part of a HAL hotel package.  Most of mine have been in a mini-bus type of vehicle.  Twice, once in Seattle and once in Vancouver, the HAL representative who met me escorted my luggage and me to a taxi just for me and whisked me off the the hotel.

 

As I have posted, my potentially worst experience with luggage transfer from the hotel to the ship was in 2008 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Hotel prior to the start of the world cruise.  Our instructions were to leave the luggage in the room and not in the hallway for a Bellman to pick-up.  As I sat in the hotel's lobby and watched cart after cart of luggage being brought for loading onto a truck, I didn't see mine.  I went to the hotel's front desk and asked for a key card to access my room in order to see if my luggage had been removed.  My request was granted.  Went to the room and the luggage was still there!  I returned to the Lobby and informed my travel agent's staff as well as the Front Desk personnel.  Apologizes from both entities with the Front Desk Manager saying "the Bellman will be dealt with" since my room had been checked off by him as having been cleared of the luggage.  Before I boarded the transfer bus to the Amsterdam, an agent with my TA informed me that my luggage had been collected and was on the truck.  

This is exactly the sort of thing that would worry me, so it's just as well that we handled our own, now we know to pack less the next time we stay at a HAL hotel since we really have no way of knowing ahead of time what procedure they will be following.

[atexsix]

15 hours ago, Loreto said:

Hi Lisa,

For our July 31 Alaska sailing with family I had at first booked the SEA Hilton hotel/Conference Center with a precruise package on my own.  We have always stayed there with HAL in the past.  The closer we got to sailing date, and the unknowns of boarding time, I cancelled and booked with HAL 2 rooms, just for peace of mind since we were given different boarding times for our son and family.  I hated to pay the price and get no Hilton Honor points, but it was worth the peace of mind to let HAL take care of everything...and they did.  They picked up our bags from our room like they always have and we saw them next on the ship.

 

I am surprised for the price HAL charged for the Sheraton that they didn't pick up your bags!  We have stayed there in the past with HAL; they put us on the Club Floor, which was an unexpected perk.

Karen

There were no perks for us whatsoever, other than getting to meet cruise critic people ahead of time.  

 

I'm inclined to think they were short-handed since we couldn't find a bell person anywhere.  Nor did the front desk ask if we needed assistance.  But Lisa has a good point too, maybe they are just being cheap, I had a couple of stays at the Hyatt Regency at the height of the lockdowns and there were plenty of bell people.  And before anybody pipes in with fewer people were traveling at that time, you wouldn't of known it, the place was packed with locals taking weekend staycations.

[RGEDad]

On reading these - I go back to our 2019 Cruise to the South Pacific, specifically the stop in Bora Bora. DW wanted that once in a lifetime experience of a night in an Overnight Bungalow.

I looked at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa that HAL was offering.  Hal wanted $2,600 for the two of us.

I then went direct to the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa and got the room for $633 (which included the 30% off for very early booking) - but did not include the City tax, nor did it include the taxi/Water taxi fare of like $20 each (one way-only required-return provided) - so like another $100.

The resort also helped with specific directions/address to give the taxi driver to get to the water taxi service. The water taxi was nestled in amongst houses on a rural coastline road - only indication was a small parking lot on the opposite side of the road and a very small sign. Return ferry was direct to the port (along with all the HAL returning guests).

 

It was a truly unique experience, and one I would highly recommend (especially before it gets washed away in the rising sea level). 

 

It also reinforced for me the need to check for alternative approaches to desired adventures. 

[idiebabe]

1 hour ago, atexsix said:

I'm inclined to think they were short-handed since we couldn't find a bell person anywhere.  Nor did the front desk ask if we needed assistance.  But Lisa has a good point too, maybe they are just being cheap, I had a couple of stays at the Hyatt Regency at the height of the lockdowns and there were plenty of bell people.  And before anybody pipes in with fewer people were traveling at that time, you wouldn't of known it, the place was packed with locals taking weekend staycations.

I'm going with short-Staffed like the rest of the Service Industry since you didn't see any Bell Persons around.  We went to Cheesecake Factory in Seattle and they were on a "False Wait".  We lucked out and grabbed an empty High Top in the Bar Area and avoided having to wait for a Table.  More than half the tables were empty and the wait when we arrived was 25 - 30 minutes to be sat.  By the time we left I heard them tell someone they were on a one hour wait.  Our Server told us three Cooks short in kitchen and had only half the "normal" amount of Servers they would have had Pre-Covid.  She said "No one wants to work anymore".      

[atexsix]

2 hours ago, idiebabe said:

I'm going with short-Staffed like the rest of the Service Industry since you didn't see any Bell Persons around.  We went to Cheesecake Factory in Seattle and they were on a "False Wait".  We lucked out and grabbed an empty High Top in the Bar Area and avoided having to wait for a Table.  More than half the tables were empty and the wait when we arrived was 25 - 30 minutes to be sat.  By the time we left I heard them tell someone they were on a one hour wait.  Our Server told us three Cooks short in kitchen and had only half the "normal" amount of Servers they would have had Pre-Covid.  She said "No one wants to work anymore".      

The kitchen situation was evident for us as well.  We went there the night we were at the Sheraton and the chicken was undercooked and had to be sent back, the slice of cheesecake we split was a sliver that they charged ten bucks for.  We won't be back. 

 

I know there's a labor shortage, among other issues, but what are business' doing to compensate their customers in exchange for more patience, flexibility, etc.?  Seems to me most of them have the attitude of "just deal with it".  How about a 10% discount in exchange for the extra wait?  Sheraton offered nothing for not offering bell services but I don't expect much from a convention hotel anyway, the main reason I avoid them like the plague but made an exception this time around.  This was my 2nd stay at this Sheraton and both were equally lackluster.

 

I agree with Lisa, generally once a business finds a way to go without, they'll stick with it, until customer service is reduced to the lowest common denominator.  There are examples of that all over HAL ships with the biggest one lately being the elimination of printed account statements and thus, the elimination of people having to show up at the account services desk, I think this was the first cruise in my life when I didn't have any interaction whatsoever with a member of the account services department, born out of the many covid social distancing protocols that is undoubtedly here to stay.  There were still three people staffed at the desk, I bet the next HAL cruise it'll be two, then one....then nothing but self service kiosks all over the place...press 1 for an issue with your billing, press 2 for an overcharge, press 3 for a complaint.  

[rkacruiser]

6 hours ago, atexsix said:

I'm inclined to think they were short-handed since we couldn't find a bell person anywhere

 

A Sheraton Hotel is in the same category of a Marriott Hotel since the two companies have joined.  I have no experience thus far at a Sheraton since this has occurred, but have had several stays at a Marriott.  Both are considered "full service hotels".  Bellmen have been scarce each time.  On check in at the San Francisco Marriott,  there were none.  OK, my Singapore Airline flight provided a late evening arrival at SFO.  So, why would I not expect a "full service hotel" to provide a Bellman to assist me with my luggage at that time of the evening when I arrived at the hotel?  The Manager on Duty became "the Bellman of the moment" when I made it very clear I needed/wanted help with my luggage.  

 

Covid is just another excuse for more cost cutting that the hospitality industry has been doing for some time.  

4 hours ago, idiebabe said:

We went to Cheesecake Factory in Seattle and they were on a "False Wait".

 

[Mary229]

5 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

A Sheraton Hotel is in the same category of a Marriott Hotel since the two companies have joined.  I have no experience thus far at a Sheraton since this has occurred, but have had several stays at a Marriott.  Both are considered "full service hotels".  Bellmen have been scarce each time.  On check in at the San Francisco Marriott,  there were none.  OK, my Singapore Airline flight provided a late evening arrival at SFO.  So, why would I not expect a "full service hotel" to provide a Bellman to assist me with my luggage at that time of the evening when I arrived at the hotel?  The Manager on Duty became "the Bellman of the moment" when I made it very clear I needed/wanted help with my luggage.  

 

Covid is just another excuse for more cost cutting that the hospitality industry has been doing for some time.  

 

I agree.  I stay at Marriott often and except in the most posh part of town I would not expect a bellman.  Those days are long gone in most hotels. 

[rkacruiser]

4 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I agree.  I stay at Marriott often and except in the most posh part of town I would not expect a bellman.  Those days are long gone in most hotels. 

 

Maybe the hotel chains need to change their definition of a "full service hotel"? 

 

And, then clearly state that definition to the specific brands that still offer the services of what we expect.  

 

Why would I expect a different guest experience at the Fort Lauderdale North Marriott Hotel than the Marriott Harbor Beach Marriott?  Both are "Marriotts".  One is a resort; one is not.  Yet. they are in the same "full hotel service category" of Marriott.  Both are excellent properties.  But, such like many HAL cruise experiences, the inconsistencies of experiences are so disappointing.  

[idiebabe]

3 hours ago, atexsix said:

 

I know there's a labor shortage, among other issues, but what are business' doing to compensate their customers in exchange for more patience, flexibility, etc.?  Seems to me most of them have the attitude of "just deal with it".  How about a 10% discount in exchange for the extra wait? 

 

I agree with Lisa, generally once a business finds a way to go without, they'll stick with it, until customer service is reduced to the lowest common denominator.  There are examples of that all over HAL ships with the biggest one lately being the elimination of printed account statements and thus, the elimination of people having to show up at the account services desk, I think this was the first cruise in my life when I didn't have any interaction whatsoever with a member of the account services department, born out of the many covid social distancing protocols that is undoubtedly here to stay.  There were still three people staffed at the desk, I bet the next HAL cruise it'll be two, then one....then nothing but self service kiosks all over the place...press 1 for an issue with your billing, press 2 for an overcharge, press 3 for a complaint.  

You want a Business to give you a 10% Discount to have some patience and understanding during a National Employment Shortage?  Probably best to stay home so you won’t have to deal with it!  
 

Did you ask Guest Services either by phone or in person for a printout of your Account?  Did they refuse to give you one?  

[atexsix]

13 hours ago, idiebabe said:

You want a Business to give you a 10% Discount to have some patience and understanding during a National Employment Shortage?  Probably best to stay home so you won’t have to deal with it!  
 

Did you ask Guest Services either by phone or in person for a printout of your Account?  Did they refuse to give you one?  

Why not?  That's standard when you are having to send food back to the kitchen.  

 

As to guest services, you took it out of context, I wasn't speaking about my own personal experience, did you read the rest of the thread?