Disappearance of the medallion-presentation reception

[Florida_gal_50]

@Hlitnerlets be honest here, it’s “not a few dollars” for club orange.  I’m a 5 star who buys club orange and I don’t care who buys it.  I don’t want to hear if I did “exotic” cruises it would make a difference for tendering.  That’s such a lame comment because first club orange offers very little advantage on non pinnacle ships and “exotic” cruises are just going to attract higher level Mariners.  People should be more concerned with all the free cruises hal offers to every Tom, dick and Harry.  

[Hlitner]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

@Hlitnerlets be honest here, it’s “not a few dollars” for club orange.  I’m a 5 star who buys club orange and I don’t care who buys it.  I don’t want to hear if I did “exotic” cruises it would make a difference for tendering.  That’s such a lame comment because first club orange offers very little advantage on non pinnacle ships and “exotic” cruises are just going to attract higher level Mariners.  People should be more concerned with all the free cruises hal offers to every Tom, dick and Harry.  

We hear you regarding your last statement.  We think HAL has become a budget cruise line that is more interested in attracting folks who like to lose money in the casino than loyal patrons who enjoy HAL.  We have an upcoming 42 day Asian cruise and that will likely be our last HAL cruise unless the company makes some positive changes.  It is not that we now hate HAL (which would not be true) but rather that we cruise on several other lines that offer a far better overall value (and experience) then we can get on HAL.   Nearly 50 years of cruise experience has taught me that the industry and cruise lines are always changing, and we certainly hope that future HAL changes will be more to our taste.  But for now, there are too many other options that we find more attractive.

 

Hank

[whogo]

I attended the mariners' event in the Crow's Nest on the Zaandam. Someone introduced the hotel department heads, the captain was not there. The couple with the most days was mentioned. Fizzy wine was offered, I did not see any medallions distributed. The future cruise consultant spoke for a long time, although no one listened to her sales pitch, our conversations drowned her out.

[Florida_gal_50]

18 minutes ago, whogo said:

I attended the mariners' event in the Crow's Nest on the Zaandam. Someone introduced the hotel department heads, the captain was not there. The couple with the most days was mentioned. Fizzy wine was offered, I did not see any medallions distributed. The future cruise consultant spoke for a long time, although no one listened to her sales pitch, our conversations drowned her out.

Was that the one they hold on the first day or a later one?

Edited September 29, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[whogo]

First day, Florida_gal_50.

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, whogo said:

First day, Florida_gal_50.

Thank you.  I think the op is referring to the awards ceremony near the end of the cruise.  Those seem to be less jammed with people. 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Was that the one they hold on the first day or a later one?

 

That was the one on a later day.  The one on the first day is usually for 3*, 4* and 5* mariners, and there is no presentation.  The one at the end of the cruise is the one the OP is talking about.

 

2 hours ago, AV8rix said:

OK, I guess the change is a social-distancing type of thing.  And I suppose it is because there are officers present.  The "welcome back" thing that they always have on embarkation day surprised me post-covid because at a couple of them they also admitted the 3*s, which certainly made it more crowded than if they just had the 4*s and 5*s.  But, on reflection, there are usually no officers at that one.  So I think that all of you that commented recently are correct.  It does make sense.

 

And hi to my Daily-ite "sisters", @dfish and @Quartzsite Cruiser .  Debbie, your new house is GORGEOUS.  Congratulations!!  And Lenda, good luck to Steve.  Hope these procedures nullify the possibility of NPH.  <--I don't like to add to the heavy message load on the daily so I'll say all that here 🙂.

 

Thank you.  We're hoping thisn solves all the problems.  You're always welcome on the Daily.

 

1 hour ago, dfish said:

I don't know where mine is either.  I might find it while I'm packing up to move.  Then again, I might not.

 

 

We always wore the newly awarded medals to the lunch, put them in their boxes in the cabin and then in a drawer in my dresser when we got home.  Some people used to bring their latest medal to wear at the reception.  The worst was one couple who wore all four of their medals at once.  They clanked when they walked.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Horizon chaser 1957]

10 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

While it was nice to receive, it was far from special. The only one to wear it will be our Christmas tree.

We also use ours as Christmas tree ornaments. They’re shiny, sentimental, just the right size, and pack away flat without breaking.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Horizon chaser 1957

[BetsyS.]

10 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

On Zuiderdam at the end of March, DH answered a knock on our door from our steward, and was handed a box with my medallion with the words “This is for Miss Tiogacruiser”. 
 

While it was nice to receive, it was far from special. The only one to wear it will be our Christmas tree.

Thank you for the great idea! I will put mine on our Christmas tree! 😊

[Florida_gal_50]

43 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

That was the one on a later day.  The one on the first day is usually for 3*, 4* and 5* mariners, and there is no presentation.  The one at the end of the cruise is the one the OP is talking about.

 

 

Thank you.  We're hoping thisn solves all the problems.  You're always welcome on the Daily.

 

 

We always wore the newly awarded medals to the lunch, put them in their boxes in the cabin and then in a drawer in my dresser when we got home.  Some people used to bring their latest medal to wear at the reception.  The worst was one couple who wore all four of their medals at once.  They clanked when they walked.

Thanks, no I understood yours was the later one from the way you described it.  I was wondering about the poster I quoted because theirs sounded like the first day one.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Thanks, no I understood yours was the later one from the way you described it.  I was wondering about the poster I quoted because theirs sounded like the first day one.

 

We met the OP an anoth3r couple at the first one in March.  The other couple was at the second one, but I don't remember seeing the OP there.  There was never a good way to figure out the criteria for being invited.  I think it depended on how many President's Club members were on the cruise. The number attending seem fairly consistent.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Florida_gal_50]

6 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

We met the OP an anoth3r couple at the first one in March.  The other couple was at the second one, but I don't remember seeing the OP there.  There was never a good way to figure out the criteria for being invited.  I think it depended on how many President's Club members were on the cruise. The number attending seem fairly consistent.

On wcb’s thread on the zuiderdam it sounds like there was a tiny amount of people invited on theirs something like 9 or 10 but that seems very low.  I hope I didn’t misunderstand that.  It will be interesting to see how this evolves.

[Sir PMP]

Seattle doesn't give a hoot anymore about medals, they are only after 7 day yahoo cruisers, sounds familiar?

[cruisinteach2]

On 9/29/2022 at 7:33 AM, TiogaCruiser said:

While it was nice to receive, it was far from special. The only one to wear it will be our Christmas tree.

Thanks for the great idea! Our medallions will be pulled out of drawer and hung on tree to remind us of wonderful cruising adventures!

[AV8rix]

13 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

We met the OP an anoth3r couple at the first one in March.  The other couple was at the second one, but I don't remember seeing the OP there.  There was never a good way to figure out the criteria for being invited.  I think it depended on how many President's Club members were on the cruise. The number attending seem fairly consistent.

I wasn't going to participate in this thread any more, as I am content with the logical comments offered by many of the participants.

 

However, as my last post I will remark that the reason that you didn't see me at "the second one" was that I'm just a 4*.  Pre-covid we were ALWAYS invited to the medallion reception but not now.  I resented that but now believe that I understand why. 

 

And, apropos of the observations which I highlighted in Lenda's @Quartzsite Cruiser post, I'll refer you to my original post:  This issue was being discussed on one of my roll-call threads.  The subject actually originated with a comment by a poster who was disgruntled because she was not invited to the medallion reception.  That poster is a 5*!!!

 

And here's my last comment directed to some of you who were disparaging those who choose to wear their medallions to the reception:  Many, many years ago during a discussion on this HAL board about wearing the medallions, a member whose name I have forgotten posted this very clever comment:  "I wear mine because it's the most expensive piece of jewelry that I own".  How true that is.

 

OK, I'm outta here.  Thanks to all for some very valuable comments.

Edited September 30, 2022 by AV8rix

[LocoLoco1]

I think we ALL know what this is about: CUTBACKS. A musician here, a free cocktail there. Smaller cashews, smaller steaks… No pool party events staff, no librarian, no Cap’t dinner with 5-stars.  Not the HAL of yore. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Rotterdam is having it tomorrow in BBking. 

[LocoLoco1]

4 minutes ago, Gail &amp; Marty sailing away said:

Rotterdam is having it tomorrow in BBking. 

That sez it all…. ‘In the BBKing Room…’

[TiogaCruiser]

3 hours ago, AV8rix said:

And here's my last comment directed to some of you who were disparaging those who choose to wear their medallions to the reception:  Many, many years ago during a discussion on this HAL board about wearing the medallions, a member whose name I have forgotten posted this very clever comment:  "I wear mine because it's the most expensive piece of jewelry that I own".  How true that is.

 

OK, I'm outta here.  Thanks to all for some very valuable comments.

I remember some of those threads and I recognize and respect/admire that person. I find her to be a wise lady in many ways.😉

[JeffElizabeth]

On 9/29/2022 at 9:27 AM, leafsnation said:

They are carnivalizing HAL . All about saving a buck.

No mariners lunch, no ginger or mints outside MDR, no orchids on lido tables, no wine stewards waiter takes drink orders in MDR, no more variety shows guest entertainers, drink package now includes non alcholic beverages like water in your 15 a day max!

Bob

Princess had eliminated their wine stewards on the Emerald Princess on our September Ireland cruise. Was a little shocked. 

[JeffElizabeth]

5 hours ago, LocoLoco1 said:

I think we ALL know what this is about: CUTBACKS. A musician here, a free cocktail there. Smaller cashews, smaller steaks… No pool party events staff, no librarian, no Cap’t dinner with 5-stars.  Not the HAL of yore. 

Carnival just too a hit in the Stock Market today. Lower than expected earnings, stock was down to $8. 

[Mary229]

Ok, ok, I want to know how many of you ever thought it was a medal that was meant to wear.  I do hobble gobbles and other charity walks and get a lot of medals but I never thought of them as a wearable accessory.  It never even occurred to me that there was an expectation that a person would wear it.   No, we did not wear our medal at the reception. 

[prescottbob]

Medal(s) weight(s) should always be considered on luggage weight limits for domestic flights.

Enough said.

 

Be well.

 

Bob

Edited September 30, 2022 by prescottbob
Spelling

[Florida_gal_50]

22 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Ok, ok, I want to know how many of you ever thought it was a medal that was meant to wear.  I do hobble gobbles and other charity walks and get a lot of medals but I never thought of them as a wearable accessory.  It never even occurred to me that there was an expectation that a person would wear it.   No, we did not wear our medal at the reception. 

A lot of people seem to like to do just that.  Mine haven’t seen the light of day since I got mine.  I would never bring it with me because it means nothing to me personally.

[ger_77]

8 hours ago, AV8rix said:

 

And here's my last comment directed to some of you who were disparaging those who choose to wear their medallions to the reception:  Many, many years ago during a discussion on this HAL board about wearing the medallions, a member whose name I have forgotten posted this very clever comment:  "I wear mine because it's the most expensive piece of jewelry that I own".  How true that is.

 

That was me.  I’m now feeling that we will be leaving the medallions with the pins on the ribbons at home so we aren’t made fun of.  
 

Gerry