HAL continuing to downgrade its product

[Guest ldtr]

Just now, ontheweb said:

Actually, their masterpiece ended up being fed to the deer population near her school. I don't think HAL or any other cruise line is into feeding animals. (Please no Carnival jokes here. 🤣)

🤣

Were the deer smarter after eating einstein?

[ontheweb]

1 minute ago, ldtr said:

Were the deer smarter after eating einstein?

I really cannot answer that question as I do not believe they had to take all the standardized tests that the students now have to take.

[Mary229]

33 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Actually, their masterpiece ended up being fed to the deer population near her school. I don't think HAL or any other cruise line is into feeding animals. (Please no Carnival jokes here. 🤣)

🤣

I don’t know, I think I see a possibility for Voluntourism.  

[BermudaBound2014]

8 hours ago, ldtr said:

From the data I have seen 10 years ago hal was close to 65, Princess and celebrity was in the 60 to 62 range.

 

now hal is 60 to 62

princess 62 to 65

celebrity in the 55 to 57 range.

 

 

 

Source for this “now” data set? Or is this just personal observation?

[Blackduck59]

3 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’m not offended by it at all.   Let me guess,  you are in the this is amazing column.  I just think there should be something more interesting on the front page.  I was on what hal billed as a culinary cruise. Anything to do with that would have been 1000 x better.  There wasn’t a peep about the culinary aspect.

 

Ho I'm rather neutral on the subject, I do however find it interesting that so many people seem to be up in arms over it. I may have a look who knows. Although I would definitely choose the colouring over the casino or say an unfortunate musical performance.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Ho I'm rather neutral on the subject, I do however find it interesting that so many people seem to be up in arms over it. I may have a look who knows. Although I would definitely choose the colouring over the casino or say an unfortunate musical performance.

No one is up in arms about it, unless you are speaking for yourself.  In that case I would agree with that.  Just because people express their feelings that doesn’t equal being up in arms.

[kevingastreich]

10 hours ago, Destiny0315 said:

If they are looking to increase activities on sea days how about a friendly game of bumper scooters 

That's the buffet line but not so friendly.

[cruisemom42]

4 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I just think there should be something more interesting on the front page.  I was on what hal billed as a culinary cruise. Anything to do with that would have been 1000 x better.  There wasn’t a peep about the culinary aspect.

 

Exactly. 

 

Perhaps the other poster could think of it this way:  Imagine you're trying to sell HAL to someone who's thinking about booking a first cruise on the line. I know what kind of a look I'd get from my son's generation or from colleagues at work if I mentioned adult coloring as one of the "featured" daily activities....

 

Or this scenario:  You come home all enthusiastic about your recent HAL cruise. Someone says to you, what made it so great?  Are you going to answer (is anyone going to answer):  "Beyond a doubt, it was the adult coloring!"

 

It just seems like such a low bar. To feature it is.....meh, I won't go on to belabor the point. 

 

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Exactly. 

 

Perhaps the other poster could think of it this way:  Imagine you're trying to sell HAL to someone who's thinking about booking a first cruise on the line. I know what kind of a look I'd get from my son's generation or from colleagues at work if I mentioned adult coloring as one of the "featured" daily activities....

 

Or this scenario:  You come home all enthusiastic about your recent HAL cruise. Someone says to you, what made it so great?  Are you going to answer (is anyone going to answer):  "Beyond a doubt, it was the adult coloring!"

 

It just seems like such a low bar. To feature it is.....meh, I won't go on to belabor the point. 

 

You’ve captured my feelings exactly.  
 

There was a time when I would come home from a cruise and I ached to be on a ship again.  Now I’m just happy to be home.  I’m off at Christmas for 9 days and if someone said c’mon let’s go on a cruise while you’re off I wouldn’t bite.  I would love to be out of the cold but I’m just looking forward to getting organized and ready to take on a new year.

[kevingastreich]

8 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

It just seems like such a low bar. To feature it is.....meh, I won't go on to belabor the point. 

 

I remember one sea day where the highlight activity was (and I actually DID this) was weaving yarn into "luggage identifiers".  The poor activities person was the most bored out of us all!

[cruisemom42]

5 hours ago, ldtr said:

it is a style, not just a name. It is a form of traditional tuscan style where the veggies are chunk not puree. Emile has had it prepared in  his resturaunts in  as a example, in the past. Have seen it called rustic in others in some places, more commonly called traditional, however traditional can mean different things in different places.   You seem to focus on the term rustic. Have you actually tried it to see what style it actually is or just ridiculing the name? 

 

Not focusing on the "rustic" per se other than to suggest that lasagna is itself a "rustic" dish -- no need to drive the point home.

 

To be serious -- I have done a fair number of Italian cookery classes and am aware that there are dozens of regional variations of lasagna in Italy (not to mention in Italian-American cuisine). I am not sure any of them are called "rustic" other than as a self-applied adjective.  It's like the "Olive Gardenization" of Italian dishes -- just create a new name and voila, you have a new pasta dish. I did not do an exhaustive search, but having looked at several culinary websites, including Escoffier, for information about what defines lasagna, I did not see any "rustic" version mentioned...

 

The real point I was trying to make is that, IMHO, lasagna, rustic or otherwise, is not an entree I expect to see in the MDR. The same goes for meatloaf.  These are not classic, fine-dining dishes. These are comfort foods one can easily make at home -- and they are inexpensive. 

 

Do either of them match up with the image and description on HAL's own website of the "main dining room" experience:

 

[Wakepatrol]

4 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

I 

 

The real point I was trying to make is that, IMHO, lasagna, rustic or otherwise, is not an entree I expect to see in the MDR. The same goes for meatloaf.  These are not classic, fine-dining dishes. These are comfort foods one can easily make at home -- and they are not expensive 

 

 

perfect dishes for the shorts and T- shirt gang

[Guest ldtr]

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Not focusing on the "rustic" per se other than to suggest that lasagna is itself a "rustic" dish -- no need to drive the point home.

 

To be serious -- I have done a fair number of Italian cookery classes and am aware that there are dozens of regional variations of lasagna in Italy (not to mention in Italian-American cuisine). I am not sure any of them are called "rustic" other than as a self-applied adjective.  It's like the "Olive Gardenization" of Italian dishes -- just create a new name and voila, you have a new pasta dish. I did not do an exhaustive search, but having looked at several culinary websites, including Escoffier, for information about what defines lasagna, I did not see any "rustic" version mentioned...

 

The real point I was trying to make is that, IMHO, lasagna, rustic or otherwise, is not an entree I expect to see in the MDR. The same goes for meatloaf.  These are not classic, fine-dining dishes. These are comfort foods one can easily make at home -- and they are inexpensive. 

 

Do either of them match up with the image and description on HAL's own website of the "main dining room" experience:

 

Most of the cruise lines have pasta dishes in the MDR including some that are always available such as fettuccine alfredo on Princess so why would it be different with a lasagna. Have seen similar dishes commonly available on Oceania which is considered to be even more of a higher end foodie line.

 

I have seen lasagna on the menu of several restaurants with michelin stars yet according to you does not fit with fine dining on HAL.

Edited December 12, 2022 by ldtr

[cruisemom42]

18 minutes ago, ldtr said:

I have seen lasagna on the menu of several restaurants with michelin stars yet according to you does not fit with fine dining on HAL.

 

I think you know and I know that if lasagna appears on the menu of a Michelin starred restaurant (and I'd be happy to see actual proof, having looked at a few menus for Italian M-starred places), it would be some very elevated version with a duck ragout or a truffled bechamel, and certainly with handmade, thin, egg pasta noodles.

 

Not whatever "rustic lasagna" is. 

 

At any rate, I've made my position clear so will bow out of this discussion. I'm sure it's already become tedious to others.

[Guest ldtr]

29 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I think you know and I know that if lasagna appears on the menu of a Michelin starred restaurant (and I'd be happy to see actual proof, having looked at a few menus for Italian M-starred places), it would be some very elevated version with a duck ragout or a truffled bechamel, and certainly with handmade, thin, egg pasta noodles.

 

Not whatever "rustic lasagna" is. 

 

At any rate, I've made my position clear so will bow out of this discussion. I'm sure it's already become tedious to others.

Try the pin wheel lasagna at Don Angie in New York (2 Star) or at a number of michelin ranked such as L Ardente in DC, or the vegetarian Lasagna in Napa at the ranked Bottega

 

Certainly a number of fine di ing establishment serving Lasagna.

 

But cruise ship MDRs are not true land based fine dining establishments. They are high volume kitchens serving a diverse set of offerings that are pretty good considering both the diverse range of clientele and the volume of food prepared.

 

Asked I have asked several time have you actually seen it or tried it.

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by ldtr

[KroozNut]

20 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Will there be a cap and gown ceremony following your successful completion of finger painting?

 

Or maybe a ship on a stick as a prize... Oops, never mind, that's Carnival..sorry.

[Hlitner]

This thread got me thinking about some good activities for HAL.  1.  Watching a plant grow  2.  Finger painting  3.  Group crossword puzzle class   4.  Monopoly lessons  5.  Group people watching   6.  Reading class.

 

Don't get me wrong, we have enjoyed most of our more than 500 cruise days on HAL.  But DW and I are content to read (we usually have more than 100 books loaded on our Kindles) and socialize.  But those who only cruise on HAL may not be aware that many other cruise lines have a much more ambitious activities schedule (and the staff to pull it off).  If you look at a daily Princess schedule for a sea day you will find dozens of activities from the sedate things (art and crafts, cocktail making, cooking demos) to more physical such as ping pong.  They also do fun things like "egg drops" in their atriums (it is a real hoot) various dance classes, and once they even had a steel drum demo and lessons.  You will also find computer classes (with Microsoft certified instructors) on various software such as spreadsheets or simply Windows.  In fact, their ships have computer rooms (with about 20 stations) where they can-do hands-on instruction.  Celebrity has Apple stores on their ships and also conducts various classes.   We have also seen various activities such as passengers vs officers pool volleyball (lots of fun to watch).  

 

But on HAL we have done our share of "nodding off" while relaxing in the Crows Nest.  At times we have thought that the major activity on HAL is "nodding off" and we would likely be among the winners of that activity :).

 

Hank

 

 

[KroozNut]

14 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

There was a time when I would come home from a cruise and I ached to be on a ship again. 

 

That still happens to us, and for a variety of reasons; the least of which is the scheduled/featured onboard activities.

[bz]

maybe our lasts HAL cruise is coming up in February.  We were so disappointed in the food and the obvious cutbacks in an October West Coast cruise we seriously thought of canceling in February.  If nothing has changed from October, it will be our last HAL until I read more positive reviews.  I agree with the Lasagna and meatloaf poster, not what I expect and want on a cruise.  Now I have to request turndown service??  Unless things change, I'm back to Celebrity or Azamara.  Just when I become 3 star; how sad.

[ShipWalker]

Found this in the Floataway Lounge. Hope it simplifies everything for everyone.

 

 

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

That still happens to us, and for a variety of reasons; the least of which is the scheduled/featured onboard activities.

I didn't say it was because of that.  Don't assume.

[albingirl]

Back to lasagna. I had the very best lasagna in my life while we were in Sardinia. In fact, when we returned 2 years later, we went back for more. Very little meat and out of this world. If the cruise had that, I would be in heaven.

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I didn't say it was because of that.  Don't assume.

 

Not attempting to assume anything, but that is how I interpreted your comment.

[KroozNut]

31 minutes ago, albingirl said:

Back to lasagna. I had the very best lasagna in my life while we were in Sardinia. In fact, when we returned 2 years later, we went back for more. Very little meat and out of this world. If the cruise had that, I would be in heaven.

 

Was it 'Rustic Lasagna' by chance? 😏

[cruiseguy56]

On 10/31/2022 at 11:00 PM, cruisemom42 said:

 

Not sure you understood what I was saying. I am talking about itineraries. I don't need to have sailed with NCL recently to realize that their itineraries overall are not as interesting as HAL's.

 

In the interests of full transparency, I did have an NCL cruise booked -- an interesting one -- that included Iceland and Greenland that would have sailed in August. But I ended up canceling it because of the toxic attitude of so many NCL cruisers about sharing a table at dinner. As a solo cruiser, I do not want to sit by myself at a table night after night -- especially not on a cruise of two weeks or longer. But once I started reading experiences, I realized that a large number of NCL passengers avoid the practice of dining with others like the plague.

 

I cruise on many different lines, not just HAL. Recent cruises have mostly been Celebrity.  The only point I was trying to make is that suites and suite amenities are not of interest to everyone. Other factors may be much higher on my list. 

 

Frankly, I don't even miss most of the things that have been trotted out (again). Library? I bring my Kindle. Yum-yum man -- really?  Never ever once got something from that cart. Never wear the provided robe or slippers and towel animals I find creepy. Food quality does concern me but as already mentioned that is hardly unique to HAL in these post-COVID times.

Part of the issue with NCL and not dining with others is that NCL boats often have multiple restaurants on board (that aren’t premium like the pinnacle), but the line word you to make reservations for them. This causes a lot of people to end up eating with just their spouse or significant other/traveling partner. It isn’t always that people don’t WANT to dine with others on NCL, it’s often an unintended side effect of NCL’s multi-dining locations and reservation policy.