HAL continuing to downgrade its product

[imescaping]

On 10/31/2022 at 10:58 AM, ncgolferette said:

I agree that service continues to be pretty good to excellent.  However it appears to me that the  quality of food has declined.  Same menus but different results.  

I find this to be happening at land based restaurants also. I wonder if it is more a matter of supply issues vs. cost cut backs. 

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, Jimbo59 said:

Celebrity Edge class ships are different than HAL ships.
The Infinite Veranda (IV) on Edge class ships is not a veranda cabin. It is an ocean view cabin with a window that can be opened halfway down (sometimes). We are on the Beyond now and the Management closes the window frequently without any notice. There is never an announcement that the window can be reopened.

 

Thanks for posting this information.  Without trying this Class of ships, I know that I would dislike that type of stateroom very, very much.  

[Damcruiser]

I just found a picture of Celebrity's Caesar, in Michael's Club while my computer is connected to the only 110-volt outlet in the room.

[Hlitner]

Myrtle Ave,   Thanks for the terrific post.  You just confirm what we have heard from a close family member who has become a fanatical Viking cruise lover.  While we have been on Viking River, we have yet to try their Ocean product.  But we are closely looking at a Viking Expedition Cruise to Antarctica (HAL lovers have no such option) late in 2023.  For us it has become a family debate of whether to go on Viking or Ponant!  Tough choice. 

 

Speaking of Torstein Hagen, we have heard nothing but great comments about the man.  Our family member was on that awful Viking Sky cruise that almost ran aground off Norway.  She and her partner were actually rescued off the deck, at 3am, by a Norwegian Coast Guard helicopter.  Mr. Hagen quickly flew up to join the passengers, did everything possible to ease their misery, and managed to turn a negative situation into a big positive.  Many on that cruise were later reunited on another Viking cruise (which was free) and most are still big Viking fans.  It sure sounds like HAL could use a CEO of his caliber.

 

Hank

[Blackduck59]

For us the Celebrity "S" class are our favourite ships. Alas we have not sailed in one since before the shut down and lament the 2 cruises down under that were cancelled because of the pandemic. We have sailed on Viking Orion since the shutdown and I'm sorry, for us it was NOT good value for money spent. We have chosen to try HAL because of the itinerary and hope that it is a pleasant encounter. We have no idea what the HAL experience "was" for us we will see what it is.

I'm sorry for those who lament what the experience was in the other 42 cruises over the last 30 years but those days are over.

I live in a tourist town with many restaurants and attractions. Some of the best attractions are gone, many of the best restaurants from even 10 years ago are gone and the others are mostly a shadow of what they were. It's not just cruising, change is afoot everywhere. The question everyone must ask themselves is "does it still represent good value" among all your vacation choices. Keeping in mind that fabulous restaurant you loved in some far off distant land 5 years ago may be gone or changed so much you don't recognize it.

So I guess there are decisions for people to make and perhaps that means a different line or even a different type of vacation.

[Captain Ricky]

8 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I'm just trying to show not everyone likes the same thing.  I've heard about 10 times in the last few days about the "tent cities" and how terrible they are.  People need to realize that they bring in money to what was a hot area with basically no shade but that doesn't matter.  Because they don't like it its useless and horrible.  Honestly I really don't care if there are casinos on a ship.  I can avoid it.  I just want some to get a taste of their own medicine.  People love libraries too.  I can tell you for sure I've never said it's a huge waste of money and they should be gone.  I don't use them either.

I can avoid the casino but can't avoid the drifting smoke on some ships.  It would be nice if the casino's either banned smoking, were enclosed or had MUCH better exhaust fans.

[cruisemom42]

21 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

The question everyone must ask themselves is "does it still represent good value" among all your vacation choices. Keeping in mind that fabulous restaurant you loved in some far off distant land 5 years ago may be gone or changed so much you don't recognize it.

So I guess there are decisions for people to make and perhaps that means a different line or even a different type of vacation.

 

This is undoubtedly true, and "good value" of course will vary greatly from person to person. The way things look currently, with a weak economy predicted, inflation, and (to my mind) an excess of cabins in the market, I think there will still be good cruise deals to be had, whether you are looking to get a dirt cheap deal on a mass market line or perhaps find a relative bargain on a premium or luxury class line.  

 

I am looking to book deals in the next year, for as far out as I can find them. We'll see if it comes to pass. To combat your somewhat pessimistic outlook, Since the restart I have:

 

-- experienced one of the best cruises in terms of onboard experience in years (just after restart with a ridiculous passenger to crew ratio that allowed pampering)

 

-- found a sale on one of my favorite mass market lines that offered NO solo supplement and was able to book BTB cruises for the price of one

 

-- oh and I just traveled home from Rome at the end of that back-to-back and found that my very favorite restaurant there is still unchanged.  😊

[Captain Ricky]

I have been on only one cruise since the pandemic, a small expedition ship in Alaska (I live here and they have special rates to fill last minute vacancies.)  I loved it but am looking forward to being back on HAL for the Grand World in January.  I realize that it may not be what I am used to (I am a 5* so have some experience with the line.) But then I am not paying a whole lot because of the "bonus" FCCs I got when the world was interrupted in 2020 and other credits from 4 canceled cruises between then and now as compensation FCCs for the cancelations.  (Two were COVID related, one because they sold the ship and one because they used the ship for Ukrainian refugees, no complaints on my part about that.  Highest and best use.)   HAL will probably not be getting a lot of revenue from this sailing. I expect to notice it.  I also expect to enjoy the experience a lot.

[BelleEpoque]

On 10/31/2022 at 7:44 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

This was part of whatever the slogan was before the "Signature of Excellence" slogan was.  Excellent staffed libraries morphed to those with a librarian/computer guru.  Then, to the computer guru.  Then, to no staffing and decisions from the "wise ones" in Seattle to eliminate libraries all together on most ships.  A bit of good news though, I think.  Maybe some signs that a non-staffed library may be returning?  

When I said the new Rotterdam earlier this year, it had an excellent library. I spent a lot of time there and read two books from this library during my sailing.

Seems odd that they would discontinue something if they are giving it significant space on newer ships?

[cruisemom42]

34 minutes ago, BelleEpoque said:

When I said the new Rotterdam earlier this year, it had an excellent library. I spent a lot of time there and read two books from this library during my sailing.

Seems odd that they would discontinue something if they are giving it significant space on newer ships?

 

It's just another example of HAL's continuing bipolar personality disorder -- they can't decide what they want to be. A few years back most of the libraries were earmarked for dismantling. Yet here we are on the newer ships with some vestige of a library still available.

 

Like they say on Project Runway:  "One day you're In.  And the next day you're Out."  (But stick around, you may be In again sooner than you think....)

 

[esimon]

I think I've missed the point of this post -  HAL doesn't live up to my expectations?  Things aren't like the old days? I want what I had before without paying for it?   Fortunately we all can cruse any line we want -  If we aren't happy we can move on-  I am just thrilled that COVID didn't kill the cruise line - and if you think it did - save your money and stay home

[YXU AC*SE]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

It's just another example of HAL's continuing bipolar personality disorder -- they can't decide what they want to be.

 

I think it's more a case of they decide - then they cave to the commentariat?  I sometimes wonder if HAL were a car instead of a cruise line, it would be FWD, but still have tailfins.  🙂  Scott. 

 

[Mary229]

I just wish there was consistency.   One cruise everything is just perfect and the next there are failures.  I am pretty indifferent but my two travel companions are a bit less tolerant and i want them to be happy with the experience so I continue to have travel companions. I may just have to ditch the companions 😉

[Damcruiser]

30 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I just wish there was consistency.   One cruise everything is just perfect and the next there are failures.  

Consistent inconsistency is perhaps consistency.

[rodndonna]

46 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I just wish there was consistency.   One cruise everything is just perfect and the next there are failures.  I am pretty indifferent but my two travel companions are a bit less tolerant and i want them to be happy with the experience so I continue to have travel companions. I may just have to ditch the companions 😉

 

Companions have a huge impact. Luckily, we are both pretty go with the flow, but admittedly, I would be more to overreact or get upset if something does wrong. My husband is unwaivering in his ability to make the best with what we are dealt,  and I become very conscious about not wanting to be the downer and it helps to bring me back around and make the most of our holidays.

[YXU AC*SE]

11 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

Luckily, we are both pretty go with the flow, but admittedly, I would be more to overreact or get upset if something does wrong. 

 

Every Donna needs her Rod(erick) and every Rod needs his Donna.   I tend to downplay everything, (my threshold for crisis is (1) actual babies are dying and/or (2) I have been named in an above-the-fold front-page story in The Globe and Mail.) I sometimes need to be reminded that I am actually paying for the vacation experience I am receiving, and not be so go-with-the-flow.    Scott. 

Edited November 7, 2022 by YXU AC*SE

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, YXU AC*SE said:

 

Every Donna needs her Rod(erick) and every Rod needs his Donna.   I tend to downplay everything, (my threshold for crisis is (1) actual babies are dying and/or (2) I have been named in an above=the=fold front-page story in The Globe and Mail.) I sometimes need to be reminded that I am actually paying for the vacation experience I am receiving, and not be so go-with-the-flow.    Scott. 

Me too, once the money is spent it is all water under the bridge, life is good.  Somebody else is making the bed, washing the dishes and driving the vehicle.  I am a happy camper. 

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

I just wish there was consistency.   One cruise everything is just perfect and the next there are failures.  I am pretty indifferent but my two travel companions are a bit less tolerant and i want them to be happy with the experience so I continue to have travel companions. I may just have to ditch the companions 😉

 

'There are failures' is a very broad-brushed statement, and 100% subjective. Of course your opinion of a failure is likely another's opinion of a good experience.

[Mary229]

Just now, KroozNut said:

 

'There are failures' is a very broad-brushed statement, and 100% subjective. Of course your opinion of a failure is likely another's opinion of a good experience.

Yes, it is just little failures that add up for some and not another.  Usually it is something that really bothers my companion and I have to hear about it.

 

Only once did HAL really bother me but I didn’t complain until I got home, I made the best of it because it was still a great journey.  That was the VOV 2017 when the old Rotterdam was in very sorry condition.  I complained here and to HAL.  HAL did offer me compensation, not anything grand, but enough to make me reconsider them again.  

 

I am not as loyal to HAL as I are my companions - my sis or my DH.  They just love the peace and quiet .

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, Damcruiser said:

Consistent inconsistency is perhaps consistency.

 

I cannot accept this as a perfectly normal business practice.  It does not need to be.  It ought not to be.  

 

Yet, HAL is not the only cruise company that is affected by this "disease".  Read the Message Boards of Seabourn and Silverseas.  Comments on "luxury cruise experiences" on those Boards are not what one would expect to read and inconsistency of the cruise experience is now the 21st Century "norm".  Or, so it seems to me.  

 

As an edit, RKA, I think why are you surprised at this?  The cruise industry, at this time, reflects our society.  There is a dysfunction in both that I don't understand and that has taken place in my lifetime.  Covid has only made the dysfunction worse, in my opinion.  

Edited November 8, 2022 by rkacruiser

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

Yes, it is just little failures that add up for some and not another.  Usually it is something that really bothers my companion and I have to hear about it.

 

Only once did HAL really bother me but I didn’t complain until I got home, I made the best of it because it was still a great journey.  That was the VOV 2017 when the old Rotterdam was in very sorry condition.  I complained here and to HAL.  HAL did offer me compensation, not anything grand, but enough to make me reconsider them again.  

 

I am not as loyal to HAL as I are my companions - my sis or my DH.  They just love the peace and quiet .

Well I think for some the idea is to bend over and tell hal how much you enjoy it.  Apparently having standards is a bad thing.  If you pay $200 for a cruise maybe that acceptable.  When you pay multiples not so much at least for me.  If I want to be annoyed on a vacation I might as well save my holiday time and stay at work.

[Mary229]

3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Well I think for some the idea is to bend over and tell hal how much you enjoy it.  Apparently having standards is a bad thing.  If you pay $200 for a cruise maybe that acceptable.  When you pay multiples not so much at least for me.  If I want to be annoyed on a vacation I might as well save my holiday time and stay at work.

I agree about complaining and I think I have learned how to complain well. I seek outcomes not sympathy. I reserve my complaints for the big issues and differentiate between incidents and issues. This is different than expressing my opinions.

 If asked I will tell my experience for what might otherwise be a minor issue, that is one of the major functions of this forum

[OmarOak]

Service modifications and significant price increases are a fact of life.

 

All forms of travel have become far, far more costly since 2019. Most airlines and hotels have cut service levels and raised prices dramatically. Likewise Restaurants. The Cruise Industry is not immune to the broader issues driving the situation: energy, labor shortages, food commodity prices, etc.

 

At current prices, compared to most other types of travel, a HAL cruise is a phenomenal value.

 

Personally, I can't get too bent out of shape about cabin stewards servicing a cabin once rather than twice daily - I stayed at a 4 Seasons Hotel recently and despite crazy high pricing, maid service was only every third day.

 

 

[albingirl]

I've decided. I'm not going to be a go with the flow person anymore!! I'm going to be a pain in the *s  Ha!

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

If I want to be annoyed on a vacation I might as well save my holiday time and stay at work.

 

It's all in how one chooses to look at a particular situation. I'm sure everyone's heard of the 'self-fulfilling prophecy', whereby if one convinces themself that something is going to be bad, or annoy them, there is a 100% chance that it will.

Either the glass is half full , or it's half empty..