2023 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

More: 

 

Comment about internet - hard to update apps and more.   
 

A - noted. 
 

Q - what about streaming live feed to staterooms?   
A - will look at the live stream issue 

 

Q- what about cultural entertainment?  Entertainment variety - more local shows   We heard officers were going to be dance hosts. 
 

A - working on entertainment- hard to get entertainers- will work hard. 
 

Q - room stewards overworked.  
A - Gus pleads he didn't increase section workload.   Apparently room stewards work bigger sections for more pay. 
 

Q- another q on wine stewards.    Issue with bad job of tracking down wine bottles 
A - working on better execution.   Understand occasional need for some folks with better knowledge.    Tracking wine bottles should be better 

 

Q- complements to Cruise Director.   How are the HAL finances?

A - we are executing to financial plan.  Read public filings.   Lots of debt now.   Optimistic tone.   No specifics.  
 

 

 

 

 

[cunnorl]

Pete' 

    Thanks for all this great information. Really appreciate all you do!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Q on Mariner program. 
 

A - current program is rich compared to competitors.   Understands minor differences between 4 and 5 star.   Lower priority.   Will revisit next year. 
 

Q- what about changing Canaletto to Tamirand. ?

 

A - no plans to change but trialing tamarind pop up in Cannelto on some ships. 
 

Q- what about tender availability for wheel chair people.   Accessibility issues remain in cabins.   Echos complaint about lido variety. 
 

A - 3rd parties evaluate HAL accessibility.    Looking at ways to improve tender access.   Unfamiliar with tender elevator suggestion. 
 

Q- likes small port cards.    Suggest add local emergency numbers to cards. 
 

A - Noted. Should be able to add. 
 

Q- compliment for keeping business going.  Liked guest lectures.    Some better than others.   Another compliment for Ian.   Look at less strings of straight port days. 
 

A - noted 

1 hour 45 minutes and still going. 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Q - close captioning on the stage?  Is Seaborn for sale?  
 

A - Seaborne is not for sale.   No brands are for sale. 
 

Q- why was early dinner moved to 5pm?

A- Henk answered - 5 pm is most requested.  5:30 was too late.  
 

Q- no flowers on tables.   No waiter names on tables.  Omelette machine old.  Wants computer room back. 
A- Gus pulled back fresh flowers to save money.    Will look at equipment issues. 
MS stopped partnership.    Looking at alternative for computer room. 
 

Q - more entertainment complaints.   Question about starting parties at 9pm.    Said started earlier on other cruises. 
 

A - noted. 
 

2 Hours.  Still going.  
 

Q on dress codes - missed old dress codes.   New dress code meaningless.   Matches general decline in dresses.   Suggests HAL should enforce or abandon. 
 

A.   Gus likes dressier.   Acknowledged world is more casual.    Noted. 
 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Q- complements to Capt Frank and Friso.  Complements to Nyron and excursion staff 

 

what is unforgettable about this cruise compared to future expectations?  

 

A- Should have done better setting expectations- too vague.  Reminds that we are  excuting complex world cruise 

 

Q - too much scheduled at same time.  
A - maybe look at spreading out day.  
 

Q - noise bleeds into world stage from casino. 
A - noted. 
 

Q- question about printing less stuff.  
 

A many people still want paper.   Always looking at balance between electronic and paper.  Talks more about environmental initiatives to reduce waste. 
 

Q- comments about cruise 5 years ago - horrible.  Complements about more variety.   More choices is not a problem.  
 

A - thanks and noted 

 

Q- suggested dynamic signs with daily events near elevators. 
A - noted.  
 

Q- complements about painting and arts and crafts instructor. 
 

Ian tries to gently wrap up - Gus says no keep going.  
 

more 
 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Q - complaints about dress code enforcement.   Complaint about decorations in MDR. 
 

A - Gus likes some dressy nights.  Need to improve definition and enforcement.  
 

Q - complaint that we got no gifts  with 150th anniversary logo 

A - noted - fair point - looks at his team. 
 

Q- problem with LIDO. - not enough vegetables and those they do cook are poorly prepared.   
 

door in Lido broken.  Too cold. 

Zuiderdam is second worst ship- NS is worst.  
Lido steaks are better than Pinnacle. 

 

A -  noted.  
 

Q - Complement to Gus for answering questions.    No movie theater on world cruise. 
 

A - took out movie theater for library.  No - he was corrcected.  Comment noted 

 

Q- doesn't like room used for water colors.   Leaks.  No comfortable 

 

A - noted - need to fix 

Q - Current cruise missing small, special touches we had all old cruises.   Pillow gifts.  
LIDO doesn't match MDR menu. 
 

A - Noted 

 

Gus getting ready to wrap up.    2:20 minutes. 

 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Q- what about 18 pct service charge on everything?  Including internet.  HAL adding 18pct on more things.   (Question was not clear/misunderstood and got confused answer) 
 

A - not aware of gratuities on internet.   
 

General answer noted gratuity increase is to help crew pay.

 

Q- certain door sills not anchored down that will make using walkers easier. 
 

A - noted. Will research on his walk arounds 

 

Q- complaint about theater blind spots.  
A - can't change pole location on ships.  New ships fixed.  
 

Last Question:   Missing dedicated travel person.   Missing dedicated tai chi

 

 

A. Noted 
 

wrapped at 2.5 hours. 
 

 

 

 
 

[KKZ1923]

11 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Q- what about 18 pct service charge on everything?  Including internet.  HAL adding 18pct on more things.   (Question was not clear/misunderstood and got confused answer) 
 

A - not aware of gratuities on internet.   
 

General answer noted gratuity increase is to help crew pay.

 

Q- certain door sills not anchored down that will make using walkers easier. 
 

A - noted. Will research on his walk arounds 

 

Q- complaint about theater blind spots.  
A - can't change pole location on ships.  New ships fixed.  
 

Last Question:   Missing dedicated travel person.   Missing dedicated tai chi

 

 

A. Noted 
 

wrapped at 2.5 hours. 
 

 

 

 
 

I was very impressed with Gus’ candor. And stamina. 

[StLouisCruisers]

Thank you for all your reports today.  Very informative and helpful @The-Inside-Cabin.

[Tampa Girl]

Thank you, Pete, for a very informative recitation of Gus's presentation.  He certainly covered a lot of territory!  Re other Grand Voyages, apart from a possible Grand Med, has there been any talk or speculation about when or if another Grand Asia would take place?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

HERE is a link to my blog with High-Resolution Copies and a PDF Version of the World Cruise and the Grand Voyage "Pole to Pole" Itinerary

 

NOTE - There is only ONE Grand World Voyage in 2025 - The Pole to Pole is a Grand Voyage - not a world cruise.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[travelbug615]

Many Thanks Pete for such a informative and lengthy review of Gus's presentation.  I really appreciate your time and effort, for this reporting as well as all the other information you are making available on your website. 

 

I wonder if you had anyway to determine if the majority of the complaints were with  passengers whom had done world cruises prior to 2023?  Do you have any sense of the level of complaints with passengers for whom are sailing on a WC for the first time in 2023.

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 minutes ago, travelbug615 said:

Many Thanks Pete for such a informative and lengthy review of Gus's presentation.  I really appreciate your time and effort, for this reporting as well as all the other information you are making available on your website. 

 

I wonder if you had anyway to determine if the majority of the complaints were with  passengers whom had done world cruises prior to 2023?  Do you have any sense of the level of complaints with passengers for whom are sailing on a WC for the first time in 2023.

 

My gut feeling is that most complaints are based on guests comparing this cruise to previous world cruises.

 

Based on my unscientific and limited discussions with first timers, then tend to have fewer complaints as they don't have the baseline of previous world cruises.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, KKZ1923 said:

I was very impressed with Gus’ candor. And stamina. 

Gus was very straightforward and stayed on the stage until everyone was talked out.   Good presentation.     

[The-Inside-Cabin]

dup

Edited April 20, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Q - close captioning on the stage?  Is Seaborn for sale?  
 

A - Seaborne is not for sale.   No brands are for sale. 
 

 

CCL just sold Seabourn Odyssey. 

 

https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-corp-sells-seabourn-odyssey/

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 minute ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

CCL just sold Seabourn Odyssey. 

 

https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-corp-sells-seabourn-odyssey/

 

Gus said that was a sale that was too good to pass up - Brand is not for sale - but, as we all know, everything is always sorta for sale at the right price...

[BermudaBound2014]

Just now, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Gus said that was a sale that was too good to pass up - Brand is not for sale - but, as we all know, everything is always sorta for sale at the right price...

 

That's my take also. I don't foresee the 'brand name' being sold.

 

When I hear talk about 'Seabourn' being sold, I take that to be the assets held by Seabourn, not the entire brand name, but who knows??

[carolyn22]

Pete, thank you so much for recording all the questions and answers!  You are a real trooper.
 

When the question was asked about the single supplement, what did he mean when he said no change?  

 

And I’m scratching my head a bit when he said that HAL spends 50% more on entertainment than their competitors. I’ve been on many other cruise lines (RCL, Celebrity, Princess, etc), and I have to say that HAL’s entertainment is dead last in my book. Maybe they paid too much for those movies (is it Planet Earth?) that they pass off as evening entertainment in the big theater. 😂

 

Again, thank you for this update a huge thank you for all of the work you put into your blog!

[MamSam]

4 hours ago, weeislayman said:

I second that.  great stuff, Pete.

One question...any info on the dates of the Pole to Pole?
Ronnie

January 25-June 7 - already booked it

[weeislayman]

4 minutes ago, MamSam said:

January 25-June 7 - already booked it

That was quick...

I don't see them on the HAL website.  Did you do it through your TA?

[MamSam]

5 minutes ago, weeislayman said:

That was quick...

I don't see them on the HAL website.  Did you do it through your TA?

Yes, got an email from someone on 2023 wc and called my TA with the cruise information. We already had our $200 down just to hold it, not sure if that makes a difference. We knew this was coming, but had not seen the itinerary. He said the pricing would not be out till May, but we are guaranteed on there and the type of room we wanted (lanai).

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, carolyn22 said:

Pete, thank you so much for recording all the questions and answers!  You are a real trooper.
 

When the question was asked about the single supplement, what did he mean when he said no change?  

 

And I’m scratching my head a bit when he said that HAL spends 50% more on entertainment than their competitors. I’ve been on many other cruise lines (RCL, Celebrity, Princess, etc), and I have to say that HAL’s entertainment is dead last in my book. Maybe they paid too much for those movies (is it Planet Earth?) that they pass off as evening entertainment in the big theater. 😂

 

Again, thank you for this update a huge thank you for all of the work you put into your blog!

Don't expect any discounts on the single supplement- That's what he said/meant. 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Thank you for the great information. Regarding Seabourn they cannot and never will give information so when and if it happens it will happen including other lines and ships. I am sure Gus won’t even know and as for some of the other issues let us hope he can address even the little things that were mentioned like where is the Yum Yum Man lol!

[Cruise Junky]

7 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Looking at a Lengedary Mediterranean in 2025.  58 days.  Not open yet 

 

Ohhhhh that got my attention.  Can’t wait to see that one

 

thanks for all of your hard work on your blog