The One Thing That You Really Like About HAL

[isosika]

We are no strangers to cruising (27) and are Elite level on Princess.  However, we are about to embark on HAL with a 21-day and a 43-day, out first cruises on this line.  I find everything a lot different with HAL in preparing for the first cruise than it is on Princess.  Not bad, just different.  

 

So following on the previous "Pet Peeve" post about HAL, to help us out please tell me the one or two things that you really, really like about HAL.  It doesn't matter what it is; a helpful hint about about boarding, how to insure we see a show that we might like, your favorite dish, what should we sign up for early, etc, etc.  

 

We (currently 73 and 75 years) look forward to your responses and our first cruises on HAL.  Thank you.

[habenicd]

Here is a start.

The Crow's Nest on most ships.  The library on most ships.  The bread pudding and the Dutch Pea Soup. 

[PACD_JG]

 

[bluesplayer]

The wonderful friendly crew, the pea soup. And the food in general.

[Djptcp]

We are 4* Mariners and love the elegant ships, fantastic food, and wonderful crew.

[Sir PMP]

The past..

[Pickalily, Wilts]

It's so unfair to expect one answer (or even two). 🙃  There's much to like.:

- the crew - never seen a grumpy crew member and they're very good at their job

- cleanest ships we've been on

- food is good considering it's 'mass catering'

- the 3 Rock bands we've seen (so far) have been excellent

- international mix of passengers

- there's more, but I'll stop there.  Others will be along shortly to add to the list.

 

Oh!  Did I mention the crew?

 

Enjoy your cruises.🙂  I'm very envious.

[AncientWanderer]

I love boarding a HAL ship!  Heart skips a beat.

[MISTER 67]

The traditional promenade decks on the older ships with the steamer chairs.

Edited August 10, 2023 by MISTER 67

[Fivelinks]

When you board rather than fighting the crowds going to the buffet, we have found the dining room to be open on many HAL ships but if not, the New York Deli is a great place to eat. No crowds and delicious food like fresh pizza, deli sandwiches, and yummy salads. Grand Dutch Cafe also great for snacks and coffee.

 

The food in general is a step above most lines. Our favorite places are specialty restaurants Rudi's Sel de Mer for the bouillabaisse or whole Dover sole. Also worth the money is Tamarind and Pinnacle Grill (best value is lunch).

 

I echo others that the crew on HAL is the best at sea! I have been on several other lines and while I enjoy many positives about them... hands down HAL has the most genuinely willing crew that are there to see to your every need.

 

Enjoy!!

[rj59]

Easy for me--wraparound wooden promenades, which allow me to escape crowds, find a quiet place to read, get exercise and fresh air, and be close to the sea for whale/dolphin/glacier viewing. Unfortunately, they went away with Koningsdam, they can get crowded with crew sneaking out to use their phones, some ignore the 'no jogging' signs, and there's a cultural pressure for everyone to walk counter-clockwise. 

[oaktreerb]

The showroom is more crowded for the early show.  Plan to go 15-20 minutes early for the best seating.    The late show is generally not crowded.  The comedian may change his/her show so that the late show has somewhat more adult content.   

 

Your stateroom attendant will introduce himself (I’ve only had male attendants) and ask if you have any special requests.  Most attendants will give you a business card with their names if you ask.  (Two attendants are assigned per stateroom).  

 

[albingirl]

35 minutes ago, rj59 said:

Easy for me--wraparound wooden promenades, which allow me to escape crowds, find a quiet place to read, get exercise and fresh air, and be close to the sea for whale/dolphin/glacier viewing. Unfortunately, they went away with Koningsdam, they can get crowded with crew sneaking out to use their phones, some ignore the 'no jogging' signs, and there's a cultural pressure for everyone to walk counter-clockwise. 

I never saw crew "sneak out" to use their phones.  That implies sneaky.  More than likely, they have a free moment or two to place a call.  I never saw anyone work as hard as the crew. And, sorry to disagree about the "cultural pressure to walk counter-clockwise, but I never feel any pressure of any kind when I'm sailing.  Maybe I'm the goofy one who walks in the wrong direction though, but no one ever gave me a stern look about it.  I'm left handed and I blame all my shortcomings and clumsiness on that. Lol.

[dockman]

2 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

The traditional promenade decks on the older ships with the steamer chairs.

Just wonderful...what a shame that most of the new builds either have no prom deck or so narrow that hardly room for a stool much less a nice lounger chair....so sad that the bean counters have taken over to the point where such wonderful prom decks where people can leisurely spend time very close to the ocean and look at it up close without looking through some dirty plexiglass 15 levels above the water line....

 

not to mention how wonderful the decks are for walking and getting some exercise in an open air pleasant mostly shielded from the weather space rather than in some glass enclosed gym....i guess it is inevitable that more and more of  these decks disappear as apparently they can make the space inside and fill them up with more shops selling a bunch of overpriced stuff....it has always amazed me how many people go on cruises and seem to barely ever go outside but would rather sit in big plazas or bars indoors...to each his own but for me being near the ocean outside for a few hours is a better experience than sitting inside at some bar that could just as well be in a mall in anytown usa....a cruise offers you a chance to sit and look at the ocean, the birds, the sound of the wind/waves etc that many people never get to experience...sad to me that the new builds are much more like floating shopping malls but i guess that is the new reality..

 

.maybe i am lucky to be old enough that i got to experience so many ships when at least one of the very top attractions was being near and observing the marvels that are the ocean...i have spent untold hours sitting in a nice deck chair, often with a book, but mostly just looking at the vast expanse of the ocean and trying to imagine what is going on beneath me as well as the sensation of trying to picture the thousands of ships and people and cargo that have sailed these seas over the centuries....

 

some of you will know what i mean by that sensation while i suppose others could not care less...i guess to many i am just an old guy who is against change....the old part is true but i do not at all mind change as long as it is for the better...i personally do not think turning the cruise experience into more of an indoor shopping bar hoping bingo casino experience is a good trend....to each his own i guess.

[Petronillus]

I endorse everything everyone else has said previously. 

One of the elements that used to stand out was the small classical-music ensemble. It used to be, I believe, the Rosario Strings which then morphed into the Adagio Strings and then blossomed into Lincoln Center Stage, with young breakout artists carefully vetted who performed at least twice daily chamber music programs ranging from classical to show tunes. We are promised a changed format, but it hasn't happened. In the meantime, the absence is lamentable.

I hope that the same bean-counters responsible for slashing the LCS do not go after the chaplain next. HAL is the last of the cruise lines to welcome a Catholic priest on every sailing. The opportunity for daily Mass as well as Sunday is a distinction of high honor. It's one of the things that keep DW & me coming back to HAL.

[MISTER 67]

2 hours ago, dockman said:

Just wonderful...what a shame that most of the new builds either have no prom deck or so narrow that hardly room for a stool much less a nice lounger chair....so sad that the bean counters have taken over to the point where such wonderful prom decks where people can leisurely spend time very close to the ocean and look at it up close without looking through some dirty plexiglass 15 levels above the water line....

 

not to mention how wonderful the decks are for walking and getting some exercise in an open air pleasant mostly shielded from the weather space rather than in some glass enclosed gym....i guess it is inevitable that more and more of  these decks disappear as apparently they can make the space inside and fill them up with more shops selling a bunch of overpriced stuff....it has always amazed me how many people go on cruises and seem to barely ever go outside but would rather sit in big plazas or bars indoors...to each his own but for me being near the ocean outside for a few hours is a better experience than sitting inside at some bar that could just as well be in a mall in anytown usa....a cruise offers you a chance to sit and look at the ocean, the birds, the sound of the wind/waves etc that many people never get to experience...sad to me that the new builds are much more like floating shopping malls but i guess that is the new reality..

 

.maybe i am lucky to be old enough that i got to experience so many ships when at least one of the very top attractions was being near and observing the marvels that are the ocean...i have spent untold hours sitting in a nice deck chair, often with a book, but mostly just looking at the vast expanse of the ocean and trying to imagine what is going on beneath me as well as the sensation of trying to picture the thousands of ships and people and cargo that have sailed these seas over the centuries....

 

some of you will know what i mean by that sensation while i suppose others could not care less...i guess to many i am just an old guy who is against change....the old part is true but i do not at all mind change as long as it is for the better...i personally do not think turning the cruise experience into more of an indoor shopping bar hoping bingo casino experience is a good trend....to each his own i guess.

Excellent post. 

[MISTER 67]

45 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

I endorse everything everyone else has said previously. 

One of the elements that used to stand out was the small classical-music ensemble. It used to be, I believe, the Rosario Strings which then morphed into the Adagio Strings and then blossomed into Lincoln Center Stage, with young breakout artists carefully vetted who performed at least twice daily chamber music programs ranging from classical to show tunes. We are promised a changed format, but it hasn't happened. In the meantime, the absence is lamentable.

I hope that the same bean-counters responsible for slashing the LCS do not go after the chaplain next. HAL is the last of the cruise lines to welcome a Catholic priest on every sailing. The opportunity for daily Mass as well as Sunday is a distinction of high honor. It's one of the things that keep DW & me coming back to HAL.

Do you attend St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn, we attended there back in the 1970s.

Edited August 10, 2023 by MISTER 67

[Petronillus]

1 hour ago, MISTER 67 said:

Do you attend St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn, we attended there back in the 1970s.

Busted!

[oaktreerb]

On some itineraries the most favored excursions are sold out early due to the Have it All excursion promo.  Hawaii was a prime example due to the Hawaii state decision to reduce tourism at its most visited attractions.  HIA OBC excursions credit causes people to book excursions online prior to boarding the ship.

[dockman]

Obviously there will be no Lahaina port calls for long long time and not even sure ships will dock at kahului for at least several months if that quickly....it will be a very very long time to return to some semblence of the beautiful island...

 

Please consider a small donation to help maui people if you can.  It is really really bad.

 

The local tv stations kgmb khon and kitv all have online ways to donate that have been checked out as legit as no doubt some evil scammers will try and take advantage of the misery.

[CNSJ]

Hard to narrow to "one thing", perhaps its best described as "consistant"

Consistant service and quality of product.

 

[albingirl]

4 hours ago, Petronillus said:

I endorse everything everyone else has said previously. 

One of the elements that used to stand out was the small classical-music ensemble. It used to be, I believe, the Rosario Strings which then morphed into the Adagio Strings and then blossomed into Lincoln Center Stage, with young breakout artists carefully vetted who performed at least twice daily chamber music programs ranging from classical to show tunes. We are promised a changed format, but it hasn't happened. In the meantime, the absence is lamentable.

I hope that the same bean-counters responsible for slashing the LCS do not go after the chaplain next. HAL is the last of the cruise lines to welcome a Catholic priest on every sailing. The opportunity for daily Mass as well as Sunday is a distinction of high honor. It's one of the things that keep DW & me coming back to HAL.

Yeah, we need a priest on board. I second that. I  love everything about that and I  am thankful for the faithful and hopeful among us.

[cbr663]

For me it's that when I am on HAL I am on a ship.  I have no interest in resort sailing or ships that remind me of a mall.  If I want to go to an amusement park I will go to an amusement park and not a ship.  I want a ship to look like a ship and more importantly, feel like a ship.  HAL checks that box for me.

[ROUS]

The passengers, by and large, act like adults.  I don't miss the passenger and crew antics on many other lines.  We're happy to sail with grown-ups.

[Lildare]

Helpful hint: Peanut butter chocolate pie served only on the first day of cruise on the lido deck.  I saw that tip a year ago and was successful on my last cruise.  I think that hint kinda says it all about HAL being smaller and the excitement is pie vs ice skating or wave riding.  I really enjoy the blues bands in BB King.  I tend to stay up late which is not the norm for most HAL cruisers but it’s better in the casino.  If you are up late and miss breakfast the Dutch Cafe has egg options.

 

I did not realize I need to walk counter clock wise on the promenade, but I think I actual follow that rule when I do walk.