If You Could Get HAL to Change One Thing....

[Stevedan]

1. 7 day cruises to Bermuda from NYC

 

2. Caribbean music by the pools. Not blaring loud like on Carnival, but nice calypso music like Princess.

[tjcox9]

On recent B2B's on the Noordam, we got the usual invitation to the Mariner's party as medallion holders. Supposedly, we're to enter and sit in a reserved area.

 

Fine, but it's impossible to get served that glass of champagne or wine. At both gatherings, we and the others in our row had to flag down waiters to get drinks and appetizers. And then, of course, they have only one or two glasses and have to get more. It just all seemed very disorganized. If we're going to be invited to sit in a certain area, why not see that that area has been served prior to serving the one or two cruise passengers.

 

I understand that HAL has the largest % of repeat passengers, so the groups do become large. But, since the Mariner program offers nothing other than a pin, medallion and tile, why not take care of those of us who have the "hardware"?

 

Just one of those mild irritants..........

[aaerobear]

As to the mariners parties, on the last 2 HAL cruises we were on the parties were, indeed, in the evening. AND you could order whatever drink you wanted and they servers went off and returned with your choice.

 

The last cruise was on the Maasdam 4/27-5/13

[Tinknock50]

Get rid of Park West Art Auctions (or at least control how much of the ship that they seem to take over when ever they want to).

 

I agree whole-heartedly. It was awful on the Oosterdam. I am thinking HAL must be making a good revenue from the auction company because they really have moved into places they shouldn't be....like the Crows Nest!

[ejbmorr]

It's hard to think about what we'd liked changed when we really remember all that we loved on our HAL cruises.

There is one real wish- to have cruise options departing from Philadelphia or Baltimore. That would be really wonderful. That would definitely mean more Holland America cruises for us.

It would also be great if the hors d'oeuvres and beverages actually made it to all of the guests at the Mariner events. These parties have become so large that they cannot be staffed properly. It would seem better to have more than one party in order to make it the nice "thank you" that HAL intends.

[Tinknock50]

Get rid of those annoying overhead annoncements for art auctions, bingo, etc. They are very cheesy. Celebrity does a much better job with this. Only one noontime announcement from the bridge regarding weather, position, etc.

 

Agree....

 

On one Alaska cruise, we were in a good whale watching area. So naturally everyone was anxious to see them.The bingo guy came on the PA and said something like "theres a whale....." and then hooked into a bingo game annoucement with nothing about a whale sighting. Made everybody groan.

They announce bingo way too often. Everthing is in the program for the day so it is easy to find out bingo times.

[Copper10-8]

AND you could order whatever drink you wanted and they servers went off and returned with your choice.

 

You bet! If you happen to to be the holder of a medalion, the invitation says "you will be recognized as a medalion holder" That's it, nothing else and that's why HAL wants you sitting near the front of the stage. Those bar waiters are constantly walking around with trays full of glasses and hors d'oeuvres but let's not forget that they are responsible to try and serve everybody in the lounge who is there as a Mariner. If you don't get a glass of bubbly and/or a most excellent bitterbal rightaway, flag one down (the waiter, not the bitterbal;) ) and ask for one. No big deal and certainly no reason to get irritated about!

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our last few cruises we have not been able to sit near the front - the girls just point to the direction for where they want everyone to sit - never bothered to see what medals anyone was wearing. And it was impossible to get a drink that we wanted. We placed our order - drinks never came. We stuck in the middle of a row and each time they came with champagne, we kept asking where our drinks were - "They are on the way".

 

Just one more reason not to attend the parties any more.

[Copper10-8]

On our last few cruises we have not been able to sit near the front - the girls just point to the direction for where they want everyone to sit - never bothered to see what medals anyone was wearing. And it was impossible to get a drink that we wanted. We placed our order - drinks never came. We stuck in the middle of a row and each time they came with champagne, we kept asking where our drinks were - "They are on the way".

 

Just one more reason not to attend the parties any more.

 

Sorry that happened to you! If your receive an invitation in which they tell you that they want you to sit up front near the stage, then they better make sure that they have seats reserved for you there as you're being led in! If they don't, then that's pretty poor planning IMO and does not speak well for the HM, bar manager and their staff ! We've never had a problem getting and/or ordering a drink from there

[tjcox9]

As stated earlier, one the B2B cruises on the Noordam, it was not a pleasant experience at all, and I certainly didn't feel "honored". Waiters seemed to be oblivious to those not served even with flaggings and one side of room seemed to get all the drinks and appetizers.

 

Perhaps, because the Noordam is new, they just need more practice at this, but it was not a pleasant experience at all. Doing B2B on Westerdam later this year and will have to consider whether to take pins or medallion at all.

 

Not that it's that important to get a complimentary glass of champagne, but they do need to do a better job if they are going to continue doing this. And I also enjoyed it more when it was held in the evening.

[kryos]

Ruth, you forgot one thing ... start leaving TWO chocolates on the pillow at night! :D

I generally always got two on the Amsterdam. I think it was just toward the last five or six days of the cruise that I started only getting one. Maybe they were running out?

 

You should have seen JudyAl's eyes light up the night I brought my "booty" to the dining room and gave them to her. Sadly, as much as I appreciated the pillow chocolates, I can't eat them. :(

 

Many days, my pillow chocolates made up the eyes on my various towel animals ... so there were always two. And, I guess since he was in the habit of leaving two, he did it even when there was no towel animal.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Get rid of those annoying overhead annoncements for art auctions, bingo, etc. They are very cheesy. Celebrity does a much better job with this. Only one noontime announcement from the bridge regarding weather, position, etc.

Again, maybe this varies ship to ship, but on the Amsterdam I only recall announcements being made at around noon. The captain would give a status report and then the cruise director would come on and go through a summary of the afternoon activities. But, I don't recall ever hearing any other general announcements.

 

Now I do remember on the Zuiderdam ... announcements at several times of the day for Bingo ... Jackpot Jenny I think was the girl's name. Maybe it's the Vista ships that have lots of extra announcements?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Tinknock50]

Rita,

It was on the "S" class (Veendam) too.

 

When I was on the Amsterdam a couple of years ago, I remember the overall elegance of the cruise. So I am thinking we didn't have the bingo announcements on her. Maybe because that is considered the flagship, along with the Rotterdam, that they strive for a more refined atmosphere?

 

Would be intetresting to hear from other Amsterdam cruisers as to their experience.

[elmorejj]

Ever since we have been medalion holders, our invitation always says to gather at a certain doorway and wait to be escorted to our reserved seats. We have never had a problem ordering or receiving our drink of choice......one can almost use the medalion as a coaster to rest the drink on!!!...........jean:cool:

[tjcox9]

Ya gotta to be able to get a drink to rest on that coaster. Hard to do on the Noordam!!

[Bookish Angel]

I sometimes receive three a week despite repeated requests over the past year to remove my name from their mailing lists.

 

What a waste of paper and time given that I have NEVER seen a direct-booking-with-HAL price beat my trusty on-line agency!

[laslo]

I echo the disembarkation sentiment. We did a Disney cruise when they did the West Coast for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary and the disembarkation was an absolute dream! We went to breakfast with our regular wait staff, ate breakfast, shared a leisurely goodbye with our servers and our table mates and waited to be called for disembarkation. Our Holland America experiences haven't been as bad as our Celebrity experience, though.

[NorthernNeighbour]

Rita,

It was on the "S" class (Veendam) too.

 

When I was on the Amsterdam a couple of years ago, I remember the overall elegance of the cruise. So I am thinking we didn't have the bingo announcements on her. Maybe because that is considered the flagship, along with the Rotterdam, that they strive for a more refined atmosphere?

 

Would be intetresting to hear from other Amsterdam cruisers as to their experience.

 

Was just on the AMSTERDAM -- and they do give announcements. However, the cruise director, Susan WOOD, is quite good at making it seem that she is not being too pushy with the announcement making. Also, in our cabin, we could dial a certain channel on the radio to receive the announcements or not. Great for when you are taking an afternoon nap (in order to be ready for all that evening social life) -- you just turn down the sound on the radio and -- bingo -- you don't hear them.

[Richard Stein]

I am a red pin holder (over 50 days) who cannot afford suites on every cruise. Give me benefits similar to what I get with my elite status on Celebrity and Princess and I will sail HAL more often.

[Krazy Kruizers]

JOhn

 

Only on the Ryndam have we been able to sit in a certain section - stated on invitation.

 

None of our other Mariner invitations on other ships have stated that they were going to reserve a certain section for medal holders.

 

Yonnie

[Maryandi]

Laslo, I completely agree that Disney has the best disembark. I wrote a post about it last month and forgot to mention that they had a 'lost & found' table set up at the gangway for all the things lost & found on that cruise.

 

But they did have those horrid 'powder-tasting' eggs onthe Lido like all the ships have:mad:

 

MaryAnn

[5 in OK]

We would like to also add a meat like ham, roast beef or turkey and a chef to carve a slice "while you wait" at the lido. It seems that the main entree line was always so long - it they featured a carved meat each day for lunch this surely would help the long lines for the entree of the day. Just a thought...

[LAFFNVEGAS]

As many of you know I am a HAL Fan all the way. I am one of these people that why jump ship if everything is just the way I like it. The world would be pretty boring if we all liked the same thing so it is good that there are those that find lots of fault with HAL and want to cruise elsewhere. We learned our lesson many years ago when after numerous trips to Hawaii (All the Kona Coast) we were told we must try Kauai. Well, we did and every day we kept asking ourselves when are we getting off this darn island. We were staying in a very nice five 5 star hotel in Poipu area. We even went as far to check out available hotel rooms and air fare to go over to the Big Island. Many people love Kauai we do not so when others suggest we try Celebrity to us it could be Kauai all over again.

You ask what does all the above have to do with this thread, well:o I guess I am just in a ranting mood today:D but.....there is one thing I wish could change on HAL. After 8 HAL cruises we have NEVER had a good shower head. Five of the 8 have been in S Suites and we have been lucky if the water comes out more than a trickle (which by the way the best ones has only been on the Oosterdam). It has always amazed me that the faucet in the sink comes out so strong that you have to be careful in turning it on, yet the shower is lucky if it trickles out. I would just like to have a shower head that it does not take double the time in the shower to rinse out my hair.

Otherwise I think Everything else is Pretty DAM Good:D

Like others I would like Free Interent but I don't want slow internet so I will pay for it, I also do not want the Thermal Suite Crowded so I will gladly pay for it. And as far as powdered eggs, I get the eggs made to order over easy with those great round seasoned hash brown rounds:)

As for Mariner perks I am sure they are coming and we will hear of what is planned for us very soon.;)

[Copper10-8]

Hey, what's wrong with Kauai, Lisa?:D And you know, you could start bringing your very own travelling showerhead, don't you? I think Mr. Deering would be very amused;)

[debjo]

I'm new to HAL and am awaiting my cruise in October on the WESTERDAM...

but there is one thing I'd already like to see changed and that is how HAL books the CABANAS on HALF MOON CAY. I found it very confusing to have to put the two cabanas for my traveling group all on my credit card in order to book them. Now I have to "collect" from all the people in my "group" personally to pay my credit card bill. Why is it that we have to book the cabana under one name...why can't they charge each individual person that will be using the cabana like they charge each person who is buying a "regular" shore excursion. (The same thing applies to the CABANA BUTLER UPGRADE.)

 

Don't get me wrong...I'm already "sold" on HAL and haven't yet "experienced" all the nice things that everyone has written about on these boards. I just have found the "cabana" thing to be a bit odd in booking it on the internet.

 

Just my two cents...

Debjo