HAL onboard liquor cost soar
 

It looks like the Carnival influence has shown up again. Family members
just arrived back from the HAL Rotterdam where they had a great time.
Sadly, the reasonable policy HAL had in place of allowing liquor to be
purchased at the onboard duty free store, with a 15% premium for onboard
consumption, has been rescinded. The new policy is that you pay the bar
cost for a bottle (which works out to about 3 times the shelf price), plus
an additional 15% service charge/gratuity. Be sure to raise a glass to
toast yourself for the great service you treat yourself to!

Also, FWIW, conversations with the employees shows a favorable attitude
towards the new tipping policy as it makes everyone work together. It was
clarified that if you opt out of having the gratuity added to your stateroom
charges, any gratuities received by the employee need to be turned into the
tip pool under an honor system. If you have the gratuity added to the
stateroom charges, the employee can keep any additional tips you give them.
It was said the crew will police themselves for those that don't comply.
The service was still up to HAL's exceptional standards!

HAL onboard liquor cost soar
 

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:18:00 GMT, "S/V Tranquility"
wrote:

It looks like the Carnival influence has shown up again.

Hi,

I would not blame the "Carnival influence" if I were you. Carnival
leaves decisions like this up to the individual brand's management.
Carnival saved HAL by purchasing the company in 1989. Carnival
Corporate management is not near that slow in making changes. ;+)

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

HAL onboard liquor cost soar
 

Ray Goldenberg wrote:

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:18:00 GMT, "S/V Tranquility"
wrote:


It looks like the Carnival influence has shown up again.


Hi,

I would not blame the "Carnival influence" if I were you. Carnival
leaves decisions like this up to the individual brand's management.

Defintely seems to be true, Ray. For example: Carnival generally goes a
great job of handling customer problems on board; imo and experience,
HAL still has a problem with this.

Howie

Carnival saved HAL by purchasing the company in 1989. Carnival
Corporate management is not near that slow in making changes. ;+)

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com