Cruise Talk: HAL - Please say it isn't so!

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Topic: HAL - Please say it isn't so!

Jkm7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1352

posted 11-29-2000 09:52 AM

I just read on another board that Carnival is about to begin sharing Half Moon Cay with HAL. Please say it's just a dirty rumor with no truth to it! Does anyone know?

Half Moon Cay is paradise to us..... but not sharing it with a ship load full of Carnival pax. The island isn't big enough to handle a Carnival and HAL ship on the same day. PLEASE say it isn't so!

Posts: 37 | From: USA | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 11-29-2000 10:30 AM

Yes, Carnival is going to Half Moon Cay.

Starting from 2002 Carnival Pride will call at Half Moon on all Eastern Caribbean Cruises from Port Canaveral (every 15 days), but only from April to October. During this period of the year almost all HAL ships are in Europe or in Alaska, and I think they arrange the schedule in order to not have two ships there on the same day. The rest of the year, the itinerary will feature Salt Cay, also a Bahamian private island which will be accessed via tender service from Nassau, where the ship will dock.

Ryndam

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 11-29-2000 11:28 AM

Ryndam - oh, that sounds better. I just couldn't see passengers from two large ships occupying this beautiful island at the same time. There just isn't enough room.
HAL ships are not there every day and this makes more sense.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

CRUISOLOGY
First Class Passenger
Member # 1693

posted 11-29-2000 03:19 PM

Never cared for Half Moon Cay. But it does allow HAL to get out of the country to satisfy the law. Been there 3 times, always go in for half hour go back to the ship and make believe it is a day at sea. I do like beaches but would rather fly and spend a week rather than several hours in a place that seems contrived

Posts: 29 | From: Mt Pleasant, SC USA | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Jkm7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1352

posted 11-29-2000 05:59 PM

I fear .....where one Carnival ship goes, others will follow.

I mean no offense, but if we want the "carnival experience", we would book our cruise on a "fun ship". We choose HAL and the experience we are accustomed to them providing.

Posts: 37 | From: USA | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Chalk Dust
First Class Passenger
Member # 1272

posted 11-29-2000 07:39 PM

I am ceratinly no expert, but I think the facilities at HAlf Moon Cay would not be able to provide lunch for two ships at the same time. Maybe they would be able to expand the facilities to improve the experience there. My wife and I enjoyed it so much, I hope they improve it if they change it at all.

Posts: 47 | From: Flower Mound, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 11-29-2000 10:16 PM

I do not understand why Carnival is going there. Their philosophy has always been to give you an extra day at sea to enjoy the ship more. This I agree with and to me makes their itinerary more attractive than some other cruise lines that try to cram all these places into a short period of time. It's too bad somebody dosen't go to Grand Cayman and just stay there for a couple of days like Bermuda, but I guess local restrictions would prevent that anyway>

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

jeff
First Class Passenger
Member # 614

posted 11-30-2000 02:00 AM

from what it sounds like.....it seems as though some of you just don't want first class to mix with third class passengers....or shall i say the party goers to mix with the snobs.....sorry if i have ruffled any feathers....but it does sound that way.....jeff
p.s.....i'm a fan of HAL and carnival....just depends on what type of vacation i'm looking for.

Posts: 180 | From: vancouver,b.c.,canada | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

nathan
First Class Passenger
Member # 720

posted 11-30-2000 10:48 AM

Well said, Jeff.

Posts: 534 | From: Knoxville, Tennessee | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

cameron
First Class Passenger
Member # 966

posted 11-30-2000 12:37 PM

There goes Carnival bashing again. The decision to have Carnival Pride use Half Moon Cay is more of a business decision. Since Carnival spend hug amount of money either purchasing or leasing Half Moon Cay, they want to get the most return on their investment dollar. Since HAL ships are in Alaska and Europe for the Summer and sail in the Caribbean for winter, it makes a lot of sense for Carnival to use the island when it is not been used by HAL.
I agree with Jeff. Just because Carnival is least expensive of the two cruise lines, it doesn't mean Carnival is a third class cruise line.

Posts: 50 | From: Fremont, CA, USA | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 11-30-2000 01:19 PM

Most of you forget that HAL employs workers from surrounding islands to work on HMC. There are a couple of people who live there year round, but the rest of them go home at night. If there is only one HAL ship there during the summer months, then that means that these employees only get paid for 1 days work.
I can't see anything wrong with Carnival using the island on days when the Maasdam is not there - Carnival will make money and so will the island staff. Is that so bad?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cameron
First Class Passenger
Member # 966

posted 11-30-2000 02:28 PM

I agreed with you Sympatico. Carnival is want to generate as much revenue as they can and so does Carnival staffs. Revenue generating from the alcohol and other rentals are huge. On the same token, tips from selling and serving alcohol can be generous.
After reading all the respond from this post, there seems to be animosity toward Carnival sharing Half Moon Cay with HAL.

Posts: 50 | From: Fremont, CA, USA | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 11-30-2000 04:02 PM

I just talked to a friend who is a Chief Officer on one of HALs ships and when I told him about this post re Carnival using HMC, he said "I have never seen Carnival use their own tenders for transferring passengers, so how are they going to get them to the island"
Good question! Anyone know?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 12-01-2000 12:51 AM

All the Carnival Spirit class ships will be fitted with six air-conditioned tenders. Carnival Spirit will use them in Alaska (Sitka) and in the Caribbean; Carnival Pride will use them when calling at Half Moon Cay.

Ryndam

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 12-01-2000 07:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ryndam:
All the Carnival Spirit class ships will be fitted with six air-conditioned tenders. Carnival Spirit will use them in Alaska (Sitka) and in the Caribbean; Carnival Pride will use them when calling at Half Moon Cay.
Ryndam

Thanks Ryndam - I will pass this info on. This was a big question on the ship - how was Carnival going to get the paxs to the island - now we know. My friend was very interested to know that you sailed once with HAL - he was wondering what ship and when?.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ryndam
First Class Passenger
Member # 1315

posted 12-01-2000 08:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by sympatico:
Thanks Ryndam - I will pass this info on. This was a big question on the ship - how was Carnival going to get the paxs to the island - now we know. My friend was very interested to know that you sailed once with HAL - he was wondering what ship and when?.

I was on the Ryndam between February 1997 and August 1997.

Ryndam

Posts: 260 | From: Genoa (Italy) | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 12-01-2000 10:05 AM

And I was there in November, '97 - Captain Jack was the Master

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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