Embarkation: HAL could have done a better job. A mass of people crowding into the terminal. Plenty of HAL reps, but in the wrong places. we marched along with a group only to find they were going somewhere else! Result: we had inadvertently jumped a chaotic line, with no way to turn back. Once we got to the document lift stations, HAL agents were outstanding. Better use of the staff on hand and better delineation of the lines would have eliminated this minor frustration.

We had an inside cabin on Deck 1. No surprises. No disappointments. we are economy class travelers. This was our fifth cruise, the fourth with HAL. the ship appeared to be in fine order, clean and well maintained. I don't recall a single encounter with a staff / crew member that was anything but pleasant.

We had a card in our cabin: "A gift from HAL and our TA." With trembling hands I opened it. It was 5% to 20% off the most outrageously priced things on board. I shook the envelope out but I didn't find anything else. I didn't expect a gift. I don't expect a gift. ( This wasn't a gift. ) We have advised our TA to disassociate herself from this tackiness if she can. Read more