Everything was adequate, but certainly no "wow" factor. Steward tried to overcharge us multiple times for water from the minibar. Even though we sat at the same table every night, the waiters never learned our names or beverage preferences. They were polite, but very rushed, and service was impersonal.

Many repeat HAL cruisers expressed disappointment at the cutbacks. They all said it was the "little things" that were gone, all done to trim the budget. The welcome glass of champagne, the flowers in the cabin, the "higher end food", etc. The food and service at the Pinnacle Grill was at the level you originally would have had in the main dining room - for no extra charge. At the same time, the aggressive approach to get you to spend money was very noticeable - ridiculously high internet fees, charging you for a soft drink with your lunch, or loud promotionals to get you to shop,shop, and shop some more.

Age is a state of mind. Some have commented on the age of the passengers. It's not so much the chronological age of the passengers, but their physical and mental shape. It was a traffic jam of walkers, Hoverounds, and wheelchairs. Others were walking around disoriented or confused, or fell sound asleep at the dining tables. Suffice it to say, the fitness center was never crowded. Entertainment was mostly music from the 1940's and 1950's. (Doris Day not Little Richard). Although I qualify as a "senior citizen", I felt like I was a bit young for HAL's "target audience". In all fairness, many seemed to be enjoying the cruise, but I'll look for different cruise line for future cruises.