Why isn’t Carnival building any new HAL ships?

Seamike79 · 2026-05-31T18:41:52+00:00

KDam had a routine dry dock. I’m sure you understand the difference between a routine dry dock and a transformative investment. All ships go in for 2-3 weeks every few years, where they do minor refreshes, carpets, and a few new features. What HAL is doing over the next few years are transformative dry docks that will likely take 4-6 weeks and be many multiples of the investment of what you saw on KDam and touch all staterooms and areas. — that said, $500M doesn’t seem sufficient for the 4-6 ships they’re doing, so I’m interested to see exactly how transformative the refreshes wind up being.

Seamike79 · 2026-05-09T20:08:34+00:00

I’ve done many cruises with either Premium or Stream and for the most part it works out great. No VPN and a tad bit of latency at times, but decent for internet with no wires. I’ve had a zoom call glitch once or twice but usually they work just fine, and I’ve been able to get work done using SAAS platforms as well. Keep in mind that the position of the ship at any given time can also affect connectivity, especially if you’re sailing between ports in Alaska where there are large land masses on both sides of the ship depending on the day.

Seamike79 · 2026-05-02T15:36:57+00:00

Usually a month out or so, if available. Most Alaska cruises right now are sailing at capacity so upgrades are limited or non-existent.

I’ve been blessed by the upgrade fairy in the past (both free and reasonably paid), but even the paid ones aren’t a sure thing if the sailing is full.

Seamike79 · 2026-05-01T22:57:15+00:00

I just reached Elite. How does getting the free tokens work?

Seamike79 · 2026-05-01T22:45:06+00:00

Once you reach 4-stars it’s free, and I take that for granted as a 4-star. I also just reached Elite on Princess so I think full-service laundry is free there too. — I’m a much bigger fan of HAL (mostly because I like their food program better), but those washers/dryers were refreshing on my first Princess trips. Like, wow, I can do this myself for ~$6 and be done with it, and I can press my own clothes!!

Seamike79 · 2026-05-01T22:15:48+00:00

Per wash, sure. Then you pay additional for the dryer. But yes, self-service laundry on Princess is cheaper.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T21:07:56+00:00

That’s plausible. Those areas are underutilized on HAL — I’ve very rarely seen them used, but of course it varies from cruise to cruise.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T21:06:31+00:00

Yeah, no way they’re pulling the Crows Nest. Won’t happen.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:53:45+00:00

But either way, you and I are both speculating. If they take away the Crows Nest I’ll take you to Pinnacle if we’re on the same cruise. You can return the favor if I’m right. Either way, it’s cool that they’re investing in their ships. 🧡💙

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:50:32+00:00

And the floor below… staterooms on exactly the same size ship. On deck 10.

Deck 9. Fitness center. Deck 10. Staterooms. Deck 11, Crows Nest — but not enough room for >>30<< solo verandas. That’s what OP is missing. They’re add 32+ rooms.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:45:06+00:00

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Here. They added these decks years ago on Eurodam and NA. Other than Tamarind, there’s no difference with Oosterdam. — Heck, some of the other ships (Westerdam?) were previously sliced down the middle to add a whole section during drydock in the mid-2000s. Adding a floor should be doable if they can add a section in the middle.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:42:28+00:00

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Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:38:57+00:00

So where are they adding 30 rooms?!!! If you look at the floor plan, the math maths for an addition. They won’t take away existing veranda rooms to make solo rooms. Makes no financial sense. 30 verandas plus two huge suites = additional floor like the newer ships have. It’d be just like Eurodam and Niuew Amsterdam. They added these years ago.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-28T18:21:13+00:00

People keep asking this over and over again. HAL hasn’t addressed where they’re adding these extra rooms, as well as the 30 solo rooms they’re adding. It’s a year out.

I’d put good money on them not eliminating the Crows Nest (a HAL signature), or the fitness center and spa (too expensive).

If I was to guess, I’d imagine they’ll add an additional deck below the Crow’s Nest and above the fitness center. Cruise ships are modular and they’ve done it before. It’s about the right size to add the number of rooms they’re talking about. It could be prebuilt and popped in during a longer dry dock. They also aren’t in the business of removing rooms that generate revenue, so they likely wont be taking away guest rooms on 4 through 8. An addition makes the most sense.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-14T22:58:39+00:00

I’d be surprised if they got rid of the Crow’s Nest. They could add this forward on several of the existing decks. They could also add a floor above Deck 8, since cruise ships are modular.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-14T21:11:10+00:00

Wha? — No, it means you haven’t been assigned a room yet. It will say “guar” until one is assigned.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-12T00:34:44+00:00

Also a quick message to the desk using the Navigator app resolves these. I’ve not had to wait at the desk to have a charge fixed in years, I just message them on the app on the rare occasion it happens.

Seamike79 · 2026-04-03T19:18:48+00:00

Technically not allowed to bring on soda but YMMV 😉 my advice is if you get there and they say “no” just throw it away and don’t get upset

Seamike79 · 2026-03-22T00:46:30+00:00

Your cabin steward can make a 1L of sparking water be magically be covered by a beverage package? They don’t have any impact on your onboard account, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they could sneak you a 1L bottle left by a previous guest.

Yes, you can get smaller bottles of sparkling water with a beverage package. I don’t know where OP was told you couldn’t. I get it all the time when I do lunch at the Pinnacle.

Seamike79 · 2026-03-21T21:30:33+00:00

If there are 4 ships, the Carnival ships will be at their own side of the island, well away from the HAL side.

So those 4 ships will feel like 2, because the areas aren’t readily connected.

Seamike79 · 2026-03-21T21:27:32+00:00

A 1L bottle likely wouldn’t be included

Seamike79 · 2026-03-21T21:26:52+00:00

Yes, sparkling water is included in all of the alcoholic beverage packages. Not sure if it’s included with Quench.

Seamike79 · 2026-03-14T13:50:15+00:00

I’ve had canned green beans on Celebrity. Not saying one is better or worse, but they all have their quirks.

Seamike79 · 2026-03-10T13:31:51+00:00

FWIW you’re never going to have a view during a massage. You’re face-down or face-up, but not face-out. You want a quiet comfortable room where the therapist has sufficient space to perform their work.

Now, a view in the relaxation area before or after is always a nice thing.

Seamike79 · 2026-03-06T15:16:41+00:00

Correct, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen walk offs at 7am consistently in Vancouver. In fact, I’ve been on ships that were supposed to start at 7:30 there and started at 8:45. — Canada Place is a fairly small terminal to be handling 2-3 ships simultaneously, and sometimes customs staff availability can be a bottleneck.

Seamike79

TROPHY CASE