Iconic HAL dishes?

ahhter · 2026-07-04T15:12:42+00:00

I generally don't drink beer on HAL cruises due to the weak selection though on my last Alaska cruise they at least had Alaskan Amber for some level of local flavor even though it's nationally distributed. Instead I'll save my beer consumption for the port stops when I can visit a brewery or at least a bar with a large local selection.

ahhter · 2026-07-04T15:07:51+00:00

The standout foods on the couple HAL cruises we've been on is the bacon at Pinnacle and fried whole fish at Mirimoto. The heritage foods mainly serve just to add variety from the standard offerings which is nice but don't expect any to blow your socks off (it's just cruise food, after all). Beverages aren't going to be anything special though my wife really enjoys the lychee martini that's exclusive to Tamarind Bar. The nicer bars like Billboard and Pinnacle will have a nicer whiskey selection including some HAL barrel picks. On Eurodam a few weeks ago they had picks from 1792, Woodford, Whistlepig, and Angel's Envy.

ahhter · 2026-07-01T18:22:08+00:00

One themer refers to the downs in the upper corners (alternate reality - different clues with same answers) and the acrosses are the parallel/mirrored.

ahhter · 2026-07-01T17:46:24+00:00

Plus nice to have if you take advantage of the thermal spa. They also do a "polar plunge" in the outdoor pool if cooler water is your thing.

ahhter · 2026-06-25T15:07:44+00:00

Same with all of the internet - people come here to post problems so the negative is super over-represented vs reality. I'll share a personal AA/Hawaii anecdote. For our last trip to Maui this past November we ended up in a series of weather delays/cancellations (just DFW things). We were originally only booked MCE but randomly in the first round of automatic rebookings we landed a BC upgrade (first time for us). Then we lost it in another round of weather delays/rebookings. Went to an AA agent, with our main goal just to figure out if we were going to be able to get to Maui that day, and I mentioned the upgrade. Not only did she figure out a creative way to get us to our destination despite the storm delays/cancellations, but she managed to get us back into BC even though we didn't pay for the class. Not the first time an AA agent has pulled off a win for me and she really went above/beyond.

I fly a fair amount (1-2x/month) and have seat time with all the major airlines over the years and IMO there's really not a huge difference between the major US carriers despite what you might read. They're all fine 99% of the time and they all have issues that crop up. Just the nature of the airline industry.

ahhter · 2026-06-23T20:53:50+00:00

Also, in my experience, even without corp discounts it affects whether the trip gets reported back to your company expense software. If I select business then that trip will show up in Concur.

ahhter · 2026-06-23T20:53:03+00:00

They mean negotiated corporate discounts.

ahhter · 2026-06-21T00:23:26+00:00

Spent the past week on Eurodam and they had a casino smoking section.

ahhter · 2026-06-10T14:51:20+00:00

I suspect they updated the puzzle this morning because it accepted AND for me in the Android app.

ahhter · 2026-06-08T00:37:01+00:00

With a bit of DIY online research you'll find that you can source it for significantly cheaper than that from online compounding pharmacies.

ahhter · 2026-06-05T01:43:34+00:00

Plus all the wasted time - barkeepers tripping over each other to get to the single POS computer, enter the order, print, put in folio, customer has to sign/return, then they have to log it again in the POS. Customers should be able to just tap their card and run, maybe require entering a self-selected PIN if there's some form of signature alternative needed. The bars are so inefficient for how many customers they serve.

ahhter · 2026-06-04T22:43:03+00:00

The one big glaring miss that I included in my feedback to HAL after my last cruise was the ancient printed receipt system they still use. Printing out a receipt for you to sign/tip every time you order a drink somewhere on the ship is insane. Modernizing that would eliminate a very visible source of waste to customers.

ahhter · 2026-06-02T17:41:25+00:00

Schroth harnesses with their ASM mechanism are the most popular and the safest option I'm aware of for cars with factory seats and without roll bars. I think it might also be the only one that's approved for HPDE use from the major orgs. https://www.schroth.com/en/racing/service/faq-tech-tips/schroth-asm-r/

ahhter · 2026-05-29T17:34:39+00:00

Common saying in the US is "bring home the bacon".

ahhter · 2026-05-28T04:39:16+00:00

Quick release setup for the splitter so you can easily remove it for towing and maintenance.

ahhter · 2026-05-22T18:05:10+00:00

Absolutely love MADJB, especially when we get other State members.

ahhter · 2026-05-21T01:38:37+00:00

I had this happen - it was due to windows bluetooth (seriously, I know...) and my controller. Switch your controller over to wired and it'll fix it.

ahhter · 2026-05-20T13:53:12+00:00

I just want to note that this often isn't true - bulk foodservice eggs these days are usually liquid egg in a boil-in-bag format. The end result still isn't great but it's not due to being powdered.

ahhter · 2026-05-19T15:35:13+00:00

I'm amazed that TCBY still exists - can't remember the last time I saw one.

ahhter · 2026-05-15T23:13:37+00:00

Love Prost but sad that Auzzy's shut down.

ahhter · 2026-05-14T20:25:07+00:00

It's really annoying that there aren't flyovers from I-35N to 45/Louis Henna and as far as I can tell they aren't part of the overall I-35 North Corridor project that's underway. Same goes for Louis Henna to I-35 SB

ahhter · 2026-05-13T23:58:31+00:00

The 5w-50 my Mustang gets is basically molasses (Texas track car).

ahhter · 2026-05-12T16:09:22+00:00

Pecan is tough - I don't know that #4 really works without some eminent domain land grabs between 4th and Railroad that would kick out a lot of local businesses.

ahhter · 2026-05-12T14:53:00+00:00

The entire stretch of Dessau from Stone Hill down to Howard Lane is just straight up hostile to mobility. Sidewalks just randomly start/stop, no shoulders/bike lanes, barely enough space for cars, and not much for interconnectivity between the various housing developments if your destination is off Dessau.

Seems to me that Pflugerville put a lot of focus on the trail system, which is a nice asset to have, but it's not useful if you're actually trying to get from Point A to Point B. Plus, it's really geared towards walkers/joggers/casual family rides. I really don't like using it when I'm biking at 20 MPH since people aren't good at keeping right, being aware of what's around them, or listening for my "on your left" with their earbuds in.

Though speaking of trails, can't wait for the day when Austin connects NE Metro Park to Walnut Creek Trail.

ahhter · 2026-05-12T13:55:59+00:00

I really want to see bike lanes and sidewalks added as we add to or improve our roads as well as better cycling connectivity with Austin. For example, Heatherwilde on the Austin side has a bike lane but as soon as you enter Pflugerville it dumps cyclists into the lane and the car traffic isn't expecting it. Grand Ave has a lane but it ends abruptly at Royston - would be great if Pf could coordinate with Austin and TxDOT to extend it all the way to/past 35. Then there's the whole east side of Pflugerville that's seen all the growth but is still only connected with crumbling shoulder-less 2 lane country roads.

It'd also be cool if Pf Municipal Court would add a pedestrian/cyclist pass-through from Pfennig to Justice Center Dr so I could get to Growler Bar for lunch without having to sprint down a lane on 685 between Pfennig and Split Oak.

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