Personal Opinions After 50 Days On a Ship

• Am I homesick?  No.  I miss hugs and conversations with the people I love and I miss my shower.  And Mexican food because what HAL calls Mexican food isn't even close.  Tasty but not Mexican.
  
• People are rude.  People at home are rude too but this is a reminder why I don't want to live in a retirement community.  Passengers are mostly elderly and I'm sure many are in pain.  Some are incredibly entitled and rude.  I try to avoid those who are and to not be like them.  Please stop yelling and cursing at crew who are doing their very best to help you.  When they tell you that you and your scooter cannot get on a tender because it is dangerous for you and the crew, trust that they have your best interest at heart.  And no crew member should be put in danger because you "have" to get ashore.

• There was a loud noise in my cabin for two afternoons in a row during sea days.  I called Guest Services.  Within minutes a staff member came to my cabin and said "Oh, that is the drilling they are doing on the deck below you.  It will happen every sea day for the rest of the cruise.  But it is ok because we've told them not to do it at night or early in the morning."
  
  No, not ok.  Several hours later I got a call saying they would only be doing the drilling during port days because they had gotten so many complaints.  Hurray!
  
• Has Holland cut back services and amenities on the world cruise since I did it 19 years ago.  Yes.  And, they haven't made upgrades that they should have.  To watch a movie involves going to guest services and getting DVDs (free) and hoping they work since most are so used they skip or don't work at all.  C'mon HAL, upgrade the ship.  Including replacing the tiny bathtubs with walk in showers.
  
  Food is better than a "regular" HAL cruise, but still not what it used to be.  But there's a lot of variety and someone else shops, cooks and cleans up so I'm happy.
  
• Sickness spreads like wildfire on a ship.  Several people got on with colds and the majority of passengers got it.  I have been lucky, so far.  It does not help when people insist on being out and about because they don't want to miss anything so happily cough and sneeze their way around the ship.
  
• The HAL crew is consistently amazing.  Friendly, helpful and always there to do what is needed.  Many have worked for HAL for years (including a couple of guys I met 19 years ago on the Rotterdam) so they must be doing something right.  I was talking to a crew member about the rumor that two crew members got hurt in Easter Island.  She said that if they were hurt they'd be flown back to their home country, medical treatment paid for and would receive 3 months salary. 
  
• I've met some really lovely and interesting passengers.  I've also met a few I prefer not to spend time with (and I'm sure there are some who feel that way about me).  What's really interesting is that I'll occasionally see someone and think, "Where did they come from?  Never seen them before". 
  
• People tend to get in routines, sit at the same tables, etc.  Which is fine but please don't assume that because you typically have lunch at the same table at the Lido that it is reserved for you.  Sorry, it was vacant and we sat there.  Don't stand on the other side of the room in a huff saying "I can't believe the nerve.  They KNOW that's our table."  A.  I didn't KNOW and B. No, I'm not moving.  There's an empty table right next to where I'm eating.  Sit there and be nice.
  
• One woman told me that another woman had a complaint lodged against her with casino management because she was "too loud and too happy.  She must be on drugs because no one is that happy all the time."