wow, I think if I watched service go down the tubes year in and year out. We have all seen some of this, but certainly not enough to warrent thinking of not cruising. I guess if the ships closed all the dining rooms and went to nothing but buffets, but that isn't likely to happen. NMNita
I love HAL !! Only reasons to seek another cruise line:
(1) If Holland America did away with traditional dining.
(2) If Holland America did away with formal evenings.
(3) If Holland America actively marketed for families with small children.
When the traditional way of cruising is gone and cruising starts to be like an all inclusive landarrangement.
They have already lost so much tradition and elegance from the past!
(sorry when i start to sound old ,which i am not (at least not very) ).
When all the ships become mini cities ... carrying 5000+ passengers ... cruising on any line with no longer be a pleasure to me and I will probably stop doing it. And, I hate to say it, but that day is probably gonna come ... though hopefully not for many, many years.
I would seriously have to rethink cruising if there was a bad experience at sea....as in a 40 foot wave washing over the deck (don't EVEN get me started on "The Poseidon Adventure" ). I am not a good sailor...have a problem with just the slightest swell while on a lake boat.
Thankfully, our very first TA was made aware of my problem and was quite helpful in showing us how to pick a cabin. That is why, when the cruise is booked, we always pick a specific cabin on board. Would rather not risk a GTY 'cause of not knowing where we'd be spending our vacation.
If they bent to the will of the "my rights above all" anti-smoking lobby and made even more or (shudder) all of the ship a smoke free zone, I'd look for alternative travel options.
If Hal goes to Freestyle or Personal Choice (Princess) there would be no reason to stay with Hal.
Little by little Hal has been changing and not for the better. They now charge for decent coffee and the cabins are smaller on the Vista ships. These are just a few of the changes.
Dvrdude brought up an interesting comment. A family member smokes and if Hal went to non smoking we would not select Hal as our cruise line.
Little by little Hal has been changing and not for the better. They now charge for decent coffee and the cabins are smaller on the Vista ships. These are just a few of the changes.
But isn't this to be expected ... that things which once were free are now being charged for? Hasn't the cost of cruising ... real dollar cost ... actually come down over the years? If so, then it would stand to reason that the cruise lines have to make money somewhere, and so to boost revenue, they charge for items that once were free ... or for items that in the past they never even offered.
Personally, I would rather the cost of my cruise be kept low and then let me decide which of those extra cost items are important enough for me to pay extra for ... especially since I find that all of these "extra charge" items are things that do not make up the basic ammenities which we associate with cruising. Our meals for the most part are still free, our cabin accommodations come with the price of our cruise fare, and even something like room service is totally complimentary ... unlike any hotel chain. The things then that are being charged for are "extras" ... not basics. And, let's face it ... you don't NEED to visit the spa, consume alcohol, gamble in the casino, play bingo or visit the specialty restaurants onboard. You can have a perfectly good cruise without all of those things, and in fact, many people do just that.
So, I am not at all concerned when I see certain items on sale now that at one time I got free ... not as long as those extra charges are not assessed against items that would make up my basic cruise experience.
Knowing that once I get on-board no more money HAS to be spent is very relaxing, in its own way. What I don't particularly agree with is the mandatory tipping. But, that is the price of the game (so to speak). Knowing it is there makes it easier to budget for the vacation.
Perhaps that is why there are so many questions as to prices aboard ship. There is nothing worse than thinking that everything is paid-for...and then to get money shock once the cruise is underway.
Thing is...it isn't just cruise ships that seem to nickel-and-dime. Theme parks have an admission price (some which are quite outrageous, IMO) and then the fun begins of trying to find a non-expensive place for lunch/dinner within the park.
Still...that is why doing homework before a vacation is just so important. Can't understand people who just 'go' and haven't a clue what to expect.
Theme parks have an admission price (some which are quite outrageous, IMO) and then the fun begins of trying to find a non-expensive place for lunch/dinner within the park.
And if a family has 3 or 4 kids it really becomes an issue! When the family cruises, those kids can pretty well eat what they want with no additional costs to the family who probably had to scrape and save to take the cruise in the first place.
I've got to go with Underwatergal here. I love to cruise, and have not yet been seasick (all of two cruises behind me ), but if I went through "the perfect storm" and was truly afraid of surviving, and many people were injured, it might be enough to keep me on land, I don't know.
What would keep me from cruising with a specific line? Let's see... If the majority of the staff were rude and unfriendly; if McDonalds became the only dining option ; or they filled in the swimming pools !!
Since those measures are pretty drastic, I'll keep cruising as long as I can afford to!
Don't laugh ... but on my Hawaii/South Pacific cruise last January, Kakalina, her husband and I actually when in search of a Mickey D's while on Kauai. What can I say? All that good food onboard, all we wanted, whenever we wanted. I guess it just induced a major Big Mac Attack!
As an EX smoker (the worst kind) I can tell you that there are plenty of places for thoughtful smokers.
I am particularly sensitive to smoke but as an EX I definitely don't think my rights exceed those of smokers.
I was in the casino the other night and coughed a little when this lady near me smoked. She immediately put out her grit. I told her that I knew I was in the smoking zone and to not put it out on my account. 95% of the ship is set aside for non smokers.
The only thing that will prevent me from cruising is if I cannot cool down my cabin (as was the case last week).
We're gonna stick with Alaska cruises for a while.
__________________
Dan
Peace through superior firepower.
Don't laugh ... but on my Hawaii/South Pacific cruise last January, Kakalina, her husband and I actually when in search of a Mickey D's while on Kauai. What can I say? All that good food onboard, all we wanted, whenever we wanted. I guess it just induced a major Big Mac Attack!
Blue skies ...
--rita
I know the feeling. A few years ago we were in Switzerland, staying at a BnB where the owner was a world class cook. After a few days, we were out train riding for the day and ended up in Bern about lunch time. As we walked out of the station, there was a Wendy's across the street and we headed for it quick like a bunny!
I would cease to sail with HAL if they embraced only run of the mill intineraries. So long as HAL goes where I have never been, I will probably remain a HAL Pal.
I know the feeling. A few years ago we were in Switzerland, staying at a BnB where the owner was a world class cook. After a few days, we were out train riding for the day and ended up in Bern about lunch time. As we walked out of the station, there was a Wendy's across the street and we headed for it quick like a bunny!
If the kiddos aren't engaged in sailing from an early age then where is its future? My kiddo got hooked on our "sport" from an early age and his first birthday party was aboard ship. Many older cruisers I met over the years remembered cruising as children. 8)
Quote:
Originally Posted by PacificHeights7
(3) If Holland America actively marketed for families with small children.
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Amadeus:09 Diamond;Celebrity:10 Summit; HAL: 87 Rotterdam V,89 Nieuw Amsterdam II,93 Nordam III,94 Ryndam III,96 Westerdam III,99 Veendam IV,01 Maasdam V,02 Amsterdam III,03 Volendam III,03 Zuiderdam II,04 Westerdam IV,04 Oosterdam I,05 Zaandam III,06 Statendam V,06 Prinsendam II,07 Nordam IV,08 Eurodam I,08 Rotterdam VI,09 Veendam IV,09 Volendam,10 Nieuw Amsterdam IV,12 Ryndam III;11 P&O:Artemis;RC:07 Splendour of the Seas,11 Navigator of the Seas,12 Majesty of the Seas
If the kiddos aren't engaged in sailing from an early age then where is its future? My kiddo got hooked on our "sport" from an early age and his first birthday party was aboard ship. Many older cruisers I met over the years remembered cruising as children. 8)
You make an excellent point and that is probably why HAL is making such a push for families with children. HAL's age demographic runs on the high side, and while that's a benefit right now (HAL's average "older" passenger probably has more spendable income which is required for many of the line's unique longer voyages), one day it will be their demise. After all, all these older cruisers will not be sailing forever. One day they will become too ill to travel, and eventually die. What happens to HAL then if they don't "recruit" some "junior sailors" who hopefully will one day embrace the passion we have?
So the next time we get annoyed with all the kids running around at the pool, perhaps we'd better just calm down and realize that it is these very same kids who will keep our favorite cruise line alive and healthy for as long as we wish to sail it ... and even beyond.
Re: What would be so bad about your cruise..........
Quote:
Originally Posted by Divemaster
Running out of new HAL ships to sail. Am a bit annoyed that the Rotterdam has no shorter departures from the US.
That's exactly what scares me. It seems like every cruise line's new builds are huge ships. What's the problem with building some smaller ships? I guess maybe the smaller ships are nowhere near as cheap to operate as the bigger ones, and that is why it is all huge megaliners that are being built today.
Well, the problem with the huge megaliners is that they take a heck of a large number of people to make them cost-efficient ... so every sailing, you're literally sharing the boat with a small city.
This, to me, is not attractive. I don't want to meet someone in line at embarkation ... hit it off with them ... and then not be able to find them for the duration of the cruise because our paths just never cross ... the ship is just too big. I like to become familiar with certain faces, and see them around the ship each day. I fear this is not gonna be possible in another twenty years or so because just about every ship sailing with be a megaliner carrying upwards of 3,000 to 5,000 passengers.
That will definitely be the day I stop cruising ... simply because cruising will no longer be fun for me.
Good Point Rita,
We met a couple at the bar on the first night (Sunday).
Though we hit it off we did not advance to the point of planning to meet again.
Saw them again on Thursday as they were getting off the elevator.
They had been looking for us too!
__________________
Dan
Peace through superior firepower.
HAL's age demographic runs on the high side, and while that's a benefit right now (HAL's average "older" passenger probably has more spendable income which is required for many of the line's unique longer voyages), one day it will be their demise. After all, all these older cruisers will not be sailing forever. One day they will become too ill to travel, and eventually die.
Well, wait a minute here. Isn't HAL one of the oldest operating cruise lines? I think they have been around for like 135 years. Older passengers will be replaced by more older passengers. Lets face it, older folks are the ones with the time and money to spend. And, they will always want to sail on a line that caters to their demographic. Why do you think you dont see senior citizens hangin out in the hottest trendy night clubs?
HAL will survive fine if they just keep doing what sets them apart from all the other mass marketed cruise lines. If they just become another same old cruise line, they may face their demise. I believe there is a place for HAL, in its present and previous form, now and in the future.
As for what would make me stop cruising HAL? More of a shift from their current traditions and banning smoking on the ship.
Tim
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I agree with rita. When the ships carrying less than 2,000 passengers disappear from cruising, so will I.
I find nothing attractive about spending 7, 10, 14, 30 or 110, days on board a ship with 3,500 passengers on it. For me, there is nothing special about that at all.
Well, wait a minute here. Isn't HAL one of the oldest operating cruise lines? I think they have been around for like 135 years. Older passengers will be replaced by more older passengers. Lets face it, older folks are the ones with the time and money to spend. And, they will always want to sail on a line that caters to their demographic. Why do you think you dont see senior citizens hangin out in the hottest trendy night clubs?
Yeah, but a lot of those older passengers probably discovered HAL while they were younger. If not as kids, then as young adults. Perhaps they sailed the line with their parents or grandparents. They fell in love with it and continued with HAL being their line of choice as they grew older and made their own bookings.
So, my feeling is that today you basically have two HALs ... the Vista ships ... trendy, bright colors, more varied nightlife, etc. ... and the older ships. Since the Vistas tend to do the shorter, family-oriented cruises for the most part, the younger people flock to them with their families ... hopefully leaving all the other ships for us.
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What would be so bad about your cruise..........
). I am not a good sailor...have a problem with just the slightest swell while on a lake boat. 
), but if I went through "the perfect storm" and was truly afraid of surviving, and many people were injured, it might be enough to keep me on land, I don't know.
!!
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