Jury still out on Oprah

Anyone have any definitive results of the HAL/Oprah partnership ? Is it a win/win for HAL or Oprah or both or neither one ?

The pictures shown on HAL's promotions feature women's participation, wonder what spouses do ?

The women may be sailing with friends vs. spouses.

Roz

Anyone have any definitive results of the HAL/Oprah partnership ? Is it a win/win for HAL or Oprah or both or neither one ?

The pictures shown on HAL's promotions feature women's participation, wonder what spouses do ?

Whatever we are told to do

Whatever we are told to do

Lol. Spoken like an experienced spouse!

Whatever we are told to do

I admire your attitude!

I would rather walk the plank than go on a cruise featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil, or any of their ilk including those flogging financial or spiritual well being. Or a combo of both.

It just seems to gimmicky to me.

I would rather walk the plank than go on a cruise featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil, or any of their ilk including those flogging financial or spiritual well being. Or a combo of both.

Amen

Sent from my iPad using Forums

No one wrote much about it here on CC after the July launch. I think that that speaks volumes.

Last month on The NA, there were half a dozen Oprah books in the library. Also some exercise programme around the pool at 7 am.

I slept through that.

Sandra

1/3 of the shop on Oosterdam was "O" stuff. Was selling like gangbusters.

The line sent out a press release yesterday. "Success" is often subjective, but the partnership did win an award:

Seattle, Wash., Oct. 12, 2017 — Holland America Line recently collected a trio of awards from Seatrade Europe, AFAR Media and Kreuzfahrt Traume that recognized the brand’s marketing initiatives, Alaska cruises and culinary excellence, respectively.

Holland America Line’s partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine won the 2017 Seatrade Cruise Award for Marketing Initiative of the Year; the AFAR Travelers' Choice Cruise Awards recognized the line’s Alaska Cruises; and Rudi’s Sel De Mer was given the International German Cruise Award for Best New Restaurant Concept by German publication Kreuzfahrt Traume.

“We are always deeply honored when our brand is recognized for an initiative we worked tirelessly to develop or an experience that elevates who we are and what we deliver,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “Thank you to the readers and decision-makers from Seatrade, AFAR and Kreuzfahrt Traume who awarded us with these three prestigious honors.”

Seatrade Europe Recognizes O, The Oprah Magazine Partnership

Holland America Line’s partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine earned the 2017 Seatrade Cruise Award for Marketing Initiative of the Year. The new award recognized the cruise line’s onboard programming that was designed to unite the soul-stirring power of travel with the magazine’s deep commitment to connection and personal growth.

Five special theme cruises feature exclusive programming developed with the magazine’s editors, along with guest motivational speakers and one very special cruise that Oprah Winfrey sailed on in July 2017. Additionally, more than 300 cruises sailing from North America through the remainder of 2017 and 2018 have a variety of inspiring and engaging activities that bring the magazine to life on board.

AFAR Audience Names Holland America Line’s Alaska Cruises Number-One

In the AFAR Travelers’ Choice Cruise Awards, Holland America Line earned top accolades for its Alaska cruises. This is the first year AFAR Media broke their esteemed awards into three categories: hotel, cruise and destinations. More than 130,000 votes were received in the cruise category alone, and Holland America came out as number-one in the Alaska Cruise Line category.

In 2017 Holland America Line celebrated its 70th year as a leader in Alaska exploration. The line’s award-winning Alaska cruises and Land+Sea Journeys are the heart of the company’s global itineraries, and every itinerary is highlighted by scenic cruising of Alaska’s Inside Passage and one or more of Alaska’s famous glaciers and fjords.

Holland America Line’s Land+Sea Journeys combine a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage or Glacier Discovery cruise with in-depth overland tours to the Yukon and Alaska’s interior. Holland America Line is the only cruise company to weave must-see sites such as Denali National Park — the centerpiece of every Land+Sea Journey — with seldom-seen ones, such as Dawson City, in the heart of Klondike Gold Rush Country.

Rudi’s Sel De Mer Wins Best New Restaurant Concept

German publication Kreuzfahrt Traume named Rudi’s Sel de Mer Best New Restaurant Concept at the International German Cruise Awards. First launched on ms Koningsdam as a stand-alone venue, Rudi’s Sel de Mer recently debuted as a pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill on several ships in the Holland America Line fleet, and will expand to the entire fleet next year. The specialty restaurant was created and named for the cruise line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, who conceived and developed the concept.

For Rudi’s Sel De Mer, Sodamin created Food Faces art for the exclusive show plates made by Bernardaud. Each plate portrays an image of a work of art crafted from food.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer is built around a menu of classic French Mediterranean dishes with a contemporary twist, featuring locally sourced seafood. The setting is an intimate brasserie with custom décor, plates, menus and uniforms reflecting the ambiance. Guests can indulge in a diverse selection of dishes over several courses that includes Rudi’s Seafood Tower, Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, Fruits de Mer, Duck Cassoulet, Soufflé au Fromage, Salt Crust Baked Branzino and desserts like Crêpes Suzette, Profiteroles with Hot Chocolate Sauce and Rudi’s famed Souffle – a version of the Salzburger Nockerl.

1/3 of the shop on Oosterdam was "O" stuff. Was selling like gangbusters.

Excuse my ignorance but what/who is "gang busters" ....?

Excuse my ignorance but what/who is "gang busters" ....?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

Excuse my ignorance but what/who is "gang busters" ....?

Sorry- US slang. Was the busiest part of the shop

Why would anyone want to buy 'O" stuff? Was it tax free, discounted by 50 or 75 percent?

Sounds like good business for HAL.

Why would anyone want to buy 'O" stuff? Was it tax free, discounted by 50 or 75 percent?

 

Sounds like good business for HAL.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

Why would anyone want to buy 'O" stuff? Was it tax free, discounted by 50 or 75 percent?

 

Sounds like good business for HAL.

None of it on sale. Most of the HAL logo stuff was on sale

On my cruise last week the O shop was empty every time I was ever there. My guess is they sell things when she's on the ship - otherwise - it's a dead zone.

Does Oprah really need to schlepp this stuff? Must be lots of margin in it for her and for HAL.

I would rather walk the plank than go on a cruise featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil, or any of their ilk including those flogging financial or spiritual well being. Or a combo of both.

Ditto!

Why would anyone want to buy 'O" stuff? Was it tax free, discounted by 50 or 75 percent?

Or 100%? :confused:

Why would anyone want to buy 'O" stuff? Was it tax free, discounted by 50 or 75 percent?

 

Sounds like good business for HAL.

It may have just looked good compared to the other stuff.

Once someone decides to get a souvenir, they buy something.

It just seems to gimmicky to me.

It was ! On the Oosterdam last month, 1/3 of the gift shop was Oprah themed, including signage everywhere.

I was looking for reading glasses and have always found an interesting pair to buy on past cruises.

This time, only Oprah ones.

There was also self-help type lecture from someone who was pilfering a book Oprah was sponsoring.

Exercise class- stretch or yoga, was a "mindfulness class with meditation.

I found it nauseating, personally.

1/3 of the shop on Oosterdam was "O" stuff. Was selling like gangbusters.

So what kind of “stuff” were they selling?

So what kind of “stuff” were they selling?

I saw clothes, books when walking by, though avoided the shops because of the 'O' brand.

There most likely were other items for her fans.