Tired of the Erroneous Demographic Reports......

[williamsk]

It doesn't upset me but I TOTALLY AGREE with the rest of the quote. Keep the children on other ships ;) (and for that matter, the immature adults).

 

Just think of them as future cruisers.

 

My DD has been on 3 cruises (3 years old) and will go on her second HAL cruise. Granted I don't like wild cruises, hence HAL, but not all kids are bad.

 

Kids are blessings, enjoy them while you can (we just assume they will be here longer). I have learned this the hard way, and will never consider it a vacation without my children.

 

So ease up on the Mommies who bring kids onboard, there may be a story you don't know. Reserve judgement until you can see either good or bad behavior.

 

Assuming kids are bad without a basis is also 'immature', just as people that refer to 'blue hairs' and follow up with generalizations.

 

For the record, I have more in common with many mature travelers. In the long term, we are only here a blink of an eye. Why miss getting to know a worthwhile person because of age perceptions?

[innlady1]

gee Swiss Myst - when i was young if I called someone a DINK, my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap. couldn't they have found another acronym?

 

lol, Jacqui! I can identify with that!

[innlady1]

Judy, I, too, remember reading the average age on HAL is 57. It suits us perfectly...no complaints!

[sail7seas]

I agree it suits us but the image is often so biased.

 

I'm not sure if HAL wants it to change or not...... I suspect they'd love to present themselves are perfect for everyone. :D (..and maybe they are !!:) )

 

[SwissMyst]

No statistics to back this up, but it seems HAL demographics are getting more international with every cruise we take than the more traditional North American (US and Canadian) make-up in the past.

 

Anyone have the facts on this trend? Discretionary income spending is spreading more broadly around the world these days and this is a very good emerging market for HAL to pursue with what it is offering right now - the more classic, smaller ship cruise experience.

[iancal]

HAL ships are certainly not empty or all tucked in bed by 9PM.

 

This does not happen until at least 10PM, sometimes even as late as 10:15 or 10:30 if the show has gone a little over it's usual time.

[localady]

When HAL announces the addition of Rock Climbing walls, Waterslides and Waterparks then we might really see the demographics change!! :eek: :eek:

(I say that in jest, but then I think of the poor Veendam.....:eek:)

[localady]

No statistics to back this up, but it seems HAL demographics are getting more international with every cruise we take than the more traditional North American (US and Canadian) make-up in the past.

 

Anyone have the facts on this trend? Discretionary income spending is spreading more broadly around the world these days and this is a very good emerging market for HAL to pursue with what it is offering right now - the more classic, smaller ship cruise experience.

 

HAL has positioned themselves in markets that are emerging cruise-wise as a way to open up new business. Americans are generally having a tougher time of it, and more are having to limit or discontinue travel in general.

[mustcruisemore]

I am not sick of it-I actually love it because to me it means that HAL will remain a classy ship to sail. I do NOT want the ice rinks, the wave pools, etc.

 

So I say, Shhhh.....let them think what they want!

 

Ditto :)

[mustcruisemore]

Just think of them as future cruisers.

 

My DD has been on 3 cruises (3 years old) and will go on her second HAL cruise. Granted I don't like wild cruises, hence HAL, but not all kids are bad.

 

Kids are blessings, enjoy them while you can (we just assume they will be here longer). I have learned this the hard way, and will never consider it a vacation without my children.

 

So ease up on the Mommies who bring kids onboard, there may be a story you don't know. Reserve judgement until you can see either good or bad behavior.

 

Assuming kids are bad without a basis is also 'immature', just as people that refer to 'blue hairs' and follow up with generalizations.

 

For the record, I have more in common with many mature travelers. In the long term, we are only here a blink of an eye. Why miss getting to know a worthwhile person because of age perceptions?

 

It also upsets me. BUT I am happy that we are "assumed" to be older because at least we do not have upqwards of 800-1500 children on board clamoring for rock walls, Ice skating rinks, etc., etc., and disrupting my visiting with the Genteel folks on HAL:)

 

Love the ambiance of a nice elegant cruise NOT a playground at sea!!

 

Joanie

 

Please don't flame me because we prefer to cruise without MASSES of children-not a few children. My post was a reply to the quote about 800-1500 children-NOT just a few children.

 

Yes, children are a blessing, they are not all bad, and they are also future cruisers and I respect all those things. And I am not down on mommies that bring their children onboard, even on HAL, and my post said nothing of the sort. But again, we prefer to cruise HAL because there are not MASSES of children on board.

[mustcruisemore]

Not in the least. As a few others have posted, I want to sail with an older, more mature group---and those younger passengers who fit in well with that group.

If the HAL reputation keeps those who don't like what HAL offers those of us who are "of a certain age" from booking a HAL cruise, so much the better.

 

What she said ;)

[fann1sh]

Kazu and all....OT: when I was finally able to call a jerk colleague a D.I.N.K....and he didn't bat an eye ...it made my day.

[SwissMyst]

CC recommends HAL as best for seniors/first timers! Scroll down: ;)

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=129

 

 

Uh, oh. Bad news for Princess and Celebrity because industry statistics floating around show they have even higher average ages and now we learn only HAL is good for "seniors". Heaven protect those poor elderly Princess and Celebrity demographics. Things must not be so good for them over there. :cool:

[windsor26]

I often wonder what age has to do with it

 

On a cruise in the med for 14 days a few years ago we took my MIL who had never cruised She was 93 and had a whale of a time We had late dinner and then she went to the casino for the first time in her life and was still there at midnight. She also went swimming and as she did not swim and was only 4ft11 inches she had quite a struggle but everyone helped her. We lost her during the day as a couple of gentlemen were teaching her cribbage and she played whist in the afternoon and when she sat quietly and embroidered a group of children would come and speak with her as they were interested in the patterns she was making. What has age got to do with it?????????????:confused:

[luv cruising 007]

"SwissMyst" count me in as well! Im 29 & I also enjoy sailing HAL alot, as well as my time on Princess and Carnival! Total between the 3 lines is 14 cruises so far in 10 years! My last cruise on the OOSTERDAM was so fun, packed niteclub with people my age and other ages having a blast, REALLY PACKED Piano bar, the Piano guy was excellent! Just a whole range of people young and old! Im trying to get the word out as well HAL is not just a line for old people! I forgot berween the 3 lines I AVOID SAILING AT PEAK CHILDREN TIMES(sorry if that offends anyone) My cruise to Cabo on the Carnival Spirit had at least three times as many senior citizens then my Oosterdam or Noordam cruise did!

[ASIWISH]

I am not sick of it-I actually love it because to me it means that HAL will remain a classy ship to sail. I do NOT want the ice rinks, the wave pools, etc.

 

My husband and I are in our late 50's and have not tried any other cruise line. Not to say we won't some day but at this point we have no reason to try a different cruise line.

 

Our son who is in his late 20's, loves cruising HAL as well. It does not bother him that usually he is the youngest on the ship because him and his girlfriend love chatting to anyone-no matter what age.

 

So I say, Shhhh.....let them think what they want!

 

You're a genius...

[xjust4fun]

Does not bother us at all. We rather sail on HAL with a older and mature group and those younger group that are respectful. The wealth of knowledge is amazing, the discussion contents can be enriching. Love HAL and all of their hard core members.

[Halgirl1278]

Im 34 years old and have been sailing on HAL since i was 13...and have no desire to sail with any other line.

 

And i usually go to bed way before my 67 year old mom! :)

[Cindy]

My husband and I will both be 52 when we take our first HAL cruise in November, and we're REALLY looking forward to it. Our November cruise is going to be our first after I retire in June. Up to this point, our cruises have been restricted to the high-volume school vacation times because I'm a principal and that's the only time I can travel.

Most of our Spring Break cruises have had between 900-1,300 children on them!:eek: Even though we've mastered the art of creating an adult experience on a child-filled ship, I can't wait to take longer cruises with more intriguing itineraries. We're fairly traditional in our cruise preferences...we like sitting at a large table and getting to know interesting, well-travelled people, dressing for dinner, and attending lectures, seminars, wine tastings, etc. We hope HAL will be a perfect fit!

[hvsteve1]

Watched the HAL ships leaving FLL on the web cam the past two days. Most of the passengers semed to be standing at the rail under their own power. Several had the strength to actually wave. The sound is kind of low so I couldn't tell whether I was hearing cheering or wheezing. :rolleyes: A guy on one of the ships wandered onto his balcony in a bathrobe. Don't know if that's a bad sign. The robe didn't appear to be open. :D

[Call8675309]

LOL! You may call DH and me DINKs, but please don't disabuse people of their misperceptions about HAL. We like the cruise line just as it is and would not change a thing. We experimented widely trying to find a good fit, and HAL is great for our "demographic".

[Winters in NZ]

Actually, I rather enjoy the reporting of the erroneous demographics. It allows more chances for a cheapie like me to grab a discounted cabin aboard my favorite cruse ships.:)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

To answer Sails original post.... Yes I hear this and deal with this on daily and often get tired of defending HAL:o But sometimes it is just hard to convince anyone otherwise. So I let them believe what they want to believe.

[MadManOfBethesda]

Actually, I rather enjoy the reporting of the erroneous demographics. It allows more chances for a cheapie like me to grab a discounted cabin aboard my favorite cruse ships.:)

 

Just out of curiosity, how many of you complaining about "erroneous demographics" actually routinely cruise on other lines besides HAL? I for one do and can categorically state that on every HAL cruise I've been on the passengers are older on average than on other similar cruises. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.) This past year alone I went on three transatlantic cruises; one each on HAL, Celebrity and RCL.

 

In previous years, I've taken HAL cruises from 7 days to 30 days in length; when compared to cruises of similar lengths on other lines, my HAL cruises have always had older (not to mention more infirm) passengers. In fact, on one cruise, I had a gentleman in his late 60s complain to me that the passengers were too old and boring (his words not mine).

 

As for me, I like HAL fine. I've been sailing on HAL ships since the early 90s when I was in my 30s. But when I board I know what to expect; and that includes a majority of passengers wanting to eat dinner before 6:00pm and a ghost ship before midnight.

 

HAL advertises and caters to an older clientele. There's no reason to deny it and there's no reason to be upset by it.

 

Let the flaming begin. :)

[Winters in NZ]

 

Let the flaming begin. :)[/quote

 

I'm getting the BBQ ready right now.:D