Officers Attending the Meet and Greet?

[sammiedawg]

With HAL's new ship, Koningsdam, they are moving to a family cruise line. The new ship will have family suites. My interpretation is that they are looking towards the younger cruisers and their long term future. Which will place them head to head with RCL

 

The question is will they continue the longer cruises which attract the more experienced cruisers who are looking for the true cruise experience or will they follow Carnival and Princess.

 

Years ago a HAL rep told us the Zuiderdam would be their foray into family cruising. I guess that plan did not work out.

I think HAL will downsize their fleet and get rid of all the old ships, which is fine with me. They will keep a smaller number of newer ships and try to attract the younger customers but I don't think just having family suites will attract them. I think HAL is in a difficult situation because they let their fleet get too old and musty, many core customers have moved on to other lines looking for nicer ships and better food and service. My travel agent friend stopped recommending HAL to new cruisers quite some time ago.

[kazu]

After reading Laura's post I realized there is one thing that has not been said perhaps?

 

She is correct in that HAL is not part of the Cruise Critic Meet and Greets, but the shipboard co-ordinators have always been willing and helpful in setting these up and the ships have also been very kind giving us space & refreshments.

 

It is very much appreciated by all of us that like to go to Meet and Greets.

 

thank you HAL :)

[DaveOKC]

After reading Laura's post I realized there is one thing that has not been said perhaps?

 

She is correct in that HAL is not part of the Cruise Critic Meet and Greets, but the shipboard co-ordinators have always been willing and helpful in setting these up and the ships have also been very kind giving us space & refreshments.

 

It is very much appreciated by all of us that like to go to Meet and Greets.

 

thank you HAL :)

 

I just set up my first M&G in May and it was very easy to do, thanks to HAL's coordinator (see the list on the sticky at the top of this page - How to Set Up a Meet and Greet) who handled everything, even inviting officers. I do appreciate HAL providing us the space to meet in and some refreshments to enjoy. Any officers attending are an added bonus IMO, but certainly not required.

 

On our roll call, a few fellow cruisers thought that HAL should provide free drinks and/or gifts for the group (I think they had experienced that on a another line previously). I told them prior to our sailing not to expect that on HAL and everyone seemed fine with that. Sometimes you have to manage expectations ahead of time to prevent disappointment.

[SilvertoGold]

 

As to the officers attending functions, for years I was PA to the Manager of a very high-end hotel. Did he attend certain gatherings? Yes. Did he enjoy them? Not really. It was a part of his job and expected of him to be nice to the paying customers to make them feel important and keep them coming back. Perhaps the cruise lines no longer need to do that because of the new generation and more casual lifestyle of many of the cruisers coming along. Having said that, I have, on another cruise line, met a captain and officers who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the Meet & Mingles and the informality of the gatherings.

It seems this new initiative is not popular with the customers, but perhaps is part of a bigger plan. Who knows.

 

The key here may be "a very high end hotel".

 

HAL is by no means a high-end cruise line. (If you read Crystal blogs, you will be blown away by the service, from the Captain and Hotel Director down! I was floored!)

 

AS HAL sinks to the "mainstream" level, I expect we will see a decline in what the Officers are willing to endure and this only makes sense: I expect salaries to decline also.

[SunLakesBob]

I just set up my first M&G in May and it was very easy to do, thanks to HAL's coordinator (see the list on the sticky at the top of this page - How to Set Up a Meet and Greet) who handled everything, even inviting officers. I do appreciate HAL providing us the space to meet in and some refreshments to enjoy. Any officers attending are an added bonus IMO, but certainly not required.

 

On our roll call, a few fellow cruisers thought that HAL should provide free drinks and/or gifts for the group (I think they had experienced that on a another line previously). I told them prior to our sailing not to expect that on HAL and everyone seemed fine with that. Sometimes you have to manage expectations ahead of time to prevent disappointment.

 

Well said about setting expectations.

[cruz chic]

I just set up my first M&G in May and it was very easy to do, thanks to HAL's coordinator (see the list on the sticky at the top of this page - How to Set Up a Meet and Greet) who handled everything, even inviting officers. I do appreciate HAL providing us the space to meet in and some refreshments to enjoy. Any officers attending are an added bonus IMO, but certainly not required.

 

On our roll call, a few fellow cruisers thought that HAL should provide free drinks and/or gifts for the group (I think they had experienced that on a another line previously). I told them prior to our sailing not to expect that on HAL and everyone seemed fine with that. Sometimes you have to manage expectations ahead of time to prevent disappointment.

 

Unfortunately a person does have to manage expectations. There are way too many posts saying we got this or we got that. If posters would not do that than expecations wouldn't be so high. It doesn't do anyone any favours.

[Copper10-8]

...................................

: I expect salaries to decline also.

 

Hey, come on now! ;)

[SilvertoGold]

Hey, come on now! ;)

 

 

Hi, there, Copper!

 

Well, I truly HOPE they don't! SO's deserve the best, you know!

Edited June 14, 2015 by SilvertoGold

[SunLakesBob]

The key here may be "a very high end hotel".

 

HAL is by no means a high-end cruise line. (If you read Crystal blogs, you will be blown away by the service, from the Captain and Hotel Director down! I was floored!)

 

AS HAL sinks to the "mainstream" level, I expect we will see a decline in what the Officers are willing to endure and this only makes sense: I expect salaries to decline also.

 

With so many ships on the market needing to find passengers many cruise lines are in a price war. If they lower the price they have to lower their costs.

Don't be surprised if you start to see airline type pricing. But there is a difference - cruising is a vacation - airline travel in the most part is part of doing business

 

If they start charging for items we disagree with or start cutting too many services we will vote with our feet and go to another cruise line. That is what competition is all about.

[iancal]

It is/has already happened.

 

Over the past few years HAL has moved from 1 or 2 on our list to 3, often 4.

 

This corresponds to what we hear from travel agents. The biggest challenge with HAL is predictability in terms of the condition of the ship and the of the services/food that are offered. Many people are reluctant to spend their hard earned vacation dollars on a product that can be so variable. No one likes to experience a negative expectation gap.

 

HAL desperately needs a new management team...with or without cruise line experience. A fresh breeze to move out all of that stale air.

Edited June 14, 2015 by iancal

[SunLakesBob]

It is/has already happened.

 

Over the past few years HAL has moved from 1 or 2 on our list to 3, often 4.

 

This corresponds to what we hear from travel agents. The biggest challenge with HAL is predictability in terms of the condition of the ship and the of the services/food that are offered. Many people are reluctant to spend their hard earned vacation dollars on a product that can be so variable. No one likes to experience a negative expectation gap.

 

HAL desperately needs a new management team...with or without cruise line experience. A fresh breeze to move out all of that stale air.

 

It is interesting to hear who your 1 & 2 are

[sail7seas]

 

 

<snip>

 

 

On our roll call, a few fellow cruisers thought that HAL should provide free drinks and/or gifts for the group (I think they had experienced that on a another line previously). I told them prior to our sailing not to expect that on HAL and everyone seemed fine with that. Sometimes you have to manage expectations ahead of time to prevent disappointment.

 

 

 

I'd love to know why those few fellow cruisers thought HAL should provide free gifts and/or drinks? What is their thinking? A subtle suggestion they may publicly post their low opinion of their cruise???? :rolleyes: It is that thinking that disturbs me, if that is the case.

 

Edited June 14, 2015 by sail7seas

[cbr663]

Unfortunately a person does have to manage expectations. There are way too many posts saying we got this or we got that. If posters would not do that than expecations wouldn't be so high. It doesn't do anyone any favours.

 

I agree, but some people just don't get it.

 

Large companies like HAL have published and unpublished rewards. The published rewards can easily be found within the Marnier Program. Unpublished rewards are much more difficult to find, as they are not generally well-known and are sometimes by invite only. An excellent example of this is HAL's President Club. Let's face it, there isn't a lot of information readily available about it and very few members are willing to publish the perks of belonging to this invite only club.

 

There are many other ways that HAL can use unpublished rewards/perks. An invite to dine with the officers, an invite to tour the bridge or the acceptance of an invite to attend a M&G are just some. But when some folks are so crass as to later publish these offers on the internet, to shine a spotlight on the look at what we got, it diminishes the reward for everyone.

 

Yes, I agree, it doesn't do themselves or anyone else any favours.

[iancal]

I cannot understand why some people seem so enamoured about meeting the senior officers, being invited dine at a table with one of the officers, etc. Is it an aspirational thing? Is it the uniform? And exactly how does one tell a good senior officer from a bad one...personality/attendance at the meet and greet?

 

When we go to a hotel or resort we would never want to meet the senior management team unless there happened to be an issue. Same on the cruise. We are very happy to be left to our own devices as it were and spend our time speaking with other cruisers.

 

......Our number 1 & 2 preference in the mass market category is currently Celebrity and Princess. The latter is more ship dependent than the former. HAL and RCI are 3/4...even with the good Diamond benefits that we get on RCI. Of course this is a moving preference. Princess moved up for us, HAL moved down. This could change next year. We are not married to any of them.

Edited June 14, 2015 by iancal

[rkacruiser]

iancal's comment about the predictability of the cruise product HAL provides is a major concern of mine. Once upon a time, not so long ago, and not in a far away land, when one embarked a HAL vessel, one knew with a great deal of certainty, what one would experience. Now, the only thing that I "think" I can predict for certain is that Prime Rib will be on the menu for the first night's dinner!

[rkacruiser]

OP

 

Sorry that you get that message about the new rules for officers and meets and greets.

 

As to the Q&A session with the captain and the mention that it takes place on all ships -- sure hasn't happened on many of our previous cruises. Will be curious to see if this really is a promise they can keep.

 

The Q & A event has never happened on any 7 day cruise that I sailed. In January, on the 11 day itinerary on the Noordam, none was held. But, on the 10 day itinerary, same ship, one was held.

[SilvertoGold]

The Q & A event has never happened on any 7 day cruise that I sailed. In January, on the 11 day itinerary on the Noordam, none was held. But, on the 10 day itinerary, same ship, one was held.

 

We've seen this Q&A many times in the past.

On 7 day cruises a couple of times and almost always on longer cruises.

[SilvertoGold]

iancal's comment about the predictability of the cruise product HAL provides is a major concern of mine. Once upon a time, not so long ago, and not in a far away land, when one embarked a HAL vessel, one knew with a great deal of certainty, what one would experience. Now, the only thing that I "think" I can predict for certain is that Prime Rib will be on the menu for the first night's dinner!

 

 

Yes, that is very true. HAL has a inconsistent nature of late.

 

One older lady (5 star) we talked to for quite a while on a cruise told us she and her husband liked HAL and kept coming back because "there are no surprises, you know what you are getting; that is all we want".

[hrhdhd]

I'd love to know why those few fellow cruisers thought HAL should provide free gifts and/or drinks? What is their thinking? A subtle suggestion they may publicly post their low opinion of their cruise???? :rolleyes: It is that thinking that disturbs me, if that is the case.

 

Without questioning the motives of the people expecting gifts/drinks/tchotchkes, perhaps they have had the experience on other lines of having raffles or giveaways at a M&G. I just took my first Royal Caribbean cruise; our M&G (well, M&M [Meet & Mingle]) had more than 200 attendees. The cruise director was there, along with some other officers and staff, and they must have raffled off 50 prizes--everything from complimentary dinners in the surcharge restaurants to bottles of wine to spa treatments.

 

If that was my experience, I might assume or expect that other M&Gs would have similar raffles.

[Wakepatrol]

14 years ago I booked my first cruise to Alaska

It was $700 for an inside cabin.

Now 14 years later it's the same price

Yet, everything else in the world has gone up in price

 

The first few Alaska cruises of the season are dirt cheap, the cruises from Thanksgiving to Christmas are cheap

 

The holidays used to bring premium price, now they're cheap as well. The first trip after New Years is dirt cheap.

 

Transatlantics are cheap. They were blowing out Bermuda cruises when they sailed from New York for $299

 

I don't know what/when their money making season is in?

 

So people are paying the same or less than 14 years ago and want shrimp the size of small dogs, lobster every night, a chance to dine with the captain and maybe an opportunity to steer the boat through an inlet.

 

Good luck

Edited June 15, 2015 by Wakepatrol

[cruz chic]

14 years ago I booked my first cruise to Alaska

It was $700 for an inside cabin.

Now 14 years later it's the same price

Yet, everything else in the world has gone up in price

 

The first few Alaska cruises of the season are dirt cheap, the cruises from Thanksgiving to Christmas are cheap

 

The holidays used to bring premium price, now they're cheap as well. The first trip after New Years is dirt cheap.

 

Transatlantics are cheap. They were blowing out Bermuda cruises when they sailed from New York for $299

 

I don't know what/when their money making season is in?

 

So people are paying the same or less than 14 years ago and want shrimp the size of small dogs, lobster every night, a chance to dine with the captain and maybe an opportunity to steer the boat through an inlet.

 

Good luck

 

Check prices about 4 to 6 months out from a cruise. The prices are ridiculously high. That's where they get the money from. Hal has painted themselves into a corner. The bargain hunters know when to book. Before I hear it's a different product at the end just don't. I take open dining (generally still available near sailing) and I take a guarantee. My assignment will be no better or worse than someone that books near the end.

[Wakepatrol]

Check prices about 4 to 6 months out from a cruise. The prices are ridiculously high. That's where they get the money from. Hal has painted themselves into a corner. The bargain hunters know when to book. Before I hear it's a different product at the end just don't. I take open dining (generally still available near sailing) and I take a guarantee. My assignment will be no better or worse than someone that books near the end.

 

I know the whole system is so dumb. They should charge a price that everybody is willing to pay and keep it at that. I can't imagine all the manpower wasted booking rebooking canceling shore excursions dining plans every time the price drops $50 what a waste of time.

Make it one price keep it at that, and forget about $299 guy. He's buying no art, photographs or dropping 10 grand in the casino.

 

Sail with a few empty cabins and everyone who's paid full price will end up with better service.

[serendipity1499]

Without questioning the motives of the people expecting gifts/drinks/tchotchkes, perhaps they have had the experience on other lines of having raffles or giveaways at a M&G. I just took my first Royal Caribbean cruise; our M&G (well, M&M [Meet & Mingle]) had more than 200 attendees. The cruise director was there, along with some other officers and staff, and they must have raffled off 50 prizes--everything from complimentary dinners in the surcharge restaurants to bottles of wine to spa treatments.

 

If that was my experience, I might assume or expect that other M&Gs would have similar raffles.

It's dangerous to assume anything.. If you read post No. 75 which was posted by Laura, the Sr. Community Mgr. of Cruise Critic..

 

This is Point No. 2 of Laura's Post- Quote Cruise Critic does not have a contractual agreement with Holland America for them to provide official Meet & Mingle parties on board their ships for our members, as we do with other lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, Crystal & Silversea -- and another large line soon to be announced!). They've done so because they want to. Unquote

 

Unfortunately, not all members of Cruise Critic read the Community Guidelines.. Many of us aware of the agreement Cruise Critic has with RCCL & we are grateful when HAL does offer space & give us coffee & cookies at our Meet & Greet's..

Edited June 15, 2015 by serendipity1499

[cruz chic]

I know the whole system is so dumb. They should charge a price that everybody is willing to pay and keep it at that. I can't imagine all the manpower wasted booking rebooking canceling shore excursions dining plans every time the price drops $50 what a waste of time.

Make it one price keep it at that, and forget about $299 guy. He's buying no art, photographs or dropping 10 grand in the casino.

 

Sail with a few empty cabins and everyone who's paid full price will end up with better service.

 

Exactly. As much as I dislike celebrity they generally do have better prices further out. They do have some sell offs at the end but not like hal.

[cruz chic]

Exactly Jacqui! As the organizer of the Meet & Greet you had every right & IMO obligated to try to stop it, as I would too! I look forward to the M & G's & as an organizer of several I would be mortified if someone in our group began to complain or discussed private tours while an Officer was present..IMO it reflects on me too.. I would rather write Thank you notes to HAL Officers than offer an apology..

 

 

 

Of course no one can stop any group from meeting, but we appreciate the fact that HAL & other Cruise lines offers to block off an area for our M & G's & often provides refreshments..

 

Just because you are not interested in having Officers present, others would disagree.. IMO it is nice to have the Officers come to introduce themselves to our groups... Years ago one M & G group I organized, were especially pleased when The HD had a special luncheon for us on a sea day & the Captain arranged to have our group go on a Behind the Scenes tour which included the Bridge gratis.. We can show our appreciation by behaving in a dignified manner..

 

If several people discard their manners, it can reflect on the entire group..

.....and yet here is a post where you got special attention. It's information such as this that sets up high expectations.