Is Holland america for Old People ?

[Karysa]

The VERY abbreviated Cliff's Notes answer to your question: No. As with any line, the longer the cruise, the older the overall crowd. If you take a 7 day HAL cruise, the demographics are pretty much the same.

 

 

 

Are you saying all HAL cruises have an older demographic than other lines? Even the 7 day Caribbean sailings?

Edited October 7, 2015 by Karysa

[navybankerteacher]

Are you saying all HAL cruises have an older demographic than other lines? Even the 7 day Caribbean sailings?

 

His language is not really clear; but I would accept as a given that virtually any HAL cruise, of any duration, will have a somewhat older demographic than what would be found on a comparable itinerary on any other line.

 

That said - an average age of 6 days older gives an "older demographic". The difference above that on Celebrity or Cunard is hardly noticeable. And my experience on Princess is that there is minimal difference.

 

Much of what has been posted about the "nearly dead" aspect on HAL is incorrect (and probably utterly uninformed) blather by people who simply want to sound knowledgeable.

[Cruzaholic41]

It is worth remembering that, as a general rule, the less informed people are the more certain they try to sound when passing along overheard rumors.

 

If you read them carefully, you will note that many of the posts which most strongly identify HAL as being for the parents of old people do not indicate how many HAL cruisers the poster has experienced - and, in fact, a number of them actually acknowledge that they are discussing what the poster has heard, rather than what the poster has experienced.

 

If your signature is accurate, I've been on almost double the number of HAL cruises than you and in my experience, HAL has consistently had an older demographic on board than other cruise lines. And I'm not just talking longer cruises. Even the 5 night Ryndam cruise I took out of Tampa several years ago, I estimate the average age on board to be about 20 years older than the average age on board the Radiance of the Seas for the exact same itinerary out of Tampa.

 

But who knows, maybe it's changed in the past year (I highly doubt it though). I'm currently not sailing HAL until they change their balcony smoking policy.

 

By the way, there's nothing wrong with HAL attracting an older demographic. I don't know why some people get so offended by that.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Cruzaholic41

[Karysa]

 

By the way, there's nothing wrong with HAL attracting an older demographic. I don't know why some people get so offended by that.

 

I agree. This is a place for people to do their cruising homework. Discovering what demographic and activities are bound to be onboard is part of that.

[srlafleur]

By the way, there's nothing wrong with HAL attracting an older demographic. I don't know why some people get so offended by that.

 

I don't think people are offended by that, so much as the not-so-subtle implications by some that if you're older, you don't know how to have fun, don't like to "party".

Yeah, there are no hairy chest contests and no flow rider or climbing wall, but to many, not just the elderly, cruising isn't about being on a floating amusement park or drinking until dawn.

[CruisinHarvey]

Yep. Definitely for older people. But that doesn't make it bad. It's just a bit different. You definitely walk slower down hallways. The entertainment is more toned down than other cruise lines. Things do close earlier than most other mainstream lines, because there is no one there. The last HAL cruise we were on actually heard a women complain about all the kids on board. I think I saw 2 the whole week. Certainly not what I see on other cruise lines, even during school.

 

There is a big plus though. We usually play in the casino until midnight or so. We were surprised when we found we could wait to book 1/2 day afternoon excursions. On HAL, all the early excursion book up quickly. It's the exact opposite of other lines we've cruised on. Those 8 in morning times were gone in a flash. So, we could get up and have a relaxing late breakfast, and be in plenty of time for a noon excursion.

[Velvetwater]

Those of you who want to avoid us 'old people', keep in mind you, too, will be old one day if you are really, really lucky.

 

The only way to get there is to live a long time. Most of us think it beats the alternative.

 

 

I don't think its to do with anyone trying to 'avoid old people', its more people want a a certain atmosphere on a ship. Most of the time a ship that has mainly pensioners on board can be a little sleepy and if you are say....in your 20s its a little harder to find common interests with someone 50 years your senior.

 

I couldn't give a sea nugget how old people are, I like hanging out with those that burn the midnight oil and make me laugh/are fun on a cruise.

[sail7seas]

JMO, of course, but the way 'old people' is used in threads of this sort, as a senior citizen the message I am 'hearing' is lack of respect or wish to associate with seniors. In some societies, elders and the knowledge they have accumulated is valued, not avoided.

 

We were barely 40 when we started cruising HAL and here I am all these years later and undoubtedly I have learned a little something along the way. :) We never considered the fact there were a number of seniors around us. If they were interesting people, we enjoyed them. If they weren't no matter...... we weren't taking them home with us.

 

Oh well.......

 

Edited October 9, 2015 by sail7seas

[cantwaitt]

When I was on the 14-day Canada cruise this summer, I was able to get into the hot tub any time I wanted. Never happened before. It was not taken over by kids and many of the older people did not go in.

 

Another plus for HAL, which I only discovered for the first time in 2014 after 26 years of cruising.

[Karysa]

JMO, of course, but the way 'old people' is used in threads of this sort, as a senior citizen the message I am 'hearing' is lack of respect or wish to associate with seniors. In some societies, elders and the knowledge they have accumulated is valued, not avoided.

 

We were barely 40 when we started cruising HAL and here I am all these years later and undoubtedly I have learned a little something along the way. :) We never considered the fact there were a number of seniors around us. If they were interesting people, we enjoyed them. If they weren't no matter...... we weren't taking them home with us.

 

Oh well.......

 

 

My father always taught me that respect was something that had to be earned. Some of my absolute favorite people I have had in my life were seniors. They earned my respect and I very much hope that I earned theirs.

 

I think that there are plenty of seniors on every cruiseship so meeting seniors should not be an issue. I think that it's just the percentage of seniors that HAL attracts and the activities that are offered due to HAL catering to their demographic that is why many folks are saving HAL until they are closer to that age bracket.

 

Children are the future of mankind and I would think that seniors would want to get to know those who will be the future leaders and educators and scientists but if you read these boards those past child rearing ages seem to want to avoid ships that attract "hordes" of kids. So this argument could go both ways.:)

[Aquahound]

JMO, of course, but the way 'old people' is used in threads of this sort, as a senior citizen the message I am 'hearing' is lack of respect or wish to associate with seniors.

 

I think you're being a little thin skinned. I don't think anyone in this thread is being disrespectful to any age group. It's just a matter of answering a question truthfully. It's perfectly understandable for younger folks to not want to cruise a line that typically has an older demographic...and activities to match. Likewise, it's understandable when older folks don't want to family lines.

[cbr663]

By the way, there's nothing wrong with HAL attracting an older demographic. I don't know why some people get so offended by that.

 

I agree. And yes, you will find that HAL caters primarily to an older passenger. That's not to say that all passengers are older, but the majority certainly are.

 

I understand why this may be important to some people. A cruise line that attracts a certain demographic will try and meet the needs of that demographic. Shows, food, entertainment, excursions, technology, even bar specials are created for the passenger. When HAL finally did away with serving Steak Diane just a few years ago, for example, its CC threads lit up with protests. This for a recipe that was left over from the 1950s, considered dated and passé in the 1980s and a dish that most under 40 would be unfamiliar with.

[CruisinHarvey]

I think you're being a little thin skinned. I don't think anyone in this thread is being disrespectful to any age group. It's just a matter of answering a question truthfully. It's perfectly understandable for younger folks to not want to cruise a line that typically has an older demographic...and activities to match. Likewise, it's understandable when older folks don't want to family lines.

 

Agreed! We know what HAL ships are like. And on occasion, when we want to just relax for a week, it hits the mark. When we want to be more active we go NCL. HAL doesn't have water parks, ropes courses, rock walls, comedy clubs, mojito bars. Those kind of venues attract younger cruisers and families. There are other cruise lines that want that demographic. If HAL was trying to lure that group, they'd add some of those venues to their ships. I'm not sure Rock of Ages will ever be in the main theater on HAL. You surely won't see a string quartet playing chamber music in a lounge on NCL.

 

HAL has it's niche, and it works more for some age groups than others. I think it's comforting know that as I age(I'm only 63 now), and get more and more into the relaxed vacation mode, there's cruise line to go to.

[srlafleur]

I'm not sure Rock of Ages will ever be in the main theater on HAL.

 

So, now that you're in your 60's has your musical taste changed all that much from your youth? Do you think it will change suddenly and drastically when you hit 70? 80?

I'm 62 and I know that I'd rather listen (and dance) to contemporary music (and I include in that everything from the 60's to now) than a Viennese waltz (as lovely as that is).

While HAL may cater to geriatric tastes, those geriatric tastes will change over time. My 60+ yo self is WAY different from my mother at 60+.

:D

[CruisinHarvey]

So, now that you're in your 60's has your musical taste changed all that much from your youth? Do you think it will change suddenly and drastically when you hit 70? 80?

I'm 62 and I know that I'd rather listen (and dance) to contemporary music (and I include in that everything from the 60's to now) than a Viennese waltz (as lovely as that is).

While HAL may cater to geriatric tastes, those geriatric tastes will change over time. My 60+ yo self is WAY different from my mother at 60+.

:D

 

I stand corrected. I agree that at some point they will update the type of shows to appeal to the appropriate age group. It's not going to happen anytime soon. They added a new venue to the Koningsdam specifically for chamber music. So I don' think they're ready to update their shows in the near future.

[srlafleur]

I stand corrected. I agree that at some point they will update the type of shows to appeal to the appropriate age group. It's not going to happen anytime soon. They added a new venue to the Koningsdam specifically for chamber music. So I don' think they're ready to update their shows in the near future.

 

I guess, then, that they're going less for a demographic according to age, more for a demographic of...I hesitate to use the word "taste"... maybe style?

If it were strictly age, and they didn't change accordingly, they would swiftly lose passengers as they died out. Even ~insert your favorite hard-rockin' band here~ will one day be elevator music. :rolleyes:

[CruisinHarvey]

I guess, then, that they're going less for a demographic according to age, more for a demographic of...I hesitate to use the word "taste"... maybe style?

If it were strictly age, and they didn't change accordingly, they would swiftly lose passengers as they died out. Even ~insert your favorite hard-rockin' band here~ will one day be elevator music. :rolleyes:

 

I agree again. They play Pink Floyd at my Kroger grocery store. That doesn't change the fact that HAL targets the older cruiser. Carnival, Royal and NCL target young cruisers and families. Their venues are also geared to their target cruiser, with more active type venues. Believe this. If any of those cruise lines thought that having a chamber music venue would fill more cabins with young cruisers they'd have them.

[tedcruise]

I don't consider myself old (55) but I'm actually looking forward to my "old folks" HAL cruise. I've done the Carnival Caribbean cruise before so I'm hoping to make the next one a little more leisure.

[sfaaa]

When all the musical shows are about Motown, Brit invasion, 70's disco, Four Seasons and the likes instead of gangsta rap and Miley Cyrus, yeah you can say the cruise is for old people.

[sail7seas]

Aguahound

I think you're being a little thin skinned. I don't think anyone in this thread is being disrespectful to any age group. It's just a matter of answering a question truthfully. It's perfectly understandable for younger folks to not want to cruise a line that typically has an older demographic...and activities to match. Likewise, it's understandable when older folks don't want to family lines.

 

A bit of a generalization?

 

 

My father always taught me that respect was something that had to be earned. Some of my absolute favorite people I have had in my life were seniors. They earned my respect and I very much hope that I earned theirs.

 

I think that there are plenty of seniors on every cruiseship so meeting seniors should not be an issue. I think that it's just the percentage of seniors that HAL attracts and the activities that are offered due to HAL catering to their demographic that is why many folks are saving HAL until they are closer to that age bracket.

 

Children are the future of mankind and I would think that seniors would want to get to know those who will be the future leaders and educators and scientists but if you read these boards those past child rearing ages seem to want to avoid ships that attract "hordes" of kids. So this argument could go both ways.:)

 

 

 

Oh boy,,,

 

 

Are you implying nameless, faceless people you do not know have been determined not worthy of respect?

I hardly know where to start.

 

So I best not. :)

 

Edited October 9, 2015 by sail7seas

[Karysa]

A bit of a generalization?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh boy,,,

 

 

Are you implying nameless, faceless people you do not know have been determined not worthy of respect?

I hardly know where to start.

 

So I best not. :)

 

 

 

Ok have it your way :)

[Aquahound]

A bit of a generalization?

 

Not at all. More of a matter of understanding and being truthful. Again, it is nothing to be offended about.

[sail7seas]

I think we each get to decide for ourselves what we find offensive. It is not for someone else to tell us what we should think of statements we read/hear. Individual experience and reaction and all that. ;)

 

 

 

[Daisyloo]

Re the OP's original question. HAL definitely has an older demographic than some other lines, but it is not the "old folks home at sea" that some make it out to be. We can only compare it to Princess, the only other line we sail. we love both lines. As a matter of fact, our 3 kids and our SIL (all in their mid to late 20's) all prefer HAL over Princess by a slight margin.

So don't let the age thing scare you away from trying HAL.

[Karysa]

Perhaps it the word "old" that is offensive to some. Senior is the word I was taught to use.