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how to ruin a cruise line and

Stakeout

By Stakeout,
in Holland America Line

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SilvertoGold

SilvertoGold

Posted
Posted
The art and design of HAL ships is a real draw for us. The wood and classic design adds an elegance that is not found on many ships. Some pieces are not favorites but, all in all, we appreciate the antiques, the artifacts and ambiance of the HAL ships.

 

Bingo!

 

Treat HAL ships as art galleries: not everything will be to your taste. Much will be.

 

The overall ambiance is outstanding!

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RuthC

RuthC

Posted
Posted
Some pieces are not favorites but, all in all, we appreciate the antiques, the artifacts and ambiance of the HAL ships.

Exactly. Would I choose the same pieces to decorate my own house? Not all of them. But this is not my house, and I don't have to live with the décor forever. I can still appreciate it, and the atmosphere it generates, while I'm there.

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Aquahound

Aquahound

Posted
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Returning to the topic of this thread, did Ashford ruin Holland by selecting any of these pieces of art?

 

The décor of HAL ships was a side conversation...but the answer is no. At least, I don't think so. I'm not HAL 101 like some others around here, so I really have no idea.

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Topsham

Topsham

Posted
Posted

VFD Architecturen, Holland. Was the (internal) lead architect for HAL ships for many years. Frans Dingemans was the owner of that company VFD.... Vlamming, Fennis & Dingemans.

 

If you like the HAL ships... he was responsible.

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Stakeout

Stakeout

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  • Author
Posted (edited)
I cannot imagine why on earth anyone would/could suggest that Mr. Ashford ruined (whatever that means) HAL in his short tenure.

 

Just a little over the top perhaps????

 

look at what is happening to HAL currently.. if you can't see it I can't explain it any further.. go on a HAL cruise

Edited by Stakeout
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Aquahound

Aquahound

Posted
Posted
look at what is happening to HAL currently.. if you can't see it I can't explain it any further.. go on a HAL cruise

 

I see in your signature you are a 5 star mariner. What you say is right in line with what other people say who are at the top of the loyalty game with other cruise lines as well....and what pretty much everyone says who continue to patron the same company over and over again for many, many years. I know...I was going down that road with RCI. But then I branched out and will now book almost any cruise line. My cruises feel so much better now. :)

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iancal

iancal

Posted
Posted (edited)

Does anyone really believe that HAL was wonderful up until Dec 2014 and then went precipitously downhill in 2015 after Mr. Ashford was appointed??

 

I suspect Mr. Ashford did nothing in the first six months other than meet the staff, learn the business, clean up the mess, and figure out how to start breathing new life into the this old darling that has been on life support for the past several years.

Edited by iancal
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Lizzie68

Lizzie68

Posted
Posted
Does anyone really believe that HAL was wonderful up until Dec 2014 and then went precipitously downhill in 2015 after Mr. Ashford was appointed??

 

I suspect Mr. Ashford did nothing in the first six months other than meet the staff, learn the business, clean up the mess, and figure out how to start breathing new life into the this old darling that has been on life support for the past several years.

 

I absolutely agree. Mr. Ashford cannot be held responsible for something that has been long in the making. Just check back on CC to see how long ago the complaints began about "cut-backs".

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RocketMan275

RocketMan275

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I absolutely agree. Mr. Ashford cannot be held responsible for something that has been long in the making. Just check back on CC to see how long ago the complaints began about "cut-backs".

 

Every forum on cruise critic, Royal, Celebrity, Princess, etc; is full of complaints about cutbacks. Is Ashford responsible for ruining all the cruise lines?

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NIATPAC29

NIATPAC29

Posted
Posted
Until Mr. Ashford comes aboard and takes the chocolate croissant out of my hands and steals my neptune lounge coffee...I'll be happily sailing Holland, even more so on the beautiful new Koningsdam.

does hal close down at 10pm.any late night activities

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CruisinHarvey

CruisinHarvey

Posted
Posted

This is a pretty standard thread in CC anymore. There sure are lot of complainers on this site. I just booked another HAL cruise, so I came over to see what the topics were. I usually cruise NCL. Seems like the complainers must talk to one another before posting. All I have to do is switch Del Rio for Ashford, I'd think I'm on the same site. It's always gloom and doom for the line. Complaining that cruise industry is not the same as it used to be. You are correct!!!! It is more successful, with more cruisers than ever. The only constant is change.

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NIATPAC29

NIATPAC29

Posted
Posted
If something "closes" (what does that mean?) at 10 pm, it's hardly "late night" is it?

 

But tell us about your experience with closing times on HAL...

 

My only experience was in 2002. Found it slow. Tired. Lacking energy. That's all I remember

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Aquahound

Aquahound

Posted
Posted
does hal close down at 10pm.any late night activities

 

When it comes to late night activities, HAL certainly does seem to fall asleep early...at least, compared to the other lines I have sailed. I'd say the exception is ships with the BB King band, which plays until midnight. HAL ships do have a nightclub, but every time I went in there past 11 pm, it was more of a staff lounge for off-duty entertainers than anything else.

 

HAL has it's strong points, but entertainment and late night activities is not one of them.

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Lizzie68

Lizzie68

Posted
Posted
you have "many friends" get real !

 

What does that mean?:confused: We also have friends amongst the crew and officers. That happens - especially on longer cruises. We remain in touch via email and facebook etc. What is so odd about cruisers making friends on the ships?

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whogo

whogo

Posted
Posted
look at what is happening to HAL currently.. if you can't see it I can't explain it any further.. go on a HAL cruise

If you think that Orlando Ashford has ruined Holland America, why do you have two HAL cruises booked?

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CruisinHarvey

CruisinHarvey

Posted
Posted
When it comes to late night activities, HAL certainly does seem to fall asleep early...at least, compared to the other lines I have sailed. I'd say the exception is ships with the BB King band, which plays until midnight. HAL ships do have a nightclub, but every time I went in there past 11 pm, it was more of a staff lounge for off-duty entertainers than anything else.

 

HAL has it's strong points, but entertainment and late night activities is not one of them.

 

It's the passengers that fall asleep early. That demographic gets up early. I've been on a number of cruise lines. HAL is the only one where 1/2 day excursions in the morning are booked first. No need to keep a lounge open when everyone has already retired for the evening. Since I'm retiring in a couple of months, I guess I'll be part of that crowd now. Although, there were a couple of times on last HAL cruise when we were the last people in the casino around midnight.

 

As one experienced cruiser put it when ask about the age of HAL cruisers. He said "Older people cruise on Celebrity cruise lines. Their parents sail on Holland America."

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