HAL evolving to a better, more modern standard.

[dakrewser]

Apparently I give more weight to the idea that people's tastes change as they get older, than you do.

Folks who want more activity when younger tend to slow down as they age. Having quiet places to sit, read, relax, or talk with others becomes more important.

 

Young folk tend to forget that us oldies were young once (and they haven't yet been old). We know what we were like then (I "came of age" during the 60's - I'll put my experience of life up against any Millennial). The young are impatient: they went it all and they want it now. The old have learned to savor each experience and extract the maximum value. The young will never "get that", nor will they ever believe that we were once "wild and crazy" folks.

 

It's my belief that the cruise lines aren't making these changes to atract younger folk, but that because they have younger pax they can get away with lowering expectations.

[OlsSalt]

......HAL will ALWAYS be known as an old peoples cruiseline...and that's just fine with me... I like OLD these days--nice and quiet.. :)

 

Exactly. Hear, hear .....except now some of us can't. :cool: With the biggest demographic following us in short order - the aging baby boomer -- being old will finally be cool --- and well earned.

 

Shhhhhhh ... I'm sleeping. And get off my lawn, you young whipper-snappers. Back to exploring the Roads Scholar demographics - life long learners who pay premium for their own traveling course content when they are on HAL ships.

[iancal]

We sail other lines, including Celebrity, Princess, and RCI

 

-we find pricing on Hal to be similar to the others..sometimes high, sometimes not. Our experience is that RCI is often comparatively higher priced

 

-we certainly do not find HAL any more gracious or elegant than Celebrity. The decor is different but this does not mean, in our opinion, that it is less elegant. Unless your view of elegant only includes lots of dark wood and brass. Have not been on Prin. though.

[cruisemom42]

Apparently I give more weight to the idea that people's tastes change as they get older, than you do.

Folks who want more activity when younger tend to slow down as they age. Having quiet places to sit, read, relax, or talk with others becomes more important.

People don't stay out and party as late as they used to. That's just the way it is.

 

Good food, with impeccable service is welcomed at all ages, and more so as we go through our later years. Not to mention that those of us of the "Medicare set" have the time, money, and desire to cruise. We ain't dead yet, and HAL should not be writing us, or our funds, off so quickly.

 

 

Some things won't change, but I think some things will. Just think about the things your grandparents may have valued on vacation versus the things that you value. (Meant generically, not you personally.....)

 

The rising Baby Boomers and Gen Xers aren't going to need to have their hair set in the beauty salon. You don't find those weird machines in the shipboard gyms anymore with a belt that went around your hips to "slim" you. Free cappuccinos after dinner seem a little quaint (much like a baked Alaska parade), since cappuccinos are in reality a breakfast drink.

 

But we will continue to want better internet connectivity and ways of doing things that are more like what they are used to at home -- such as being able to view and buy photos, view your charges, make reservations, etc. from your in-room television.

 

These are just a couple of examples. Honestly, I don't want rock walls or water slides and I get tired of that tropism being tossed out whenever there are discussions about HAL versus other lines. I like quiet, comfortable lounge chairs with a sea view as much as any HAL regular. Above all, I like good itineraries and good enrichment activities. But I also value entertainment with a reference point that means something to me (not, let's say, the 1960s), and that continues later in the evening than HAL's current offerings. I like a more modern look in furnishings aboard, more like what you would see on Celebrity's ships. I like a really good selection of wine to complement my food. I like 'sophisticated' but not necessarily 'sedate.'

 

Who's to say what HAL's ultimate direction will be. Some of their changes have been dictated by the effort to keep cruise prices artificially low -- and HAL has certainly not been alone in doing this; all the mass market lines have done the same to fill berths. But I feel like there would be massive complaints if HAL spent the amount necessary to really bring back the great food, varied music, additional staff, more fresh flowers, etc. of days gone by. And then increased fares accordingly to pay for this.

 

Other changes (more recently, methinks) speak of a slight change of direction. Other than the general increase in the size of the ships, I think a lot of the changes sound interesting. And although I am only in my early 50s, I have been cruising since the age of 8 and have 'rung the changes' with many a cruise line.

Edited August 2, 2016 by cruisemom42

[Tampa Girl]

Exactly.. Back to exploring the Roads Scholar demographics - life long learners who pay premium for their own traveling course content when they are on HAL ships.

 

You didn't answer my earlier question about what the Road Scholar cruises offer their base, but can I assume it is the more detailed and instructive lectures? If so, I don't understand your statement about the "life long learners who pay premium for court content" on HAL. In what way for the HAL cruisers pay premium? Have I misunderstood?

[kazu]

You didn't answer my earlier question about what the Road Scholar cruises offer their base, but can I assume it is the more detailed and instructive lectures? If so, I don't understand your statement about the "life long learners who pay premium for court content" on HAL. In what way for the HAL cruisers pay premium? Have I misunderstood?

 

We had a Road Scholar group on our cruise so I looked it up. They do have lecturers (their own) and even some tours. They do pay a higher price to cruise but their groups are very small. I think there were 33 on our cruise and I think their Max is 40. The largest group on our cruise was our roll call :):D

 

They do pay a premium but I don't know if it goes to HAL or to Road Scholar to pay for lecturers, etc or a combination thereof.

Edited August 2, 2016 by kazu

[avian777]

... It's my belief that the cruise lines aren't making these changes to atract younger folk, but that because they have younger pax they can get away with lowering expectations.

 

Agree 110% - thanks for your very good life insights.

 

Smooth sailing ...

[geoherb]

The two thing people say about our HAL cruising are:

 

1. HAL is expensive

2. HAL is gracious and elegant, not like the other lines

 

This from people who love RCL, Celebrity and Princess

I usually look at three cruise lines before booking our cruises: Princess, HAL, and Celebrity. We've sailed primarily on Princess because we've be able to get better deals that fit DH's schedule while he was teaching. He retired last week, so now we can go almost anytime I can take off from work. (And my job's schedule is as limiting as his was.)

 

HAL isn't expensive and unfortunately not more gracious and elegant than Celebrity and Princess.

[SilvertoGold]

I usually look at three cruise lines before booking our cruises: Princess, HAL, and Celebrity. We've sailed primarily on Princess because we've be able to get better deals that fit DH's schedule while he was teaching. He retired last week, so now we can go almost anytime I can take off from work. (And my job's schedule is as limiting as his was.)

 

HAL isn't expensive and unfortunately not more gracious and elegant than Celebrity and Princess.

 

You know what you know, and so do I. I am sharing what people I talk to about cruising have to say.

 

They also say NCL is "cheap", Carnival "fun" and Cunard "stuffy". Maybe all that print advertising works.

[OlsSalt]

You didn't answer my earlier question about what the Road Scholar cruises offer their base, but can I assume it is the more detailed and instructive lectures? If so, I don't understand your statement about the "life long learners who pay premium for court content" on HAL. In what way for the HAL cruisers pay premium? Have I misunderstood?

 

Best to get the information you are seeking directly from the link for Road Scholars: https://www.roadscholar.org

Edited August 2, 2016 by OlsSalt

[sail7seas]

[quoteIlver to gold o say.

PAID IN MY USUAL nEPTUNE sUITE on HA. THAT CRUISE ExCEEDEED my expecattions in a grea many wayws. I ENJOYEEEd the various dining rooms aned buffr, My buteler aned steward were excellent. the cabin was very comfortqabgle with lots of nif am3enitiewws. I loved there was no vernanerha awmoking ane ffcould enjoy my verandah. I mised the beuaitful frewsh flowerws mned arrt ommon to hal SHIPS. i WOULD SAIL THEAM AGAIN IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANDES. I would not call it a 'cheap cruise in most any way

Edited August 2, 2016 by sail7seas

[Copper10-8]

[quoteIlver to gold o say.

PAID IN MY USUAL nEPTUNE sUITE on HA. THAT CRUISE ExCEEDEED my expecattions in a grea many wayws. I ENJOYEEEd the various dining rooms aned buffr, My buteler aned steward were excellent. the cabin was very comfortqabgle with lots of nif am3enitiewws. I loved there was no vernanerha awmoking ane ffcould enjoy my verandah. I mised the beuaitful frewsh flowerws mned arrt ommon to hal SHIPS. i WOULD SAIL THEAM AGAIN IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANDES. I would not call it a 'cheap cruise in most any way

 

Morning S7S; have yourself a great day! :)

[RJ2002]

You know what you know, and so do I. I am sharing what people I talk to about cruising have to say.

 

They also say NCL is "cheap", Carnival "fun" and Cunard "stuffy". Maybe all that print advertising works.

 

Thank you for sharing this hearsay. However, I place more value when someone is sharing their first-hand experience.

[Willem Ruys]

HAL is now better? In what dimension? In what universe? We jumped ship after 31 days back in February and canceled 269 upcoming days between our disembark one month early and May 26, 2017. It didn't get better for us...but don't cry for us, we've moved on to other lines...NOT Carnival owned. And that was after over 2,000 days each aboard HAL. BYE

 

PS - Anyone else see HAL's new "Cruise Catalog" for 2017-2018? For the AMSTERDAM'S world cruise in 2018 I see that they're making a call in the African port of "LUANA"...a place that doesn't exist, but LUANDA, ANGOLA does so they MIGHT mean LUANDA but they put LUANA twice on the same page. Cruise brochures I wrote and cruise brochures I proofread in the 1980s and 1990s didn't have spelling errors....Enjoy LUANA, Hal gang!

[OTOW guy]

some changes annoy us like getting rid of libraries but limited smoking is a plus as we always book balconies. We take 3 cruises a year of 14-21 days and the ports are not that important. The food so far has been fine and we like the smaller portions, rarely have desert and enjoy our cocktails. Haven't seen a show in the last 3 years. Make a small contribution in the casino. The logo change made no sense to us. Changing the china is to make it more modern and more like Tamarind. The caviar in the Pinnacle is great and a bargain also the steak tartar is some of the best I ever had, much to big. We love the staff friendliness and feel we get good value for the cost. Looking forward to Kdam in Nov. That is a bit bigger than we prefer but smaller than most ships on Princess.

Unless something really changes and becomes a negative to us, we will be cruising HAL for a long time.

[OlsSalt]

hal is now better? In what dimension? In what universe? We jumped ship after 31 days back in february and canceled 269 upcoming days between our disembark one month early and may 26, 2017. It didn't get better for us...but don't cry for us, we've moved on to other lines...not carnival owned. And that was after over 2,000 days each aboard hal. BYE

 

ps - anyone else see hal's new "cruise catalog" for 2017-2018? For the amsterdam's world cruise in 2018 i see that they're making a call in the african port of "luana"...a place that doesn't exist, but luanda, angola does so they might mean luanda but they put luana twice on the same page. Cruise brochures i wrote and cruise brochures i proofread in the 1980s and 1990s didn't have spelling errors....enjoy luana, hal gang!

 

BYE. I suspect others will very much enjoy stops on the African continent. Glad to see HAL is going there. Thanks for the tip.

Edited August 2, 2016 by OlsSalt

[Tennessee Titan]

I have been reading this thread and find it (for the most part) to be one of the darkest and depressing rants I have seen on this forum.

If you really don't like HAL all that much pleas go elsewhere, and GOOD RIDDANCE!

[SilvertoGold]

Thank you for sharing this hearsay. However, I place more value when someone is sharing their first-hand experience.

 

Hmm, you may misunderstand. So sorry to waste your time.

 

You want first hand experience of a 5 star?

 

I love about 90 % of HAL. Crew, cabins, design, common area furniture, blue hulls, welcoming attitude, Mariner rewards, Mariner Society staff, attention to safety, graciousness towards pax, Pinnacle lunches, wine tastings, Le Cirque, Cellermaster dinners, Happy Hour, Asian station in the Lido, walk-around promenades..............

Edited August 2, 2016 by SilvertoGold

[RJ2002]

Hmm, you may misunderstand. So sorry to waste your time.

 

You want first hand experience of a 5 star?

 

I love about 90 % of HAL. Crew, cabins, design, common area furniture, blue hulls, welcoming attitude, Mariner rewards, Mariner Society staff, attention to safety, graciousness towards pax, Pinnacle lunches, wine tastings, Le Cirque, Cellermaster dinners, Happy Hour, Asian station in the Lido, walk-around promenades..............

 

Thanks, but no misunderstanding. :) I do value your first-hand opinions. It's the comments relayed from others, about other lines, that are not as helpful, as least for me. I just prefer first-hand opinions.

 

I do share many of your loves of HAL, although I'm only a lowly 3* (but close to 4*!) . :o

 

But back to the original topic, I do hope that HAL is able to modernize while still keeping and improving the quality-related factors which we all love.

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks, but no misunderstanding. :) I do value your first-hand opinions. It's the comments relayed from others, about other lines, that are not as helpful, as least for me. I just prefer first-hand opinions.

 

I do share many of your loves of HAL, although I'm only a lowly 3* (but close to 4*!) . :o

 

But back to the original topic, I do hope that HAL is able to modernize while still keeping and improving the quality-related factors which we all love.

 

RJ202

 

I am glad you share with me the love of some of these aspects of HAL.

 

I, too, hope HAL can modernize, improve and retain some of their best aspects. I think they can.

 

Hope you make it to 4 star soon and enjoy the rewards!

[SeagoingMom]

I have a lot of sympathy for long-time HAL cruisers who feel HAL is changing in ways they don't want. I sense that what they are experiencing is akin to how I would feel if someone came into my home and made changes -- decor, floor plan, menues, etc. -- without consulting me. These cruisers have felt "at home" with HAL, but it doesn't feel so much like "home" any more, and they feel powerless to stanch the tide.

 

For me, personally, as soon as I start talking about wishing I lived in the "good old days," I feel "old." I have made it a life goal, no matter how old I become, not to be that kind of "old" person. I am not saying I like all modernity, all change. As a matter of fact, I hate some changes! But I want to enjoy the present, and I am trying everyday to be flexible enough to make the best of whatever the present offers, and not to grieve over what I perceive I have lost. This is especially true for changes over which I have no control, such as the ones discussed on this thread. I am entirely too prone to reminisce, regret, and turn melancholy, so trying to develop an optimistic perspective on life has become extremely important to me.

 

In the movie "The Right Stuff," Glennis Yeager says to her husband Chuck, "I never could stand a man who was one of those 'remember-whens.' Those bitter guys that just sit around thinking about old times." Mrs. Yeager's words ring in my ears! I never want to be that kind of "remember-when."

 

I loved our one and only HAL cruise, and I hope that whenever I have a chance to sail on HAL again, I will be able to take any negative changes in stride, concentrate on the positives, and have a great cruise.

 

(Please do not read my personal viewpoint as being condemnatory of the perspective others may have. This is my life philosophy only, and though offered as food for thought, it is not to be construed as commentary on others' choices or perspectives. We all have our own responses to life.)

[SilvertoGold]

SeaGoingMom

 

Very nice post, very wise, very true. I hope you will be back on HAL one day and enjoy it immensely!

 

Thank you so much!

[kazu]

HAL is now better? In what dimension? In what universe? We jumped ship after 31 days back in February and canceled 269 upcoming days between our disembark one month early and May 26, 2017. It didn't get better for us...but don't cry for us, we've moved on to other lines...NOT Carnival owned. And that was after over 2,000 days each aboard HAL. BYE

 

PS - Anyone else see HAL's new "Cruise Catalog" for 2017-2018? For the AMSTERDAM'S world cruise in 2018 I see that they're making a call in the African port of "LUANA"...a place that doesn't exist, but LUANDA, ANGOLA does so they MIGHT mean LUANDA but they put LUANA twice on the same page. Cruise brochures I wrote and cruise brochures I proofread in the 1980s and 1990s didn't have spelling errors....Enjoy LUANA, Hal gang!

 

I detest misspellings too :). But it is not just HAL. I've seen errors in lots of cruise brochures and on board as well. Use of spell check is deadly;)

 

One really BAD experience can finish a person. I get it. It's why we haven't returned to Celebrity or Oceania.

 

I am glad you have found a cruise line you are happy with,. So share - which HAL ship/cruise was so BAD you left and which cruise line has won you over?

 

Curious minds want to know ;)

 

HAL fits the bill for us right now. I found service on her superior (big time) to Oceania, Do I want bigger ships? No. Would I like additional restaurants like O had on a smaller vessel? Yes. But,if there is no service and no decent food as it has waited too long, it is all for naught. So, right now we are sailing with the grand dammes and we'll see what the future holds ;)

[dakrewser]

Thank you for sharing this hearsay. However, I place more value when someone is sharing their first-hand experience.

 

I've done multiple cruises on HAL, X and Princess and I'd say Princess is bland, Celebrity is pretentious and HAL is comfortably elegant...

[muffin]

Spot on!!! Well stated, and a philosophy that will bring any of us greater joy I think. Thanks for your thoughts.