I love Holland America, but man, the carpets ....

[3rdGenCunarder]

I agree...I think HAL has hideous carpets and some pretty awful interior designs. I love the artwork of HAL ships in the stairways, but that's about it. In fact, I had wondered if HAL's interiors were designed by Carnival's Joe Farcus. Probably not, but you get the point.

 

I always do a walk around to check out the stairway art. In addition to some of Captain Card's wonderful paintings, Zuiderdam has a collection of beautiful reproductions of antique windvanes. But then there are the strange chairs/benches in the elevator areas. Sometimes I think different members of the design team didn't talk to each other.

[OlsSalt]

 

I think you are on to something .......:rolleyes:

[Sequim88]

It reminded me of a casino and I imagine the patterns are to hide wear and tear.

 

I read somewhere that in Las Vegas (and probably any casinos) the patterns are a psychological trick to make you want to avoid looking down and instead look at the slot machines. Vegas has the worst carpets in the world. Reminds me of the scene in the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (from the Hunter S. Thompson novel) where the ugly vine like pattern comes to life (with a little help from LSD) and starts crawling up the walls.

 

One thing I liked about the hallway carpets on RCCL ships was they were color and pattern coded for Fore & Aft and Port vs. Starboard. Not sure if HAL uses such a scheme but sounds like probably not.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I read somewhere that in Las Vegas (and probably any casinos) the patterns are a psychological trick to make you want to avoid looking down and instead look at the slot machines. Vegas has the worst carpets in the world. Reminds me of the scene in the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (from the Hunter S. Thompson novel) where the ugly vine like pattern comes to life (with a little help from LSD) and starts crawling up the walls.

 

One thing I liked about the hallway carpets on RCCL ships was they were color and pattern coded for Fore & Aft and Port vs. Starboard. Not sure if HAL uses such a scheme but sounds like probably not.

 

From what i've seen the deck's color/pattern is for the whole deck. (This is for the decks where the cabins are) The one exception I've seen is the change from pattern to solid where the Neptune Lounge is in Vistas. We've found that to be a useful marker for fore and aft when we come off the midship elevators on 7.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

If you are amused by HAL carpets take a Carnival cruise. The one we went on felt like we cruising on a cross between a Vegas casino and a brothel. The main themes were purple and urns of all sizes. We enjoyed the cruise it was a fun time but we still talk about that decor.

 

I've been on several Carnival Cruises and all I can say of the decor was "Tack-O-Rama"! Garish and Gawdy are the first two words I'd use! The Fantasy Class ships are he worst! However like you I have had fun when I sailed Carnival and just let the crazy interiors be a source of amusement.

[kevingastreich]

We were at a hotel this past weekend that had crazy carpeting and I said it reminded me of a cruise ship.

It's one of those things like a muster drill that say "You're on a cruise".

 

That's funny, we always call it "Casino Carpet" because it seems like all hotels, casinos and cruise ships use the same crazy patterns!

[Lady Chew]

I love to walk around the ships and check out all of the artwork & décor & furniture, good & bad! Some of it is absolutely fabulous and some of it is pretty terrible ... but as long as it's clean & in good shape it doesn't affect my cruise.

[Aquahound]

But then there are the strange chairs/benches in the elevator areas.

 

You mean these ugly things? Yeah, these are hideous.

 

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

You mean these ugly things? Yeah, these are hideous.

 

 

 

Yup, those are the ones I was remembering. And another pair that look like multicolored petals, or a giant hand, depending on how it strikes you. And then there are the silver rebar chairs in Pinnacle... I would love to meet the person who chose the chairs (and not just on Zuiderdam) and ask WHAT were you thinking???

Edited October 6, 2016 by 3rdGenCunarder

[OlsSalt]

You captured my own favorite HAL grotesquerie - those Blue Boy Benches that I saw on the Osterdam. However when I saw them later on the Zuiderdam, they were painted in more muted autumn tones they actually looked ...more ... okay. Or is that ....less .... grotesque.

 

I do use them though when I need a visual clue which way to turn getting off the elevator because at least they break up the landing foyer symmetry that is my other decor bugaboo. One little boy has his arm up, the other not. Show me the way to go home ......

 

One other "what were they thinking" are the huge, silver, full-pike, naked ladies holdup up lighting fixtures in the Amsterdam show lounge, set off against the jarring pure red and pure purple carpet combo. On their flag ship?

Edited October 6, 2016 by OlsSalt

[Dr. Cocktail]

You mean these ugly things? Yeah, these are hideous.

 

 

 

These are not unlike what would have been found in my dear departed Aunt's living room.

 

Of course, at her place they would have been wrapped in plastic.....

[iancal]

Not what I would call understated elegance!

[OlsSalt]

Not what I would call understated elegance!

 

Well, at least the colors are ..... understated.

 

One wonders if they get this over-size stuff from old movie sets at close-out inventory prices. An odd niche in the hotel furnishings market - large scale furnishings for dramatic effect.

[kazu]

I sure see a lot of people sitting on those chairs.

 

They are my cue on the vista ships as to which way is forward and which way if aft. The chairs always point in the same direction.

 

I think it took 3 cruises to realize that.:eek::p:D

[AV8rix]

I agree...I think HAL has hideous carpets and some pretty awful interior designs. I love the artwork of HAL ships in the stairways, but that's about it. In fact, I had wondered if HAL's interiors were designed by Carnival's Joe Farcus. Probably not, but you get the point.

 

Hey, knock it off :):):)!! Joe Farcus was my next-door neighbor when I was growin' up (seriously).

[Aquahound]

Hey, knock it off :):):)!! Joe Farcus was my next-door neighbor when I was growin' up (seriously).

 

I hope you didn't take any design tips from him. ;)

[Hobcat]

As I tell my DH as he is wandering around the grocery store looking for a particular item, "look up, look up". In his case that's where the signs are at each aisle listing the items there, in the case of ships, hotels, casinos you avoid looking at the carpet. Of course, then we will have a thread here on the bizarre ceiling decor. ;-)

Edited October 6, 2016 by Hobcat

[cabinluvn]

We have taken the iPod art tours when we are on a ship. Some of those chairs and murals are part of the art collection. May not be your taste, but some of them are parts of collections

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Aquahound]

Of course, then we will have a thread here on the bizarre ceiling decor. ;-)

 

Good point. I'm not sure which is worse. :D

 

[AtlantaCruiser72]

All of the Holland America interiors from the Statendam through the Noordam were done by Frans Dingemans interiors, which I believe is a Dutch based architecture and design company. I seem to recall that Joe Farcus actually was a "consultant" to HAL as he was the chief corporate designer for Carnival Corp. at the time.

 

When Holland America commissioned the Eurodam they switched to NB Design firm of Seattle to be the principle designers of the interiors, in coordination with Frans Dingemans, though much of the structure would remain the same the textile and furnishing choices are markedly different. The goal, and indeed the outcome, was a sleeker more contemporary design.

 

I think many of the revamped areas, and indeed the new carpets, on the S/R/V Class ships definitely have the "stamp" of this new design collaboration. I just wish they would bring the Eurodam look carpets cohesively to the rest of the fleet rather than the current hodgepodge, as I think the the S/R/V Class ships are actually very pretty overall, except for .... the original carpets - lol

Edited October 7, 2016 by AtlantaCruiser72

[RI-FL]

I am planning to cruise in February, 2017 on the Zuiderdam, but a lot of reviews are saying the ship is old and in need of updating. However, a lot these reviews are not very recent. I have been on many cruises (Crystal, Cunard, Hal, RCCL, etc.) I sailed this itinerary with HAL many years ago. Any recent thoughts?

[3rdGenCunarder]

I am planning to cruise in February, 2017 on the Zuiderdam, but a lot of reviews are saying the ship is old and in need of updating. However, a lot these reviews are not very recent. I have been on many cruises (Crystal, Cunard, Hal, RCCL, etc.) I sailed this itinerary with HAL many years ago. Any recent thoughts?

 

We were on her last month and I thought she looked good. She hasn't had the big makover with the flatscreens on the wall and all of that. But some things have been updated/refreshed. I was pleased to see the purple accents gone from our NS. The drapes were elegant, black with a tan design and the bed cover thing was the same pattern, but with the tan as the main color and the design in black. They both looked new. The chairs in the dining room looked newly recovered, too.

 

I thought the ship was very clean, including the pools and the spa.

 

We were so happy with the ship that we're sailing on her again in Feb, one of the partial transit cruises. I don't know if it's because she's older and hasn't had the updates, but Zuiderdam's Caribbean prices seemed lower than the other ships, at least at the suite level. I know Koningsdam is getting high prices because of the newness. But I don't have to chase a new ship. We really like the Vistas.

[OlsSalt]

I am planning to cruise in February, 2017 on the Zuiderdam, but a lot of reviews are saying the ship is old and in need of updating. However, a lot these reviews are not very recent. I have been on many cruises (Crystal, Cunard, Hal, RCCL, etc.) I sailed this itinerary with HAL many years ago. Any recent thoughts?

 

We were recently on the Zuiderdam and the issues are more the style of her decor, not the fact she is in disrepair.

 

In fact her entire hull was repainted while we were on her in May/June of this year. There apparently was a delay in her outside painting due to a strike somewhere where it was supposed to be done.

 

Fleetwide all the ships are going to get very nice interior make-overs, but just not all at once. I don't know where the Zuiderdam is on the make-over schedule but it will be nice to see the change.

 

Other than that these Vista ships still have some of the best cabin choices and are sound in all other HAL basics. (Except putting the library up in the Crows Nest)

 

Since you already know HAL is not Crystal, the Zuiderdam is very much well within typical HAL ship expectations. No obvious neglect at all when we were on her.

[hunt182644]

And yet you did reply...

 

Nobody is having a snit or saying the carpets "ruined my cruise." But for those of us who are aware of design, it's interesting to wonder "what were they thinking?"

 

It just so happens I was in fashion design for over forty years,. It always amuses me the opinions some people hold with.:rolleyes: Perhaps my snit and your snit have different meanings.:D

[elusive_23]

I have a similar background, so I do notice; in fact, I often rearrange furniture in hotel rooms when I feel the balance is off. The secret is to enjoy just enough wine while onboard to blur the carpets!

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji3] Lol at your wine comment. I was thinking along similar lines except when you've gone to wine tasting or happy hour the LAST thing you want to do is look at the carpet. It rolls like the sea and then so does your stomach but I wouldn't have any first hand knowledge about that. Ha!

 

Sent from my LG-H900 using Forums mobile app