Elmorejj......CC Get Together on Veendam??

[sail7seas]

Ruth: I think what he (Mr. Burger) is saying is two things.

 

First, they are trying a change in dining hours. This change pertains to scheduling while aboard the ship. It pertains to how they deliver the product we buy.

 

He is also saying.....unrelated to the above, that HAL does not need to make changes as to what they offer repeat cruisers as there are already so many.

 

He is saying two things about two different subjects.

 

1. Changes are being tested as regard the product...ie dining hours. They need to change with the times/demands of cruisers. Some folks seem to want things in another way than the traditional that others of us prefer. In regard to what they offer on board the ships, there will always be areas they will evaluate as potential for change.

 

2. On the other hand, He is saying changes are not necessary in perks provided to repeaters. They don't need to offer perks to get the repeaters. They already have so many.

 

I clearly see this as two separate things. He isn't having anything both ways.

He's talking about two different things. IMO

 

[GayleArc]

We liked Nick Burger very much but felt he did double talk us about the test

on the Osterdam. As far as the suite perks, we got what we have always gotten plus a suite dinner that was disscontinued some time ago. We were

told they only do it on longer voyages now. Cannot think of anything that

was cut out.

[sail7seas]

We think Mr. Burger is brilliant at his work. He is a great Hotel Manager IMO. We've sailed with him many times and always are delighted to learn he is aboard a ship we have booked. They don't come better than Mr. Burger IMO

[HeatherInFlorida]

I can totally understand that they might want to test new ideas on their ships, but I think it would be nice to let the passengers know that a specific sailing is going to be trying out a new idea with dining times. I just think they owe us, as passengers, that since many of us choose Holland America (and Celebrity for that matter) specifically because they have set dining times with assigned tables.

 

I have no interest in cruising on a line that doesn't offer me this choice. I will be very disappointed if the times comes when this particular cruise tradition goes away entirely because it is one of my most favorite things about cruising.

 

I understand not everyone agrees with that thinking, but I'm going to hope that most do. Time will tell by what follows after their 4-week experiment.

[localady]

Sorry my apology, I thought it was like a private thing, like the ones on the list localady has been compiling for this thread. I had the wrong idea of what it was all about. You right it is great that Hal is doing this, but I thought they were already doing it by having the repeater's get together and this was in recogination of all the folks who have been contribution to this thread for almost 18 - 19 months. Again my apology.

 

No apology necessary Boards......:cool:

I should have made it more clear that we "Veentastic Veendammers" on the 11/26 itinerary had compiled a list of nearly 100 for our up-coming cruise. We began it prior to Jean letting us know that as a trial, HAL was going to announce CC get togethers on the Veendam.

We had found on prior HAL cruises that once folks got on-board, they failed to learn about a get-together because there was no way to let them know. With an announcement in the Daily Schedule will solve that problem...:D

9 days and counting........

[gizmo]

We liked Nick Burger very much but felt he did double talk us about the test

on the Osterdam. As far as the suite perks, we got what we have always gotten plus a suite dinner that was disscontinued some time ago. We were

told they only do it on longer voyages now. Cannot think of anything that

was cut out.

 

Ditto on the "double talk" from NB.

 

One perk that was eliminated for suite pax was the choice to hold your luggage until the morning. It now must be put out the night before.

 

One thing I missed was the ice tea being available in the Neptune.

[peaches from georgia]

Since suite life has been mentioned (and there is always the possibility that someone with HAL on the Veendam or in Seattle might be reading this), I do want to acknowledge how wonderfully the S/PS pax were treated on this 10/29 cruise. No stone was left unturned to make being a suite pax truly special and we greatly appreciated it. Being in a Suite is a treat on every ship, but the Veendam goes above and beyond. Of particular note was the Suite Cocktails and Dinner evening and of course, Rochelle, who has to be HAL's best-ever Concierge. Thanks, HAL.

[RuthC]

sail, I understand your explanation perfectly. Thank you for making it so clear.

I do see that on one level it is two separate subjects. However, I also see it as a matter of how the passenger is perceived: when it is in HAL's best interest (read: $) the passenger matters, but when it would cost them to provide additional perqs to repeaters HAL matters more.

Just an honest difference of opinion, I guess. So be it.

[sail7seas]

One perk that was eliminated for suite pax was the choice to hold your luggage until the morning. It now must be put out the night before.

 

One thing I missed was the ice tea being available in the Neptune.

 

 

 

We had the choice to keep our luggage until the morning of disembarkation (a choice we have never selected) and we had ice tea in Neptune Lounge on our recent VODM cruise.

 

Seems some things vary from ship to ship.

 

Our ten day VODM cruise did not have a Suite Dinner but our 12 day VEDM cruise had a great (really wonderful) one. It was about the best we have ever attended.

 

[GayleArc]

I did briefly notice that we were not given a choice of putting our luggage out

at 7 am on the morning of debarcation, but since we have never used it, who

cares. Who wants to get up in the am and see all that luggage around? Never

noticed when they did have iced tea in the Neptune.

[kakalina]

I know that, peaches. The question is still "why" try a change when he says there's no need to change. He can't have it both ways.

The hotel manager does not decide what the dining times will be; this comes from Seattle it could however mean that he doesn't agree with corporate and didn't think a change was necessary. We think HAL went above and beyond in making CC'ers feel extra welcome. I thank John Challenger (who does read these boards) and Nick & Staci Berger who made a special cruise even better. Glad we met all you guys and look forward to your reviews.

Trisha

PS Jean I still don't have your e-mail,....

[sail7seas]

Trisha......

 

I think you may have missed Jean's post on another thread where she posted her e-mail. (I'm sure she is able to speak for herself but doesn't seem to be on line now or has not seen your post.)

 

This is what she posted:

 

#22 Today, 03:13 PM

elmorejj

 

 

 

 

 

Trish. email me at elmorejj@aol.com......jean

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

[kakalina]

Trisha......

 

I think you may have missed Jean's post on another thread where she posted her e-mail. (I'm sure she is able to speak for herself but doesn't seem to be on line now or has not seen your post.)

 

This is what she posted:

 

#22 Today, 03:13 PM

 

elmorejj

 

Thanks, I did find the post and sent the e-mail. I appreciate your comments about Nick Berger, he is one of the best hotel managers we have ever dealt with on HAL.

Trisha

 

 

 

Trish. email me at elmorejj@aol.com......jean

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

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[kakalina]

Trisha......

 

I think you may have missed Jean's post on another thread where she posted her e-mail. (I'm sure she is able to speak for herself but doesn't seem to be on line now or has not seen your post.)

 

This is what she posted:

 

#22 Today, 03:13 PM

elmorejj

 

 

 

 

 

Trish. email me at elmorejj@aol.com......jean

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks I found the post. Having a little trouble with this one though. Thanks for great comments on Nick Berger, we think he is one of the best hotel managers we've dealt with on any cruise line.

Trisha