What has happened to the quality of the on board activities / shipboard experience

[kazu]

Our 28 day"Collector Cruise was on the Zuiderdam which became two 14 day segments with little enrichment - I think you are right, the smaller ships still deliver more enrichment offerings if they offer these longer cruise packages. But the larger ships for 28 days start feeling more like bare bones cruise factories, than cruise ships. It was still a great cruise and the ports were wonderful so I would do it again, just was expecting the more typical longer cruise benefits. And those larger ships do offer our favorite cabin choice (SS) so all is not lost choosing them.

 

Bolding is mine. Just a reminder that the Prinsendam also offers that category and fair number for the size of the ship.

 

She might be pricier but her itineraries are good, as you know and so far, I haven't been disappointed in the lecturers. I'll be reporting in May ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Over the last 4 - 5 years we have noticed that activities on both port and sea have been cut drastically -- due to cuts in staff.

We used to love playing trivia. Couldn't the last few years -- different ships. Trivia was held at 5 and 7 PM. We have dinner at 5:30 -- trivia lasts longer than that and we were still finishing dinner when the 7 PM one started.

There use to be pool games -- gone.

There used to be piped music for at least an hour by the aft pool -- gone.

There used to be some kind of music by the Lido pool for an hour -- gone.

No more golf games, etc.

[trixiee]

Count me in the group that doesn’t need anything or anyone to entertain me. I’m happy to be quiet and just listen the breeze and the “chugging “ along of the ship. I like going to the gym, reading and walking laps or lazing on a chair. I did appreciate the enrichment speakers on our last cruise.

In the evening I do enjoy the music and entertainment, but am happy to be tucked into bed by 11:00.

Maybe it’s because I’m still working that I enjoy the quiet downtime more?

[cbr663]

...

 

Did we just happen to sail on an exceptionally dull cruise or have things changed that much on HAL? This is important as we are about to book our next cruise and the group that we are sailing with are using this experience to steer clear of HAL, even though HAL has the best itinerary...

 

Unfortunately, this is becoming the norm for HAL. We have also noticed that there seems to be less and less activities on the ships. The When & Where now appears to be quite sparse.

 

With regards to your next booking - different people want different things out of a cruise. Some go for the ship and activities, some to relax, some for the itinerary. Yet no matter our reasons, I think most of us prefer not to be bored on a ship.

[ithaca gal]

We did the partial transit of the Panama Canal in January and I had been looking forward to the "cheesy" swim the Panama Canal activity. If it occurred, I missed it in the Where and When.

 

My husband could care less about any of the activities on the ship. He is happy as a clam to sit and read all day. He attends trivia twice a day only because he knows it makes me happy.

 

I miss the activities (as silly as some of them were) like origami, etc. On the last cruise with a staff member who conducted these activities, one of the "things to do" was coloring for adults. Seriously? Even if your idea of fun was getting together with other adults and coloring for a half hour or so, if your picture wasn't finished -- too bad -- the staff member took the supplies with her when she left!

 

I don't need a lot of activities onboard, but a few would be nice.

 

While I'm sure the lecturers are very interesting and educational, they hold no interest for us at all. Don't miss them ... but I certainly would be okay if they had them for the many people who do look forward to them.

[Sea girl 23]

They’re adding the Oprah Book Club!!!!

 

 

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Please. Stop:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Ken the cruiser]

I have sailed on Holland America 11 times and always enjoyed the experience. I have also sailed on several other cruise lines. When I sailed on Koningsdam in October on an 11 day Eastern Caribbean itinerary, we brought along with us some people who were sailing on HAL for the first time but who also have sailed on other cruise lines a number of times. The big difference that we had with this recent cruise was the experience onboard seemed to feel quite different. A couple of examples: We often would sit in the pool area and were accustomed to having at least some live music to help enjoy the afternoon. There was no music of any time, not even recorded music near the pool. We also were looking forward to some sea day activities to help us enjoy the the leisurely time spent when at sea. The activities listed were quite limited and in many cases included a small upcharge to participate. We felt that if we wanted to do something fun that we were being nickeled and dimed. I don't remember this being the case the last time that we sailed on HAL. We sailed on Princess (March 2017) and found they had lots of fun things on the schedule.

 

Did we just happen to sail on an exceptionally dull cruise or have things changed that much on HAL? This is important as we are about to book our next cruise and the group that we are sailing with are using this experience to steer clear of HAL, even though HAL has the best itinerary...

We are in our mid 60s and have been on 11 HAL cruises as well and, yes, over the past few years it has become increasingly more boring, but part of it is us. We've taken all of the repeated Microsoft classes, seen Frozen Earth 4 times on three different HAL ships and know many of the answers on the BBC Earth game and trivia shows because they do the same ones every time. We were recently on a 17 day Koningsdam cruise, which we later found out was a b2b, and the CD used the same trivia questions on each leg.

 

For a change of pace, we booked a b2b Celebrity cruise on the Eclipse this past Fall and had a blast! It was a 10 day Canary Island cruise tied with a TA back to Miami. They had music playing at pool side, interactive game shows, 3 professionally given lectures on every sea day and had some great evening entertainment and shows!

 

If your group is young at heart and enjoys having a good time with plenty of things to do on sea days, give Celebrity a try if you haven't already. As you can see from my signature, we have moved on from HAL because it has just gotten too boring for us, unless we decide to book one of their boutique cruises like Antarctica or going to the Polar Ice Cape and Iceland on the Prinsendam.

 

We have nothing against HAL, it's just gotten too redundant and laid back for us, with one exception. As a person earlier mentioned, their 22 day Antarctica cruise this past January was fantastic with great lecturers and they even had a few interactive game shows if you like those kind of things as we do.

 

But that's just us and since there are a variety of cruise lines offering different types of cruising experiences, we've decided to venture out and try some of them. When we first started cruising 6 years ago, HAL was our "control" cruise line we compared all others we sailed on against. Now we have three controls: Celebrity (for fun), Oceania (for food) and Crystal (just to be wowed every once in awhile in every category).

 

Hopefully, if HAL is becoming too dull for you, you'll find some that will be a better fit.

[OlsSalt]

We are in our mid 60s and have been on 11 HAL cruises as well and, yes, over the past few years it has become increasingly more boring, but part of it is us. We've taken all of the repeated Microsoft classes, seen Frozen Earth 4 times on three different HAL ships and know many of the answers on the BBC Earth game and trivia shows because they do the same ones every time. We were recently on a 17 day Koningsdam cruise, which we later found out was a b2b, and the CD used the same trivia questions on each leg.

 

For a change of pace, we booked a b2b Celebrity cruise on the Eclipse this past Fall and had a blast! It was a 10 day Canary Island cruise tied with a TA back to Miami. They had music playing at pool side, interactive game shows, 3 professionally given lectures on every sea day and had some great evening entertainment and shows!

 

If your group is young at heart and enjoys having a good time with plenty of things to do on sea days, give Celebrity a try if you haven't already. As you can see from my signature, we have moved on from HAL because it has just gotten too boring for us, unless we decide to book one of their boutique cruises like Antarctica or going to the Polar Ice Cape and Iceland on the Prinsendam.

 

We have nothing against HAL, it's just gotten too redundant and laid back for us, with one exception. As a person earlier mentioned, their 22 day Antarctica cruise this past January was fantastic with great lecturers and they even had a few interactive game shows if you like those kind of things as we do.

 

But that's just us and since there are a variety of cruise lines offering different types of cruising experiences, we've decided to venture out and try some of them. When we first started cruising 6 years ago, HAL was our "control" cruise line we compared all others we sailed on against. Now we have three controls: Celebrity (for fun), Oceania (for food) and Crystal (just to be wowed every once in awhile in every category).

 

Hopefully, if HAL is becoming too dull for you, you'll find some that will be a better fit.

 

If I had taken ten 10-day HAL cruises and one 17 day HAL cruise, ...... ..over the past few years ......... I would have been bored too. Your need to move on is very understandable. Please get back to us after 10 more ten-day cruises over a few years exclusively on another brand.

[Ken the cruiser]

If I had taken ten 10-day HAL cruises and one 17 day HAL cruise, ...... ..over the past few years ......... I would have been bored too. Your need to move on is very understandable. Please get back to us after 10 more ten-day cruises over a few years exclusively on another brand.

Actually, we've been on 3 7 day cruises, 1 10 day cruise, 1 11 day cruise, 2 14 day cruises, 1 15 day cruise, 1 17 day cruise and 1 22 day cruise in the past 6 years. So I think we've given HAL a good look. Actually, I think it's because my DW and I were raised on rock n roll rather than Frank Sinatra and Lawrence Well which is the pace of the production shows HAL now offers on most of their cruises except for maybe on the Koningsdam where they are trying to attract a younger crowd. I have to admit, they had pretty good shows on the 2 Koningsdam cruises we sailed on, once in Norway and once in the Caribbean.

[OlsSalt]

Actually, we've been on 3 7 day cruises, 1 10 day cruise, 1 11 day cruise, 2 14 day cruises, 1 15 day cruise, 1 17 day cruise and 1 22 day cruise in the past 6 years. So I think we've given HAL a good look. Actually, I think it's because my DW and I were raised on rock n roll rather than Frank Sinatra and Lawrence Well which is the pace of the production shows HAL now offers on most of their cruises except for maybe on the Koningsdam where they are trying to attract a younger crowd. I have to admit, they had pretty good shows on the 2 Koningsdam cruises we sailed on, once in Norway and once in the Caribbean.

 

I can see why you got bored. You are right to move on.

[iancal]

I think that HAL should pay attention to people like Ken the cruiser.

 

Like us, he is probably HAL's next generation of cruiser. HAL doing comparatively very little to attract us, let alone keep us loyal. And my comments would be tame compared to DW's.

[GCHAN]

I think that HAL should pay attention to people like Ken the cruiser.

 

Like us, he is probably HAL's next generation of cruiser. HAL doing comparatively very little to attract us, let alone keep us loyal. And my comments would be tame compared to DW's.

I agree.

 

I really missed HAL food when we shifted to Celebrity(mainly shifted because of prices and itineraries). The music and entertainment was similar when we moved but seems to have been cut back on HAL since we last cruised.

 

Is the food quality still very good on HAL as that is what i was really looking forward to if we cruised with them again. Everything was really good in the main dining room.

 

Also is trivia only on at at 5pm and 7pm on all ships? It is my one of my DW's main pursuits whilst on board on the cruises. We have met a lot of lovely people in the Trivia comps. and generally have a lot of fun during the Trivia.

[baggal]

We just returned from a 7 day Nieuw Amsterdam Western Caribbean cruise. Yes, its a beautiful ship and you could probably spend a good deal of time admiring the artwork as an activity. But for the most part, I think that HAL has listened to some of its cruisers and assumes all they want to do is to come on board to READ. (see the thread about the demise of the libraries). I have nothing against reading, but if I wanted to sit and read for most of the time I'm on the ship, I could stay home, avoid the awful plane travel to get to the ship, order in my meals, and binge watch Downton Abbey reruns, which I found myself doing on this cruise.

 

There was no steel band by the pool (at least last year on the Zuiderdam there was one player who switched between the two pools) to make you feel that you were actually in the Caribbean, The America's Test Kitchen demos were a complete bore led by someone who selected the most boring subjects like brownies (she actually admitted that the testers thought the boxed Ghiradelli's was pretty good - so who needed the rest of the demo) and roast salmon which I already make once a week at home. I much prefer the cooking demonstrations by the ship's chefs with interesting dishes - but those are long gone.

 

DH and I noticed that the casino was more crowded on this cruise than on previous HAL cruises. We decided that people wanted to have fun and that was one place to have it.

 

We have one more HAL cruise - in Europe where we use the ship as a moving hotel rather than a resort. Next time in the Caribbean we'll be on a different cruise line.

[Roz]

I live by myself and look forward to the social aspects of cruising. For those of you for whom reading a book or looking at the ocean is a fulfilling activity, my hat goes off to you. Reading a book by myself or looking out the window is my daily life at home. I want something more active and stimulating when I cruise.

 

On my recent Oosterdam cruise, I went up to the Crow's Nest to do one of the NY Times crossword puzzles they put out on the tables under glass. Used to be there were washable markers you could use for the puzzles, and then take a damp paper towel to erase your answers so the next person could do the same puzzle. When I asked about the markers, I was told to use one of the golf pencils that we use for trivia. What the heck?! I took one of the morning newspapers that has a crossword in it and just went back to my room and did it.

 

I could go on and on with examples but I'll leave it at that. Death by a thousand cuts.

 

Roz

 

P.S. Baggal, I binge watched Downton Abbey on one of my cruises. Thank God I had something interesting to keep me occupied every day. Not what I planned to do but the opportunity was there.

[iancal]

We will be going to the Shady Acres Rest Home soon enough.

 

Until then, we want a little life in our cruises. Perhaps some steel drums by the pool or a good vocalist or group with contemporary music. I realize some people want silence at the pool but isn't that what the library is for?

 

Dark decor. Reminds us of an old railway hotel or a funeral home. No thanks HAL. You are clearly not selling or marketing to us any more. Time to change the glossies on the web site and the brochures (do they still have brochures?) to reflect reality.

 

We came to the conclusion that HAL does want us to move on. So for the most part we have.

Edited March 4, 2018 by iancal

[JT1962]

I am getting ready to depart on my very first cruise, and it happens to be on HAL. I am nervous & disappointed to read these kinds of posts. I was looking forward to being on a smaller ship, less intimidating :)

Here is a question for you more frequent cruisers - where you have cruised other than HAL - what other lines & why?

 

 

If you have never cruised before, you will enjoy it. You have nothing else to compare it to or to miss something they used to have and have now cut. If you have a good itinerary that is port intensive, you should be fine.

 

I have cruised with Norwegian, Princes, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and several lines that are now out of business. The other lines offer better quality and variety for food and entertainment, in my opinion. HAL was not horrible, but it was not a good match for us now. I am 56 and they seem to cater to a demographic at least 20+ years older. The live entertainment and music options on our cruise were very limited and virtually non-existent after 9:30. We heard very little, if any, upbeat music and most was from prior to 1950.

 

 

 

 

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[OlsSalt]

I agree.

 

I really missed HAL food when we shifted to Celebrity(mainly shifted because of prices and itineraries). The music and entertainment was similar when we moved but seems to have been cut back on HAL since we last cruised.

 

Is the food quality still very good on HAL as that is what i was really looking forward to if we cruised with them again. Everything was really good in the main dining room.

 

Also is trivia only on at at 5pm and 7pm on all ships? It is my one of my DW's main pursuits whilst on board on the cruises. We have met a lot of lovely people in the Trivia comps. and generally have a lot of fun during the Trivia.

 

The food on HAL is very good. Fresh and interesting choices and the best fresh baked breads we have had on any ship. I can't address the other aspects since entertainment on board is not something that matters to us. We are primarily itinerary driven HAL passengers and they continue to deliver some of the best port choices out there for what we are looking for. We travel to learn and explore - the one recent drawback is the loss of enrichment lectures on shorter cruises and the downgrading of their former libraries.

[navybankerteacher]

The good: their ships still look and feel like ships; their staff (sadly reduced and over-worked) still provide very good service; their food is still reasonably well prepared and served in attractive surroundings; the fellow passengers are reasonably civilized; their pricing makes their product competitive vs. other vacation activities.

 

The unfortunate: live music and dancing (for passengers) has largely vanished; the libraries (formally manned) are vanishing; the entertainment is less entertaining; the quality and variety of MDR dinners are markedly reduced; the frequency and variety of shipboard activities have been gutted.

 

Cruising is simply not the all-around vacation activity it used to be - I do not like the changes, and it is a bit sad to see an activity which used to be well managed and greatly enjoyable run into the ground --- but, given the right itinerary: a return from a trip to Europe, or getting back to the East Coast after a California wedding, I remain likely to find myself on a HAL ship from time to time -- but cruising is no longer the vacation of choice it used to be.

[OlsSalt]

If you have never cruised before, you will enjoy it. You have nothing else to compare it to or to miss something they used to have and have now cut. If you have a good itinerary that is port intensive, you should be fine.

 

I have cruised with Norwegian, Princes, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and several lines that are now out of business. The other lines offer better quality and variety for food and entertainment, in my opinion. HAL was not horrible, but it was not a good match for us now. I am 56 and they seem to cater to a demographic at least 20+ years older. The live entertainment and music options on our cruise were very limited and virtually non-existent after 9:30. We heard very little, if any, upbeat music and most was from prior to 1950.

 

 

 

 

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When we first cruised HAL 10 years ago we found the music very comfortable for our demographics at the time - we were the Frank Sinatra, old Broadway showtunes era - 1960's. Of late we don't recognize any of the music so it has changed. It is inaccurate to claim all the HAL music comes from the 1950s' We wish that it did. Yes, it is quiet ship after 10pm, yes it does fill easily with those older than the 50-60 crowd. If this is a concern, do shop around for a better fit. HAL can't be all things to all people.

[Roz]

Music prior to 1950 would be Big Band era, and I can't say that's what I heard on my recent Oosterdam cruise. It was a mix of 60s through current day.

 

Roz

[JT1962]

Music prior to 1950 would be Big Band era, and I can't say that's what I heard on my recent Oosterdam cruise. It was a mix of 60s through current day.

 

 

 

Roz

 

 

 

It may be different on various ships. On the Rotterdam Western Caribbean itinerary in January, most music was big band / easy listening that sounded like 1940s and some classical. We heard nothing upbeat or Caribbean type music by the pools that most lines play in the Caribbean. Obviously this is not for us and we will continue to enjoy the other lines.

 

 

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[Roz]

I'm surprised by the 1940s music, because that was my parents' era. They are both deceased, and would be 91 and 92 respectively if they were still alive. Maybe a handful of passengers that age on any HAL cruise? I wonder who selects the onboard music?

 

I enjoy music from a variety of eras, but wouldn't enjoy an entire cruise of 1940s and classical.

 

Roz

[JT1962]

I'm surprised by the 1940s music, because that was my parents' era. They are both deceased, and would be 91 and 92 respectively if they were still alive. Maybe a handful of passengers that age on any HAL cruise? I wonder who selects the onboard music?

 

 

 

I enjoy music from a variety of eras, but wouldn't enjoy an entire cruise of 1940s and classical.

 

 

 

Roz

 

 

 

It seemed odd to me as well. It may have been just unique to the demographics for that particular trip. The average age was probably 70-75, but they would have grown up listening to music from the 50s - 60s.

 

I enjoy all types of music from the 40s to current hits, but do like some variety. Maybe if they had not removed B B King’s during the dry dock upgrades I would have found more options to my musical taste.

 

 

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[Roz]

JT, what ship were you on that they removed the BB King's? I'm very surprised to hear that.

 

Roz

[JT1962]

JT, what ship were you on that they removed the BB King's? I'm very surprised to hear that.

 

 

 

Roz

 

 

 

Rotterdam

 

 

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