Ocean Bar Slot Machines...the rest of the story

[trk_koa]

Just boarded a Koningsdam on December 12 and, indeed, the slots are gone from the Ocean Bar. We had a nice drink there last evening before dinner. 

[rkacruiser]

5 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

I was on the Rotterdam last week. They were removing the slots on the last night of the cruise, and they were totally gone by the morning when we disembarked

 

Thanks for the photos.  That is a beautiful lounge.  Much nicer than what I recall on the Nieuw Statendam.  

[aliaschief]

Casino is the highest money maker on a cruise. Hardly any overhead other then a few employees. It’s so profitable they offer many lucrative perks for those who spend and play to come back.

 

The cruise lines definitely need income. Though we have never spent a dime in a casino we have no problem with Hal trying to get back on the surface and breathe and refill their coffers and pay employees and debt.

 

Down the road,  the normal we are accustomed too may return but in the meantime we all need to realize these are not normal times.

 

Time and patience is a virtue and with that said our 28 days of cruising on a Dam ship this year was almost perfect!

 

Give it a chance!😷

 

 

[Caribbean Chris]

12 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Casino is the highest money maker on a cruise. Hardly any overhead other then a few employees. It’s so profitable they offer many lucrative perks for those who spend and play to come back.

 

The cruise lines definitely need income. Though we have never spent a dime in a casino we have no problem with Hal trying to get back on the surface and breathe and refill their coffers and pay employees and debt.

 

Down the road,  the normal we are accustomed too may return but in the meantime we all need to realize these are not normal times.

 

Time and patience is a virtue and with that said our 28 days of cruising on a Dam ship this year was almost perfect!

 

Give it a chance!😷

 

 

I’m definitely in the camp of giving it a chance and truly enjoyed our short Rotterdam cruise after the ship arrived from Europe.  I agree, HAL obviously needs cash flow to survive and realize we may have to sacrifice use of a public room for groups sometimes. However, I think a little more transparency would have been welcome on an issue like slot machines filling the Ocean Bar.
 

A simple announcement in the daily program could have provided an explanation - something like “as we prepare to welcome aboard (XYZ Slot Tournament group), the Ocean Bar temporarily will host slot machines. The bar remains open and seating areas are still available for your use.”

 

I missed the atmosphere of the normal Ocean Bar and went home wondering if slots were the new normal there for HAL. I’m glad they’re gone.

Edited December 14, 2021 by Caribbean Chris

[aliaschief]

9 minutes ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I’m definitely in the camp of giving it a chance and truly enjoyed our short Rotterdam cruise after the ship arrived from Europe.  I agree, HAL obviously needs cash flow to survive and realize we may have to sacrifice use of a public room for groups sometimes. However, I think a little more transparency would have been welcome on an issue like slot machines filling the Ocean Bar.
 

A simple announcement in the daily program could have provided an explanation - something like “as we prepare to welcome aboard (XYZ Slot Tournament group), the Ocean Bar temporarily will host slot machines. The bar remains open and seating areas are still available for your use.”

 

I missed the atmosphere of the normal Ocean Bar and went home wondering if slots were the new normal there for HAL. I’m glad they’re gone.

Communication has never been a Hal strongpoint!

[rkacruiser]

10 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Communication has never been a Hal strongpoint!

 

Sorry to disagree.  Communication once was very good.  Remember, I first began to cruise on HAL in 1970.  I sailed on Rotterdam V in 1971 when the changeover of Dutch/European crew to Indonesians began.  I witnessed the "tension" that was taking place.  Speaking to a Hotel Officer, he admitted that "yes, there are some problems".  

 

I think you will disagree, Chief, OK by me, but the change in senior executives over the years has led to the various issues--communications or whatever--that we experienced HAL cruisers have experienced since those gentlemen retired, were given a new title/responsibility in the CCL family of cruise brands, or resigned.  

[cruiseguy56]

On 11/15/2021 at 7:29 PM, rkacruiser said:

Why the HAL marketing for gamblers?  Oh, income from these people, I realize.  These good folks ought to book a Carnival Cruise Line ship.  Such an excessive ambiance of gambling does not belong on a ship of Holland America Line.  

Just another example of the Carnivalization of HAL.