PACD_JG Posted January 21, 2023 #1 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I'm surprised nobody posted this story yesterday, particularly since you can't add on a ship without taking away. https://www.cruisehive.com/holland-america-line-expanding-five-onboard-casinos/92723 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted January 21, 2023 #2 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Disgusting. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbiSox Posted January 21, 2023 #3 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I was on Rotterdam for three weeks late October-November 2022 and there was a new casino in the works. It never disturbed us with the usual unpleasantness of 'remodel' noises or paint smells. Opening night there was a nice party, free champagne, etc.. I like gaming in the casino, but not the new machines, so it didn't rock my boat, but others seemed to be having a great time in there, with about 50-60 new machines, (rough guess, I didn't actually count them). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare albingirl Posted January 21, 2023 #4 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Yippee. More smoking. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kochleffel Posted January 21, 2023 #5 Share Posted January 21, 2023 This is almost, but not quite, a reason to switch to Disney. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbiSox Posted January 21, 2023 #6 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I almost never see anyone smoking in the casino. If you're a smoker, you will have a hard time to find a smoking area in the casinos. I don't smoke so I wasn't paying attention. I would like it if HAL went 'smokeless'. I usually see only a handful people smoking by the Seaview bard, outside in back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea42 Posted January 21, 2023 #7 Share Posted January 21, 2023 21 minutes ago, albingirl said: Yippee. More smoking. From the article: "Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Koningsdam are also getting a separate non-smoking area of the casino, so more guests can enjoy gameplay in the conditions they prefer." At least it's a step in the right direction. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Roz Posted January 21, 2023 #8 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I was on the Rotterdam last March, and even though I don't gamble in the casino, I remember commenting on how small it was for that size of ship. Wonder why they didn't include a larger casino to start with? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted January 21, 2023 #9 Share Posted January 21, 2023 1 minute ago, Roz said: I was on the Rotterdam last March, and even though I don't gamble in the casino, I remember commenting on how small it was for that size of ship. Wonder why they didn't include a larger casino to start with? I was on the Nieuw Statendam in November and wondered the same thing. Also, there was already a non smoking room. However, not many machines, imo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy-mae Posted January 21, 2023 #10 Share Posted January 21, 2023 2 minutes ago, Roz said: Wonder why they didn't include a larger casino to start with? I guess they realized that with fewer entertainment options the guests needed something to lure them out of their staterooms (and open their wallets). 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbiSox Posted January 21, 2023 #11 Share Posted January 21, 2023 A non-smoking "area" doesn't help anything, unless it's completely enclosed. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted January 21, 2023 #12 Share Posted January 21, 2023 22 minutes ago, daisy-mae said: I guess they realized that with fewer entertainment options the guests needed something to lure them out of their staterooms (and open their wallets). Ah, the Pinnacle class ships have the most entertainment options of all the HAL ships. I would suggest, given all the casino cruise offers, the revenue from gambling is pretty good. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Colorado Klutch Posted January 21, 2023 #13 Share Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) I don't gamble, but the positive side of cruise ship casinos is they bring in a lot of revenue which helps to offset costs for everyone. (Slot machines are ATMs that work in reverse.) One of the reasons Disney cruises are so expensive is because there are no casinos to offset costs. I hoping the extra casino space will prevent more cost-cutting with Holland America. Edited January 21, 2023 by Colorado Klutch 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChinaShrek Posted January 21, 2023 #14 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I think is what they are going to use the Lincoln Center Stage area for when they expand. Not a bad idea but will attract different clientele I suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted January 21, 2023 #15 Share Posted January 21, 2023 1 minute ago, ChinaShrek said: I think is what they are going to use the Lincoln Center Stage area for when they expand. Not a bad idea but will attract different clientele I suspect. The open concept of the Lincoln Stage was never a good concept. They could hold those concerts in the little used Wajang Theater 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted January 21, 2023 #16 Share Posted January 21, 2023 We were on the Eurodam a few months ago and noticed that they already have expanded the casino into the adjacent area which was not used much previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highfields Posted January 21, 2023 #17 Share Posted January 21, 2023 We are looking at Viking Ocean Cruises even though we are 4 Star Mariners with Holland. NO casino NO kids with similar port intensive iteneries. One draw back is their pay in full policy well before sailing date. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusion927 Posted January 21, 2023 #18 Share Posted January 21, 2023 We were on the Nieuw Statendam in October, and found they converted the old Art display area (right next to the main casino) into a small non-smoking casino. Maybe 20 machines in there, most with the volumes set pretty low (maybe because the 2nd floor of the Lincoln Center/BB Kings room in next to the new casino area!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Oceansaway17 Posted January 21, 2023 #19 Share Posted January 21, 2023 3 hours ago, kochleffel said: This is almost, but not quite, a reason to switch to Disney. Yes my thoughts exactly. and kids can be fun to watch and they don’t drink or talk politics either 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laminator Posted January 21, 2023 #20 Share Posted January 21, 2023 It's been posted on here by many that there should be no smoking in the casino. So HAL makes a decision to attempt to appease those pax and there is still complaining. I don't believe there to be a larger money maker per sq ft on a ship than the casino. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted January 21, 2023 #21 Share Posted January 21, 2023 10 minutes ago, Laminator said: It's been posted on here by many that there should be no smoking in the casino. So HAL makes a decision to attempt to appease those pax and there is still complaining. I don't believe there to be a larger money maker per sq ft on a ship than the casino. It seems to me with every tweak, change or upcharge there are at least 10% who are never sailing again. This is a moneymaker as are alcohol and tobacco sales. It is what it is. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shack Posted January 21, 2023 #22 Share Posted January 21, 2023 14 minutes ago, Laminator said: It's been posted on here by many that there should be no smoking in the casino. So HAL makes a decision to attempt to appease those pax and there is still complaining. I don't believe there to be a larger money maker per sq ft on a ship than the casino. Thermal suite and spa treatments $$/SF close. And no smoking in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodjs Posted January 21, 2023 #23 Share Posted January 21, 2023 If that small no-smoking room on Koningsdam we experienced in November is their answer to offering a no-smoking section, a better solution would be to make that room the Smoking Room, perhaps with doors to help keep the smoke in, and make the majority of the casino non-smoking to better represent the minority % of guests who still smoke. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laminator Posted January 21, 2023 #24 Share Posted January 21, 2023 1 minute ago, twodjs said: If that small no-smoking room on Koningsdam we experienced in November is their answer to offering a no-smoking section, a better solution would be to make that room the Smoking Room, perhaps with doors to help keep the smoke in, and make the majority of the casino non-smoking to better represent the minority % of guests who still smoke. The small minority bring them the most business. If it was the other way around smoking would have been eliminated in the casino quite some time ago. And it is my understanding that 140 slot machines are being added. That is not an insignificant amount. Now the question is with a dedicated non smoking slot machine area will they allow smoking at all of the machines in the casino in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted January 21, 2023 #25 Share Posted January 21, 2023 6 minutes ago, shack said: Thermal suite and spa treatments $$/SF close. And no smoking in there. People in the thermal suite are at maximum relaxation and won’t be enticed more to relax more but smokers and drinkers do gamble more when they are drinking and smoking. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now