Cruise Ship Priest Program

[Khlela]

On 6/15/2024 at 8:57 AM, contom said:

They have all types of other entertainment and special interest groups that they cater to and will not cut but have decided to target the dedicated Catholics on their cruises. 

I understand being upset but don’t be dramatic. Catholics are NOT being “targeted”. You realize most major religions outside of Christianity have ZERO representation or support on cruises right? Again it’s valid to be upset with change. It’s not valid to act like somehow Catholics are being discriminated against. Do you feel all cruise lines without priests have “targeted” devout Catholics? 🙄

 

[LouChamp]

5 hours ago, Khlela said:

I understand being upset but don’t be dramatic. Catholics are NOT being “targeted”. You realize most major religions outside of Christianity have ZERO representation or support on cruises right? Again it’s valid to be upset with change. It’s not valid to act like somehow Catholics are being discriminated against. Do you feel all cruise lines without priests have “targeted” devout Catholics? 🙄

 

Aloha. Perhaps the poster is not being dramatic as you say but passionate about something personal to him/her.  That is an individual expression and opinion.  Perhaps you are being dramatic with your post.

[contom]

Khlela contrary to your comment, other religions are represented, as per Holland's Website: 

An interdenominational service is held Sunday mornings, led by the congregation.

A Jewish Shabbat Service is held Friday evenings, led by the congregation.

I am glad that other religions are represented, I am not glad that they have removed representation on my faith on certain cruises.

"LouChamp" has captured my intent perfectly.

We sail multiple times per year, and this is a big factor on who we select as our cruise provider.  

 

[Ky Colonel]

On 6/15/2024 at 11:57 AM, contom said:

We have been almost exclusively sailing Holland because of the Catholic Priests on board.  This is a game changer, and we will have to begin looking at other options. They have all types of other entertainment and special interest groups that they cater to and will not cut but have decided to target the dedicated Catholics on their cruises. The Masses during the cruises that we have been on can have over 100 people in attendance...and they cut this option??? This is a recent change that we were just made aware of as of June 2024.

Spot on, contom, and very well said. - agree 100%

[Ky Colonel]

On 6/14/2024 at 9:37 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

We have never cruised on HAL but were considering it.  #1 reason: the 'guarantee' of a Priest onboard [I make a major effort in my planning to find Mass in port, but this isn't always possible even with Sat afternoon options]  With this removed, HAL is just another upper-mass-market line and I have purged [exorcized?] my computer of their deck plans and brochures.

 

I have no illusion that this will matter one iota to the HAL beancounters, but it was the one thing that distinguished HAL from Princess and Celebrity.  They should remember that this sort of homogenization was what ruined General Motors.

 

BTW, re the Canon law discussion above:  we attend Mass on Sunday and holy days NOT because it is required, but because it is a Privilege.

My sentiments to a "T"!!!  Thanks for sharing your views.

[NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope]

I feel badly about this decision. It is possible, however, that that it was made by Apostolate of the Sea. With the shortage of priests, it just might not be possible to have one on each sailing. I think the decision doesn't make sense from a HAL point of view; they get a lot of goodwill and business for the cost of a cabin, meals, and daily one hour use of a meeting room.

[Sea42]

54 minutes ago, contom said:

Khlela contrary to your comment, other religions are represented, as per Holland's Website: 

An interdenominational service is held Sunday mornings, led by the congregation.

A Jewish Shabbat Service is held Friday evenings, led by the congregation.

I am glad that other religions are represented, I am not glad that they have removed representation on my faith on certain cruises.

"LouChamp" has captured my intent perfectly.

We sail multiple times per year, and this is a big factor on who we select as our cruise provider.  

 

The difference being that the cruise line only provides the space for the other religions, not an officiant.

This change will open up new choices for those that chose HAL solely due to a priest being on every sailing.

[Linaeve]

4 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Perhaps the poster is not being dramatic as you say but passionate about something personal to him/her.  That is an individual expression and opinion.  Perhaps you are being dramatic with your post.

 

I'm not, again, it's fine to be upset and passionate. However, it is dramatic to make it seem like this is an attack on a specific religion. It's not, I promise you they aren't doing this going "Take that Catholics!" 

[KAKcruiser]

Apostolate of the Seas did not make this decision.  They have plenty of priests willing to serve.  They were informed of this decision by HAL only recently.

[Linaeve]

2 hours ago, contom said:

Khlela contrary to your comment, other religions are represented, as per Holland's Website: 

An interdenominational service is held Sunday mornings, led by the congregation.

A Jewish Shabbat Service is held Friday evenings, led by the congregation.

I am glad that other religions are represented, I am not glad that they have removed representation on my faith on certain cruises.

"LouChamp" has captured my intent perfectly.

We sail multiple times per year, and this is a big factor on who we select as our cruise provider.  

 

 

So other religions rely on individuals leading it themselves. Saying "interdenominational" somehow covers all other religions isn't accurate at all. So a Jewish Shabbat service is led by the congregation, thus no Rabbi is offered. No Imam is provided for Muslims, no Swamis for Hindus. These are major world religions with zero representation on cruise ships. Again, I do feel sympathy for Catholics, but I would also like there to be some perspective in seeing that it's been a luxury for them to be accommodated for so long while other religions are not. 

[iflyrc5]

2 hours ago, NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope said:

I feel badly about this decision. It is possible, however, that that it was made by Apostolate of the Sea. With the shortage of priests, it just might not be possible to have one on each sailing. I think the decision doesn't make sense from a HAL point of view; they get a lot of goodwill and business for the cost of a cabin, meals, and daily one hour use of a meeting room.

I contacted AOS and they said they had nothing to do with it and have priests available.  I talked to our Parish priest who does HAL cruises as a working priest about this and he also said that getting priests is not an issue.  He told me their cabins are small interior cabins that are used for the guest entertainers so by not have a priest it does not free up a cabin for paying guests so it can't be a money issue.

[Auburn Girl]

On 5/26/2024 at 8:33 AM, Ky Colonel said:

Haven’t cruised since very early 2020: Wondering if HAL still has the Cruise Ship Priest Program - any help is appreciated.  Thank you!

Hi There - We have cruised HAL in the last year (and many, many times previously). They have always had a priest onboard. In fact, one year we met him (Father Thomas) and helped him find the Vatican when we were in Rome.

[LouChamp]

1 hour ago, Linaeve said:

 

So other religions rely on individuals leading it themselves. Saying "interdenominational" somehow covers all other religions isn't accurate at all. So a Jewish Shabbat service is led by the congregation, thus no Rabbi is offered. No Imam is provided for Muslims, no Swamis for Hindus. These are major world religions with zero representation on cruise ships. Again, I do feel sympathy for Catholics, but I would also like there to be some perspective in seeing that it's been a luxury for them to be accommodated for so long while other religions are not. 

Aloha. It does give those who are affected by the change the right to voice their disapproval. 

[contom]

I called Holland America to voice our displeasure...I was given this email address by customer service. According to the customer service representative there still may be time to change that decision.  For those interested the email address is: theofficeofthepresdident@hollandamerica.com.  I just sent my email 🙂

Edited June 17 by contom

[Host Jazzbeau]

14 minutes ago, contom said:

I called Holland America to voice our displeasure...I was given this email address by customer service. According to the customer service representative there still may be time to change that decision.  For those interested the email address is: officeofthepresdident@hollandamerica.com.  I just sent my email 🙂

Please check the email again – there seems to be an extra 'd' ?

[contom]

Correction to email address and thank you!

 I called Holland America to voice our displeasure...I was given this email address by customer service. According to the customer service representative there still may be time to change that decision.  For those interested the email address is: officeofthepresident@hollandamerica.com.  I just sent my email 🙂

[Linaeve]

4 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. It does give those who are affected by the change the right to voice their disapproval. 

Of course, never said they couldn't. Just addressing some of the false claims people are trying to make. Such as Catholics being targeted. Peoples feelings about being upset are valid. It's not valid to make claims on HALs intentions. 

[LouChamp]

14 minutes ago, Linaeve said:

Of course, never said they couldn't. Just addressing some of the false claims people are trying to make. Such as Catholics being targeted. Peoples feelings about being upset are valid. It's not valid to make claims on HALs intentions. 

Aloha.  Yes I thank you for your post. Sad that everything is based on numbers. I understand the dollar being all important but I remember when then discontinued the yum yum man. Sometimes little things matter. Smooth sailing 

[lcand1923]

I am currently on the 28 Day Artic Circle Summer Solstice Cruise.  Daily Mass has averaged 20 Attendees.  I cannot estimate the Sunday Mass attendance (no Vigil Mass, just one Mass on Sunday at 5:00pm).  I did a rough count before Mass started and had 80.  They removed a partition, to allow more attendees.  As I walked out of Mass, I could see that the second room was standing room only,

 

This is a larger attendance then at my home parish where the Archdiocese has decided to close parishes.

 

I sent an email to Gus when this change was first announced.  No reply from anyone at HAL.  I don’t know what is more bothersome to me.  The fact that HAL has made this decision or that it doesn’t care enough to send me even a form response.

[KAKcruiser]

I also sent an email to Gus two weeks ago and haven't received a response.  Today I sent one to the office of the president as suggested.  But, I don't have much faith in what the customer service rep said about there being the possibility of changing the decision.  I think they just make things up.

[Wayward Son]

On 6/16/2024 at 12:57 AM, Host Jazzbeau said:

If you like to gamble, not having a casino onboard wouldn't ruin your life.  But it would make you rate that cruise line below those that do have them.

 

Same principle.

 

Well, yes, sort of. I'm not sure that comparing something that attracts anyone to something that attracts someone is equal. But, yes, if I was Catholic, and ranked cruise lines on my religion, having a priest on board would matter.

 

[SetAnOpenCourse]

I got a prompt reply to the email I sent about this to officeofthepresident.  It was written by a “Special Advisor”, and seemed like a canned answer.  It dubiously stated “limited staffing availably”

as the reason for the change.

 

Anyway, perhaps those who’ve gotten no reply can try that email address instead.

 

IMHO this is poor timing from a business standpoint.  Where I live, the large Catholic church is absolutely packed on weekends, and FWIW, the congregation is exactly the demographic HAL wants - younger, high-income, and many families.  There is also a resurgence of tradition - the kind of people who would appreciate Mass on board.

[Himself]

I am currently on the Eurodam. I am at the John Hopkins Glacier.This weekend I had A Saturday evening Mas WTH about 35 attending and on Sunday I had about 53 attending. On Monday they all came at the last minute and we had about 15 attending and firsti reading was don by a teenager.

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[KAKcruiser]

I received a reply to my email to Office of the President.  It was a canned reply so I wrote back again and this time got the message about the decision being made because of a "staffing" problem.  I wrote back and told them that not much staffing was required and this sounded like an excuse.  I doubt I will hear from them again.

[bobby3334]

Thanks to all who wrote about the importance of Mass and priests’ to them.   Whenever I have been on a Holland America on Sundays the two Masses attracted around 250 total on the larger ships and 40-50 at the early (8am) daily Mass.   It seems like the cruise lines are experimenting with how to not only hold onto but attract new customers e.g. the drinks package.  The Lincoln Center has now been discontinued on HAL I was told due an expired contract.   Now that the ships are full or almost full it is important that the decision makers understand what is important to customers.   I am guessing they are going to have to begin raising prices to make up for the tremendous debts incurred during the pandemic.   If you look at the financials and stock prices before and after the pandemic I think you will see what I mean.    Mike