What Would You Like to See Gone?

[mamaofami]

Disembarkation.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

YES YES YES

[srlafleur]

They can ditch the art auctions. A gallery instead would be just fine, if anyone's in the market...

And there are too many "photo ops"- too intrusive. Doesn't feel very elegant having to wend one's way through the many queues on formal night, and I don't like having to dodge the photographers when getting off in port! Plus, it's wasteful to print out so many pictures that people don't really want. Oh, and I don't love being ambushed with my mouth full at dinner to have a "table" picture taken every night. (Does HAL do that?- it's been a while since I've sailed them looking forward to the upcoming in Dec.).

And I would love it if the "port" talks were much more than sales pitches. Really, I don't need to know where the local Diamonds International is; I'd prefer to learn more about the locals.

[Krazy Kruizers]

They can ditch the art auctions. A gallery instead would be just fine, if anyone's in the market...

And there are too many "photo ops"- too intrusive. Doesn't feel very elegant having to wend one's way through the many queues on formal night, and I don't like having to dodge the photographers when getting off in port! Plus, it's wasteful to print out so many pictures that people don't really want. Oh, and I don't love being ambushed with my mouth full at dinner to have a "table" picture taken every night. (Does HAL do that?- it's been a while since I've sailed them looking forward to the upcoming in Dec.).

And I would love it if the "port" talks were much more than sales pitches. Really, I don't need to know where the local Diamonds International is; I'd prefer to learn more about the locals.

 

All the ships now have art galleries now.

[srlafleur]

All the ships now have art galleries now.

 

That's good. Now if they'd just ditch the auctions...

Really, they don't bother me that much, unless it's intrusive.

[NetwrkEng]

Master Chef's Dinner

 

Photo Gallery - Wasted space, hey I have an idea, you could put a pub there. :D

[meterman2]

Photographers (who solicit business) and the Master Chefs dinner are a good start. I'll add the "Parade of the Baked Alaska" to the list.

[norcal2]

The Piano Bars!! (Couldn't resist!!)

 

Now THAT was funny! lol

[srlafleur]

I'll add the "Parade of the Baked Alaska" to the list.

 

ooh, ooh...I'll second that!

Another thing that just doesn't scream "elegant" to me...but maybe that's just me.:o

[pipedreams62]

Oh that sounds so dramatic. I've never experienced this. I've always had the photographer,wait for the proper moment, (not eating or in the middle of a conversation) then politely ask if we would like our picture taken. What lines have you traveled on?

[Boytjie]

Go to Smart Casual every night... and enforce it.

 

So if you show up in a tux or suit they should send you away? :eek:

[sail7seas]

Guess what? The "new" waste baskets on Eurodam are square, metal and have a partition with 2/3 of said container designed for waste and 1/3 for recycables - no more blue plastic container hanging from the side of the can!

 

They sound nice. Lots of new decorating ideas on Eurodam. She truly seems to distinguish herself as a new class of ships.

[medfordgirl]

I would like them to get rid of the volley ball/basket ball courts and put in a mini golf instead.

[Barek]

Presumably the photographers and art auctions are profitable, and as long as they're profitable, they're helping to subsidize the cruise - so I'm all for keeping anything that helps keep the cruise price down for those who don't use them. But, I would like to see less impact from them, so ... (keep in mind that I've only been on one HAL cruise, and it was a VISTA class ... once we cruise an S or R class, we may have additional opinions)

 

1) Keep all art auctions out of the hallways/walkways ... contain them within the lounge where it's taking place, and stop allowing some of the art to be setup in the entrances, inevitably poking into the hallways, making for a tighter path to walk down.

 

2) The photo gallery - I fully support the "use your key to view it" suggestion that someone made above, if HAL could get the technology to work. It would reduce/eliminate the hallway crowds as people search for their pictures, plus reduce a large amount of waste as only the ones that people want would actually need to be printed. Also, move the photographers into a lounge - at least the two who setup next to the mid-ship elevators (on Vista class anyway)

 

3) The Baked Alaska Parade. Might be more impressive if the baked alaska were flambe ... but as it stands, they're just tacky annoyances.

 

4) The ship's singers/dancers ... they seem to exist solely so that HAL can check off from some magical cruise line comparison sheet that yep, they have those too. The attendance at those shows were lower than any of the other acts, and for good reason.

 

5) stop sending piles of printed material to cabins ... it would require very basic technology to convert to a continuous loop slide-presentation type thing on one of the TV chanels.

[c-cruise]

Smoking would be the first thing on my list to see go away, followed closely by the roving photographers.

 

Ditto on lessening the amount of printed materials sent to the cabin. Of course the paper notices are less obtrusive than the cruise director making an all ship announcement every time there is a trash and trinket sale going on.

[Jemima]

Ditch the "art" auctions, the spa, sales tables outside the shops and smoking. And definitely do away with those ugly cabanas on the Eurodam just in case we ever book a Eurodam cruise.

 

But we like: formal nights and the cast shows.

 

And we also like towel animals, baked Alaska parades and the Master Chef's dinner, but would accept not having them.

[senator6]

I understand the art auctions are money makers so they won't go away, but I wish they would. We have been to two Master Chef's Dinners and one was more than enough. When we get on board we now ask which night the Master Chef's Dinner is and find an alternative.

[pipedreams62]

I Can't understand this? Each cruise there is a fresh new batch of "NEW" cruisers. Some of them have never experienced the whole photo thingy.

 

Why ruin it for them? Sometimes it's large families that might never have the opportunity to "All" be together in this setting. Let them have their photos.I certainly hope the new cruiser soaks in the whole ambiance of dressing up for formal night and having their pictures taken,versus seeing schlepps walking around the ship dressed in shorts and tank tops whoops.

[hammybee]

Disembarkation.

 

Blue skies ...--rita

 

I agree with you.

 

I don't care for the Baked Alaska thing or the Chefs Dinner but acknowledge that more than enough passengers enjoy this, and so, I ignore it. Ignoring harmless stuff is a wonderful skill.

[DFD1]

Good thread. Fun to read. Hope HAL is looking over your shoulders!

[ctsally]

The Photo Gallery! It should be replaced by a couple of kiosks where your photos could be viewed by swiping your keycard. (Of course the keycard would have to be swiped or scanned when the pics were taken to set up the link.)

 

This is a great idea!

 

As for the art auctions, although I don't choose to go to them, I wouldn't want to see them eliminated because many people do enjoy them. However, long before the actual auctions begin, the passageways are overrun with their wares, making the passageways into virtual obstacle courses. If someone in a wheelchair meets a person with a walker, there is sometimes difficulty in negotiating through all the art. I'd like to see that problem eliminated.

 

For those of you who suggested doing away with the Piano Bar (I do realize you were kidding), how about doing away with all the other bars too?

[heavenly]

Get rid of:

 

Master Chef Dinner

 

Art Auctions

 

Towel Animals

 

I have to have my towel animals!!!!:eek:

 

I would never miss the Master Chef Dinner or the Art Auctions, I dislike both!

[KLLund]

I am trying to picture the lines at a "couple" of photo kiosks .. nope however I am all for replacing all those fold out screens with enough kiosks or allowing you to view the photo's on the TV in your room and order them.. even with recylcling that is a huge amount of paper every week ..

 

And the shopping talks should go .. it is too easy to suck the new cruiser in and make them think they are getting a great deal and some inside information . when they are not !!

[medfordgirl]

I Can't understand this? Each cruise there is a fresh new batch of "NEW" cruisers. Some of them have never experienced the whole photo thingy.

 

Why ruin it for them? Sometimes it's large families that might never have the opportunity to "All" be together in this setting. Let them have their photos.I certainly hope the new cruiser soaks in the whole ambiance of dressing up for formal night and having their pictures taken,versus seeing schlepps walking around the ship dressed in shorts and tank tops whoops.

 

As much as I dislike all those photogs, I do think they should stay for the reasons you stated. My DH hates picture taking however I love going to the gallery and seeing how we turned out and yes, the best one comes home and added to our "cruise wall" Also, this next cruise may include my parents and if lucky a newly adopted daughter, in which case I will be the first in line for the photos....all of them.

[usha]

I'd love to see HAL get rid of smoking in cabins and on balconies.

[Sir PMP]

Seeing as many are resistent to change in most forms on the ships, is there anything you would LIKE to see disappear? Anything aboard really annoy you or you think a total waste?

 

 

1. SMOKING!!

2. SPORTSBAR

3. COFFEESHOP

4. ART GALLERY (DEFINITELY,FOR EVER AND EVER)

5. KIDS

6. CASINO PLUS CASINO BAR

7. SPA

8. AMATEURISTIC HAL DANCERS

9. PHOTO SHOP

10. NORTHERN LIGHTS WITH DJ!