HAL Seattle: Fill the ships!

[beamteam]

How can I go on HAL website to find out how many cabins are booked for our cruise? Thanks, Sue

[suse]

I liked HAL because of the elemis.:D

[bepsf]

With all due respect to Mr. Lanterman, HAL was in near bankruptcy when it was acquired by Carnival 20 years ago.

 

Hammy--

 

Kurt Lanterman wasn't the guy in charge when HAL was sold to CCL: That person's name was Nico Van der Vorm.

 

Kurt Lanterman was the gentleman who was put in place by CCL to run HAL after the acquisition.

[bepsf]

Because they realize, and rightly so, that this tight economy is a temporary situation. It will improve and when it does they will probably have no trouble filling all those extra berths. Fail to build the ships and HAL will miss out on a lot of revenue-generating opportunities. Let's face it, it takes several years to bring out a new build. If they don't do it now, there will be a long lag time to get it done once the economy strengthens. In that interim time, lots of people will have gone elsewhere since they couldn't get a HAL cruise and those people very well may not come back.

 

So, I think HAL is smart continuing with their new build program. Give it a year or so and the economy will strengthen and HAL will have no trouble whatsoever filling those ships.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

Rita --

 

This is one point on which I disagree with you.

 

The economic trend for growth and consumption over the past 10 years or so has been an abberation - a series of bubbles...

...the bubble has popped and the new norm won't be where we were last year or even the year before - It will be where we were 10 or 20 years ago.

 

HAL isn't the only one: I believe that the entire industry is way over capacity for the new paradigm - and that doing what they've done to succeed over the last 10 years isn't going to work over the next 10 years.

 

Continuing to add capacity while loading up ships with bargain hunters just can't be sustainable or profitable in the long run.

[HALFans]

Liquor packages are very overpriced. Where do you live that you would pay $75 for a bottle of scotch or vodka?

 

Scotch was about $38 for a 1 Liter bottle of Cutty I think - don't have access to an active booking any longer to get the exact price, sorry.

[Sage]

Brian, I agree with you. Things are not going to be the same.

[world~citizen]

Rita --

...The economic trend for growth and consumption over the past 10 years or so has been an abberation - a series of bubbles...

...the bubble has popped and the new norm won't be where we were last year or even the year before - It will be where we were 10 or 20 years ago.

 

Not many people realize that.

 

I am going on an Azamara cruise shortly and the word seems to be out that extraordinary measures were taken to fill it. It will be interesting to see the result.

 

Smooth sailing to you...

[iancal]

We gave only had one HAL cruise, on a Vista class ship. It was a 7 day Carib. Pricing was as competitve as any other line-Princess, Carnival, etc.

We had a great cruise but frankly we did not find the HAL cruise experience to be premium. It was very comparable, in our perception, to Princess. Some plusses, some minuses. It could well be a different experience on other HAL ships or on longer voyages. We do find Celebrity to be a bit more upmarket but we have not been able to match our times with good values on their cruises. The do seem to hold their prices a little longer. Short notice cruise savings can often be offset by our inability to use frequent flyer points or to get good airfare rates.

[jtl513]

How can I go on HAL website to find out how many cabins are booked for our cruise? Thanks, Sue

You can't. About the best you can do is get a rough idea by looking at what categories are closed, or trying some "test bookings", but that's about it.

[MadManOfBethesda]

Liquor packages are very overpriced. Where do you live that you would pay $75 for a bottle of scotch or vodka?

 

Check into any full service hotel in your city and order a bottle of scotch or vodka from room service. That is essentially what you are doing on HAL. You can't compare the cost of a bottle of liquor on a cruise ship with what it would cost in a retail store.

[jcrandle]

The little I know about business economics is what I was told many years ago, specifically that "Cash flow can solve most business problems, and the ones that it can't solve, will allow your business to stay afloat until you can solve them."

 

I think the HAL business planners understand and believe this, and their effort to fill the ships at whatever profit or loss may happen is to ensure the cash flow is adequate to ride through our current economic situation.

 

Now I'll wait for the MBA's to correct me.

[hammybee]

 

Liquor packages are very overpriced. Where do you live that you would pay $75 for a bottle of scotch or vodka?

 

Just about any decent hotel with Room Service charges at least this much. The higher end hotels and resorts tend to charge more than this.

 

Ever notice what airlines charge for those little bottles? How many little bottles does it take to fill a fifth?

[hammybee]

Brian, I agree with you. Things are not going to be the same.

 

In 1970 things were not the same as 1960.

In 1980, things were not the same as 1970.

In 1990, things were not the same as 1980.

In 2000, things were not the same as 1990.

In 2009, things were not the same as 2000.

 

And interestingly enough, some posters ponder the same thing on the true luxury cruise lines....that the deep discounting occuring on those lines is apt to diminish the experience and encourage more mass market type passengers who may not appreciate the differences to intrude on their experience.

[hammybee]

Hammy--

 

Kurt Lanterman wasn't the guy in charge when HAL was sold to CCL: That person's name was Nico Van der Vorm.

 

Kurt Lanterman was the gentleman who was put in place by CCL to run HAL after the acquisition.

 

Kirk Lanterman was named President of the combined Holland America and Westours in 1983. He was in this position when Nico Van der Vorm, chairman, was approached by Micky Arison and the rest is history.

 

Kirk Lanterman was named Chairman and CEO, upon HAL being acquired by CCL. He remained in that position until the end of 2004 at which point, HAL had 13 ships.

 

As you know President and CEO positions are the top dogs while the Chairman represent shareholder's interests.

 

Stein Kruse has been President and CEO of HAL since 12/2004.

[hammybee]

One of the things that I understood from my last cruise was that onboard spending was waaaaay down in general - so it almost doesn't matter if the ship is full or 50% capacity, when all the profit comes from onboard spending and it isn't there - what's the point in discounting to sail with 1900 passengers or getting better prices to sail with 950 passengers?

 

 

The lion's share of posts on this board are about costs, constant speculation about free upgrades, disappointment in not getting a free upgrade, not getting a good enough free upgrade, smuggling booze, cheap upsells, getting refunds after final payment when unsold cabins are deeply discounted and of course, being forced to pay the crew's salary, via tipping. And then there is the flip side, crabbing about the cost of a cocktail or a bottle of alcohol, the blasted art auctions, costly ship sponsored shore excursions, the cost of a massage and on and on.

 

Posters on all the so-called premium and mass market cruise line boards have been harping on this stuff for years. It's the passengers who set the tone and cruise lines hear them loud and clear.

[HALFans]

The lion's share of posts on this board are about costs, constant speculation about free upgrades, disappointment in not getting a free upgrade, not getting a good enough free upgrade, smuggling booze, cheap upsells, getting refunds after final payment when unsold cabins are deeply discounted and of course, being forced to pay the crew's salary, via tipping. And then there is the flip side, crabbing about the cost of a cocktail or a bottle of alcohol, the blasted art auctions, costly ship sponsored shore excursions, the cost of a massage and on and on.

 

Posters on all the so-called premium and mass market cruise line boards have been harping on this stuff for years. It's the passengers who set the tone and cruise lines hear them loud and clear.

 

Where's pipedreams with a fish slapping dance photo!

 

 

Too good Hammybee!

[Loves to dance]

You don't even have to dress appropriately if you decide to spend formal night in your stateroom... but ... if you decide to host your own 'hairy chest contest' with only the 1 contestant that night you're liable to end up having to wait another 4 1/2 years (+ nine months) for your Next vacation. ;) (But think of the souvenir you'll be brining home!) :D

 

OK, I laughed long and hard at that one!! I think that we will be sure to bring along the formal clothes- I have a hard enough time keeping up with one! ;)

[brucory]

Loves to Dance,

 

The people who post on Cruise Critic are a tiny percentage of the total number of people who cruise every year. I book inside or outside cabins at a discount, and spend between $25-$50 per day onboard. I have the time of my life on my cruises.

 

How does anyone else know what you paid for your cabin and what you spend on your onboard account?

 

Roz

 

The amount we spend on board doesn't change... It is quite amazing that we have all these statisticians talking so knowledgably about what people are doing on board with their cash - particularly when some industry specialists are talking about cruise bookings being up..

 

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[mamaofami]

In today's New York Times there is a special magazine called Styles. There is an article about cruises in which the following is stated: "The Holland America Line's new stimulus vacation plan is adding another enticement: savings.The plan includes unprecedented low fares on most itineries worldwide, plus low cost stateroom upgrades, deposits reduced by 50% on cruises and cruise tours departing after May 1, 2009 and suspended fuel charges. Our message is to buy low and live high, says Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs."

[Dolphins]

In today's New York Times there is a special magazine called Styles. There is an article about cruises in which the following is stated: "The Holland America Line's new stimulus vacation plan is adding another enticement: savings.The plan includes unprecedented low fares on most itineries worldwide, plus low cost stateroom upgrades, deposits reduced by 50% on cruises and cruise tours departing after May 1, 2009 and suspended fuel charges. Our message is to buy low and live high, says Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs."

 

I am waiting for HAL's currently high 2010 Bermuda Veendam prices to come down closer to the competition.

[travelite]

Well, I just got off the Ryndam last Sunday and they've managed to chase this loyal customer to another line.

 

Not saying I won't be back, but it's time to finally shop around and see what else is out there.

 

I think I just heard the call of Celebrity... ;)

 

Look at Cunard. The QM2 is a wonderful experience.

[travelite]

I am waiting for HAL's currently high 2010 Bermuda Veendam prices to come down closer to the competition.

 

I'm looking at this HAL cruise for 2009 -- NYC to Bermuda. If you spot any price reductions or bargains, please post.

[Pokeynose]

I've been reading all the posts, pros and cons about HAL's service on the cruises. I've only been on one cruise and that was on the Westerdam to Alaska last June. We had wonderful service. We immediately booked the same cruise for next Sept. We have also booked a Caribbean cruise for next Jan. on the Westerdam taking our g-daughter to celebrate her 25th birthday.:D We need some quality time with her since she lives in Seattle and us in Ind. I'm hoping she will beable to go to the Culinary Arts Center since she has an associate degree in Culinary Arts. While there may be some changes on board with the economy I'm sure we will still have a wonderful time. We are going with a good outlook, no negativity. It doesn't take much to make us happy. We also agreed that no trays will just mean we will get our food individually to save our table. We also will be using room service or the Neptune Lounge. I've had so many medical problems these past 6mos. that I am so ready for some R&R. I'll keep reading the reviews of others who will be sailing on the Westerdam before we do and hopefully they will be full of good times.:) Sorry I was a little long winded.:D