My wife and I are both 5 Star Mariners on HAL. We’ve been on all 11 ships currently in their fleet. We just booked several more cruise on HAL for this upcoming winter. Needless to say, we enjoy much of the overall experience that HAL offers. I just read an article listing all the new ships that are coming out shortly as well as the ships that are under contract to be built in the next decade. The only mass market cruise line with zero plans is HAL. Along with the major cruise lines, numerous smaller more boutique cruise lines have new ships planned. Everyone likes new, tattered furniture, stained carpeting, and boring decor does not attract new customers nor does it keep loyal past passengers.
The staff on HAL are exceptional, even though some post pandemic newer staff are just learning the ropes. The food on HAL is the best, IMO , of any mass market cruise line, and I’ve been on most. The entertainment is probably the worst, same shows over and over again in main stage venue, movies on some nights rather then live shows, or other excuses for what should be an hour or so of real entertainment.
There are many loyal HAL customers who don’t want to hear anything negative about their home away from home. The fact is that HAL, like most cruise lines have been cutting back. The small things that sometimes set HAL apart from its competitors is gradually disappearing.
If HAL has any hope of attracting a younger generation cruiser, which BTW I’ve read they are attempting to do, newer more modern ships would be a great start. More activities during the day and evening would also help. An expanded Club Hal, teenage activities, and eliminate the boring, repetitive shows that I avoid on a regular basis. Some nights on HAL we find almost nothing to do, it’s boring.
For those reading this that are fearful that HAL would lose its mojo, and no longer be the cruise line they feel comfortable with, that doesn’t have to be the case. It can become the cruise line that you now enjoy even more.
Realistically, new ships take years to plan and build, however, other changes, upgrades, can be implemented in a much shorter time. I am concerned that as the HAL fleet gets older and less desirable, and absolutely no plans for new ships are projected, and their current ultra loyal devotees are no longer sailing, HAL too will fade away and unfortunately be soon forgotten.