doorcountydi

Well, I can see that the cruise line would love to have large groups...although with cruising being so popular these days, is there a chance they wouldn't fill up the ship anyway?

If I were Holland America, I would be wary - it would be a bit of a cr*p shoot without knowing what kind of group you are booking. For instance:

I just got off the Westerdam a few weeks ago...the second leg of my trip (Oct 28-Nov 4) was Western Caribbean and a wonderful medium-sized Jazz group was on board--they were polite and friendly, had their jazz groups play in the public areas and on Half Moon Cay, etc. They didn't hog the ship.

On the other hand, the first leg (Oct 21-28) in the Eastern Caribbean had chemical company employees (about 400 of them, with their wives, etc.) on board--it appeared to be the top 400 sales people. They acted like they owned the ship, shouting across the rooms at each other, using the "f" word and otherwise swearing, dressing (the women barely dressing) like they were in a sleazy bar, loudly drinking long into the night. Enough of them were behaving like this that it tainted the HAL character atmosphere. They really should have been on Carnival. Sorry if there are any Carnival fans out there, but the Fun Ship is their reputation.

I am not sure how you prevent this--obviously some groups are great (and I agree that most times you're not even aware there's a group on board, as long as they don't usurp public space for private events to the point where HAL's usual and loyal customers feel they are getting less than they paid for).

That was the first time I've run into a bawdy group on HAL, but I'll bet it won't be the last. :(

Diane

Diane

For sure there are two different preferences posted in this thread!

I've never been on any cruises with anytime-seating, just the traditional...and I like being seated with the same folk each night. My sister and I asked to be moved after one night only once--our 4 tablemates from the U.S. were traveling together, totally ignored us and kept bragging about their expensive purchases and telling bigoted jokes--trying to "impress" us, I guess (NOT). The rest have been interesting and fun, and only once, when traveling with my sister and four other friends, did we have a table to ourselves.

I'm cruising solo in October, and I'd hate to think I'd have to fend for myself each night in the anytime-world. I can see why HAL is trying this anytime-seating out, as it obviously seems to be popular with many; but I HOPE they keep at least half the seatings in the traditional way. The anytime-seating is one of the reasons I haven't ever cruised NCL.

Just a matter of preference, I guess. :o

Diane