Your Image of HAL in Ten Years?

[erewhon]

I hope we are both still alive and fit enough to be cruising:D.

[Richie2pies]

In ten years there will be less obese people on ships due to the new "pay for food" concept. I can't believe some of the people on ships that only cruise to eat. They aren't even ashamed to put on a bathing suit. I also think formal nights will become optional. Prices will go up due to fuel costs and they won't be able to cut back enough to make a profit. In ten years, people will still complain about smoking even though smokers will be confined to a 4x6 foot room with smoke-eaters and will need an appointment with a $10 fee for each cigarette smoked.

[GeriatricNurse]

:D But, Seago.....

 

They took away our trays in Lido. ;)

 

How can we carry piles of food without our trays?!!!!

 

(kidding, of course.)

 

 

No problem because I always bring along my own! ;)

[Seago2]

...and another thing:

 

I've noticed there are many more vegetarian options in both the MDR and the Lido. Remember when you had to let them know ahead of time about that issue? Now there are options every night. Obviously, vegetarian options are CHEAP. So I think we will see more of them- a good thing for DH.

[sand dollar26]

In ten years- Now that is an interesting thought! There seems to be something I like about each cruise line I have sailed and things I do not like about each. I have often thought that if they took the best from each one we would all enjoy the perfect cruise. Perhaps in ten years someone will figure that out. I hope it does not take that long to happen.

[VermeulT]

I would not mind if no smoking on the whole ship was the norm and if the hotel charges were no longer optional.

 

But if within ten years the food becomes a la carte and/or room service is no longer included and/or we are expected to pay for the shows, we will not be on Holland America or any cruise line that pulls something like that...

I see the smoking thing too... and the hotel charges... I could care less about their shows - if they stay the "quality" that they are now - they are just not for me.

I'm totally with you on the Food. Give me more specialty restaurants where I can, say, have a decent cut of meat. But don't make it mandatory to pay for food :eek:

 

I hope that we can keep the HAL sprit alive into the next dozen years. The class, the luxury, the service, the food.... Let the other lines stoop to the crusing trends and keep HAL a cut above... if that means that their prices have to be a bit higher to keep the standards higher... let it be so. Some people are willing to pay more to get more. Let the "discount" cruise lines stoop to nickle and dimeing their guests... In the long run, the cost will equal out... pay me now, or pay me later...

 

I hope that HAL, along with Cunard can continue to set the standard and keep the spirit of luxury cruising alive. Keep formal nights, retain a staff that genuinely cares for their guests, attract a culinary council to keep the food quality high, continue to call on quality ports and avoid the cookie cutter approach to cruising... Holland America Lines - a step above the rest.

MINE TOO!!

[sail7seas]

In ten years- Now that is an interesting thought! There seems to be something I like about each cruise line I have sailed and things I do not like about each. I have often thought that if they took the best from each one we would all enjoy the perfect cruise. Perhaps in ten years someone will figure that out. I hope it does not take that long to happen.

 

 

They can't IMO

 

YOUR perfect probably is not my perfect and my perfect is not someone else's.

 

Your perfect MAY call for ice skating rinks and rock walls but my perfect calls for well staffed elegant dining room with low fat, good carb, excellent fish not drowned in butter or breading, lots of veggies, no sauces healthy creative foods. Someone else's calls for rack of lamb, prime rib, and mac and cheese.

 

Someone else wants veranda smoking permitted but I don't.

 

What is Perfect for everyone? :confused:

 

[hypercafe]

I don't have a list I think they will have to go like Celebrity which has mass market prices with large ships. There product is very nice, geared for a laid back, upscale family cruise. Or they need to raise their prices and be like Oceania. Mid size ships geared for a 5 star, adults only cruise.

[sand dollar26]

They can't IMO

 

YOUR perfect probably is not my perfect and my perfect is not someone else's.

 

Your perfect MAY call for ice skating rinks and rock walls but my perfect calls for well staffed elegant dining room with low fat, good carb, excellent fish not drowned in butter or breading, lots of veggies, no sauces healthy creative foods. Someone else's calls for rack of lamb, prime rib, and mac and cheese.

 

Someone else wants veranda smoking permitted but I don't.

 

What is Perfect for everyone? :confused:

 

You are correct it is all very subjective but I think your perfect and ideal pretty much matches mine. I don't think that seniors on this board worry too much about whether there is rock climbing onboard. Maybe ice skating, but probably not rock climbing.

[sand dollar26]

They can't IMO

 

YOUR perfect probably is not my perfect and my perfect is not someone else's.

 

Your perfect MAY call for ice skating rinks and rock walls but my perfect calls for well staffed elegant dining room with low fat, good carb, excellent fish not drowned in butter or breading, lots of veggies, no sauces healthy creative foods. Someone else's calls for rack of lamb, prime rib, and mac and cheese.

 

Someone else wants veranda smoking permitted but I don't.

 

What is Perfect for everyone? :confused:

 

You are correct it is all very subjective but I think your perfect and ideal pretty much matches mine. I don't think that seniors on this board worry too much about whether there is rock climbing onboard. Maybe ice skating, but probably not rock climbing.