HAL, you READING this?

[Vict0riann]

The bug should be heading south soon, it's getting cold up here in the north.

 

Is the bug travelling south by "bug"?

[Copper10-8]

Is the bug travelling south by "bug"?

 

No, by school buzz

[Vict0riann]

LOL, Copper!

[summersigh]

Sadly, cutbacks are the norm on HAL, Celebrity, and Princess. HAL is no different than other lines.

 

We too have seen cutbacks on all of the lines we've sailed including RCCL. I don't see any reversal coming in the near future.

To get the "good old days amenities" one would need to sail on one of the high priced lines. :(

[HamOp]

Sorry, off topic. Are you a ham radio operator? Just curious about your handle. My husband is.

 

I am, although not very active since I cut my antenna line with the lawn mower:(

 

One more thing to fix......

[sail7seas]

Thanks Sail. Actually we took the opportunity to book a return to the Panama Canal - something we have talked about doing again. So all is not lost. :D We may add a land journey to Key West at the end of the cruise to extend our stay in warmer weather. Looking back, I should have booked the 21 day Caribbean earlier, then cancelled if I needed to before final payment. I just didn't feel like going thru all that hassle. Lesson learned.

 

 

Two thumbs up......... :cool: :)

 

ENJOY!!!

 

 

[cruisemom42]

This is not an original thought obviously, but as has been opined here in the past, it would seem HAL has looked in its crystal ball and determined that its current target market and customer base - seniors, retirees, "aging baby boomers" (of which I am one) -- in a few years much of its current passenger base won't be cruising much due to age, medical issues, the constraints of fixed income, etc.Thus the need to reposition its product to a cost-sensitive younger market on whom the "classy, traditional touches" of the past are largely lost, and whose taste in dining may have been more influenced by Olive Garden and Applebee's than traditional "white tablecloth' restaurants.

 

As the older population stops sailing, HAL must attract the younger market and will continue to do that with stable or lower prices and that means a less upscale cruise.

 

 

 

I have to disagree with these sentiments. I don't think cutting back on service or amenities offered is the way to attract the younger cruiser per se. I could see them CHANGING the type of amenities offered, but why would they voluntarily cut back unless it was dictated by cost? For example, Celebrity is now offering on some ships a sort of brew pub where a wide variety of beers are available. Having a son who recently turned 21 (who also has some older friends), it seems to me that this is one way in which the younger demographic is trending, and Celebrity is smart to target them. But note -- they did not "downgrade" the experience, they changed it for something more appealing to that market, but still upscale. It's not like they are offering a "bucket o' beer" -- some of the brews offered are upward of $10-12 each.

 

I think we should be honest. These changes aren't to attract the "younger" demographic. They are so that HAL can offer the lowest price point in order to fill their berths. There was a HUGE expansion in the number of available berths on cruise ships in the last decade. Cruise lines have to compete like crazy to stay in the game.

 

It seems to me that it is retirees who are very price sensitive in many cases, not the younger, still working, demographic. My son (still in college) eats out at far better restaurants than I ever did when I was his age. He is used to good, authentic ethnic cuisine at reasonable prices and wouldn't dream of setting foot in an Olive Garden or Applebee's. When it's on mom's dime, he wants to eat in nicer restaurants -- with tablecloths, I might add. (For those who haven't heard, Carnival has decided to do away with tablecloths in their MDR.) Carnival is not even on his radar as a possible cruise line he'd consider.

 

Also, let's not kid ourselves that a younger, working demographic is able to take the sort of long cruises that HAL frequently offers. It seems to me HAL's target is more the recent retirees who are anxious to travel and with the time to do so, but who can't afford both a long cruise AND a luxury line.

 

In short, there are both younger and older cruisers who are price sensitive and those who are not. Some of us wish that HAL could and would focus on those NOT as price-sensitive in order to offer a finer product that is more in line with their past brand. Unfortunately, they have to compete in ALL markets just to consistently fill up their ships.

 

On the other hand, any time costs are discussed, there are a fair number of folks on this board who express that they would rather sail at a low rate and are willing to overlook gradual lessening of service and amenities. So.... in fact, HAL seems to be reaching their market fairly well already. ;)

[mamaofami]

Just for the record, I hate that little bug.

[RuthC]

Just for the record, I hate that little bug.

 

If you go to your User CP, you can turn avatars & images off. You won't see it, or any other images, unless you want to.

When it's a photo in the body of the post, it shows as a link when images are turned off. When it has something to do with the avatar, you can click on the person's name in the post, and be taken to their page to see it.

 

Turning avatars & images off cleans up the posts considerably, and lets each page load much faster.

If you like the result, go for broke and turn off signatures! You'll be amazed at how clear-cut the posts become. :)

[Copper10-8]

The bug is cool :)

[peaches from georgia]

.........

Turning avatars & images off cleans up the posts considerably, and lets each page load much faster.

If you like the result, go for broke and turn off signatures! You'll be amazed at how clear-cut the posts become. :)

You are so right, RuthC. I turned off all avatars and signatures a long time ago and the threads are so much faster to load and easier to read. You go from one post directly to the next without scrolling through list after list of every cruise ever taken since 1960, some on long bankrupt cruise lines, all the upcoming cruises, and other info I really don't need to know.

[Fouremco]

If you go to your User CP, you can turn avatars & images off. You won't see it, or any other images, unless you want to.

When it's a photo in the body of the post, it shows as a link when images are turned off. When it has something to do with the avatar, you can click on the person's name in the post, and be taken to their page to see it.

 

Turning avatars & images off cleans up the posts considerably, and lets each page load much faster.

If you like the result, go for broke and turn off signatures! You'll be amazed at how clear-cut the posts become. :)

A huge "thank you" Ruth! I'd forgotten about being able to turn signatures off, something I read when I first joined but saw no need to activate. Since then, I've become so tired of some posters' lengthy cruise histories, dancing puppets, goldfish, neon signatures and other "cute" additions that take up so much screen space. Now they're all gone!!! :)

[chrispb]

If you go to your User CP, you can turn avatars & images off. You won't see it, or any other images, unless you want to.

When it's a photo in the body of the post, it shows as a link when images are turned off. When it has something to do with the avatar, you can click on the person's name in the post, and be taken to their page to see it.

 

Turning avatars & images off cleans up the posts considerably, and lets each page load much faster.

If you like the result, go for broke and turn off signatures! You'll be amazed at how clear-cut the posts become. :)

 

Thankfully, you told me how to do this some months ago, so much better now without all the "clutter". Oddly, I can still see the bug - not that it bothers me.

[RuthC]

Oddly, I can still see the bug - not that it bothers me.

Avatars, Images, and Signatures are three separate orders to turn off/on. You can adjust any combination of them. Is it possible you don't have avatars turned off? Can you see the avatars others have?

But if it doesn't bother you, then all is good enough. Glad I was some help.

[nana51]

I am, although not very active since I cut my antenna line with the lawn mower:(

 

One more thing to fix......

 

ha ha. Time to make a new one. My husband is using a slinky wrapped around a pole. I try to stay uninvolved.

[HamOp]

The bug is cool :)

The bug says to say thank you, sir!

[crusinbanjo]

We are finding mediocrity throughout many facets of our lives these days. It seems to be acceptable or the least tolerated. Sigh......

 

 

Anybody who knows me knows my saying "the incompetence is incredible" seems to fit this situation. :D

[cruiseapril]

Wonder what percentage of cruise ships, in general, have issues with

air conditioning and plumbing?

 

These are BIG issues. Can't imagine why a cruise line would risk poor ratings by not having good a/c and plumbing. Just doesn't make sense. These issues can lead to serious health problems - so why not spend the $ for good upkeep and keep your customers????

 

When a cruise customer spend hundreds of $'s for a vacation, they should certainly expect good plumbing- if a hotel has plumbing or a/c issues their ratings drop mighty fast.

 

Come on, cruise lines, keep our bathrooms clean and our air breatheable!

These are BASIC needs.

[chrispb]

Avatars, Images, and Signatures are three separate orders to turn off/on. You can adjust any combination of them. Is it possible you don't have avatars turned off? Can you see the avatars others have?

But if it doesn't bother you, then all is good enough. Glad I was some help.

 

 

Yes, thanks. I can see everything above the post but nothing below - perfect:)

[startwin]

Wonder what percentage of cruise ships, in general, have issues with

air conditioning and plumbing?

 

These are BIG issues. Can't imagine why a cruise line would risk poor ratings by not having good a/c and plumbing. Just doesn't make sense. These issues can lead to serious health problems - so why not spend the $ for good upkeep and keep your customers????

 

When a cruise customer spend hundreds of $'s for a vacation, they should certainly expect good plumbing- if a hotel has plumbing or a/c issues their ratings drop mighty fast.

 

Come on, cruise lines, keep our bathrooms clean and our air breatheable!

These are BASIC needs.

 

(my bolding).... and if a hotel had these issues you can leave right away and book into another one.;)

[TexasCruiser90]

This is not an original thought obviously, but as has been opined here in the past, it would seem HAL has looked in its crystal ball and determined that its current target market and customer base - seniors, retirees, "aging baby boomers" (of which I am one) -- in a few years much of its current passenger base won't be cruising much due to age, medical issues, the constraints of fixed income, etc.Thus the need to reposition its product to a cost-sensitive younger market on whom the "classy, traditional touches" of the past are largely lost, and whose taste in dining may have been more influenced by Olive Garden and Applebee's than traditional "white tablecloth' restaurants.

 

I think this is partly true, and it's upsetting to me too. I'm 23 and my husband is 24. We will be going on our first HAL cruise next week for our honeymoon ( the Zuiderdam ). We normally do RCL but he's in the military, so a Sunday to Sunday cruise wasn't practical when he needs to be at work Monday no questions asked, and we have a layover so any flight issues could cause a problem for him. Last time we had to cancel the final leg of our trip because of a flight cancellation, rent a car, and drive home through the night. We looked at Carnival, but have heard of the " party ship " reputation and that just isn't us. We would rather have a nice relaxing week , enjoying good food, a "classier" atmosphere, and each other's company. I've always heard excellent things about HAL but based on what I've seen lately on these boards I'm a bit worried about our vacation but I am hoping for the best. I think there's still a younger audience of cruisers who value what HAL used to be.

[GeriatricNurse]

HAL comprehends two things. HAL ships sail full, and they are making money.

 

Until one of those two things change, I don't expect to see any drastic changes. However if and when that does happen, the changes you see come about, will not be a return to the HAL we remember.

As the older population stops sailing, HAL must attract the younger market and will continue to do that with stable or lower prices and that means a less upscale cruise.

 

I just love reading these 'emphatic' statements posted here on the HAL CCB! :rolleyes: Once again, what would be your accurate source of information for these two statements? :confused:

[FredT]

As long as HAL has the interesting itineraries I want, and their price is not too high, they will get my business... Simple as that.

 

We are about to go on a far east cruise, and when we researched it, HAL had better itineraries, more stops, and longer stops than their competition. (At least their competition that was charging SIMILAR fares... )

 

FredT

 

PS: Just an aside: Go onto the NCL board, the Cunard board, the Princess board and others and you will see the same bitching about service and shipboard issues.

[Tarpeian Rock]

I think this is partly true, and it's upsetting to me too. I'm 23 and my husband is 24. We will be going on our first HAL cruise next week for our honeymoon ( the Zuiderdam ). We normally do RCL but he's in the military, so a Sunday to Sunday cruise wasn't practical when he needs to be at work Monday no questions asked, and we have a layover so any flight issues could cause a problem for him. Last time we had to cancel the final leg of our trip because of a flight cancellation, rent a car, and drive home through the night. We looked at Carnival, but have heard of the " party ship " reputation and that just isn't us. We would rather have a nice relaxing week , enjoying good food, a "classier" atmosphere, and each other's company. I've always heard excellent things about HAL but based on what I've seen lately on these boards I'm a bit worried about our vacation but I am hoping for the best. I think there's still a younger audience of cruisers who value what HAL used to be.

 

 

 

Congratulations and good luck!

[zorrosuncle]

HAL comprehends two things. HAL ships sail full, and they are making money.

 

 

The issue should not be whether HAL is making money or sailing full. The real issue is :"How happy am I sailing with HAL?" Over the years I have been growing increasingly more disenchanted with HAL. I only sail them because they have Catholic Mass. But there are other forms of tourism which also offer that including chaplain-escorted cruises on other lines as well as land travel. I would not give HAL a two-star rating at this point; there has been massive degradation of their product over the years in all aspects -- service, tours, food, shows , lectures and dock or tender locations in port. I still have one lengthy cruise booked but I am open to cancelling if something else comes along.

 

ZU