Dance partners

[mtiffany24]

Does HAL still have "dance partners" on longer cruises? There were four of them on my South Pacific cruise in 2008. They would dance with the single gals in the evening and join them for lunch occasionally.

 

I am going on a 30 day cruise to Singapore this month (final cruise for the Statendam).

[RuthC]

I believe the minimum days for Gentlemen Hosts is now up to 40. I remember when it was 10, then increased in 10-day increments.

[mtiffany24]

Thanks, I guess it's one of the cutbacks...

[mtiffany24]

it would have been fun. Guess I'll dance by myself.

Edited September 6, 2015 by mtiffany24

[Khaos WolfKat]

it would have been fun. Guess I'll dance by myself.

Surely, you can find at least one gent (or lady) who would like to dance with you!

Don't be shy.. Ask someone to dance! :D

[DocF]

When the "dance host" program was in its heyday, there were a couple of untoward incidents. In one that I recall, a host was a con man out to get inside the trust envelope of women and then grab funds from their accounts. In another, the host actually raped a couple of women. HAL got sued over that one. They initially shut the program down and later reopened it with much more restrictive rules and more intense investigation of the hosts.

 

I was raised by a cop and I tend to remember criminal activity, not good things. I guess this is from being exposed to a lot of bad happenings in my youth.

 

Doc:o

[mtiffany24]

When the "dance host" program was in its heyday, there were a couple of untoward incidents. In one that I recall, a host was a con man out to get inside the trust envelope of women and then grab funds from their accounts. In another, the host actually raped a couple of women. HAL got sued over that one. They initially shut the program down and later reopened it with much more restrictive rules and more intense investigation of the hosts.

 

I was raised by a cop and I tend to remember criminal activity, not good things. I guess this is from being exposed to a lot of bad happenings in my youth.

 

Doc:o

 

On my South Pacific cruise the dance hosts were perfect gentlemen.

[DeepWaterMariner]

On the 35 day Voyage of the Vikings there were no dance hosts. I heard complaints from some of the solo women.

[solocanadian]

When the "dance host" program was in its heyday, there were a couple of untoward incidents. In one that I recall, a host was a con man out to get inside the trust envelope of women and then grab funds from their accounts. In another, the host actually raped a couple of women. HAL got sued over that one. They initially shut the program down and later reopened it with much more restrictive rules and more intense investigation of the hosts.

 

I was raised by a cop and I tend to remember criminal activity, not good things. I guess this is from being exposed to a lot of bad happenings in my youth.

 

Doc:o

 

Glad to no longer see these old geezers. I'd rather sit like a wall flower than even try and chat them up. Not surprised to hear your stories.

[OlsSalt]

Dance hosts were present on our last Voyages of Discovery - Voyager cruise -some where married with their wives along and taught the dance classes too. Everyone seemed to enjoy them and I suspect there were any untoward experiences since this was a cherished cruising tradition on the more formal cruise lines. VOD maintains many of the old cruise traditions, including solo cabin pricing. Our favorite "other cruise line".

[take us away]

Glad to no longer see these old geezers. I'd rather sit like a wall flower than even try and chat them up. Not surprised to hear your stories.

 

Have been on many long cruises with dance hosts and found them to be delightful men with a wide range of interests. Do not know the last time you were on a cruise with dance hosts but to call these men 'old geezers' is not very truthful or even very nice as several have been in the mid 60's, 1 was a retired physician, 1 a recently retired college professor, etc. Would rather 'chat them up' then spend any time with some passengers I have met.

 

So sorry DocF that you see the world as half empty rather than half full. I do find it a fascinating and wonderful place full of awesome people - and a few not so awesome that tend to spoil it for everyone! No my head is not buried in the sand nor do I have rose colored glasses, just a positive approach to life in general.

[CathyK2]

it would have been fun. Guess I'll dance by myself.

 

Since it doesn't appear that they have the dance partners any longer, I thought I'd toss something out there for you. Holland America does the "Dancing with the Stars" dance lessons and competitions. You may want to see about getting involved with that. They try to pair all the people up with partners that are there solo and every cruise I have been on, there are MANY. Sometimes it is because one of the spouses doesn't like dancing but the other does or it could just be that they are traveling solo. But by doing that, you get to meet the other people that love dancing or at least learning to dance that don't have partners and many times they will stick together when wanting to dance at other times on the ship. And hey...if you happen to be picked for one of the dances, you can then dance your heart away on stage for all of the other passengers to see. :-) But in any case, it is a great social event for those that enjoy dancing even just for fun.

[cruz chic]

Since it doesn't appear that they have the dance partners any longer, I thought I'd toss something out there for you. Holland America does the "Dancing with the Stars" dance lessons and competitions. You may want to see about getting involved with that. They try to pair all the people up with partners that are there solo and every cruise I have been on, there are MANY. Sometimes it is because one of the spouses doesn't like dancing but the other does or it could just be that they are traveling solo. But by doing that, you get to meet the other people that love dancing or at least learning to dance that don't have partners and many times they will stick together when wanting to dance at other times on the ship. And hey...if you happen to be picked for one of the dances, you can then dance your heart away on stage for all of the other passengers to see. :-) But in any case, it is a great social event for those that enjoy dancing even just for fun.

 

I believe the dancing with the Stars program has ended or is ending.

[DocF]

So sorry DocF that you see the world as half empty rather than half full. I do find it a fascinating and wonderful place full of awesome people - and a few not so awesome that tend to spoil it for everyone! No my head is not buried in the sand nor do I have rose colored glasses, just a positive approach to life in general.

 

I post fact, not fancy. I was raised by a cop and I am well aware that bad people ruin things for the rest of us. I never said that you or anyone else was wearing rose colored glasses or excessively optimistic about one's fellow man.

 

Most people I have met on this board seem to appreciate concept of factual information. I am sincerely sorry if I have offended you.

 

Doc:eek:

[avian777]

I post fact, not fancy. I was raised by a cop and I am well aware that bad people ruin things for the rest of us. I never said that you or anyone else was wearing rose colored glasses or excessively optimistic about one's fellow man.

 

Most people I have met on this board seem to appreciate concept of factual information. I am sincerely sorry if I have offended you.

 

Doc:eek:

 

Excellent post! And don't feel like the Lone Ranger, as there are several other CCers who are regularly "flamed" for posting facts that don't coincide with certain other posters' opinions. It is truly unfortunate that so many people cannot (or will not) distinguish between fact and opinion.

 

BTW if your father is still alive, give him my thanks for his service as a policeman.

Edited September 8, 2015 by avian777

[cruiseJMO]

When the "dance host" program was in its heyday, there were a couple of untoward incidents. In one that I recall, a host was a con man out to get inside the trust envelope of women and then grab funds from their accounts. In another, the host actually raped a couple of women. HAL got sued over that one. They initially shut the program down and later reopened it with much more restrictive rules and more intense investigation of the hosts.

 

I was raised by a cop and I tend to remember criminal activity, not good things. I guess this is from being exposed to a lot of bad happenings in my youth.

 

Doc:o

Just popping in to say I think this was good to know as a reminder to always watch our backs. Thanks!

 

I've seen many of these ship dance partners and do slightly envy those who get them. They are so friendly, courteous, and attentive. I just don't have the stones to try dancing. 😞

[take us away]

Most people I have met on this board seem to appreciate concept of factual information. I am sincerely sorry if I have offended you. Doc:eek:

 

Not offended at all just feel bad that you posted the very few unsavory facts about dance hosts from years ago - but you did admit the system has been changed. I have the utmost admiration for those who serve, have police people in my family, similarly would never post about the so very few 'bad cops' that have tainted this amazing and dangerous profession but would loudly laud the accomplishments of all the others.

[Khaos WolfKat]

The Free Spirit

 

You're always up for anything. Karaoke anyone? You say hand me the mic. Wanna check out the casino? You say hit me! Up for a ride on the waterslide or a refreshing beverage at the bar? Come on, is that even a question? If it is, your answer is a resounding yes! You're the captain of your own destiny. And that destiny is...whatever.

 

 

Close enough, I guess, though I am rather annoyed that, out of all the choices of who you'll be cruising with, alone is not an option. Bah!

 

 

Most of the other questions had really limited options with nothing really being the right answer too.

I did like the elimination animations though. That was kind of amusing.

[Gerd]

.

 

 

Hello "all"

 

usually, there are dance hosts onboard while transatlantic, and once a cruise do has more then 4 (5?) consecutive ocean days – at lease it was so….

 

But on our Vancouver, Astoria to Hawaii / San Diego cruise it was indeed ridiculous.

My understanding was, that the selecting person for those dance hosts did has a really fix premise => they must be as old an 'stiff' as possible…

 

It was peculiar to see the real poor 'dance capability' of those elderly hosts …..

 

 

 

Happy cruising

 

G E R D

[CathyK2]

I believe the dancing with the Stars program has ended or is ending.

 

Ahhhhh.....ok. I did just look it up since we have enjoyed DWTS for the last couple cruises we have been on ...the most recent, being May through Norway. But yes, you are correct. It looks like it will be coming to an end on Jan. 10 of next year unless they decide to run another season. I can't find anything on that aspect, but you are right. I wouldn't count on anything after that date. Thanks for the heads up.

[DocF]

Not offended at all just feel bad that you posted the very few unsavory facts about dance hosts from years ago - but you did admit the system has been changed. I have the utmost admiration for those who serve, have police people in my family, similarly would never post about the so very few 'bad cops' that have tainted this amazing and dangerous profession but would loudly laud the accomplishments of all the others.

 

Where appropriate, I have posted information about some very bad cops I have known. Putting this information before an audience that should know the background of a particular event is important.

 

Now back to dance hosts. I feel it was/is important to give background on why the host program is merely a shadow of its former self. I also feel that the current program is much safer and more apt to provide a satisfactory experience for the solo cruiser. Your use of the word admit is very offensive to me. That implies that I wrote what I did to create harm. I did not; I stated fact and stated that this was why the screening is now much more extensive.

 

I am going to figure out how to get these boards to ignore posts from you and I think we are on such different wave lengths that we cannot coexist.

 

Doc

[Madtown_cruiser]

HA posts some cruises that have dance partners onboard:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Activities.action?tabName=Special+Programs&contentMenu=Single+Partners&WT.ac=PopTop_Singles