Large Charter caused dining problems

[Windsailer]

Thanks for the link to Inspiration Cruises. I was thinking about the Eurodam to Alaska in September, 2017, but not with this group.

"Unforgettable Christian Cruise to Alaska with Jim Franklin"

 

I think some of these cruises are missing from the awesome charters and groups thread.....

[alwaysfrantic]

I will keep an eye on the charter list and if my trip becomes a group one I will cancel. No way would I want to encounter that.

[Kathyfromstl]

Is this unique to HAL or do other cruise lines welcome these large groups too?

 

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[Florida_gal_50]

It's bad enough that they took over the ship but looking down their nose because people drink is pathetic. Perhaps they should stay at home if they are so easily offended. Op, I'm sorry this happened to you.

[SilvertoGold]

I really feel sorry for the crew, especially those in the DR, from the DRM to the assistant waiter.

 

They ALL bend over backwards to present a great DR experience and then something truly awful like this gets thrown at them and they have to try and deal with it as well as they can.

 

I wonder who the poor DR manager was on this cruise?

[joepeka]

Is this unique to HAL or do other cruise lines welcome these large groups too?

 

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It is most of the mainstream cruise lines. This Inspirations organization in particular, if you go to the link posted earlier in this thread, you will see they also book on Celebrity (and perhaps others) in addition to HAL although the majority of their groups seem to be on HAL.

Edited July 4, 2016 by joepeka

[serendipity1499]

I'm surprised they didn't try and storm the casino and try and stop all those gambling "sinners"....hey why not also go to the pool and make sure no bikinis are on view....and hey some of those dvd's and movies are R rated. What's next...complain because the staff is muslim?

 

SHAME on holland america for allowing any group to ruin a cruise for the other passengers who have every right to late dining, cocktails, etc.

 

Holland should apologize to all the other passengers and make it crystal clear to any such future groups that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

 

I hope HAL corporate in Seattle gets an earful. I think karen13 has a very good attitude and calmly reported the facts for us.

 

Just fyi, "Inspiration Cruises and Tours" is merely a travel management company and booking agent. They book different churches, groups, and congregations, from all over North America, so it doesn't mean the passenger component will be the same on each cruise. Here's a link to their website if you want to avoid inadvertently sharing the ship with the various groups they book:

 

http://www.inspirationcruises.com/

 

What a shame! :( Karen 13 Hope you are going to write a letter to the President.. Thank you so much for your post..

 

There is no reason for any group to disrupt the pleasure of other non-group Psgrs.. In addition to be so judgmental of others is disdainful. This kind of behavior IMO is certainly a not preached by any religion that I know of & is a bigots attitude.. We also live in the south but thankfully have never come across such prejudices .

 

This is one good reason to try not to take any 7 day cruises or even 7 day B 2 B cruises.. We normally enjoy the longer cruises but we are on an 11 day to the Caribbean this Fall with good Friends & hope that we will not have any problems with groups taking over venues or being so judgmental of others.. I think not though, because I believe most groups like these only book 7 or 14 days.. Hope I'm right..

Edited July 4, 2016 by serendipity1499

[Boytjie]

Can't have been R.C's.!

 

When I first read the OP's post I was thinking to myself... this would not happen with a bunch of Episcopalians on board! :D

 

But then there may have been complaints of overcrowded bars. ;)

Edited July 4, 2016 by Boytjie

[Neferteria]

Wow! Devout Episcopalian that I am, I would avoid groups from this agency like the plague. A mass protest to Seattle is definitely in order. They really should give a rebate to those not only inconvenienced but also insulted by members of this group. The other passengers have been cheated out of the cruising experience they paid good money for. And should be compensated and apologies made.

[Boytjie]

I wonder how mini bar sales were with this group. ;)

Edited July 4, 2016 by Boytjie

[Boytjie]

When we first got a AA baseball team, they tried to prevent beer sales in the park.

 

The team wasn't called "Friends of Bill W." I assume. :)

[RocketMan275]

The team wasn't called "Friends of Bill W." I assume. :)

 

Huntsville Stars. The park had been built. Then about a month before opening day, the owner applied for a license to sell beer. Then, all hell broke loose. Typical was "baseball is a family passtime and we can't have beer being sold where kids are present." The compromise was to exclude beer from one section of the park.

[RocketMan275]

This kind of behavior IMO is certainly a not preached by any religion that I know of & is a bigots attitude.. We also live in the south but thankfully have never come across such prejudices .

 

 

Actually, this is quite common in at least one very prominent Southern denomination I know of.

[Shih-tzu]

There should be a "disclosure clause" or something that when ships have groups that pax that aren't part of the group are either notified on booking ( or notified if group books after their booking and given an option to change/opt out) .

 

That having been said, I travelled with a group of 90 on a cruise.....except for having one of the clubs for a meet and greet for about an hour and getting our group photo taken in the main lobby/atrium that was it for group activities.

 

The lengths that this group required for special treatment though was over the top in my opinion as it did infringe on other passengers enjoyment of the cruise.

 

I would have been very disappointed has I been on this cruise. I am not one to consider compensation over a lot of things as some do here, but I most certainly believe that this case DOES warrant it. Complimentary cruise comes to mind,,...Maybe ships/lines would be more willing to disclose groups if it became an issue,

 

Thanks for the link provided in Post 2 (?) Groups don't bother me but I'll be keeping an eye out for what appear to be "religious" cruises that could affect a sailing to the extent this one did.

[RocketMan275]

There should be a "disclosure clause" or something that when ships have groups that pax that aren't part of the group are either notified on booking ( or notified if group books after their booking and given an option to change/opt out) .

 

The cruise lines insist that privacy rules do not allow them to disclose groups.

[Hlitner]

The cruise lines insist that privacy rules do not allow them to disclose groups.

 

So lets put this in proper perspective. The cruise lines have made their own rule to protect the privacy of groups (many of which advertise their group cruises online) and screw all the non-group passengers? Interesting rule since the privacy of the group cannot be protected once aboard....other then allowing them to take over many public venues and deny access to the other non-group passengers.. We would suggest another rule which is that any non-group passenger or prospective passenger be informed that there will be a large group aboard (they do not have to even mention the name of the group) and those passengers should be informed before booking (so they can make an informed decision) or for those already booked, they should be given an option to rebook another cruise or cancel. That is called being fair and honest

 

Hank

Edited July 4, 2016 by Hlitner

[jhsocal]

Kathyfromstl, We will be on that cruise with you. Referenced Karen's post on the roll call. We have a balcony, would prefer not to try to eat dinner there.

This is one of several cruises with this group on board.

[iancal]

Sounds to me like this group was neither Christian nor Inspirational.

 

A temp. wall to separate them from other diners??? Wonder if they only frequent non licensed dining premises when not at home?

 

Not good when you do not get the cruise environment that you purchased.

[RocketMan275]

So lets put this in proper perspective. The cruise lines have made their own rule to protect the privacy of groups (many of which advertise their group cruises online) and screw all the non-group passengers? Interesting rule since the privacy of the group cannot be protected once aboard....other then allowing them to take over many public venues and deny access to the other non-group passengers.. We would suggest another rule which is that any non-group passenger or prospective passenger be informed that there will be a large group aboard (they do not have to even mention the name of the group) and those passengers should be informed before booking (so they can make an informed decision) or for those already booked, they should be given an option to rebook another cruise or cancel. That is called being fair and honest

 

Hank

 

Hank,

 

As I've said before, I agree with you completely. The problem is getting Holland to agree. HAL is particularly attractive to groups/charters since HAL has smaller ships.

[Windsailer]

Kathyfromstl, We will be on that cruise with you. Referenced Karen's post on the roll call. We have a balcony, would prefer not to try to eat dinner there.

This is one of several cruises with this group on board.

 

If I were going to be on your cruise I would write to Mr. Ashford now, pointing out what happened on the OP's cruise and politely ask that that these potential issues be dealt with in advance. And, if on the cruise, and a similar problem happens, I would email and call the President's Office from the ship.

[alwaysfrantic]

although the majority of their groups seem to be on HAL.

 

No wonder if HAL gives them the entire dining room and allows other guests to have a greatly diminished vacation.

Edited July 5, 2016 by alwaysfrantic

[RocketMan275]

Sounds to me like this group was neither Christian nor Inspirational.

 

A temp. wall to separate them from other diners??? Wonder if they only frequent non licensed dining premises when not at home?

 

Not good when you do not get the cruise environment that you purchased.

 

Actually, I have known some here in the South that do not patronize establishments that serve alcohol on the premises. Some establishments advertise "family entertainment" which is code for no booze.

[Robinsoncruiseso]

When I first read the OP's post I was thinking to myself... this would not happen with a bunch of Episcopalians on board! :D

 

But then there may have been complaints of overcrowded bars. ;)

 

Throw some Lutherans in there and we would have a grand ole time!!

[Boytjie]

Hank,

 

As I've said before, I agree with you completely. The problem is getting Holland to agree. HAL is particularly attractive to groups/charters since HAL has smaller ships.

 

Since this is an issue with groups rather than full ship charters, I think the size of HAL ships don't really have that much to do with it. They can have a group of 900 people on pretty much any size cruise ship.

 

The size of the ships could be more of a factor with full ship charters than groups because charters have to take on the risk of selling out the whole ship to their customers. I don't think it is that easy for charters to sell out ships the size of Oasis/Allure/Anthem of the Seas; even Atlantis doesn't always sell them out (even though they keep chartering them).

[Roz]

Rocketman, I got a chuckle out of your joke about taking a Baptist preacher fishing. Funny, because it's true.

 

When I first moved to Nashville, I was involved in planning the office's Christmas party. Yikes! Didn't realize that holding a party after work hours at a restaurant that served alcohol would create such a furor. Drinking was going to be an individual choice at each person's expense. No dice. Growing up as a Catholic in Pittsburgh, this was culture shock.

 

Roz