Hal-la land not so grand any more.

[frbob]

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

[bUU]

If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

If you didn't care, then you wouldn't have bothered mentioning it; heck, if you didn't care then you wouldn't he posted at all, but rather would have just changed cruise lines without posting your own "snotty" remarks as a grand pronouncement of your intentions.

 

It puzzled me for a while why people would do that. The most obvious answer was that they are looking for validation, in direct contradiction to what they say. Now I wonder if it might also been a bit of a bite-back against a claimed betrayal, stemming from a fabricated presumption that the cruise line owes the complaining passenger especial deference that flies in the face of what other passengers may be rewarding the cruise line for doing.

 

And don't get me wrong. I've explained in other threads that we've "left" this cruise line except where we have no better choices (i.e., Alaska), preferring a more affordable option that fits our more limited budget as a member of the middle class rather than the more wealthy. However, those explanations aren't in the form of tacit recrimination against the cruise line. They're not wrong; they're just not perfect for us, specifically. So it isn't that we favor this cruise line but just that we recognize that our decision isn't worth a separate public announcement.

 

 

This message may have been entered using voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

[3rdGenCunarder]

OP, sorry you're unhappy with HAL, but then you've groused about prices and their cheapness before. I hope you find a cruise line that you like.

 

BTW, saying you don't want snotty answers is likely to elicit lots of them. I'm off to make popcorn, just in case. :cool:

[igraf]

We really enjoyed our last HAL cruise (3-star experience), and it was just an inexpensive Mexican Riviera cruise in a standard veranda cabin. The food was fine, room stewards were fine. We did not expect to be waited on hand and foot while on the ship (except at dinner!) and we took care of ourselves in the port cities. Perhaps it comes down to what you make of it.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

[RuthC]

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

I don't disagree with your evaluation of what HAL has become. It's not what it used to be (not by a long shot), and never will be again. :(

 

However, your post serves no purpose other than to #1 vent, and #2 elicit a lot of disagreement.

[janmcn]

Hang out on some of the other lines' forums and you'll hear similar complaints...tried another line and while on board heard similar "It isn't what it was like before...." "Deal with it" is my mantra...I'm still cruising ;-)

[*Miss G*]

[DaveOKC]

Things change! Its not only cruising, but alot of other places as well.

 

For example, 10 years ago we were frequent Vegas visitors. But then the casino buyouts came and the big corporations decided to pay for them by lowering the gambling odds, increasing dining and hotel costs and adding fees (like resort fees even on comped rooms, parking charges, etc.).

 

So, we moved onto cruising more often. When ever cruising no longer works for us we will move on to something else. We vote with our feet. If everyone did this, companies would react and make changes.

[OlsSalt]

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

 

HAL has always been mainline three star. And darn good value for what they charge. Remarkable they can continue to offer as much as they do for the price. Please do seek other travel options. It is your vacation and you are obviously not happy. You are welcome.

[iancal]

The other mass market lines are all experiencing the same issues, some to a greater or lesser degree.

 

It is one reason why we find ourselves cruising less. There are many competing travel/vacation options that offer as good or better value.

 

Perhaps move up to premium cruise line-Viking, Azamara...whatever. You may pay more however the value to you may be better.

[bUU]

Hang out on some of the other lines' forums and you'll hear similar complaints...

I keep tabs on six cruise lines - I have a hard time telling the forums apart sometimes because the nature of the complaints are the same.

 

tried another line and while on board heard similar "It isn't what it was like before...." "Deal with it" is my mantra...I'm still cruising ;-)

Amen.

[JVilleGal]

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

 

 

Ahhh gee ahhh ya [emoji849] [emoji897][emoji897][emoji897]

 

 

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[whogo]

Not for nothing, but aftet 40+ Hal cruises I find the Company has done more cutting than improving. Staffing is down, food quality is down, service has slipped, equipment is not so great. No niceties anymore on Hal. They have turned to cheap, cheap, cheap. I rate the Cruise Line no better than 3-Star, maybe less. Time to seek other travel options. If you don't agree, I really don't really care about any snotty remarks in rebuttal, than you very much.

I have no argument with anyone who wants to quit sailing on Holland America. Are mainstream lines Cunard, Princess, and Celebrity still acceptable? Are you onboard Rotterdam now as your signature indicates? I wish you all the best wherever your travels take you.

[OlsSalt]

I have no argument with anyone who wants to quit sailing on Holland America. Are mainstream lines Cunard, Princess, and Celebrity still acceptable? Are you onboard Rotterdam now as your signature indicates? I wish you all the best wherever your travels take you.

 

That would be the one kazu is live-blogging from as we speak and having a wonderful time, delighted with just about everything the Rotterdam has to offer ......right here and right now. She of the well-loved Prinsendsam standards for HAL operations. Curious contrast. I wonder if they ever cross paths.

[pris993]

We cruise Princess, HAL, Cunard now primarily, have cruised Celebrity, NCL, Crystal, Royal Carribean, plus lines no longer around i.e., Royal Cruise line, Sitmar. Complaints and changes are similar on all the lines. What we have learned to do is to focus on what we like, go after it on any ship/line we are on and forget the rest... seems to work. You can only live in the now, not the past or the future.

[albingirl]

It's too bad you are so unhappy. There are other options, as others have noted. I have been happy with HAL, even with the changes in recent years, since we always have fun and consider it to be an affordable and enjoyable vacation. Your post was sadly negative. I hope you find happiness in another venue.

[RedneckBob]

Quote from "Two and a half Men",

 

"I Understand"

 

We also have drifted to other lines; Celebrity & Oceania. We find both lines suit us fine. Just got back off 10 day Caribbean cruise on Equinox. Paid less for a balcony than HAL and got free tips, free drinks plus $350 cabin credit. Plus entertainment was excellent. Only problem, no grits at breakfast :loudcry:

[AncientWanderer]

OP, I think I do understand why you would make this post. Probably in the hopes that somebody at HAL is watching and they can then know why they are losing regular customers. I do agree that quality is slipping all over the place, on all lines, but so what? They're all owned by basically a few companies. They may as well know what's going on with their most loyal customers -- the ones who love to cruise. If they want to find another "demographic," so be it. Good luck to 'em, I guess.

[OlsSalt]

How is the change to the new Dive-In menu with buzzers a sign HAL is slipping in quality? It is a change, but certainly not a change in lower quality. Etc, etc, etc, ........

 

Though I recall one person complaining since she no longer had to stand in line waiting for her order, this would cut off her opportunity to socialize with fellow passengers.

[TheCalicoCat]

Are the cooking something edible (I find the food on the different cruise lines to be more alike than different and overly rich for my taste, so I ask for my fare to be prepared plainly)?

 

Are they doing the dishes?

 

Straightening up my room?

 

Scrubbing the shower & toilets - yes?

 

Then I am happy!

 

Are the bartenders making cocktails, not just the mixed drinks that I make at home?

 

Then I am doubly happy!

 

Life is what you make it. It's your life & vacation - CHOOSE HAPPY!

[AncientWanderer]

I choose "happy." The OP may, too, doing something other than a HAL cruise.

 

Carnival knows if they've cut staffing, cut food costs, cut entertainment budgets. And they know if their ships remain full and if profits are good on those ships. Doesn't mean the customer has to pretend those cuts aren't noticed.

[sammiedawg]

I have no problem with the OP speaking his mind, he has forty cruises with Holland America and he is displeased with the current state. And I do not dispute his opinion on the Rotterdam verses the blogger's opinion. I had a laugh at the blog pictures of the fried chicken dinner. No thank you.

I remember a thread last year called the rotting Rotterdam. There is definitely another side to the story of this older ship. I actually met someone who contributed to that "rotting" thread, he said never again.

[bUU]

If they want to find another "demographic," so be it. Good luck to 'em, I guess.

What they want is exactly what General Motors wants. They want folks getting started in life to climb inside a Chevrolet spark, or perhaps a Sonic or a Cruze, and then as they get older and more firmly established in their career and can afford finer things, upgrade to a Malibu, and then graduate to an Impala, but eventually realize that their next step would be to switch to a Buick Regal or LaCrosse, and then a bit later realize that they their higher standards are better served by switching to a Cadillac CTS or XTS. I've said this before: I don't understand why they've got both Princess and Holland America (I think one of the two will do), but I do understand the reason for having:

• Carnival,
  
  • and then Princess OR Holland America,
    
    • and then Seabourn.
      

Want better? They've got a cruise line for you.

[debsjc]

I think it constantly changes which cruise lines are better from year to year, and even more relevant everyone has different aspects which are most important to them.

 

On our last 2 HAL cruises we were really disappointed with the MDR, due to slow service, and tepid & over salty food. I recommended HAL to someone at work but with that information. They thought the MDR was fine, but didn't like the Eurodam as a ship, or the Lido, and much prefer Princess. It was strange to me that they disliked HAL for totally different reasons to us.

 

We took an NCL cruise last year, as it was a bargain, and surprisingly loved it. We had the dining package included, and eating in a different speciality restaurant each night was great. Plus I liked the convenience of booking show tickets and tender tickets on the in cabin TV, much better than waiting in a line in a lounge for ages.

 

This time we are going back to HAL for the Norwegian fjords, because I think HAL are probably better at scenic cruising, and we liked the routing.

 

Basically even line has their good points and bad points. It's just finding the best fit for you.

[styles27]

You know, the older I get the less things are the same. We really can't control that but what we can control is how we react to it.

 

We don't cruise as much as we used to anymore...we used to take at least 1 cruise a year.

We haven't cruised since 2012 (I'm not counting a short 3 day on RCCL in 2015)

 

Will be on Eurodam 4 weeks from today and I know it's not going to be like the cruises we took 25 yrs ago but I'm going with a positive outlook and not a critical eye.

 

(Also, I save my paperwork from every vacation and we paid $699pp on our first Caribbean cruise on RCCL 25yrs ago...we are paying $799pp for our next cruise).

 

That says a lot as to why there have to be so many cut backs. We're paying practically the same thing we paid 25 yrs ago.

 

 

 

If HAL isn't for you anymore there are so many other choices out there. Think of the fun you'll have trying them.

HAL isn't going to go back to the "good old days" quality food, entertainment etc. If they did they'd be priced up there with the elite lines. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

 

I think $799 for a weeks vacation including food, lodging and entertainment is a steal. I don't expect "the Ritz" when I'm paying such a low price.