jimdalva Posted June 18, 2018 #176 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Betty Boop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted June 18, 2018 #177 Share Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) Here is a screen shot from the CC email I got- Edited June 18, 2018 by frankc98376 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted June 18, 2018 #178 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Westerdam attracts the youngest and most active crowd in Europe? That's a joke, right? We have been on possibly 25 cruises on various cruise line. Could not tell you the name of any cruise ship godmother either prior to booking or after any of those cruises. Nor do we car. From our perspective it is a bit of nonsense. Why on earth would anyone care....unless of course there is some compensation for the godmother for using her name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted June 18, 2018 #179 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Here is a screen shot from the CC email I got- speaks volumes [ATTACH]423900[/ATTACH] i also got that e-mail but have only glanced at any of the mail I got this morning. I had an early appointment and ran out of my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted June 18, 2018 #180 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Westerdam attracts the youngest and most active crowd in Europe? That's a joke, right? It said " it's" most active c rowd........... possibly true. We have been on possibly 25 cruises on various cruise line. Could not tell you the name of any cruise ship godmother either prior to booking or after any of those cruises. Nor do we car. From our perspective it is a bit of nonsense. Why on earth would anyone care....unless of course there is some compensation for the godmother for using her name. .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted June 18, 2018 #181 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Perhaps they meant to say the youngest and most active OAP's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted June 18, 2018 #182 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Nonsense. Nonsense. This is something older folks would never have done two or three generations ago. This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncientWanderer Posted June 18, 2018 #183 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Nonsense. This is something older folks would never have done two or three generations ago. This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos. I don't know... I think people have been climbing mountains in Switzerland and thinking theosophical thoughts for quite a long time. But anyhow, this is silliness. Nobody is suggesting that HAL has to be cast in stone and stay exactly the same. Some change is expected and accepted. I'm just not willing to sacrifice a good speakers program for inhalation therapy. They can offer some of each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted June 18, 2018 #184 Share Posted June 18, 2018 The comments were taken from a Cruise Critic senior editor's review. To better understand the "youngest and most active" comment, it helps to read the actual review, part of which states: Your fellow passengers on a Westerdam cruise will be remarkably different depending on whether you're cruising in Europe or the Caribbean. In Europe, the passenger base is heavily Australian and Dutch, with people also coming from England, the United States, Asia and Spain, and the age range is wider than in the Caribbean with more families including kids (in some cased more than 100 kids under 18) and adults ranging from 45 to 80 years old. On these cruises the party goes a little bit later into the early morning hours and the overall atmosphere is more active in general. In the Caribbean, the demographic shifts back to Holland America's core North American market and the age range goes back up to 55-plus, with nightly fun coming to a close closer to midnight (or earlier). This is not because the onboard offerings change, but because the line historically draws an older clientele in North America and its newer offerings have not yet been adequately communicated to the cruising population at large. Her summary of pros and cons states: Bottom Line Refined, but casual experience that attracts its youngest and most active crowd in Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted June 18, 2018 #185 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Yes. It may well attract it's youngest and most active crowds but does it say the age of those 'crowds.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncientWanderer Posted June 18, 2018 #186 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Yes. It may well attract it's youngest and most active crowds but does it say the age of those 'crowds.? We were on the Westerdam in the Med for 37 days last fall, and the crowd was active, and I guess younger than what you'd find in, say, Alaska. But going back to Frank's post about targeting the mid 40's people, that sounds about right. From following CC for awhile, seems like quite a few of us were "hooked" at about that age and became loyal to the brand. I don't see anything wrong with that target. They're quieter than you'd find on a party ship. I keep using the general word "mature," and I think that fits. Most people are mature in their 40s. If not, they probably never will be! So, yeah, that age group eats more healthfully than the prior generation. They probably exercise more. There are a lot of things that are very "embraceable," at least to me. As long as HAL doesn't throw out the baby with the bath water, we'll keep going to HAL as our cruise line of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted June 18, 2018 #187 Share Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) I got "hooked on HAL" in my 20's in the early to mid 80's. I loved the atmosphere and crew on the ships- fit me perfectly. I still remember the Indonesian bar staff. We were on the first cruise that had Filipino bar staff on Noordam III. Fortunately as my tastes and habits changed, HAL seemed to stay in sync. Recently my doctor was thinking about their first cruise and asked me what I liked about HAL over others. I told him to me it felt like "grown up" cruising. No 24 hour a day activities and parties, no constant announcements about Bingo, horse racing, and drink specials- I am able to relax and set my own schedule. I remember a former CD David De Havilland used to say "We don't make a lot of announcements. You came on the ship to hear the sea- not me". Edited June 18, 2018 by frankc98376 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted June 18, 2018 #188 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Not sure why many of we cruise lovers try to complicate simple things. HAL is merely one business arm of CCL. Like any for-profit Corporation in our Capitalistic society, the management of HAL is charged with maximizing profits. In fact, they actually have a fiduciary responsibility to make money for the investors/stockholders. Changes are all intended to increase the bottom line. Strategies do change, but in the final analysis its all about the bottom line. Perhaps this is what makes MSC and interesting product. They are the only major cruise line that is privately held and has no fiduciary obligation to investors. Yes, they need profit to cover their debt service and generate income for the Aponte family. But unlike for-profit public companies, the Aponte family has the luxury of being patient. Instead of worrying about the annual report, the MSC management can think longer term. With about 20 new builds on their schedule it is going to be interesting to see if this line (along with Richard Branson's Virgin Cruises) can spur some positive changes in the industry. Hank I agree with your thoughtful analysis. MSC interests me. The presentation of their ships and their product in their brochures and videos seems different from other companies and attractive to me. Then, I watch the Nassau web cam and see MSC Seaside sail. My, that is a BIG ship! I think: would I be pleased with my experience on such a vessel? Booking a Yacht Club suite would probably a good idea so that I could "fall back" into a smaller ship experience if I find myself overwhelmed by the rest of the vessel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted June 18, 2018 #189 Share Posted June 18, 2018 I would pick one of the following: 1. Nina Hagen 2. Dalida (posthumous) 3. Gloria Gaynor 4. Dame Edna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted June 18, 2018 #190 Share Posted June 18, 2018 I would pick one of the following: 1. Nina Hagen 2. Dalida (posthumous) 3. Gloria Gaynor 4. Dame Edna r Dame Edna is a treasure, saw her show years ago and nearly died laughing. To join the party, I nominate an entertaining Real Housewife, Ramona Singer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takinoff Posted June 18, 2018 #191 Share Posted June 18, 2018 If we are considering a godfather, Why not pick Captain Albert. He loves Hal history and he's Dutch.Too late for the NS, but a 3rd pinnacle class will be built. Sandra [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106] Sent from my SM-T550 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted June 18, 2018 #192 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Gloria Gaynor as Godmother of Nieuw Statendam? Only if they will make her whistle play the tune "I Will Survive". I love the song and one will find me on the dance floor when her signature song is played. But as Godmother of the new ship? LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuolumne couple Posted June 19, 2018 #193 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I don't get the big deal about Oprah being picked for Godmother. Other Godmother's were Debbie Reynolds, June Allyson, and the Olsen twins. Why were they better choices than Oprah?? If anything, Oprah is a better choice - a self made, strong woman. That said, I don't really care who they pick as it affects my cruising not at all. i agree... since we do not get to decide...who cares. i do see my carnival stock increasing since her pick , so maybe it is a good decision ? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted June 19, 2018 #194 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Nobody is suggesting that HAL has to be cast in stone and stay exactly the same.You could have fooled me. Some change is expected and accepted. I'm just not willing to sacrifice a good speakers program for inhalation therapy. They can offer some of each.According to the daily planner from the cruise two weeks ago, they are offering informative programming on my upcoming cruise, and your insistence that it specifically be a "speakers program," rather than allowing for changes in the format that kind of offering is delivered, is an unfounded expectation that the format of that kind of offering must be "cast in stone and stay exactly the same". Beyond that, while they "can" offer everything under the sun, it isn't a reasonable expectation that they would, especially just because a shrinking subset of passengers like that thing. And really, it isn't reasonable to expect them to offer anything that costs more than the additional revenue that they can attribute to offering that kind of programming. Earlier in one of the Oprah threads someone, perhaps it was you, made the clearest statement about why expectations regarding some things, like "a good speakers program," have no justification: Having them or not isn't going to change enough passengers' purchasing habits. So, no, I don't buy your claim that, "Nobody is suggesting that HAL has to be cast in stone and stay exactly the same." Effectively, that's what a good number of people in this forum do every day, and prosecute that perspective, with their disparagement of the changes that are attracting those new cruisers to the cruise line, in a manner that makes those new cruisers feel unwelcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted June 19, 2018 #195 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Effectively, that's what a good number of people in this forum do every day, and prosecute that perspective, with their disparagement of the changes that are attracting those new cruisers to the cruise line, in a manner that makes those new cruisers feel unwelcome. You hit the nail on the head with that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haladdict Posted June 19, 2018 Author #196 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Of course Hal has to attract new cruisers. The older ones won't be around for ever. They threaten to switch to other cruise lines, but they will find just as much to complain about there. One good thing, we won't have to read their incessant, complaints. Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SetAnOpenCourse Posted June 19, 2018 #197 Share Posted June 19, 2018 IMO, people saying what they like an don’t like is part of the purpose of a forum like this. Just say what you like or don’t like and let such post by others stand. If 80% of what you write is refuting other posts, maybe that’s not helping the community as much as you think. We’ll survive without the guidance. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted June 19, 2018 #198 Share Posted June 19, 2018 IMO, people saying what they like an don’t like is part of the purpose of a forum like this. Just say what you like or don’t like and let such post by others stand. If 80% of what you write is refuting other posts, maybe that’s not helping the community as much as you think. We’ll survive without the guidance. :) (y)(y)(y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea girl 23 Posted June 19, 2018 #199 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Of course Hal has to attract new cruisers. The older ones won't be around for ever. They threaten to switch to other cruise lines, but they will find just as much to complain about there. One good thing, we won't have to read their incessant, complaints.Sandra It's wearing,but also,it's one of the reasons I think that potential new cruisers are scared off.Luckily,I think Oprah has enough of a following, and fans that can look past the hate(they don't post on Cruise Critic and therefore don't see all the hate,perhaps?):D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted June 19, 2018 #200 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Of course Hal has to attract new cruisers. The older ones won't be around for ever. They threaten to switch to other cruise lines, but they will find just as much to complain about there. One good thing, we won't have to read their incessant, complaints.Sandra Most of them have no place to go (perhaps due to cost). That's why some of them have spent more than ten years chasing away passengers attracted to the cruise line by the changes the cruise line has been making. One has to wonder the second order impact. Pick any Carnival cruise. Count how many people are in the room call thread here on CC. Now find the closest Holland America cruise and check how many are on its roll call thread. This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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