Slot Machines in the Ocean Bar

[Mary229]

Here is the cynical and possibly realistic view:  People like to eat, drink and gamble.  Those are the big three vices you can charge money for😉.  They have expanded eating as far as they can (maybe), they have expanded drinking (they call it a music walk but it is a cleverly disguised bar) and now they are expanding gambling.  There was a discussion recently concerning the Microsoft area being converted, possibly to crafts.  Maybe that is going to become a Painting with a Twist franchise (just kidding).    

 

I prefer some of these measures to hawking, decreasing hotel crew, degrading the food quality or decreasing cabin sizes to squeeze in just a few more passengers.   The bottom line is the bottom line, they need to generate revenue.  That is not in dispute, it has to happen somewhere.

Edited November 6, 2021 by Mary229

[VMax1700]

19 minutes ago, idiebabe said:

They have the machines on Rotterdam, too?  I don't remember reading that in the "Live" review.  I know Sansterre mentioned "Live" music was back in Ocean Bar on Rotterdam which I was hoping would return fleet-wide.  Vista Class and Signature Class desperately need Music back in their OB's!

See post #34

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, idiebabe said:

They have the machines on Rotterdam, too?  I don't remember reading that in the "Live" review.  I know Sansterre mentioned "Live" music was back in Ocean Bar on Rotterdam which I was hoping would return fleet-wide.  Vista Class and Signature Class desperately need Music back in their OB's!

They put them in Wednesday and Thursday in FLL.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

I prefer some of these measures to hawking, decreasing hotel crew, degrading the food quality or decreasing cabin sizes to squeeze in just a few more passengers.   The bottom line is the bottom line, they need to generate revenue.  That is not in dispute, it has to happen somewhere.

 

I'd prefer that they just raise the per diem rate per passenger to the point where none of the above are necessary. However I'm sure that view is not going to find favor with many.

[idiebabe]

4 minutes ago, Laminator said:

They put them in Wednesday and Thursday in FLL.

Thanks!  I missed your other Post!  I honestly don't know what to make of this!  I was really hoping they would go back to Music in OB which is sorely needed on the other Class Ships.  If this is the replacement to Music, very disappointing!

[Mary229]

17 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'd prefer that they just raise the per diem rate per passenger to the point where none of the above are necessary. However I'm sure that view is not going to find favor with many.

I do too.  However before I posted I recalled the many threads that appeared this past spring when HAL starting adding cruises to the 2021 and 2022 line up and the incredible angst over 10 to 20% increases.  I do believe HAL is adjusting its strategy but they are not yet wanting to jettison their fixed income demographic who are price conscious. 

[cruisemom42]

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

However before I posted I recalled the many threads that appeared this past spring when HAL starting adding cruises to the 2021 and 2022 line up and the incredible angst over 10 to 20% increases.

 

Exactly so.  Who knows how this will all pan out in future. One thing I've learned from cruising so many years is that cruise lines' standings tend to vary over time. I'm not writing HAL off just yet, but I am troubled by some of the things I'm hearing and hope they are temporary.

[yarnsinger]

On 11/4/2021 at 9:50 PM, Laminator said:

The machines are being installed on the Rotterdam VII as we speak. They may be ready for play on tomorrows cruise.

I guess that's why they sent the wonderful musicians who were playing there during the transatlantic home. Apparently, that wonderful jazz group was supposed to be the response to people who wanted ballroom dancing brought back. 

 

 

[rkacruiser]

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

I'm not writing HAL off just yet, but I am troubled by some of the things I'm hearing and hope they are temporary.

 

 

Nor am I or will I be writing them off.  But, like you, I hope that another change will occur.  If I have learned anything in the recent years when sailing on HAL, the product and experience can be inconsistent with what I experienced previously.

 

Placing slot machines or other forms of gambling in areas of the ship other than the Casino would make me consider HAL a step below the cruise product available on their parent Company, Carnival Cruise Lines.  

 

 

5 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'd prefer that they just raise the per diem rate per passenger to the point where none of the above are necessary. However I'm sure that view is not going to find favor with many.

 

Well, I favor it!  If one wants a "Signature of Excellence" cruise product, then one needs to understand one has to pay for such!  

[NCTribeFan]

I'm one who prefers to pay for what I consume/use.  I don't want prices raised across the board to "include" things that I may not want or need.  But that's me. 

[kazu]

 

7 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I'd prefer that they just raise the per diem rate per passenger to the point where none of the above are necessary. However I'm sure that view is not going to find favor with many.

 

They already seem to have done so - at least, for my 2022 cruise.  My Volendam cruise is costing more than an equivalent Prinsendam cruise and she was the priciest ship in the fleet.  I don’t mind to pay a higher per diem as long as we get the quality that should go with it 😉 

 

 

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Well, I favor it!  If one wants a "Signature of Excellence" cruise product, then one needs to understand one has to pay for such!  

 

As long as we truly get the Signature of Excellence 😉 

[rkacruiser]

1 minute ago, kazu said:

As long as we truly get the Signature of Excellence 😉 

 

100% agree!  

[1ANGELCAT]

Wasn’t Signature of Excellence the old slogan?  I thought Savor the Journey is the current one. 
         You can savor your journey by staring at a slot machine screen instead of the ocean😱
 

 

 

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I'm one who prefers to pay for what I consume/use.  I don't want prices raised across the board to "include" things that I may not want or need.  But that's me. 

It’s not just you.  Prices are high enough already. 

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

Wasn’t Signature of Excellence the old slogan?  I thought Savor the Journey is the current one. 
         You can savor your journey by staring at a slot machine screen instead of the ocean😱
 

 

 

Yeah I have seen that slogan for a long time.  They likely gave up on it.

[cruisemom42]

6 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I'm one who prefers to pay for what I consume/use.  I don't want prices raised across the board to "include" things that I may not want or need.

 

So instead we have to put up with "upsell" items on the menu in the MDR, slot machines in the Ocean Bar, and the like.

 

At some point it may get to be too much for even you.

[KirkNC]

6 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

So instead we have to put up with "upsell" items on the menu in the MDR, slot machines in the Ocean Bar, and the like.

 

At some point it may get to be too much for even you.

I have said for years, charge me more BUT deliver a higher quality product.  We gladly paid a premium for our many days on the Prinsendam.  We will gladly pay more for our scheduled cruises on Azamara and O, smaller ship, better food etc.  The  strategy for HAL appears to be charging more and delivering less. I would blame all this on the massive amount of debt CCL added recently but the strategy began before the pandemic.

[Sir PMP]

10 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

So instead we have to put up with "upsell" items on the menu in the MDR, slot machines in the Ocean Bar, and the like.

 

At some point it may get to be too much for even you.

Since you have to wait an hour before you get your wine at the table, they might as well bring in a couple of slots into the dining room and turn up the sound so all the passengers can enjoy the 'music'..

[taxmantoo]

10 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

So instead we have to put up with "upsell" items on the menu in the MDR, slot machines in the Ocean Bar, and the like.

 

At some point it may get to be too much for even you.

Upsells in the MDR  -  Tacky and definitely not a Signature of Excellence

Slot machines in the Ocean Bar  - Tacky and definitely not a Signature of Excellence

BBC movies on the Main Stage on Gala Nights - Tacky and definitely not a Signature of Excellence

No music in the Ocean Bar  -  Tacky and definitely not a Signature of Excellence

 

I was never a big fan of anything introduced under the Orland Ashford regime and it seems that Gus Antorcha is continuing in the same vein.  Most cruise lines seem to be upping their game to attract new passengers post-Covid but HAL seems to be stagnating.  

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, Sir PMP said:

Since you have to wait an hour before you get your wine at the table, they might as well bring in a couple of slots into the dining room and turn up the sound so all the passengers can enjoy the 'music'..

Is this recent experience with having to wait an hour for wine?

[Sir PMP]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Is this recent experience with having to wait an hour for wine?

N. Amsterdam..

[Djptcp]

I welcome more slot machines in the Ocean Bar on the Koningsdam and the Rotterdam. We were very disappointed at the tiny size of the casino on the Koningsdam in early 2020 and we were on board for their big $50,000 slot tournament so the casino was super busy the whole 10 days. We are sailing on the Rotterdam on Dec. 1st, again as part of the $50,000 slot tournament, so we know that tiny casino will be overwhelmed as well during the 11 days. We love HAL for many reasons, but to build new ships with very small casinos was a big mistake, IMHO.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

They added 12 more slots to the ocean bar today while in San Diego.   The ocean bar is now totally full of slots. 
 

 

[Mary229]

13 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

They added 12 more slots to the ocean bar today while in San Diego.   The ocean bar is now totally full of slots. 
 

 

That is not as low key as I imagined.  I was thinking they were more like table top units , like this

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

I was told by reliable sources that the slots are being installed to support a special casino promotion and are not permanent.   Should be removed in a "few months" 

 

hmmmmm

 

tine will tell