Are the jokes about HAL accurate?

[Markanddonna]

I have heard several cruise directors and commedienes from other lines make jokes about the more senior population on HAL. One HAL enthusiast mentioned that HAL cruisers are about 10 years older than other mainstream cruise lines. I'm in my early seventies, so I am not mocking this demographic. Haw accurate is this?

[Hlitner]

14 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

I have heard several cruise directors and commedienes from other lines make jokes about the more senior population on HAL. One HAL enthusiast mentioned that HAL cruisers are about 10 years older than other mainstream cruise lines. I'm in my early seventies, so I am not mocking this demographic. Haw accurate is this?

Yes, it is true on the longer itineraries.  Many years ago when we were babies on HAL (in our 50s) a comedian was working the first night and opened with "welcome aboard to the seniors and their parents."  It would have gotten a good laugh but it was the late show (probably around 9pm) so the theater was empty (most were already in their cabins).   There are many HAL fans who deny this but it has generally been our experience.  That being said, HAL used to be a pretty decent cruise line (I have no idea how their product is holding up after the COVID shutdown.

 

I would add we are 5* Mariners in our mid-70s.  On the longer itineraries I would probably qualify as among the younger cruisers :).

 

Hank

[Markanddonna]

We've only been on one HAL cruise and it was Alaska with lots of families and younger folk.  I think HAL would be just fine for us on a port intensive cruise in Europe. Thanks for your reply, Hank.

[Hlitner]

8 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

We've only been on one HAL cruise and it was Alaska with lots of families and younger folk.  I think HAL would be just fine for us on a port intensive cruise in Europe. Thanks for your reply, Hank.

Our European cruises (with HAL) have all been on older (or now gone) ships.  We have yet to cruise on the new larger HAL ships which, I suspect, would attract a more diverse age group :).  But I think that HAL does not do much, in terms of entertainment, to make the line very attractive to younger cruisers.  

[rkacruiser]

I am sorry to partly disagree with Hank, but I will.  It probably will be true for most cruises that have two seatings for dinner that the second seating will have more guests than the second seating.  It seems that more of the older guests prefer an early dinner.  It probably will be true for most cruises that the second show (if there is one) will have fewer guests in attendance than the first one.  As Midnight approaches, there will be fewer guests "out and about" than one would find on some cruise lines.  But, there will still be a bar or two open; the casino will be in operation most likely; the late night buffet (such as it is) opens at 11:30 for about 30-45 minutes, (the entertainers and some cruise staff can be found there at times), and there may be music in one of the Lounges (BB King or Rolling Stone Rock Room).  

 

As you learned, on Alaska cruises and on some Caribbean cruises, there are families and children.  Multi-generational cruising was becoming popular pre-Covid.  On Holiday cruises, there will be families and children.  Even during my Holiday cruise on the Prinsendam, there were more children than I expected.  

 

On longer cruises, the average age of the guests does increase.  (I don't think an explanation is needed why.)  But, there can still be a wide range of ages.  On my world cruise, there was one family with school age children (mid-upper elementary aged) during the entire cruise.  (The kids were being home schooled and had school work to do most days.) 

 

The comedians jokes about HAL and its nursing home guests have grown old just as the very old jokes by the CDs about "please eat the Potato Salad".  

 

 

[nini]

Our only HAL cruise was pretty quiet- things shut down pretty early. There was also not much going on for sea days. 

[rkacruiser]

14 hours ago, nini said:

Our only HAL cruise was pretty quiet- things shut down pretty early. There was also not much going on for sea days. 

 

Reading your signature, it's obvious that you clearly like the Princess product.  I enjoy their cruises as well.   Princess does a very good job in providing lots of activities.  

[Dancer Bob]

My experience agrees with Hlitner and nini. I'm baffled what ship rkacruiser can have been on.

My Transatlantic, even though I was with a group with group activities, I was so bored I was seriously considering jumping ship at Funchal, but I thought "these are really, really old people but it's been port-intensive, surely some will come alive at sea" (I was in my mid-60's at the time). Nope. I was the only passenger I ever saw in the pasta bar after 11PM. I'm not sure if it was that ship, I was the only person in the lounge for the musicians' final set.

My travel agent liked to book groups on HAL because he could hold space for months without deposits. I eventually told the group organiser I wasn't going on HAL anymore. She did one more trip, got into a fight with the Hotel Manager, I think over playing music after 9PM, and stopped as well.

[rkacruiser]

6 hours ago, Dancer Bob said:

I'm baffled what ship rkacruiser can have been on.

 

Some of the -dam ships, some of the cruises, have guests that are more interested in late night life than others.  However, "late night life" does not mean partying into the wee hours of the night.  

 

To cite one example:   the Voyage of the Vikings on Rotterdam VI with the BB King group playing in the Crow's Nest.  The time was in the 11:00 P.M.- Midnight period.  (Maybe longer, because I retired around Midnight and the music was still going.)  The small dance floor was often packed with guests, others were seated around and near the dance floor, and there were some guests sitting at the bar.  Among them was the wife of the Master and the Hotel Director.  

[kochleffel]

My only HAL cruise so far was in the Caribbean, and it was in the first week of January. The passenger demographics did not skew older than on other cruise lines (I had been told that the ship would be full of censorious elderly people, not that I'm such a spring chicken myself). But a one-week cruise that overlaps holidays and school vacations is not representative of a TATL or TPAC.

 

My next HAL booking is TATL and I do expect it to skew older, but that is going to be true for any cruise longer than about a week. HAL is popular with travelers who are able to take long trips; it's not unusual for passengers to book two 14-day cruises B2B, or three B2B2B, and HAL sells itineraries that consist of two or more segments that can all be booked individually as well.

 

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, kochleffel said:

My only HAL cruise so far was in the Caribbean, and it was in the first week of January. The passenger demographics did not skew older than on other cruise lines

That first cruise after New Year's Day is a great time to cruise.  I have found that the pricing is exceptionally good and sometimes there are still some holiday decorations remaining.  The demographics will be as varied as will be on other 7-10/14 days cruises.  

[Dancer Bob]

I've also done TA's on Cunard (much the same demographic) and Costa (on longer, off-season cruises, also similar) so I can offer a comparison. Much more fun, I definitely didn't feel like I was the only person still awake after 9PM. I did close G32 on QM2 at 5AM once, but that was rare, usually it was just the buffet when normal music shut down around midnite, usually with other people.

[kochleffel]

15 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

That first cruise after New Year's Day is a great time to cruise.  I have found that the pricing is exceptionally good and sometimes there are still some holiday decorations remaining.  The demographics will be as varied as will be on other 7-10/14 days cruises.  

 The pricing was what drew my attention to it, but my job usually prevents travel except during the first and last weeks of the month, too. 

[LocoLoco1]

On 5/30/2022 at 5:22 PM, Markanddonna said:

I have heard several cruise directors and commedienes from other lines make jokes about the more senior population on HAL. One HAL enthusiast mentioned that HAL cruisers are about 10 years older than other mainstream cruise lines. I'm in my early seventies, so I am not mocking this demographic. Haw accurate is this?

Yes. Accurate. 

[mast3rn8]

I went on a HAL Caribbean cruise earlier this year and yes this line definitely skews older than the others I've been on. It was one of their older ships so there was not dance club or lively bar - the ship got quiet at 9pm. Still had a great time - good food, nice staff!

[0106]

I am 61 and have been cruising on HAL for 25 years.  We choose HAL because  we do not want an amusement park.  We enjoy the outstanding services on the ship.  On sea days we wake early, exercise, read, enjoy meeting people by the pool, play trivia, have a relaxing dinner,  listen to music in BB King or Rolling Stones room and go to bed.  Perhaps we are “old souls”.

[CGinMTL]

My 1st cruise ever, I was 25 and it was on HAL. Loved it.

But I have never been a night owl.

My 2nd cruise, i took my 9 year old daughter. 

There was a kids club  only 6 girls in her group.

She was a VIP all week. Everybody loved her.

3rd cruise,  i took her on carnival.  She wanted to go back to HAL. She had gotten a taste of the finer thinks in live. :))

[Glide]

Wife and I, then in our early 50's took the HAL Volendam from Singapore to Hong Kong and we didn't think that the demographic was any different to say a P & O. We made friends with a 40 something couple and their 14 year old daughter and  a 20's something couple and enjoyed various day excursions as a group with them (arranged on the fly with local taxis etc) We had a great time. But what we did find was that no matter the age group of he passengers, most people were in their cabins by about 9pm.

 

It wasn't the age demographic, it was just preference. Maybe people choose HAL for the company of like minded 'early to bed' types.?

 

We loved our trip, it was our favourite Cruise, the staff and just about everything else was fantastic, and eventually the few night owls like ourselves find each other and met up til' late. The entertainment in the crows nest (I think it was) remained until post midnight for the little group of us that wanted to drink and dance til late. 

 

[Mary229]

20 hours ago, Glide said:

It wasn't the age demographic, it was just preference. Maybe people choose HAL for the company of like minded 'early to bed' types.?

That is how it has been for us since we hit 40.   We did the fun in the sun cruises when we were in our 20s and 30s and liked those but when we started truly traveling we wanted a quieter environment.   When we were young we only had a week and we’re looking only for a good time

 

On HAL we have met a lot of people of many ages but it does lean older.  I also have met many more people who are skilled and advanced travelers on HAL

Edited August 8, 2022 by Mary229

[Username0123]

I've heard HAL described as "Newly wed or nearly dead"

 

I'd say they are more traditional cruises: still well-attended formal nights, far above the norm for service attentiveness, slower paced, quieter, relaxing.  It's perfect if your "entertainment" is the people you're cruising with or the people you'll meet.

[dwc13]

Holland America Line definitely isn't for everyone. It doesn't pretend to be a party ship or floating amusement park; instead, it caters primarily to an older demographic who are typically well-traveled and enjoy a slower pace & higher level of service. Many of its passengers have been on numerous cruises spanning multiple HAL ships over the years. Not too surprising -- smaller ships with simple floorplans are easier to get around, especially as one ages. 

 

Many younger people aren't in position (financially, work commitments, family obligations) to take extended time off to go on a longer cruise on a 'premium' cruise line. Even if they were interested, there are often better options for most.

 

[Wayfairers]

I’m mid 50s now and have been cruising with HAL since I was 40. HAL is my favorite line (see my signature for cruises).  I cruise for the itinerary and I’ve never cruised the Caribbean or Alaska on HAL.  
 

Every HAL cruise I’ve been on has had a wide variety of ages including children.  The average age is probably mid to upper 70s but we’ve had maybe 10% in the 40s and 50s with at least a  third in their 60s.  The most active couple on one cruise were in their mid 90s and on their honeymoon!  On our South America cruise there were 3 pub crawls, all very well attended and we were out past midnight several nights in a crowded Crow’s Nest.  I’ve never been bored on a sea day…lectures, watercolor classes, craft classes, wine/beer/whiskey/port tastings, mixology classes, book club, movies, happy hours, etc.  

[rkacruiser]

5 hours ago, Wayfairers said:

Every HAL cruise I’ve been on has had a wide variety of ages including children.

 

The demographics on HAL are primarily as they are on any cruise line.  There will be a wide range of cruisers.  True, on longer cruises, such as a world cruise, the age groups will like to less varied than on a 7-14 day cruise.  But, during my world cruise, there was a family with children and they were being home schooled during the cruise.  

[dwc13]

Three cruise passengers walk into a bar somewhere in the Caribbean. 

 

The first walks up to the bartender and says, "I'm on the biggest ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas". 

 

Upon hearing the boast, the second walks up to the bartender and says, "So what? I'm on the most luxurious ship in the world, Regent Seven Seas Explorer."

 

Not to be outdone by the other two, the third -- a wildly popular internet influencer -- walks up to the bartender, smartphone rig in hand. She starts livestreaming and proudly proclaims, "My name is E. F. Sluttin. I'm on Holland America Line Zaandam and I have the entire ship to myself after 10pm when the other passengers are asleep". 

 

Remember, when E. F. Sluttin opens her mouth, the video goes viral.(1)(2)

 

 

(1) Had to throw one in for old-timers who might have done business with a certain stock brokerage back in the day. Or at least remember the tv ads and slogan. But it's the Tik Tok/YouTube/Zoom era and today video/livestreaming is king. Who just talks anymore? And where is your mind, lol??? 

 

(2) An alternative was -- "Holland America: Where the 80s isn't just a reference to the decade." 

 

All in good fun, of course. For the most part, I had a pretty good time on HAL Zaandam a few weeks ago. Anecdotally, the average age of Zaandam passengers (10 day cruise) was much higher than that MSC Seashore passengers (7 day cruise). Not too surprising, given longer cruises tend to skew older; also there were significant differences in the itinerary and cost. BTW, several players @10-15 years older kicked my butt in pickleball on Zaandam. Don't underestimate seniors on the pickleball or shuffleboard courts. I think they might have concocted a rule or 2 on the fly, though, since I hadn't played before, lol. Just kidding. Good times. Hopefully we'll cross paths again for a rematch.

 

If we decide on HAL for an Alaska cruise, it will be interesting to see the passenger demographics. I suspect it will have a more normalized age distribution, at least on the spring break and summer cruises. 

[rtdiva]

A different take on the subject: oftentimes the itinerary is port intensive. Regardless of age, people are tired from time off board. On that note when we began sailing many years ago, we were the first off then the last on, as we are now closer to 80 than 70 a leisurely breakfast is nice. Oftentimes half day tours are preferred.  I do remember a crew member once said to me as I was hurriedly rushing from one activity to another on a sea day “ Ma’am you are on vacation, take your time”. 
So to answer the question- yes.