Cruise Ship Priest Program

[Ky Colonel]

Haven’t cruised since very early 2020: Wondering if HAL still has the Cruise Ship Priest Program - any help is appreciated.  Thank you!

[Ferry_Watcher]

There are been a Catholic Priest on my recent HAL cruises (Sept '23 & Oct '23).

[mammajamma2013]

9 minutes ago, Ky Colonel said:

Haven’t cruised since very early 2020: Wondering if HAL still has the Cruise Ship Priest Program - any help is appreciated.  Thank you!

Cannot answer other than to say this past March, Mass information was offered daily in the "newspaper".

[Ky Colonel]

Thanks for your reply, Ferry_Watcher!

[Ky Colonel]

Thanks, mammajamma!

[CruiserBruce]

The answer is yes, they still have priests on board very regularly. In fact, there was, for quite awhile, a priest regularly posting on the HAL board about how the program works.

[TGCRUISEO]

Here is a screen shot from the FAQs

 

 

[Haljo1935]

All my 2023 (NA, K'dam, NS, Eurodam) and to-date 2024 (K'dam) cruises have had daily mass; also had Midnight Mass at Christmas.

[Red Haired Lady]

The Apostleship of the Sea is the group who has priests who volunteer.

 

 

https://www.aos-usa.org/store/pg/40-About-the-Cruise-Ship-Priest-Program-clone.aspx

Edited May 27 by Red Haired Lady

[Loreto]

3 hours ago, Red Haired Lady said:

The Apostleship of the Sea is the group who has priests who volunteer.

 

 

https://www.aos-usa.org/store/pg/40-About-the-Cruise-Ship-Priest-Program-clone.aspx

I appreciate this program and am grateful that HAL has a priest on board and I always mention it in my end of cruise survey!

[Red Haired Lady]

20 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

The answer is yes, they still have priests on board very regularly. In fact, there was, for quite awhile, a priest regularly posting on the HAL board about how the program works.

Perhaps @Himselfmay see this and add some information to the discussion. I think he is the priest you are referring to.

[Himself]

HAL TRYS to have a priest on each cruise.  The Priests are vetted by the AOS-USA. Each priest has to get a letter each year from his Bishop or, in case of an order priest, his Provincal stating the priest is in good standing and has the approval do this work.

 Each year the priests get a list of available cruises.  Some charters do not want a priest and other charters want them. If a group brings their own priest, that man must be vetted by OSA-USA.  Sometimes a cruise might go if a priest cannot be found to take the cruise.  I hope this adds light to the discussion.

[iflyrc5]

I have seen postings on several social media sites that HAL is starting to reduce the cruises that will have priest on board. This included not having priests on Caribbean, Alaska and cruises in Europe. I have a request into HAL ship services and AOS for a confirmation of the situation.

[mightycruisequeen]

Today's Holland America page on Religious services is different: 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/onboard-cruise-experience/onboard-information/are-religious-service-available

 

Travel Is Our Tradition

 

[TGCRUISEO]

Wow. They just changed that like today. This stinks. Opens up me looking for cruises on any cruise line where I can get to port to go to mass now. 

[mightycruisequeen]

9 minutes ago, TGCRUISEO said:

Wow. They just changed that like today. This stinks. Opens up me looking for cruises on any cruise line where I can get to port to go to mass now. 

Yes, it stinks to high Heaven (pun intended).

[iflyrc5]

I just emailed the President of HAL as to why HAL has changed this policy - interested to see if I get a response.

[Haljo1935]

Wow that stinks. Changes happen, but this is not a good one.

[TiogaCruiser]

1 hour ago, mightycruisequeen said:

Today's Holland America page on Religious services is different: 

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/onboard-cruise-experience/onboard-information/are-religious-service-available

 

Travel Is Our Tradition

 

Wow- so basically they sail only the cruises which have a lot of sea days. 
 

What about the Catholic crew?

[KAKcruiser]

I can't believe they would change their policy.  How much could it cost to provide a cabin for the Priest?  

[TiogaCruiser]

9 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

I can't believe they would change their policy.  How much could it cost to provide a cabin for the Priest?  

Loosing out on $49/day?

[mightycruisequeen]

42 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Wow- so basically they sail only the cruises which have a lot of sea days. 
 

What about the Catholic crew?

Great question!  Those kids give up sleep to attend crew Mass at 11 pm or midnight.

 

[mightycruisequeen]

I don't know about the rest of the Catholics on this forum, but I'm going to be writing to HAL to express my displeasure about this cheap new way to save a buck.

[KAKcruiser]

Having a Catholic Priest onboard is the main reason we started sailing with HAL over 25 years ago.  Attending Sunday Mass is a requirement for practicing Catholics.   

[kydems]

Catholics are only required to attend Mass if there is one available. The catholic crew on ships are excused from this obligation if there is no Priest on board or Mass is not held