Let the have F3 and Oasis, I prefer classy!!

[airlink diva]

I was on the main page looking over the plans the RCCL and NCL have for their upcoming mega ships.

I really don't know what to say about the new and exciting venues for these ships. I know that the cruiseline industry want to attach the young hip crowd so they will have loyal customers years to come, but an ice bar at sea?

Such ships just makes me glad that I love the classic style of Holland America ships. I just pray that Holland America stick to tradition and just stay a classic.

Happy sailing!!

[wdw1972]

Me too! I wouldn't cruise RCCL or NCL even if it was free - my vacation time alone is worth too much for me to cruise on those ships. I'll stick with HAL and hope they don't become trashy like those lines during my lifetime!

 

Sue/WDW1972

Westerdam 1/11/09

[Druke I]

I'm not a fan of those glitzy floating apartment blocks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Those ships are way too big for me.

[james j feller]

I think its about time we have something new and those ships are it.

 

I would go on them in a heartbeat, there seems to be a lot to do on them.

 

JIM

[jtl513]

I just pray that Holland America stick to tradition and just stay a classic.

IMO HAL has already strayed too far from tradition with the Danish Modern designs in the Eurodam. From the pictures I've seen so far I don't think I'm going to like it. :(

[james j feller]

Can you say fuddy duddie.

 

Come on folks loosen up, many are complaining about the EURODAM before even getting on it.

 

JIM

[kryos]

ISuch ships just makes me glad that I love the classic style of Holland America ships. I just pray that Holland America stick to tradition and just stay a classic.

Happy sailing!!

That's the nice thing about cruising. We have so many cruise lines and ships out there that there is truly something for everyone. I can't imagine HAL ever going that route. It's just not what their target market wants. You also need some awfully big ships to offer some of the amenities that NCL is planning ... HAL doesn't build ships that big.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

I think its about time we have something new and those ships are it.

 

I would go on them in a heartbeat, there seems to be a lot to do on them.

 

JIM

I don't know if at this point in my life ... and what little cruising I get to do ... if I would go on one of these mega-ships, but there is certainly a place for them. For example, if I was retired and just felt like taking a last minute cruise where I was just gonna let the ship be my destination for the week, I could see trying out one of these larger ships with all the glitzy amenities.

 

But today ... no way. I don't get to cruise as often as I would like, and when I do, I want to take a relaxing voyage or an elegant ship. That always sends me right to HAL.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Bramcruiser]

Such ships just makes me glad that I love the classic style of Holland America ships.

 

Exactly. Its the classic and relaxed elegance of ships like HAL and Cunard's fleet that makes crusing what it is for me. I don't need bowling alleys, movies outside, surfing, and a constant number of new flash-in-the-pan ideas aimed at a hip, never-sit-still crowd. I don't have a problem with these offerings on other lines but if cruising is to remain a realm where one has choices then I choose a more refined, relaxed and comfortable experience and am glad to have a choice.

 

If cruising becomes the market of the beach-front resort then I would like start moving away to other forms of vacation ideas. I'm more of a museum and culture type of guy over surf and sand anyway.

 

David

[Roz]

Just because a ship is big doesn't make it "trashy". Look at Cunard's ocean liners.

 

The complaints about the Eurodam remind of the furor a few years back when the Zuiderdam joined the HAL fleet.

 

Roz

[Bramcruiser]

I don't think its the size of the ship that gets me - I quite enjoyed the Queen Mary 2 and actually look forward to HAL taking on the Eurodam. One can still be large and classy.

 

After all.........size doesn't matter!:D

 

David

Who couldn't resist saying that!

[jtl513]

Can you say fuddy duddie.

 

Come on folks loosen up, many are complaining about the EURODAM before even getting on it.

 

JIM

I assume this is directed toward me, among others. I'm sorry, but I just find Danish Modern "cold" and uncomfortable. The worst expensive hotel room I've had in my life was in Copenhagen! I felt I was in an upscale prison cell! :)

[airlink diva]

I was reading on one of the other boards and I guess the person was referring to my thread. They stated that someone was blasting the upcoming ship without cruising on it.

Am I doing this? Yes I am. I'm not an old wheelchair, walker bound person (I'm a very young 39 soon to be young 40:D :D !)I know that the cruise industry want to lock in guest that will sail with them again and again. These types of hip club like appeal to a group that's younger than me (OMG I sound like my mother now). I have cousins in their 20's who go to Las Vegas alot and tell me about the casino clubs, the bottle service,etc. They tell me that these places are packed and you are paying a pretty penny just to have a booth. These are the next wave of cruisers and the industry want them on their ships.

What I don't like about these ships are the fact that even after you pay for your cruise, if you want to take it to the next level, there are more cost. I know some will say, we have that now, but this is going to take it to a whole another level. You want to hang out at the pool? Well it's going to cost you! Want to hang out at the bar? Guess what! Cover charge!! While the ship will offer some things free, they are going to make it where anything that make the ship stand out from the rest will cost you.

I can never say that I would never sail on these lines. If I can find a good rate and ports that I want to visit, one of their smaller ships. I sailed on another cruiseline ship that had over 3,000 people. I had a good time, but I just prefer HAL. The HAL ships are a good fit for me.

Happy sailing!!

[kryos]

Just because a ship is big doesn't make it "trashy". Look at Cunard's ocean liners.

 

The complaints about the Eurodam remind of the furor a few years back when the Zuiderdam joined the HAL fleet.

 

Roz

I'm waiting for the day that one of the mega liners adds a McDonald's onboard. Now can you just imagine that ... the graceful lines of an elegant ship, those golden arches glinting in the sun? :)

 

Hey, don't laugh ... I hear HAL is adding Starbucks on their ships, so why not the Golden Arches on someone else's? :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Clipper]

While you would have to pay "me" to go on one of those big, frenetic ships, I've always been struck by how old-fashioned the entertainment is, whatever the cruise line (and I've sailed on pretty much all of them). I feel like I'm living re-runs of the Ed Sullivan Show. It's as though entertainment ended with the early sixties. Since we don't cruise for the entertainment on offer, it hasn't bothered me personally, but I can see why some updating might be in order.

[SeaRay48]

Starbucks on HAL, I will drink to that! If Starbucks is ok for Four Season Hotels, why not HAL.

[alohadad]

To go on a cruise you have to feel that your on a ship. About twenty year's ago in a magazine called popular science they had what cruise ship's of the future would look like. RCCL must of have used that as a blueprint for the Oasis.

Now If you want to go to Central Park go to New York City not on a cruise. On RCCL you pay for everything extra, Ben & Jerry's $$, Johnny Rockets $$

[CDRMark]

Can you say fuddy duddie.

 

Come on folks loosen up, many are complaining about the EURODAM before even getting on it.

 

JIM

There are LOTS of pix around

I am sure it will be a wonderful ship and I am looking forward to my upcoming cruise, but C'MON...BASEBALL MITT CHAIRS???

I can dislike those without sitting in one.

Mark

[Atomica]

I'm not adverse to big ships (going on the QM2 in a few short months!!), but I AM adverse to this sort of floating circus that is Oasis of the Seas. It could launch and end up being fantastic, and perhaps I'll eat my words, but I doubt you'll ever catch me on that ship.

 

I like to feel like I'm on the ocean.

[cruzeluver]

I'm afraid I have to agree with the majority of you on this one.

 

I have sailed on RCCL and NCL and enjoyed them both. But these new concepts are atrocius! If the first-timers and those who normaly would not cruise want them, they can have them.

 

We have a Carnival cruise booked for November, but we are seriously considering moving over to HAL after. The big, million-things-to-do ships have their place, but I'm about ready to get back to what attracted me to crusing in the first place: being at sea, meeting new people and travelling to interesting places.

[CDRMark]

SNIP...

The big, million-things-to-do ships have their place, but I'm about ready to get back to what attracted me to crusing in the first place: being at sea, meeting new people and travelling to interesting places.

Emphasis added...

What a concept! Complete agreement here.

Cheers

Mark

[Taxguy77]

I'm waiting for the day that one of the mega liners adds a McDonald's onboard. Now can you just imagine that ... the graceful lines of an elegant ship, those golden arches glinting in the sun? :)

 

Hey, don't laugh ... I hear HAL is adding Starbucks on their ships, so why not the Golden Arches on someone else's? :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

"Graceful lines"?:confused: I find the horizontal hotels lack almost all semblance to the graceful lines of the smaller ships, and the sailing ships to be the most beautiful things on the water (including my fishing boat). :)

[TomAndJane]

My wife and I have sailed on NCL three times and have two upcoming cruises on NCL. We like the fact that NCL offers a variety of options when it comes to dining and entertainment. With that said, we just took our first Holland cruise on the Zaandam (14 day Alaska). We love Holland. We choose AYWD, just like NCL, and never had a long wait or a problem. We love the service, never felt crowded, etc. We were on a ship that didn't have 4K people and we didn't have to pay to get into a bar.

 

Can you imagine the day when Holland starts charging for people to enter the Crows Nest!?????? Although we will continue to sail on NCL (I guess the Dawn and Pearl will be a small ship soon), you can't beat Holland for service and as far as I am concerned, NCL is WAY off when it comes to these F3 ships.

 

When is enough, enough? When did bigger become better? What happened to the intimate feeling of actually being on a vacation? When did revenue become the biggest reason you sail a ship? As far as I am concerned, Holland does it right and as soon as NCL comes out with these Pay As You Go ships (PAYGS) I am done with them.

 

Hopefully HAL will not follow suit. I know, some people want a floating resort when they cruise... I want a place where I feel at home and when I go to a bar, someone will remember who I am.

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

When I go on a cruise, I want to go on a SHIP and not a floating city. I live and work in downtown Chicago and take cruises to get away. My favorite aspects of cruising are sailing on a true ship and meeting fellow passengers. I am 43 years old and have been on over 50 cruises (I began cruising as a small child in 1967). Personally, I prefer traditional ships and cruise lines such as Holland America, Cunard and Crystal. I am booked on the Eurodam because it is a new ship that does not have zip lines, lawns or a merry-go-round. However, I do think it is great that there are a variety of ships to appeal to people with different interests.

 

Chuck