No more DAM Dollars-so disappointing!

[sandycruzr]

What is wrong with HAL? I cannot believe they eliminated the Dam dollars! I've sailed on HAL several times and the Dam dollars events were always well attended and fun for all. With not as many options for younger passengers as say a Carnival or RCCL (ice skating, rock climbing, surfing, etc.) I would have thought this program (which appealed to all ages!) would have been spared any budget cuts. Are they becoming like Carnival?
I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!!:mad::mad::mad:

[Iris5383]

I agree with you!

Technically, on our last cruise (Nov/Dec 2009 15-day Circle Hawaii) they did give out Dam dollars. My SIL played Wii bowling. When the game was over and her team won, that team each got one Dam dollar! The team that lost also each got one Dam dollar. Not like the old program! :(

There were also very few opportunities to earn the dollars.

We always enjoyed playing the games and meeting other passengers and have cashed in on some nice Dam prizes. Maybe the budget can't handle giving away tee shirts and sweat shirts and beach towels.

[irishjim]

Still had dam dollars on the Prinsendam in November 2009,they had Ping Pong,team golf,hole in one ect,they were all well attended,they may be
cutting it all out ship by ship,sad but what can one do?:confused:
Jim.

[kakalina]

Gone the way of the dodo bird. Just like the little logo prizes they used to give out at trivia.

[Krazy Kruizers]

No Dam Dollars on our Oct 24 and Nov 3, 2009 cruises on the Zuiderdam.

They are gone or are going -- just like when we had Passport To Fitness where we got "stamps" in a book -- collected books and redeemed for wonderful gifts.

[mindydaile]

I know way back in the summer of 2008 they were discussing this change - I made friends with several of the activities staff on that cruise and they were talking about the cut backs their department was undergoing as ships implemented things like the party planners, etc. Their understanding at the time was that Dam Dollars, trivia, etc. would all be phased out in order to reduce costs.

[Dodger Blue]

So what will they give out for contest winners?

[pms4104]

So what will they give out for contest winners?
Perhaps a smile and a "Thank you for participating.":)

[sandycruzr]

So I am not the only one who misses those dam dollars!!.
I called HAL and the guest services rep told me the dam dollar events were not popular with the guests and not well attended!!!:confused:
Can you believe this. Everyone I ever went to was very well attended and enjoyed by all.

Why don't we all email HAL and let them know we are displeased!

Let start a DAM revolution!

Bring back the DAM dollars!!!!!:):):)

[mindydaile]

So what will they give out for contest winners?

My understanding is that they were not going to have them anymore hence the cost savings - less event staff needed saves HAL money.

[Max2003]

So I am not the only one who misses those dam dollars!!.

Let start a DAM revolution!

Bring back the DAM dollars!!!!!:):):)


They were great for meeting fellow cruisers and just having fun. What could it have cost?? The problem now is that the cruise directors staff has been drastically cut to the point that team trivia is about all they can handle!

I still have about 40 "dam dollars" that I am saving for the resurrection or I will cash in on them as collectors items on e-bay. LOL :D

[sandycruzr]

:cool::cool:I AM SERIOUS! IF ENOUGH PEOPLE VOICE THEIR DISPLEASURE HAL MAY LISTEN!!!
They were great for meeting fellow cruisers and just having fun. What could it have cost?? The problem now is that the cruise directors staff has been drastically cut to the point that team trivia is about all they can handle!

I still have about 40 "dam dollars" that I am saving for the resurrection or I will cash in on them as collectors items on e-bay. LOL :D

[iamaqt2]

On my cruise on Zaandam in October, I went to a Scattergories event in the Explorers Lounge. When I got there I found out it was self-hosted:confused::confused:

So I ended up running the show myself, from introductions to handing out gamecards, paper and running the dice and timer.

I still had a good time, but it would have been much more fun for me to just be a participant. I know I didn't have to run things, but since I was the first one there it just sort of fell in my lap.

[funlovin'cruiser]

They were great for meeting fellow cruisers and just having fun. What could it have cost?? The problem now is that the cruise directors staff has been drastically cut to the point that team trivia is about all they can handle!

This is a little misleading. I had the same discussion as this thread with our CD (Matt Allen) on the Ryndam and the CD's staff is not actually smaller - it's larger. "Back in the old days" aka a few years ago when all of these dam dollar activities were going strong, there was 1 Senior Assistant Cruise Director (this person was in charge of writing the program and also hosting Bingo) and 4 Assistant Cruise Directors (they split the library/Explorations Cafe time, ran trivia/games, hosted Dam Dollars, hosted cooking demos, etc). There are now the following on the "Explorations Team" staff:

1 Event Manager - manages the entire department's schedules (including musicians, cast members, Explorations Team and the availability of public rooms on board) writes the Daily Program, is the revenue manager for all of the concessionaires (spa, photo, art, casino, shops, etc)
1 DJ/Emcee - hosts the nightclub, gameshows with the CD, runs sports activities, shipbuilding, etc.
1 Party Planner - runs the Culinary Arts Center and about 5 demos/classes per day, manages the VIP welcome, Renewal of Vows, etc
1 Travel Guide - has lectures about upcoming ports of call and daily desk hours for answering questions, stands at the bottom of the gangway for the first 2 hours in every port
1 Librarian - hosts and manages the Explorations Cafe and runs the book club (on longer cruises)
1 Lifestylist - only on some ships, but rolling out to all - does special (free) classes like Tai Chi on deck, runs some sporting events and hosts some seminars
1 Techspert - Microsoft trained techy that runs classes and open time in the Digital workshop.

As you can see, that's 7 staff versus 5.

Matt said that they would average about 5-10 guests while in port at Dam Dollar activities and then about 20-30 while at sea, unless it was a longer cruise (over 12 days when they would get about 50-75 people at events). So even if you have 100 at an event, think about how small the percentage is of participating guests versus the overall guest population on a ship. However, with the new format above, there is a larger spread and more appeal for all types of activities and entertainment.

Meanwhile, we found that 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes were handed out all all of our sports events on the Ryndam and also Trivia was run by the CD and there were always prizes for that. This was the cruise that went Jan. 3rd to Jan. 10th.

Now, someone asked about the real costs of the prizes - I was curious and Matt showed me the invoice for the prizes at the ship's cost. It was $7 for sweatshirts, $5 for t-shirts, $8 for picture frames, $15 for travel bags, $10 for the track suits. The luggage tags and key chains were $.75 each though. He said that people actually break the rules and ignore the verbiage that used to be in the daily programs saying that Dam Dollars earned on one cruise couldn't be carried over to another, so people would come on to a ship with 50 dollars and effectively wipe out their supply of already expensive items, hence the whole program is now scrapped. Hope that this helps explain in some way :o

[Max2003]

Fun lovin cruiser from Seattle

I am really impressed at the detail that you were able to put together in 1 hour and 35 minutes as a rebuttal to my comments that the Cruise director staff is smaller. It looks like you might have had your comments already thought out and on paper. Right down to the exact costs of things, the exact titles. It is "incredible". A direct line to HAL perhaps.

It may be hard to sell your assertion that things are better in the activities area to anyone that has cruised lately, like some of the posters on this thread. There is a noticeable decline in the visibility of staff and activities on recent cruises. Period!

[wander]

Max,

Not a very difficult issue to answer quickly. I cannot comment about funlovin'cruiser, but I could have given you the first part of his answer as quickly as I could type after I read your first comment. On my cruise in November I had the numbers figured out by myself after the first two sea days. Simply by going to events, reading the daily program and counting. About participation - no specific numbers but I can say that for golf putting the numbers ranged from about 15 - 30+ different days.

For my last two HAL cruises there were no dam dollars. But, we did have activities like the usual golf events and sports court skills, with prizes awarded each time. The prizes included tee shirts, caps, mugs small umbrellas and even sweatshirts on several occasions.

Similar prizes were given for events led by the Party Planner with unique ones for games like Coffee trivia (a free special coffee at Explorations Cafe) and chocolate trivia (chocolate assortment she made). For another one of hers I won an umbrella.

Trivia - One time daily. Our prizes ranged from key chains to tee shirts to sweatshirts to mugs to picture frames and such.

I was concerned about the reported (on CC) of the loss of cruise staff. Well, they are still there but under new titles. On my last cruise, the Event Manager was actually an old acquaintance from previous cruises where he was on the cruise staff. He loves the new arrangement as an employee. Of course, he is only one person with an opinion.

[funlovin'cruiser]

Love that you think that I have some inside scoop on HAL - I don't really, other than going on cruises and making friends with the staff. I happened to have an answer back to you so soon as my desk has my programs on it from the Jan. 3rd cruise on the Ryndam and I happened to have the prices of the sweatshirts and t-shirts at cost written on one of them from the day that I discussed it with Matt. The other prices came from remembering - it wasn't that long ago. Besides, it's not like I wrote a college essay...it was just a reply - which actually took a lot less than 15 minutes, not the 1 hour and whatever minutes you timed me at :D I think that HAL people have a lot more pressing issues to deal with - like the tendering in Bermuda thread that they actually do reply to - than a Dam Dollar thread. I was simply making my reply from my perspective (and slightly parroting what Matt Allen related to my family). heehee ;)

[bob brown]

I always enjoyed collecting dam dollars. We actually made a game of it to see just how many we could accumulate on a single cruise. And it was a great way of meeting fun-minded fellow cruisers. My frequent participation earned me the title of "Mr. Maasdam" (do they do that anymore?) in May of 2007 from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal.

I will be sad to see that program end. Not everyone can win one of those "dam prizes" at trivia, golf, ping pong, or whatever; but the "dollars" program afforded all a way to earn a prize simply by participating.

I've been on NCL recently, and they are still doing a similar program,
where each participant earns a signature at all staff organized activities, and winners get additional signatures which can be exchanged for various prized at the cruise end.

I hope HAL reconsiders, and hope they have it on the Amsterdam in May.

[realnurse2]

This really doesn't have anything to do with the topic, alathough I always enjoyed the dam dollar events even though I am a klutz at any sport or game! I have met Matt on 2 differnt cruises. The first he was an activity staff, the second he was the DJ.Its nice to see he has moved up HAL'S ladder to cruise director. Am I just an old fogie or did at one time cruise directors were also entertainers?

[RuthC]

Am I just an old fogie or did at one time cruise directors were also entertainers?
Oh, that was a long, long time ago. I'd forgotten all about that.
I don't remember the cruise director entertaining on my first HAL cruise (might have, but I don't remember), but I sure do remember the CD entertaining on other cruiselines in my early cruising years.

[mudscraper]

No Dam dollars on our last two cruises (Nov and Jan.
Also, on the Oosterdam last week we didn`t sign for any purchases from the waiters or bartenders. Bartender in the CrowsNest said no signatures required for purchases under $25.00. They just give you the receipt.
I prefer to sign. In case of a discrepancy we can compare signatures.


Rich

[Iris5383]

. . . My frequent participation earned me the title of "Mr. Maasdam" (do they do that anymore?) in May of 2007 from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal. . .

The Mr. & Mrs. 'Dam was fun, too. They didn't do that on our cruise last month.

[Copper10-8]

On behalf of a poster who shall remain anonymous, we would like to pose the following question:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IEKip6NnYJo/S2DKxPMG3-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/uXw4Cgb2WMQ/s400/damdollars.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IEKip6NnYJo/S2DKxPMG3-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/uXw4Cgb2WMQ/s1600-h/damdollars.jpg)

[Dr. Al]

I have been cruising with Holland America for a long time. I cannot believe that they have eliminated Dam Doillars. It was so much fun.

Dr. Al:mad::mad::mad::mad:

[franksandy]

My partner and I just got off the Maasdam....Came home with 11 sweatshirts...4 mugs...2 sets of costers...1 key chain...and 10 podimeters.
I also won 2 drinks, got those for doing the pool games.
Also awarded 2 certificates...
Much better than any dam dollars.....we did have to ship all the Dam stuff home.

[Jade13]

My partner and I just got off the Maasdam....Came home with 11 sweatshirts...4 mugs...2 sets of costers...1 key chain...and 10 podimeters.
I also won 2 drinks, got those for doing the pool games.
Also awarded 2 certificates...
Much better than any dam dollars.....we did have to ship all the Dam stuff home.

Ok, so what were the various activities? It sounds like they are still giving out the prizes, they just don't want people bring the DAM dollars from ship to ship. Azamara just stamps a piece of paper by the way.

We will be on Maasdam in August. Who is the current Captain and Cruise Director, etc? Thanks.

[Sonup2Sondwn]

Our family was on the Maasdam in 2009 for a 14 day cruise. We had never participated in the dam dollar program before this cruise. We loved it! Over our two weeks we collected enough dam dollars for 3 very nice beach towels. My 12 year old son also received a great pullover sweatshirt that he wore proudly for months to school. Even after he got in trouble with a teacher for the word "dam" on the back (?).

Our family made it a point to attend a lot of events that we would have otherwise not done. It was a blast and really enhanced our cruise. The events were fun, entertaining and sometimes silly. We met other like minded people, young and old and in-between, that attended these events and had something to talk about when we met around the ship and on shore.

We heard at the end of that cruise that the dam dollars were being done away with and it was true. When we sailed on the Rhyndam on a 14 day cruise in 2010 no dam dollars and much fewer of the activities that we had participated in the previous year. Our cruise experience was definitely not as good as 2009 and I think ending this program played a part.

We will be sailing shortly to Alaska on the Zaandam, but after this cruise I think I'll start shopping Royal again. We love, love, love HAL, but for my kid's sake, we need to find a vacation that is more than just an easy cruise sailing from port to port.

[Sirdar]

On behalf of a poster who shall remain anonymous, we would like to pose the following question:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IEKip6NnYJo/S2DKxPMG3-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/uXw4Cgb2WMQ/s400/damdollars.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IEKip6NnYJo/S2DKxPMG3-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/uXw4Cgb2WMQ/s1600-h/damdollars.jpg)


Better watch out. You may be summoned to the medical office on your next cruise and lobotomized for asking too many questions!;)

[Mabs]

We too love the Dam Dollar games and it is such a good way to meet so many nice people. On our last cruise on the Statendam in April they still had them but said that one more cruise would be the last, we had about 40 at each event on sea days and 15-20 on port days. The cruise before that we did not have them and we had way too much time on our hands. I can only read so much and after a while don't want to listen to another speaker.
HAL please bring them back!!

[CaveDiving]

I really liked the dam dollars program.

It got many pax out to try golf putting or ring toss that otherwise would not have participated. It made some pax with mobility problems feel really accepted and able to try.

I hope they continue the program.

Scott & Karen

[Krazy Kruizers]

We loved the Passport to Fitness that HAL had quite a few years ago -- got a lot of lovely items.

We also enjoyed the Dam Dollars and get lots of nice items there as well.

These games were always popular and we always met a lot of lovely people. Sadly -- just something else that is going away for good.

[Iris5383]

My partner and I just got off the Maasdam....Came home with 11 sweatshirts...4 mugs...2 sets of costers...1 key chain...and 10 podimeters.
I also won 2 drinks, got those for doing the pool games.
Also awarded 2 certificates...
Much better than any dam dollars.....we did have to ship all the Dam stuff home.

Did you win all of that dam stuff?? My last cruise (15 days) on the Zaandam there were not many contests or other opportunities to win anything. How long was the cruise? That is an amazing load of stuff, how did you do it?

[cruzisme]

On our last cruise just 3 weeks ago, the trivia prizes were key chains or at the most, a travel mug.
Now, for the major prizes ie first, second, and third winners for the cumulative trivia game, the prizes were more substantial (can't list them off but they sounded good!) no sweatshirts, hats or stuff like that but more like HAL trivets?
I too am sad to see the demise of the Dam dollars. I felt that there were fewer activities onboard (26 total days on board) than previous ships.

[happyglobetrotter]

Nowadays, the big thing is to travel light. How many sweatshirts, beach towels, etc. do people want to tug home and pay extra weight. I see that the person who had won all these prizes also shipped them home.

Nothing prevents people to still go and play games, dam dollars or not !

Most people only go for the $ and do not even socialize with others. Not sure it shoud be continued.

[sharks48]

We were on the Noordam in March. The prizes for trivia consisted of keychains, mugs, etc. But on the last few days, the prizes had "escalated" to Dam beach towels, sweatshirts and those rolling "suitcases".

[bermuda triangle]

So what will they give out for contest winners?

We won trivia once and also the scavenger hunt. Prizes were plastic water bottles and veendam (V dam) mugs. At another trivia event the prize was luggage tags.
I too miss the Passport to Fitness. That was a lot of fun! Dam Dollars events were fun too. Now the push seems to be for paid excercise classes, paid bar events, paid cooking classes..anyone else seeing a trend here?
Laura

[CruiseRev]

No Dam Dollars on Oosterdam in May repositioning to Vancouver. I missed getting one Dam Dollar for walking a mile around the ship and two for missing a putt. Now we know why there are more pro golfers than pro runners.
On the bright side I did win a dam hat at the chipping contest by the pool.
Sorry to see the Dam Dollars go. Enjoyed watching a little kid try to decide how to spend his 50+ last summer while I had one choice for my 5.

[franksandy]

We were on a 14 day cruise...lots of sea days and Trivia days...We were on a winning team. LOL X 2 of us....Also Matt the CD was trying to get rid of old stock so they can start a new program of prizes. We did everything...Even recieved some special awards like certificates for swimming the canal.

[G&G]

No more DAM DOLLARS ! Why ?

It called the new Mariner Awards Program (one to five stars) that includes free laundry, discounts on wine, discounts at Speciality Restaurants, etc, etc, etc

[Juanita462]

Just off the Zaandam - very few sporting events but at least 2 trivias a day. The prizes for winning twice at trivia? lapel pins - for winning the library quiz? lapel pin. they occasionally brought in better prizes - seemed to be getting rid of stock items.

We really miss the fun and camaraderie of the games and sports activities. With 10 days at sea there really wasn't a lot to do.

[lisastevo]

Hi all. I see there is lots of debate on this subject. Regardless of that I am a cast member on the Zuiderdam and we are currently having a crew scavenger hunt and need to hand in a Dam Dollar. As you are all aware this scheme doesn't exsist anymore so we are having trouble finding 1. If anyone has one that could be scanned or even sent to us (I would pay postage) please if anyone can help that would be amazing. Thank you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hi all. I see there is lots of debate on this subject. Regardless of that I am a cast member on the Zuiderdam and we are currently having a crew scavenger hunt and need to hand in a Dam Dollar. As you are all aware this scheme doesn't exsist anymore so we are having trouble finding 1. If anyone has one that could be scanned or even sent to us (I would pay postage) please if anyone can help that would be amazing. Thank you.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Wish I had one to send to you -- but got rid of mine over 2 years ago.

[scottjeanne]

I have some, where would you like it to go?

Jeanne
sjn612@comcast.net

[Max2003]

Hi all. I see there is lots of debate on this subject. Regardless of that I am a cast member on the Zuiderdam and we are currently having a crew scavenger hunt and need to hand in a Dam Dollar. As you are all aware this scheme doesn't exsist anymore so we are having trouble finding 1. If anyone has one that could be scanned or even sent to us (I would pay postage) please if anyone can help that would be amazing. Thank you.


I have a scan but I have not figured out how to copy it to this reply. If you will give me your e-mail address I will send the scan to you.

[lisastevo]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for getting back to me. I will indox message you with my email address. Thank you once again for all your help.

Regards

Lisa

[lisastevo]

I have a scan but I have not figured out how to copy it to this reply. If you will give me your e-mail address I will send the scan to you.

Hi. Thank you. I'm new to the forum so I was guessing I would be able to message you but I don't believe I can so my email address is lisajoanne88@hotmail.com. Thank you once again. Regards, Lisa

[scottjeanne]

lisastevo:

I have sent the scanned "dollars" to you. Let me know if you do not receive them.

Jeanne