BAD NEWS For the Holland America Board

[Host Walt]

There were 6 Boards that were so messed up by OpenTopic that most of the data base could not be imported into these new Boards. The HAL Board was one of them. There was nothing that could be done.

If you have any specific threads that you want copied over there is a way to do that but it will be sloppy and will not have any of the normal features.

The good news is that the ROLL CALL board was transferred with 3 months of history.

[Globaliser]

But the good members here will make a better board from scratch in no time at all! :)

[CruisinMatt]

Thanks Walt!

[Orcrone]

Let me guess. Couldn't import any threads having to do with dress code (I hope).

[sail7seas]

No threads at all will be rescued?

[Host Walt]

No threads at all will be rescued?

Very few. What you see now is what was rescued. That's it.

Let me know if you have any that you want brought over and I'll try the "sloppy" procedure if I can. Otherwise the old boards will remain available until the 4rh of July, then they'll vanish.

Unfortunately the malfunctioning search engine on the old OpenTopic boards messed up the HAL boards to the point where the data integrity was too corrupted to permit very many imported threads.

[sail7seas]

Thanks, Walt.

We'll just have to "start all over again"......

So, if we start another dress code thread, it'll seem like it's for the first time? :)

[Tatka]

Happy!

[777steve]

Okay - I think this loss is (overall) good news!

On the down side::eek:

The old data is lost
Some good information brought by infrequent or one time posters may be a long time returning
On the plus side::D

The old wars are now history
We have a clean slate and a chance to have a beautifully self-managed community - civil, kind and generous
We have a new house - we can leave the old garbage behind!
The board itself is very nice .. although I have to say I hope we have less of the pops and banners to distract.
It will be fun to watch the the re-growth after having the earth turned so decisively here in the HAL neighborhood!

Cheers!

[Orcrone]

It's true that some good information was lost. But with no search function it was almost impossible to find it. As I see it we're no worse off than before.

[dst]

well starting over is not so bad. Kind of like dating, you keep trying til you find the right one :)

Should I start the thread on what to wear????

[Orcrone]

well starting over is not so bad. Kind of like dating, you keep trying til you find the right one :)

Should I start the thread on what to wear????NO!!!!!:eek:

Please, let's go one day without any "what to wear" threads.

[dst]

Orcone: just wanted to see your response. I think we shoudl ban all threads regarding "what to wear" :)

[sail7seas]

Then whaddawegonna talk about?

[dst]

hmmm, how the elevators work on the ships, what movies are playing, food, etc.

There is so much to talk about; thats why I am on these boards so much!!!! I think I need professional help

[Orcrone]

So right DST. Plenty of other things to talk about.

What drives me crazy is the way that people jump to snap decisions about others on both sides of the argument. I've seen people call each other slobs, snobs, bores, jerks, etc. The ironic thing is that if these people met on board (as opposed to the boards) prior to a formal night they'd probably have a good time together.

I guess whatever the subject, whether it be politics or dress codes, I just don't like it when people get too far to one extreme or the other. It's a vacation. You may not agree with what your neighbor is doing, but try to enjoy yourself anyway. It could be worse. You could be at work.

[dst]

Very good point. Can you imagine if all people where alike, thought the same way, had the same religion, ate the same food, dressed the same way......how boring life would be. Personally I liek the differences in opinions, I may actually learn something from someone else :)

All and all I love these boards and wish we could take over one ship for all the cc people -
what a time that woudl be!

[Cruising Illini]

Sail-7-Seas!! On the old board I had asked you if you were on the 2-week veendam
from Tampa in January? We will be there with 6 other friends. I believe you mentioned that you take a suite and we do also so will see you in the Neptune if you are on that trip. Cruising Illini

[sail7seas]

Cruising Illini........I saw your question on the old Board and I think I posted an answer somewhere here on the new board but have no idea where!!

We are booked for the 12 day Tampa to Tampa in our customary "S" but this time we are not midship port.....as we ALways are. We were very lucky to get a suite at all as I guess they are now sold out.

We debated about your cruise and almost booked it but we realized our HAL friends who are on Veendam will be on vacation then but are scheduled to return by the time for our cruise. We really want to see them and that is the main reason we chose our itinerary....as well as St. Thomas and HMC that I do not think are included on your itinerary. But your itinerary is a great one...and we would gladly do that another time.

I wish we were on your cruise as I would have enjoyed meeting you and your group.

Hope you have a great time....I know we plan to, as usual. Veendam is a great ship and while it has been a while since we cruised on her, we had some wonderful cruises on Veendam through the years.

[jollycruiser]

Board is gone, how convienent for HAL since the last few months of talk have been in general negative toward all the changes at HAL. Maybe this new board is part of their "Signature of Excellence Program".

[pollux]

Help....I am lost.

[BigDave]

Are cutoff Speedo’s and nipple rings considered acceptable attire on informal nights?
:eek:
;)
:D

[a1moty]

dst:
you mentioned that we can and probably should talk about movies on this board ---We are first timer cruisers--and are sailing on the Zaandam July 24th. Are the movies 'new first run' or are they 'right before the $1.00 Theater first run'??
I can't imagine chosing a movie over the Alaskan scenery--but it could happen I suppose. Anyway, I was just wondering if I should hold off seeing "The Notebook"~~ just in case!!
Thanks to everyone making these boards so informational, educational and fun!! a1moty

[Cruising Illini]

Thanks for the quick reply!! Sorry we won't see you but this is easy for us since we are just one hour from Tampa. Next trip will be the last Canada of the season -- Oct from Montreal to Norfolk on the Maasdam and that will be nice after all of our hot weather in FL. Have done Canada 3 times but this has some new ports for us and believe we have about 14 friends total on board with us.
The Veendam is still great and think all of the new things will be added by Jan. We had the good bedding, etc. on the Amsterdam to Alaska and very nice and also no change in service, etc. It would be hard for us to change lines -- have done Crystal a couple of times but quite a price difference!! Canada will be # 24 HAL for us but with so many ships haven't seen as many familiar faces on the staff as in the old days.
The new boards look very slick and easy to use -- hope we get a good group contributing. Cruising Illini and Georgia Bulldog

[joeinwpb]

Orcrone
You got a good point. Losing those dress code things would definitely be a blessing.

[dst]

Hi, no I am sorry we are on the Zuiderdam July 24th, heading to the Caribbean! They always have 1st run movies but I am not sure how you find out what movies are playing......you could call HAL the week before your cruise and they could probably tell you.

Enjoy your cruise

[jbhcw]

This is kinda strange, booked our first HAL cruise Wednesday, and they can't retrieve stuff from the old board! We're sailing the Maasdam out of Norfolk Nov of '05. I was looking forward to checking out the HAL Board a lot. What's the deal with the what to wear thread. I thought we just discussed that on the Carnival Board!

[joeinwpb]

Wrong! You haven't discussed clothes yet until you hear/see one of the HAL threads :o

[dbcecil]

Looks like some of the recent threads on Roll Call for HAL were also lost. Oh well. Give it a day our two and things will fill in to the point that it is hard to find things again.

[Cruising Illini]

[QUOTE=a1moty]dst:
you mentioned that we can and probably should talk about movies on this board ---We are first timer cruisers--and are sailing on the Zaandam July 24th. Are the movies 'new first run' or are they 'right before the $1.00 Theater first run'??..."
Most of the time they are the age of those JUST appearing in video stores so definitely not first run. As you have probably noted, the Vista class ships do not have a true movie theater and much disappointment with others over this. We have not seen the Vista design for them but really do enjoy the theaters on the older Statendam and Rotterdam type ships. Expecially love the free popcorn!! The suites and mini-suites have VCR's and a good library to pick from. Also the ship's TV has a couple of movie channels playing a good selection for the entire ship.

[GrammyPL]

I am just trying to see if I have this thing working right. I have AOL and hope this works. Penny

[RevNeal]

I go away for 5 days and come back and find out I've been robbed ...
of more than a thousand post-counts, for one thing.

and, I see my clock and my photolinks don't work, either.

GRRRR :(

[Orcrone]

I go away for 5 days and come back and find out I've been robbed ...
of more than a thousand post-counts, for one thing.

and, I see my clock and my photolinks don't work, either.

GRRRR :(Rev,

See what happens when you turn your back.:rolleyes: ;)

There's another thread about retrieving the countdown clock. I, and many others, have ours going. If you don't see it, it's because your setting don't allow it to be shown.

[RevNeal]

Thanks a bunch for the heads up ... I found the controls to allow me to see the signatures, etc. Everything works. :) Still not happy with the loss of about a thousand posts in my counter :eek: but there's nothing to be done about that. It does frustrate me that, in one sweep I'm wiped down to where I was in March of 2003. :rolleyes: By the time I'm caught back up they'll probably do something else to wipe out my post count.

[Host Walt]

Thanks a bunch for the heads up ... I found the controls to allow me to see the signatures, etc. Everything works. :) Still not happy with the loss of about a thousand posts in my counter :eek: but there's nothing to be done about that. It does frustrate me that, in one sweep I'm wiped down to where I was in March of 2003. :rolleyes: By the time I'm caught back up they'll probably do something else to wipe out my post count.

And I went from 3000 to under 200.

However, back in 2000 when we switched from AOL to OpenTopic everyone started with zero, zip, nada. No posts were imported from AOL.

[RevNeal]

And I went from 3000 to under 200.

However, back in 2000 when we switched from AOL to OpenTopic everyone started with zero, zip, nada. No posts were imported from AOL.

In other words ... stop whining and get to posting. Yeah, I read ya. ;) :rolleyes: :cool:

[Sinbad37]

;) Walt, Thanks so much for the info today. It has taken two days to get past the AOL problem, but hope this post works!

Ginny & Ed

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

Sorry to hear about the database vs. discussion board transport troubles. From what I have experienced with other discussion groups that upgrade software this seems to be the "one step forward, two steps back" method. Hopefully, the full fuctionality of the board will appear in the near future.

George

[sassycruiser]

Maybe we could have the badly behaved children or the chair hog threads started up again.

[tomc]

I'd like to start a post about those badly-behaved children who don't keep to the dress code on formal nights and smoke while hogging chairs, all the while complaining that they will never sail HAL again because of the change in the tipping policy and how bad it's become since Carnivore bought the line.

Did I cover all the bases?

[HeatherInFlorida]

As for me, I love starting over. Wish I could start from scratch with everything!!! :)

[Host Walt]

As for me, I love starting over. Wish I could start from scratch with everything!!! :)That's one of the reasons I use to justify buying a new computer. :)

[gizmo]

tomc,

I think you got all the bases covered. LOL
Thanks for making me smile!

[ejbmorr]

I'd like to start a post about those badly-behaved children who don't keep to the dress code on formal nights and smoke while hogging chairs, all the while complaining that they will never sail HAL again because of the change in the tipping policy and how bad it's become since Carnivore bought the line.

Did I cover all the bases?

You've made my day! I had stopped reading the HAL board after deciding that life was too short to read through all the cranky threads to find one that was of interest. You have found a tongue-in-cheek way to kindly address those who had been so prolific in their complaints. May this new start provide a happier place for all of the contented HAL folks who have enjoyed these fine ships over the years.

[Lois R]

Good morning:) I know a few of you from other forums...Joe..hi...still wish you could meet us tomorrow!

Tatka...hello there!

And Hi Walt:)

I am still deciding if I am going to take my first cruise on HAL in September....so the dress code topic is on every board;) :eek: ...I love to dress up and always say please and thank you too:D .....

[joeinwpb]

Hi Lois - Welcome aboard the HAL forum.

What ship were you thinking of, in the Hal fleet? Oosterdam? Zuiderdam?

[Lois R]

hi Joe...Zuiderdam week of 9-11......will be speaking with my TA again this morning:)

[Host Walt]

I've removed the "stick" on this thread. It will now be a regular thread.