How Often Do You Visit the Cruise Critic's HAL Message Board?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi, I thought this would be fun since we are all getting aquainted with the New Message Board. I know for myself and my husband the HAL CC Message Board has become a part of our lives. We often speak at dinner about what we read on the HAL Board for the day. The other part of our conversation is about planning of up coming cruises. Yes, when we take on a new hobby we kinda become fanatic about it.:p

[Aussie Gal]

I visit it usually a few times a day. Once before breakfast, usually some time during the day and then before or after dinner. The best time for us really is around lunchtime as most members in the States have posted or are posting then. Of course if I have a busy day, I cannot make it to the Board.

Jennie.

[sail7seas]

Alot........

It is how I cruise between cruises. :)

[Jacqueline]

Infortinately except for s7s and a few others this isnt a very active board with a lot of info compared to Celebrity, Princess and RCI. I say this based on 4 years of postings. The summer before my Brilliance cruise we had a thread going to 11 pages. Princess and Celebrity have a lot of varying threads.
Too many HAL threads revolve around tipping and dress. Or how things are going down the tubes. Its not very exciting for a new HAL cruiser.

[sail7seas]

Please spice it up for us......(speaking only for myself) I am more than happy for some excitement here. All contributions welcome. :)

[RevNeal]

I know I'm addicted. Oh, well ... as another said, it's how I cruise between cruises. :)

Today I made my final payment on my Panama canal cruise. PRAISE GOD! :D

[ekerr19]

Well, we'll see if we can spice it up a bit...

On a HAL cruise - About 5:00 - 5:30pm, those of us with late seating begin to mosey back to the cabin from the pool. Order appetizers and shower... enjoy appetizers and cocktails on balcony in robes. About 6:30 - head to Crow's Nest or Ocean Bar - dance, eat, drink - go to diningroom.

Oh, don't forget the Crow's Nest after dinner, the place is jumping!

Can't beat this life!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Being retired we can visit these boards as often as we like. It all depends on what we have going on a particular day.

:D

[Debi_D]

I am all for ekerr19, now thats the way to have a great cruise. The only thing I would do along with that would be a nice little nap on my balcony before I start my evening:D :D

[jhannah]

It would be a rare day I didn't visit the boards ... HAL, my cruise's roll call, and the port of call threads for the places we'll visit on our next sailing. So much great information and friendly banter. (And, yes, the occasional ogres, too. ;) ) My visits help provide me a mental break from the day's events.

[Candy]

First thing in the morning at home I open a CC HAL window. It has its own window and stays minimized on my taskbar until about midnight. When I get to the office, same thing. Every time I have a few minutes I'll refresh the page.

The CC boards are occupational therapy for me between cruises.

[joeinwpb]

Infortinately except for s7s and a few others this isnt a very active board with a lot of info compared to Celebrity, Princess and RCI. I say this based on 4 years of postings. The summer before my Brilliance cruise we had a thread going to 11 pages. Princess and Celebrity have a lot of varying threads.
Too many HAL threads revolve around tipping and dress. Or how things are going down the tubes. Its not very exciting for a new HAL cruiser.

Sad to say what you say is true. These people are so very knowledgeable, and are helpful to many people, on so many subjects about cruising. It's a shame that so much time is spent on these subjects. It's unfairly hurting the image of HAL cruisers, across the boards.

ALL the cruisers I met when I sailed with HAL this spring were all wonderful, good down to earth people. None of them were of the image projected by those that rant endlessly on those subjects.

[jstducky]

i'm addicted to cruise critic in general. i keep my computer on the cruise critic message boards throughout the day when i'm at work. helps the work day go by faster!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

jstducky, I would be willing to bet you will be on even more often this next week with just a few more days to go for your Zuirderdam cruise. I know how I was the week before. Work just dragged. Hope it goes by fast for you and you enjoy your cruise.

[RevNeal]

Right now I'm just sitting at the office, skimming the board, waiting for a church member to come in for a chat about the death of his wife a few weeks back. I find myself doing this kind of thing all the time. Between appointments, meetings, and when I get burned out on working on my sermon, I pull up the CC HAL board and start surfing. :)
That ... or I start surfing HAL's site for a future cruises!!!! :)

[debblue]

i must confess i put it on first thing in the am and during luch hour and after housework and dinner i can say i am addicted but its a wonderful addiction and doesn't cost as much as a cruise

[BCEagle78]

I usually read this site after getting home from a long day of work and a nice dinner. I fire up the laptop, put the recliner in recline mode, pour a glass of red wine and read away.

[Tatka]

As a computer programmer I have a luxury to check this board often throughout the day (T-1 connections!!!) . I basically never close cruise critics page.

At home...well, my company provides wireless laptop for me and I can visit (although with much slower connections) this website even sitting next to my pool. ;)

[Keith Rita]

We post quite often on another board. This one we lurk more than post for info when we have a specific cruise booked.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi everyone, I just did a quick tally out of 88 of us that have voted 64.78% sign on to CC HAL Board 2 or more times per day:cool: I knew we had a fairly active board. Now we if could just see who the currently active members are that are on line with us.

[Beryl]

I check in here a couple of times a week. I seldom post because I have only one experience cruising on HAL and there are others more knowledgeable about HAL than I am. I love to check in and get all the latest HAL news though. Who knows when I might get the opportunity to sail on them once again.

[Rick R]

Two or three times a week for the laughs. We cruise alot but not with HAL. We plan to but have not as of yet. For laughs what I am talking about is like when a person posted about buying a bucket of beers and the reply was " NOT ON HAL!! iT IS RUDE TO DRINK BEER OUT OF A BUCKET". I still laugh about that one.:D I hope this doesn't get me kicked off the HAL board.

[tomc]

Was that mine?

[olderpilot]

Now that I am fully retired - I have even ditched some part-time activities - a lot more than I used to.

Hope to see many of you in the future - although the next cruise is on Celebrity - they made us an offer we couldn't refuse.

Jerry

[Tatka]

Now that I am fully retired - I have even ditched some part-time activities - a lot more than I used to.

Hope to see many of you in the future - although the next cruise is on Celebrity - they made us an offer we couldn't refuse.

Jerry
You won't be sorry! Celebrity is a great line.

From what I heard...overall experience is very similar to HALs (whith a little more white glove touch like champagne/OJ on embarkation, hot/cold towels in port, sherbet by the pool etc), food is comparable and sometimes better on X too.

Enjoy!

[MISSYLOU]

I didn't vote because I have just recently started back up on the HAL boards. I've been sailing Celebrity for the last couple of years. Use to post a lot on HAL boards. I am on CC daily for several hours. Pretty safe, inexpensive hobby until somebody mentions a good price on a cruise and then I run over to my TA's website to book. :D

[jazzsea]

Five or six times a day either from my laptop or my office computer.

90% of my business revolves around Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises. Although I know a great deal about these products, I learn something new almost every day from the boards.

I don't read the boards much when I am cruising as the internet pricing aboard ships is pretty high.

Don't you just love to read the posts from first time cruisers? You can hear the joy in their words and feel their anticipation.

So many wonderful replys and helpful hints.

[Navy_Chief]

Obviously, I need to be underway more so Im not bothered or around computers. Even now, I'm standing in a room with 1500 of them!

[bombero]

I'm always looking for new ways to save, ideas, comments, or warnings...

[Himself]

I go on the message boards when I want information or when I miss being at Sea. Sometimes I am just too busy to go on but I usually enjoy them.

Himself

[Lois R]

Hi, yes I am on here ALOT:D ....from work...I usually have the litte window on the bottom of the screen.....so, I pop in and out;) .
I am on here and on Celebrity...and on the Fashion Boards...Hi any gals who know me from there LOL
I have friends I have met from Cruise Critic...what a nice thing:) A few of us chat in the Floataway Lounge!

There are ALOT worse things than being addicted to CC and cruising:D

[sail7seas]

I go to the Fashion Board once in a great while and have "seen you there", Lois. That's a nice bunch of ladies over there.

[Aussie Gal]

Besides reading this Board I do spend time on the Europe and South America Ports Board. I also have a look at Princess as we were on the Tahitian last cruise and in January 2006 we will be on the Regal doing South America.

I must broaden my horizons and have a look at the fashion board.

Jennie

Jennie

[Lois R]

Hi 7:) yes, we have a good time!....there is fun and information...but I guess that is how its supposed to be everywhere on the boards:D

[lipoppop]

As a computer programmer I have a luxury to check this board often throughout the day (T-1 connections!!!) . I basically never close cruise critics page.

)

T1 and not sonet? Oops I promised never to use words like that when I retired. (joke)

[Orcrone]

Sometimes I'll be in another board within CC, or a different cruise board entirely and see some of the HAL posters over there. I then think, "wait, what are they doing over here. They're supposed to be on CC's HAL board".:D

[PSR]

Wish I could sign on at work. Our "main office" won't let us in other locations use it (don't trust us, I guess). Of course, those in the "main office" have access....Our computers are for production purposes (pharmacy) and even though sometimes we could use the internet for business purposes, we can't; have to use the phone.

Penny :(

[kryos]

I know for myself and my husband the HAL CC Message Board has become a part of our lives. We often speak at dinner about what we read on the HAL Board for the day. The other part of our conversation is about planning of up coming cruises. Yes, when we take on a new hobby we kinda become fanatic about it.:p
I work night work ... and often work solo. I usually have the cruisecritic message boards displayed on one of the monitors here in the data center and I read it throughout the shift. That's why you'll notice most of my posts are written in the wee hours of the morning. No, I'm not an insominac. :)

At home I sometimes read them on my days off ... but it's very sporadic. When I'm on the computer there, I'm usually doing either personal or school work and just don't have time to peruse the boards.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Pilot70D]

Infortinately except for s7s and a few others this isnt a very active board with a lot of info compared to Celebrity, Princess and RCI. I say this based on 4 years of postings. The summer before my Brilliance cruise we had a thread going to 11 pages. Princess and Celebrity have a lot of varying threads.
Too many HAL threads revolve around tipping and dress. Or how things are going down the tubes. Its not very exciting for a new HAL cruiser.

I will have to disagree with this one. I used CC HA board extensively before we selected the Volendam for our most recent cruise (our first on HAL). There was a wealth of info on this ship as well as the others from HA. I have a current thread running asking all CC'ers for opinions on the Maasdam and Veendam. Even though it is the Christmas season nine CC'ers have graciously taken the time to reply and have provided many insideer insights.

I in turn took the time to post a daily report live from the Volendam during our December 6th cruise. Yes, I did the "Live From The Volendam Dialy Report" mostly for my own entertainment I also wanted to share the fun and information about this cruise however. Over 500 people viewed this thread and many posted responses or questions.

The point is that this IS one of the friendliest boards on CC. It IS populated by friendly and helpful HAL cruisers so sit back, read, learn and enjoy.

Everyone have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[gene624]

Yes, Celebrity is great but so is HAL. The Rotterdam staterooms are very nice, spacious. And the S suites are superb, Celebrity has the advantage of a little fancier welcome, butler service in SKY suites. Both have balconies available -- (a must have) both have good dining. I have given up on Royal Caribbean after a disatrous trip recently.

I have never been on a cruise I did not like -- except that the disembarking is often a hate-provoking experience. Seawind and Celebrity were best in that category.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I'm wondering if I've ever before seen a thread get resurrected from August to December!!! This is amazing.

I agree with Pilot as everyone knows. I got a lot more really good and helpful information from the HAL boards this year planning my Oosterdam cruise than I was every able to get from the Celebrity boards last year for the Millennium. So now this is my "board of choice":D .

However, the Celebrity Roll Call boards tend to do better than HAL for some reason.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Heather, I actually started this thread June 26th:eek: It just goes to show that there are a whole lot of us CC Board fanatics out there:)

I agree that this is a great board with a great group of cruisers that are more than helpful in planning a cruise and getting much needed quick info.

I am also confused why HAL Roll Card boards do not do that well, but I do have a couple of thoughts on the subject. I think because the demographics of the normal HAL cruiser tend to be in the 60 plus age group there are a lot less of them that are active computer users. I also seen that it because slightly less active when we switched to this new format of the boards I think those that are not that familiar with the internet find it a bit harder to navigate because they have to look to find things more. On the old format there was a link that just took you to the Roll Call Board and Vise Versa. Now you can still do that but it takes a little more looking.

[HeatherInFlorida]

.......I think because the demographics of the normal HAL cruiser tend to be in the 60 plus age group there are a lot less of them that are active computer users. I also seen that it because slightly less active when we switched to this new format of the boards I think those that are not that familiar with the internet find it a bit harder to navigate because they have to look to find things more. On the old format there was a link that just took you to the Roll Call Board and Vise Versa. Now you can still do that but it takes a little more looking.Lisa! Bite your tongue!!! Please see my red highlighted areas of your post. We had a big tadoo on another thread about this very thing.

There are statistics that are showing that vast numbers of people over 60 are not only using the internet, but are pretty darned computer savvy. First of all, many of us worked with computers in business. I think I started using computers sometime in the early '80's. So 60 year olds were 40 when computers became a part of office life. Seniors have a lot more time on their hands and the internet has provided them a vast new world. It got pretty colorful on the other thread because us "oldies" got pretty hot under the collar;) . Not me, of course ... I never get upset:o .

Seriously, some have said the Celebrity Roll Calls are better because of "Celebrity Connections". Maybe somehow by sort of "endorsing" the whole roll call idea, people are more apt to sign up. We've already got a nice roll call going for our October 2005 cruise. I think that's amazing.

[Slinkiecat]

...
There are statistics that are showing that vast numbers of people over 60 are not only using the internet, but are pretty darned computer savvy.

...Seriously, some have said the Celebrity Roll Calls are better because of "Celebrity Connections". Maybe somehow by sort of "endorsing" the whole roll call idea, people are more apt to sign up. ...
Hi, Heather. You made a couple of good points there. I'm one of those seniors who manages to get around the Internet well enough now - In fact, I found my current husband via the net three years ago after being widowed at age 61.

I noticed the success of Celebrity's Roll Calls and looked for a HAL Connections as well. There was none, and when I searched for a roll call for our world cruise it was buried several pages back with only a few replies. That cruise is less than three weeks away.

Slinkie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Heather, I think this is the one time we disagree. I know of many cruisers that go to our church, several HAL cruisers and some Crystal but none the less I have spoke to them about the CC board and several have computers but none of them want to attempt a chat board. Just Friday night at Christmas Eve service I had a nice chat with a lady who cruises a lot. She and her DH are in their 70's. I was telling her about the CC board and she said they so seldom turn their computer on and she would never remember how to find the web site. On our last cruise our table of 8 consisted of 2 couples in thier early 80's and one couple in their early 60's and Tom and I (early 50's) None of our table mates had ever heard of Cruise Critics and I could tell actually had no desire. This is not to say they were not highly intelligent actually just the opposite. The 2 couples in their 80's were extremely fasinating. We talked for hours with them. All of them had computers but just did not spend that much time on the computer.

I just think that those that are over 60 or should I say over 70 are more than capable to operate computers I just think they choose not to. I think that those that are active on the CC board are in the smaller percentage. I agree that many can be computer savvy but are not because they do not use the computer as often as those of us that are addicted:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

No biggie to disagree on this, Lisa, but we do. I feel that being barely over 60 qualifies me a little bit. I think I was speaking more about people in the 60 to 70 range because that is who I know. I can't talk about over 70 although I will say I certainly email with some folks over 70 who I've met on cruises. But as to whether they'd come onto a cruiseboard is whole other story.

I've been on a home PC since 1985 and never even knew CC boards existed until 2003 sooooo.... sometimes it's just not knowing what it's all about. But a lot of posters on here are over 60.

If I remembered where that other thread was, I'd provide a link because someone on there had specifics stats about this and it was really interesting to read what he had to say.

[DFD1]

Rick R's comments about buckets of beer "NOT ON HAL" reminded me to tell you about the sign sitting on the end of the Dolphin Bar on our recent Volendam cruise. It said...
"BUCKETS OF BEER $12.00" No kidding. First time we had seen it on HAL.

Times, they are a' changin'.

[joramrose]

In a few months I will be 80 == and I have been an active user of the computer since early 70's.

Not a geek, by any means, but I can operate one and find my way around.
Many of my friends now retired are avid computer users.

Now, why do more Celebrity sailors use the boards than HAL? I wish I knew. I just cannot seem to get much interest worked up in my Amsterdam cruise coming up in late March. On the other hand, I have met lots of people prior to my Celebrity cruises, and have had a great deal of fun on board with CCers.

For one thing, I think those who post on Celebrity are much freer, lighter-hearted. Much of their postings are inconsequential, but they have fun. Don't see a lot of that on HAL boards. I don't think that is all a matter of age. Maybe it just got started. Things have a way of snowballing, once several jump in.

Anyway, I just don't like to see us generalize or categorize by age. Age is a state of mind, not how many pages have fallen off the calendar.

love
joan

[HeatherInFlorida]

.......
Anyway, I just don't like to see us generalize or categorize by age. Age is a state of mind, not how many pages have fallen off the calendar.

love
joan
Ditto, Joan! I'm with you;) They'll all find out one day. Too soon.

[Aussie Gal]

When we sailed on the Prinsendam in October, I was the only one sailing from these boards and yet the ship was full.

In March we went on the Tahitian Princess and we had a fantastic roll call. It went for pages and by the time we boarded we were old friends. I still keep in touch with quite of few of those C.C. members.

I wonder if we HAL members are more restrained and not as outgoing as the members on the other boards. We have a small Roll Call for our July Transatlantic trip but no-one really posts very much at all, not like the roll calls on the other boards.

With regard to computer skills, I know with my own friends, that the ones who have been in the work force are computer literate but the ones who have been home for years have no idea of working a computer. I am in my early 60's so that computers are a relatively new invention for our age group!!

Jennie.

Jennie.

[HeatherInFlorida]

But, Jennie, I'm in my early 60's too and computers were making their start in the workforce in the early 80's! They've changed a lot, but because I did work with them, they certainly don't scare me. Wouldn't you agree?

So I guess what I'm saying is that I think most people in our age group, at least, certainly are online. So I don't think it's age that stops people on the HAL roll call boards as much as something else (and I don't know what that is):o Maybe it's what you're saying ... that the average HAL passenger is a bit more reserved and not so outgoing as to post on a roll call board. Makes sense.

[Aussie Gal]

Heather,

Computers may have been in the work force in the early 80's in the U.S. but here in Oz they were really only coming in around the late 80's and the internet really did not get going here until the mid 90's. By then most of my friends were well out of the workforce.

I was the opposite, I did not work for over 20 years while my children were growing up but went back to work (for something to do!) when our daughter got married in 1989. I was unusual as all of my friends were at home and did not work.

I was lucky enough to start work when the computers were being installed in our office, so learnt with the rest of the young ones. I stayed another 15 years and only retired in September. I know very few people here in Oz in my age group, that are computer savvy.

Jennie

[shipcafe]

Hi, I thought this would be fun since we are all getting aquainted with the New Message Board. I know for myself and my husband the HAL CC Message Board has become a part of our lives. We often speak at dinner about what we read on the HAL Board for the day. The other part of our conversation is about planning of up coming cruises. Yes, when we take on a new hobby we kinda become fanatic about it.:p

More than I care to admit! :)

[kryos]

More than I care to admit! :)
LOL ... I've been living on these boards lately. I bring up the website as soon as I get to work, and have it up all night long where I peruse the threads as I have the time.

Of course, I think the amount of time I spend on Cruisecritics is directly correlated to how soon I have a cruise scheduled. If I've got nothing booked for a while, then I tend to not be on the board that much. As the cruise gets closer and closer, though ... I spend (or should I say waste?) :) more time than I care to admit on these boards.

Maybe if I'd spent less time on these boards last spring, I'd have passed the bar exam? :) But, hell ... I had much more fun here with a great bunch of people, so I could always retake my exam. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[HeatherInFlorida]

Rita, you know what I've decided? When all is said and done, when you have some moments to spare in this world, it really should be about having fun. There's plenty of time for the rest.:)

[bepsf]

I was going through withdrawl on my vacation to Palm Springs...

I kept wanting to check the boards - but I had to push myself not to in order to limit my time on the computer and spend more time visiting w/ family and friends.

It was really tough to stay away w/ all the rain we had there last week...
(sigh)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Uh oh, Brian, you've got it bad!! Join the club:D I'm not quite there yet. When I'm away visiting, I don't even think about the CC boards.

[marp109]

Thanks for making me feel better. I thought I was developing a problem with checking AM & PM when we aren't leaving until Sept.! We woke up to -11 degrees and have a foot of snow on the ground and dreaming about the cruise is keeping me sane. Plus, it's so much fun living vicariously through others reports of good times. I've already sent this link to 2 other friends who are going on different trips.

[smidge]

I'm just new to these boards but I enjoy reading them. I've never cruised with HAL before but will be going for the first time Volendam Mar. 20. We've been on Celebrity (fantastic) and Carnival (it was still a holiday;) and I love kids but image being on a boat 3400 pax, 1500 of whom are children) The only thing that is making me a little nervous is all this talk about sick ships. Does HAL really have a worse problem with this than other lines? :confused:

[sandij]

My husband says I enjoy the couple months before our annual cruise as much as the cruise because the the cc lines. I wouldn't go that far but it does add to the excitement of the big day just counting it down with fellow cruisers and of course there is the convenience of being able to ask any questions and someone will know the answer.

[jhannah]

The only thing that is making me a little nervous is all this talk about sick ships. Does HAL really have a worse problem with this than other lines? :confused:
No, they don't. If you check other boards you will see the same problem crop up from time to time. The norovirus is common to schools and nursing homes as well ... any place where people are in close proximity to one another in an enclosed environment. We've been very fortunate to never get sick on a ship. Your chances of becoming ill are statistically slim. (Although statistics don't matter if you're ill.) Enjoy your cruise.