What Would you Like to see Happen?

[ekerr19]

If HAL were making changes, what would you like to see most?

Adults Only cruises?
Non-Smoking Cruises?
Themed Cruises?
Singles Only?

Any suggestions?

[Spot]

I have read that there are guest speakers onboard longer cruises but what about having someone onboard for 7 day cruises?

I would love to be able to vacation most of the time but get some CEU's too and use part of the cruise as a tax break :).

There is plenty to talk about concerning flora and fauna, weather patterns, oceanography, etc even in the caribbean.

[Orcrone]

If HAL were making changes, what would you like to see most?

Adults Only cruises?
Non-Smoking Cruises?
Themed Cruises?
Singles Only?

Any suggestions?Good question.

I wouldn't mind Adults Only cruises, but since I have the option of travelling while school is in session, that's not really necessary.

Themed cruises - not really into any themes I could think of.

Singles only - DW might have something to say about that (like divorce):eek:

Non-smoking Cruises - I'M THERE!!!!!!!!

[CrabbyHarper]

I sure hope HAL reads these boards. I, for one, would go for an adults-only cruise. Celebrity has tried that - and as I read the latest Captain's Club publication I see that only one cruise is listed as adults only for 2005. So maybe it wasn't such a popular option.

And I'd love to be able to cruise from Baltimore. I note no HAL cruises from Baltimore for 2005. I think Celebrity is not using Baltimore either for 2005.

The ideal cruise would leave from Baltimore, have no kids, transit the Panama Canal, double the Horn, visit the Mediterranean, in two weeks and cost about $2000 each for a nice suite! Oh in my dreams! There would also be great live music, wonderful food, impeccable service, friendly staff and a visit to HMC.....Well at least the latter part of this paragraph is well within grasp - I hope on my next cruise on Nov 9 on the Maasdam!

[peaches from georgia]

1. Adult Only cruises during vacation and holiday periods. Surely HAL has enough empty-nesters and retirees cruising their ships already to make this a viable option.

2. More interesting opportunites other than shopping talks on all cruises: lecturer/cultural series on ports, culinary events, etc.

3. More ships round trip from Tampa and try a few from Jacksonville, FL.

4. NO to theme cruises other than Big Band/Jazz cruises possibly.

[sail7seas]

My personal preference would be none of those on the list. I don't mind having children on cruises; a don't much care about theme cruises, it (for the most part) doesn't bother me for smokers to have a cigarette....especially if they are in the smoking section; and I'm married so singles cruises would not be attractive for me.

It is a fun question, though, and it will be interesting to see others' responses. Thanks for posting it.

[jhannah]

While there would be many takers for any of your noted options, I seriously doubt they could fill up a ship. None of these options would appeal to me in particular. I would enjoy more educational sessions, especially on sea days.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Would love to have speakers on 7 day Caribbean cruises - especially on sea days.

[Lisa63]

I would also enjoy more enrichment lectures. On our Canada/New England cruise on Maasdam, one of the entertainers -- who was also a historian -- gave a lecture on the European settlements of Canada from 350 BCE through the mid-1700s. I believe it was called "New England, New France, New Worlds." It was well-attended, and most appropriate as we were in the area.

[Tatka]

I'd like to have Hurricane-free cruises all year long...

On serious not I'd like for HAL to cruise to Bermuda from Boston. I really don't want to cruise on NCL Majesty ( most of the cabins are 108 sq. ft!!! and service is less than great) and I don't really want to travel to NY or NJ to catch Celebrity ships.

Singles cruises? Well... were do I send my DH? ;)

[kryos]

I have read that there are guest speakers onboard longer cruises but what about having someone onboard for 7 day cruises?

You know, the first week (actually ten days) of my Zuiderdam b2b, I was traveling with a friend who is a local radio and tv personality in the Chicago area. We were supposed to have been working on a book project, though not much work got done.

Anyway, this woman has this whole Ageless4Life concept that she's involved with ... exercise strategies, lifestyle concerns, healthy living, etc., etc. ... mainly for older people (she's in her 70s and probably looks and definitely is in better shape than me at 48).

She knew Dane Butcher (CD) since he was on her tv show in the past, and I told her that she should volunteer to present some free seminars onboard. Maybe it would lead to a regular "gig," since she has done lecturing for Costa lines.

This is the sort of thing that would probably go over big on 7-day cruises since there sure seemed to be a lot of people (young and old) using the spa and gym. Sadly, I wasn't one of them. :(

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

If HAL were making changes, what would you like to see most?

Adults Only cruises?
Non-Smoking Cruises?
Themed Cruises?
Singles Only?

Any suggestions?
Ummmmm ...

Cruising with the Chippendales? :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[BCEagle78]

Adults Only cruises? - Interesting idea. I would consider

Non-Smoking Cruises? - I would have strong interest in this

Themed Cruises? - Could be fun but it limits the customer base for any one theme. Sometimes it can work.

Singles Only? - Not single... think this one would not be consistent with the typical clientele normally on HAL cruises.

I can see with all the competition out there that some creative options could be quite popular. Maybe some options that HAL might consider will be posted here.

[Vicar]

Out of all the options listed , the only theme cruise I might be interested in would be some type of musical theme, like a jazz cruise, or something like that.

[sail7seas]

Rita....I love the idea of your friend (or someone like her) giving lectures on the subjects you mention. I think there would be excellent attendance at such a talk. Hopefully, you'll encourage her to pursue the idea through Seattle.

[Candy]

Cruise from Jacksonville, please
Texas Hold'em for DH
Lox 'n' Bagels on the Room Service Menu
The return of Dover Sole

[kryos]

Rita....I love the idea of your friend (or someone like her) giving lectures on the subjects you mention. I think there would be excellent attendance at such a talk. Hopefully, you'll encourage her to pursue the idea through Seattle.
I'm doing my best. :)

I agree ... there would be much interest in her subject matter ... at least I would think so from the numbers of people who seemed to be enjoying the gym and the spa ... many of them older.

This friend, by the way, is in her 70s ... and she no way looks it or acts it. She and her husband pursue an active physical regimen ... running, weight training, stairmaster ... the works, and I hate to say it, but she is in better physical shape than me (at age 48).

Guess there is something to say for the healthy lifestyle, huh? :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[idiebabe]

Adults Only: Sounds good to me! I'm there!
Non-Smoking: I'm a non-smoker and smoking doesn't bother me so not too much interest there.
Themed: I've been on a themed cruise and it was a lot of fun! Definite interest.

[KAN]

On cruises of 10 days or more
--More educational lectures
--Self-service Laundry facilities (cant' stand the way they wash clothes...don't want everything dried...so their service doesn't work for me and I cant' pack enough for a 10 day cruise)
--Fewer Bingo and Art Auction Announcements
--The ability to be a responsible adult and bring liquor into my cabin for my own consumption

On cruises of 7 days or less
--Fewer Bingo and Art Auction announcements
--The ability to be a responsible adult and bring liquor into my cabin for my own consumption

I went on a Cunard cruise in July and was reminded of now nice it is to be able to do my own laundry, consume my own alcohol in the cabin, hear great lectures by fantastic speakers, not hear bingo announcments every 5 minutes, see men dressed in tuxedos and ladies in ball gowns on formal nights and have fabulous ballroom dances. Many of the Cunard devotees are complaining that the QM2 has "Carnavalized" Cunard cruise line. I think Cunard has a long way to go before it's Carnavalized completely, certainly when compared to the changes that HAL has made. Cunard reminded me alot of what HAL was like when I started cruising. My how times have changed. I still cruise on HAL, but their changes have convinced me to keep my options open and try other cruise lines. I used to have 2 - 3 cruises per year booked on HAL at any given time. After November, I currently have 0 cruises booked. I'm thinking it's time to try Princess and I will be going back to Cunard again. I have enjoyed every one of my HAL cruises emmensely and up until this past July I had only sailed on HAL, so please don't take this as a rant. I'm sure I will sail HAL again, but I will sail other lines as well. I doubt HAL cares what I have to say, but it's nice that I have this forum to say it anyway.

Happy travels everyone.

KAN

[LoveLifeAtSea]

The MAIN thing that comes to mind is TO GO BACK TO THE WAY HOLLAND AMERICA STOOD OUT ... OVER AND BEYOND MOST OTHER CRUISELINES!

Changes are good as long as it is positive and NOT just cost efficient for the up and coming cruisers!

[arzz]

I'd like to hear talks about the history of cruising, the old classic ships, etc.

[imsulin]

Adult-only cruises - can I please be the first to sign up?

No "group" cruises. Got sick to death of seeing Garfield everywhere in the Zui last year.

A "real" movie theater on the Zui.

What happened to the King Crab legs?

[CanSail]

Adult only cruises - never!! I am one who enjoys seeing young children, but I am also wise enough never to book a cruise during school breaks.

"Be Kind To Children...One Day They Will Pick Your Nursing Home"

Happy Sailing To All