Will the SOE Enhancements affect your future reservations?

[bepsf]

Now that we've seen the pictures of the changes to the Ryndam and are receiving word of the initial rollout schedule, I'm wondering if this will affect plans for future cruises.

- ie: Will you make a point to book on ships that have the SOE enhancements, will you avoid them as long as possible - or does it not really matter?

[Esme]

We couldn't care less, just as long as we are on a HAL ship - 2 booked and another to be booked when we are on our cruise in January.

[jhannah]

Doesn't matter to me. While I look forward to the enhancements, they would not delay my going on a cruise if the ship sailed the itinerary I wanted.

[RuthC]

I'm already booked, so it doesn't matter. But, if truth be told, I'm hoping the SOE hasn't reached the Maasdam when I cruise next July. I've never sailed that ship and I'd like to see her as she has been. There'll be plenty of time to try the "new and improved" SOE later.

[SHayesShip]

I am booked on the Volendam for April 05 and the Oosterdam Nov 05. The SOE enhancements are not critical for me, however the idea of new comfortable mattresses is definitely a plus. Some of the other items are a nice touch but not a "deal breaker" one way or the other for me.

Steve Hayes

[LAFFNVEGAS]

It really does not matter to me either as long as I am cruising. Fortuately our next cruise is on the Ryndam which will be exciting but since it is my first S Class ship I cannot compare what really got changed other than bedding and new flat TV screens. Now the next after that will be Westerdam whcih I am sure has quite a bit of SOE already in place being the newest ship. Then in July is the Maasdam which will not have gone thru SOE when we board her in July so we will finally get to see a true original S Class, then Ocotober we are back to my favorite Oosterdam. Not sure if she will be completed by next October or not but I liked her the way she was in May:p

[Ziggy7]

I just wanna cruise HAL hehehehe, I'll eventually get to experience SOE completed :)

[sail7seas]

Doesn't matter much to us.


I hate to have "MY" :) Maasdam disturbed. I think her great just the way she is. But, I suppose it is called progress and improvement and the living room concept is getting interesting to me. We shall see.........

Either way, it will not 'make' our cruise nor break it.

We are eager to return to "MY" Maasdam in June for b-to-b's. Seems I'll get to sail her one more time (at least) before she is changed.

[gizmo]

I don't care one way or the other. It would not be a deciding factor for me when choosing a ship. Now, Mr. Gizmo might have a different opinion since would love those new TV's.

[Pudgesmom]

If I were booking for my family now, I would book for a ship with the enhancements. My kids are 15 and 16, and while they usually think the activities for children are bogus, they would LOVE the adult free zone. HAL got it right; a safe place for kids to congregate without their parents.

If I were booking without the kids, I would probably choose more on itinerary and price than enhancements.

Beth

[cruisinjudy]

We are already booked on Ryndam, And Veendam will not be SOE yet when we cruise on it.

[cruisinjudy]

Oops!

[Celestia]

I'd just as soon they didn't add most of the 'enhancements' myself.

Yes, the new beds are nice.

I don't care about robes, makeup mirrors, etc in the rooms. If I wanted these things, I'd bring my own. The robe in my room last month was dirty (stained and flyspecked!) and I asked the steward to remove them. He had very selective hearing when it came to requests, however, so it hung there, stained, for two weeks. We really could have put the space it used to better use. Makeup mirror was just in our way all the time to use the desktop for writing.

Another reason I'm very saddened to hear of any changes to the current library. Nicest library/reading room/writing room I've found on a ship. My cruise partner spends hours daily playing duplicate bridge, so for us, changes to this area will NOT be in HAL's favor. We like a lot of sea days and our days revolve around this area of the ship.

I'm not in favor of any more 'extra fee' options at all, one reason I cruise is because it's basically all paid for before I board. I do not like to spend my vacation being concerned about how much in additional charges I'm running up here there and everywhere to get coffee without having to go up to Lido or wait for cold coffee via room service. Have no use for extra fee-type restaurants, wine tastings, etc.

Couldn't care less about the TVs. On Statendam last month ours was broken (bad video, audio adequate) and it didn't matter to us, they could remove the thing entirely for all I care (don't own one at home either!).

Guess I'm an old-fashioned, classic cruiser. I want formal nights (dress code enforced, please!), no 'freestyle' anything, no rockclimbing or water slides, the attentive service HAL was known for, and no one under 18 on the ship, myself, so with the coming of SOE, I'll be looking at alternative lines.

I'm more than a bit sad I won't be on Statendam once more before the changes. I don't think I'd even want to go on her again once they've spoiled her.

FW&FS,

C

[dakrewser]

I'd just as soon they didn't add most of the 'enhancements' myself.
I'll agree, most aren't really improvements but good things are being lost to make way for them.

I don't care about robes, makeup mirrors, etc in the rooms. If I wanted these things, I'd bring my own. The robe in my room last month was dirty (stained and flyspecked!) and I asked the steward to remove them. He had very selective hearing when it came to requests, however, so it hung there, stained, for two weeks. We really could have put the space it used to better use.
I would have tossed them out in the hallway. If they'd returned, I would have spoken to the chief housekeeper - or dumped them in that person's office.

[localady]

If I were booking for my family now, I would book for a ship with the enhancements. My kids are 15 and 16, and while they usually think the activities for children are bogus, they would LOVE the adult free zone. HAL got it right; a safe place for kids to congregate without their parents.

If I were booking without the kids, I would probably choose more on itinerary and price than enhancements.

Beth
That is my dilemma at present. Decided to throw both options out to the entire family and let them make the decision. My inner voice knows we all are going to have a better cruise if I know the kids, age 13 and 17, are well occupied, having fun and staying out of trouble!:eek: :cool: