HAL Tattoo Policy: Any Staff Rules

Hi --

A friend flies for a major air carrier and she knows of no company rules on tattoos. Was just wondering if HAL had rules for their staff. Do you have an opinion on staff tattoos? On guest tattoos?

ZU

I'm getting my first ink for my 65th birthday, a tasteful flamingo. No I'm not kidding, a friend and I already met with the artist and have the appointment (she's getting a circle of cats)

I work for a very conservative company and they have a strict policy that forbids any visible tattoos for employees. But, I don't think that policy applies to our paying customers.

I can imagine HAL having some sort of policy regarding the staff and tattos, but not for passengers.

I would never get one, and I'm not a fan of them. But, I have more important things to worry about. ;)

I've never heard of any company that would tell a potential customer that they wouldn't take their money if they had a tattoo! You've got to be joking.

Not sure what this has to do with cruising experience or info, but it is an interesting discussion.

My company had a policy of no tat showing, so some had to wear long sleeves all the time. Things may have changed by now.

I read a statistic that 50% of Americans now have them. I know in my rural community all the young folks have them. Moms with toddlers in tow at the grocery, paying with food stamps, have them. Costs $200 per hour and up to get them. Go figure their priorities. Our strip malls are littered with tat parlors, next to payday loan offices and pawn shops. Maybe that is why the cruise lines have to reduce prices to get bookings - the youngsters are getting tats instead of cruising = the new economy.

But I don't judge. Each generation has its fads. My generation got a discreet butterfly on the shoulder or butt. Now it seems the more the better.

Doesn't bother me if a server on HAL has a tat or not - I just care that they do their job and make my cruise a great experience.

I don't think HAL has any tattoo rules for passengers. For their staff - that's up to HAL to issue a company policy. I don't particularly like major body tattoos (whole arms, etc.) but it's not for me to judge those who have them.

I do object to major body piercing. It is something I just can't get past. Years ago I left my regular appointments at a lovely hair salon because the "hair wash" girl had so many piercing on her nose and lips I just could not look at her any longer. After the fact I was asked by the salon owner if that influenced my decision to change salons and I was honest and said yes.

I saw one of the middle management officers on board VEENDAM on afternoon in Hamilton. Hot as Hades and asked what on earth he was wearing full uniform winter blues. 'Body art' on his arms. Could not wear short sleeves... so his is stuck with blue jacket.

Have cruised with my best friend on HAL and she has an elaborate peacock tattoo on her back that starts at her shoulder than cascades down her back to somewhere below her bikini line. There is a dragon intertwined in the peacock's tail with pictures of friends and family, flowers, etc. Except for the crew drooling over her tat (she also has a stunning body and yes, there is jealousy) when she sunned by the pool, there were no issues from any HAL employee. Tat on - these not on my radar but enjoy yours!

Interesting. We did a Bermuda cruise on the Veendam a couple of years ago and the "party planner" (I forget the exact title but she was such a peach...loved her) had a small anchor tatoo on her neck. She wore her hair up at times so it was clearly visible but certainly not offensive. In fact it was rather a sweet homage to work she clearly loved.

I saw one of the middle management officers on board VEENDAM on afternoon in Hamilton. Hot as Hades and asked what on earth he was wearing full uniform winter blues. 'Body art' on his arms. Could not wear short sleeves... so his is stuck with blue jacket.

That's kind of odd considering the long time tattoo tradition in Maritime. I don't know a single navy veteran, of any age, that does not have at least one tattoo. Many, many years ago I worked a job that put me on the local tug boats in the Pittsburgh area on a daily basis, and every single crew member on every single tug had tattoos. And this was back in the early 80's when tattoos were not nearly as popular and accepted as they are today.

Sorry, my dad...WWII Navy vet...not a bit of ink. But I do know what you are saying. We often teased him about it. His response...when you've had those navy docs digging shrapnel out of you, you lose interest. :eek:

That's kind of odd considering the long time tattoo tradition in Maritime. I don't know a single navy veteran, of any age, that does not have at least one tattoo. Many, many years ago I worked a job that put me on the local tug boats in the Pittsburgh area on a daily basis, and every single crew member on every single tug had tattoos. And this was back in the early 80's when tattoos were not nearly as popular and accepted as they are today.

Not for nothing, FIL is a 30 year retired SeaBee senior chief without a dot or drop of ink anywhere on his body. BIL is a 20 year retired Lt. Commander, started as a basic seaman, no ink on his body either. Come to think of it, my father spent 2 years active Navy and 20 years AF, no ink either.

I have two. Tats make no nevermind to me either way.... :rolleyes:, but I have worked for places that do set employee policies for them, including volunteers, as I do now. I have no idea if HAL has one.

I'd guess that something small and inoffensive like the anchor could be accepted/overlooked, but if the tattoo on the officer included something sexual or vulgar, that would require being covered.

When I see a small, single tat on someone, I figure they just had a brain fart and learned after the fact not to make it any worse. When I see someone with a lot of ink, I just think that they're either an idiot, a drunk, or a pain addict, and I tend to dismiss them pretty quickly. If I have to deal with them, it will take a lot of personal energy--on THEIR part--for me to overcome those biases.

Judgmental? You bet. There isn't a soul in the world that in some way, shape, or form doesn't "judge a book by it's cover". We are a very visual society. If someone has the need to deliberately "show" me what they "like", then I have the right to respond how I like.

I'd guess that something small and inoffensive like the anchor could be accepted/overlooked, but if the tattoo on the officer included something sexual or vulgar, that would require being covered.

 

When I see a small, single tat on someone, I figure they just had a brain fart and learned after the fact not to make it any worse. When I see someone with a lot of ink, I just think that they're either an idiot, a drunk, or a pain addict, and I tend to dismiss them pretty quickly. If I have to deal with them, it will take a lot of personal energy--on THEIR part--for me to overcome those biases.

 

Judgmental? You bet. There isn't a soul in the world that in some way, shape, or form doesn't "judge a book by it's cover". We are a very visual society. If someone has the need to deliberately "show" me what they "like", then I have the right to respond how I like.

It's sad when people admittedly limit their horizons so dismissively.

People occupy their time with "issues" like this?

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Both my grandfathers were lifer's in the Navy. My DH was in the Navy and DB and none have tats.

I'm sure Hal doesn't care if passengers have tats, why would they?

Though I don't know for sure but my guess is Hal does have a rule about their employees not showing any visible tats, if they have them. I have certainly never seen any on Hal employees.

You know, I bet Copper would know if Hal has rules about tattoos.

In a few years they'll discover the ink causes blah blah blah and some celebrity will say they're not cool. The rage will then be tattoo removal.

This tattoo bubble will soon burst like the housing did.

That's kind of odd considering the long time tattoo tradition in Maritime. I don't know a single navy veteran, of any age, that does not have at least one tattoo. Many, many years ago I worked a job that put me on the local tug boats in the Pittsburgh area on a daily basis, and every single crew member on every single tug had tattoos. And this was back in the early 80's when tattoos were not nearly as popular and accepted as they are today.

Not so long ago, Navy regs. forbade officers from getting visible tattoos. If you ever saw an officer with one, you knew he was a Mustang - a former enlisted man.

<SNIP>

You know, I bet Copper would know if Hal has rules about tattoos.

 

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Good point Melodie! I'll bet he pops in and answers this for us. ;)

It's sad when people admittedly limit their horizons so dismissively.

And equally sad when people are judgmental on matters of personal taste.

I got a flamingo tattoo for my 40th on my thigh and an owl in memory of my Grandmother on my ankle. I never saw any HAL staff with visible tattoo's but I now the head barman in the Crow's Nest on the Noordam had a few which he showed me ...he was leaving to open up a tattoo parlour.

I don't understand a previous posters nasty remarks about those with tattoo's ...its a personal decision and is no different from choosing clothing, hair colour etc. I'm neither an idiot (I'm well highly educated), drunk or a pain addict. I just wanted something I liked on MY skin.

We were on a cruise, sorry can't remember which one, where the Cellar Master had a tat. When he wore a short sleeve white shirt he had a piece of surgical tape over it. It blocked the actual tat,, but you could tell why it was there. I don't know if it was because of HAL rules or because it was vulgar -- -

JMO

But I hope HAL (as well as other cruise lines) make their employees "cover up" their tattoos. I personally do not like seeing them.

I would think ink is unacceptable in the Indonesian culture. Don't expect to see any on your cabin steward.

As for the rest, maybe John can comment.

But I hope HAL (as well as other cruise lines) make their employees "cover up" their tattoos. I personally do not like seeing them.

I'm not sure about the policy now, but I do know when my brother worked HAL (he was an assistant cruise director), he had to cover up his tattoos with cover-up make-up or wear clothes that would completely cover them. His are all where they are easily covered if he is dressed in long pants, but he does have a couple on his lower legs which are exposed in shorts. The only time he had a big problem was when he had to do pool games -- sometimes even allegedly water-proof cover-up will wear off if you're in water long enough.