Ky Colonel

On 6/14/2024 at 9:37 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

We have never cruised on HAL but were considering it.  #1 reason: the 'guarantee' of a Priest onboard [I make a major effort in my planning to find Mass in port, but this isn't always possible even with Sat afternoon options]  With this removed, HAL is just another upper-mass-market line and I have purged [exorcized?] my computer of their deck plans and brochures.

 

I have no illusion that this will matter one iota to the HAL beancounters, but it was the one thing that distinguished HAL from Princess and Celebrity.  They should remember that this sort of homogenization was what ruined General Motors.

 

BTW, re the Canon law discussion above:  we attend Mass on Sunday and holy days NOT because it is required, but because it is a Privilege.

My sentiments to a "T"!!!  Thanks for sharing your views.

On 6/15/2024 at 11:57 AM, contom said:

We have been almost exclusively sailing Holland because of the Catholic Priests on board.  This is a game changer, and we will have to begin looking at other options. They have all types of other entertainment and special interest groups that they cater to and will not cut but have decided to target the dedicated Catholics on their cruises. The Masses during the cruises that we have been on can have over 100 people in attendance...and they cut this option??? This is a recent change that we were just made aware of as of June 2024.

Spot on, contom, and very well said. - agree 100%

1 hour ago, mwj said:

Response from HAL: "We are modifying our programming as we continue to serve the spiritual needs of our guests. Beginning in 2025, we will no longer provide a priest on every cruise, instead prioritizing pastoral care for longer cruises, for cruises where guests are further away from home, and cruises over religious holidays. We will provide congregation-led interdenominational services on Sunday mornings and congregation-led Jewish Shabbat services on Friday evenings on all cruises. In addition, a Catholic Priest will provide daily Catholic mass on ocean crossings and cruises to Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. On Grand and Legendary Voyages, services will be held by a Catholic Priest, Protestant Minister, and Jewish Rabbi. On Christmas and Easter, both a Catholic Priest and Protestant Minister will lead services, and on holiday sailings over Hannukah, a Jewish Rabbi or Cantor will lead services on our cruises."

Huh????  That's HAL's original announcement of the change in policy/practice and, hopefully, not HAL's response toan yone who wrote in to complain about the new policy/practice.

36 minutes ago, Paulinda said:

I know Heart of the Nation (and other Catholic organizations) have masses on TV.  These are recorded much earlier in advance.  Couldn't HAL somehow schedule one of these masses to be broadcast on the daily lineup of TV programming?  I don't know what technical issues would have to be worked out but it seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to make it work.   This is the 21st Century.  

Good idea, Paulinda, especially if arrangements could be made to have an adequate supply of consecrated hosts onboard so that te remote/virtual Mass could be celebrated "sacramentally".

56 minutes ago, Himself said:

I was sad to learn of this new policy.  as i understand it, priests already assigned will minister on the cruises.  In the future i believe shot cruises will not carry a priest chaplain.

Just curious, Father, but have you talked with anyone at AOS-USA about this matter?  Wondering if part of the impetus for HAL's change of policy/practice was AOS's difficulty finding priests to cover all of the cruises.

BTW, my wife and I have made regular contributions to AOS ever since we took our first cruise on HAL several decades ago.  We also regularly make gifts to local priests of $100 to cover their annual registration fee to serve in HAL's Cruise Ship Priests Program.  It might help AOS continue this service if more contributions were forthcoming ... just saying ...

God bless you and thanks for your service to the CSPP.

3 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

If you are upset with this policy change I suggest you do what I did and contact the President of Holland America at  gantorcha@carnival.com   I did this yesterday and awaiting a response.

Great suggestion, iflyrc5!!!  I've already sent an e-mail to HAL.

Thanks, mammajamma!

Thanks for your reply, Ferry_Watcher!

Haven’t cruised since very early 2020: Wondering if HAL still has the Cruise Ship Priest Program - any help is appreciated.  Thank you!

... One other thing, personal and, granted, irrelevant to most people, is attending Mass - always enjoy a little singing there, the homily, among other aspects that make it attractive to me...

Excellent point. HAL is one of the few remaining lines that offers religious services on board - something we also appreciate very much... Always mention this "perk" in the HAL comments after a cruise. They need to know it is appreciated.

Two very excellent Posts - thanks. We first came to HAL because HAL has a priest on board every one of its cruises, and we continue to cruise HAL because of this "perk". Thank you, HAL!

... it's been a really bad week ... with the loss of Kazu.

Jacqui,

So sorry to hear of your loss of Kazu. I wish there were some magic words to ease your sadness but there aren't, so I'll just say I am sorry for your loss. Take care.

R

The op wasn't asking if dcl was right for them. They are leaving dcl as its too pricy. The op asked if Hal was right and I said either RC or carnival would likely be better. I have no idea why you decided to tell me about dcl :confused:. No one said Hal attracts a younger crowd. I get tired of hearing that everyone is ancient from the same posters.

WOW - bad hair day?

 

All that person did was quote your post saying you were a toddler when JFK died ( as was I) - it doesn't really make you nor I a spring chicken.

 

I don't think they were trying to tell you anything.

 

enjoy, life is good and all opinions count on the boards, right ? ;):D

Spot on, Kazu!!! Too bad that some CCers just don't "get it".

Thanks everyone for the well wishes but....I'm soooo sorry that I forgot to email Jacqui when I rescheduled this cruise! ...

 

Ky Colonel, Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!:)

Sorry to hear about the cancellation but do hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas at home!!!

Bon voyage, Tanya & Rick, and Merry Christmas as well!

... This is my frustration in a nutshell.

 

There is a clique that bullies, piles on, and makes veiled comments in order to get their points across. I truly believe that is a big reason a lot of our old-time posters have left and not returned.

Right you are - I am one who has "left and not returned", as a result of a Saturday massacre that occurred on here a few months ago. I am not intimidated by The Clique (and we all know who they are) but rather choose not to post and share my expertise with people who do not deserve it.

Tanya (& Rick),

Sorry to hear of your Flightease travails, but very pleased that everything worked out well in the end - sort of like the AI schedule issue, eh? I don't have any "you-think-that-was-bad" stories to 1-up you, nor do I have any after-the-fact "coulda-told-you-so" advice, so I'll conclude by wishing y'all Bon Voyage and Happy Anniversary.

God speed and smooth sailing!!!

Actually I said "booked directly with HAL."

Not to put too fine a point on it, but you did not say "booked directly with HAL." In your Rule #5, you said "It cannot be booked through a Travel Agent"; and in your post, you said "a Travel Agent cannot book the shareholder credit." Hence my "confusion".

In your case your TA acted as your personal assistant with regard to the shareholder credit, not as a Travel Agent.

 

What I said was a Travel Agent cannot book the shareholder credit. Of course they can forward the request for you but that's it. If you don't get the credit you cannot hold the TA responsible, even if he/she forgot to mail/fax it to HAL.

Now I am totally confused: If your Rule # 5 had said that the s/h benefit cannot be booked with a TA, I would agree with your correction of RuthC. But it said that since the s/h benefit "cannot be booked through a Travel Agent ... [y]ou are required to request the credit directly with HAL" Does this not mean that only a passenger can book the s/h credit? If so, specifically how does a person "book" the s/h credit?

Or does your correction of RuthC turn on the definition of the word "book" If so, please let us know how you define that word and, in turn, how "book" is different than "request".

Thank you for clarifying this matter.

Bon Voyage & Happy Anniversary, Tanya & Rick! I hope you have a great (anniversary) cruise and many, many more.

It is wrong.

The Filipinos and Indonesians on the ships belong to seafarer unions.

 

Don't believe everything you read just because you 'found it on the web.'

 

Your information is wrong. The Indonesian and Filipino staff on board each belong to a union in their home countries. Additionally, I believe most of the European officers do as well but I'm not AS certain on that

Please provide the source of your information about HAL union membership, as I'm certain SKIFTTAKE (whatever or whoever that is) would appreciate having correct information.

I doubt cruise lines pay commission on tips ...

See Post # 37 above.

All you need to do is provide a link to the page on HAL's website that supports what you claim.

 

You need to provide it.

 

Here.

 

In this thread.

 

Seems clear enough.

The link was included in my quote of crb663's post ... here it is again:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Cruise+Preparation&contentMenu=Baggage,+Packing+%26+Dress+Code&contentSubMenu=Is+There+A+Dress+Code?&WT.ac=PopTop_Dress

Just printed my express docs and this is the dress code section. Exactly as POA1 stated. We cruise in 1 week so this must be the most recent version.

Not that I've seen, as they keep sending me the same old one. I found one for a Noordam cruise in 2013 with the exact same wording.

If you want to see the "new" HAL Dress Code, after logging in to the HAL web site, go to: For Booked Guests, then to Frequently Asked Questions, and finally to Dress Code ...

I think CBR663 is just trying to make you look gullible ...

 

Now scroll up and down the file looking for "Gala Evening."

 

When you don't find it, apologize.

 

We forgive you. ;)

 

Just because it's on CruiseCritic, don't necessarily make it so. :D

... since cbr663's "information" was posted on another CC Thread, I seriously doubt that he/she was trying to "make [me] look guillible.". :confused: In any event, I fail to see any reason that I should apologize to you ... and I will happily forego your forgiveness ... :(

Your comment "because it's on CruiseCritic, do[es]n't necessarily make it so" demonstrates (again) your keen insight into the obvious ... :) ...

... very thoughtful of HAL to provide alternatives to those who choose not to dress up for whatever reason ...