LuvsDamships

Hi Rev, not surprized to see this thread still running strong.

Things never change on CC-HAL board, do they?

Reverend! If Rita can't, I might.

Mitch can't get away in January (he's got a major photo shoot to get ready for mid-January). You're right, those prices are dirt-cheap!

Reverend, I think you make a good point. It is unlikely that no one on this board at least heard of such a poll taking place if it happened among HAL's past passengers.

However, I don't think that HAL is interested in their past-passengers on this subject. As you say, they know most such passengers will prefer the old way of doing things. What they want to know is what will attract more passengers to fill all the cabins they've got to fill on each cruise, while minimizing the loss of old passengers. So, they didn't poll Mariners and they probably didn't poll other cruise line's past-passengers. I think they polled people outside of the cruise community, people whom HAL wants to turn into future cruisers.

I'm not privy to any evidence that supports to what extent passengers want "flexibility". I know I've never been polled by HAL, and would bet that most Mariners haven't, either. Since traditional dining fills up before AYW it seems that the greater number of passengers want traditional.

Since the new dining plan isn't limited to 7-day sails it's wrong to restrict the discussion to the desires of passengers to that time frame.

What she said.

The chocolate lady said it much better than I.

Cruise Critic only represents a small % of all HAL cruisers.

But it even a 2 or 3% sampling can yield important information to any statistician. It is not an insignificant body of data.

In all my HAL cruises I have never said I loved traditional dining. So, how does HAL know that such is what I, or any other cruisers, desire? If all they read are those who want open seating, with no one saying they want traditional, what else are they supposed to think? But, the data in such a case is misleading. HAL should be a bit more proactive and actually poll their passengers on what the desire, rather than going with just market trends and complainers.

Look for stray socks under the bed, find the head in the dark. Anything you need a flashlight for:)

Ah, so! Ok.

Makes sense.

I have a DamDark maglite for that. Won it on the Volendam.

The little LED lights are good. I have a couple I've picked up as handouts at tradeshows. Fits in pocket or on keychain - bout the size of a stick of gum and a bit thicker.

What do you do with them?

I usually use the sticky-stuff to attach a post-it note pad to the door, along with a pen on a string. People can leave me messages. Sometimes I get the STRANGEST notes from people I don't know.

David--

 

You've never met this stranger.

;)

The Rev told me about you. Said you were a "class act." His words. I met Scotty in passing, but he was busy running after someone else aboard ship and I dont think he had eyes for little 'ol me.

I don't like what I'm reading about this As You Wish Dining thingy. I like traditional style, but am willing to try anything new. Still I hope they don't get rid of Traditional. Lots of single people have real problems with the idea of Open Seating, and I am one of them. But I've also never been afraid of dining with strangers.

There are VERY great stories!

Thanks for the great laugh!

I manage well with just 1 suitcase and maybe 20% of the amount of stuff that's on that list. Wow!!!