OMG - will HAL ships become shopping malls?

[Vict0riann]

I've got the survey, haven't filled it out yet. It's been very helpful reading what everyone has to say. I have to mention, I always enjoyed the shopping area on the Cunard ships much more than HAL's. On our last 28-day cruise (on the Volendam), I think I wandered through the shops twice, and all I bought were a few bits of the "gold by the inch". My DD always buys a watch - she's getting a collection! Other than that - nada! I would wish for more practical stuff.

 

Now, I guess I'll go and read the survey!:)

[1ANGELCAT]

I also just received the survey. I also don't really cruise to shop. I would like to see more individual ship items. I do agree the shops on Cunard were much nicer.

 

 

 

 

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[Jemima]

I got the survey today, but it didn't have any space for comments. It did ask how much we spent, but in very generalized categories. These were so generalized that it doesn't really tell them if the money (other than the cruise fare) was spent on the ship, on something purchased through HAL, or independently. I don't see how that is helpful to them. Also, the questions were about spending on the most recent cruise. Ours wasn't our typical cruise because it was a shorter cruise and we usually take cruises of 10 days or longer. Puttimg in the various $$$ amounts did confirm for me that the total spent on shorter cruises comes out to more per day than the total spent on longer cruises. However, the average paid to HAL (fare, excursions, on ship shopping, beverages, etc) is for us less per day than for longer cruises.

[Typhoon1]

We will probably be seeing more shopping venues on the new build. Any other 3,000 passenger ship certainly has an abundance of them. Its just another source of revenue.

[momatibm]

If I remember correctly, the time I was on the Eurodam -- I only walked through the shops once, and didn't buy a thing. On other ships, I usually only by a t-shirt or two for the grandkids. I am definitely not a big shopper, even though the various shop gurus try to tell me how great they are. I missed out on the shopping gene.

[pris993]

I'm not a shopper, but my DH is ... regardless, what I see on most ships is junk for high prices, so we don't shop much.

 

If we wanted to buy anything, we would like some good value for a reasonable price. Doubt that is what they have in mind.

 

Where I live in SF Bay Area, I can easily buy items from various places in the world before I travel, often do, them give them as little gifts when I return. That way I don't have to worry about luggage fees or carrying stuff back.

[budisal]

What a pain in the butt that thing was! I quit answering questions about half way thru when I got a long distance call and couldn't concentrate on all the math involved. I am also not the one they're targeting. We take an inside cabin, only drink when they give us a free gift card and spent about $20 when they put all their stuff on sale at 50-75 percent off. Not cheap, just frugal.

 

 

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[chrisbu315]

I got the same email from Princess. Hal doesn't value my opinion. After a while the survey was so tedious I stopped filling it out.

 

Me too. I found it tedious and annoying.

[MrsMuir]

I like to shop but that's not why I travel. On sea days it would be nice to have better shops onboard the HAL ships, which seem to be selling either junk - think cheapo jewelry sets - or items we can never afford, like precious gems. On Princess they sell much the same things, but their shops are larger, elegant and the selection is much greater, especially with cosmetics. I wouldn't mind seeing larger, better-appointed and stocked shops onboard the new HAL ships. That's much better than impeding traffic with tables of sale items in the Lido pool area.

 

And, like some have mentioned, shops produce revenue, and revenue reduces service and amenity cutbacks.

 

Years ago I suggested that HAL sell prints of Captain Card's fabulous ship paintings (assuming he wants to be marketed, of course), books on HAL's history, and REAL ship model kits of HAL ships, old and new. Wish I'd received a survey!

 

Mrs M

[lazey1]

I got the survey and completed it. I am not the person HAL would want to complete this survey. There was plenty of room for comments at the very end and I gave them plenty starting with I am not and have never been a shopper. My idea of shopping is 1st something has to catch my eye, 2nd I look at the price and 3rd if I am still interested I decide to buy or not. The thought of pop up stores all over the ship is totally repulsive. Also what they probably didn't want to hear for 3 stores that I would like to see onboard. Macy's, ABC of Hawaii and Walmart for sundrys because the ships stores are grossly overpriced.:eek: Probably will never get another survey.

[lazey1]

.

 

Years ago I suggested that HAL sell prints of Captain Card's fabulous ship paintings (assuming he wants to be marketed, of course), books on HAL's history, and REAL ship model kits of HAL ships, old and new. Wish I'd received a survey!

 

Mrs M

 

I also wish you had received a survey. I like the ideas you have here.

[luckysadie]

What Ruth said.

 

We buy Christmas ornaments when we travel. If we are on a ship we have not sailed on before, we will look for an ornament of the ship.

 

My suggestion for a store on board: Total Wine.

[PathfinderEss]

Please Hal no more junk to buy, no more high end jewelry stores that I can't aford to buy anything from after paying for my cruise and drinks and no more shops, no more, no more!:eek::eek::eek:

[Seago2]

I'm wracking my brain trying to think of an "item I might want to buy and use in that area of the ship." Like what, a pool towel?

[blarko]

I got the same exact survey from Carnival. It was super long and annoying, asking the same questions over and over. They tricked me into filling it out by saying the wanted feedback on my recent cruise. That's not what it was.

 

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[judy0524]

Glad I am not the only one irritated by this survey. I got one yesterday from Princess and filled it out with the comment at the end about not cruising to go shopping. I also picked Dollar Store, Macys, and Walgreens as stores to add. I hope they get the message. Today I got one from Holland America and it turned out to be the same thing. When I saw it was the same I deleted it. Can't go through it again.

[BeagleOne]

Instead of worring about shops on HAL, volunt6eer. Get a life. Post something to all of us.

 

Huh? What does one have to do with the other?

 

I spent most of today volunteering. One visit with one of my therapy dogs to a a hospice, and then another visit with him, my other therapy dog, and my goofy cat to a nursing home.

 

Now I shall comment on HAL shops even though I did not get the survey. See, I can have a life, volunteer, AND "worry" about the HAL shops. ;)

 

I don't want to see pop-up shops if they block traffic. If they don't, then I'm not going to worry about them. When they set up a table by the pool, I just peruse it on my way by. Sometimes I buy, sometimes I don't.

 

I bought a wonderful blue-and-white striped top on the Maasdam in 2007 and am still wearing it. I was hoping to find another on the Maasdam two years ago. No luck, but I did get four very nice cotton t-shirts with various things "bedazzled" on the front...a starfish, a dolphin, and even the HAL logo.

 

I also ordered a gemstone globe through the Zuiderdam shop in 2005, and still love it. With the internet I could research the cost and it was a better deal than ordering it myself.

 

I WOULD like to see a wider selection of small souvenirs like magnets, pens, etc. And it would be nice if the sundries were cheaper, but I guess they have us passengers over a barrel there.

[Linda&Vern]

I just completed the survey. I didn't consider it a big deal. If you didn't fill out the whole thing, your ideas will never be known. I can't believe some of you are mad you received it. I considered it a compliment they valued my opinion. I loved being able to write they need to (example) improve the quality of their HAL or ship specific men's tees. I liked being able to let them know how I felt about the shopping experience on ships. I considered it fun. Hopefully my input will have a small impact on shopping decision they may make.

 

:rolleyes: FYI - The survey indicates that only "select" Mariners would receive the survey. I wonder how they decided "who" was blessed with the e:mail?

[SeaBands]

I would have said to drop the art auctions and the Mirabella shop. Never saw anyone buy anything there. I guess it's there for a big casino winner to hide their winnings. Now if they had a HAL store selling real memorabilia I might be interested. Like old tiles, posters, other things not available in the current gift shops.

[TiogaCruiser]

I should have let you fill out my survey. :D

 

:D

 

And I'm not a shopper either and I flee from malls.

[TiogaCruiser]

DW didn't get any of the shopping questions, but I did. I only bought a few rolls of antacids - so I probably wasn't the target audience they were looking for.

 

FYI - The survey indicates that only "select" Mariners would receive the survey. I wonder how they decided "who" was blessed with the e:mail?

 

Perhaps the criteria was was chosen to find out WHY you didn't spend much onboard. That could be where they assume there is money left on the table. Those who spent found what they wanted.....

 

I got a survey after my last cruise that sounds similiar but it was aimed at shorex. (Did you do any private tours and how much did you spend? Why? (How can WE earn that shorex spending and what did we loose?)

[Viesczy]

While reviewed, any comments won't make it into the chart/diagrams by which the decisions are made. Those decisions are made based on the multiple choice answers as it is those answers that are plotted.

 

Gotta love spreadsheets! ;)

 

As far as the shops/malls, who cares? While we never buy anything pricey, we do take a look through as the shops represent something to do beyond hearing folks "sing" the same songs @ karaoke every night. How many times can the same people sing "Sweet Caroline"?? :eek::rolleyes:;)

 

Derek

[InTheWASide]

No survey here.

 

What they are ostensibly proposing is all fine with me, because I am really good and experienced at ignoring what I don't like/want.

 

Not that I like the idea of HAL cluttering up the ship this way, but it will presumably bring in more revenue and that "should" translate into keeping HAL's cruise pricing the good value it is.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself... so I'll just quote and give props where due :)

[InTheWASide]

To add one additional thought, if it was a near identical or identical survey between the two brands (HAL and PCL) my GUESS is that the survey actually came from Starboard Cruise Services which handles all of the onboard shops on HAL's ships for sure and I believe Princess' as well.

 

Just an educated guess, but there would be no reason, even with the recent formation of "Holland America Group" where Stein Kruse is now the overseer of Princess as well, for them to want to have exactly identical strategies for any portion of the onboard experience.

[localady]

I would have said to drop the art auctions and the Mirabella shop. Never saw anyone buy anything there. I guess it's there for a big casino winner to hide their winnings. Now if they had a HAL store selling real memorabilia I might be interested. Like old tiles, posters, other things not available in the current gift shops.

 

I have to agree with you there. The older HAL posters are amazing, and would be something that even I would consider purchasing. :D

 

I would like to see HAL bring back higher quality shirts with the ships names. We used to be able to get PGA branded polo shirts which DH really loved, we still have one from the Oosterdam. But HAL discontinued those for a cheaper brand that wasn't something DH would wear and likely wouldn't last.

Edited April 4, 2014 by localady