Big Announcement coming soon (Week of 10/26?)

[Lizzie68]

Godmother, Godfather, Uncle, Son-in-law, who cares ??? As long as it doesn't affect the sauce at the Dive-In, what's the difference? :-)

 

Exactly!:D

[sail7seas]

Yes, Rotterdam. I can't remember the date or find our invite offhand.

 

Keep looking for it. :)

Must be around somewhere. :)

 

[chefestelle]

Actually, my DH - who is mobility challenged - also has a sense of humour. And he thought the idea of a scooter garage was pretty good.:D

 

 

Same. My dearly departed DM ran her scooter into my walls, corners and everything in her path. Her driving was so bad and her scooter was always parked in the most difficult places. And then there was the time she rammed it so firmly under my SUV that we couldn't back it up (somehow she wedged it next to my carport post too) and the SUV wouldn't budge. I tried to lift the vehicle so my sister could back up the scooter. But the SUV was too heavy. I ended up sitting on the ground completely done in and crying. I'm not a crier (unless it's a sad movie) but mobility challenges and dementia are trying. Fortunately, my brother in law came along to lift the vehicle with me just enough to unwedge the scooter so we could back up the SUV. Now we laugh about this in a way we never could then. So I'm going to tell them about the scooter garage and we will laugh til we cry. Then we will toast Mom and bless all the scooter drivers who CAN drive. But you have to laugh. Because the other option is to sit on the ground and cry. And yes, that is a thread hijack.

[tpwolfe]

The cruise with the most "mobility impaired" passengers that I've ever taken was on Princess, a Mexican Riviera cruise. By contrast, most HAL cruises have barely noticeable scooter brigades.

 

I agree. We took a Hawaii cruise out of San Francisco on Princess and it was loaded with mobility impaired passengers. Did Hawaii with HAL there was some but not half the ship.

[Alphen]

Yes, Rotterdam. I can't remember the date or find our invite offhand.

 

May 19th in the afternoon in Rotterdam. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no official word on who will Christen the Koningsdam, otherwise it would have been all around the HAL website, because the King doing it himself, would be great news. Queen Maxima (when she was princess), did the honors with the Nieuw Amsterdam.

[serendipity1499]

YES< Actually I had exactly that conversation last night with a fellow HAL/CC'er. :)

 

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, of course, was who we had in mind. ;)

 

 

King Willem-Alexander will be christening Koningsdam. And from what I know will be the godfather.

 

Hmm.. You may be right, but here is another thought..

 

King Willem-Alexander is in China this week.. This is the King's first state visit to China since he ascended the throne.. His welcome visit was yesterday, when he walked with President Xi Jimping during the ceremony at the Great Hall in Beijing..

 

I'm wondering if the Netherlands (HAL) & China will be collaborating on another new Build or if they are going to base the Koningsdam in China..

Edited October 27, 2015 by serendipity1499

[catl331]

When I first sailed with HAL (Alaska) I couldn't believe all the retirees and scooters. 20 yrs later my attitude has changed. Isn't it great that retirees are able to enjoy cruising and have a great cruise company that welcomes them aboard! I don't own a scooter yet but the smaller ships are looking good to me. Thanks HAL!

[cruisemom42]

 

I'm wondering if the Netherlands (HAL) & China will be collaborating on another new Build or if they are going to base the Koningsdam in China..

 

I doubt it would be the Koningsdam -- otherwise they would be "personalizing" her for the Asian market. When Princess based a ship over there full time, they added things like traditional Japanese baths, enlarged the casino space, etc. I think Koningsdam's spaces -- at least what we've seen of them -- don't reflect this kind of tweaking for a different market.

[jtl513]

I'm wondering ... if they are going to base the Koningsdam in China.

Not Koningsdam, but maybe the second Pinnacle class ship. Edited October 27, 2015 by jtl513

[RocketMan275]

I doubt it would be the Koningsdam -- otherwise they would be "personalizing" her for the Asian market. When Princess based a ship over there full time, they added things like traditional Japanese baths, enlarged the casino space, etc. I think Koningsdam's spaces -- at least what we've seen of them -- don't reflect this kind of tweaking for a different market.

 

There's a thread in the Princess forum about adding special blow dry toilets to a ship moving to Japan.

[Lizzie68]

Same. My dearly departed DM ran her scooter into my walls, corners and everything in her path. Her driving was so bad and her scooter was always parked in the most difficult places. And then there was the time she rammed it so firmly under my SUV that we couldn't back it up (somehow she wedged it next to my carport post too) and the SUV wouldn't budge. I tried to lift the vehicle so my sister could back up the scooter. But the SUV was too heavy. I ended up sitting on the ground completely done in and crying. I'm not a crier (unless it's a sad movie) but mobility challenges and dementia are trying. Fortunately, my brother in law came along to lift the vehicle with me just enough to unwedge the scooter so we could back up the SUV. Now we laugh about this in a way we never could then. So I'm going to tell them about the scooter garage and we will laugh til we cry. Then we will toast Mom and bless all the scooter drivers who CAN drive. But you have to laugh. Because the other option is to sit on the ground and cry. And yes, that is a thread hijack.

 

Thanks for sharing. Trust me, I can relate.

[serendipity1499]

Not Koningsdam, but maybe the second Pinnacle class ship.[/size]

 

Yes that was part of my thought when I said, "wondering if the Netherlands & China will be collaborating on another new build"...

 

The only thing which stumps me is; Why are they making the announcement in New York & not Seattle or Rotterdam.. Could the U.S. also be joining in the collaboration or could the King be flying to New York from Beijing this week? :confused:

[serendipity1499]

I doubt it would be the Koningsdam -- otherwise they would be "personalizing" her for the Asian market. When Princess based a ship over there full time, they added things like traditional Japanese baths, enlarged the casino space, etc. I think Koningsdam's spaces -- at least what we've seen of them -- don't reflect this kind of tweaking for a different market.

 

OK will forget about Koningsdam but maybe the new ship.. Guess we'll all just have to wait till Thurs, but the suspense is killing us!:D

[sppunk]

Pretty sure it's in NYC because it's entertainment or food based. This isn't a ship announcement, Carnival Corp would be involved. This is strictly HAL, not even HAL Group from what we gather.

 

It'll likely end up being nothing massive, just a new feature that some wiil like, some won't, and some won't care about at all. :)

[taxmantoo]

I'm wondering if the Netherlands (HAL) & China will be collaborating on another new Build or if they are going to base the Koningsdam in China..

 

That would definitely be "going where no other cruise lines have gone before" ... a China-based ship with advertised and pre-sold Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings for the next year and a half. :rolleyes:

[cruisemom42]

There's a thread in the Princess forum about adding special blow dry toilets to a ship moving to Japan.

 

Having spent a few weeks in Japan, I can say they are definitely light years ahead in toilet gadgetry. :D

[3rdGenCunarder]

Pretty sure it's in NYC because it's entertainment or food based. This isn't a ship announcement, Carnival Corp would be involved. This is strictly HAL, not even HAL Group from what we gather.

 

It'll likely end up being nothing massive, just a new feature that some wiil like, some won't, and some won't care about at all. :)

 

 

That makes sense. Oooh, partnering with Birdland for jazz! Unlikely, but I'd love it.

 

Elizabeth Arden to take over the spa and salon?

 

Some hot NY chef to take over the Pinnacle? (DONiT FLAME ME, people! I'm just guessing here)

 

I'd love it to be basing a ship in NYC, but that's hardly "where no cruiseline has gone before." Unless they do NYC with an overnight so people can have a pre-cruise night in the city without the intermediate stay in a hotel.

[3rdGenCunarder]

That would definitely be "going where no other cruise lines have gone before" ... a China-based ship with advertised and pre-sold Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings for the next year and a half. :rolleyes:

 

Wow, that would be a lot of sea days... :eek:

[Bowie MeMe]

Having spent a few weeks in Japan, I can say they are definitely light years ahead in toilet gadgetry. :D

 

 

Got that right--even at the 7/11 (they are everywhere and they have ATM' that US cards work in) the toilets are warm, spraying water at temperatures you want and even a little song can be played! Makes the line for ladies even longer as each has to play the pott

[RocketMan275]

Pretty sure it's in NYC because it's entertainment or food based. This isn't a ship announcement, Carnival Corp would be involved. This is strictly HAL, not even HAL Group from what we gather.

 

It'll likely end up being nothing massive, just a new feature that some wiil like, some won't, and some won't care about at all. :)

 

I still say it's new napkin rings for Gala Nights. I'm sorry, I've just seen so much hype for meaningless announcements. I guess I'm getting old and cynical.

[InTheWASide]

While I was not given ANY details of the employee meeting yesterday, one of my friends that works in the corporate office advised that it is NUMEROUS different things (I believe she said around a dozen or so, maybe a few more than a that even) and not one absolutely mammoth, earth-shaking announcement. When I asked for any hints, etc I was told "we were sworn to secrecy, I can't say anything but you'll no doubt learn on Thursday"

 

So given that tidbit I think it's safe to say that:

Carnival Corp or HAL Group loyalty "interchange"

China/Cuba ships

and some of the other HUGE changes that were guessed on this thread won't be happening. However maybe new napkin rings on gala nights could be one of the many 'cogs' in the machine :D

 

Still, depending on what the changes are, announcing tons of new things can definitely have a huge impact too. So it can be huge just in how far-reaching it is/will be.

 

If it's lots of smaller changes/additions I'm thinking it might even be like a "SOE 3.0" even though I'll be honest and say that "Signature of Excellence" itself is growing tired... It's always just seemed stuffy and weird and I know others have posted from time to time "What does it even MEAN??" :) I know it was an evolution of "Tradition of Excellence" but that at least makes sense as a sentence fragment and didn't start an obsession with working the word "Tradition" into every single everything across the line as has been done with "Signature" ... but I digress... Thursday... could be interesting!

Edited October 27, 2015 by InTheWASide

[sherilyn70]

I don't know anyone who signed some list asking they become disabled.... they didn't request their circumstance and anyone who thinks they have some guarantee in life it won't be them or someone they love one day, should perhaps give that another 'think'.

 

So, No... I do not think the big announcement will involve people with disabilities and humor about their mobility devices.

 

Be well everyone and stay safe.

 

Thank you.

 

I'm pretty easy going and have a warped sense of humor but I get so tired of reading all the bashing for those of us with mobility issues. As you mentioned I am for the most part trapped in my house. Without the use of a scooter I would never be able to get out and do things in the last few years of my life. Thankfully I personally have never been attacked for it and only been treated with respect, but I often wonder how different it would be if I were not in my 40s and if I we're overweight.

[Lizzie68]

While I was not given ANY details of the employee meeting yesterday, one of my friends that works in the corporate office advised that it is NUMEROUS different things (I believe she said around a dozen or so, maybe a few more than a that even) and not one absolutely mammoth, earth-shaking announcement. When I asked for any hints, etc I was told "we were sworn to secrecy, I can't say anything but you'll no doubt learn on Thursday"

 

So given that tidbit I think it's safe to say that:

Carnival Corp or HAL Group loyalty "interchange"

China/Cuba ships

and some of the other HUGE changes that were guessed on this thread won't be happening. However maybe new napkin rings on gala nights could be one of the many 'cogs' in the machine :D

 

Still, depending on what the changes are, announcing tons of new things can definitely have a huge impact too. So it can be huge just in how far-reaching it is/will be.

 

If it's lots of smaller changes/additions I'm thinking it might even be like a "SOE 3.0" even though I'll be honest and say that "Signature of Excellence" itself is growing tired... It's always just seemed stuffy and weird and I know others have posted from time to time "What does it even MEAN??" :) I know it was an evolution of "Tradition of Excellence" but that at least makes sense as a sentence fragment and didn't start an obsession with working the word "Tradition" into every single everything across the line as has been done with "Signature" ... but I digress... Thursday... could be interesting!

 

Not long to wait now. I suspect that it will be something of an anti-climax, but it would be good to hears that HAL is doing something innovative.

[frankc98376]

While I was not given ANY details of the employee meeting yesterday, one of my friends that works in the corporate office advised that it is NUMEROUS different things (I believe she said around a dozen or so, maybe a few more than a that even) and not one absolutely mammoth, earth-shaking announcement. When I asked for any hints, etc I was told "we were sworn to secrecy, I can't say anything but you'll no doubt learn on Thursday"

 

So given that tidbit I think it's safe to say that:

Carnival Corp or HAL Group loyalty "interchange"

China/Cuba ships

and some of the other HUGE changes that were guessed on this thread won't be happening. However maybe new napkin rings on gala nights could be one of the many 'cogs' in the machine :D

 

Still, depending on what the changes are, announcing tons of new things can definitely have a huge impact too. So it can be huge just in how far-reaching it is/will be.

 

If it's lots of smaller changes/additions I'm thinking it might even be like a "SOE 3.0" even though I'll be honest and say that "Signature of Excellence" itself is growing tired... It's always just seemed stuffy and weird and I know others have posted from time to time "What does it even MEAN??" :) I know it was an evolution of "Tradition of Excellence" but that at least makes sense as a sentence fragment and didn't start an obsession with working the word "Tradition" into every single everything across the line as has been done with "Signature" ... but I digress... Thursday... could be interesting!

 

My guess is that most of the changes will be in food and entertainment. Perhaps a total overhaul of on board food service- possible re-branding of some food venues. Would not be surprised to see fixed dining times gone.

I'm guessing entertainment will be more like what has been announced for Koningsdam. Move variety in venues

Possibly more "enhancements" for suites may be included.

Most of these changes can be made while sailing similar to Dive-In concept. If HAL is looking to create a new image waiting sometimes up to 2 years for a major dry dock would seem counter productive.

[InTheWASide]

If HAL is looking to create a new image waiting sometimes up to 2 years for a major dry dock would seem counter productive.

 

Definitely agree on this point. Guess it depends on how many (if any) walls they are knocking down