How long before Hal changes and allows shorts in the dining room ?

[HeatherInFlorida]

"How long before Hal changes and allows shorts in the dining room ?"

 

I'd love to answer "when H*** freezes over", but given the direction HAL is going I'd have to guess the answer is probably within the next 1 to 3 years.:(

 

 

This is an interesting thread.

 

I long ago gave up trying to read entrails to predict the future.

 

I think though I see a trend...and it is one that does not bode well for my continued interest in cruising.

 

...........................

When we sailed HAL it was pretty much the same, and we have enjoyed HAL in many ways even more. Change it seems, is a constant, and the old ways don't last forever.

 

.....................

I love children as much as the next person, but it seems more and more, an ELEGANT, ADULT dining experience is rapidly becoming a thing of the past on a cruise ship.

 

If this is what the market wants then so be it. Cruise companies are not culture/tradition police, they are profit making organizations and they will do whatever someone convinces them is in the best interest of their shareholders.

 

I will not be an old fart...I will step aside and let whoever follows enjoy their day as we enjoyed ours.

 

Maybe old cruisers never die, they just sail away.:)

 

Smooth sailing to everyone.

 

You have said it so very well. And I agree ... "if this is what the market wants then so be it".

 

I've been told here I have to accept change, that I should not "threaten" not to cruise. But the truth is that at least for now DH and I have decided to do exactly that .... not cruise.

 

For every one of us who are disappointed in today's cruise experience vs. the one we remember, there are probably at least 50 or 100 who will step in and take our place. I understand that. We are no loss to HAL.

 

And we are both so very grateful for the amazing 25 years of cruising we have enjoyed. We'll always have memories of amazing times, meeting wonderful people, and enjoying the old traditions of cruising.:)

[iancal]

Carnival may be called the Wal Mart of cruise lines. Having said that, it would be interesting to conduct an exit poll of Wal Mart shoppers to determine how many of them, or their spouses, are union members or how many of them believe in buying Made in U.S.A. products. After filling out the survey, ask them to open their shopping bags. They are the biggest exporters of American jobs, everyone loves to hate them. Their stores are packed and their sales figures are through the roof.

[cruisecrasy]

And they get hired in spite of the fact that they dress like slobs, write as if they never took a course in English, cannot spell, have no ability to punctuate a sentence and speak as if they got off the boat yesterday. In fact, many of the people who got off the boat today speak better than they do.

 

I wish that I could have a short term job as a teacher. The reason that I say short term is that I would be fired after 1 week on the job. I would grade not only on the subject but on their ability to write using good English and correct punctuation and their ability to carry on a literate conversation without using slang every 3d word. It would be a fun week however.

 

DON

 

I agree but u forgot the four letter words and especially out of childrens & so called 'ladies' mouths!!!!

 

Have happy cruisin'

[cruisecrasy]

So Carnival has chosen to allow shorts in the dining room for dinner. Could this be one of the reasons the Mr. Fodor, in one of his travel books, referred to Carnival as “The MacDonald’s of the cruise lines”? As I stated in one of my previous posts, I will wear a jacket and tie, on even the casual nights. On a formal night I will be in my Tux or Dinner Jacket. Gentlemen forget, in this day and age, that you dress to compliment and “showoff” your lady :D . I feel very sorry, for the lady, when I see a couple where the lady is dressed to the standard, while her escort is dressed to well below the standard. IMHO

Change is not always for the better, and the next thing that “The MacDonald’s of the cruise lines” will allow will be coveralls, swim suits, and pajamas. I work in Heavy Industrial Construction Management, and for me it is a pleasure to dress to the expected standard for the entire evening. The day that HAL goes this route for dinner is the day we will find another cruise line, which will get a lot of our money in the years to come, as we plan on doing a lot of cruising. As far as the surcharge for a second bag on the airlines being the reason, I say “Hogwash” :eek: . The $25.00 each, so we can bring dress clothing, is not going to make or break us. It is just a cost of cruising.

Remember the old saying, “If you look your best, you feel you’re best”. ;)

 

and your 'lady' is blessed.

 

Have happy cruisin'!

[bUU]

For every one of us who are disappointed in today's cruise experience vs. the one we remember, there are probably at least 50 or 100 who will step in and take our place. I understand that. We are no loss to HAL.

I suspect it is more than that: These changes happen because the supplier can trade-off two new customers for one old customer (or three for two, or four for three, whatever).

[bUU]

They are the biggest exporters of American jobs, everyone loves to hate them.

And of course, Holland America uses foreign labor, and has for many years, if not forever.

 

I'm not sure how that maps to a comparison, though.

[babyher]

Balk about them all you want .

 

Carnival is more like the "Liberace of cruise lines"

 

No matter what you want to say about them, they "Cry all the way to the bank"

[GatorV]

I don't choose Carnival because of the dress code (or lack of) a hat on a mans head at dinner will ruin mine, I'm not that good at ignoringing idots...I don't choose Carnival becasue of the ships (too Carnival like);)

 

I choose the whole package, HAL....requires a dress code (and inforces it)

I choose HAL because the ships and ships personel are gracious and refined. HAL has been my cruise line of choice since we first sailed on them in the 90's when in my early 40's.

[momofmeg]

And of course, Holland America uses foreign labor, and has for many years, if not forever.

 

I'm not sure how that maps to a comparison, though.

 

LOL!

[momofmeg]

Balk about them all you want .

 

Carnival is more like the "Liberace of cruise lines"

 

No matter what you want to say about them, they "Cry all the way to the bank"

 

So true! and if you just read posts at CC-you would think the line is so hated it MUST be going bankrupt-instead of it being the most popular line on the seas.

[GatorV]

So true! and if you just read posts at CC-you would think the line is so hated it MUST be going bankrupt-instead of it being the most popular line on the seas.

People who take HAL ships are true cruisers and love the sea....I have a feeling a true SALT does not sail The Carnival too often

[momofmeg]

People who take HAL ships are true cruisers and love the sea....I have a feeling a true SALT does not sail The Carnival too often

 

Carnival is NOT my favorite line- and yes HAL is many notches above Carnival. It is RCI loyalists I get sick of an dwho I was referringto-I have cruised both lines enough to know RCI is not any better.

 

Now HAL is a "horse of a differant color".

 

Now if you don't "get" my posts-go to the fashion board and read the thread there about the Canrival dresscode-one gal informed me RCI cruisers only wear Seven jeans. Do you believe that? I don't.

[caviargal]

Now if you don't "get" my posts-go to the fashion board and read the thread there about the Canrival dresscode-one gal informed me RCI cruisers only wear Seven jeans. Do you believe that? I don't.

 

Not for a minute. I have seen outfits on RCI that are as casual as Carnival and NCL and the numbers are growing. Looks like those who like to dress down on vacation will have lots of choices.;)

[momofmeg]

Not for a minute. I have seen outfits on RCI that are as casual as Carnival and NCL and the numbers are growing. Looks like those who like to dress down on vacation will have lots of choices.;)

 

I just hope HAL does not become like them. I HOPE it is realized HAL is NOT Carnival or RCI and there is a place in the market for what HAL offers.

[HeatherInFlorida]

...................

I choose the whole package, HAL....requires a dress code (and enforces it). I choose HAL because the ships and ships personnel are gracious and refined. HAL has been my cruise line of choice since we first sailed on them in the 90's when in my early 40's.

 

But they don't enforce it ... that's the problem. HAL's dress code is now nothing more than a "suggestion" which isn't really a code at all. HAL has changed considerably since you first cruised the line in the 90's.

 

I suspect it is more than that: These changes happen because the supplier can trade-off two new customers for one old customer (or three for two, or four for three, whatever).

 

Exactly. You see? We actually agree:D .

[momofmeg]

But they don't enforce it ... that's the problem. HAL's dress code is now nothing more than a "suggestion" which isn't really a code at all. HAL has changed considerably since you first cruised the line in the 90's.

 

 

 

Exactly. You see? We actually agree:D .

 

 

I think Bicker has hit the nail on the head also. I just WISH there was still a market for us who want a traditionial experience.

It looks as though the only way we will get this (and I mean my family) is to cruise much less often, and save our money for Cunard.

[RuthC]

I just WISH there was still a market for us who want a traditionial experience.

I believe that market does still exist. Unfortunately, I also believe it isn't large enough to fill fourteen ships throughout the year. At least not easily; or at least not as easily as filling fourteen ships with anyone who will pay up.

And there-in lies the problem---both for those of us looking for a traditional experience, and HAL.

Back to the question at hand, though. I'm chuckling at the thought of lots of shorts all over the ship at night, and lots of leather (or leatherette) seating. And the temperature set a tad higher so no one gets cold. ;)

Might find a few people sorry they weren't in long pants when they go to stand up. :eek:

[hammybee]

I think Bicker has hit the nail on the head also. I just WISH there was still a market for us who want a traditionial experience.

It looks as though the only way we will get this (and I mean my family) is to cruise much less often, and save our money for Cunard.

 

Crystal continues to offer a traditional cruise experience albeit, it's more costly.

[momofmeg]

Crystal continues to offer a traditional cruise experience albeit, it's more costly.

 

I understand Oceania does also. The problem is with my budget I could only cruise about once every 3 years.

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

I believe that market does still exist. Unfortunately, I also believe it isn't large enough to fill fourteen ships throughout the year. At least not easily; or at least not as easily as filling fourteen ships with anyone who will pay up.

And there-in lies the problem---both for those of us looking for a traditional experience, and HAL.

Back to the question at hand, though. I'm chuckling at the thought of lots of shorts all over the ship at night, and lots of leather (or leatherette) seating. And the temperature set a tad higher so no one gets cold. ;)

Might find a few people sorry they weren't in long pants when they go to stand up. :eek:

 

the one time I wore shorts in the dinning rooms *lunch on sea day* I had goose bumps on my legs...I was soo cold. so, pants or skirts or dresses w/ hose for me!

[caviargal]

I understand Oceania does also. The problem is with my budget I could only cruise about once every 3 years.

 

Regent is my first choice though I have not yet tried Crystal or Oceania. For my money, I prefer one fabulous cruise - by my standards every three years - than 3 so so cruises per year. And I really enjoy AI resorts as well, the ones that are adult only and high quality. JMHO.

[momofmeg]

Regent is my first choice though I have not yet tried Crystal or Oceania. For my money, I prefer one fabulous cruise - by my standards every three years - than 3 so so cruises per year. And I really enjoy AI resorts as well, the ones that are adult only and high quality. JMHO.

 

I just love watching the ocean float by, it is so stress reducing-I am just not sure I could wait 3 years to cruise.

[momofmeg]

the one time I wore shorts in the dinning rooms *lunch on sea day* I had goose bumps on my legs...I was soo cold. so, pants or skirts or dresses w/ hose for me!

 

and you always have yourself dressed nicely too.

 

Folks I just thought I would let you know, this is my daughter Meg and she is 23 years old. She takes great pride in her appearance and looking her best.

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

and you always have yourself dressed nicely too.

 

Folks I just thought I would let you know, this is my daughter Meg and she is 23 years old. She takes great pride in her appearance and looking her best.

 

 

I'm the one, with the long formal gown, hair done up, and tiara on... on formal nights...

 

though, after 3 years, my tiara has finally 'had it' so I won't be using one this time...

 

*Bridal tiara.. it was Roman empire style..*

[HeatherInFlorida]

I understand Oceania does also. The problem is with my budget I could only cruise about once every 3 years.

 

And therein lies the problem for many of us. I guess the assumption is that if you prefer a more "traditional" cruising experience, you are more than comfortable financially which is obviously not always the case.

 

Perhaps Caviargal has it right and the better way to go is to cruise less frequently but receive the experience you're hoping for. However, in the meantime, if you continue to vacation every year, you're still spending the money you would have spent on a cruise.

 

So .... for some of us at least ... cruising may not be something we continue to do unless we decide to grin and bear it;) . After all, the ocean is still there, the ship is still there.

 

We cruise mostly because we just love to be out on the open sea. So we'll just do it less often, rent a cottage on the shore and look out over it instead:) .