So excited for this series! I love how much information you put in your videos it really helps a crazy planner like me fully understand what to expect!!
Yes, you have a very good knowledge of what HAL is. It's an long-operating cruise line , since 1873, of course now owned by Carnival but still trying to hang on to as much heritage as it can. Food, it's up and down on most mass market lines, premium or not. Same could be said of Princess, Celebrity's food. You can cruise this ship again and get great food. HAL is very consistent ship to ship but some of the newer ships add BB Kings which is another solid music venue. One thing I'm liking less and less about going out is hearing the same songs over and over, the hits that are now overplayed. I'm a jazz guy and always have been (more so even in my teens and 20s than I am now), and loved the Ocean Bar on HAL that still plays jazz or at least "American songbook standards." Each cruise line has to be cruised on 3 times on different class ships to get an idea of who they are, and maybe different itineraries like Alaska, Caribbean, New England and maybe European Med cruises to get an idea of their product. Going on the not newest class of ship is a good idea as well. HAL hasn't changed but Princess and Celebrity did their products in their newest classes so they're distinct from their previous classes. Ports get cancelled. It's disappointing but it happens pretty often.
Very interested so see the rest of your experience on Eurodam! I sailed on this ship a few weeks after you. I found the service and food to be quite good, but the entertainment definitely geared for an older crowd. The “up close talks” are very unique to Holland America and I enjoyed them, but the other shows didn’t impress me outside of the talented vocalists in Rolling Stone and Step One.
What is an older crowd? What specifically are the ages of an "older" crowd and how is entertainment geared toward such a crowd? And what does an older crowd not do now that they didn't do at say age 30? If someone is 60 now, that means they were 30 in 1994 so what did a 30 year old do in 1994? I see people dancing and eating and I'm not sure what is geared toward any particular age of people other than the music that was popular in a certain period leading to a certain way they may dance and such. But a lot of people in their 20s and 30s are singing Sweet Caroline. Neil Diamond introduced that song in 1969 and he is 83 years old.
@ On my particular sailing, most guests were in their 70s or older. There were three children onboard. Entertainment in the main theater was a piano virtuoso and orchestral music on hand pan drums. While those aren’t categorically “older” activities it is different than the entertainment I’ve seen on other cruise lines. Activities like karaoke weren’t offered. Trivia was offered but the themes were music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I just think there are opportunities for entertainment inclusive of all age groups.
@@bh7125 Thank you. If most guests were 70 or older and if there was a piano virtuoso, that's a certain tastes. For sure there are plenty young piano virtuosos and those playing Classical or jazz or another form of music that requires virtuosity, but the majority of people of many ages aren't listening to them. It's a niche music. HAL does play music from the the 50s all the way up to the present on most of their cruises. My guess is they looked at the demographics of your cruise and went with the entertainment they thought fit. Or that's a particular cruise director's decision. I do agree that it should be inclusive of all age groups but age groups don't necessarily have the same tastes. You have to consider styles and genre of music as well with the majority of age groups. HAL does OK usually in this regard. I think, though, a more toned down cruise should be expected with music played at a lower volume and more low key music played on HAL and sometimes Princess.
This video was suggested for me. I watched because we were just on the Eurodam and curious of your experience. We were actually on the same cruise. I agree 100% with your assessment! We said the same things…Dive In was some of the best food (even though it was just bar food), MDR was just not good and all the eating options were slammed on embarkation day. I look forward to your thoughts on the rest of the cruise. Maybe I’ll see myself in one of your videos. 🤪
No. When you book a cruise, you sign an invisible contract that lets the cruise line change your itinerary for any reason without compensation. They won't normally compensate, and especially this time when they replaced the port with another day in Nassau. Sometimes you will see them refund the port fees for a port if it is missed, but that is not usually much.
Hi Josh. Just ran across your TH-cam site. Really cool reviews...
Really fun to see a video from the perspective of someone who has never been on HAL. A 4-day cruise is really not the "usual" HAL experience, however.
I have heard that... but also this 4 day cruise was part of a longer 15 day cruise where almost everyone else was doing the whole 15 days.
So excited for this series! I love how much information you put in your videos it really helps a crazy planner like me fully understand what to expect!!
You know it! I like to put all the info in there so you can really feel like you’re on board!
Yes, you have a very good knowledge of what HAL is. It's an long-operating cruise line , since 1873, of course now owned by Carnival but still trying to hang on to as much heritage as it can. Food, it's up and down on most mass market lines, premium or not. Same could be said of Princess, Celebrity's food. You can cruise this ship again and get great food. HAL is very consistent ship to ship but some of the newer ships add BB Kings which is another solid music venue. One thing I'm liking less and less about going out is hearing the same songs over and over, the hits that are now overplayed. I'm a jazz guy and always have been (more so even in my teens and 20s than I am now), and loved the Ocean Bar on HAL that still plays jazz or at least "American songbook standards." Each cruise line has to be cruised on 3 times on different class ships to get an idea of who they are, and maybe different itineraries like Alaska, Caribbean, New England and maybe European Med cruises to get an idea of their product. Going on the not newest class of ship is a good idea as well. HAL hasn't changed but Princess and Celebrity did their products in their newest classes so they're distinct from their previous classes.
Ports get cancelled. It's disappointing but it happens pretty often.
Thanks for all the great information and insights! I'm learning so much.
Great to see a new series!
NCL charges $15 to bring wine on board too, unless you have the drink package also.
Very interested so see the rest of your experience on Eurodam! I sailed on this ship a few weeks after you. I found the service and food to be quite good, but the entertainment definitely geared for an older crowd. The “up close talks” are very unique to Holland America and I enjoyed them, but the other shows didn’t impress me outside of the talented vocalists in Rolling Stone and Step One.
What is an older crowd? What specifically are the ages of an "older" crowd and how is entertainment geared toward such a crowd? And what does an older crowd not do now that they didn't do at say age 30? If someone is 60 now, that means they were 30 in 1994 so what did a 30 year old do in 1994?
I see people dancing and eating and I'm not sure what is geared toward any particular age of people other than the music that was popular in a certain period leading to a certain way they may dance and such. But a lot of people in their 20s and 30s are singing Sweet Caroline. Neil Diamond introduced that song in 1969 and he is 83 years old.
@ On my particular sailing, most guests were in their 70s or older. There were three children onboard. Entertainment in the main theater was a piano virtuoso and orchestral music on hand pan drums. While those aren’t categorically “older” activities it is different than the entertainment I’ve seen on other cruise lines. Activities like karaoke weren’t offered. Trivia was offered but the themes were music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I just think there are opportunities for entertainment inclusive of all age groups.
@@bh7125 Thank you. If most guests were 70 or older and if there was a piano virtuoso, that's a certain tastes. For sure there are plenty young piano virtuosos and those playing Classical or jazz or another form of music that requires virtuosity, but the majority of people of many ages aren't listening to them. It's a niche music. HAL does play music from the the 50s all the way up to the present on most of their cruises. My guess is they looked at the demographics of your cruise and went with the entertainment they thought fit. Or that's a particular cruise director's decision.
I do agree that it should be inclusive of all age groups but age groups don't necessarily have the same tastes. You have to consider styles and genre of music as well with the majority of age groups. HAL does OK usually in this regard. I think, though, a more toned down cruise should be expected with music played at a lower volume and more low key music played on HAL and sometimes Princess.
Hey thanks for your time and effort what you put in it
Thanks for watching!
This video was suggested for me. I watched because we were just on the Eurodam and curious of your experience. We were actually on the same cruise. I agree 100% with your assessment! We said the same things…Dive In was some of the best food (even though it was just bar food), MDR was just not good and all the eating options were slammed on embarkation day. I look forward to your thoughts on the rest of the cruise. Maybe I’ll see myself in one of your videos. 🤪
Oh that's so funny we were on the same cruise! I'm glad it wasn't just me - I try not to be too picky!
Was there any cruise credit or compensation for missing the ports?
No. When you book a cruise, you sign an invisible contract that lets the cruise line change your itinerary for any reason without compensation. They won't normally compensate, and especially this time when they replaced the port with another day in Nassau. Sometimes you will see them refund the port fees for a port if it is missed, but that is not usually much.
Do you get a refund or something because of the cancellation
No refunds - the cruise line reserves the right to change the itinerary at any point
@ not fair thanks for telling us I won’t be booking with them. They’re too pricey anyways
@@jedixfettx8404 No cruise line refunds money due to canceled ports.
Omg can I be your boyfriend? Where do I apply?