napper777

Thanks for the info!

Is there a pattern for when Gala nights occur on a 7 day cruise? Are the typically on sea days, for example?

On 9/11/2019 at 10:36 AM, bmwman said:

Well thats it - We hear that more of NCL finest team have joined HAL

 

Really looking forward to sailing with them again and enjoying everything HAL has to offer - it looks a class act 🙂

Do you know of any of our old NCL officer friends being on the Nieuw Statendam next week? I heard Tanberg and Errol (and others) are now on HAL and would so love seeing them again!

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

You don’t HAVE to make a reservation but it’s a really good idea.  PG lunch can be very popular and fill up fast.

Appetizers are not limited as far as I know.  I think the main is the same as dinner in the PG.  Trust me, portions of the main are huge IMO and I can’t fathom anyone able to eat a 2nd 😉 

 

 

Thank you!

Do you have to make reservations for this ahead of time? Also, is lunch limited to one app and one main? It's only 7:30a here and I'm hungry after reviewing that menu!

7 hours ago, DivotMaker said:

 

Very well put.  These are the exact reasons we've sailed with NCL in the past, and also the reason (zooey atmosphere) we've decided to give HAL a shot and see if it more closely meets our needs as we've readjusted our priorities for a cruise.

 

We, too, will be trying HAL for similar reasons as yours. We are Platinum Plus on NCL but had a trend of not so great experiences. Looking forward to the new attempt at loving cruising again. 

6 hours ago, 510picker said:

No, the ports are Half Moon Cay, Falmouth, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. 

Thank you for clarifying for me! 

12 hours ago, 510picker said:

The image below was taken from my booking confirmation.

 

 

Thanks. Are the ports still Key west, DR, HMC, and Grand Turk?

2 hours ago, 510picker said:

It is my understanding that Jan 24 is the deadline to make a decision to rebook or cancel. Fortunately I was able to get booked onto the Zuiderdam leaving the same day. I need an accessible cabin, so it is nothing short of a miracle that one was available.

I see the zuiderdam cruise leaving on Feb 2, not Feb 1...?

Thank you so much JohninDC!

This was my question too so thanks for answering JohninDC. I've never used Uber or Lyft...do they charge per person? Can I book the Uber or Lyft ahead of time? 

9 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

 

link to that review?

im planning to be on bliss this april for 21day panama to seattle

I'll post it here tomorrow as I can't figure out how to link it without saving it to a Word document and I don't have my laptop here 😃

To OP, thank you for your review. I've posted our recent beyond disappointing Bliss cruise that made us promptly book a HAL cruise (after some research).  We are Platinum Plus and cruised NCL about 2-3 times a year. Makes me really sad/angry to see the steady downfall of what I so enjoyed. The Getaway was our favorite ship mostly bc of the happy crew. Sounds like that is a thing of the past. They continue to build new ships though. 

I'm new to HAL....wondering what the dress code is for lunch in the MDR?  On gala nights is a nice dress (not cocktail/"fancy") be acceptable? 

11 hours ago, ProfCruise said:

While I'm not loyal to any line and honestly love so many things about all of them and generally book based on price and itinerary, there is something extra special about HAL.  I jotted down 20 things that I think make the line unique: https://profcruise.com/20-things-i-love-about-holland-america/

 

I also live in downtown Seattle and cruise to Alaska often.  I have lots of Alaska stuff on my blog too if you want to check it out (just click on "ports" and "Alaska").  Enjoy your cruise!!!

 

I just booked my first cruise on HAL (Ive taken 30+ cruises on NCL) and just read your list. You're a great writer and I really enjoyed it!!!

12 hours ago, retdon said:

We are loyal HAL cruisers and love the excellent service, quiet environment, good food and special things they do for their passengers. We like boarding and having the cabin ready by 11am and staying in the cabin until your color code is called when disembarking. We like our drinks brought to our table by servers (in the buffet) and we like the staff to serve our food in the buffet. The room service is excellent and no charge. You can order from the Main Dinning menu into your cabin and we have done this on surf and turf night, nothing like eating steak and lobsters in your pjs. Room service always calls after your order is delivered to check and make sure you received everything. One other nice touch is the cloth towels in the public restrooms.

 

One big plus no smoking anywhere inside the ship, including the casino. There is a designated area aft on the top pool area for smokers. 

 

We just got off the RCL Harmony of the Seas and it was the most disappointing cruise we have been on. A monster ship with 5,700 passengers, about 1,000 of them young children, screaming, yelling and shoving. The announcements were so loud as was the entire ship we could not have a conversation with friends at dinner. I wish I had some ear plugs, it hurt my hearing. We went on this cruise to be with my high school reunion friends. 

 

Even though HAL has a program for children you will not see many on board. I would guess our last cruise in April there were about 15 total children and they were mostly teens. 

 

Yes HAL caters to the older cruiser and has the highest return cruiser numbers in the industry, they reward us highly for coming back. Their ships are easy to get around and are in excellent condition. They do not allow empty room service trays to be placed in the hall ways and are always cleaning to keep the ship spotless. 

 

There are many cruise lines and some like one more than the other, something for everyone and everyone's likes. 

Thanks for the details! I'm looking forward to a slower pace cruise with less of a child focus! Also nice to hear about no smoking!!

I hope I thanked everyone who responded to my question and I will continue to read posts. Soooooo....I've decided to take a leap onto HAL! Everyone's opinions factored into my decision so thank you very much. I'm not a very adventurous person and like routine for the most part so going on another cruise line is a big move for me. I'm going today to my TA!!

15 minutes ago, jimdee3636 said:

I'm a 4-star Mariner with HAL (meaning 200+ nights) and I've taken two fairly short (5 or 6 night) cruises on the NCL Joy and Bliss in the past six months.

 

As others have said, there are vast differences between the two lines but it's possible to like both of them (I do), as long as your expectations are realistic. If you sail with HAL---particularly on the older, smaller (1250 to 1450 passenger) ships---you have to accept that the entertainment options are limited. You also have to accept that the passenger mix isn't as diverse as that on NCL, and is decidedly older. But on the plus side, the older demographic means that you don't have to have a well-thought-out strategy to avoid the hordes of people that you have on ships like the Joy or Bliss, and you don't have to avoid entire areas of the ship (like the Atrium) that are way too noisy at all hours (too noisy for me, anyway).

 

If you do some research on HAL, if you choose the right ship with the right itinerary, and if you're not looking for non-stop entertainment, there's no reason you can't enjoy the HAL experience.

You're so right about the chaos in the atrium on NCLs big ships. I'm definitely a strategizer in avoiding throngs of people (especially poorly behaved ones!)  Thank you so much for your input as a well versed HAL customer! 

2 hours ago, travelnap said:

Hello. I am platinum on NCL and  have also sailed multiple times on HAL, so I have spent quite a bit of time on both Lines.

They are both enjoyable for me, but there are some differences.  HAL is more of the classic cruise ship line rather than the big bells and whistles you find on the mega ships like NCL and RCL.  I sail for the itinerary and not for the ship itself so I may be a bit biased. I will try to break down some of the differences and similarities in my opinion.

 

Dining: I find both to be fine, but give an edge to HAL on the MDR and Buffet.  I would give NCL an edge on the specialty restaurants as they have more of them.  HAL does offer free room service if that is something you use.

Entertainment: I would give the edge to NCL, more production shows and more activities aboard ship.

Ships: Both have been fine but I would give an edge to HAL here for a nicer decor and more passenger space.

Service: I have found service to be very good and very friendly on both lines so I would call that a draw.

Passenger mix, NCL does tend to be more of a younger demographic and more family mix.  HAL does have an older customer mix, but most are friendly and well traveled.  

 

I cruise to relax and am able to do so pretty much on every line I have sailed with.  I enjoy both HAL and NCL and the bulk of my cruises have been on those two lines, although I have sailed on other lines as well.  I do think HAL has more interesting itineraries.

 

Hope you have a great cruise no matter what you decide to do.

Thank you!! Helpful information!

11 hours ago, chill6x6 said:

I'm not loyalist....to any cruise line.  I pick the cruise line that goes when I can go to the best itinerary.  That end's up being some cruises on about all the major lines.  Carnival/RoyalNCL the most.  I've been on two HAL cruises lately.  Latest one was on the Rotterdam this past spring.  I'll post a link to my review at the bottom of this post....it might help you.  Below is my opinion answering some of your questions.

 

1. Service- Overall I'd say HAL is better than average.  "Sevice" is a broad term.  Bar service isn't what it should be in some areas and Is excellent in others.  In the buffet, they take your drink order and bring you your drinks.  Tables are generally cleared quickly.  Usually an empty table is easy to find.  Restrooms have actual cloth towels to dry your hands, a nice touch.  PILES of elevators!!  I believe they all have three elevator banks.

 

2. Food/dining experience- Overall I'd have to say a couple of notches above average.  Food/service/dining experience is definitely better than average.  Probably better than anything this side of Celebrity's Luminae.  24 hour room service is no extra charge for most items.  ALSO...you may order from the MDR dinner menu and have it delivered to your cabin, no extra charge.  There won't be the variety of "specially" restaurants as on NCL but for sure the quality is there.

 

3. Entertainment- Royal Caribbean is #1. VAST choices.  HAL IS going to be down the list on amount and variety of entertainment but what they DO have is GOOD!  My last cruise they literally had a string quartet and they were AWESOME!  BB King is great.  

 

4. Misc- It's a quieter cruise!  RARELY any announcements!  Average age of your fellow cruiser is going to be older.  If you have to be constantly entertained, prob not your best choice.  If you are a big partier, probably not your best choice.  I really liked that aspect myself!   Most ships are much smaller....easier to get around AND get on and off.  RARELY an issue finding a couple of empty deck chairs.  

 

I hope some of this is helpful to you!

 

 

 

VERY helpful, thank you very much. Enjoyed your review and the photos!!!

3 hours ago, newmexicoNita said:

Without reading all the responses I am going to give you mine: We are certainly NCL loyalist and are sad to say our cruising days have come to an end. With that I will give my opinions of HAL. The 2 lines are as different as night and day. We love HAL for different reasons. It is a bit, or a lot more formal. The service not as friendly but again outstanding and the food is better or it was on HAL. I love NCL food for many reasons but true quality HAL can not be beat Cabins are larger on HAL We enjoy the lectures, etc on sea days. Now the downside which has to be considered: if you are under 60 or even 65 or so you will be in the minority. The nightlife is pretty dull and the casinos are not jumping or even much fun on HAL. You will the passengers not as friendly either. They are not unfriendly but just not as casual as NCL> I think the best word I can think of the describe HAL compared to other lines: it is more subdued. One more thing: the entertainment, regardless what you like is better, much better on NCL  

 

You talk about a couple of Bliss cruises that have been just so/so. We prefer the mid sized ships over the mega ships. 

 

Hope this helps you a little. I have to be honest, even though we like both lines unless you do want to experience the quietness and less exciting adventure I think I would try another line, maybe Celebrity. It is good to experience a variety of lines.     

Thank you! You're right that the Jewel class is probably what I should return to. I fell in love with the Getaway (maybe bc of the outstanding senior staff and crew--the days of Sean etc all).  I read one of your other posts on saying goodbye to cruising and hope your experience can still be shared on CC as it's been valuable to me!

7 hours ago, Umbarger said:

HAL ships have no water slides, go carts or rock climbing wall.  It is  a cruise ship.  Lovely areas all over the ship.  We call it the blue hair cruise line as people are elderly but we don't mind  as we love older people.  I believe older people are better behaved.  No seat saving, lounge saving or drunks.  Food is great,  much better than NCL in my opinion.  Service is also a step above NCL.  We still cruise NCL often and enjoy them as well.  

I love the thought of well behaved people!! 😁. Thanks so much for your impressions

1 hour ago, iamaqt2 said:

HAL is the cruise line of OLD people.  I live in Seattle and have been on many of their ships.  I have to agree with the fact that they have really good food, but that's where my applause for them ends.  If you are under 50, and desire entertainment later than 10 pm, this in not the cruise line for you. And much of the quality entertainment they used to offer is nowhere to be found these days. The last cruise I took they had a subpar dance troupe who used laser lights to supplement their show. It was just ok.  
The only thing HAL has going is their itineraries. 
 

Thanks for your opinion! Agree that their itineraries seem unique 

4 hours ago, Oakman58 said:

I took my first cruise with HAL on the Westerdam in June for our Alaskan trip.  I was blown away by the food and service on the ship.  In my opinion the only category that NCL beat HAL was evening entertainment in the theater.  By the way, the theater seating on the HAL Westerdam was so much more comfortable than the NCL theater seats.  Entertainment in the lounges was equal to or better than NCL.

 

I thought the food served in the MDR on our HAL cruise beat the heck out of NCL. On our HAL cruise, the Gala Night menu in the MDR included Surf and Turf which was a filet mignon and a lobster tail.  You read that right, lobster tail.  Service in the MDR was much faster than what we've experience on recent NCL cruises.  HAL also offered high tea in the afternoon in the MDR which really added a touch of class to the cruise.

 

The NCL latitudes party pales in comparison to the Mariner Society Lunch.  During the Mariners lunch everyone was given a gift of appreciation and the Captain of the ship personally came down and addressed the diners and thanked them for cruising with HAL.  The entire crew was always smiling and seemed to be very happy to be of service to you.  That hasn't always been the case on my recent NCL cruises.

 

I'm 74 years old so I don't care about rope courses, water slides, climbing walls, etc.  For me class, style, and service are more important and HAL excelled in those categories.  I also liked the fact that HAL offered anytime dining which we had chosen and we never had to wait to be seated.  We were on the HAL Westerdam which has less than 2000 passenger capacity so the ship never felt crowded.

 

I was so impressed with our cruise on the Westerdam that I am looking forward to taking future cruises with HAL.  NCL has become too much of a floating hotel with an adult playground while HAL still offers classic style cruising.

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and thorough information. I really appreciate it and am absorbing all of it in my decision which is looking more and more like I'll be taking the leap to try it!

8 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

OP: my wife and I are also NCL "fans" (the Jewel-class ships, no interest in the mega-ships); we took our first cruise on HAL in the summer of 2018, the 20-day Viking Passage aboard the Zuiderdam.  HAL has some very interesting and unique itineraries, which is what drew us to HAL in the first place. 

 

With the caveat that it's always hard to compare cruise lines because you also need to compare ships, I will say that we found the food and service in the MDR on the Zuiderdam to be superior to anything we've experienced in any MDR on NCL.   By contract, we've enjoyed the buffets on NCL more than we did on HAL (although we did like the fact that most of the food in the buffet on HAL is not self-serve).  It wasn't so much that the food quality in the HAL buffet was lacking, it wasn't, but that there was so little variety during dinner.  (On a 20-night cruise, we simply can't do sit down/be served dining every night).  There was one station called "Distant Lands" that only served Italian food! 

 

There are few options for  specialty dining on the Zuiderdam, so our dining options were very limited if we wanted to skip the MDR for a night.

 

We did not go to any production shows on the Zuiderdam, but HAL may be doing away with those now anyway. You'll want to research that.  In terms of other entertainment, HAL is totally committed to BB King Blues (not our cup of tea), Billboard Onboard Piano duo, and Lincoln Center Center Stage (quintet of musicians).  We enjoyed Billboard Onboard and Lincoln Center Stage, but their repertoires -- all set by people shoreside  -- were limited and thus repeated frequently.

 

I think the "vibe" and "culture" on HAL are very different from NCL.  To me, it's really an apples and oranges comparison.  The Zuiderdam, btw, is a classic ship with a promenade deck, a wonderful observation lounge, and a bow that the Captain opened to everyone for sailaways and sail-ins.   As I said, that's our only experience on HAL so far. 

 

In case this is of any help to you, here's the link to the review that I posted on the HAL board with our thoughts on our first HAL cruise:

 

 

 

Thanks so much for the info. Great review! And beautiful photos!!! Your input is helping in my decision making.