Tired of RCI Cutbacks? Try Holland America...

[emdia43]

Maybe the answer is to take a cruise during family vacation times- we went on Zuiderdam in July and the demographic was the same as any other cruise we have been on. If you go at other times, the retired age group are prevalent, as they are on all others. We had a great cruise on HAL

[CruisinManiac]

I agree with the post that both lines are similar, they cater to different audiences.

 

On one HAL cruise, we were sitting around the pool when it came time for the "pool activities". No one wanted to participate so they were canceled and the music was turned down so as not to wake the sleepers around the pool.:)

One cruise on Celebrity was enough for us. Great service and food, but very much like a sitting room in a funeral home. Very quiet and low activity.

 

After our cruise 2 weeks ago on the AOS, this sounds right up our alley! The music was way too loud (although the band was very good and we enjoy pool music) and the constant announcements of game participation, bingo , art auctions and spa specials were very annoying.:mad: Couldn't concentrate on my reading, and sleep WAS out of the question. Oh, and then there were the annoying passengers. :rolleyes: My DH and I commented all week on how we must be like magnets. No matter where we went, more passengers would show up and start making the loudest racket...drunken conversations, smoking on the wrong side, etc. We were not even sitting near the pool. After trying the reserved GS section the first day, we tried to get as far away as we could from the pool, and still enjoy the sun.

 

Can't wait to take our next HAL cruise. Our last two were wonderful! Cruising ages for us on HAL were 47-56. I am currently 51 and DH is 56. Even though we are heading toward 60, we have always leaned more toward the more sedate. However, we do occasionally break out and get a little wild, so we are not prudes. Should have seen my DH gatoring (or doing the worm) at our daughters wedding 3 weeks ago.:D That's why we needed a cruise to rest.

[xpcdoojk]

After our cruise 2 weeks ago on the AOS, this sounds right up our alley! The music was way too loud (although the band was very good and we enjoy pool music) and the constant announcements of game participation, bingo , art auctions and spa specials were very annoying.:mad: Couldn't concentrate on my reading, and sleep WAS out of the question. Oh, and then there were the annoying passengers. :rolleyes: My DH and I commented all week on how we must be like magnets. No matter where we went, more passengers would show up and start making the loudest racket...drunken conversations, smoking on the wrong side, etc. We were not even sitting near the pool. After trying the reserved GS section the first day, we tried to get as far away as we could from the pool, and still enjoy the sun.

 

Can't wait to take our next HAL cruise. Our last two were wonderful! Cruising ages for us on HAL were 47-56. I am currently 51 and DH is 56. Even though we are heading toward 60, we have always leaned more toward the more sedate. However, we do occasionally break out and get a little wild, so we are not prudes. Should have seen my DH gatoring (or doing the worm) at our daughters wedding 3 weeks ago.:D That's why we needed a cruise to rest.

 

The worst Bingo announcements I ever heard was on HAL... Good Morning, it is Billy the Bingo Flamingo reminding all passengers that it is time for Bingo! Please join us, blah blah blah blah. I think they must play Bingo 5 times a day.

 

just saying....

 

jc

[dirtgirl]

Now I'm scared of trying HAL.:( I'm into fun, not sedate, food, relaxing, or Bingo.:rolleyes:

[jewopaho]

Maybe the answer is to take a cruise during family vacation times- we went on Zuiderdam in July and the demographic was the same as any other cruise we have been on. If you go at other times, the retired age group are prevalent, as they are on all others. We had a great cruise on HAL

 

I presume you were on one of their newer ships. There isn't much for children to do on the older ones. Most of us geezers have issues with hundreds of kids on cruises, which is why I go when school is in session (not to mention the price difference).

 

That's the beauty of it all ... there's a cruise line, a time of year, and a ship for every preference.

[theotherchad]

I think it's great that there are different cruise experiences for folks with different tastes and priorities.

 

We find Royal a great compromise. Lots of activities, dancing, music, but with good participation on formal nights. It would be hard to find a better balance of the things that we like on another cruise line, but I'm always open to hearing from others' experiences.

 

On the subject ofthe average cruising age, some of our best dinner companions ever have been retired folks 20 years our senior, but I would probably not have much fun on a floating geriatric center where bingo is the new dancing. :D

[DC2OC]

The worst Bingo announcements I ever heard was on HAL... Good Morning, it is Billy the Bingo Flamingo reminding all passengers that it is time for Bingo! Please join us, blah blah blah blah. I think they must play Bingo 5 times a day.

 

just saying....

 

jc

 

Bingo was a big theme on our EOS cruise.Bingo shirts were the Prize at most activites.Makes me happy I didn't enter the Sexiest Legs Contest.No Bingo Flamingo though

[DC2OC]

One cruise on Celebrity was enough for us. Great service and food, but very much like a sitting room in a funeral home. Very quiet and low activity.

 

 

Agree with the food and service but the funeral home comment is a bit of a stretch .While RCCL is more active which is a big plus, X has a great gym,had a better pool band and the entertainment was on par with RCCL.They had trivia games at the pool but no Sexiest Legs Contest for me to enter.They had a string Quartet in one of the Lounges for formal night which was great,though I usually do not do those things and a very entertaining naturalist ,Brett Nixon,on our Alaskan Cruise

[abridalmaven]

Just finished a great 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on HAL's Eurodam. While the demographic is a little older, I really like there product, and highly recommend it for those of you who may be looking for alternatives to RCI. Here are some reasons why:

 

1. Eurodam is a beautiful ship - not too big, not too small.

 

2. Service is impeccable. Everyone was genuinely helpful.

 

3. For those that care, you still get bedtime chocolates. :)

 

4. The food was incredibly good, especially in the MDR at dinner. Probably the best I've had among the 7 lines I've sailed. Nice and varied selection. Meals arrive hot. Meat and fish cuts seemed larger and of higher quality than RCI, and the meat is actually cooked as ordered. You don't need to invest an extra $15 or go to Chops to get a decent steak.

 

5. Good loyalty program in the Mariner Society. The benefits aren't stunning, but they're good, and they are clearly communicated in writing, based equitably on days at sea. RCI's unwillingness to put their benefits in writing, especially at the higher levels, makes it too easy for them to go unhonored.

 

6. A very nice private island that provides a great beach day, pure and simple, not the amusement park Labadee seems to be evolving into.

 

No cruise line is perfect, and there are things I prefer about RCI, but HAL does a great job. Given the above, their impressive itineraries and competitive prices, I will keep sailing them.

I will take the amusement park over the nursing home atmosphere any day and I AM old.

[kooljamming]

I have always thought from your posts that I would like to meet you in person. But now I think that you seem like a cruel, cruel woman....:eek::D

 

I am working on rectifying the situation. I learned in economic hard time cutbacks are necessary but certain standard should be maintained.

 

Note: switching back to the smooth classic taste of an old Irish ale is NOT admitting I was wrong about Bud Lite pee oops, I mean beer:p;)

[cruzincurt]

I'm so excited. I just got my new HAL Mariner benefits program booklet. After already sailing on HAL 4 times, I only need 172 more days or 25 cruises to qualify for priority boarding! :eek: But I will get my tile each cruise and tin badge.:rolleyes:

 

You decide, I did....RCL

[Lynnees]

I'm so excited. I just got my new HAL Mariner benefits program booklet. After already sailing on HAL 4 times, I only need 172 more days or 25 cruises to qualify for priority boarding! :eek: But I will get my tile each cruise and tin badge.:rolleyes:

 

You decide, I did....RCL

 

Well, at least you know up front what you will or will not get. You didn't have it then have it taken away from you.

[cruzincurt]

Maybe, but from my experience then RCL may have cut back more than HAL ever offered.

[kyriecat]

I guess I don't really see an incredible difference between the longer RC and HAL cruises in terms of activities and demographics. I was on RC's Legend 13-night Med sailing in 2008. Talk about a funeral home! Hubby and I are mid-30s and we were in the younger crowd by at least 20 years. There was NOTHING to do after late seating. On a good night there were a dozen people in the Viking Lounge. The service was the absolute worst that I have ever experienced. Our cabin steward wouldn't fill our ice, most of the time she didn't bring clean towels, and she rarely cleaned anything. Our waiter barely spoke to us and actually rolled his eye if I asked him for a recommendation. Most of the rest of the staff seemed angry all the time. Our assistant waiter Branislov and concierge Diego were the only friendly faces on the ship.

 

I was on HAL's Maasdam for a 14-night Caribbean sailing in April. I decided to give HAL a try after RC cancelled my Caribbean cruises two years in a row. The average age was probably 60 so it was similar to the Legend cruise. Like Legend, the ship was pretty much dead after late seating, except for the casino which was always busy. The service on Maasdam was really good. The waiter wasn't as friendly as I've had on past cruises, but he was efficient and NEVER rolled his eyes at me for asking questions. Our cabin steward was definitely among the top that we've had - friendly, efficient. I liked the food on HAL better than RC except for Pinnacle Grill. I thought Chops was better.

 

Hubby and I are giving HAL another try. We looked at Panama Canal cruises for April 2011. HAL offers a 10-night partial PC cruise on Zuiderdam in an SC suite (510 sq. ft) for $3100 pp. RC offers a 10-night cruise to Panama (no canal) on Jewel in a OS (512 sq. ft) for $4200 pp. I admit that HAL doesn't offer free drinks to suite guests in their Neptune Lounge but I will be going half-way through the canal on the ship and saving $2200 is enough to fund a large bar tab, plus HAL offers complimentary laundry service for suites.

 

RC Suite Amenities:

Priority check-in

Personalized attention throughout the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships

Reserved prime seating in the main theater for entertainment shows, where available

Priority tender tickets on select cruises.

VIP pool deck seating, where available

Full breakfast, lunch and dinner dining room menus available for in-room dining

Private breakfast and lunch seating in specialty restaurants on our Voyager and Freedom Class ships

Mattel® board games available to order for in-room entertainment for the kids

Complimentary luggage valet service

Luxury spa bathrobes for use onboard

Complimentary pressing service on formal night

Priority departure with exclusive suite* departure lounge featuring continental breakfast

 

HAL Suite Amenities:

Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise

Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers

Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night

Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request

Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise

Cocktail party with ship officers

Priority boarding for tender ports of call

Special disembarkation service

Priority dining and seating requests

Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only

High tea service in suite on request

A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length

Neptune Lounge with Concierge Services

 

I don't know how the 2 cruiseline compare for a 10-night cruise. I guess I'll find out. All I can say is for longer cruises, they are more alike than different with HAL winning (IMO) for service and food.

[nutzo]

their liberal smoking policy. They even let you smoke pipes & cigars in cabins & on balconies, ick...:p

 

That's enough for me to NEVER sail on HAL. The smoke from Pipes & cigars affects my allergies so much, that a couple hours of exposure can put me out of commision for a day or two. :eek:

[Bakincakes]

That's enough for me to NEVER sail on HAL. The smoke from Pipes & cigars affects my allergies so much, that a couple hours of exposure can put me out of commision for a day or two. :eek:

 

 

I understand your allergy issue. It can't be easy.

 

But living in California must force you to wear a bubble in order to survive with all the smog and poor air quality there. Not to mention the traffic..cars..trucks all spewing their stuff into the air.

 

At least onboard you are moving a good portion of the time.

 

We are non-smokers and have never had an issue when our neighbors smoke on their balconies.

[Lynnees]

Maybe, but from my experience then RCL may have cut back more than HAL ever offered.

 

 

That's my point - HAL didn't give then take away - with them yuo know what you're getting and my understanding is they are improving. RCL took away everything of any importance from Diamonds. (and put it all on Celebrity.)

[Bakincakes]

That's my point - HAL didn't give then take away - with them yuo know what you're getting and my understanding is they are improving. RCL took away everything of any importance from Diamonds. (and put it all on Celebrity.)

 

 

RCI has been pretty good at letting Diamonds know where they rank in the RCI food chain.:rolleyes:

[ilionite65]

That's my point - HAL didn't give then take away - with them yuo know what you're getting and my understanding is they are improving. RCL took away everything of any importance from Diamonds. (and put it all on Celebrity.)

 

Please post what you think RCL has taken away that's of any importance.

[ilionite65]

I guess I don't really see an incredible difference between the longer RC and HAL cruises in terms of activities and demographics. I was on RC's Legend 13-night Med sailing in 2008. Talk about a funeral home! Hubby and I are mid-30s and we were in the younger crowd by at least 20 years. There was NOTHING to do after late seating. On a good night there were a dozen people in the Viking Lounge. The service was the absolute worst that I have ever experienced. Our cabin steward wouldn't fill our ice, most of the time she didn't bring clean towels, and she rarely cleaned anything. Our waiter barely spoke to us and actually rolled his eye if I asked him for a recommendation. Most of the rest of the staff seemed angry all the time. Our assistant waiter Branislov and concierge Diego were the only friendly faces on the ship.

 

I was on HAL's Maasdam for a 14-night Caribbean sailing in April. I decided to give HAL a try after RC cancelled my Caribbean cruises two years in a row. The average age was probably 60 so it was similar to the Legend cruise. Like Legend, the ship was pretty much dead after late seating, except for the casino which was always busy. The service on Maasdam was really good. The waiter wasn't as friendly as I've had on past cruises, but he was efficient and NEVER rolled his eyes at me for asking questions. Our cabin steward was definitely among the top that we've had - friendly, efficient. I liked the food on HAL better than RC except for Pinnacle Grill. I thought Chops was better.

 

Hubby and I are giving HAL another try. We looked at Panama Canal cruises for April 2011. HAL offers a 10-night partial PC cruise on Zuiderdam in an SC suite (510 sq. ft) for $3100 pp. RC offers a 10-night cruise to Panama (no canal) on Jewel in a OS (512 sq. ft) for $4200 pp. I admit that HAL doesn't offer free drinks to suite guests in their Neptune Lounge but I will be going half-way through the canal on the ship and saving $2200 is enough to fund a large bar tab, plus HAL offers complimentary laundry service for suites.

 

RC Suite Amenities:

Priority check-in

Personalized attention throughout the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships

Reserved prime seating in the main theater for entertainment shows, where available

Priority tender tickets on select cruises.

VIP pool deck seating, where available

Full breakfast, lunch and dinner dining room menus available for in-room dining

Private breakfast and lunch seating in specialty restaurants on our Voyager and Freedom Class ships

Mattel® board games available to order for in-room entertainment for the kids

Complimentary luggage valet service

Luxury spa bathrobes for use onboard

Complimentary pressing service on formal night

Priority departure with exclusive suite* departure lounge featuring continental breakfast

 

HAL Suite Amenities:

Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise

Premium duvet, oversize bath towels and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers

Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night

Hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request

Binoculars and umbrellas for your use on the cruise

Cocktail party with ship officers

Priority boarding for tender ports of call

Special disembarkation service

Priority dining and seating requests

Exclusive daily breakfast service for suite guests only

High tea service in suite on request

A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length

Neptune Lounge with Concierge Services

 

I don't know how the 2 cruiseline compare for a 10-night cruise. I guess I'll find out. All I can say is for longer cruises, they are more alike than different with HAL winning (IMO) for service and food.

 

I'm very surprised at this post, we've sailed on RCL's longer cruises and have always gotten the excellent service that we've come to expect from RCL. Did you report any of the problems that you had with your cabin steward or the dining staff? I'm not saying I don't believe your post, you've sailed with RCL a lot and I don't assume you have an axe to grind, I'm just very surprised at your experience.

[Lynnees]

Please post what you think RCL has taken away that's of any importance.

 

 

You haven't been paying attention to the changes to the C&A for Diamond? Let's start with taking away access to the concierge lounge. Next, having some decent coupons in the coupon book down to well........let's see......nothing?

 

Of course what's important to one person is not necessarily important to the next.

[Marie51]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that on Holland you can always find a lounger (at least on the cruises I've taken with them) because the old folks do not sit out in the sun too much. No problem with chair hogs!!!

[kyriecat]

I'm very surprised at this post, we've sailed on RCL's longer cruises and have always gotten the excellent service that we've come to expect from RCL. Did you report any of the problems that you had with your cabin steward or the dining staff? I'm not saying I don't believe your post, you've sailed with RCL a lot and I don't assume you have an axe to grind, I'm just very surprised at your experience.

I didn't report our waiter since he did bring our food and take our orders in a timely manner. Not being friendly and rolling his eyes was rude, but I didn't think it was worth making an issue about. We (and everyone else at our table of 8) made it a point to sing praises about our asst. waiter (Branislov) to the head waiter and on our comment cards. Hopefully he has progressed with his career at RC! We complained about the cabin steward but it actually made things worse so we gave up complaining. I thought maybe the problem was because we had prepaid our tips that cruise so the staff figured they didn't have to work as hard for us. After reading some other threads about gratuities, maybe the staff was disgruntled because of a high number of European guests and the rumors that they don't tip. I don't really know what the problems were with the staff attitudes. It was very unusual compared to previous cruises. I realized that I exaggerated about Branislov and Diego being the only friendly faces. The cabin steward working the group of cabins next to ours was also friendly and made it a point to greet us each time she saw us, even though she wasn't our steward.

 

I don't have an axe to grind with RC. I (mostly) enjoyed my cruises with them and actually prefer their ship layouts, particularly Radiance class. I have another cruise booked with RC for January, mostly to use up my last Next Cruise cert and combine benefits. I looked at RC for 2011 because Jewel is a Radiance class ship, but the price and itinerary for HAL was too good to pass up.

 

The only reason I even gave HAL a try was because RC cancelled the Caribbean cruises that I had booked with them two years in a row. The first time they cancelled on us, we decided to do the Med cruise on Legend instead and do a Caribbean trip the next year. The second time they cancelled we decided we were Caribbean cursed on RC and decided the HAL itinerary looked worthy of a try.

[ilionite65]

You haven't been paying attention to the changes to the C&A for Diamond? Let's start with taking away access to the concierge lounge. Next, having some decent coupons in the coupon book down to well........let's see......nothing?

 

Of course what's important to one person is not necessarily important to the next.

 

My point, what's important to one........ I only sail the larger ships, so I will have the diamond lounge, the only coupons they took away I never used, no loss there for me. So, while I have been paying attention, I thought maybe you knew of something that really did make a difference, not so much!

[ilionite65]

I didn't report our waiter since he did bring our food and take our orders in a timely manner. Not being friendly and rolling his eyes was rude, but I didn't think it was worth making an issue about. We (and everyone else at our table of 8) made it a point to sing praises about our asst. waiter (Branislov) to the head waiter and on our comment cards. Hopefully he has progressed with his career at RC! We complained about the cabin steward but it actually made things worse so we gave up complaining. I thought maybe the problem was because we had prepaid our tips that cruise so the staff figured they didn't have to work as hard for us. After reading some other threads about gratuities, maybe the staff was disgruntled because of a high number of European guests and the rumors that they don't tip. I don't really know what the problems were with the staff attitudes. It was very unusual compared to previous cruises. I realized that I exaggerated about Branislov and Diego being the only friendly faces. The cabin steward working the group of cabins next to ours was also friendly and made it a point to greet us each time she saw us, even though she wasn't our steward.

 

I don't have an axe to grind with RC. I (mostly) enjoyed my cruises with them and actually prefer their ship layouts, particularly Radiance class. I have another cruise booked with RC for January, mostly to use up my last Next Cruise cert and combine benefits. I looked at RC for 2011 because Jewel is a Radiance class ship, but the price and itinerary for HAL was too good to pass up.

 

The only reason I even gave HAL a try was because RC cancelled the Caribbean cruises that I had booked with them two years in a row. The first time they cancelled on us, we decided to do the Med cruise on Legend instead and do a Caribbean trip the next year. The second time they cancelled we decided we were Caribbean cursed on RC and decided the HAL itinerary looked worthy of a try.

 

I did say that I didn't think you had an axe to grind and that I believed your post. I will add however that if you feel something was bad enough to report as such here, I would think it would be bad enough to report to the appropriate personal. While the dining room staff has a responsibility to serve the meals, they also expected to do it in a friendly manner. If you found them rude I imagine the appropriate people would want to know that. As far as the cabin steward, she obviously needs to be reported again , measures like that are what prevent the next passengers from having the same problem. Something can't be fixed if it's not known that it's broken.