Look out Celebrity--we just returned from Eurodam, and may be switching for good!

[Solstice23]

That is a very good suggestion. There is no reason to stick to one cruise line or be loyal to one cruise line. It is good to have options.

 

I say this because I am so over people trying a line once and saying this line had this that line had that.....Really I am sure everyone has different tastes but to say good bye to a line because of one great cruise on another? Perhaps you lucked out with a great room steward, Waiter the ship in the line with the best Hotel director...and all the stars lined up right, thats awesome!!! But seriously unless you have been on a cruise line we have when all those things were the worst ever, I would never say good bye to a line esp 2 that are so similar to one another.

 

Don't get me wrong all lines have things that suit certain people. As a result we tend to look at Celebrity first we like the marketing, ship design and people we have met while aboard them. At age 32 we have sailed many times and cant wait to try some other lines but even one bad cruise or meal on Celebrity still would not make us say good bye for certain.

[Smartcookie]

I can't wait to try HAL, I would have booked them for our upcoming cruise but we only had 5 days for a cruise so we booked the Century.

 

My good friends (2 families) who are in their 40's cruised HAL with their children and raved about it...I wish X would get the teak deck chairs. ;)

 

Also, both couples are oenophiles, as are we, and they took aboard 6 bottles of wine each, no problem at all.

[fleckle]

As for ordering of the dinner menu, you can do that on Celebrity also up stairs in the aft and not dress up.

Thanks for posting this info. I was totally unaware that you could order from the regular dinner menu upstairs in aft casual dining. The only menu we ever received up there was the limited casual dining menu.

 

All this time we have been believing that if you want to order from the regular dinner menu but don't eat in the main dining room, you can only have the dinner delivered to your cabin.

 

Your message opens up an additional, very attractive possibility.

Do you request the regular dinner menu at the time you make the casual dining reservation, or do you wait until you get up there to ask for it?

[Grandma Rambo]

We really love HAL, too, except for their smoking policy.

They allow smoking (even cigar smoking) on balconies (ick and double-ick).

Also, in public areas designated as non-smoking on HAL, there was very little enforcement.

Until HAL brings its smoking policy into this century, Celebrity is the best choice for us.

 

We sailed HAL and all the wonderful comments are true. We loved the cruise, BUT, the smoke was very prominent everywhere that was adjacent to a smoking area. I believe it was the piano bar that we couldn't go near because of the smoke from the casino. If you happen to be next to or above a smoker there are times the slider has to be kept closed because the odor seeps in. The almost no smoking on Celebrity and the incredible new perks for Elite will keep us on Celebrity ships. Also, we are very happy with the new menu and the service has always been outstanding.

Jennie

[AlinaMaria]

Having sailed on HAL once nine years ago, I qualified as a Mariner, and was invited to the Brunch during one of our sea days. Beef Wellington, and several other delicious choices were served, along with champagne or mimosas. At each place setting was a delft-type tile in a paper package thanking us for sailing HAL. And, Half Moon Cay is the best beach I've ever been on--bar none....

 

I have been on all cruise lines that I can afford without getting into credit card debt. Definitely Celebrity/HAL/Princess are my favorite. Each has its own personality and unique charm.

 

Celebrity is most definitely my favorite. But HAL keeps me coming back because of HALF MOON CAY. This is the most beautiful perfect beach and the best private island!!!!!!

[redwinger]

Doing the Century in 1 week, after being on the Disney Wonder [with 2 grandsons] and the Eurodam in the past 12 months. We have 8 HAL sailings of our 22 total so far, and are anxious to do the X thing. Our last X was the elegant? Britanis in 1989 so we are looking for a few changes.;) The Eurodam was only ok-food, service, and the smoking were the main negatives for us. However the older S class ships we found to be much superior in our experiences.-smaller and more intimate and a chance to really get to know the staff, the ship, and the officers. Perhaps the Century and a 5 dayer are not a true comparison but we are very anxious to try X once again after 21 years. Our favourites so far have been the Veendam, Statendam, and Ryndam. cheers to all.

[teajak]

I'm walking away from Carnival and Princess because we've had smokers on the balcony and it can really add stress to a trip where we go for the fresh sea air.

 

I guess I won't even look at HAL... if they allow smoking on the balcony.

 

I'm looking forward to booking my next trip on Celebrity, unless anyone can recommend another line to compare with?

The smoking policy on Celebrity is wonderful, and they do enforce it.The balcony and the casino make it worthwhile.Don't let anyone tell you it has cut revenue in the casino, it is packed at night.

[Wilcoam]

I'm with Lucy R

 

My wife and I have only sailed HAL once, and my wife works as a geriatric nurse, and on HAL, she always felt she was on call/at work - True this was

a 14 day sailing in Europe -Oosterdam, but we've also sailed 10-14 days in Europe with both X and Silverseas and this was not the case

 

True, Silverseas aside, my wife also admits HAL offered the best seafood in the MDR to date, great beds, great MDR service, etc equal to and if not slightly better than X, great 'small' ships for a mainstream line

 

But at our age (40-47) overall we've had a much better time on NCL or Princess, and especially on X - We would only try HAL again in maybe 30 years? Earlier only if we were sailing with older members of our family, of which we tried to book the Westerdam once, and we were cancelled due to a charter, of which forced us to use Princess and since we've not looked back

 

jc

Toronto

X Summit Feb 20th 2010