Thinking of coming from Carnival

[waldocruiser1]

Okay, I have sailed on 3 Carnival cruises, the first was the "Smoke Free" Paradise, it was great, very eligant dining, and really made you feel special, it was my first cruise, and we loved it. The second cruise was a 4 day Disney Wonder, and it was also very eligant, the second Carnival was on the Liberty and it was very nice, not as fancy as the Paradise but still made you feel special. The last was the Splendor in April o9 that got all turned around due to the Mexico thing, and was not very enjoyable, dining was not much more than a nice resturant.

 

I am wanting to find a line that has that special feeling, eligant dining. I am thinking of Holland, can someone tell me if this is the right direction or have they all lost that special feeling in the last 10 years?

[jd1966]

Celebrity may meet your needs!

[Cruzman]

Since you asked about HAL, I can tell you that indeed, the dining experience is quite elegant. This is especially true if you request traditional dining. Having sailed on Carnival numerous times (including the Paradise), I can tell you that the entire cruise experience on HAL is much more subdued, refined, and elegant.

[Bakincakes]

Okay, I have sailed on 3 Carnival cruises, the first was the "Smoke Free" Paradise, it was great, very eligant dining, and really made you feel special, it was my first cruise, and we loved it. The second cruise was a 4 day Disney Wonder, and it was also very eligant, the second Carnival was on the Liberty and it was very nice, not as fancy as the Paradise but still made you feel special. The last was the Splendor in April o9 that got all turned around due to the Mexico thing, and was not very enjoyable, dining was not much more than a nice resturant.

 

I am wanting to find a line that has that special feeling, eligant dining. I am thinking of Holland, can someone tell me if this is the right direction or have they all lost that special feeling in the last 10 years?

 

 

The cruiselines are changing with the pax who are sailing these days.

 

Some of the elegance has been lost mainly because people seem to be short on basic manners and some come to the MDR dressed like they are going to the local diner.

 

HAL does a great job regardless but be aware that some of the ambiance is gone.

 

The Pinnacle is a wonderful dining experience. Most pax seem to get with it to dine there and dress and act appropriately.:)

[Randyk47]

My very first cruise was on the Carnival Fantasy. My ex and I took a "try it, you may like it" 4-day cruise out of Port Canaveral. We really liked cruising and our TA questioned us about what we liked and didn't like about the cruise. Based on our feedback she recommended either Celebrity or Holland America for our next cruise. Really was a flip of the coin choice though Celebrity didn't have any veranda cabins on their ships at the time and the ex wanted to be able to get outside from our cabin. That pushed us to HAL and while the ex is obviously gone my new bride and I have continued to enjoy HAL. Is the experienced exactly the same as it was in the early 90's? No, but HAL remains our cruise line of choice and that's even after one cruise on the "dark side" on Celebrity in 2005.

[waldocruiser1]

Thanks for the answers, that is what I was looking for.

[DFD1]

Come on over to HAL. You'll never look back.

[lettienets]

I like Hal, Carnival and RCI, depends on itinerary, price, what mood I'm in.

It is fun to move around and enjoy what's out there. :)

[mek]

I like Hal, Carnival and RCI, depends on itinerary, price, what mood I'm in.

It is fun to move around and enjoy what's out there. :)

 

I couldn't agree more! I enjoy variety and love sailing on different lines and ships.

[crystal blue]

I too have decided to try HAL. Booked on the Eurodam for Feb.27. I enjoy cruising on all lines and the Eurodam looks like a ship a will enjoy. Can't wait to be on the plane to Ft. Lauderdale.

[buckirj1]

Based on my research into HAL, I don't think you'll find a whole lot that's different. For creature comforts: similar-sized inside and outside cabins, virtually identically sized bathrooms and showers in those classes of staterooms, similar linens and beds. Same types of food: i.e., deli, pizza, lido, main dining. Carnival's staff is a little more ethnically diverse than HAL's, but that's neither good nor bad.

 

People are people no matter where you go.

 

There might be a small difference in the little things, like decor and flowers. That's not especially important to me so long as it's clean and functional, but ymmv.

 

I can't wait to try HAL...I hope you have a great time no matter what you decide.

[jouster]

Okay, I have sailed on 3 Carnival cruises, the first was the "Smoke Free" Paradise, it was great, very eligant dining, and really made you feel special, it was my first cruise, and we loved it. The second cruise was a 4 day Disney Wonder, and it was also very eligant, the second Carnival was on the Liberty and it was very nice, not as fancy as the Paradise but still made you feel special. The last was the Splendor in April o9 that got all turned around due to the Mexico thing, and was not very enjoyable, dining was not much more than a nice resturant.

 

I am wanting to find a line that has that special feeling, eligant dining. I am thinking of Holland, can someone tell me if this is the right direction or have they all lost that special feeling in the last 10 years?

 

 

"Smoke Free" paradise. Was this a non smoking cruise?

Is there a cruise out there that is non- smoking?

My DH and I are new to cruising. We took our first cruise last year on the Carnival Legend. We are doing B2B cruises this year HAL Eurodam and Carnival Freedom. Neither one of us smoke and we live in a state that has banned smoking in all public places. So needless to say we have trouble with alot of smoke.

On the Legend we had to walk thru the casino to get to the MDR and it was always filled with smoke. There was actually a lady in the hot tub with us that was smoking.

I would love to find a non smoking cruise ,please let me know if such a animal exist.

Thanks for any help.

[nyfarmgirl]

The Paradise was a Carnival first. A totally smoke free ship! It originally did alternating Eastern and Western Carib cruises out of Miami. My sister took it on her honeymoon 10 years ago and my dad took it a couple of years later. Both of them loved it.

 

Sadly, it seems that non smokers don't drink and gamble as much as smokers. Carnival decided it wasn't profitable enough and has since converted it to a regular smoking cruise ship. It now does the shorter cruises on the West coast.

 

My husband and I are both non smokers who are terribly sensitive to cigarette smoke. We were very concerned when we took our first cruise on the Carnival Conquest. I have no idea how they do it but our cabin did not smell like smoke and since they restrict smoking to the casino, bars and one side of the outdoor decks, there was always a way for us to escape the smoke.

 

The biggest complaints that I have heard (on any line) is if you have a balcony cabin next door to another balcony dweller who is a heavy smoker.

[jouster]

The Paradise was a Carnival first. A totally smoke free ship! It originally did alternating Eastern and Western Carib cruises out of Miami. My sister took it on her honeymoon 10 years ago and my dad took it a couple of years later. Both of them loved it.

 

Sadly, it seems that non smokers don't drink and gamble as much as smokers. Carnival decided it wasn't profitable enough and has since converted it to a regular smoking cruise ship. It now does the shorter cruises on the West coast.

 

My husband and I are both non smokers who are terribly sensitive to cigarette smoke. We were very concerned when we took our first cruise on the Carnival Conquest. I have no idea how they do it but our cabin did not smell like smoke and since they restrict smoking to the casino, bars and one side of the outdoor decks, there was always a way for us to escape the smoke.

 

The biggest complaints that I have heard (on any line) is if you have a balcony cabin next door to another balcony dweller who is a heavy smoker.

 

Thank you NYfarmgirl

I was just hoping with all the differnt " theme " cruises, there might be a cruise for us non smokers.

We have become sensitive to smoke. I was sad not to be able to spend some time in the casino. ( we only place slots with 20.00) so not big gamblers. It just would have been nice to not get choked out from smoke.

I have to say the MDR and our cabin did not smell like smoke at all. We also had a inside cabin. ( we tend to only book insides so we can spend more money on the excursions)

Well here's to hoping there will be a non-smoking theme cruise someday !

[PROCRUISE]

Okay, I have sailed on 3 Carnival cruises, the first was the "Smoke Free" Paradise, it was great, very eligant dining, and really made you feel special, it was my first cruise, and we loved it. The second cruise was a 4 day Disney Wonder, and it was also very eligant, the second Carnival was on the Liberty and it was very nice, not as fancy as the Paradise but still made you feel special. The last was the Splendor in April o9 that got all turned around due to the Mexico thing, and was not very enjoyable, dining was not much more than a nice resturant.

 

I am wanting to find a line that has that special feeling, eligant dining. I am thinking of Holland, can someone tell me if this is the right direction or have they all lost that special feeling in the last 10 years?

 

As you'll see below, we have cruised with both these cruise lines and like both.HAL is indeed more subdued, but in a nice way. The food is about the same(sorry HAL fans) and the service is excellent. The age group of the average passenger on HAL is perhaps a little older but then again we are a little older too. I believe you will enjoy HAL but there are those who have complained about HAL cruises just the same as Carnival. I recommend you give HAL a try!

[serendipity1499]

"Smoke Free" paradise. Was this a non smoking cruise?

Is there a cruise out there that is non- smoking?

My DH and I are new to cruising. We took our first cruise last year on the Carnival Legend. We are doing B2B cruises this year HAL Eurodam and Carnival Freedom. Neither one of us smoke and we live in a state that has banned smoking in all public places. So needless to say we have trouble with alot of smoke.

On the Legend we had to walk thru the casino to get to the MDR and it was always filled with smoke. There was actually a lady in the hot tub with us that was smoking.

I would love to find a non smoking cruise ,please let me know if such a animal exist.

Thanks for any help.

 

Actually there is one cruise line, which is basically all non-smoking...:) Oceania Cruise Lines, does not permit smoking in the casinos, dining rooms, lounges, or in passenger's cabins & Verandah's..

There are only two smoking areas on all their ships; one corner of the Horizon's Lounge-Deck 10 & one corner outside of the Terrace Grill-on the Pool deck 9..

As a matter of fact, Oceania put off a passenger for smoking on his Verandah after giving him one warning..He was a frequent cruiser on Oceania, but that did not make any difference..He was given one warning & the second time he was disembarked in a foreign port on the Captain's orders for not heeding that warning..They do not fool around..:D:D:D

See post No. 61 on the Cruise Critic Oceania Board:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...hlight=smoking

Happy New Year, Betty

[serendipity1499]

Actually there is one cruise line, which is basically all non-smoking...:) Oceania Cruise Lines, does not permit smoking in the casinos, dining rooms, lounges, or in passenger's cabins & Verandah's..

 

There are only two smoking areas on all their ships; one corner of the Horizon's Lounge-Deck 10 & one corner outside of the Terrace Grill-on the Pool deck 9..

 

As a matter of fact, Oceania put off a passenger for smoking on his Verandah after giving him one warning..He was a frequent cruiser on Oceania, but that did not make any difference..He was given one warning & the second time he was disembarked in a foreign port on the Captain's orders for not heeding that warning..They do not fool around..:D:D:D

 

See post No. 61 on the Cruise Critic Oceania Board:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...hlight=smoking

 

Happy New Year, Betty

 

Sorry...The URL above does not work..It took me a while to find the Post..

The Post is No. 61 by Caliber35 on the Oceania board, dated March 20, 2007

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=509662&highlight=couples+only&page=4

This is what she has to say in Post No. 54 & follows up in Post no . 61 Quote "And, if you enjoy smoking, be aware that this line is militantly anti-smoking. For me it was a mixed bag of a nice, smaller ship with good food and service, but far from the excellence I have experienced on Crystal."Unquote

 

Betty

[shandryl]

I like Hal, Carnival and RCI, depends on itinerary, price, what mood I'm in.

It is fun to move around and enjoy what's out there. :)

 

Thats exactly right! :)

 

Trying different cruise lines gives you the freedom to choose what ever your looking for. :D HAL will be my 1st one!! Looking forward to it!