Celebrity versus Hal Zuiderdam?

[DavidNDC]

I'm booked on a 7-day Western Carribean May 14 on the Holland America Zuiderdam with stops in Tortuga, Nassau, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay, Hal's private island.

 

Previously, I've cruised twice on Celebrity (both times on the Century), twice on NCL (once on the Dawn and once on the Spirit) and once on a RCCL ship whose name escapes me. I've never been on Hal before (nor on Carnival or Disney).

 

My favorite cruises were my two Century cruises tied with my NCL Dawn cruise (although I actually thought the food was very best on my most recent cruise, on the NCL Spirit). Actually, I've greatly enjoyed every cruise I've been on, except maybe the RCCL one wasn't quite as good as the other four.

 

My question is: Do you think my Zuiderdam cruise will be up to par with my Century cruises? I'm posting on this board because it's a Celebrity-friendly board. I want to see what folks' reaction is.

 

Thanks in advance! Right now, it's in the teens in Washington, D.C., with a wind chill factor of just below zero, so I guess any cruise will be very nice!

 

David

[RodPat]

David, I recently sailed Century and was on Zuiderdam in 2003. Century is a much smaller ship than Zuiderdam. Zuiderdam has lots of art work on it, some people like and some don't. The desserts on Century are much better than Zuiderdam. HAL's private island is the nicest I have visited. Much better than coco cay. Service is better on Century. Entertainment was about the same on both but the theater on Zuiderdam has these annoying poles that block the view of the stage. Tho when I was on Zuiderdam they had a late night comedy show that was really good. that was held in a smaller room because it was a midnight show. I think you will have a good time on Zuiderdam but it is not a Celebrity experience. Something about sailing Celebrity is special and that is why I keep going back. Pat

[Lois R]

Hi David:) .......I have sailed Celebrity 4 times...going on my 5th in May.

 

I was on the Zuiderdam in September.....my 1st Hal Cruise...and probably my last one.

There were a couple of things I really loved...the entertainment was excellent...and the Promanade Deck, which wraps around the entire outside was wonderful too.

But....my food, service and just overall experience was lacking. This is just one person's opinion...so other's of course will probably be different than mine.

It wasn't a horrible week...after all I was on a cruise.......but I had more than a few things happen as the week went on...as I look back...(a full 3 months later). I didn't feel welcomed...not one thing I can put my finger on for you...but when I step on a Celebrity ship I just always have a wonderful feeling...warm and welcoming.

Did not feel that way on the Zuiderdam. Felt like they didn't care one way or the other about me being there.

I also had a couple of things happen in the dining room...and didn't think the Maitr'd handled it very professionally......and had a meeting with the Hotel Manager...he acted like my concerns were false.

 

I know I sound like I am bashing HAL....didn't mean it come out that way.

 

But when I returned home from that cruise....I knew in a heartbeat I would be back on X ship for my next cruise......and I was...last month on Constellation....there was no comparison...X wins with food and service...hands down.

[DavidNDC]

Pat and Lois:

 

Thanks for your input!

 

Lois: I've followed your posts here even though I bounce wildly among these boards (from NCL to Celebrity to Hal) and your opinion is one I have come to respect -- and I know you know the Celebrity experience!

 

Pat: Great feedback as well. I don't so much care about the artwork on the Zuiderdam although I have read about the supposedly $5,000 worth of fresh flowers on each cruise -- that seems cool. I also marvelled when you wrote that Half Moon Cay is better than Celebrity's island, coco cay. The reason I say that is that during my last Century cruise, our stop at Coco Cay was one of my all-time favorite experiences. What happened was, I got tired of the huge crowd and decided to strike out on my own. I ended up doing maybe a two-mile (I'm guessing) hike to this abandoned tower on the other side of the island. I saw iguanas and lots of native birds along the way -- it taught me to, in the future, seek out different things to do on shore excursions instead of doing ship excursions. And the workout was great!

 

In any case, I thank both of you for your input....it's a cruise, it will be okay, great even, even if it is not a Celebrity experience. I am sure of it!

[DoctorFeelgood]

It's hard to decide...

 

 

HAL definitely had its upside... the buffet food and the coffee beat Celebrity hands down. HAL has some excellent pizza and Asian cuisine in the buffet, and the baked goods are better than Celebrity.

 

The food in Zuiderdam's dining room also had the potential of beating Celebrity, except the service, although good, was not "extra special".

 

What I missed on HAL was the BUTLER. The Celebrity Butler is a great invention, especially if you get a really good one. They take care of every little thing that could possibly get in the way of your enjoyment of your cruise. Champagne on the balcony... no problem! Shrimp coctail for breakfast.... coming right up! Need a tender pass.... it's there before you ask.

 

If HAL had butlers, I'd consider a switch.

[hmg]

We've mainly sailed Celebrity but were on HAL's Westerdam this past Christmas. We had a great time. Beautiful ship, one of the best cabins we've ever had, great weather and fabulous martinis. But I agree with Lois' feelings that something was missing. This trip left me unsatisfied. How to remedy that? I'm looking to book next Christmas/New Years, but back with Celebrity. :D

[tjcletsgo]

Lois R,:)

 

I went on my first HAL cruise on the Ryndam Oct 30th, the Sea of Cortez.

 

Frankly, from the moment we boarded, it was one disappointment after another. No one escorted us to our suite (yes, we had an S suite, the only good thing about the cruise), Opera Seating for dinner (major mistake), horrible cabin steward, crappy food which was never hot, I got locked in a bathroom where the lock was loose and toilet flusher was taped to the wall, the average age on the Ryndam was 75, pools and hot tub closed at 9:00, the ship was deserted after dinner, and on and on.

 

I'm interesed in booking a Caribbean cruise with Celebrity, and I need to find out more about the ships and ports.

 

I will NEVER cruise HAL again.:mad:

[Lois R]

Hi tj, sorry your cruise was so bad:( ....as I said, mine wasn't horrible...but it definitley not up to what I am used to on X.

 

When you said Opera Dining.......what is that? I have not heard that term before:confused:

[RodPat]

TJ, sorry your HAL experience was so bad. I hate to tell you that the pools and hot tubs on Celebrity close early too and often people say that old people sail on Celebrity. I don't always agree with that age thing but I do think that there were ancient mariners on my HAL cruise also. Pat

[Longboysfan]

Did both lines recently...

 

Hal does not cut it for me.

Not enough activities........

Food level was not there.

 

They do try to please in some ways - but it's just not what I'm looking for right now.

[tjcletsgo]

Lois,

 

We chose the 8:00 seating on the upper deck. Opera Seating (what HAL calls it to make it sound better) is at 8:00 on the LOWER level. It's a few tables in the middle of the room, while they are cleaning the other tables around us to ready for the 8:30 lower level. :mad: I can't imagine a worse dinner assignment. We had the conceirge in the Neptune Lounge change it, after we went up and saw how many people where waiting to get dinner tables changed. :eek: I don't need to tell you how expensive our S suite was, plus we booked 8 months in advance. I was majorly disappointed.:(

 

So, please tell me, is the crowd on a typical Celebrity Cruise really as old as HAL? I'm no spring chicken, I'm a young 54, :p but I like the steel bands out at the pool, a good bar to go to after dinner, and maybe a pool and spa that stays open past dark. HAL makes really pitiful cocktails, too. Watery and inconsistent.

 

Isn't there a cruise ship out there than can do these things well?? How about Royal Caribbean? Please help! :o LOL

 

Janie

[tjcletsgo]

Lois, I recall your postings from the HAL boards and I remember you mentioning single supplement cruising. Where can I find out about this as this may be the way I'm cruising next. I shared a cabin with my daughter and 2 other friends last time, but I really think that's hard when some people are morning people (me) :D and some people are late sleepers.

 

Do any cruise lines offer good deals on single supplements?

 

Thanks for any info!

 

Janie

[Lois R]

Hi Janie:)

 

I am 46...and feel totally comfortable on Celebrity....I LOVE Celebrity.......

 

"So, please tell me, is the crowd on a typical Celebrity Cruise really as old as HAL? I'm no spring chicken, I'm a young 54, :p but I like the steel bands out at the pool, a good bar to go to after dinner, and maybe a pool and spa that stays open past dark. HAL makes really pitiful cocktails, too. Watery and inconsistent."

 

You will find all ages of people on X......I enjoy a drink in the evenings too....and the house bands are usually very good (in my opinion).

I have never had a complaint about the drinks.........

 

In my opinion, X beats HAL........no doubt about it.....give it a try....hopefully you will enjoy your cruise as much as most of on this forum have. And I think X is a bit more classy than Royal.

[trvlcarib]

Just off Summit this past Sunday. We sailed Zuiderdam last year and must say we have always been huge Celebrity fans..but after this past 9 nighter on Summit I am no longer the loyal fan of Celebrity. I kept comparing it to Zuiderdam. The buffets wins hands down on HAL! The service this year on Summit was a joke! I wrote a letter to the hotel director and they told me that its not the same Celebrity as before! This are new RCCL employees. Unbelievable! It was the 1st time I got off with out having my next Celebrity cruise planned. Go and sail HAL its much better!

[Lois R]

trv, sorry you cruise wasn't good...but that is how I felt when I got off the Zuiderdam....so...different strokes for different folks......I kept comparing Z to X......and X was winning.

 

Your recommendation is HAL and that is fine......that is why there are so many choices.

 

After my HAL cruise I don't feel confident recommending them.

 

Janie, HAL does have a better price for SOLO cruisers.......but since my cruise wasn't that great, the value of the $$ didn't mean much to me.

[Italian Nancy]

We have sailed on the Zuiderdam and the Summit.. The Zuiderdam hold special memories since we were married onboard and it was my first cruise. (Sept 2003). We sailed on the Summit this past November and I can say the service on the Summit is superior to the Zuiderdam. The food was comparable, however I like the buffet food on the Lido deck on the Zuiderdam so much better.

The Summit did not have a buffet for dinner, for those that did not like to dress up, however they offer an "alternative"dining arrangement most nights, reservations were required, no additional service fee. They did make suggestion to tips.

We preferred the pool set up on Zuiderdam to that on the Summit, however loved the Waterfall bar at the AFT versus having a pool there.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either ship.. some of the smaller, older ships on HAL I would not go on, the age group is older and I am not sure there is enough enterainment/music to my liking.

[SANDY BEACH]

We sailed on the Zuiderdam in November and July. The July sailing had a good mix of ages; however, the November sailing was a much, much older crowd. When we sailed on Millennium in the month of October we found a good mix of ages. Depending on the age group you're looking for, I believe on Holland the month you sail is very important.

 

My cruises on Zuiderdam were enjoyable, mainly because we loved the S Suite and the amenities that went with it. I still remember my Millennium cruise as being a step above with food and service. Celebrity does all those small things that other cruise ships don't.

[trvlcarib]

Celebrity used to do all the little things, but as far as our Summit Cruise we just got off, I hope it was just a bad week. I have never heard the word NO so many times. One day we went to the pizza buffet to get a quick bite and we asked for a coke, the guy says no I am out. So I say can you find me one? No! Another day we were told in the main dining room for breakfeast if you want faster service go to buffet. This was because none of our meals came out at the same time. One day we ordered room service and they told us to go to the upstair buffet for an item that was already on the room service menu. We are not big complainers, we just didn't get that special feeling you should get. They ran out of Lobster on 2nd formal night and several nights they didn't have the deserts we ordered. They ran out! Why even offer them? We overheard several people with the same issues. I just felt like the people on Zuiderdam really were sincere. We are elite Captains Club members and we didn't really get anything extra from when we were classic members. I will have to hear some good things before we sail with them.