Trying to figure out HAL. - How is it different from Carnival and NCL?

[pitterpattershoppe]

We're working on booking our first cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam...our first HAL cruise.

 

We've only sailed with Carnival and NCL before. How is HAL different?

 

Do they have something akin to the Fun Times I can search for to explain daily activities?

 

How do I figure out which restaurants are "free"? How does the food rate?

 

Anything really just different?

 

Thanks so much!!

 

-pitterpattershoppe

[GORDONCHICK]

This is what I've learned from my research:

 

Formal nights are not optional (unless you eat in the buffet or the other casual restaurant) and not as casual as Carnival's "elegant evenings".

 

Food is pretty good and there are teak decks (it's beyond me why this is such a big deal with HAL loyalists, but I guess I'll find out in May...).

 

The beds and linens are supposed to be very nice.

 

Not tons of announcements all day long.

 

No hairy chest contests.

 

Should have a naturalist on board for Alaska cruises.

 

Hope this helps.

[SwissMyst]

We're working on booking our first cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam...our first HAL cruise.

 

We've only sailed with Carnival and NCL before. How is HAL different?

 

Do they have something akin to the Fun Times I can search for to explain daily activities?

 

How do I figure out which restaurants are "free"? How does the food rate?

 

Anything really just different?

 

Thanks so much!!

 

-pitterpattershoppe

 

You will get a next's day schedule of events at you door every evening. There are enrichment lectures, various skills classes, cooking demonstrations, ship tours and talks, art talks and walks, wine tastings, extensive library, movies, and some fun mixer type group activities, as well as deck sports. What HAL does not have are continual (loud and annoying) announcements of upcoming events over the loud speaker all day long.

 

You do need to carry your daily schedule with you or learn where they are posted if you want to be spontaneous when the mood strikes you to attend an event or activity. They have a tear out summary of events that makes this easy to stick in a pocket.

 

HAL always seems to visit more ports than other ships so you may not have that many at sea days where you would want to fill them with activities, besides just hanging out on deck out doors or by the pools.

 

Main dining room, room service, Lido and grill are free - some of the other speciality restaurants and specialty coffee Explorers' Cafe have a charge. HAL food is very good for the most part. Excellent baked goods.

 

Decor will be lower key, passengers more quiet and less group oriented. Little late night life. More traditional cruising experience from times past. Formal night is appreciated probably by more people on HAL ships than other ships.

 

Service from the smiling Indonesian and Filipino crews is a 100% delight. Less so when HAL starts adding more surlier Eastern European crews. (Bad move, HAL - don't care if their English is "better" it is their attitude that sometimes offends.)

[VTcruisenut]

We are set to sail on our 4th HAL cruise April 1st. I have been on Carnival, but no others, so can only compare these two experiences. I would describe HAL as a sophisticated experience. No Hairy chest contests or belly flop events, wet t-shirts or any of that type of thing. Limited announcements during the day. You receive a very informative daily event sheet every evening so you can plan the following day. Lots of activities- cooking showcases, wine tastings, Microsoft digital camera workshop, the bingo, the casino, shopping, trivia games etc. Wonderful meals in the MDR and the Lido. There is a Canelleto restaurant part of the Lido that does require reservations, but doesn't cost more. The Pinnacle is the restaurant that costs more. Yes, HAL is more formal, adds to atmosphere and the sophistication. There are two formal nights on a 7 day cruise. The rest of the time dining in the MDR is smart casual, dress slacks khakis for men with a polo or dress shirt and nice slacks/top or dresses or skirts for women. No tank tops or t-shirts or jeans allowed in the MDR. If you have kids, there are usally some on board, but no where near as many as on Carnival, so you can actually use the pool areas. The last cruise we were on the Veendam and there were 19 children on the entire cruise! The evening shows are wonderful and very worth going to. Above all, the staff and the service are amazing on HAL. Attention to detail and feeling like I am truly on vacation. I personally will never sail on Carnival again, and have no interest in the large ships that Celebrity, Norwegian etc. have. I am totally in love with HAL!

[SwissMyst]

......

Food is pretty good and there are teak decks (it's beyond me why this is such a big deal with HAL loyalists, but I guess I'll find out in May...).

.......

 

There is just something about the sound and feel of walking on wood, compared to the slicker feeling artificial surfaces that now often are used as decking material. Think of Trex and think of teak -- both serviceable but one is just ....... nicer and more resonant.

 

Yes, the HAL beds just embrace you and hug you when you sink into them in the nicest way. Nothing better that getting gently rocked to sleep in a HAL bed on the high seas. Dreamy. Sounds like no one does them better and I wonder why.

 

We pick HAL for itinerary, price, professional service attitude and traditional overall feeling and decor. It works for us. We don't like the over-stimulating ambiance of some other ships. We like HAL's sense of calm and peacefulness. This makes it a vacation for us.

[pitterpattershoppe]

Thanks for the posts so far! Sounds nice. We are "stick-in-the-muds" and don't participate in most of what Carnival and NCL offer, so maybe HAL is more our speed. :)

 

We don't like to spend a lot of extra money for no good reason (like to save for our next vacation), so I'm interested in finding out what is "free" and for an extra charge.

 

Thanks again.

 

-pitterpattershoppe

[esther e]

Flowers on the table in the dining room at dinner. Not so in NCL! Big disappointment and noticed by us immediately.

 

Now, I'm going to put on my asbestos suit when I describe the various lines compared to department stores:

 

Neiman-Marcus, Regent

 

Nordstrom, Oceania

 

Dillards, Celebrity, HAL

 

Macy's, RCCL

 

Wal-Mart, NCL and Carnival

 

Running away, fast.........................

[SwissMyst]

Flowers on the table in the dining room at dinner. Not so in NCL! Big disappointment and noticed by us immediately.

 

Now, I'm going to put on my asbestos suit when I describe the various lines compared to department stores:

 

Neiman-Marcus, Regent

 

Nordstrom, Oceania

 

Dillards, Celebrity, HAL

 

Macy's, RCCL

 

Wal-Mart, NCL and Carnival

 

Running away, fast.........................

 

Only running after you to say you did a pretty good job. Probably can put Crystal in with Nordstrom's and Princess in with Dillard's.

[MomC]

Couldn't agree more. Just got off Oceania and it was spectacular. That being said, we sail Princess to Alaska this summer and I have a women's trip planned on HAL in December.

 

Price sometimes dictates what we choose. If I could, I would go on O every cruise, but I can live with every line BUT Carnival and NCL.

[pitterpattershoppe]

LOL! I actually find these comparisons quite helpful. ;)

 

-pitterpattershoppe

 

Flowers on the table in the dining room at dinner. Not so in NCL! Big disappointment and noticed by us immediately.

 

Now, I'm going to put on my asbestos suit when I describe the various lines compared to department stores:

 

Neiman-Marcus, Regent

 

Nordstrom, Oceania

 

Dillards, Celebrity, HAL

 

Macy's, RCCL

 

Wal-Mart, NCL and Carnival

 

Running away, fast.........................

[pitterpattershoppe]

Thought of a couple of more questions.

 

Does HAL chase you around with cameras?

 

And, do any of the on-board shoppes sell Pandora?

 

Thanks,

-pitterpattershoppe

[SwissMyst]

Thought of a couple of more questions.

 

Does HAL chase you around with cameras? ......

 

pitterpattershoppe

 

Not at all. We refuse photos from the very beginning and side step that first one upon embarkation so the photographer learn to just ignore us when they are out and about.

 

They are very polite and non-intrusive at events like formal night and mainly are not even around unless you seek them out. No pressure at all. And no cutesy life jacket photos either. Safety is serious business and not an excuse for a cheesy photo op.

[GORDONCHICK]

Flowers on the table in the dining room at dinner. Not so in NCL! Big disappointment and noticed by us immediately.

 

Now, I'm going to put on my asbestos suit when I describe the various lines compared to department stores:

 

Neiman-Marcus, Regent

 

Nordstrom, Oceania

 

Dillards, Celebrity, HAL

 

Macy's, RCCL

 

Wal-Mart, NCL and Carnival

 

Running away, fast.........................

 

Interesting. I find Dillards and Macys about the same, and I'd put NCL far above Carnival IME.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Esther e,

 

Love your Department store descriptions.

[mabert]

When is that happening? The current staffing is so very delightful.

 

Also, really think the comparison with stores is great.

[dockrocker]

Service from the smiling Indonesian and Filipino crews is a 100% delight. Less so when HAL starts adding more surlier Eastern European crews. (Bad move, HAL - don't care if their English is "better" it is their attitude that sometimes offends.)

 

I've had nothing but charming and courteous service from Eastern European crew members, and I've met scores of them. Could it be that some of them are picking up on/reacting to the rank bias against Eastern Europeans you so often verbalize in these threads? That particular bigotry is a recurring theme with you here, so it's not hard to imagine that it may be something you clearly demonstrate elsewhere, too.

[SwissMyst]

I've had nothing but charming and courteous service from Eastern European crew members, and I've met scores of them. Could it be that some of them are picking up on/reacting to the rank bias against Eastern Europeans you so often verbalize in these threads? That particular bigotry is a recurring theme with you here, so it's not hard to imagine that it may be something you clearly demonstrate elsewhere, too.

 

Nope. And I particularly did not like the way the Eastern European staff was treating the HAL asian crew that awful night in the Pinnacle. (6/18/10 -Zuiderdam) Be sure and read "Cruise Confidential" for insights into the cruising world's mini United Nations.

[kazu]

and NOW - back to the op's question.

 

I used to do a lot of NCL cruises and liked the line. however, once I did HAL, there was no going back.

 

Too many little touches that many years ago NCL had some of, but no where near what HAL does.

 

I think you will enjoy it - hope you do - smooth sailing :D

[Stevesan]

.

 

Service from the smiling Indonesian and Filipino crews is a 100% delight. Less so when HAL starts adding more surlier Eastern European crews. (Bad move, HAL - don't care if their English is "better" it is their attitude that sometimes offends.)

 

If you are referring to the service staff in the Pinnacle Grill, HAL has hired from E. Europe since Pinnacle's inception. Restaurant service is a prized and respected profession in E. Europe. HAL recruited from that region to provide the best possible service in their then new specialty restaurant. Whether you approve of their demeanor or not, that is the background.

 

Personally, I've always received courteous and professional service in Pinnacle.

[whogo]

I've had nothing but charming and courteous service from Eastern European crew members, and I've met scores of them. Could it be that some of them are picking up on/reacting to the rank bias against Eastern Europeans you so often verbalize in these threads? That particular bigotry is a recurring theme with you here, so it's not hard to imagine that it may be something you clearly demonstrate elsewhere, too.

I have had nothing but good service from all the cruise staff on all the ships on all the lines I have cruised regardless of the their nationality. All the talk of smiling Filipino and Indonesian HAL crew members smacks of racism. I am tired of it.

[dockrocker]

I have had nothing but good service from all the cruise staff on all the ships on all the lines I have cruised regardless of the their nationality.

 

With exceptions I can count on one hand -- no two of which came from the same country or ethnic group -- so have I.

 

People tend to find what they're determinedly looking for. The attitude you show crew members is far, far more often than not reflected in what you get back.

[buckirj1]

We're working on booking our first cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam...our first HAL cruise.

 

We've only sailed with Carnival and NCL before. How is HAL different?

 

Do they have something akin to the Fun Times I can search for to explain daily activities?

 

How do I figure out which restaurants are "free"? How does the food rate?

 

Anything really just different?

 

Thanks so much!!

 

-pitterpattershoppe

 

Based on opinions from a HAL afficionado whose opinions I trust, and my own experiences/observations/research, here's my take, in order of things important to me when cruising:

 

HAL and NCL are very alike in terms of onboard service. I've never been better treated than on an NCL ship.

 

Based on HAL photographs and Carnival experiences, cabins (at least inside cabins) are much alike in terms of size, layout, linens and furnishings (except for the trademark Carnival pleather sofa, which I adore). Bathrooms and showers are nearly identical.

 

Each is known for being very good at presenting a certain type of food: Carnival for main dining, NCL hands down for comfort food, HAL for Lido and room service. All of them have good food. Specialty restaurants are about equal, or so I gather.

 

Significant differences in public space decor and onboard activities. All three are good at leaving passengers alone to make their own fun.

 

HAL seems to have the best music, NCL the best showroom entertainment, and Carnival the best comedians.

 

As always, YMMV. Hope you have fun. I've given up on the Maasdam for another year, but the Westerdam is starting to call my name:)

[DillonCruisers]

Have sailed Carnival, Princess and RCL, and then HAL. Won't leave HAL. Differences are class of clientele. Yes older, but more seasoned travelers. Not the overwhelming tatoo/muscle shirt booze cruise crowd weighing in at 300 pounds (seriously - our last Princess outing had to call a second shuttle since over half the passengers were morbidly obese). HAL ships are half the size of the other lines, so there's rarely a feeling of long lines. Food is outstanding - we always choose "anytime" and have never waited longer than five minutes for a four top. Formal nights? Yeah, most folks go to town, but how hard is it to throw in one LBD, a coat and a tie? HAL is also the only line that allows you to haul as much wine on board as you wish. We bring on a case, with a bottle of scotch thrown in (we're not alcoholics, but on a ten day trip, it's nice to not have to buy cocktails....). Also, debarkation allows you to relax in your stateroom until you're ready to depart. You're not ousted into the hallways at 8:00 am to stand around waiting for hours until your number is called. Our last RCL was FOUR hours standing in the hot sun until we got off the ship. Not a great last impression. Just much classier all around.....

 

Enjoy!!!!