Princess Crown or HAL Westerdam to Southern Caribbean?

[DeRon]

We have the choice of trying Holland's Westerdam or go on the Crown in November for the exact same itinerary to southern Caribbean (besides respective private islands). Which should we choose?

 

Would we like Holland? I will say we liked the Star and Grand better than the Caribbean due to extra crowds.

 

Thoughts?

[RD64]

I did this cruise on the Westerdam two years ago and it was one of my favourites ever. Product wise, I ould say Princess and HAL are comparable. However, I do prefer Half Moon Cay to Princess Cays, and the Westerdam carries about 1000 fewer passengers. My vote is for the Westerdam.

[Essiesmom]

Another vote for Westerdam. Nicer island, and better beds. EM

[AmberTeka]

You can get a verandah cabin on the Westerdam for about $350 less than a balcony on the Crown. Both ships are about the same service wise and such. We were on the Westerdam for this Cruise in January of 2010 and it was our favorite cruise on HAL. PROBLEM..three sea days..and on HAL.......NOTHING TO DO. There will be round of Trivia, attended by passengers who have cruised with HAL 100 times, they will know all of the answers as they have had the same questions a lot, and they will resent you trying to join their "clubby" little thing. Many are from NYC is seems and I am wondering if they drink pickle juice up there....Not much else. I like to read..but even that wears thin. You can't stay in the casino forever without losing your house mortage.....TO BE FAIR..they have cooking demonstrations.

PLUS...For HAL..Beautiful ships. LOvely soft beds. Food is really good. Staff is nice and helpful. Fresh flowers on the ship. If you think you are old...on HAL..you might be young. Consequence...not much night life ( no problem for us) and often..you have the sense of being on the ship alone with your significant other.

PRINCESS..more expensive...food not as good..beds are bad..but so darn much fun that I will pay the Princess price anyway. Hope it comes down before January.

[geoherb]

We had a great time on the Westerdam when we took this itinerary. But our cruise was during spring break, so it had a younger mix of passengers than a November HAL cruise will.

 

I enjoyed the Culinary Arts Center activities a lot. I wish there were something like it on Princess ships.

[DeRon]

You all have me thinking Westerdam!

 

We do not like crowded, and I remember a marked difference between the Star and Caribbean Princess.

[Sanibel*Gal]

We were so excited to do this itinerary but our only option two years ago was on HAL so we booked our first HAL cuirse. We loved the 3 sea days and the ports of call along with our first trip to another private island other than Princess Cays. However, we were very disappointed with the ships decor - seems very dark to us compared to the soft hues of Princess. We did love our cabin along with the tub/shower combo & the beds with their updated linens are wonderful.

 

We were told by our CC roll-call people that the service was top notch and beyond comparison - so needless to say we were very excited to try a new cruise line. Unfortunately, we did not find this to be the case, dining service was extremely long in serving entrees & the Pinnacle Grill service was very slow. I asked for a cup of coffee twice with dessert and it never came.:( However, our room steward was wonderful, very accomodating along with the staff at the "Ocean's Bar".;)

 

Other points.... The pool areas on HAL are small, not enough seating. Food is subjective so I'll skip that but did enjoy the Taco Bar.

 

As for price - do your homework, we found that HAL is very comparable to Princess.

 

Bottom line - we sailed the Crown last December & had a wonderful time. While HAL ships might be smaller, we had a lot of older folks & scooters on this cruise. We prefer to take Princess & have booked the Crown for a 2012 cruise doing the same itinerary except with Princess Cays which we prefer!!!

 

Best of luck & Whatever you choose enjoy your cruise;)

[DeRon]

Ha! Now I am confused...the reason i would go to HAL is to get away from crowds..?? I don't want to get on HAL and think it's too crowded! We love Princess, but the only thing we didn't like is the crowds.

[Pam in CA]

Ha! Now I am confused...the reason i would go to HAL is to get away from crowds..?? I don't want to get on HAL and think it's too crowded! We love Princess, but the only thing we didn't like is the crowds.

There are several things that HAL does very well; better than Princess. One is Half Moon Cay; MUCH better than Princess Cays. Light years better. Sand so soft it's like walking on talcum powder; tons on padded loungers available either in the sun or shade. You can order a full, hot breakfast, lunch or dinner in your cabin, and can even ask to have the dining room menu delivered to your cabin and you can order off of that. HAL's Open seating is much better organized than Princess' Anytime in that if you have Traditional, fixed dining, you're not allowed to go to Open seating unless you have prior permission. I've done it several times and the longest wait was 10 minutes; most of the time we were led directly to a table.

 

The negatives to HAL is that it's dead at night so if you are looking for something to do after dinner, there will be a show but little else. The buffet is good but there are long lines for each thing, whether you want a salad, sandwich or hot meal. Their Asian station is excellent. The buffet is open only for short periods of time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Storage in HAL cabins is limited compared to Princess. The Westerdam has wardrobes instead of a closet and while there's a lighted make-up mirror at the desk, there's no place to store your make-up, hair appliances, etc.

 

I have never noticed crowds on my HAL cruises or lines other than in the buffet.

[Sanibel*Gal]

DeRon - I understand your feeling about crowds but those can be found on any ship - depending on the activity.

 

I do appreciate Pams comments about HMC but Princess has done a lot with their private island especially since they have added so many paved paths. The beach area at PC - IMHO - with loungers is larger and we think the BBQ that Princess offers has more varierty.

 

I have to hold true & suggest you give the Crown Princess a try for this itinerary - I don't think you will be disappointed.;)

[rdsqrl]

Princess can add paved paths on PC from here to eternity and even have two loungers per person but that isn't addressing the fundamental problem: no beach at which you have to wear water shoes to swim is a good beach. There is simply no room for debate on this -- I'm completely right about this and anyone who disagrees is wrong.

Okay, I was kidding a little. A little. But really, I'm right.

[DeRon]

Thank you guys for your comments...One of our main complaints about our Caribbean Princess cruise was not lines in the Horizon Court, but the trouble of finding a table to eat at. And we were only 2 people! We had to walk around forever with our trays. Have you ever experienced this? We never noticed this on the Grand or Star.

 

Maybe it was just the week we cruised?? But it was in October.

[Pam in CA]

Thank you guys for your comments...One of our main complaints about our Caribbean Princess cruise was not lines in the Horizon Court, but the trouble of finding a table to eat at. And we were only 2 people! We had to walk around forever with our trays. Have you ever experienced this? We never noticed this on the Grand or Star.

 

Maybe it was just the week we cruised?? But it was in October.

I was on the Oosterdam three weeks ago and the Zuiderdam a year ago, both sister ships to the Westerdam, and the issue of finding a table was no better, no worse than on Princess. I avoided the buffet at breakfast because with the lines at each station as they prepare just about everything individually were horrendous in the past. Now, I just order breakfast as room service and it comes hot.

 

FYI, here's a photo of HMC at about noontime a year ago when we were there on the Zuiderdam. I've never seen anything like this on Princess Cays.

 

[Sanibel*Gal]

Princess can add paved paths on PC from here to eternity and even have two loungers per person but that isn't addressing the fundamental problem: no beach at which you have to wear water shoes to swim is a good beach. There is simply no room for debate on this -- I'm completely right about this and anyone who disagrees is wrong.

 

Okay, I was kidding a little. A little. But really, I'm right.

 

 

A little rocky down to the beach in some areas = Yes! But there are other sections that aren't - we just watch where we walk....:cool:

 

I understand about trying to find a table at certain times, we too have run into the same situation. Not just on Princess but other cruise lines as well - I don't have a remedy for that.:o

 

 

 

BUT Hey - Grab a piece of pizza or sandwich plate - retreat to the privacy of your balcony & enjoy!!!:D

[Infi]

We had a great time on the Westerdam when we took this itinerary. But our cruise was during spring break, so it had a younger mix of passengers than a November HAL cruise will.

 

I enjoyed the Culinary Arts Center activities a lot. I wish there were something like it on Princess ships.

 

I replied to this thread with my two cents already on the HAL forum, but I did want to second Geoherb's post. We really enjoy the Culinary Arts Center demos on HAL and wish Princess had something similar. They're very entertaining and I always learn something. Much more interesting than Princess' standard cooking demo once per cruise, where they usually make the same thing. For what HAL may lack in daytime or nighttime activities, the culinary arts demos are nice.

[gaelan]

Thank you guys for your comments...One of our main complaints about our Caribbean Princess cruise was not lines in the Horizon Court, but the trouble of finding a table to eat at. And we were only 2 people! We had to walk around forever with our trays. Have you ever experienced this? We never noticed this on the Grand or Star.

 

Maybe it was just the week we cruised?? But it was in October.

 

DeRon, My vote would go to Princess vs HAL....unfortunately the Horizon Court on the Crown was the most disorganized mess and generally the buffet food was only so..so.....on the Westerdam much more space but the food equally sad.....however after some time we found the Crown Princess to be the better choice for us....in summary:

 

Ship...the Westerdam is more elegant and easier to get around... the Crows Nest is the best venue on any ship that we have sailed .....however on the Westerdam our cabin creaked relentlessly and when the ship encountered only moderate seas it banged and shuddered....never experienced this before

 

MDR.....service on both were excellent but Princess had better food..this is subjective but found HAL salty and not that interesting...found my self several times wishing they had more interesting food.

 

Speciality Restaurants...Sabitini's on the Crown was sensational.....the Pinnacle on the Westerdam was the biggest dissapointment both from a food and service point of view......very limited selection of wine in the Pinnacle and we wondered why we spent the extra money.

 

Crew...Slight advantage to Westerdam and they were always friendly....but the Crown did a great job too...we had a terrific room steward on the Crown.....Ricky

 

Shows......both were not that good...HAL was really a yawner...did like the Movies Under the Stars on the Crown....free blankets, popcorn and cookies

 

Passengers: on Westerdam generally older (we are in our mid 50's) and some down right impatient and a little rude......Crown had a well balanced mixture of all ages.

 

Drinks: Cheaper on Crown, but no booze or wine package...HAL was very liberal in terms of bringing wine on board.

 

Staterooms.....Liked the Westerdam better and both had good size balconies....plenty room for four people. On the Crown the bathrooms are really small and the shower is even smaller. We did like that on the Crown clothes were hung in seperate space from the room and so if one person gets up before the other..less chance in disturbing the other.

 

Other things.....the Westerdam lets you go out on the bow for some port departures and this was really neat. I would agree that Half Moon Cay is special and nicer than Princess Cay...lots of rocky areas here, but both beaches were nice. On the Crown...the Chef's Table is to die for......only few get to go each cruise and we were lucky enough to get in.....what an evening of superb food, wine and service from the Executive Chef and Maitre D of the Hotel....a special treat.

 

Overall still feel that Princess was a better choice for us.

[DeRon]

Thank you for your comments! Very helpful.