CCL or HAL

[cruise_girl2002]

i have only cruised carnival and once with royal caribbean (even royal was too formal for me lol). however i talked a coworker of mine into going on a cruise..he choose HAL. he hated it. he came back and told me..it was too formal, no food after 10 pm (which he scolded me for as i told him there was always food available...however i told him carnival lol) and too many older people..hes not exactly young but the crowd wasn't up to what he was expecting lol. go with what your gut tells you too. if you want formal go with HAL, if you want night life and more casual go with carnival

[slotguy777]

HAL is an older much more reserved group of cruiser group. I used to work in the casinos on HAL and enjoyed it but the average age is probably 10 years older than CCL. I am 61 and would like to take my wife on HAL but worry it is to conservative.

The service, food ect. is all great so it is worth a try if your not a young couple. I did love working on board HAL.

It is all up to what you are looking for! The HAL repeat customers % is 80% and has been the highest or close to it for over 30 years. So it is doing something right.

As for myself and my wife we will stick to CCL for at least 4 more cruises after our May cruise. We will then be Platinum!

[DaveRRT]

Did the Westerdam southern last March had a great time. Hal does get a little slow after 10pm but piano bar was still going. had trouble finding craps table buddys but we got a group together after a few days. As a carnival past guest you should get invited to there past guest lunch. If you do go good food and you get a Hal tile. The VD balconys are huge, great spot we loved it

[jzygail]

I need some help on which cruise to take:

 

CCL- Dream Dec 17 2011, Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Martin-

Hal- Eurodam Dec 17 2011, Grand Turk, St. thomas, San Juan, HMC

 

I have been on 2 cruise with CCl and have never been on HAL. I really want to do HAL, but i also don't want it to be to formal.

 

Thanks for all of your help.

 

I cruised HAL in 2006 (Maasdam from Norfolk to Southern Caribbean). It was, from what I gather on these boards, somewhat more formal than CCL, but of the "no shorts/t-shirts in the dining room" variety of formal, not "You'd better be wearing really formal wear and not a coat and button down shirt." In fact, you could probably skip the jacket coat, too. I had a great time and did fine with 2 different LBDs for formal night.

[npl1125]

I'd say HAL Eurodam all the way. To partially address the age "issue" some have brought up, my wife and I both love HAL cruises and we're in our 20's. It's my impression that HAL ships are a tad less crowded in public areas, which is always a plus for me. I may be able to give you a better opinion in a couple of weeks - we sail on the CCL Pride at the end of July.

[bamatravlr]

We've sailed Carnival 2X & HAL 4X. The only reason we did CCL the 2nd time was because it sailed out of Mobile (5 hr. drive for us). Now that they're moving to NOLA, we're going again - but ONLY because of the grandchildren. They do have a better program for them than HAL. But, when it's only us and some other couples, HAL is definitely the better. I've never seen a man at one of the INSIDE lounges in a swim suit w/no shoes or shirt on HAL like on I did on CCL's Sensation. And, the teens were running wild (I mean literally RUNNING). Who knows where their parents were! It's definitely a party atmosphere on their 3-day cruises. The 5 day was better. We've been on 10+ cruises & we weren't this old on all of them!! I'll admit, if you want pizza at midnight, you can find it on CCL - not HAL!

[BeccaBecca1713]

Never been on HAL but even Carnival, at certain times of the year, looks like a nursing home. A few years ago I sailed end of April/first of May. I think I counted more Jazzy scooters/O2 tanks than kids on that ship.

 

In the end, I really enjoyed that cruise, as chair hogs were almost completely absent. I could go out any time of the day and get a chair just about anywhere on Lido. Guess the older folks weren't as worried about their tan lines as the younger crowd.:p

[Islandbear]

Go with HAL, because of the ports of call, better Food & Beverage, and a more relaxed and elegant experience. Carnival is great too, and I love Carnivals prices, ports (sometimes), and energy.

 

Don't think twice about the "Older Crowd" issue. You make the cruise work for you! I have been cruising HAL since I was in my 30's and love the relaxed experience and if you can live without shorts and a teeshirt for 2 hours a night you'll fit right in. Also there is no reason to skip formal night as long as you wear a blue blazer for him and anything with a hem for her.

[sofaman61]

Carnival line is a much better all around cruise line where Holland America's main focus is for the older crowd. On Holland America there will be no form of current music or any form of rock music. Like I stated...their main focus is for the older crowd. I'm 49 and I felt kind of old on the Maasdam. That was 2 years ago on a New Eng/Canada cruise. Sure there were a few families on the boat, but not many. Both my brother's families as well as my own decided after that one, that there will be no more Holland America cruises in our future. Great ship, great food, etc... just no live music that I cared to hear.

[sofaman61]

Carnival line is a much better all around cruise line where Holland America's main focus is for the older crowd. On Holland America there will be no form of current music or any form of rock music. Like I stated...their main focus is for the older crowd. I'm 49 and I felt kind of old on the Maasdam. That was 2 years ago on a New Eng/Canada cruise. Sure there were a few families on the boat, but not many. Both my brother's families as well as my own decided after that one, that there will be no more Holland America cruises in our future. Great ship, great food, etc... just no live music that I cared to hear.

 

sorry for the typo...I meant that I felt very young being 49 yrs old (I am)

[jbhcw]

Dh likes Carnival and I like Hal. We cruise both lines. I would give hal a try just to visit HMC:)

[slotguy777]

Hey Sofaman, I can't believe you were on the Flavia in 1980! It was the first ship I worked on, in the casino for Atlantic Maritime. I was there in 1980 not sure if it was when you were onboard. My name is Greg I'm now 61 but I was bald and had a full well trimmed beard. Just in case you might remember. I also helped set up games for the Jubilee for Carnival with Atlantic before it sailed. What a small world!

[Shelli]

never mind...

[cmerun]

Eurodam, hands down. Lovely ship and great food. Carnival is alot of fun and we enjoy our CC cruises, however, there is no comparison.

 

Totally agree! Eurodam was a wonderful ship and the crew excellent.

We have been on both lines , as well as Princess,Royal and Norwegian.

It seems we keep coming back to Carnival and HAL. They are different

experiences, but variety is what makes it fun !

Def. try HAL at least once.

[dustyroad]

i know a family that just got back from alaska on the hal ship. their 17 and 14 yr old sons where so bored on the ship. it was a big YAWN for them. they did enjoy the ports but the cruising experience was a failure as far as the ship went for a family cruise. they have been on carnival so they know the kids love too be on a ship and cruise. i dont know why they choose hal instead of carnival. i know i sound harsh but that was their take on it.

[saturn93]

I've been on both and each has their positives. If I just want to relax and take it easy, I would do HAL. If I want to enjoy with a group of friends/family or eventually take a quick trip solo down the road, I would do CCL.