HAL Noordam vs NCL Sun

[luvmyjrt]

Can anyone provide some insight? We are scheduled for an 11day Southern Caribbean on the Noordam in a corner aft suite in March of 2013. In reviewing NCL's guide they have a similar cruise that is 10 days.

 

For background, we have cruised the Oosterdam and Eurodam on HAL but never NCL. Our party will include myself, DH and DM. We will select a suite but would like feedback from others who have done both ships. What did you like, not like, how was service compared to HAL (which we have always found to be excellent)!

 

Any help would ge greatly appreciated!

[innlady1]

Can anyone provide some insight? We are scheduled for an 11day Southern Caribbean on the Noordam in a corner aft suite in March of 2013. In reviewing NCL's guide they have a similar cruise that is 10 days.

 

For background, we have cruised the Oosterdam and Eurodam on HAL but never NCL. Our party will include myself, DH and DM. We will select a suite but would like feedback from others who have done both ships. What did you like, not like, how was service compared to HAL (which we have always found to be excellent)!

 

Any help would ge greatly appreciated!

 

Oh my, the Noordam is one of our favorite ships...I can't be objective here because I love the dark blue hull among other classic things. But, when we sailed her twice out of NYC to the Caribbean, NCL was next to us so we did get to see one of their ships.

Were it me, I would keep your reservation firmly planted on the Noordam! ;) Hope you make a good decision!

[mamaofami]

Noordam is really a perfect ship. One of my two favorites. Keep your corner aft suite.

[PathfinderEss]

I have friends that travel NCL all the time, because of the gambling on the ship is run by Harrah's so they get reward points and the drinks are comped for them when playing cards, as they are Diamond card holders with Harrah. I never hear a good word out of them about the rest of the cruise. I know the food is not near as good as Hal. Personally, I could never sail a cruise lines who chooses to decorated the hulls of their ships like they do. Way to cheap looking for me but then thats my OP.

[luvmyjrt]

I have friends that travel NCL all the time, because of the gambling on the ship is run by Harrah's so they get reward points and the drinks are comped for them when playing cards, as they are Diamond card holders with Harrah. I never hear a good word out of them about the rest of the cruise. I know the food is not near as good as Hal. Personally, I could never sail a cruise lines who chooses to decorated the hulls of their ships like they do. Way to cheap looking for me but then thats my OP.

 

first thing DH said was that the hull is ugly! Lol!

[kazu]

I have so many latitude points that my head spins - I left NCL a number of years ago - until the changes (and all the ships have had to cut) they were our number #1 choice.

 

Now we sail Holland america. there are just so many reasons to choose different ships that it's hard to pinpoint what is right for everyone.

 

We prefer the older, smaller ships - but that's not everyone's cup of tea:D

[3rdGenCunarder]

Stay with your HAL reservation. Those corner sutes are wonderful. And HAL's service puts NCL to shame.

[mamaofami]

Personally, I could never sail a cruise lines who chooses to decorated the hulls of their ships like they do. Way to cheap looking for me but then thats my OP.

 

Watching tonight's sail away, or no sail away, I would have to agree.

[innlady1]

Watching tonight's sail away, or no sail away, I would have to agree.

 

No sailaway? I thought we saw 4 out of PE and one out of NYC?

[Richie2pies]

The price is usually right on NCL, but HAL is a much better line. The food is much better on HAL and the ships are great. HAL has a great suite program and they are cheaper, but as the saying goes... you get what you pay for.

[0bnxshs]

I did a review of the Norwegian Sun from a TA in Oct 2011 that you may find useful. It's located here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=90263

 

All in all, I'd choose HAL/Princess above NCL, but honestly, that based on only 1 cruise on NCL.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

The price is usually right on NCL, but HAL is a much better line. The food is much better on HAL and the ships are great. HAL has a great suite program and they are cheaper, but as the saying goes... you get what you pay for.

Richie, did you mean to say that NCL has a great suite program and they are cheaper?

I have never been on the Sun but have been on the Pearl and the Star. Pearl was far superior to the Star. We are going on the Dawn in November in an Aft Suite. Suites are the only way to go with NCL but it is still cheap!!! Considerably less than we are paying for a Suite to Alaska on the Zuiderdam.

 

Now not having been on the Sun but having done some reading on her she is a older ship. Especially since many of NCL's fleet is much newer. Not saying that is good or bad but just saying. I do think NCL knows how to take very good care of their Suite Passengers but unless you plan to eat in the alternatice restaurants each night I think you may find the food to be a much lower quality.

 

If price is close to the same I would probably go with the Noordam. If you are up for trying something totally different then try the NCL Sun :)

[Down-Unders]

Can anyone provide some insight? We are scheduled for an 11day Southern Caribbean on the Noordam in a corner aft suite in March of 2013. In reviewing NCL's guide they have a similar cruise that is 10 days.

 

For background, we have cruised the Oosterdam and Eurodam on HAL but never NCL. Our party will include myself, DH and DM. We will select a suite but would like feedback from others who have done both ships. What did you like, not like, how was service compared to HAL (which we have always found to be excellent)!

 

Any help would ge greatly appreciated![/quote

 

 

No comparison been on the Sun twice once in a suite , Noordam every time. say hello to Ashville we have a nephew living there.

[English_in_Spain]

We are HAL fans who have just returned from an NCL cruise (9 days on Jade to the Canary Islands). We cruised with them before over 20 years ago but this was our first cruise on NCL since it changed to Freestyle cruising.

 

After 9 HAL cruises we were not sure whether we would like NCL. I must say we were pleasantly surprised.

 

I agree with others that I do not like the fancy painted hull but, for me, the outside appearance of a ship is not a major factor in my enjoyment of the cruise. Let's face it, how much time on a cruise can you even see the outside of the ship?

 

Our cabin was much smaller than an equivalent on HAL but the price was much cheaper than a HAL equivalent – we were in an inside cabin.

 

I enjoyed all the food. I particularly thought the buffet was the best I have encountered on all my cruises.

 

The thing that impressed me most was the service. It was efficient and very friendly. I would even say that it exceeded my experiences on recent HAL cruises.

 

I would still say that HAL is my favourite cruise line overall because of the more relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. For longer cruises I would still choose HAL. However NCL are now not far behind as my second choice especially bearing in mind the excellent value for money.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We are HAL fans who have just returned from an NCL cruise (9 days on Jade to the Canary Islands). We cruised with them before over 20 years ago but this was our first cruise on NCL since it changed to Freestyle cruising.

 

After 9 HAL cruises we were not sure whether we would like NCL. I must say we were pleasantly surprised.

 

I agree with others that I do not like the fancy painted hull but, for me, the outside appearance of a ship is not a major factor in my enjoyment of the cruise. Let's face it, how much time on a cruise can you even see the outside of the ship?

 

Our cabin was much smaller than an equivalent on HAL but the price was much cheaper than a HAL equivalent – we were in an inside cabin.

 

I enjoyed all the food. I particularly thought the buffet was the best I have encountered on all my cruises.

 

The thing that impressed me most was the service. It was efficient and very friendly. I would even say that it exceeded my experiences on recent HAL cruises.

 

I would still say that HAL is my favourite cruise line overall because of the more relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. For longer cruises I would still choose HAL. However NCL are now not far behind as my second choice especially bearing in mind the excellent value for money.

Carol, I am glad to hear this and also Welcome Home. I too think that NCL service is really great. I liked thier buffet too and also Blue Lagoon :D

I agree abut the Hull painting. for those not sailing we see it and yes it is a bit tacky but you do not see it from the Inside of the ship ;)

[thecook]

My first cruise was on the HAL Volendam, my second was on NCL Sun. IMHO choose HAL as I have for my 3rd cruise. I base my opinion on first and foremost the food and then secondly the service. I am not a picky eater...but I found the quality of the food lacking in all of the NCL dining venues with the exception of fee based dining (as LaffnVegas mentioned). Our room stewarts were pleasant enough, but had far too many rooms to service and quite often forgot requests..ie ice, tissues and toilet paper:eek:. If food and service are important to you stick with HAL!! Hope this helps.

[travelingteacher2010]

We are an active couple in our mid 50s and we have just completed our first HAL cruise on the Maasdam. It was an 11 day southern Caribbean and it was fabulous. Our previous two cruises in the past two years were both on the NCL Sun, one to Alaska, the other an 11 day Baltics cruise.I have written a comparison review of the Maasdam and the Sun which I have yet to post. Here are some parts of it.

When we cruise again it will be with HAL although both ships have merit. On Hal we thought the food was much much better. We liked how they put a lot of their attention into the quality of the MDR and Canaletto food which is included in your cost. The Pinnacle Grill is, of course, excellent. On the Sun, we quickly tired of the MDR's very average food. The French and Italian restaurants, however, (surcharge) were excellent. The sushi restaurant (surcharge) was poor. We liked the buffets on both ships but always had a terrible time finding Lido seating on the Sun and often ended up having to climb stairs to eat in the tapas restaurant (hot food is now cold). Also, the Sun's buffet area was much more 'cafeteria like' and crowded than on Hal. They don't use tablecloths either for the dinner service. We loved getting a hot breakfast for room service on Hal. NCL offers only cold continental room service breakfasts. On the Sun, we enjoyed the jazz brunch buffet (excellent) for a surcharge while the Dutch and Indonesian teas on Hal were unique.

Service on both ships was excellent.

Entertainment on both ships was similar and very good. NCL also has a classical trio in their beautiful Observation lounge which we enjoyed very much. Not as stuffy as the classical music on Hal. On the Sun, the sailaway parties lasted much longer so there seemed to be more of a lively feel.

On Hal we did not miss the roving groups of teens and children we experienced on the Sun and which bothered us at times. Parents let their kids wander at all times of the night and the teacher in me had to speak to a few of them when they were running through the MDR! Beware of this as I noticed you are sailing in March and could run into Spring Break families on the Sun. On our Hal Spring Break cruise there were very few children.

We loved the fact that we could bring wine onboard with Hal and enjoy a happy hour in our lanai cabin. NCL does not let you bring alcohol of any kind onboard to enjoy in your room.

On Hal, the ship never seemed crowded while on the Sun, we often felt crowded and could never find a poolside lounger no matter what time we got up! Both ships have a good coffee bar but only Hal has cappuccino in the MDR. We also loved the extensive library on Hal. I should say that we were not suite passengers so perhaps on the Sun there are suite perks that I'm not aware of. Hope you find parts of this helpful and enjoy your cruise! We are returning to the southern Caribbean next March also and will be on the Maasdam once again.

[luvmyjrt]

Decision made! We will stick with HAL and enjoy ourselves as we always do! Now, how to make the calendar move at warp speed!

[iancal]

I have only been on one NCL cruise-it was several years ago and it was on the Sun. I was with my elderly father-we had a balcony cabin.

 

Things change over time, and between cruises. But I have to say that our NCL cruise was one of the best that I have had. The service, particularly for my father, was the best that I have ever seen on any cruise line from Crystal-Carnival. The food was very good-even better in the pay restaurants. The entertainment was by far the best that we have had at sea-absolutely no comparison to HAL. Cannot comment on the casino or spa as we did not use these offerings. The cabin was OK, the beds were just so so-neither were as good as HAL or Celebrity. To be fair, DW sailed on the NCL Spririt and did not like it as much as I did the Sun. We put this down to variances between ships, crews, and of course timeframes. We are more interested in what is in the ship than what is painted on the hull.

 

We have not had an opportunity to sail again with NCL but we would if the 'right' ship/itinerary/price hit our radar screen.

 

Noordam is at the absolute top of our list of HAL ships to try. Hopefully it will happen sometime this year. I am certain that it is also a wonderful ship.