Which would you choose? HAL Noordam or NCL Sun - 11 Days

[Muffinis#1]

Went on NCL 2 yrs. ago to Hawaii and the ship and cruise line was not anything I would ever want to do again!!!! going on HAL next month can't compare the 2 yet but anything has to be better than NCL!!!

[GitUpAndGoze]

Went on NCL 2 yrs. ago to Hawaii and the ship and cruise line was not anything I would ever want to do again!!!! going on HAL next month can't compare the 2 yet but anything has to be better than NCL!!!

Yes!;)

Kate

[HokiePoq]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO DeRon: Just got back from a Holland America cruise and took one aboard NCL some years ago. There should be no question. Holland America. Better food and service should carry the day. Besides, you like the extra ports-of-call of the Holland America cruise.

 

The passengers will be younger for the most part on an NCL cruise. Specialty restaurants have to be more numerous on NCL because the food in MDR's are just not good. You always have choices about where to go eat. You can be just as formal or informal as you wish no matter what cruise line you go on, even Cunard.

 

The final choice is yours. As for me given the choice one would not be in their right mind if they did not choose Holland America.

 

I surely wouldn't go that far. You don't mention cost comparison or if you have children. For children's program, choose NCL as there are simply more children and programs for them. I've been on the Sun and it's my least favorite of the NCL ships I've gone on. I haven't been on the Noordam so can't judge its features. We like both lines and cruise both lines. Choose based on where the ship goes, when it goes, and the cost. Enjoy whichever you choose!

[big green]

IF you are booking a suite NCL -hands down---the Sun has a great 10 day schedule.

 

BG

[wldflr]

DeRon, my hubby & I are like you...a young 48 and we've sailed on two HAL 10+ day long cruises before (Zaandam/Zuiderdam) and are also looking at the 11+ night Noordam cruise for next January.

 

Yes, the crowd will be a bit older, but we found fun, educated people to hang out with of all ages. Entertainment seems to become scarce after 10pm unless you want to hang out in the piano bar or the casino but we're not night owls, so this didn't bother us. Also we tried out the "as you wish" dining and decided we liked it much better than the assigned seating option. Enjoyed eating in the Lido or the Canaletto several nights whenever we felt hungry and the food was very good there. Got to know a friendly server in the lido as well and he took great care of us which was a nice bonus. We're going for the itinerary on the Noordam...very good ports and also sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, which we like.

 

Never sailed on NCL so I can't give you a good comparison.

[Casino Player]

DeRon, my hubby & I are like you...a young 48 and we've sailed on two HAL 10+ day long cruises before (Zaandam/Zuiderdam) and are also looking at the 11+ night Noordam cruise for next January.

 

Yes, the crowd will be a bit older, but we found fun, educated people to hang out with of all ages. Entertainment seems to become scarce after 10pm unless you want to hang out in the piano bar or the casino but we're not night owls, so this didn't bother us. Also we tried out the "as you wish" dining and decided we liked it much better than the assigned seating option. Enjoyed eating in the Lido or the Canaletto several nights whenever we felt hungry and the food was very good there. Got to know a friendly server in the lido as well and he took great care of us which was a nice bonus. We're going for the itinerary on the Noordam...very good ports and also sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, which we like.

 

Never sailed on NCL so I can't give you a good comparison.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO wldflr: We liked Canaletto also and had several meals there. The Buffett has the same things as they have in the dining room and is more relaxed. Go to Le Cirque night at the Pinnacle Grill. It is worth it.

[cruiseapril]

We did the 10 day on the Noordam last year with the same itinerary except for Dominica (we have been to Dominica on another cruise.) This cruise is one of our favorites because of the varied itinerary. Excellent port choices.

 

 

Our Noordam experience was good in every way and we hope to take the other 10 day Noordam Southern Caribbean another time. We have been on many cruise lines and find plenty to do on HAL.

[mmr923]

I surely wouldn't go that far. You don't mention cost comparison or if you have children. For children's program, choose NCL as there are simply more children and programs for them. I've been on the Sun and it's my least favorite of the NCL ships I've gone on. I haven't been on the Noordam so can't judge its features. We like both lines and cruise both lines. Choose based on where the ship goes, when it goes, and the cost. Enjoy whichever you choose!

 

I beg to differ as to children's programs - our kids have done both HAL (Ryndam) and the Sun (twice,) and they actually raved more about Club HAL than the NCL club - add to that, they felt the food was better and the cabins larger, I have two teens who are now HAL fans. So it's subjective, even for kids.

 

All that being said, to the OP, my husband and I were 44 and 49 when we traveled on the Noordam for the first time, and both felt that the ship was a perfect match for us. We like to dance after dinner, which we enjoyed doing very much in the Ocean Bar with the Neptunes (live band!), but we also visited the disco (Northern Lights) a few times. We appreciated the lack of very loud annoying announcements all day; just because they aren't blaring announcements about bingo or cooking demonstrations or music by the pool, doesn't mean it isn't happening - they just don't feel the need to interrupt your day to announce things you already know about because of your daily program!). Mattresses are way comfier on HAL, too.

 

But you are going to visit wonderful ports so you will have a wonderful cruise with whichever line you choose! It's all subjective, after all.

[Typhoon1]

Noordam. Avoiding the port of Miami is a big plus.

[DeRon]

Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

 

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

 

Is the Anytime Dining system very good (vs other cruise lines Anytime dining)?

 

How many formal nights would be on a 11 night cruise? Are the rest casual? Or semi-formal? Or a combination?

 

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SwissMyst]

Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

 

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

 

Is the Anytime Dining system very good (vs other cruise lines Anytime dining)?

 

How many formal nights would be on a 11 night cruise? Are the rest casual? Or semi-formal? Or a combination?

 

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

We have always gotten tables for two when we have dined at MDR events like breakfast, lunch or tea. I assume you would also be able to get a table for two with anytime dining for dinner too, plus you can make a reservation ahead of time from what I understand. The problems seem to come when people just show up "anytime" and then sometimes there is a wait.

 

Typically there would be two formal nights - one early and one late in the cruise and depending upon how many sea days or early port departures your cruise has.

 

Because the MDR is lovely and the service is more formal with uniformed waiters, white table cloths, flowers, goblets and and silver service I think a lot of people like to honor this setting by dressing up a little more than just casual on the non-formal nights. But this is because they want to; not because they have to. It is that kind of a feeling once you experience this. Maybe a little dressier top or outfit for women and a jacket, no tie for men is MDR "casual". It is a beautiful room so many want to do this simply because of the setting.

[kazu]

Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

 

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

 

Is the Anytime Dining system very good (vs other cruise lines Anytime dining)?

 

How many formal nights would be on a 11 night cruise? Are the rest casual? Or semi-formal? Or a combination?

 

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are no semi formal nights any more -

 

On an 11 night cruise there will be either 2 or 3 formal nights (usually 3 but I have found depending on ports, etc., they have cut back on some of our cruises). Dress on the other nights is casual or 'country club casual if you prefer' but I find that misleading as men do not have to wear a jacket. Nothing fancy required. Just dress nicely casually.

 

anytime dining - tables for two can be done - you might have a bit of a wait - why not see if fixed dining is available? I love having the same waiters every night who learn our little nuances and take care of us. Just a wild and crazy thought.

 

whichever ship you go on - have a great cruise and a wonderful time:)

[kazu]

We are an older couple( now) We started out on Old Norway ( NCL of course) and have sailed many times with them: Still enjoy them but do not like no choice of regular early dining: A few years ago we tried the Westerdam; we will be back on her for our cruise this December which will include our daughter 45 year old daughter and 21 year old granddaughter: Neither have cruised before. Our thought being "lets show them the nicer style''. If they choose to cruise again , they can pick a more roudy setting of younger cruisers without us;)

 

I just had to say I cruised NCL a lot earlier and primarily on the Norway. May she rest in peace. A beautiful ship that put in me mind of some of the HAL ships. Very elegant. lots of teak but those were the old days.

[RuthC]

How many formal nights would be on a 11 night cruise? Are the rest casual? Or semi-formal? Or a combination?

On an 11-night cruise, you should plan on 3 formal nights. There may be fewer; your final documents will give the expected number.

The other nights are never just "casual"; they are "smart casual". There's a difference. "Smart casual" is dressier than daytime wear, which is often referred to as "casual".

Smart casual has a more polished, put-together look.

[amster65]

Doing a cruise next summer and have to resort to RCCL. Not happy. No more HAL Ships in May. It's a family logistics problem. Oh well......:::(

[innlady1]

[quote name='kazu']There are no semi formal nights any more -

On an 11 night cruise there will be either 2 or 3 formal nights (usually 3 but I have found depending on ports, etc., they have cut back on some of our cruises). Dress on the other nights is casual or 'country club casual if you prefer' but I find that misleading as men do not have to wear a jacket. Nothing fancy required. Just dress nicely casually.

anytime dining - tables for two can be done - you might have a bit of a wait - why not see if fixed dining is available? I love having the same waiters every night who learn our little nuances and take care of us. Just a wild and crazy thought.

whichever ship you go on - have a great cruise and a wonderful time:)[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]I love Smart Casual nights...after a day in port, it's sometimes tiring to be excited about dressing up for Formal night. But, we do it anyway! We, also, love Fixed Seating...for the same reasons.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]

[innlady1]

duplicate post....sorry!

[vbmom87]

[quote name='DeRon']Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

![/quote]

We never had a problem on our HAL cruise getting a table for two with Anytime Dining. They never tried to force us to take a table with others. It is possible you will have to wait if you want a table for two, but could get seated sooner if you agree to dine with others.

If you want, you can make a reservation with Anytime Dining. You can even pick the table you want that way. We like sitting by the windows, so we often made a reservation by the window. (actually the tables for two on the Amsterdam were one row over from the window, but still a lovely view) You can make reservations up to three days ahead.

[josie724]

[quote name='DeRon']Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

Is the Anytime Dining system very good (vs other cruise lines Anytime dining)?


THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]


We were always sat at a table for 2, they asked if we would like to sit at a table with others and we declined, it wasn't a problem. Once we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table and the manager came over and gave us a complimentary glass of wine. I know a lot of people complain about the service at anytime dining but we never found it to be a problem.

[Casino Player]

[quote name='DeRon']Guys...I am the OP..thank you for all your comments and help!! We are *leaning* toward the Noordam! I do have a few questions that are important to us:

In the Anytime Dining, is it easy to sit at a table for 2, or do they try to place you with other guests?

Is the Anytime Dining system very good (vs other cruise lines Anytime dining)?

How many formal nights would be on a 11 night cruise? Are the rest casual? Or semi-formal? Or a combination?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="4"]HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO DeRon: We went to the buffett most nights or to Canelletos. No surcharge for Canelletos, but, because it is small you do need a reservation. It does not matter how many formal nights there are unless you want to have a picture taken. If you want to be more formal go to the MDR. If you want to be less formal go to other places to eat. Don't forget to go to Le Cirque night at the Pinnacle Grill. It is worth it.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[vbmom87]

[quote name='Casino Player'][COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=4]HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO DeRon: We went to the buffett most nights or to Canelletos. [SIZE=5][B]No surcharge for Canelletos,[/B][/SIZE] but, because it is small you do need a reservation. It does not matter how many formal nights there are unless you want to have a picture taken. If you want to be more formal go to the MDR. If you want to be less formal go to other places to eat. Don't forget to go to Le Cirque night at the Pinnacle Grill. It is worth it.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/quote]

Unfortunately, according to recent cruisers, there is now a surcharge for the Cannelleto.....it is $10 pp and includes a glass of house wine. We enjoyed dining there on Formal Nights.....but not sure I would pay for it.

[wldflr]

Oh no!!! Say it isn't so about the Canaletto now charging a fee!

Quick story...

One night, just after returning on board, DH and I went up to the Lido Deck intending to eat at the buffet. We stopped at the Canaletto desk to make a dinner reservation for a few nights in advance and the maitre'd asked us where we were eating (right then)...we pointed to the lido buffet..."no, no, you can eat here...now." The kicker? We were both in shorts/t-shirts and pointed this out to him. "No problem."

Yes, we felt a bit awkward sitting next to people who had obviously dressed up, but we were hungry and loved their food/service. It was our 2nd time in there so our server knew us and made it a great meal.

[Casino Player]

[quote name='vbmom87']Unfortunately, according to recent cruisers, there is now a surcharge for the Cannelleto.....it is $10 pp and includes a glass of house wine. We enjoyed dining there on Formal Nights.....but not sure I would pay for it.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="4"]HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO vbmom87: I just got off the Veendam last Sunday. I had taken a Holland America cruise last week. There was no surcharge at Cannelleto. So I don't know how much more recent you can get than that.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Salacia]

Husband and I also disembarked from the Veendam on June 3. No surcharge for dining in Cannelleto during that voyage, as Casino Player mentioned previously. However, I have read from other posts that on other HAL ship(s), there was a surcharge.

[vbmom87]

[quote name='Casino Player'][COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=4]HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO vbmom87: I just got off the Veendam last Sunday. I had taken a Holland America cruise last week. There was no surcharge at Cannelleto. So I don't know how much more recent you can get than that.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/quote]

Went back to read and it is being tried on two ships right now...assuming this is correct info. ;)

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