Steel is cut!

[Ship's Wake]

deleted

Edited February 6, 2014 by oysterdam

[agabbymama]

Can't wait and hope to book on her inaugural cruise:)

 

You and the 3000+ other folks. Not for me. I was afraid HAL would go to the larger ships, and it appears they have.

 

I'll stick to the smaller class, if I decide to cruise again.

[UPNYGuy]

the line is definitely taking a turn toward exiting the premium market

 

HAL is (and has been) a contemporary / mass market cruise line for quite some time now. A true premium cruise line experience exists with Azamara and Oceania (and in the ship-within-a-ship areas). Your mileage may vary, but our finest cruise experience to date was on the Norwegian Breakaway, sailing in The Haven (to the point that HAL has likely lost us as customers).

 

If Holland America bases the Pinnacle Class prototype in NYC, they better have a "Haven" type suite complex planned. And that isn't just our opinion... most of the people in the suite complex that had logo carry bags were toting "HALware". HAL is losing a percent of suite pax to NCL due to the perks and exclusivity.

[dr.dawg]

my great grandmother could not stand some of the decor on the titanic -- but she signed on anyway. and complained - at least for the first night or sol she tried the piazza once, but it was too salty for her neopolitan taste buds, so she just listened to the music. 'nearer my God to thee' was her fave; i gave up on hal ships when they could not straighten the lamp shades.

[cruisetrail]

HAL is (and has been) a contemporary / mass market cruise line for quite some time now. A true premium cruise line experience exists with Azamara and Oceania (and in the ship-within-a-ship areas). Your mileage may vary, but our finest cruise experience to date was on the Norwegian Breakaway, sailing in The Haven (to the point that HAL has likely lost us as customers).

 

If Holland America bases the Pinnacle Class prototype in NYC, they better have a "Haven" type suite complex planned. And that isn't just our opinion... most of the people in the suite complex that had logo carry bags were toting "HALware". HAL is losing a percent of suite pax to NCL due to the perks and exclusivity.

 

HAL Signature Class ships at this time are those ships that provide true premium cruise line experience.

Neither Azamara floating sinks, nor newer Oceania ships are on par.

"Ship within a ship" is faux exclusivity enclaves - a third world type of luxury - found on lower grade cruise lines.

MS Eurodam and MS Nieuw Amsterdam are "Haven" ships - the whole ship is like "Haven" on MSC or NCL.

HAL product is a higher quality product, so I believe obnoxous third world segregation is not in their tradition.

 

I am not blaming "Haven" clients in any way - they just buy what is sold.

Hope it will never happen on HAL.

Edited March 3, 2014 by cruisetrail

[UPNYGuy]

All I am going to say is that HAL clients should plan on a "ship within a ship" coming in the not so distant future. Celebrity announced that they are reconfiguring the Solstice class to hold it. And NCL, MSC, and RCCL currently have one. Princess is also rumored to be in development.

 

Celebrity developing one forced HAL into a corner.

[cruisetrail]

Celebrity is working on some additional suite perks. It won't be "ship within a ship".

RCI does not have "ship within a ship" concept either.

[UPNYGuy]

All I'm going to say is that we have had service related issues on fully half of our HAL cruises, and that we gave them 8 chances to fix these issues (surly servers, overflowing toilets ruining our carpets, waiting 45 minutes for bar service, terrible food, incompetent room stewards, run down ships) so we looked elsewhere. We are perfectly happy in a world of "faux luxury" as it was put to us. We are completely shielded from the crowds, and escorted around in crew elevators with a personal concierge. Plus, anything we need is met with a swift and prompt response.

 

Now we are aware that bad service can occur on any line, but we have given them more than a chance.

 

Considering that my wife and I have sailed on half of the HAL fleet, I think I know what to expect from them from here on out ;)

[innlady1]

That was a really great cruise :) I miss that itinerary.

 

Sent from my SGH-T779 using Tapatalk

 

It was. New York to the Caribbean on the Noordam was our first HAL cruise. And, our 2nd...a year later.

[sail7seas]

We also greatly enjoyed that Noordam cruise, roundtrip NY to the Caribbean.

 

[cruz chic]

All I'm going to say is that we have had service related issues on fully half of our HAL cruises, and that we gave them 8 chances to fix these issues (surly servers, overflowing toilets ruining our carpets, waiting 45 minutes for bar service, terrible food, incompetent room stewards, run down ships) so we looked elsewhere. We are perfectly happy in a world of "faux luxury" as it was put to us. We are completely shielded from the crowds, and escorted around in crew elevators with a personal concierge. Plus, anything we need is met with a swift and prompt response.

 

Now we are aware that bad service can occur on any line, but we have given them more than a chance.

 

Considering that my wife and I have sailed on half of the HAL fleet, I think I know what to expect from them from here on out ;)

 

Agree with you. Hal is hardly a premium line. No premium line struggles like Hal does in the MDR. It doesn't matter who or how it's spun. Saying it is premium does not make it so.

[joysav]

RCI

(Oasis Class) .......... ........................ 225,282 ....... June 2016 STX France, St. Nazaire

QUANTUM OF THE SEAS ........................ 167,800 ....... Fall 2014 Meyer Werft, Germany

ANTHEM OF THE SEAS ........................ 167,800 .......March 2015 Meyer Werft, Germany

UNNAMED ........................ .............. 167,800 ....... May 2016 Meyer Weft,

 

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

NORWEGIAN ESCAPE ........................ 163,000 ....... October 2015 Meyer Werft, Germany

NORWEGIAN BLISS ........................ 163,000 ....... Spring 2017 Meyer Werft, Germany

 

STAR CRUISES

UNNAMED .......... ........................ 150,000 tons .......October 2016 Meyer Weft, Germany

 

PRINCESS CRUISES

REGAL PRINCESS ........................ 141,000 ....... Spring 2014 Fincantieri, Italy

 

P & O CRUISES

BRITANNIA ......... ........................ 141,000 gross tons, ....... March 2015 Fincantieri, Italy

 

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

CARNIVAL VISTA ........................ 135,000 ....... Winter, 2016 Fincantieri, Italy

 

COSTA CROCIERE

COSTA DIADEMA ........................132,500 ....... October 2014 Fincantieri, Italy

 

AIDA CRUISES

AIDAPRIMA .......................... 125,000 .......March 2015 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan

UNNAMED ............................. 125,000 .......March 2016 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan

 

XIAMEN INTERNATIONAL CRUISE

CHINA XIAMEN ........................ 100,000 ....... October 2018 Xiamen Shipbuilding , Xiamen,

 

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

UNNAMED :) .................'.......... 99,700 February 2016 .......Fincantieri, Italy

 

TUI

MEIN SCHIFF 3 ........................ 99,300 ....... May 2014 STX Finland, Turku Shipyard

MEIN SCHIFF 4 ........................ 99,300 ....... April 2015 STX Finland, Turku Shipyard

 

 

TOTAL NEW SHIPS ON ORDER: ........................ 29

 

TOTAL GROSS TONNAGE ON ORDER:........................ 2,722,300

 

 

Compiled by Shawn J. Dake.

Update: February 5, 2014.

 

.

[Tarpeian Rock]

HAL Signature Class ships at this time are those ships that provide true premium cruise line experience.

Neither Azamara floating sinks, nor newer Oceania ships are on par.

"Ship within a ship" is faux exclusivity enclaves - a third world type of luxury - found on lower grade cruise lines.

MS Eurodam and MS Nieuw Amsterdam are "Haven" ships - the whole ship is like "Haven" on MSC or NCL.

HAL product is a higher quality product, so I believe obnoxous third world segregation is not in their tradition.

 

I am not blaming "Haven" clients in any way - they just buy what is sold.

Hope it will never happen on HAL.

 

 

 

I have never read a guidebook or published review that ranked HAL as a line, or HAL's newest two ships, above Oceania as a line, or Oceania's two newest ships. "Third world segregation?"

[cruisetrail]

All I'm going to say is that we have had service related issues on fully half of our HAL cruises, and that we gave them 8 chances to fix these issues (surly servers, overflowing toilets ruining our carpets, waiting 45 minutes for bar service, terrible food, incompetent room stewards, run down ships) so we looked elsewhere. We are perfectly happy in a world of "faux luxury" as it was put to us. We are completely shielded from the crowds, and escorted around in crew elevators with a personal concierge. Plus, anything we need is met with a swift and prompt response.

 

Now we are aware that bad service can occur on any line, but we have given them more than a chance.

 

Considering that my wife and I have sailed on half of the HAL fleet, I think I know what to expect from them from here on out ;)

 

I assume you are talking about older ships.

My comment is related to HAL Signature class.

 

A mansarde in Paris is a mansarde. But it's in Paris.

A palace in Cambogia is a palace. But it's in Cambogia. :)

[sail7seas]

Thanks for the new build listing, Joysav.

Really interesting how many tons under construction. :eek:

Let's hope the world's economy really is growing. :rolleyes:

 

[cruisetrail]

I have never read a guidebook or published review that ranked HAL as a line, or HAL's newest two ships, above Oceania as a line, or Oceania's two newest ships. "Third world segregation?"

 

Writing a review, especially a comparison review is hard work that is not for everyone, to be honest.

Guidebooks reviews are lazy and come in bulk.

Good reviews - I mean competent and/or comprehensive reviews - come from cruise ships enthusiasts.

Cruise critic is a good place to find a good review.

Cruise reviews rarely come fully cooked and served on a plate.

In most cases we need to do our home work - a reserach.

 

HAL Signature class vs Oceania Marina - please see the link in the post above.

What is what in comparison is seen instantly as soon as you put two ships together.

Something that is not seen right away - food. I used to assume it was superior. What is better on so-called "luxury light" line? Of course, food.

It was until RuthC review of Oceania (Marina or Riviera).

 

That's it.

No guidebooks needed. :)

Edited March 3, 2014 by cruisetrail

[RuthC]

Something that is not seen right away - food. I used to assume it was superior. What is better on so-called "luxury light" line? Of course, food.

It was until RuthC review of Oceania (Marina or Riviera).

Let's not misconstrue my report on the Riviera.

First off, I said the ship was drop-dead gorgeous, which she is. She is a different style than the HAL ships, but is quality throughout. She is much more spacious than the Vista/Signature ships. Luxurious and comfortable.

 

The food on the Riviera did not live up to the hype, but it was very good. Certainly the food in the dining room was as good as HAL has served in recent years, and generally better.

Waves Grill (the outside "burger bar") is far and away superior to HAL's Terrace Grill. HAL could learn a lot on that venue.

[cruisetrail]

Let's not misconstrue my report on the Riviera.

First off, I said the ship was drop-dead gorgeous, which she is. She is a different style than the HAL ships, but is quality throughout. She is much more spacious than the Vista/Signature ships. Luxurious and comfortable.

 

The food on the Riviera did not live up to the hype, but it was very good. Certainly the food in the dining room was as good as HAL has served in recent years, and generally better.

Waves Grill (the outside "burger bar") is far and away superior to HAL's Terrace Grill. HAL could learn a lot on that venue.

 

Thank you RuthC,

I refer to your report about the food.

Ships design and spaciousness is not discussed - the difference visible as ships are put nose to nose.

The HAL Signature ships are much more spacious.

[EbayCruiser]

This is exciting! I hope it comes to FLL for the Spring Cruise Season. I like to cruise out of FLL in Feb. or March.

[RuthC]

The HAL Signature ships are much more spacious.

"Bigger" does not equal "more spacious".

 

I just know how it felt walking around, not literally bumping into people, finding a seat. Riviera was spacious and comfortable. I stand by that statement.

 

Have you ever sailed on the Riviera??? If not, you can't know how it feels.

[peaches from georgia]

'Spacious and roomy' has little to do with the overall size of the space as RuthC says. It depends on how the available space is utilized and the amount of people using it.

[sppunk]

'Spacious and roomy' has little to do with the overall size of the space as RuthC says. It depends on how the available space is utilized and the amount of people using it.

Yup! Oasis of the Seas actually can feel roomy due to the design - it's design is IMO by far the best on a ship ever.

 

I'm glad I never sailed it though! But it was a marvel to wander around one day and see the flow.

[kazu]

"Bigger" does not equal "more spacious".

 

I just know how it felt walking around, not literally bumping into people, finding a seat. Riviera was spacious and comfortable. I stand by that statement.

 

Have you ever sailed on the Riviera??? If not, you can't know how it feels.

 

I agree RuthC - how can you call the Signature ships more spacious than say the Prinsendam???? According to a certain website which I cannot quote here, the both Signature ships have a space ratio of 34 while the Prinsendam has one of 42 - 47.8 (depending upon which website you look at) . (they all agree on the space ratio on the Signature ships though). That seems like a big difference to me????

[cruisetrail]

Signature class is 41.0

 

Space ratio has been explained earlier in this thread.

[cruisetrail]

"Bigger" does not equal "more spacious".

 

 

 

That's correct.

And this is what concerns me about the new HAL ship.

 

Oceania feels as it is.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=37701080&postcount=174

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=37729016&postcount=213