Is Holland the right line for our family

[kazu]

The op wasn't asking if dcl was right for them. They are leaving dcl as its too pricy. The op asked if Hal was right and I said either RC or carnival would likely be better. I have no idea why you decided to tell me about dcl :confused:. No one said Hal attracts a younger crowd. I

get tired of hearing that everyone is ancient from the same posters.

 

WOW - bad hair day?

 

All that person did was quote your post saying you were a toddler when JFK died ( as was I) - it doesn't really make you nor I a spring chicken.

 

I don't think they were trying to tell you anything.

 

enjoy, life is good and all opinions count on the boards, right ? ;):D

Edited January 18, 2016 by kazu

[cruz chic]

A toddler is 2 or 3 years old, not 20 :eek:.

[retiredkid]

I don't know which cruise line you will ultimately settle for, but steering away from HAL was the right decision. We have only been on one HAL cruise but two DCL cruises. Disney really *REALLY* excels in the entertainment department. The dining is also superior. When you think about it, ALL of DCL regular restaurants would be specialty restaurants on HAL, because of the theme-ing.

I love both lines for two completely different reasons. If I want a laid-back, traditional, respectable cruise, I go to HAL. If I want a fun-first, let my hair down, young-at-heart cruise, DCL is my choice.

[Oceanwench]

I don't know which cruise line you will ultimately settle for, but steering away from HAL was the right decision. We have only been on one HAL cruise but two DCL cruises. Disney really *REALLY* excels in the entertainment department. The dining is also superior. When you think about it, ALL of DCL regular restaurants would be specialty restaurants on HAL, because of the theme-ing.

I love both lines for two completely different reasons. If I want a laid-back, traditional, respectable cruise, I go to HAL. If I want a fun-first, let my hair down, young-at-heart cruise, DCL is my choice.

 

Excellent comparison!

 

And so true about DCL's main dining rooms!

[Oceanwench]

The op wasn't asking if dcl was right for them. They are leaving dcl as its too pricy. The op asked if Hal was right and I said either RC or carnival would likely be better. I have no idea why you decided to tell me about dcl :confused:. No one said Hal attracts a younger crowd. I get tired of hearing that everyone is ancient from the same posters.

 

Thanks for the schoolin' -- I expected it.

 

I was responding to your comment, then expanded on it.

The rest of my post was not necessarily directed solely at you.

Others do the same thing, but don't get taken to task for it! :eek:

 

DCL is pricey - and worth every cent!

Wish I could cruise with them again soon.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Oceanwench

[cruz chic]

Thanks for the schoolin' -- I expected it.

 

I was responding to your comment, then expanded on it.

The rest of my post was not necessarily directed solely at you.

Others do the same thing, but don't get taken to task for it! :eek:

 

DCL is pricey - and worth every cent!

Wish I could cruise with them again soon.

 

You are most welcome :).

[cgolf1]

Thanks for the schoolin' -- I expected it.

 

I was responding to your comment, then expanded on it.

The rest of my post was not necessarily directed solely at you.

Others do the same thing, but don't get taken to task for it! :eek:

 

DCL is pricey - and worth every cent!

Wish I could cruise with them again soon.

 

 

Right now we hope we can sail them again soon too, who knows we may find a line that suits us better and end up thanking them in the long run.

[EbayCruiser]

Not sure when you are planning on cruising but another vote for Harmony of the Seas. I think it is going to be a great ship. We loved the Oasis and Allure and the shows were fantastic. Plenty to do and you will never be bored.

[Oceanwench]

Right now we hope we can sail them again soon too, who knows we may find a line that suits us better and end up thanking them in the long run.

 

I think you've gotten a lot of good advice from many here!

You should explore the other forums on CC - maybe you have already?

You will find the perfect fit, I am sure!

 

Do give Norwegian Escape a look-over!

[Donny-Joe]

We've also done a bunch of DCL cruises, one RCCL and one HAL. We have two more HAL cruises booked, largely because of itinerary - they're going where we want to go.

 

I think other folks have covered it well. DCL excels at entertainment and activities. I think our HAL cruise had superior food, excellent service and was pleasant and relaxing. We all enjoyed it. We're looking forward to our upcoming HAL cruises.

 

RCCL was also nice, though to be honest I didn't think it had more or better activities than HAL, at least for our family. It was still a good cruise. This was the Enchantment of the Seas, one of RCCL's smaller and older ships (almost exactly the same size and age as the Disney Magic, FWIW).

 

Here's the thread where I reviewed our HAL cruise and compared it to DCL:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2290696

[OceanTraveller4ever]

Only done HAL, but on one cruise it was really full of kids, and it was mayhem. The kids were all over the rear pool, with the staff leaving them at it.

 

Some kids broke some glass in one pool which resulted in it being shut down for two days to be drained and cleaned,

 

That was on the Westie on the first week of January where kids were still on holidays.

 

I found it very funny and amusing, but I relish the majority of my cruises sans kids on HAL.

[AZNative2000]

Thank you all for the replies, for now I agree with many that Holland probably would not be the best fit for us right now. That now leaves us with only 4 lines to choose from, life was easier when we just stuck with the one line lol

If one you are considering is Celebrity,I can report that they do have a "lap pool". It is in the Solarium and is for adults (over 16) only. We also enjoyed the trivia and other planned activities.

 

See photo here: http://photos.cntraveler.com/2014/08/06/53e2e654dddaa35c30f637ac_celebrity-cruise-ship.jpg

 

Edited January 18, 2016 by AZNative2000

[RMLincoln]

NCL has water slides and comedy and very good entertainment. Many dining options but some are surcharge... but tot he fares being so much cheaper than DCL you could absorb a lot of dining surcharges and still save money. Drink packages are available and activities are for all ages. If you've posted on NL forum my guess is you've gotten a lot of good feedback there.

 

If you're used to DSL rooms I'd look carefully at what type rooms you'd want on any other line that you'd feel are comparable, and it won't be the cheapest. NCL has a lot of different types of rooms to choose from including family rooms. Happy planning, m-

[sammiedawg]

DCL is terrific in many respects, looking forward to our upcoming Fantasy trip with the family.

I think Holland America is a poor substitute for what you've enjoyed on Disney. The fun quotient on HAL is low, there is little onboard vibe and food is not as good as Disney.

I would not recommend Norwegian but have not experienced it, the photos turn me off.

I would recommend Royal Caribbean in a heartbeat, especially Oasis and Allure. Every one raves about the ship, activities, entertainment. The ship is the destination.

Princess would be my second recommendation, a little more fun quotient and a better vibe.

[1of4]

Jumping in with our experience on both Disney (Magic) and HAL: Volendam, Ryndam and Westerdam. 4 Days on the Magic was the same cost as a week on the Ryndam in 2014.

 

I guess you can tell our family (two children aged 14 and 11 now) prefer HAL over Disney which, I know, isn't common. But we are over-scheduled, over stressed, and over tired when we board a ship for a vacation. We were not a fan of the Disney food, in fact the worst meal we had anywhere at anytime in any country was on the Magic in Carioca dining room. It was inedible and many tables felt the same way; so bad the waiters didn't even try to make excuses. The theming is fantastic but I wonder if it is all to take your attention away from what is on the plate. The buffet was mass-market American food so french fries, hot dogs, chicken fingers, mac n'cheese, with a pasta casserole thrown in. The seafood was exceptional. Just indicating why we were not a fan of the Disney food. We actually were told by the Cruise Director to eat all we could as that is the only way we would get our money's worth! People took that advice to heart.

 

We have never had an unacceptable mean on HAL.

 

The shows on HAL are not Disney quality. Where HAL excels in the ability to enjoy the surroundings by being able to look out, walk around the Promenade deck or just sit and enjoy without music and announcements.

 

We enjoyed the Rainforest but found that people would pretend they were going to the gym and change into a robe and go into the Rainforest for free, taking up loungers for hours (there were only 5 or 6).

 

We always find enough activities to do but again our focus is to distress, unwind and enjoy the view. People enjoy trivia, dancing lessons, casino activities, cooking, movies, basketball, a version of tennis, lectures (on longer cruises), etc. The BBKing show is loud but fantastic and I am not a fan of the Blues. Crew News posted examples of daily activities so that will give you a good idea if it is for you.

 

Good luck in deciding.

[Oceanwench]

I have been on Norwegian Escape, and I would recommend it highly.

Lots going on.

So much so, that when I sailed HAL a month later, I could not help but compare and find HAL lacking in many areas.

 

Norwegian, like DCL, has a vibrant atrium area (as does Regal Princess) with so much going on in this central core of the ship.

 

Escape has The Waterfront, with restaurants and bars outside so you can see the sea, and it's a vibrant entertainment district.

 

There was always so much to do - high caliber entertainment on stage - and I think it compares favorably with DCL.

 

As an aside ... Never saw kids misbehaving on DCL. Even DH commented on how well behaved the kids were!

I was concerned that his being in a wheelchair might be problematic - as kids run without looking at times - but we never even had a close encounter!

So many times the younger ones would hold the elevator for him, and they were so courteous.

 

Yes, there were kids crying at times - and they were pounding up and down the halls - but we never had an issue with kids in general, and would book DCL in a heartbeat!

[Former Goalie]

Which cruise line do you usually use? I love HAL, but when I have taken my family and grandsons when they were teens - or if I took them now they are in their early 20's - I booked on RCI. Lots more to do. Food in the MDR is not bad at all. HAL would give you a much more relaxing cruise, and I love that, but there would not be enough activities for my young family members.

I agree, when we travel as a couple (in the early 60s), we usually travel on HAL. It fills all our needs, and wants. We will be traveling on the Edam shortly.

We are Diamond on RCL, that is because we have taken many trips as a family on Royal. IMHO, RCL has it all for a family vacation. Lots of activities (putting greens, wave riders, the ever popular belly flop contests, etc.), Broadway class shows like Hairspray, varied and very acceptable food. We love the stop in Labadee, Haiti, plenty to do there. You'll have to cough up $90 pp, but the over water zip line is spectacular (per our kids). I don't know what your price point is, you would have to check your comfort level with RCL on that. This is not at all a slam at HAL, just one man's opinion.

[Aquahound]

I have been on Norwegian Escape, and I would recommend it highly.

 

Thanks for mentioning Escape a couple times. NCL did good with their Breakaway Class ships and I'm hoping to sail Escape soon. She's an impressive looking ship. One thing though...I don't recommend anything older on NCL. My NCL experiences on Sky and Dawn were downright awful....enough to steer me away from NCL for a while. Also, the OP should be aware of NCL's upcharges, especially after sailing DCL. $7.95 for room service can be tough to swallow if you're not aware of it ahead of time.

 

With regard to RCI, I think the OP can go much deeper into their ship classes for an awesome experience. I would recommend any Voyager, Freedom, Oasis or Quantum Class ship. All 4 classes have Flowriders, ice show productions, etc.

[Former Goalie]

Thanks for mentioning Escape a couple times. NCL did good with their Breakaway Class ships and I'm hoping to sail Escape soon. She's an impressive looking ship. One thing though...I don't recommend anything older on NCL. My NCL experiences on Sky and Dawn were downright awful....enough to steer me away from NCL for a while. Also, the OP should be aware of NCL's upcharges, especially after sailing DCL. $7.95 for room service can be tough to swallow if you're not aware of it ahead of time.

 

With regard to RCI, I think the OP can go much deeper into their ship classes for an awesome experience. I would recommend any Voyager, Freedom, Oasis or Quantum Class ship. All 4 classes have Flowriders, ice show productions, etc.

Not that it would be a deal breaker for RCL, but Voyager class does not have Flow Riders. For that reason, and others, you might find pricing for those ships to be somewhat less.

[Oceanwench]

Jumping in with our experience on both Disney (Magic) and HAL: Volendam, Ryndam and Westerdam. 4 Days on the Magic was the same cost as a week on the Ryndam in 2014.

 

I guess you can tell our family (two children aged 14 and 11 now) prefer HAL over Disney which, I know, isn't common. But we are over-scheduled, over stressed, and over tired when we board a ship for a vacation. We were not a fan of the Disney food, in fact the worst meal we had anywhere at anytime in any country was on the Magic in Carioca dining room. It was inedible and many tables felt the same way; so bad the waiters didn't even try to make excuses. The theming is fantastic but I wonder if it is all to take your attention away from what is on the plate. The buffet was mass-market American food so french fries, hot dogs, chicken fingers, mac n'cheese, with a pasta casserole thrown in. The seafood was exceptional. Just indicating why we were not a fan of the Disney food. We actually were told by the Cruise Director to eat all we could as that is the only way we would get our money's worth! People took that advice to heart.

 

We have never had an unacceptable mean on HAL.

 

The shows on HAL are not Disney quality. Where HAL excels in the ability to enjoy the surroundings by being able to look out, walk around the Promenade deck or just sit and enjoy without music and announcements.

 

We enjoyed the Rainforest but found that people would pretend they were going to the gym and change into a robe and go into the Rainforest for free, taking up loungers for hours (there were only 5 or 6).

 

We always find enough activities to do but again our focus is to distress, unwind and enjoy the view. People enjoy trivia, dancing lessons, casino activities, cooking, movies, basketball, a version of tennis, lectures (on longer cruises), etc. The BBKing show is loud but fantastic and I am not a fan of the Blues. Crew News posted examples of daily activities so that will give you a good idea if it is for you.

 

Good luck in deciding.

 

Wow - sorry to hear you had a bad dining experience on DCL.

We thought the food (and presentation) wonderful and never had a bad meal - wish I could say the same about HAL!

 

One night on DCL, DH wasn't very hungry and hardly touched his entree. This alarmed the server, and before long we had the head waiter and dining room manager at our table! They were so concerned that he was not happy.

The server then told DH that every night going forward, he would have lamb chops (a favorite) prepared for DH in the event that DH could not find something he liked on the menu.

 

I thought the buffet was great.

Of course they will have the chicken fingers, fries, etc. for kids -- and on Fantasy there were the "fast food" restaurants by the pool, like HAL's Dive-In, but with better variety and desserts.

 

But in the buffet restaurant there were carved meats, shrimp, crab legs, Asian dishes, all kinds of veggies. I never saw hot dogs in the buffet restaurant.

 

I think we all choose cruise lines for different reasons.

I, too, like to de-stress from my job and caregiving duties (which really never go away), and HAL is wonderful for that.

Next time I book a cruise for the two of us, it will probably be HAL. Need to get those 4-star Mariner perks, since we just turned to 4 on our December cruise!

 

But given the OP's obvious enjoyment of DCL - a dozen cruises - I think HAL might not be a good fit for the family.

[Wonderingabout]

Honestly? We would say HAL is totally wrong for your family on many levels. We remember one excellent dinner table on a HAL cruise where we all started playing "where were you when" during dinner. We quickly got through the usual stuff like "where were you when JFK was shot." But then somebody asked "where were you when FDR died." And all but two at our large table remembered!

 

Hank

 

I guess you were waiting for the question to be where were you when the armistice to end the first world war was signed. Then you would have something unique to say.

[Friend100]

We (family of 4) used to like Disney. Everything is magical there. But since we found HAL we like it more ... the sedated atmosphere, elegance, feeling of adherence to tradition, service, overall value is what we like.

[Aquahound]

Not that it would be a deal breaker for RCL, but Voyager class does not have Flow Riders. For that reason, and others, you might find pricing for those ships to be somewhat less.

 

Flowriders have been added to 3 of the 5 Voyager Class ships so far (Voyager, Explorer and Navigator). The other 2 (Adventure and Mariner) will eventually have it also.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Aquahound

[cgolf1]

I have been on Norwegian Escape, and I would recommend it highly.

Lots going on.

So much so, that when I sailed HAL a month later, I could not help but compare and find HAL lacking in many areas.

 

Norwegian, like DCL, has a vibrant atrium area (as does Regal Princess) with so much going on in this central core of the ship.

 

Escape has The Waterfront, with restaurants and bars outside so you can see the sea, and it's a vibrant entertainment district.

 

There was always so much to do - high caliber entertainment on stage - and I think it compares favorably with DCL.

 

As an aside ... Never saw kids misbehaving on DCL. Even DH commented on how well behaved the kids were!

I was concerned that his being in a wheelchair might be problematic - as kids run without looking at times - but we never even had a close encounter!

So many times the younger ones would hold the elevator for him, and they were so courteous.

 

Yes, there were kids crying at times - and they were pounding up and down the halls - but we never had an issue with kids in general, and would book DCL in a heartbeat!

 

Thanks for mentioning Escape a couple times. NCL did good with their Breakaway Class ships and I'm hoping to sail Escape soon. She's an impressive looking ship. One thing though...I don't recommend anything older on NCL. My NCL experiences on Sky and Dawn were downright awful....enough to steer me away from NCL for a while. Also, the OP should be aware of NCL's upcharges, especially after sailing DCL. $7.95 for room service can be tough to swallow if you're not aware of it ahead of time.

 

With regard to RCI, I think the OP can go much deeper into their ship classes for an awesome experience. I would recommend any Voyager, Freedom, Oasis or Quantum Class ship. All 4 classes have Flowriders, ice show productions, etc.

 

The only concern I have with NCL is hearing about all the cutbacks taking place. The ships look nice, but living through the DCL cutbacks right now, I would hate to move to another line that is in heavy flux right now too. It is still in the running, but that is a concern of ours.

[Former Goalie]

Flowriders have been added to 3 of the 5 Voyager Class ships so far (Voyager, Explorer and Navigator). The other 2 (Adventure and Mariner) will eventually have it also.

 

My apologies, you are correct. I pulled up a deck plan of Mariner OS, and I didn't see any Flow Rider. I was wrong to ASS-U-ME that if the newest Voyager class ship didn't have one, all in the class wouldn't.