HAL vs Celebrity

[iancal]

Agreed. It is a gross exaggeration.

 

On one or two occasions we have seen the bars still open at 10:30PM with several customers still there.

[RuthC]

Agreed. It is a gross exaggeration.

 

On one or two occasions we have seen the bars still open at 10:30PM with several customers still there.

More hyperbole. This time from someone who posts just about daily that he won't sail most of the HAL ships. Not exactly in a position to know.

[Mynki]

More hyperbole. This time from someone who posts just about daily that he won't sail most of the HAL ships. Not exactly in a position to know.

 

Well I've already posted that we probably will sail with HAL again, specifically because of the excellent itineraries. However my own personal experience matches that of the other two posters. HAL ships are regularly dead after 10 pm.

[Hlitner]

The typical HAL cruiser who insists there is night life (hi Ruth) will sometimes say, yes, we know there are people doing things after 10...because we once did that forty years ago :) On a recent Princess cruise we decided to go to the Adult Comedy show at 11:30. But guess what, we could not even get in the lounge (even standing room was packed). Just about every mass market line (except HAL) will have some late night Adult Comedy shows on their Caribbean cruises. If you are crazy enough to go on a larger (Voyager Class or larger) RCI ship you will find multiple entertainment venues "hopping" at midnight! But if I stroll around our HAL ships at midnight (and we tend to do this before going to bed) about the only action to be found are the late night cleaning staff doing their jobs.

 

Hank

Edited June 21, 2016 by Hlitner

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Oh, I dunno. Over on the Celebrity forum they're complaining about the new production shows in the theater, bed bugs, and the Celebrity CEO, so I feel right at home;) Celebrity does a great job with the top suites, for a price, and HAL offers larger cabins for the proletariat, at least on the older ships (S and R class for sure, and the Vistas too, to a lesser extent). Mostly I like the smaller HAL ships; it's not such a production getting 1300-2000 passengers on and off a ship as it is 2000-3000 passengers. Celebrity is glitzy and modern on the inside, but HAL makes me aware of the ocean outside the ship, which I like. I don't smoke, and smoking is not a factor for me, one way or another. I don't have a problem with the food on either line. Some features are nicer on the HAL ships, some are better on Celebrity.

 

I think the main difference between Celebrity cruisers and HAL cruisers, and I realize I'm painting with a broad brush, is that people quite often pick Celebrity for the ship, and HAL for the itineraries.

 

Hank, do you remember Julie Barr doing the adult comedy show on HAL's Oosterdam, on the 2014 cruise from Seattle to Sydney to Auckland? I've always enjoyed her very much; also I enjoyed the "King Neptune" ceremony when we crossed the equator. Now that was a hoot:D

[travelnap]

In some ways I think that Celebrity & HAL are more similar than different. It is what is important to you. Entertainment is similar in my opinion as neither one is that great when it comes to that. Service is very good on both. Some like the smoking policy on HAL and others will not travel on HAL because of it. The specialty restaurants on both are good and HAL is cheaper than Celebrity for those.

 

Some people prefer the walk around deck that HAL offers and others are satisfied with Celebrity's promenade just up one side of the ship. I like to read so I do prefer the libraries aboard ship that HAL has, as that is the one thing I didn't care about Celebrity, their libraries are a joke. Overall they are both fine cruise lines and many people enjoy both of them. They are both mass market lines but you can still have an enjoyable voyage on either one. I would be comfortable on either line.

[Hlitner]

Oh, I dunno. Over on the Celebrity forum they're complaining about the new production shows in the theater, bed bugs, and the Celebrity CEO, so I feel right at home;) Celebrity does a great job with the top suites, for a price, and HAL offers larger cabins for the proletariat, at least on the older ships (S and R class for sure, and the Vistas too, to a lesser extent). Mostly I like the smaller HAL ships; it's not such a production getting 1300-2000 passengers on and off a ship as it is 2000-3000 passengers. Celebrity is glitzy and modern on the inside, but HAL makes me aware of the ocean outside the ship, which I like. I don't smoke, and smoking is not a factor for me, one way or another. I don't have a problem with the food on either line. Some features are nicer on the HAL ships, some are better on Celebrity.

 

I think the main difference between Celebrity cruisers and HAL cruisers, and I realize I'm painting with a broad brush, is that people quite often pick Celebrity for the ship, and HAL for the itineraries.

 

Hank, do you remember Julie Barr doing the adult comedy show on HAL's Oosterdam, on the 2014 cruise from Seattle to Sydney to Auckland? I've always enjoyed her very much; also I enjoyed the "King Neptune" ceremony when we crossed the equator. Now that was a hoot:D

 

You have to love Julie....and that hair! We have actually cruised with Julie 3 times over the years and always find her act fun. And that was a really good cruise with some fun passengers. And we agree with your broad brush (love the Celebrity S-Class ships). But even Celebrity now has more then its share of issues...not the least of which is their CEO. In the past two years we have also returned to Princess (after a 4 year hiatus) and were very pleased.

 

Hank

[blizzardboy]

More hyperbole. This time from someone who posts just about daily that he won't sail most of the HAL ships. Not exactly in a position to know.

 

On our 11-day to the S.Carib last January, I left the casino more than once well after 11:30 and it was still going. With port-intensive itineraries, we more experienced travelers (without quite the bounce-back of our youth) are smart enough to call it a night a little earlier. I am, however, at the Seaview Bar most mornings at 9 for a hi-test Bloody Mary after a solid Pinnacle Grill breakfast.

Edited June 21, 2016 by blizzardboy

[Cruzaholic41]

More hyperbole. This time from someone who posts just about daily that he won't sail most of the HAL ships. Not exactly in a position to know.

 

What other cruise lines have you recently sailed? It is complete reverie to pretend HAL's nightlife and entertainment is anywhere close to the rest of the major cruise line market.

[KirkNC]

What other cruise lines have you recently sailed? It is complete reverie to pretend HAL's nightlife and entertainment is anywhere close to the rest of the major cruise line market.

 

I won't argue about the nightlife but since that's not important to us, it's ok. If I wanted nightlife I would cruise Carnival but those days are long gone.

 

As to the entertainment, I find HAL about the same compared to X or Princess, sometimes better somethimes worse. All of them will be better than our next cruise which is on Hurtengruten.

Edited June 21, 2016 by KirkNC

[karlth]

Just came of the Koningsdam. Sailed on the Celebrity Reflection around 3 years ago.

 

They are now very similar with a slight edge towards HAL. The food and service is slightly better, in fact the food on the Koningsdam is the best I've ever had on a cruise line (sailed on most of the mainstream lines).

 

Entertainment was about the same with one or two big shows. Cabins looked about the same. The design of the ships was very similar as well.

 

Can't go wrong with either cruise line but if you are looking for activities and entertainment I'd rather recommend NCL.

[janmcn]

Remember, those of us who are in our cabins by 9:30...beat the rush to breakfast in the morning and love to be on the Promenade Deck as we glide into ports. The night owls don't get to often experience that...or sunrise over the Greenland Icefields, etc.

[Jimbo59]

The piano bars on HAL are great. Celebrity doesn't have piano bars.

On HAL, you feel like you are on a ship on the ocean, especially with the wrap-around promenade deck. celebrity doesn't have that.

 

Celebrity has more extra cost restaurants than HAL. Celebrity provides minimal info on shore excursions, HAL provides more, Princess is the best with detailed shore excursion itineraries.

 

On Celebrity you can get discounts at the speciality restaurants.

[RuthC]

What other cruise lines have you recently sailed? It is complete reverie to pretend HAL's nightlife and entertainment is anywhere close to the rest of the major cruise line market.

You're not understanding what I wrote. I'm not comparing HAL nightlife to other cruise lines'.

I'm comparing what HAL does offer to what others say it offers. Big difference. HAL no more shuts down by 9:30 than I do.

 

Oh, in case you don't know---Oceania makes HAL look like a wild and crazy night on the town.

Edited June 21, 2016 by RuthC

[RuthC]

The night owls don't get to often experience...or sunrise over the Greenland Icefields, etc.

Sure we do! We're just still in our evening wear when we do. :D

[Cruise a holic]

I'm the OP and must say on our last Reflection cruise in March, we had no production shows We were told that a new team had come on board and were rehearsing all week and the old team left! We had some different acts each day in lieu of real shows. The substitute "talent" was suitable for a child's birthday party! horrible and truly 3rd. rate. I couldn't believe that they did this. We expected entertainment but didn't get it. Why didn't the new team rehearse on land or the old team stay another week? very poor planning.

Edited June 22, 2016 by Cruise a holic

[kevingastreich]

Hello,

My DH and I sail mostly on Celebrity-but also RC. We aren't fans of Princess or Carnival. We are interested in perhaps sailing on HAL. I have a few questions and concerns:

 

We like a sky (mini suite) What type of cabin on the HAL ships compare?

We enjoy specialty restaurants. Does HAL ships have some and what is the cost?

We like the all included beverage packages- does HAL offer them?

We like newer ships- Which HAL ships are the newest?

We enjoy sailing out of FL in the winter for about two weeks to the Caribbean. Can I assume that HAL has ships that sail to East, West and or Southern Caribbean?

We enjoy good Wifi service- Free on Celebrity.

How is HAL's entertainment?

Anything else special or great on HAL ships?

 

Thanks for the information.

 

I suggest you book a Signature Suite to the Caribbean this winter. The cost is easily procured from HAL or a TA. After that, you can determine for yourself why HAL has so many fans.

[Cruise a holic]

I suggest you book a Signature Suite to the Caribbean this winter. The cost is easily procured from HAL or a TA. After that, you can determine for yourself why HAL has so many fans.

 

Honestly, since I have asthma and have read so many negative things about Smoking on balconies, etc., I am afraid that if my DH and I sail on a HAL ship, the suite might have a lingering cigarette odor. So I will no longer consider sailing on any HAL cruise until smoking is prohibited on balconies.

 

My DH also cannot stand second hand smoke. One great thing about Celebrity is that smoking areas are very limited and you cannot even smoke in the Casino's a big plus for us.

 

Thanks

[karlth]

That might be an issue. There was some smoking on Koningsdam's balconies with the accompanied odour.

[Aquahound]

Honestly, since I have asthma and have read so many negative things about Smoking on balconies, etc., I am afraid that if my DH and I sail on a HAL ship, the suite might have a lingering cigarette odor. So I will no longer consider sailing on any HAL cruise until smoking is prohibited on balconies.

 

My DH also cannot stand second hand smoke. One great thing about Celebrity is that smoking areas are very limited and you cannot even smoke in the Casino's a big plus for us.

 

Thanks

 

I think you're making the right choice. I also love Celebrity and I want like crazy to love HAL too but after 10 nights on Oosterdam of having a cigar smoker 2 balconies in front of me and a cigarette smoker right below me, my decision was made to stay away from HAL until they get with the times.