jeepers13 Posted November 11, 2016 #1 Share Posted November 11, 2016 My husband Eric & I will be sailing March 8 for eleven nights to Panama Canal on Zuiderdam for our twentieth anniversary. Yeah! I'm curious if anyone would care to share their experiences traveling gay on HA. I think they have LGBT meetups. We all know they tend to have an older clientele. So what's it like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted November 12, 2016 #2 Share Posted November 12, 2016 It's great! Oh, wait, we have only been on RSVP charters on Holland America! But they have always been wonderful with a gay charter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djhsolara Posted November 12, 2016 #3 Share Posted November 12, 2016 We LOVE HAL!! We've never had any issues whatsoever and have always been treated with fairness and respect. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesport Posted November 12, 2016 #4 Share Posted November 12, 2016 My partner and I have sailed many times on HAL. We are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Normally there is an LGBT get together every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepers13 Posted November 12, 2016 Author #5 Share Posted November 12, 2016 We've been to many meet ups and there's generally few or none in attendance. Any different on HAL? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morebelman Posted November 12, 2016 #6 Share Posted November 12, 2016 My partner and I have sailed HAL many times. As to your question, we have found them (and other non-LGBT guests) to be very accommodating. There's usually a LGBT meeting each evening - sometimes lots of people, sometimes a few, but always some new friends. On a broader level, HAL is a terrific value for the money - it's a first-class experience on some fine ships. They go above and beyond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiamiSpartan Posted November 13, 2016 #7 Share Posted November 13, 2016 (edited) Only sailed with them once, but had a good experience.....met up with 8 guys traveling together from Orlando and ended up hanging with them the entire trip. As it turns out, they were also friends with Barry Williams of Brady Bunch fame, so he and his girlfriend also hung with us.... Two very straight couples at our dinner table that also ended up being really fun.... Definitely an older clientele.... Good crowd at the LGBT get togethers.... Edited November 13, 2016 by MiamiSpartan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbenboys Posted November 19, 2016 #8 Share Posted November 19, 2016 We have 65 nights with HAL. As a gay couple we have never had any problems with any of the cruise lines. The cruisers on HAL seem to be older. More places to smoke cigarettes. For us we started cruising with Celebrity and have not looked back. The perks with Celebrity are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted November 19, 2016 #9 Share Posted November 19, 2016 More places to smoke cigarettes. Smoking policies on HAL changes in the New Year - no more smoking on balconies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted November 19, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Smoking policies on HAL changes in the New Year - no more smoking on balconies. What about the casino & places like that? We found a lot of smokers on the Regal Princess. quite a few in the casino, so we spent little time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrooveInWhichWeMove Posted November 24, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 24, 2016 I've always had a positive, welcoming experience on HAL as a gay man, and the HAL veterans I've met on-ship also feel the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nieuwuser Posted November 24, 2016 #12 Share Posted November 24, 2016 What about the casino & places like that? We found a lot of smokers on the Regal Princess. quite a few in the casino, so we spent little time there. FYI Holland America Line will eliminate smoking on the balconies of its ships starting in 2017. HAL was the last sizeable cruise line based in North America to still allow the practice. It said it was making the change “to better align with guest wishes and health concerns.” Most other cruise lines banned smoking on balconies in the last few years. Enforcement will begin on the Rotterdam and Maasdam on Jan. 2 and will be rolled out on most other ships the first two weeks in January. The policy will take effect on the Amsterdam on April 26 and on the Prinsendam May 6, HAL said. All HAL ships will continue to have outdoor public areas where smoking is permitted. In addition, smoking is allowed indoors in the Oak Room on the Noordam, and in ship casinos in designated areas where slot machines are being played, with the exception of the Oosterdam and Eurodam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GNGator Posted November 27, 2016 #13 Share Posted November 27, 2016 We have done many HAL cruises and always enjoyed the welcoming staff and friendly passengers. Sometimes it is not particularly the "old folks" at all! The LGBT gatherings nightly can typically have a few or up to 20 attend. We think HAL is a great value for a quality product! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted December 7, 2016 #14 Share Posted December 7, 2016 We have had nothing but great times aboard HAL- we will be hitting 200 nights next October in Mexico. We got married aboard Oosterdam in Seattle in 2013 and honeymooned in Alaska. Crew and staff are all wonderful and welcoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christojo58 Posted December 21, 2016 #15 Share Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) My husband and I will be taking our 5th HAL cruise in February. On one of the cruises, we were celebrating our 20th anniversary. The dining room staff made note of it by bringing us a cake as a surprise. We also went back to our cabin to find the door all decorated with streamers and balloons. If I remember right, there was also a bottle of wine and a card in our room. Couldn't be more comfortable and welcoming. Edited December 21, 2016 by christojo58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christojo58 Posted December 21, 2016 #16 Share Posted December 21, 2016 My husband Eric & I will be sailing March 8 for eleven nights to Panama Canal on Zuiderdam for our twentieth anniversary. Yeah! I'm curious if anyone would care to share their experiences traveling gay on HA. I think they have LGBT meetups. We all know they tend to have an older clientele. So what's it like? (I posted above our positive experience as a gay couple on HAL.) I just noticed you're doing the 10 day on the Zuiderdam. So are we! What is your sail date? We're going on Feb 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepers13 Posted December 22, 2016 Author #17 Share Posted December 22, 2016 It is eleven nights and we leave March 8! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepers13 Posted December 22, 2016 Author #18 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Let us now how it goes! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now