Ncl Vs Holland America

[tropichen]

my Sister And I Want To Cruise From Ny In March. We've Been On Rcl And Princess. We're Not Sure Which Line To Pick- Ncl Or Holland. We Like Both Itineraries. Any Suggestions?

 

thanks!

[arzz]

IMHO there is no comparison between the lines -- HAL is a so called "premium" line and NCL is not

[tropichen]

Thanks for the reply!

[blue whale]

We have sailed with both NCL and HAL. Most NCL ships carry more people and more children than HAL. There are more lines on NCL as a result. Also we feel that the meat is a bit tenderer and varied on HAL.

 

However, one has to factor in the price. We leave tomorrow for 11 nights out of NYC to the Caribbean in a verandah cabin, which is not a suite, on NCL. The price for two is under 2800—not per person but for two;and NCL is giving us 150 per person shipboard credit.

 

In contrast, we are doing 10 nights on HAL on the new Noordam in March in a similar level verandah cabin. The price is about 3800 for both of us, no shipboard credit. But we like the lifestyle aboard HAL vessels—the Ocean Bar, the assigned seating in the main dining room, and the Explorers Lounge, and the slightly older clientele. So that is why we are doing HAL in March and not NCL. HAL is starting only in February to run cruises out of NYC. That is why we began cruising NCL—to get to sail out of NYC and not to have to fly to Florida.

[Shifra]

Apples and Oranges!!!!! Big difference between those two lines. You didn't mention your ages or what type of cruise experience you like. For me if both lines were sailing at the same time and there wasn't much price difference, I would choose HAL without a doubt. I have only been on NCL 1x. It was a nice cruise but not one of my better cruises. I did like the ship decor and the lounge bands were some of the best I have heard. I may try NCl again if the price was really, really good! I am a firm believer in you can't judge a whole cruise line by 1 cruise.

 

Another major reason I would go with HAL is space ratio. This is something that I personally check into before I book. Some ships I don't want anything to do with because of the low space ration. :eek:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We have sailed with both NCL and HAL. Most NCL ships carry more people and more children than HAL. There are more lines on NCL as a result. Also we feel that the meat is a bit tenderer and varied on HAL.

 

However, one has to factor in the price. We leave tomorrow for 11 nights out of NYC to the Caribbean in a verandah cabin, which is not a suite, on NCL. The price for two is under 2800—not per person but for two;and NCL is giving us 150 per person shipboard credit.

 

In contrast, we are doing 10 nights on HAL on the new Noordam in March in a similar level verandah cabin. The price is about 3800 for both of us, no shipboard credit. But we like the lifestyle aboard HAL vessels—the Ocean Bar, the assigned seating in the main dining room, and the Explorers Lounge, and the slightly older clientele. So that is why we are doing HAL in March and not NCL. HAL is starting only in February to run cruises out of NYC. That is why we began cruising NCL—to get to sail out of NYC and not to have to fly to Florida.

 

There is just no way to compare NCL Caribbean to the NEW Noordam Caribbean. It is more like comparing Apples to a HAM sandwich:D First off the New Noordam cruises are all extremely expensive at least for the next several months while she is new and going out of NYC. I think once the newness wears off you will see the prices drop. Also NCL in what I have read woud not even be compared in any way to HAL. Now if HAL had the Zuirderdam going out of NYC then you might have a better comparison for price but HAL would still offer a totally different cruise experience.

[Budget Queen]

I also agree, a wide gulf between the two. But I have sailed on both lines and recently on the NCL Dawn on an 11 day. Great time and a big preference by me for the freestyle dining. Decent entertainment, but some decline due to costs. Still very enjoyable for me.

[Budget Queen]

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[Budget Queen]

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[cdkempton]

We did an NCL cruise last year and did not like the freestyle dining. We really missed the set time/table of HAL and although we enjoyed the cruise and the price (it was 11 days Hawaii :)) we totally missed the elegance of HAL and wish that we would have done the HAL Hawaii r/t out of San Diego. Our next cruise, next month :D , on the Ryndam has us looking forward to a much nicer experience. It really depends on what you're looking for and happy with.

Good luck deciding and happy sails!!

[tropichen]

Well, thank you all very much! very informative!....now to decide!!!!!

[KAYEF]

We took our grown kids on an NCL cruise last summer and are REALLY looking forward to returning to HAL in a few days.................

While we really, really enjoyed the freestyle dining there is NO comparison between the cruiselines....................

service, food, cleanliness, public areas......on and on and on..............

not to mention the showers on NCL. Someone on this site said one should put soap on the walls and spin................they are TINY on NCL, as are the cabins.

Unless there was a huge price difference, we'd never again travel NCL....................probably won't anyhow.

But, they have the key to smooth disembarkation........the fastest and smoothest we've ever had............although they broke the wheels off both of our suitcases (yes, THEY did it; we didn't fly so only NCL handled our luggage.

[big al]

Tropichen-We sailed the new NCL Sun in '01 and loved it..best food ever on any lines..the freestyle dining was the best for us.The 3 best meals I've ever had at sea were at Le Bistro,their French restaurant,where we ate twice,and Il Adaggio,the Italian place.Both terrific food & service...the dining room food was average,not bad,but Princess & Celebrity better.Entertainment is OUTSTANDING...The Jean Ryan singers & dancers are tops,Carnival has great shows along with Princess..Celebrity stunk in this area......I LIKE OPTIONS!! I don't want to be told when to eat ,where to sit,what type of food to choose from,what to wear,etc.The Sun has TEN restaurants,4 are free and 6 specialty and to us,$15-20 was not alot to pay for:Escargot(best I ever had!),salad,soup,Filet Mignon(perfect) and dessert........we were so impressed,we went back another night.Japanese Steakhouse also was very good....as a PT cruise agent,I have sailed on or visited 27 ships,and the new NCL ships (Dawn,Sun,Jewel,Spirit) are wonderful IF you want something different and non-traditional...I feel the same way about Carnival,they are often maligned for being too party-oriented,too many drunk teens & college kids,etc....well,I sailed Carnival 4 times and ALL food and service was excellant..in fact they have GREATLY improoved their cuisine and shows are always top notch...I hope the Westerdam has 24 hour buffet place because we sail today and as a diabetic,I need to know I can eat anytime on board..big problem on Celebrity,food only available at meal times...not good for me..Princess also has Horizon Court,also 24 hour........The new NCL Jewel is suppose to be wonderful-CC passengers are giving it 5 stars!! Good luck!

 

Big Al

[tropichen]

Thanks again, Big Al, and all! It is very hard to pick, but what a nice dilemma!

[shipcafe]

Both products have their highlights but, most definitely, comparing NCL to HAL is quite difficult. HAL will sport a more traditional, nautical feel.

[the2ofus]

One factor no one else has mentioned is noise levels. We have been docked near NCL ships on several occasions. They seem to have many more public service announcements, repeated over and over. By comparison, HAL has very few. HAL does not have piped in music music in corridors, public spaces and elevators either. I don't know how NCL is in that area.

[midgecruiser]

NCL was our first cruise and is the cruise that started the cruise addiction. Having said that we have cruise HAL the last 4 times (with a short 5 day NW cruise on Celebrity in between but we won't count that because it didn't top HAL) and have another two booked for 2006 (if my 14 yr old step daughter gets her way and talks her dad into another cruise with her best friend this spring then make it three in 2006 but only one with the girls:) ). We love the crew, service, ships, and style of Holland America. We always meet incredible people that make the trip even more wonderful. And that includes the crew. They just can't be beat. They really do make the cruise. Wendy

[Charliesmom]

We took a cruise on NCL in the 70s and it was so bad we said "never again". They pushed drinks over the PA, we asked for salt free meals in writing ahead of time and when we asked for them in the dining room, they said they didn't have them. My husband stood up and said in a VERY loud voice "Do you want me to have a heart attack?" and that did the trick. They found us some salt free food. This was in the days before verandahs. We had a "suite". It was two tiny, ugly rooms. It was our first cruise. We were NOT hooked on cruising - then.

 

Roberta

[Bookish Angel]

Of course, the only NCL cruise I have taken was to Alaska aboard the Spirit. That was a beautiful ship and a lovely trip and I would definitely sail NCL again.

[TedC]

Tropichen-We sailed the new NCL Sun in '01 and loved it..best food ever on any lines...I hope the Westerdam has 24 hour buffet place because we sail today and as a diabetic,I need to know I can eat anytime on board..big problem on Celebrity,food only available at meal times...not good for me..Princess also has Horizon Court,also 24 hour........The new NCL Jewel is suppose to be wonderful-CC passengers are giving it 5 stars!! Good luck! Big Al

 

BIG, I don't think any HAL ship has a 24-hour buffet place - but they do have 24-hour room service, I hope that will be OK.

 

We've been on the Westerdam for a total of 30 days on two cruises last year and enjoyed the ship, the ambience, the food, the passengers, and the service very much - hope you do too.

[kryos]

Tropichen-We sailed the new NCL Sun in '01 and loved it..best food ever on any lines..the freestyle dining was the best for us.

I am thinking of trying an NCL cruise in the next year or two ... especially since several of their ships sail right out of the Port of Philadelphia in the spring, summer and fall. However, due to the freestyle dining concept, I would probably make sure I had a friend to sail with rather than go that cruise alone.

 

I must admit the "no dress codes" and freestyle dining are something I'd like to try, but HAL will probably always be my cruise line of choice because of the traditional dining which is very "solo traveler friendly."

 

You won't find a 24-hour buffet on HAL ships, though the Lido does have coffee and tea available 24 hours a day. You can also order from a limited room service menu 24 hours a day ... so there is always something available to eat.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[tropichen]

Thanks again, all! Still haven't decided yet, but great info!

[Atomica]

I absolutely love HAL - just more my style. I've been on 2 NCL cruises now, and they do have a lot of announcements: bingo is announced an absurd amount of times. But, there were some things I enjoyed about NCL, and I can't say it was a bad cruise experience, just a different one.

[caviargal]

I am thinking of trying an NCL cruise in the next year or two ... especially since several of their ships sail right out of the Port of Philadelphia in the spring, summer and fall. However, due to the freestyle dining concept, I would probably make sure I had a friend to sail with rather than go that cruise alone.

 

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

I did NCL solo and really disliked Freestyle dining. I ended up taking all of my meals in the ala carte restaurants.

 

WHen entering the dining room alone, the person seating me asked if I wanted to dine alone or at a table with others. On two different occasions (2 different cruises) I was then escorted to a "public" table, meaning a table that others choose to mingle, and the couple there was asked if they minded company. On those occasions, both couples said yes, they preferred to dine alone. Funny that when another couple came in, they were smiling a welcome.

 

Being a frequent solo cruiser on several lines, I have never felt so uncomfortable as on NCL.

[sauvichick]

My husband and I have been on NCl several times and are willing to move on. NCL's freestyle is too casual for us-we like to follow the required attire for the evening. Even though the dress code is more relaxed people dressed like slobs at times and I didn't like to see that. It was time to try a new line and go back to the traditional style we enjoy even though we are in our 30s.