HAL age question

[squeeky336]

Going back to ALASKA on the Niuew Amsterdamn Aug 14, 2021

 

I am booked for this cruise with hubby. We are in our 60s. Our first HAL cruise. Then we asked my son, age 39 and single to join us. I was delighted he agreed. Not been on vacation with him in years and I want him to see Alaska.  I am a little concerned he might not find anything to do or entertainment for himself onboard. I can expect a 39 year old man to spend every minute with Mom. It would be nice if there were some younger ppl he could mingle with. Does anyome think I will have any luck with this? I want him to have a good time. 

Edited July 15, 2021 by squeeky336
incomlete

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I think you may be surprised and will see others his same age. Alaska in my opinion tends to draw a much lower age group. Many like to do more adventurous shore excursions. But with the return to cruising the demographics could change as well in the beginning.   

I am on the first sailing so I will try to report what I see of the age demographics on our sailing.

[oakridger]

My daughter and her husband aged 40 and 47 at the time had a great time on the Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska. We mostly went our own way during the day and met for dinner.  They did some more active shore excursions such as zip lining, etc.  They enjoyed the evening music at BB Kings and the Billboard Onboard, as did I!  We all had a blast!  

 

~Nancy

[Crew News]

Alaska is a very port-intensive experience which translates into not much time aboard the ship to worry about being entertained.  Passengers are up early and spend full days hiking, whale watching, enjoying seaplane flights, dog sledding, taking photos, learning history, and absorbing everything about Alaska that leave them tired each day.  Early bedtimes and long days leave little worry about keeping your son occupied.  He will meet people of his own age, probably not single, but they will be adventurous and fun loving.

 

Have your son peruse all of the available excursions and you might be surprised at his willingness to experience something new.  Give him a camera and challenge him to take some amazing photos of glaciers, eagles, whales, mountains, seaplanes, sled dogs, and the people of Alaska.  Alaskans are strong willed, focused, and truly hardy folk who live in the last great frontier.  He will like them.

 

Entertainment during the day onboard is almost non-existent as the ship will be nearly empty of passengers.  If you son will not leave the ship, there is lots of diverse food options to be explored.  Perhaps just hang around the indoor pool.  Here is a link to a typical daily activities brochure for Alaska:

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ZA-WW-Day-05.pdf

 

Here is a link to my photo review of Nieuw Amsterdam to acquaint you with the ship:

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-nieuw-amsterdam-on-board-images/

 

Here is a link to helpful information about dining and beverages available on the ship:

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/

 

Once your son sees Alaska, he, like most other visitors, will want to return to see what he missed the first time.  Enjoy your planning and feel free to ask lots of questions to be better informed about your first HAL cruise. 

[Mary229]

He will enjoy himself.  Our first HAL cruise was with my parents, my dime, their insistence😃.  We were in our 30s and switched to HAL.  I still cruise with other lines but DH only cruises HAL.  

 

Many people's ideas of cruises come from the ads for Caribbean cruises which can be party barges but the Alaska experience is very different regardless of the line.  

[dfish]

A few years back we took our nephew, then aged 27, to Alaska on the Westerdam.  He had a blast.  He found others his age to hang with in the evenings.  We encouraged him to do the things he was interested in, not the things he thought we wanted him to do.  He'd go back in a heartbeat.

[DFD1]

Lots of good advice here already. Not to worry. No reason he will not have a great time. Hope you all have a memorable cruise. We've been four times and each one was different and each one exceptional.. We're looking forward to going back.

[Sir PMP]

He'll find a lot friends in club Hal..

[DaveOKC]

Agree with the above comments - Alaska is a great vacation for the younger people, given all the outdoor activities it offers.  We have done helicopter glacier landings, Misty Fords float plane (including landing in a very remote lake), very good whale watching excursion, gold rush train ride and plenty of hiking/exploring.

 

Onboard not so much though IMO.

 

[Ferry_Watcher]

Alaska cruises tend to be more time off the ship, rather than hanging out at the pool or bar.  There is usually a meet-up for singles that he can attend.  Hopefully he will have his own cabin.

Please remember to bring your passports and Vaccine Card.

[trixiee]

5 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

He'll find a lot friends in club Hal..

Club Hal?  I think the OP said her son was 39! 😉

[bluesplayer]

Also join your roll call.  He may find some folks to take a few tours with of similar interest.  Met a lot of nice fun people from roll calls.  I went on a HA  cruise in my early 30’s  we were 3 single women..   we had lots of fun!!!

[rkacruiser]

The demographics on a HAL ship are more varied than what is sometimes believed.  Carnival has the reputation of being the "young and restless; the party hardy".  Senior cruisers--many of them like me--were enjoying their cruise.  Even on a 4 day Carnival Liberty cruise to the Bahamas.  😲  

 

Children on a world cruise in 2008 is maybe the best example I can provide of this fact.  

[nycruiser80]

I started cruising HAL at the age of 27 and always enjoyed the on-board atmosphere, though I am a low-key person. I am 40 now and have cruised HAL a few other times. Expect to sail with them again in Feb 2022. Like everyone else has said, Alaska is a great place and I am sure he will be occupied with sight seeing. HAL over the years has been trying to appeal to a younger demographic. They do have a good music program on board with BB Kings and Billboard in the evening.

Edited July 16, 2021 by nycruiser80

[rkacruiser]

4 minutes ago, nycruiser80 said:

I started cruising HAL at the age of 27 and always enjoyed the on-board atmosphere, 

 

That was my age when I began cruising and cruising on HAL.  Same thoughts as yours about the experience.  My cruise experience on Rotterdam V matched what I expected based upon what I had learned about the Golden Years of the trans-Atlantic liners and the more recent years of cruising.  The physical experience onboard the ships has changed over the years.  But, the atmosphere:  it has not changed.  

[NCTribeFan]

I have 30 Carnival cruises and only 3 on HAL.  I'm trying to migrate mostly to HAL (and if they keep the great casino offers coming, that won't be a problem).  I'm mostly solo these days but most of my cruise buddies are Carnival loyalists (and we're all late 60's to early 70's).  I'm booked on the 12-night NA (7+5 nights) in December and have convinced friends to give HAL a try.  They booked a good fare under the View and Verandah sale and are boarding for the 5-night portion (Key West, Nassau & HMC).

 

Coming along are her granddaughters aged 18 and 21.  I'm a little concerned that HAL will be too sedate for the grandparents, let alone the girls.  If they get bored, I don't want that to impact my friends' impressions of HAL.  But I think the girls will find enough to do.  They can both play the slots, go to the shows, go to the BB Kings venue, or the piano bar.  With only 1 sea day, hopefully they will find enough to keep them entertained.