Transatlantic Voyages on HAL Rotterdam vs. Princess Royal Class Ships

[syymisc]

My wife and I have cruised several Transatlantic voyages with Princess and Celebrity previously. We are looking at some interesting itineraries from HAL particularly with their Rotterdam ship. At a tonnage of about 99k, Rotterdam is quite a bit smaller than some of the Princess ships that we've been on such as Royal, Regal, and Sky (all at tonnages of around 144k), so we are wondering:

1. Is Rotterdam going to be more rocky doing a transatlantic voyage vs. those Royal Class ships from Princess?

2. How do the balcony cabins on Rotterdam compare to those on the Royal Class ships from Princess?

3. Any other comparisons that might be worth knowing?

 

Thanks!

[Lady Arwen]

We sailed Rotterdam on the Maiden Voyage October, 20, 2021, Amsterdam to Ft. Lauderdale.  A gorgeous ship!  Pinnacle class ships are fantastic.  We started with Koningsdam and then Nieuw Statendam.  Pool area is unbelievable and main pool area is covered, not on Princess.  Cabins are very spacious and, except for interiors, all cabins have a sofa.  Bathrooms far exceed anything you’ll get on a Princess ship with a large glassed in shower.
 

Occasionally we felt some rocking, but never anything concerning.  Very stable ship and nice size to get around.  Very traditional cruise ship feel, but with modern amenities.  Entertainment was quite good, as HAL has stepped up their entertainment venues and productions.  Like Princess, and unfortunately not like Celebrity, there is smoking in the casino with occasional non smoking evenings.

 

We had a large balcony (more than double the size of a standard Princess balcony) on deck 4-Beethoven, but there are several decks with really substantial balconies.

Food was very good, with just a few hiccups.  Service is and always has been exemplary on HAL.  Buffet has always been a “no serve yourself” policy and it offered plenty of choices.  It does have hours that the buffet is closed or offers only snacks.  

I would most certainly choose Rotterdam over any Princess ship for a TA sailing.  However, Princess does offer better itineraries to The Med, and certainly the British Isles.

Of course, this is only my opinion and many folks here will strongly disagree, so you will get a balance of positive and negative.  Enjoy whichever cruise you choose!

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Only one question? Do you like to laugh? We do and Princess has always been able to make us laugh with their variety of evening game shows, which usually include their always funny CD and his (or her) staff. HAL has long since discontinued their occasional evening game show offerings and focus on their Music Walk "lounge type" venues. For that reason, Princess or Celebrity will always come out on top when comparing similar itineraries with HAL. But that's just us. 🙂

[Lady Arwen]

You are so right, Celebrity is a step up in entertainment and most everything else.  However, we recently found that the entertainment on HAL Pinnacle class ships to be quite good.  No production shows per se, but other interesting venues.  Princess shows are fine, too.  Just depends on what you’re looking for.  I would never sail any ship dependant on evening entertainment.  So many other factors to take into consideration.  

[Ken the cruiser]

52 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

You are so right, Celebrity is a step up in entertainment and most everything else.  However, we recently found that the entertainment on HAL Pinnacle class ships to be quite good.  No production shows per se, but other interesting venues.  Princess shows are fine, too.  Just depends on what you’re looking for.  I would never sail any ship dependant on evening entertainment.  So many other factors to take into consideration.  

Just curious, what interesting venues are you referring to? We’re not opposed to going on a 3-4 week HAL cruise again. But hanging out all evening long in their Music Walk venues that can only hold around 100 people listening to music every night just doesn’t sound like all that much fun.
 

I know they don’t offer nightly game shows anymore. Do they even offer professional lectures on sea days on their transatlantic cruises other than port talks given by the CD/excursion staff? Princess and Celebrity do, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

[Ombud]

What is 

4 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Music Walk venues

Is it live bands playing jazz or blues or rock? Or is it recorded oldies (circa 1950s)?

[Ken the cruiser]

36 minutes ago, Ombud said:

What is 

Is it live bands playing jazz or blues or rock? Or is it recorded oldies (circa 1950s)?

Live bands playing the types of music you mentioned plus classical music at various times during the evening. If you don’t like going to “main theater” shows in the evening, which some folks don’t, and would rather hang out in the evening chatting with folks and listening to music, it’s a great cruising alternative. HAL just got too relaxing for us when they switched to their Music Walk scenario back around 2018 or so.

[stevenr597]

Have sailed many times on Princess as well as Celebrity.  Only one on Holland America.We have done on Trans-Atlantic on Royal Princess and will be doing another on Regal Princess. 

Our rankings…

#1 Princess
#2 Celebrity
#3 Holland America. 

[Guest ldtr]

Having recently sailed on both Pinnacle Class and Royal Class ships, I would make the following comments.

 

1. We found food on HAL to be better, and dining room operations to be more efficient, especially check in and seating.

 

2. Princess has considerably more activities on board, with multiple activities in multiple venues during the day and evening.  HAL activities are considerably more limited.

 

3. Princess has better entertainment with use of the main theater, as well as using Princess Live and Vista Lounge as well. In addition they have live music is a couple different location.  Violins and piano in the Piazza.  Music  in the Wheelhouse for example where there are usually some couples dancing.  The music is varied with Classical, Jazz, Rock, etc., even a little country western on occasion.  Everything from 70's up through fairly recent. 

 

HAL has music walk, and little else in the evening, though they have added singers to the dance shows.

 

4. Princess has a much better selection of in room Movies and TV.

 

In short while HAL has good entertainment with the music walk, They have put pretty much all of their venue and entertainment eggs in that basket.  The lack of options are noticeable as the number of days (especially sea days) increase.

Edited December 26, 2022 by ldtr