Celebrity vs. HAL

[niborHS]

We have been on 13 cruises, 5 with Celebrity, which is our favorite, however their itineraries for us (7 day Carribean in winter) leave much to be desired. This year we tried Princess, and were very disappointed in their service compared to Celebrity. The suite we had was less expensive than the sky suite on the Connie, but was nicer. Other than that, there was no comparison. For next winter, we are looking into HAL, Zuiderdam in particular. We will again book a suite, either the superior or deluxe, whichever is the better one, can' remember now. Maybe I am ready for HAL, with that senior moment. People do say the age range is higher on HAL, but all kidding aside, we are in our 50's, but here in NY 50 year olds consider themselves young.

[trvlcarib]

I say go for HAL. After 12 cruises with Celebrity we tried the Zuiderdam and loved it. As a matter of fact we are booked for HAL this Sept for Alaska. Celebrity puts out a fine product, but not like it used to be. I think if you do some searches here you will find some really good responses. The few things I did liked about HAL were the disembarkation, the lido buffets are far superior to Celebrity. The service was much warmer on HAL. The rooms are bigger and have tubs on HAL. The fresh squeezed O.J. is a nice touch, as well as the hot appetizer in the lounges. I would say on a 7 day cruise the age of both lines are very close so not to worry.

[newmexicoNita]

/The Z is an awesome ship; go and enjoy. The best way to enjoy a new line is try not to compare as each line has it's own nitch. One thing to remember, HAL does have a very subdued atmosphere. Celebrity is busting with late night activities but HAL is even quieter with an older crowd. they are trying to change this, still haven't made a lot of leeway. NMNIta

[Fblack]

I believe HAL is superior to Princess. I was on the Oosterdam and Sapphire last year. Where Princess is cutting back, HAL is making things better. Especially those pillow top beds.

[stebul]

On a 7 day HAL Zuiderdam cruise to the Caribbean you will find many people your age and mindset (and many younger) who still work. It may be a little less lively than an equivalent Celebrity cruise, but it shouldn't be dead. HAL's longer cruises appeal to the retired set who can be away for two or more weeks. Many traditional HAL passengers prefer the smaller ships that generally sail longer, more exotic itineraries. I would also recommend that you get Main (8PM or 8:30PM) seating in the dining room which seems to attract the more active passengers who stay in port until the ship leaves and who are still awake after 9PM.

 

The SA/SB/SC suites are very spacious with lots of perks including the concierge lounge services, invitations to events with the Captain and officers, and free laundry and dry cleaning (see the HAL board for frequent discussion). You do NOT get the perks with the smaller and much less expensive SS/SY/SZ "suites".

[niborHS]

Thank you all. There was a thread like this on the HAL board, and someone said that if you post it on Celebrity you will get alot of HAL bashing. Not so I see, so that is a good sign. I try not to compare, but that is human nature, especially when you feel much more pampered on Celebrity than on Princess. Funny you should say that the buffet is much better on HAL than Celebrity, because compared to Princess, the Celebrity buffet's were excellent. What it must be is that Carnival owns Princess and HAL, while RCCL owns Celebrity. Princess and Royal Carribean are more similar, and each positions their other line as a more premium line. I am convinced, and hope there is enough activity at night to keep me busy while my husband is in the casino. I am not a very late night person, but we always eat late seating (I do love the idea of an 8:00 seaing), and do like to have something to do after that.

[SANDY BEACH]

I have traveled the Zuiderdam 3x's in the S suite. When we travel on Celebrity we go CC. I think you will find for the money the S suite is a great buy; however, the rates I have seen for next year are considerably higher. We truly do enjoy our Holland cruises and the service is very good. The staff tries so hard to please. Celebrity may be a notch above in that category but I still think you won't be disappointed. A quieter ship, a little older crowd, best beds afloat and the amenities of the suite are great-- Neptune Lounge, free dry cleaning, champagne, fruit, suite cocktail party, suite luncheon, priority embarkation, tendering and disembarkation, priority seating for dinner, great room, bathroom and balcony. Try it and decide for yourself.

[poetic license]

When we sailed HAL, we loved the fresh flower arrangements all over the ship, full bathtubs instead of just showers, FRESH orange juice at breakfast, and the (then new) comfy beds, Half Moon Cay as a stop .... but what drove us berserk were the number of shipboard announcements for revenue-generating activities all day long. That was really a shock for a supposedly 'upscale mass market line.'

 

That is the one thing we absolutely love about X: NO ANNOUNCEMENTS except for the noon Captains report. Well, that and all the nice touches and the food. X does need to ratchet up their itineraries, though. I know I am not alone in thinking about switching to a different line for 2007 if this area does not improve, perhaps giving HAL another chance.

 

Cheers~

[montgomeryfamily]

Robinsilver, if you are also looking for service in your suite similar to what you receive in a Celebrity suite, you will be disappointed. HAL does not have butler service and your room steward, while keeping the room clean and tending to your basic needs, will not do the things the butler does for you. Also, we have had mixed results with the Neptune Lounge--I think it really depends on the concierge you have.

 

We have sailed in HAL full suites six times and the last time we sailed on HAL we booked the Penthouse Suite on the Zuiderdam(about 18 months ago). Here are some of the differences in service. There is no selection of appetizers for service to your room. If you want evening appetizers, you have to put in a standing order and, unlike our experience in a Celebrity suite, you cannot choose or request specific items. If you desire afternoon tea in your room, a server comes by with a cart and gives you a choice of items that are on the cart. There was often no choice of teas available. And unlike Celebrity, where we were able to order scones, cream, etc., no scones are available for the room service tea, not even on the day when the formal tea is held in the dining room and scones are served there. The table was never set with a tablecloth or set up with flatware/silverware for any meals or snacks. (Only the Penthouse has a large table with chairs--the other suites only have a coffee table inside, although there is a deck table out on the balcony in those suites.) While you can order from the dinner menu, there is no course by course service--it is all brought at once and left on the trays. If you want a cappuchino or latte, you have to go to the Neptune Lounge and get it yourself. I can give you more examples if you would like.

 

You will get invitations to a suite luncheon (which is a buffet) and also a suite reception. But we have never received an invitation to anything else, even when we were in the Penthouse--no tours or invites to the Capts. table, etc.

 

Now please don't misunderstand--we like HAL or we would have never cruised so much with the line. But you should understand what you will and won't get so you won't be disappointed. We had cruised in a HAL suite (full suite) before we cruised in a Celebrity suite, so we didn't expect that type of service. But once we sailed on Celebrity in a suite, we really noticed the difference in service because we really enjoy the pampering we get from the in-suite service on Celebrity.

 

The HAL full suites actually have some more amenities than the Celebrity suites, because there is complimentary laundry and dry cleaning and fresh flowers in the room. If you want the suite amenities and the Neptune Lounge access, you must book a full suite. (But you won't get complimentary access to the T pool like Celebrity--you must pay for that, a T pool is only available on the Vista ships) Unlike Celebrity, where the all of the suites get the suite perks, only the full suites get these on HAL--so if you want these, be sure and book the correct level of suite.

 

 

We did enjoy the food and the dining room service on HAL. But HAL makes their waiters tend to more tables and also handle gettng soda. And the Asst. Maitr'd has never come around asking if we would lke anything else, etc. Still, HAL's waitstaff is friendly and does an excellent job. I do like the playing of the tones to signal dinner and the Yum Yum man.

 

We've always enjoyed our HAL cruises. But when we really want to be pampered or are planning a cruise for a special occasion, our first choice is a suite on Celebrity.

 

I think you would enjoy HAL, as long as you understand that there will definitely be a difference in the service for the suites and don't expect the type and level of service you get in a suite on Celebrity.

 

Also, one other thing--we had a very hard time finding anything open other than the casino after 11:30 on the Zuiderdam (and there was more late night there than on the smaller ships). Most of the performances are over by 10:30 pm to 11:00, although often someone may be playing until 11:30. So be prepared to entertain yourself or go back to the room and watch TV or videos.

[niborHS]

Kathy, thanks for the comprehensive review. The itinerary is a big part of this for me, and I am disappointed with Celebrity in that regard. I will have to keep in mind putting in an order for hors d'oeurves. We could request them on Princess, but did end up getting something if we forgot to put our card out. I do not generally care about room service, so that shouldn't matter. As long as the cabin steward keeps the ice bucket full, I am sure we will be fine. Lately my husband puts a bottle of vodka in with the case of wine we bring for dinner, so having a butler serve us drinks is no a big deal any more either. I will say that I did like having the complimentary laundry and dry cleaning on Princess. We enjoyed the bedding on Princess so much that we ordered a new comforter and duvet cover when we got home (we have a tempurpedic mattress, so weren't going to change that). I think the Zuiderdam doesn't tender to anything other than Princess Cay, so whether they have priority or not, shouldn't matter.

I'll bring some good books, and not worry about going back early. Do they have a late show for the 8:00 dinner seating? That was one thing that I did not like about X, sometimes the showtime for main seating dinner was before dinner. We never went.

[montgomeryfamily]

Robinsilver, if you liked the bedding on Princess, then you will really like the bedding on HAL as they have a new bedding that is quite wonderful they are putting on all of the ships. But I don't know if it is on the Zuiderdam yet--you can post on the HAL board and ask someone who has been on the Zuiderdam recently--hopefully it is.

 

We always have early seating and our show was always after we ate. I know that most of the time the show for the late seating was before we ate. It may be that on the one of the formal nights it was later, as the Capt's reception for the late seating was while we were eating, But I think that most of the time the theatre show was early for the late seating. And unlike Princess, there are usually no alternate shows in other venues. But there is a Piano Bar that usually has performances after dinner ongoing and the Explorers Lounge, where usually there is a string quartet or trio. In addition, several nights there are theme parties after the late seating. One night is Country Night and one night is 50s night/rock and roll party. Plus the crew show is always late night. So there are some things to do after late seating. Its just that those end, there is nothing--so by 11:00 or 11:30, there just isn't much to do.

 

There is a library, but it does close early. Plus many of the books get checked out early on. So if you don't want to have to bring books wtih you, be sure and go the first day/evening and check out the books you want to read during the cruise.

 

There is no card to put out for the appetizers. You have to either tell the concierge you want a standing order or notify room service yourself. They will ask you if you want hot or cold appetizers--we always get both. :) If you forget to do this, you can go to the Neptune Lounge and get some of the appetizers that are laid out there.

 

HAL goes to Half Moon Key, which is lovely. It is a tender port, though.

 

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. Have fun. :)