HAL Holiday Cruising

[Creole Girl]

I am looking to book on HAL during the holidays on a 12/24 cruise. Can anyone who has cruised their ships during this time give me some insight to the experience. I would also like to know when is the best time to book for the holiday season and with whom. I usually book myself through the web or cruiseline, but have already seen prices lower than on the HAL site. I may consult a travel agent.

 

I appreciate any replies.

[arzz]

We have sailed many a Christmas cruise. As teachers it is easy for us to travel at that time of year. It should be kept in mind, however, that Christmas is not our holiday so being away at that time does not keep us from family or tradition.

 

The ships are beautifully decorated for the holidays -- there is carolling, egg nog, Christmas mass, protestant services, a Christmas show, and if Hannukah is concurrent they also have a Rabbi on board. Christmas dinner is an elegant formal affair. Santa comes and meets the kids on board and he has goodies for them also.

 

Many extended families travel together at that time of year. It is not unusual to see large family groups that range from infant to almost too old to travel. A cruise ship is a wonderful vacation for extended families as there is so much to do and there is always something available to appeal to every age group. All of this is in addition to all of the features and activities found on a regular cruise.

 

We have always greatly enjoyed getting away at that time of year. On board we find that we can have as much or little Christmas as we choose and we do escape from much of the crass commercialism that we find at home during the holiday season.

 

When and with whom to book? That is difficult to call -- some year's you can pick up a good Holiday value up until 6-8 weeks before cruising. Other years it is all sold out many months in advance. I have often found good values in July/August -- however, when I really want to be sure that I will be able to travel, and on the ship and itinerary that I prefer, I book well in advance of the summer -- now could be a good time to look. Keep in mind that there is no way to know if the cabins will disappear quickly and the prices rise, or if they will drop in late summer or early fall.

 

I usually book with a travel agent that I know and can trust for many reasons. Many people book directly with HAL and have a good experience though not necessarily the best prices. Be careful if you choose an on line travel source -- be sure to read the fine print very carefully, and be sure that your credit card is charged to HAL and not to the agency.

[Southbound]

We have spent the holidays on board HAL for the past 3 yrs and had a great time, altho each ship had varying degrees of difference. The Zuiderdam (2003 - 7 days for Christmas) had over 400 youngsters from infants to teens. It was impossible to relax by or use the Lido pool or hot tub, as both were overtaken by splashing, screaming, whining children from morning to dinner time. The "adults only" policy at the aft pool was not enforced, so the same atmosphere prevailed there. The ship had some holiday decorations, but nothing to compare to the .......

Rotterdam (2004 - 14 days for Christmas/New Year's) The decorations on board were like something out of a magazine; there were magnificently decorated trees wherever one turned, gorgeous floral arrangements throughout the ship, garland strung in imaginative ways in numerous venues, and each cabin door was given a holiday-themed hanging something. Lots of oohs and aahs amongs the pax at the very professional decorating job. Don't recall the head count of the youngsters, but the majority of them tended to be more subdued at the Lido pool (or maybe our experience the prior year had prepared us to "tune it out":D ). Many on board dressed to the nines on formal nights and there was a very festive atmosphere on board throughout the cruise.

 

Volendam (2005 - b2b for Christmas/New Year's) The holiday decorations on board fell somewhere between those we found on our two prior holiday sailings, and each of the many floral arrangements were exquisite. One unpleasant note -- one morning we saw crew in the process of hanging decorations on the cabin doors. Upon our return from having lunch at the Lido, we noticed all the door decorations had been removed. Upon inquiring of our room steward, we were informed that some pax had complained, saying they felt it was inappropriate and, as a result, the door decorations were taken down:( . There were many more children on board for the Christmas week sailing than for New Year's, but still enough in number to make themselves noticeable; especially on New Year's Eve. They rotated their presence at the various venues where the ship was hosting a party for the pax, swiping glasses of champagne from pax who were pre-occupied on the dance floor, and eventually becoming inebriated and rowdy. Some parents were oblivious to the situation while others thought it was funny, necessitating a few stern announcements from the captain.

As for the possibility of price reductions, we book our holiday sailings a year in advance and regularly check for any fare change (downward). On our prior three sailings, there were no reductions whatsoever; in fact, as time went by the prices went up. We're presently booked (again, a year in advance) for the 2006 14-day holiday sailing of the Prinsendam and the price for our category (AA) has gone up. So, if you're seriously considering a cruise at that time of the year, you'd be wise to book asap and then continue to check on the fares "just in case."

[elmorejj]

Holiday decorations taken down from the cabin doors on the whim of one passenger who didn`t like it??? that is riddiculous. If he/she had different feelings towards the holidays he/she could have removed theirs and left the rest of the passengers to enjoy theirs.......jean:cool:

[arzz]

We were on the Maasdam last Christmas and there were also no door decorations even though we had wreaths on our doors the previous year on the Zaandam. I wonder if there is some fleet-wide reason that they are not doing that anymore? Anyone know? Experiences of others who traveled last Holiday season? I did not mind the decorations and certainly feel that those who wished to have them should have been allowed.

 

Only other reason that I could think of might be that door decorations might be considered to be a fire hazard. Years ago my high school lost a recent graduate in a dorm fire that was fed by holiday decorations in the dormatory hallway.

[LandLockedInAZ]

Haven't been on this board in awhile, but saw this thread and your posts and it reminded me of a wonderful cruise aboard the Maasdam this past holiday season! Hope you and hubby are doing well! We sure enjoyed that cruise and think of it fondly and frequently.

 

Now to keep this thread from being hijacked, I'll just say I agree that the Maasdam was beautifully decorated, but no door decorations. I wondered about this as well as I've seen them in the past. Fire hazard may be an issue, but I have seen plenty of "bring your own" decor on many a door and never a word spoken about it.

[arzz]

Good to hear from you -- I have noticed that you have been missing from the Boards -- that Maasdam cruise was wonderful, even the high seas on the last day! Hope all is well with you and so what if we are hi-jacking the thread?

[LandLockedInAZ]

Yes, I tend to get lost in the volume on this board, so sometimes I just check threads with interesting titles but don't post much.

That last day, OK, one part of the cruise I'd rather not remember. It was my first experience with sea-sickness!

We're sailing again on the O on the Mex. Riviera at Thanksgiving. You've been on her, right?

[arzz]

Have not been on the O -- Have been on the Zuiderdam and we are doing a week in Alaska on the Westerdam in June. We will miss you two at trivia. Have a great time at Thanksgiving -- we are not sailing the holidays this year as in January we are off for a week in Peru (Machu Pichu, etc) before boarding the Prinsendam in Callao for 24 days around South America (via Antarctica) -- that is actually one of our "before we die" trips

[Southbound]

Jean, According to our room steward, "a few passengers complained about the door decorations", said "they were inappropriate". Quite a few cabin doors had been decorated by the occupants with full-length holiday wrapping paper, fabric bows, silk flowers, fabric garland, etc. which were permitted to remain that way until the day before arriving back in Ft. Lauderdale. Also, a cabin near ours had a cheerful paper "Happy Hanukkah" banner taped to its door. I honestly don't believe it had anything to do with concerns of a fire hazard. Some folks just seem to thrive on nit-picking:( .

[elmorejj]

Southbound, I think you hit the nail on the head!!..........jean:cool:

[LandLockedInAZ]

Have not been on the O -- Have been on the Zuiderdam and we are doing a week in Alaska on the Westerdam in June. We will miss you two at trivia. Have a great time at Thanksgiving -- we are not sailing the holidays this year as in January we are off for a week in Peru (Machu Pichu, etc) before boarding the Prinsendam in Callao for 24 days around South America (via Antarctica) -- that is actually one of our "before we die" trips

 

Oh darn! I was hoping there was a chance you'd be on the O with us and we'd win more cheap HAL schwag! ;) Would you believe we actually considered a Westerdam cruise in June?! We were in the midst of deciding when our kitty decided to take a turn for the worse again and we needed to put off any decisions for awhile. Then the Mexican Riviera sounded good when we were ready to book.

 

Enjoy your summer cruise and your trip of a lifetime! Sounds wonderful!!

[LHC]

DD and I did my first Cruise ever last Christmas (7 days aboard the Zaandam). My entire Holiday season was made better for it. I got on the stick early (right after Thanksgiving) preparing my cards for mail, presents for the stockings and our room decorations to take with us. Each day in December was surrounded with happiness and anticipation. Since I do the Christmas music with the choir and we did that performance the week before leaving it was so very special.

I found everyone on board excited and happy. This year DD and I will be boarding the Volendam for 10 days all the way through NY's. We are so looking forward to it. I did not decorate our door this year but plan on doing so this time.

I have prepurchased while all the winter celebration clothing was on sale two new dresses, one Red for Christmas and one Green for NY at a wonderfully reduced rate. Now I just have to exercise and maintain a good weight so they look good when called upon.

Seems that all the stress of pulling off the holidays for everyone is so much less on a cruise. You get to stop, enjoy the time, not fretting about decorations, meals, and then you have all the wonderful stops and peoples to get to know.

It is a wonderful time.

Linda

[Creole Girl]

Thank you for all of the wonderful replies thus far. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful cruise. I am sorry that some complained about the festive decorations. I LOVE holiday decorations, no matter what holiday it is.

 

I spoke with a travel agent yesterday who we have used in the past and her figures were high. I can get $400 less by booking online. I thought that they would at least be competitive. I think that I may try cruise compete.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

Is it common to have alot of childen on the holiday cruises on HAL?

[BruceMuzz]

Over the holidays it is common to have hundreds of children screaming, shouting, splashing, running, throwing things, tying up all the elevators for elevator races, hanging out in stairways, blocking access for other passengers. Also many screaming/crying babies in the dining room. Bored children in staterooms start telephoning Room Service every 5 minutes to order food and drinks. Why do they do it? Because they are bored and room service is free. You can try to order room service and wait on hold for hours.

You will find this on EVERY 7-day mass market cruise ship at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Then as the week progresses and their parents forget about them, they get bored and start looking for trouble. And they usually find it. First the door tag for your room service disappears, or is altered a bit. Then your Do Not Disturb sign ends up on someone else's door. You find lots of food ground up and spread all over carpets and staircases. Family groups take over dining rooms, pools, and show lounges. Drunk teens are roaming the corridors late at night.

Non-Christains all complain about the Christmas Decorations. Christians complain about the lack of decorations. With America's new political correctness, the service staff are afraid to say Merry Christmas to anyone.

Many museums, tourist attractions, tours, and shops are closed for the holidays.

Many flights are overbooked, or have weather delays or cancellations. More suitcases are lost by airlinies during these holiday periods. Do you want to have the airlines sort out your problems? Sorry, they are all on holiday, just like you.

More problems occur onboard during the holidays. Special requests are not transmitted to the ship in time; special food orders are not delivered. Would you like the cruise line to fix the problem? Sorry, all the people in the cruise line office are on holiday too.

The crew is pretty much dreading the holiday cruises. First, they would prefer to be at home with their families instead of on the ship with you. Second, the many families cannot afford to tip well, so the staff works doubly hard to clean up after all the children, and then takes a bit financial hit when the parents cannot or will not afford to tip them.

Cruise ships have by far the greatest number of complaints and unhappy passengers during these three family holidays. Many cannot understand why the Austrian Chef, his Filipino Assistants, and his Indonesian Waiters cannot prepare and serve a Christmas Turkey that looks and tastes exactly the same as Aunt Mary's Turkey back in Ohio.

Norwalk Virus usually takes a big upswing on these holidays. Children and young families are not the cleanest people in the world. With children crawling on floors and putting their unwashed hands into just about everything on the buffet, you are asking for trouble.

Then we have those "accidents" with strange things floating in the swimming pools. During these family holidays, e coli levels and uric acid percentages go way up in swimming pools. I wouldn't get near one during that time of year.

 

And finally at the end of this cruise that has cost you 30% more than usual, bored teens have a new game. They roam the corridors late on that last night. As soon as you place your UNLOCKED suitcases outside your stateroom, they stop by to have a look at the contents. Then they have a bit of fun, removing items, trading with other suitcases, spreading your undies around the deck, and creating some surprises for you when you next open your luggage at home.

 

Want to avoid these problems? Take a 7-day cruise just about any other time of the year. Or take a longer cruise during the holidays. Most families cannot afford to take their children on a long / expensive cruise. If they can, there is a good chance their children were not raised by wolves and will behave themselves.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

....you make me long to be already on our family Christmas cruise this coming December....I can't wait....I just love travelling during the holiday season, the masochist in me can't resist....

 

Seriously though, I have chosen a 14 day Southern/Western Caribbean/Panama Canal cruise for our family holiday this year. I specifically chose a longer cruise hoping that indeed the number of children would be lower. My own children will be well-supervised, and I will make sure that the poor darlings aren't "bored." They will wash their hands. I travel with a gallon-size Purell bottle:)

 

Sign me a "non-wolf mother.":)

 

BTW, I do truly enjoy your posts. I find the touch of vinegar in your delivery, and your forthright manner most invigorating:) Plus, I think you really know what you're talking about.

 

I'm still looking forward to our Christmas cruise.

[BruceMuzz]

middle-aged mom,

 

Thank you. I was successful in reaching you. I definitely do not want to discourage people from going on a cruise. This is my career, after all.

But I feel so badly for so many uninformed Guests who end up in my office during the American Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Cruises. These people are devastated, claiming that their cruise has been ruined by the families and children who have taken over the ship. The story is always the same: "Why didn't the cruise line warn us it would be like this on the holidays?"

The biggest surprise is that many of them are schoolteachers, trying to escape from the very same children they see all year long. It makes me wonder: 1) Weren't they paying attention the previous week when all their students were talking about the holiday cruise their parents were taking them on? 2) What would a teacher think that parents would do with their children when they went on a Christmas Cruise?

 

So if you really like children - or you can only take a cruise during American Family Holiday periods - you should expect to deal with many unruly children whose parents have dumped them on the ship's staff for a week and hope they don't fall overboard or break a leg. There will be long lines for nearly everything, things will cost more, some tours and attractions will not be available, the service staff will not be so happy, any problems you experience may not be addressed as quickly as they normally would, and you will be waiting long periods for elevators and room service. Of course, your children will have a great time with many new friends.

 

If you do not particularly want a Disneyesque cruise for the holidays - and only prefer to see the Simpsons on television - then you should try to get as far away from the US Mainland as possible, on an upscale cruise line, with an itinerary longer than 7 days. You will have a great time.

 

Why am I telling you this? Because when I meet you on a family holiday cruise, I want to see you jockeying for food or a sun chair, with a big slightly inebriated smile on your face, rather than screaming and sobbing in my office about how my company has ruined your life on this cruise.

 

Selfish motives, I must admit. But we all win in the end if we are fully informed before we travel.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

"...we all win in the end if we are fully informed before we travel."

 

Hear, hear, Mr. Muzz! I absolutely concur! That's why I spend hours and hours here at Cruise Critic. That way, I have nobody to blame except myself;)

[MikeT718]

Over the holidays it is common to have hundreds of children screaming, shouting, splashing, running, throwing things, tying up all the elevators for elevator races, hanging out in stairways, blocking access for other passengers. Also many screaming/crying babies in the dining room. Bored children in staterooms start telephoning Room Service every 5 minutes to order food and drinks. Why do they do it? Because they are bored and room service is free. You can try to order room service and wait on hold for hours.

You will find this on EVERY 7-day mass market cruise ship at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Then as the week progresses and their parents forget about them, they get bored and start looking for trouble. And they usually find it. First the door tag for your room service disappears, or is altered a bit. Then your Do Not Disturb sign ends up on someone else's door. You find lots of food ground up and spread all over carpets and staircases. Family groups take over dining rooms, pools, and show lounges. Drunk teens are roaming the corridors late at night.

Non-Christains all complain about the Christmas Decorations. Christians complain about the lack of decorations. With America's new political correctness, the service staff are afraid to say Merry Christmas to anyone.

Many museums, tourist attractions, tours, and shops are closed for the holidays.

Many flights are overbooked, or have weather delays or cancellations. More suitcases are lost by airlinies during these holiday periods. Do you want to have the airlines sort out your problems? Sorry, they are all on holiday, just like you.

More problems occur onboard during the holidays. Special requests are not transmitted to the ship in time; special food orders are not delivered. Would you like the cruise line to fix the problem? Sorry, all the people in the cruise line office are on holiday too.

The crew is pretty much dreading the holiday cruises. First, they would prefer to be at home with their families instead of on the ship with you. Second, the many families cannot afford to tip well, so the staff works doubly hard to clean up after all the children, and then takes a bit financial hit when the parents cannot or will not afford to tip them.

Cruise ships have by far the greatest number of complaints and unhappy passengers during these three family holidays. Many cannot understand why the Austrian Chef, his Filipino Assistants, and his Indonesian Waiters cannot prepare and serve a Christmas Turkey that looks and tastes exactly the same as Aunt Mary's Turkey back in Ohio.

Norwalk Virus usually takes a big upswing on these holidays. Children and young families are not the cleanest people in the world. With children crawling on floors and putting their unwashed hands into just about everything on the buffet, you are asking for trouble.

Then we have those "accidents" with strange things floating in the swimming pools. During these family holidays, e coli levels and uric acid percentages go way up in swimming pools. I wouldn't get near one during that time of year.

 

And finally at the end of this cruise that has cost you 30% more than usual, bored teens have a new game. They roam the corridors late on that last night. As soon as you place your UNLOCKED suitcases outside your stateroom, they stop by to have a look at the contents. Then they have a bit of fun, removing items, trading with other suitcases, spreading your undies around the deck, and creating some surprises for you when you next open your luggage at home.

 

Want to avoid these problems? Take a 7-day cruise just about any other time of the year. Or take a longer cruise during the holidays. Most families cannot afford to take their children on a long / expensive cruise. If they can, there is a good chance their children were not raised by wolves and will behave themselves.

 

I really have to take exception with your post not the whole thing just a good part of it.. We just got of the Easter Sailing of the Oosterdam. There were over 350 kids under the age of 18. and there were very few problems with them. They respected the adult only pool. I did not see ground up food in the passage ways. I think there was one night when there was a crying baby in the dinning room and that did not last long. And yes they were playing on the elevators but that did not deter us from using them IMHOP this was the best cruise we have ever taken. If you do not have kids you have a choice of when you cruise. If you have a problem then why not cruise when schools are open..

OK Let the Flaming begin..this is all I have to say on the subject:)

[arzz]

Thank you MikeT718!

 

We have taken MANY holiday cruises including several on HAL and have always had a great time. We find the kids on HAL to be, by and large, well behaved and busy in positive ways -- there can always be a few who go "over the edge" but the same can be said of adults. My very first HAL experience in 1995 on the Statendam included drunken disturbances from our neighbors on our hallway. One evening the staff had to wheel them on board from shore in wheel chairs drunken and smelly. That sure made my cruise. Age alone is no guarantee of a peaceful cruise. And this one incident did not deter us from cruising HAL -- it was one incident and we have not experienced anything like it again.

 

As teachers and parents, until recently, Holiday times were the only times we could cruise but we do not feel that we suffered at all. If children bother, then stay away. We all had to pass through childhood to get to be adults.

[RevNeal]

Dear Bruce,

 

Thank you so MUCH for your post on Holiday Cruises. You've given me good reasons to re-think a New Years Cruise. I think I'll stick to a cruise in January, instead. :)

[Crazy]

My nephew and I have done the Holiday cruises for the past three years all with Holland America. We enjoyed them, children did not bother us as we come from a very large family. I always book at least 9 month in advance so to get the balcony cabin we want. This year we are not going as I have booked the Panama Canal for February 2007.

 

Emily

Next cruise Alaska June 11 -- Westerdam

[LHC]

I for one love the Holidays, as I do think most people including families with Children, also love this time of the Year. As we were all wee ones once and most of us have had children, or nieces and nephews, and at my age grandchildren (just a granddog currently), I am very tolerate of children. Part of the pleasure is enjoying it through the eyes of a child.

If you cruise holidays or major vacation times (Thanksgiving, Easter, Spring Break) you should expect more families and children.

HAL is an elegant line and most of the passengers and their children are very mannerly and controlled. If you pay more, it does have some privledges. HAL is not the cheapest cruise line but I believe that is one of the reason many of us keep coming back. We are getting quality for our hard earned/saved/scrimped for bucks.

Merry Christmas

LHC

[SF49erfan]

We sailed on the Maasdam over Christmas last year and it was wonderful. There were many families with children, but Club HAL kept them busy and entertained. The ship was beautifully decorated. There was caroling through the ship on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. A Christmas Eve presentation and service that was truely moving. All in all, it was a great experience and we are doing it again this year.