Club HAL questions....

[MickeyMark]

Hello,

 

We are able to get a great deal sailing on the Zuiderdam next April.

We have sailed HAL 3 times in the past, the last time being back in 1998.

 

We now have a 4 year old and think he is ready for his first cruise, but are unsure if HAL is the way to go with him this young.

 

Also, I read that club HAL starts at age 5 for children. Is this correct ?

 

Anyone else travel HAL with a child under 5 ??

 

Anything you can ad would be great.

 

Thanks in advance !!!!!

[Jacqueline]

If it says five, I would take their word on it.

For a child that age, I think you may be happier on either Celebrity or Princess. Celebrity has a very comprehensive childrens program, including childrens dinner EVERY NIGHT. This means you can go to dinner while you child is with his group. HAL only has programs for kids on sea days and is much more limited.

If a childrens program is important to you I would stick with a cruiseline that has a proven product and more EXTENSIVE offerings. Not that you will use it all the time, but it is there when YOU want it - from 7am till 1am. Not just when they offer it, which even for a 5 year old is very limited.

My teen got to raid the childrens center on Celebrity every afternoon. I have pictures of teens frolicking in the ball pit. Its a very nice center on the M class ships.

Celebrity has upgraded their product over the last few years and its better than it was.

[Vernoncruise]

I was just told by Ship Services that Club Hal does now operate on port days. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Tatka]

I will be able to answer this question after my trip in August. ;)

 

I've sailed on Century and they have nice program that starts for 4 (or 3)years olds. I remember kids were having pizza party on both formal nights and kids club is open upto 1 AM on these nights. By the way program was closed when ship was in port.

[RonnieS]

MickeyMark,

 

We've had our 5 year old on two cruises so far, both with RCI and their Adventure Ocean Childrens program. He was 3 yrs 8 mos. on the first one. We were happy with the program. We're going to try Princess next. I would be a little hesitant on HAL for kids. Their cruise catalog/brochure barely mentions a childrens program, a subtle hint I think.

 

Ron

[Tatka]

MickeyMark,

 

We've had our 5 year old on two cruises so far, both with RCI and their Adventure Ocean Childrens program. He was 3 yrs 8 mos. on the first one. We were happy with the program. We're going to try Princess next. I would be a little hesitant on HAL for kids. Their cruise catalog/brochure barely mentions a childrens program, a subtle hint I think.

 

Ron

 

From what I understand Zuiderdam (and other Vista class ships) are geared for the families. They have better facilities for the kids.

 

I havn't been on any HAL's ships yet but one poster said that kids even on Maazdam had some very nice parties.

 

Opinions are different for eavery program. Many people think that X kids program was great, but my 11 years old was bored there. Pizza parties on two formal nights were great though!!!

[F5Loar]

If they are close to 5 I would call direct to see if you can participate.

I heard they were going to lower it to 4 on HAL but you hear a lot of things on ships and here that may not be quite true to fact. The program on HAL is fine but not up to the quality of those "other" lines. The older they get the more bored they tend to get. Our 7 year after her 20th cruise looks forward to whatever line we sail in getting into the program. She has adusted to all of them just fine and loves them all. She dosen't like the ones that have the "problem" children in them but we can't predict which ones they are. There seems to be at lease one or two on each cruise..

[torybruno]

We were very unhappy with Club HAL. And I do remember them not taking anyone under 5, but I would call the cruise line directly.

 

I think HAL needs to put some money into their kids program. The counselors seemed to be working with minimal supplies. No "freebies" given with the program except a t-shirt. Kids love all that "cheap plastic freebie stuff" like water bottles, mouse pads, tote bags, etc. On Olympic day they were given "medals" made out of construction paper and yarn. Other lines have given .......medals!

 

Even in the arcade on the ship....video games were over 5 years old. Overall, we just thought HAL "tolerated" families more than welcoming them.

 

I agree with other posters...we found Celebrity to have a great kids program, and my kids also agree.

[elmel]

We just returned from the Maasdam with our 8 year old grandson and Camp Hal was GREAT. He had a ball and wanted to spend most of the time there.

Children under 5 are welcome, but a parent has to stay with the child, The other gtoups were 5-8, 9-12, and tweens There were 5 counselors and 3 rooms for activities. There was a swim party, tie dying shirts, movies, games, dancing, crafts, snacks, pillow fights, etc. I was most impressed with the program.

 

This was our 7th HAL cruise and the 2nd on the Maasdam. We thought it

was the worst - the food was pretty bad, activities were almost non-existant. Martha's Vineyard was a complete waste of time. If this had been our first Hal cruise, it would be the last. Our last 2 cruises were on Celebrity and I think that they have surpassed HAL in food, activities and entertainment. However I thought that the children's program was great.

 

Also to add insult to injury, my camera was stolen and not much was done by the front offce in assisting us. If the price is right, I will sail HAL again on the Rotterdam class. Zuiderdam is too big.

 

Elissa

[F5Loar]

We were on Maasdam May 29 and our 7 year old daughter had a great time in Club HAL. As in most crusie kiddie clubs she couldn't wait to get back on time to do all the activities they had. HAL seems to have improved. We felt the same way Elissa felt only we enjoyed the food and my one night at the Pinnacle. We got 3 hours shaved off our visit to MV and no excursions were offered our week. That was a waste! Such a lovely island if you have time to explore it. Activities on board were boring. Putt putt at the pool during prime time swim time was stupid. Bingo and casino was about it. Some of the better activies were only once no repeat. Sorry but putting the Chocolate Ex. thing on the Lido is just not as exciting as main DR. At least they did do it at night and not 3PM like the Zuiderdam did. Movies were the only activity worth going to and even there the projector made the film look distorted.

You know actors looked fatter and color was poor like the bulb was too low a wattage to throw across the room to the screen. Still beat the Zuid. which pretty much doesn't have a theatre at all using the Queens Lounge. What a joke that is for showing movies. We will do HAL again but not the Zuid. or the Massdam. Been there done that don't need to go back.

[krimpet]

we Were On The Zaandam In March And I Have A 7 And 9 Year Old That Went To Club Hal Everyday.

They Loved It! This Was During Spring Break So There Was Alot Of Kids. About200 I Think.

They Gave Out All Types Goodies.... They Had A Cd Holder That Had The Daily Activity, They Got A Blow Up Air Thing Of The Ship, A Photo Holder And Maybe One Or Two MORE THINGS .

Days In Port ................if You Signed Up The Day Before They Would Open From 2 To 4:30 But If Nobody Signed Up They Would Be Closed.

You Must Watch Went You Go Because If You Pick A Week When Kids Are In School Or Not On Summer Vacation And You Bring Your Kids They Won't Have To Many Friends To Pal With! I Injoyed All My Hal Cruises And So Did My Kids.................... Good Luck :)

oh, They Had 3 Sessions Daily.....9:30 To Noon 2 Til 4:30 And 7 Til 9:30 Give Or Take A Half Hour!!!!!!!

[superstein61]

Its been 2 years since our last HAL cruise, but my daughter loved the kids club then. Lots of activities and freebies. Not as good as Disney's but better than NCL's kids program.

 

We will see how it is on the Z in a month