First time on HAL

[rnbtr]

Can decide bbetween HAl to Alsaka or NCL or Cleebrity MErcury

I have been RCl and Princess and Celebrity in the past nver NCL or Hal What is HAl like the passengers ages etc Please advice

[Sale Away]

While I haven't sailed on NCL, everything I've read tells me that you wouldn't like it if you liked sailing on Celebrity or Princess. There are a lot of similarities to HAL that I found with Celebrity and we do actually like sailing on both lines. I haven't sailed with Princess yet but friends who like HAL have really liked Princess as well. My Alaska cruise was 9 years ago on the Celebrity's Galaxy, which is a sister ship of the Mercury (which I've also sailed). Alaskan sailings seem to attract a wider age range on all the lines. You didn't mention if you were looking for or trying to avoid any particular age group?

 

If you're just trying to get a "feel" for cruising on HAL, do a search for some trip reviews on here. Even if they're on different itineraries, I think you'll find similarities that most everyone agrees on in traveling with HAL - the friendliness of the staff, the comfort of the cabins, always being able to find something on the menu you'll want to eat, etc.

 

Is there anything in particular that you're looking for in experience or otherwise? What do you see as the pros to any of the 3 sailings you mentioned or are they all relatively similar as far as you're concerned? It's easier to address if you have specifics you're looking to answer.

[PDAZ]

My 22 year old daughter and I love HAL. We like the elegant decor, the dance music before dinner and the overall maturity of the passengers. It is an older crowd, and yes -- it is the most walkers/wheelchairs I've ever seen at sea -- but it isn't a retirement cruise. When we cruised, most the people at the second seating were my age or slightly older. It's definitely not the party ship, so it just depends on what you're looking for.

 

We sailed NCL to Alaska back when the Spirit was doing that itinerary. I liked it but my daughter didn't. It's not as formal as HAL, and although the freestyle cruising sounds like a great concept, it doesn't run as smoothly as the standard meal seatings.

[OceanFantasys]

We have been on 2 HAL cruises so far with 2 more planned. We love HAL for the peacefulness. It is like tranquility at sea especially if you have a balcony. I am 51 and Dh is 55.. We are not the oldest and certainly not the youngest. We seem to fit right in because we get along with people of all ages. Some of my best friends are in their 70's and I have friends in their 40's... The ship is more laid back. If I had to compare I would do it with Princess. I like their line also.. I haven't sailed NCL but I do try mix them up a bit.. Anyway I think you will love HAL especially for Alaska.. Oh and DID i TELL YA THE FOOD IS THE BEST AT SEA ! and did i tell ya THE BEDS ARE HEAVEN ON EARTH? Enjoy your cruise.:)

[rnbtr]

Thanks for the the advice I think we will try HAL THE ship is the Zuiderdam . I guess my husband and I will be the average age late 50 early 60's I forget that we are up there too!

[newmexicoNita]

yes you will be about average, maybe a little younger as Alaska period draws an older crowd. We love both NCL and HAL for different reasons. HAL has much better food, wonderful matresses and larger cabins. I think where they lack is the on board activities as well as the casino and overall experience. It is a little too subdued for us even though we are older than you. We like the HAL food better than any mass marketed line, but food is so subjective. We were slightly disappointed on the food on Celebrity and other rave about it. Some think HAL is too bland, we didn't find it that way at all and we are accustom to spicey foods. No, it certainly wasn't spicey, but it the sauses were done to perfection and the buffet (lunch particularly) was awesome. We didn't think Pinnicle Grill was worth $30 by any means.

 

As for NCL, the cabins are every bit as nice as HAL, but not as large. You have the choice of when and where to eat which is the big draw as far as we are concerned plus we don't have to drag DHs tux and my long gowns with us, not even the dark suit. DH usually wears a sports jacket to dinner one or two nights, the rest dockers and polo or sport shirts: for me, it is a one basic after 5 dress or skirt with a different top and capris or sundresses.

 

If you want to keep busy, enjoy some night life and like a little nicer casinos as well as a more relaxed, less formal enviorment you may want to try NCL, if you like the formalities and the slightly upscale life HAL would suit you just fine. Both have their good and back features. NMnita

[CruiseQueen13]

Just been on my 1st HAL - wasn't very impressed. The food presentation & quality were very good, the beds were outrageous - best at sea, spa was fabulous. IMO I prefer Celebrity & Princess a close 2nd. Depends how old you are, trvlg w/ kids, seniors, etc. ? I've cruise on 10+ - Celebrity (been on 3) never disappoints me from an old ship to the new. Love them all. Also very very happy w/ princess (been on 3) as well.

 

Good luck!

 

I just posted my Noordam review 3/31 sailing.

[Radiomark]

Just been on my 1st HAL - wasn't very impressed. The food presentation & quality were very good, the beds were outrageous - best at sea, spa was fabulous. IMO I prefer Celebrity & Princess a close 2nd. Depends how old you are, trvlg w/ kids, seniors, etc. ? I've cruise on 10+ - Celebrity (been on 3) never disappoints me from an old ship to the new. Love them all. Also very very happy w/ princess (been on 3) as well.

 

Good luck!

 

I just posted my Noordam review 3/31 sailing.

 

You said the food & presentation were very good, beds were great, best at sea, spa was fabulous, but yet you said you weren't very impressed. Reading your post it sounds like you were very impressed. What was it than "unimpressed" you? This will be our first HAL cruise also. Reading your post would make me think that HAL is the greatest cruiseline ever. What was it that you didn't like?

 

Mark

[CruiseQueen13]

Well, I was less than thrilled w a few things. First night out - we had 2 folding chairs at our table for 4 and 3 regular dining room chairs. HAL overbooked our cruise - believe Noordam sails at 1918 pax - ours 2200 and it showed. While I am sure the service is superb - it wasn't on our sailing. The shows were not very good (except headliners).

 

Also - a big one for me - HAL allowed kids to run a muck on my sailing and never held parents accountable for their kids destructive behavior. They also allowed a table of young boys (under 8 or 9) to dine alone while their parents dined on the other side of the dining room. Unacceptable.

 

We've trvld before when school is out w/ our dghtr and have never witness such poor behavior and lack of response by the cruise line.

 

But, I believe in giving credit where credit is due and the things I mentioned in my earlier post were due.

 

If you wish to read my detailed review - it just posted today Noordam 3/31.

 

Thx.

[CruiseQueen13]

Mark - if you are interested in reading about a fabulous cruise - check out my review Celebrity Constellation - 3/06

[Sale Away]

I really feel for first time HAL passengers whose first exposure to HAL were the Noordam sailings on either President's Week or 3/31. While I wasn't on either sailing, I can tell you that what I read of both are so a-typical of what I've found on the Oosterdam. We've all read reviews where folks had outstanding, average and terrible times - all on the same saling. But the reviews for those 2 particular periods on Noordam are all particularly bad and seem to really be isolated to the Noordam. I wouldn't take that experience as being the norm for a HAL cruise.

[Radiomark]

Thanks Cruisequeen. I'll check out your review. Yes, I think the things you mentioned would really bother anybody. I guess I also didn't realize that there was such a think as "overbooking" a cruiseship, but it certainly happened on your cruise. I'll bet some of the problems you mentioned, especially regarding kids, are more likely to happen on a Spring Break cruise. When we do Panama Canal next year, I'll bet we see a lot of kids. That's exactly why our own daughter is going with us.

 

Mark