Thinking of HAL after CCL

[islahopper]

I've cruised NCL, RCCL and my last 5 have been on on CCL. I have enjoyed all my cruises but am tired of all the kids, chair hogs and rude people that seem to cruise these days. I'm not a late night person, don't own a tux, and don't care for the old Las Vegas style song and dance shows. So I guess my question is are there these things on HAL. By the way I'm 50 and own some very nice suits.

[Harry1954]

You will find chair hogs on every cruise line as there are jerks amongst us .. HAL offers excellent service at a price point that is affordable to most with ships of varying sizes to afford as much deck space and roominess as you like.

I suspect you would find HAL a step up from CCL.

harry

[FlorenceItaly]

I think HAL would fit you nicely. I've cruised on Carnival, RCI, and Celebrity. My last two were on Carnival, and I said no more for me, not for a very long time. I have not been on HAL since 2006. And, even though I cruised on Carnival in Sept., and November, I just had to book HAL for next week. I miss HAL. Btw, I am 45. Back to Carnival....our cruise in November(Spirit) was perfect, no complaints at all, service great, food great, but it wasn't HAL. HAL's crew is what makes HAL special

 

Some men wear tux's but it is not necessary. A suit would be fine for formal evenings.

 

Btw, HAL is also my cruiseline of choice for solo cruising.

 

 

Marie

[jtl513]

One RCI cruise was enough for me! I think you will find fewer boors on HAL. I don't own (or rent) a tux either, and I don't like the "Broadway revue" type of shows either, but there's plenty of other things on HAL for me to like ... especially the crews. :)

[DFD1]

HAL is as different from these others as daylight and dark. Once you change, you're likely never to go back.

 

Hope you cruise with HAL and have a great time.

[mrblack]

I've sailed Celebrity, Carnival and HAL. Had great cruises on all of them but I have to say I like HAL best. Mostly because it is just less busy and more relaxing. It has the shows and discos and dancing if you want that but I think the best thing is that you never feel like you are sailing with a mass of humanity--which I definitely felt on the Carnival ships. Even though there are lots of people you never have that crowded experience. For the record we're in our low fifties and still pretty active people. We like the gym which is not overly used and the thermal suites too:D . Mary Ellen

[newmexicoNita]

If you are looking for a quiet, subdued cruise experience with larger than normal cabins and a great crew you will do fine with HAL. The food is above average in our opinion (but again food is very subjective) the suit versus tux isn't an issue as you will find both on the ship. The overall age of the HAL cruisers is a little oldern, don't be fooled by this, there will still be kids and still be the stupid, selfish chair hogs or showroom seat hogs.

 

Our biggest problem with HAL was the lack of energy and activities. I love the casino< DH could care less. The casino on the Amsterdam was very small and the slots a joke.

 

It sounds like you would like the entertainment, it is a little more mellow and almost, if not, every night there is a string quartet playing classical music in one of the bars plus the library is a very popular place as a hang out.

 

Hope this helps some,

 

Nita

[joedebnh]

Hi there - Just got home from the Westerdam, 01/27. We had the best time! Part of the "Big O" role call and our fellow "Critics" really made the cruise. To answer some of your questions, we saw very few tuxedos on this cruise. Most men were in suits and the women were in dressy slacks and tops or dresses. I didn't see many long dresses at all. The shows on this cruise were varied. They have a couple of the "Song and Dance" type but they also had a "Dueling Piano" show which we really enjoyed and a couple of comedians, one of which we enjoyed, the other we found rather lame. He got funnier as the week went on so maybe the alcohol helped! LOL! They also have a great Piano bar, Karaoke, and Marriage game. Piano bar player and singer was great. Food was great. Lido selections were amazing, waffle station, eggs benedict station with various types every day plus regular eggs benedict every day. Dining room food very good, considering the amount of people they are cooking for. I think many people expect that the food will be like their neighborhood three or four star restaurant who is probably cooking for 30 or 40 people at one time versus 500 or so people at one sitting. The closeset we have come to that kind of food was on the the Oceania Regetta which carries, I believe around 600 hundred passengers with open seating. Overall, an excellent cruise and would do Holland America again in a heartbeat. Have a wonderful time! Deb

[momofmeg]

Hi there - Just got home from the Westerdam, 01/27. We had the best time! Part of the "Big O" role call and our fellow "Critics" really made the cruise. To answer some of your questions, we saw very few tuxedos on this cruise. Most men were in suits and the women were in dressy slacks and tops or dresses. I didn't see many long dresses at all. The shows on this cruise were varied. They have a couple of the "Song and Dance" type but they also had a "Dueling Piano" show which we really enjoyed and a couple of comedians, one of which we enjoyed, the other we found rather lame. He got funnier as the week went on so maybe the alcohol helped! LOL! They also have a great Piano bar, Karaoke, and Marriage game. Piano bar player and singer was great. Food was great. Lido selections were amazing, waffle station, eggs benedict station with various types every day plus regular eggs benedict every day. Dining room food very good, considering the amount of people they are cooking for. I think many people expect that the food will be like their neighborhood three or four star restaurant who is probably cooking for 30 or 40 people at one time versus 500 or so people at one sitting. The closeset we have come to that kind of food was on the the Oceania Regetta which carries, I believe around 600 hundred passengers with open seating. Overall, an excellent cruise and would do Holland America again in a heartbeat. Have a wonderful time! Deb

 

sounds good to me and I am sur eI would enjoy it.

[islahopper]

Thank-you for your replies, looks like my Jan 09 cruise will be with HAL, I just need to pick a ship. I run a bar/nightclub and DW is my MC so night life is not important do us, I just want a nice, quiet, layed back cruise, on a newer ship with a balcony. Sorry to be so slow to thank you folks, but I can only post here and there from work. Thank-you again.

[CinWin]

Hi Islahopper,

If you want to try a new HAL ship in January, do what we did and book the "Eurodam". We are sailing on Jan. 3rd for our anniversary.

Cindy

[mrspeck]

Im booked on the Eurdodam for the 1/17 sailing...can't wait. Come join us!

[DFD1]

If for some reason you can't book the new Eurodam, take a look at the Noordam. She's a beauty and gets rave reviews.