If it were you...

[SuperTrooper00]

I am posting this on the Princess and Holland America boards. I would love to hear your advice. We are trying to decide between the 7 night HAL Southern Caribbean route (HMC, Aruba, Curacao), and the 8 night Princess repo cruise out of New York (Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Thomas, and San Juan). The prices are pretty similar. What say you?

[vandalayceo]

Here's a wild assed prediction-this board will vote for Princess, and the other board will vote HAL;)

[NH Cruisers]

over night in Bermuda?

[Jamiebearr]

I am on the Princess Repo, so kinda makes my choice easy:D

[SuperTrooper00]

No...only one day in Bermuda. And yes, I realize most will vote according to the board...but for those who don't...well, they will be the most helpful for me. I was hoping people would explain why...and do it more based upon the itinerary..not the company.

[billet]

Since the cost is similar, I would vote for the Princess itinerary:

1. Because am biased, since I was brought up in Bermuda and my family still lives there. It is a beautiful island

2. The islands on the repo are more varied than the HAL itinerary

3. You get a nice amount of sea time too

[MsJ]

Hi..I have cruised on both lines ..we had a great cruise on HAL and wouldnt hesitate to book with them again but I have become partial to Princess as I love the Caribe deck balconies and the Anytime dining....but of the 2 itineraries I would go with the Southern Caribbean....we snorkel everyday on a cruise when in ports.....to me the S.Caribbean has the better coral reefs.......we are on the Crown next month doing the Eastern rt......the ship was a big factor and the fact that we have never been to Turks and Caicos and St Maarten.........the big drawback for us with the S.Car...is that I can only go away during school vacation which is the third week in February......I found the traveling back and forth from San Juan to be very tiring...its just easier to get to Florida......so for us we consider

quality of reefs

ship

ports of call

departure city

and of course- cost

all with a leaning towards Princess

enjoy the your cruise:)

[dchip]

I voted for HAL in this instance because I am very partial to Half Moon Cay!! not to mention Aruba and Curacao. I love to snorkel. We are taking that very cruise on the Westerdam in October. However we are doing it as a B2B, so the second week will be San Juan, Grand Turk and St Maarten.

 

You really can't go wrong with either itinerary. Depending on the time of year you may get some cold days on the way from NY to Bermuda.

 

For us flying in and out of FLL would also be easier than coming home from San Juan.

 

With that said, have a ball which ever you choose.

 

Cheers, Denise

[twostacys]

I have never cruised HAL, but based on itinerary I would book the HAL cruise. I don't care much for San Juan or Antigua (just my opinion), and I love to explore new places. That's just my take on it.

[IKE]

I love Princess and have sailed HAL. However, I also love the Ports of Curacao and Aruba and would choose that particular itineary. Both are great cruiselines. Whichever one You choose, have a great time.

[cruiserbryce]

I am not by any means a loyal Princess cruiser...our in a couple weeks will be only our 2nd in 8 cruises...but the itinerary on the Princess ship sounds more interesting than the HA one

[rpach10115]

I have done both.

 

Here's my 2 cents:

 

If you like being on the ship go with HAL. Only 3 stops.(HMC, Aruba, Curacao')

 

If you like ports, go with princess. 5 stops (Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Thomas, and San Juan).

 

I must say though that a 7 day cruise to the furthest part of the caribbean from Ft Lauderdale is a great experience.:D

 

Also, where do you live? If you live in NY, then you will save a one-way airfare.

 

Bottom line, you really can't go wrong with either one.

 

My vote is HAL. I just loved that cruise.

 

Good luck with your decision.

[smoosh21]

I picked Princess because I have never been to either St Kitts or Antigua and would love to see both, but I would miss some of the extra Sea Days.

[sackman]

I chose Princess due to the itinerary. Although I think HMC is simply fantastic, I don't care much for Aruba or Curacao. If you could somehow combine the Princess itinerary with a visit to HMC, it would be the perfect itinerary.

[Colo Cruiser]

I chose Princess because I don't even know where the HA board is. :eek:

[katisdale]

Eight days for about the same price as seven would be the deciding factor for me. Although I consider myself an itinerary cruiser for the most part I don't feel that way about the caribbean. When cruising between the islands I am mostly enjoying the ship.

[nceyeguy]

As the above poster said, 8 days same as 7, I opt 8. Same week?? What time of year?? Some months in the atlantic are not real nice for the easily sea sick people.

[BalconyBumz]

It depends on what you age is. Do you want to be with a bunch of old people or do you want more of a mix?

[Sunsailor]

We have sailed both princess and HAL and much prefer Princess even though the HAL ships are nicer, cabins bigger, Lido restaurant better and Half moon Cay is nicer than Princess ' private island. Princess is just more fun. The passengers are a friendlier and a more diverse group. We laugh more and talk more on a Princess cruise and we have made friends on every Princess cruise. I don't know how old you are but we are in our mid sixties so the age group is not a factor for us.

Princess is just a better experience.

Have a great time time whichever cruise you choose.

[newmexicoNita]

We loved HAL, but depending on the price, I don't know which we would choose. If the price and itinerary were similar, HAL in a heartbeat, if there was much of a difference we would take Princess, both are good lines.

 

NIta

[rdsqrl]

I've not sailed on HAL, although I'm open to trying them one day after I start collecting Social Security (just joking. Sorta.). Assuming the cost per day is similar, I'd pick the longer one (duh) and I'd pick the one with Bermuda because I looooooooove Bermuda! I also love San Juan. So I guess my bottom line is, I'd pick the Princess cruise. Good luck with your decision: let us know which way you went.

[Times Prince]

I tried HAL and it was our "cruise from HAL".

 

I wouldn't turn down a FREE cruise if someone gave it to us...:rolleyes:

[B40 Tha Cruisa]

More days, same price. Princess offers a phenominal product as well, IMHO. Good luck in your decision.

[Bookish Angel]

Have cruised this itinerary and loved it. Half moon Cay is not to be missed!