HAL Fleet

[AviGirl]

In your opinions, what are better best ships on HALs fleets and why. I'm considering the ms Oosterdam or Eurodam for my next possible cruise.[/SIZE]

[kakalina]

My personal preference are the R and S class ships. They are smaller, more intimate and have much less of a crowded feeling.

I love the layout and the gorgeous antiques and fresh flowers throughout. Although to be fair you will find those on the Vista class ships also. Along with the best crew/staff anywhere on the high seas.

[mudscraper]

I prefer smaller ships with less people. The Veendam and the Ryndam cruise we recently took were perfect in terms of openess/ never crowded feeling.
Last month on the Oosterdam cruise I was concerned about crowding due to it being a larger ship with many more passengers but it was great. The pool areas never felt crowded. The interior of the ship always felt spacious. Great artwork throughout the ship and the staff was wonderful.


Rich

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have sailed on all the class of ships that HAL has. And we have never felt crowded on any of the ships.

Well -- one exception -- around the Lido pool on the Eurodam where the cabanas are -- we just learned to avoid that area. Everywhere ekse on the ship was great.

[RuthC]

I agree with kakalina and mudscraper---I also prefer the S- and R-class ships for their size. It's quicker to get from here to there, so no missing some activity because it's just too far to walk.

When there are fewer passengers for stewards to get to know, they get to know you better and more quickly. I love walking into a lounge and the steward already knows what I want! Special requests are more easily remembered.
And the cabins, in comparable classes, are larger than those on the Vista/Signature classes.

If you are looking at the E-dam, remember, it has more passengers in essentially the same amount of public space, so it feels more crowded.