New to HAL--suggestions/advice please!

[Dame Delilah]

We've done many cruises (mostly Princess, Celeb, RCL and Norwegien) but we've just booked our first cruise on HAL--1 Apr 07, Tampa to Venice. We've booked a category BB, verandah deck. We've requested early dinner at a table for 6.

Anyway, we are both in our 60's, have all the necessary formal/evening dress, but need advice on dress, ettiquite, tips to porters, etc.

I'm glad we are finally trying HAL, but I sure hate(!) giving up our previous traveller status (Platnum status on Princess etc!!) -- Oh well, I sure hope it's good!!

Any help will be appreciated! -- Thanks

[Aussie Gal]

Dame Deliah,

You will be fine with your dress as I have cruised on both HAL and Princess and I have found that on nights other than formal, the Princess cruisers seem to dress up more.

On HAL, there are 3 types of nights, formal, informal nights and casual nights. On the informal nights, the men are asked to wear a jacket to dinner and on the casual nights they can wear just shirts and trousers.

I prefer Princess in this regard as there are only two sorts of evening attire required, formal and informal. With just the two different dress nights, I have found that the cruisers on Princess, especially the ladies, dress very well and it is always a pleasure to go to dinner each night knowing that people have made the effort to look their best.

Etiquette is the same wherever you go in the world and I am sure if you are Platinum members on Princess you will know the correct way to do things on HAL. There isn't a huge difference between the two lines, mainly it is the little extras that HAL provides. I also like the food in the Lido on HAL compared to the buffets on Princess.

We are also Platinum status on Princess and I do miss the free internet when on HAL.

I am sure you will have a wonderful cruise. Cruising into Venice is a fantastic experience, I hope you are staying on for a few days to get the feel of this remarkable city.

Jennie

[Charliesmom]

Hi Delilah,

We are Platinum cruisers on Princess who tried out HAL two years ago on the Westerdam and liked it so much we booked a second cruise a year later and are now booked on the Veendam for Dec. of 2006.

We met lovely people on both cruises and are cruising with the first group again.
We had met on Cruise Critics and then decided to sit together for the first cruise, so we really got to know one another.

We have since been back on two Princess cruises so we have a good comparison. We also have a Princess cruise booked for February 2007.

Service on HAL was very good on our first cruise and outstanding on our second cruise.

Things I like better about HAL (the Westerdam):

1. The buffet had wonderful salad ingredients. I happen to be a fan of baby greens and that was available almost every day.

2. There is a deli in the buffet where you can get a sandwich, which offers a nice change.

3. There are little touches of service that are nice (the yum-yum man who serves little sweets as you leave the dining room).

4. I thought the stewards were unobtrusive on HAL. You won't find the cleaning carts in the hall. Yet, when you need service you get it.

5. The stewards in the buffet were extremely friendly. They have a steward who comes around refilling your cup of coffee (although we had that on the Island on our last cruise). Somehow it felt more friendly on HAL.

6. The person who prepares your omelette also prepares your toast (or toasted English muffin) while you are waiting for your omelette.

7. We have had suites on HAL and have loved the Concierge lounge. The Concierge takes care of EVERYTHING for you - from requests for your steward to Purser's desk details. It is run by Purser's desk personnel on a rotation basis. It feels very luxurious.

8. Balcony staterooms all have couches in them. In general, they are nicer and larger than the Princess balcony staterooms. (My brother-in-law had a balcony stateroom and it was very nice).

Things I like about Princess:

1. Free internet because we are Platinum cruisers.

2. Mini-suites on the Sun Class ships (Sea, Sun & Dawn) are nicer.

3. Food is available 24 hours a day.

4. Suites are MUCH nicer than HAL. A suite on Princess means two separate rooms. A suite on HAL is one large room. However, you do get a little dressing room off the bathroom and you get two sinks in the bathroom.
(We had two sinks on the Sun, but not the Island).

In general, HAL feels classier, but Princess feels more egalitarian. We had great fun playing trivia on both lines.

As a suite passenger on HAL you really get the royal treatment, which doesn't happen on Princess. The captain sends you a bottle of champagne (Princess gives you a glass) and there is a suite lunch and a suite party with the Captain and the Hotel Manager and the Cruise Director. However, Princess gives you a bar setup (you have to pay if you use it on HAL). Both give you free laundry if you are in a suite.

I tend to look for bargains. Our December cruises have been very reasonable in price. Essentially, we got the suites for what we would have paid for a balcony on Princess during the season.

I hope this helps. I think you'll have a good time on HAL.

Roberta