Does HAL decorate for Halloween?

[nashkan]

We are going on the Zuiderdam on October 28th, (our first cruise with HAL) and I was wondering if HAL decorates the ship? A couple years ago we were on Carnival Conquest and it left on Halloween day. When we boarded MOST all the public areas were REALLY decorated, fake cobwebs everywhere and a great haunted house set-up..... it went on and on.... Was a lot of fun and not expected..... When we got up the morning of November 1, not a cobweb or Halloween decoration in sight.... was VERY impressed by that!.... Last year on NCL they did a little, but not very much, and we had our Grandson with us and was hoping for more..... Our Grandson will be joining us again this year and was kind of wondering what to expect.... Thanks in Advance.... Dan :)

[AlohaPride]

I'm not sure about the decorating, but I have heard that some passengers dress up and there are costume contests. It would be GREAT to have your Grandson dress up too! The 2 of you can be pirates and you DW could be your hostage! :eek: :D

[SDHALFAN]

Hi Dan,

Looking back on my cruises I seem to have taken an awful lot of cruises over the Halloween holiday period.

That said, all I can tell you is that the Halloween decorations and festivities seem to vary from ship to ship, depending on the whims of the Hotel Manager or Food and Beverage Manager.

On the Ryndam, a few years ago, the entrances to the Dining Room had marvellous Halloween decorations and there were black and orange balloons all over the place. The cover for the dinner menu was black with a silhouette of a witch on her flying broomstick. On another cruise, the Statendam had less Dining Room decorations but the Crow's Nest had a great party with tons of passengers and crew/staff members dressed to the nines for the occasion, and having a total blast.

I have never sailed on the Zuiderdam but think that since it is a Vista class ship and they are more family oriented that you would probably find more than just a little decoration or partying going on.

Have a wonderful cruise and I hope that you and your young grandson have a great Halloween.

Valerie

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on a Halloween cruise a couple of years ago. Halloween fell on a formal night. In front of the dining room and a couple of bars there were a few decorations.

I really think it depends upon itinerary.

[nashkan]

Thank you for the replies, I am sure they have some things for the kids, last year on NCL the kids all did a parade through the public rooms and in each place they got treats... he was a Pirate last year and looked so funny with a mustache and goatee..... this year he is going as Aladin.... One year we did have Halloween on the formal night too and it was a pain to go from formal wear to costumes in one night.... but there were a lot of costumes and it was a lot of fun.... I was amazed at how elaborate some of them were, and I had to wonder how they packed them in their luggage! ..... I am sure we will have great cruise, there has never been a bad one... sincerely Dan :)

[cruisejunkie]

I have sailed on the Veendam and Volendam both over Halloween. I don't recall too many decorations but they had a great costume party in the crow's nest. Late at night but lots of fun. I do recall that their was some sort of trick of treating for the little ones. I decorated brown paper bags with Halloween stickers and put candy in them for the room steward and other favorite staff. I also brought some fun decorations for the room that the room steward and I had some fun with. I hid a rubber spider under my pillow one morning and came back to a clean room and new hiding place for the spider. That was the beginning of a fun game for the week. Have a great time with your grandson.

[cool change]

I'm just glad to be on a cruise this Halloween. No buying too much candy and getting stuck with it. I can gain weight from good food instead. I haven't been able to party on Halloween since I was a kid. Any recommendations as to not come home to any tricks after the cruise?

[Love Cruises]

We have been on a HAL ship a few times for Halloween. They decorate outside the dining room and the Crows Nest. Usually, there is a costume party that night also. Some costumes were really elaborate.

One cruise there were about 12 little ones. The ship made an announcement the day before that the next afternoon the little ones would be dressed in their costumes trick-or-treating. People gave them candies and coins. If they didn't bring a costume from home, the HAL staff painted their faces to make them look like cats... dogs... etc. It was really cute!

[hammybee]

We love to cruise at Halloween time and enjoy when passengers get into the spirit: