New to HAL / Compare to Celebrity?

[tahitigirl]

We've never sailed HAL before, but have found an itinerary we really like. How does HAL compare to Celebrity? Is the atmosphere the same? How about food, entertainment, etc? Thanks.

[Tatka]

I also in the same situation but I forund interesting this info:

http://www.celebrity-century.com

1) use this address
2) Use option "links" on the left
3) Scroll all the way down to Our other sites "Holland America Veendam" . Go there
4) Use 10/17/03 We are back from our second cruise, this time on the Celebrity Century. How does the Century compare to the Veendam? Look here. Link

It has interesting comparisson.

P.S I am not going on Veendam but I believe ships from the same Fleet are comparable in food/service etc.

[wwinfl91]

We have been on 7 HAL cruises and only 1 on Celebrity on the Zenith last fall. We had been led to believe that the food on Celebrity was supposed to be one of it's outstanding features but at least on our 14 day cruise we did not feel it was any better than the food on HAl or for that matter on Princess or RCCL. We were also not impressed with the service. We definitely did not feel it was any better than HAL. The average age on our fall cruise on the Zenith was compariable with many of our HAL cruises, mid 60's or so. We usually get an outside cabin although we have had a couple of verandah cabins and the outside cabin we had on the Zenith was a little smaller than similar priced cabins on the HAL ships we had been on. All in all I would say the two lines are similar but we at this point prefer HAL to Celebrity. We are planning on trying out one of the newer and larger Celebrity ships sometime in the future just to give them another try if we can find one with a good price. We tend to book based on itinerary and price rather than a specific ship or cruise line.

Have a GREAT next cruise.

[lwnbwlr]

Tahiti:

I've been on Celebrity 3 times and HAL twice (both within the last year). I'd rank HAL a notch above Celebrity with both better than Princess. I'd give the nod
as follows:

Food: Celebrity
Entertainment: HAL
Cabins Tie
Staff Friendlyness/Helpfulness HAL (big time)

[marco]

We've been on both, several times. I think the similarites outweigh the differences and if you were happy with one, you will enjoy the other. Some will say the dining experience is better on A others B, others, equal. The differences are so small and the two so close to each other, it really is a toss up. One night, HAL is better than X on another the opposite. I do think HAL has a much larger variety of items at lunch buffets. While both have outstanding service, HAL is a bit more quiet and not as chatty. We do really like the closeable glass domes over the pool deck on the HAL ships. On a whole, category to category, I think HAL cabins are a tad bigger (but not enough so to be a deal breaker) Have not experienced them yet, but HAL has started to replace all bedding with pillow top mattresses and (I think) by fall, all ships/all categories will have them. Timing/itienerary/price would be the reason I would choose one line over the other.

[Johanna7]

As for the differences between HAL and Celebrity, my preference is HAL for several reasons:

Food: Better selections on HAL, 7 entrees in Dining room versus 5 on Celebrity.

Cabins: On HAL in window and above, you have a bathtub and shower. On Celebrity, except for suites, just a shower.

Ameneties: Much better on HAL and far more generous. Soaps, Lotions, Shampoos, shower caps. Only soap and dispenser shampoo and lotion on Celebrity.

As for ages, about the same.

Crafts: Much better on HAL

Trivia Prizes: Much better on HAL

[Tvisitor]

I only went on Celebrity once, and that was on the Galaxy, the style of which, IMHO opinion didn’t hold a candle to any of the HAL ships I have been on (but I admit I am not a big fan of modern art and the Galaxy has only modern art). Aside from that, I will mention two of the things that stand out as differences in my mind.

I had a balcony cabin on the Galaxy. The cabin portion was about 170 square feet. I think that is too small, but if you look at the Celebrity ships, most of the cabins are that small.

On the Galaxy, most of the lounges were closed before dinner (I think only one was open). Forget about hors d’oeuvres. On every HAL ship I have been on, the lounges are open before dinner and hors d’oeuvres are served. The difference is Celebrity herds their passengers to one crowded place to wait for the doors of the dining room to open. HAL spreads the passengers out and entertains them while they are waiting.

[StephenJohnson]

Well, we're booked on Celebrity cruise #9, and have done only 4 HAL cruises, so our preference is Celebrity, but it's honestly a pretty thin difference.

Overall, the two lines are pretty similar - HAL has more signature touches, like the guy with the chimes, etc. and really nice little nooks and crannies throughout the ship, and all kinds of nice little dance spots BUT Celebrity has the edge on food, IMAO, especially in the Dining Room, and is generally a little less old-fashioned.

That said, both are fine cruise products, and preference between the two is far more a matter of taste than fact.

[sirgonealot]

I have sailed five times with Celebrity and have always come away with wonderful memories. When HAL offered a departure from Norfolk I could not wait to take it because of the convenience, 20 minutes from home, and all the wonderful things I had heard about HAL. I was extremely disappointed. We made the mistake of booking during Easter Break. I thought a 10 day cruise would cut down on the number of children. Wrong! 300+ onboard with about 200 of them being rude and obnoxius with no parental supervision and no control by HAL staff or activities to occupy their time. Cannonball in the pool and children in diapers in the pool. UGH! The staff I found to be unavailable, cold and downright rude. Elderly people rarely being assisted with their trays or entering or exiting the tenders. Food items and other debris was not picked up in a timely manner. The room was nice. Food was fine. Dining Room waiters were not very good, but they did try. All in all, I was not very impressed with HAL's operation and will return to Celebrity.

[Lois R]

Hi:) good topic....I have sailed Celebrity 3 times and I am probably going to be booking my first HAL cruise next week. Actually thinking the decision will be made by tomorrow evening.

I have heard good things about HAL .........I love the "traditional style"...and I know HAL and Celebrity both offer that .....sitting together at dinner every night. Call me "old fashioned".....gosh, never thought of myself that way;) but I enjoy seeing my tablemates and having that waiter who knows my name.

I love the Celebrity experience...hoping I have a great week on here as well:)

[FlorenceItaly]

Lois - Have you booked it yet???????? Do you have any desire to see Alaska? I just booked Alaska Aug 22-29 :) Seriously, I think you can't go wrong on the Zuiderdam, and you already have a great bunch off CC'ers on board. Currently, no one has responded to my roll call.


Marie

[Roadwork]

We have cruised on both Holland and Celebrity. Both are good lines. The food might be a tad better on Celebrity but the Lido is better on Holland. We would not hesitate to book either cruise line.

[Lois R]

Hi Marie:) no, I haven't booked yet..but I can't take off work that close to the end of a month (too busy) but thanks for the offer.

I am still in a thought process......I said I would make a decision by this evening...I may give myself another day;)

[HeatherInFlorida]

......I love the "traditional style"...and I know HAL and Celebrity both offer that .....sitting together at dinner every night. Call me "old fashioned".....Lois, I am so 100% with you on this, "old fashioned" or not. There's nothing like getting to know those 6 to 8 people so well during the week and my waiter ready to satisfy my every desire (well almost;) )

I've cruised twice on Celebrity and once on HAL. They are very similar in feel. I do think the food is a bit better (in the dining room) on Celebrity. But on the Maasdam we loved the hamburgers and tacos offered on deck until late afternoon. So if you were off in port until late in the day and missed lunch, you could head up there for munchies to get you through until dinner. Also they had "real" ice cream availably almost all the time. Yum yum yum.

There was just a "feel" about HAL that we loved, but it could also be the absolutely best 8 tablemates we have every had on any cruise ever. Ranged in age from 29 to 85 and we all agreed we could not have chosen a more fun group to be with.

[Jacqueline]

Frankly, I do not think that the food in the DR in Celebrity is noteworthy. This seems to be a widespread impression that gets reinforced by Celebrity fans. I love X and will definately sail it again, but there were a couple nights that food was sent back at our table for 8. And as our veteran waiter ominously warned- "Dont order the pasta !"
The DR itself on the M class ships is lovely.
I cant compare to HAL as our cruise is still a few weeks away.

[Lois R]

Hi Heather:) good to see you!

Jacqueline, I guess food is very subjective. Personally, I LOVE the food in the dining room on Celebrity. I had to send a steak back once, and in 2 minutes it was then cooked properly. That has probably happened to all of us at one time or another.
But other than that...my food on X has always been fantastic:) .

I can't give an opinion about HAL's food, as I have not sailed them (yet).

[MISSYLOU]

I haven't been on a HAL ship in two years but I can say that they are comparable to Celebrity from my past experience. As another poster said DH has always said the grilled burgers by the pool deck are better on HAL. Dining room food is probably a toss up. What HAL does have over Celebrity is the LIDO buffet.

I think you will find HAL as nice a cruise as Celebrity.

[Lois R]

Hi Karen:)

[alpal1993]

Thanks for all the info on Hal.Dh and I just got back from cruise/land tour to Alaska on Celeb Summit.AWSOME.We have done Celeb 5 times and your comments have made me eager to try Hal.The menu on Celebrity has not changed much and doesn't from ship to ship.We are interested in the New England cruise.Celeb doesn't offer it in Summer.The rooms are a little bit larger on Hal .I guess we will just have to try for ourselves.