How would you compare HAL...

[Sale Away]

...to a land based hotel, hotel chain or resort?

Since returning from vacation, I've had a number of people ask me how it was. But most of them have never cruised before and only have land based hotels to use as a reference point. And I haven't stayed in many hotels recently to be able to use anything as a good comparison.

So what would you tell them? Would you say HAL is like a Westin? Or a Marriott? Or something else? And in what way is it like that hotel?

[Atomica]

HAL to me is closer to a Fairmont than a Westin or Marriott. Upscale, helpful, but not pretentiously so. A stay at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport is almost like being on a cruise ship except..well..with planes :)

[jhannah]

I would agree that HAL is more like Fairmont than mass-market hotel chains. But it moves, lulls you to sleep, and provides a new view for you every day. (Well, on sea days the view doesn't change that much!) ;)

Tell them cruising is better because activities are held in which you may participate. There's always a breeze. Your meals are prepared for you, but you don't get a bill at the end of the meal.

[dakrewser]

It's much like New York's Maritime (http://www.themaritimehotel.com/)Hotel...

;)

[hammybee]

I don't usually compare a cruise to a land based hotel resort because too many are apt to take it at face value. So many, too many, people, new to cruising, embark with the perception that a cruise is like a resort and by magic, a new place is pulled up along side of the ship, every day or so.

That the ship is at sea and subject to all sorts of conditions and requires 24x7 skill and experience of the officers and crew to get from one port to another, is lost on so many people. Safety of the ship and pax is the number one priority of the crew, above and beyond service. Schedules and ports can change for reasons, beyond the control of humans.

Conditions and group dynamics change from sail to sail. That the previous cruise experienced certain sea conditions does not mean the next sailing will. That the pax on the previous sailing were predominately old, young, nice, rude, healthy, sick, party animals, comotose or what have you, has no bearing on the next sail. No two sails are alike and no two people have the same experience.

Cruising is not the best choice of vacation for some people, especially those who want/need a predictable and consistent experience.

What I do think is a fair comparison to a resort -based vacation are service levels.

[leoandhugh]

IMO trying to compare a cruise line - any cruise line - with a hotel chain is an exercise in futility; there are just to many variables. The OP mentions Marriott and Westin as possible comparisons, yet both of those vary greatly from one city to another and Marriott, for instance, runs the gamut from Fairfield and Courtyard up to Marriott and JWMarriott, and all of those differ, depending on location, age, management, etc.
Hotels and other land-based facilities do not move from one port to another, do not offer you restful days at sea, do not offer as many room categories and prices. Hotels do not offer entertainment, except for a few in places like Vegas. I could go on to make the point, but there is no valid comparison, IMO:)

[OceanFantasys]

I would compare HAL to a Renaissance or La Meridian . A 5 star top notch resort at sea.

[Sale Away]

The OP mentions Marriott and Westin as possible comparisons, yet both of those vary greatly from one city to another and Marriott, for instance, runs the gamut from Fairfield and Courtyard up to Marriott and JWMarriott, and all of those differ, depending on location, age, management, etc.


Ah so true... although I certainly didn't think anyone who would have considered HAL to be similar to a Marriott hotel would have compared it to a Fairfield or Courtyard. ;) Unless they had just come off the Noordam recently!

[dougnewmanatsea]

Actually, in terms of major North American hotel chains I think I would put HAL in roughly the same segment as Westin.

Hotel brands like Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, or St. Regis would, I think, equate more to luxury lines, while brands like Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton would equate to mass-market lines. HAL, a premium line, sits in the middle.

[Tricia724]

We just came back from Florida and had a lovely trip to a beautiful area. Our hotel was not an exclusive resort but a nicely landscaped property with comfortable suites and a lanai with a nice view. I would rank it similar to an A or B veranda cabin on HAL's S&R class ships. Everyone at the hotel was exceptionally nice, and we had great treatment. So far....just like HAL.

But then......just like all newcomers who don't know the area......we had to try to find our way around, meet our appointments with useless little car-rental maps, and throw ourselves into the local traffic who knew where they wanted to go and had no sympathy for us when we didn't. Not knowing the busy times and the busy streets and the construction schedules were a little more stressful than driving up to the dock in a cruiseship and stepping off.

Then we went hunting for restaurants.....some nights we just wanted something simple and other nights we wanted a nice meal. It's surprising how much time you can kill just trying to find some eateries and then decide which looks the most promising. It's a lot different than a two-minute walk to the dining room, Lido, pool grill, or a call to room service.

All in all, we did well and had a good trip. It was certainly a wonderful break from our freaky winter here in the north. BUT the truth is that we've been so spoiled by the options and flexibility of these cruises that we felt like we had to put much more effort into this land-based trip.

It's all a matter of perspective, and I can appreciate that everyone has different likes, dislikes, and priorities. I like variety and will continue to take advantage of whatever comes my way......but to minimize stress and maximize relaxation, you gotta love these cruises!