Is HAL any good for young folks over Xmas?

[DougYWG]

We want to take our two daughters, 19 and 22, over Xmas. Good friends of ours have been on Holland America four times. They tell us there is nobody under 50 on board. Would that be true for a Caribbean cruise at Xmas time? Would the girls have fun?

Our previous experience has been Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess. We are not ready to join the Social Security set but other than that, we hear good things about HAL.

[iluvcruzin]

I can't answer the Christmas Question. However, I'm sailing with my 20 year old daughter the end of October. I'll let you know how she likes it.

[dakrewser]

Either your friends are pulling your leg or they want to keep HAL for themselves. There are lots of folks in the 18-50 age range on HAL, although its not a Carnival "fun Ship". Seasoned cruisers of any age will enjoy it thoroughly.

[akeka]

The Holiday sailings attract more families including those with teens and young adults.

The demographics of our Ryndam Thanksgiving cruise were similar with a summer sailing in the Carribean -- definitely not an "old folks" cruise.

[Esme]

We've sailed at Christmas the last 4 years and there are always a number of families on board with children, teenagers, 20s, 30s, 40's.

I don't know where your friends got the idea there was no under 50 on the ship. Our kids started sailing with us in their 20's and and have always had a great time.

Maybe your friends were on a long cruise, like to Hawaii or South America. Because these are longer cruises you won't see that many younger people on board. They just either can't afford it or can't take the time off work/school.

I am sure you would all enjoy a Christmas cruise.

[grandma bev]

Age is not a number, it's a state of mind!!!!!!

The only time we found the (other) seniors to be extremely boring was on another cruise line 14 days through the Panama Canal. So we made our own fun. Won't mention the cruise line but it was one of those "senior bargains for S. CA folks".


The most fun we have is on the big band and jazz cruises on HAL full of seniors dancing to their high school music. Age is totally irrelevant!

Bev

15 cruises and counting
Ryndam Christmas 2004

[sail7seas]

We have cruised a number of times over the holidays on HAL ships and there were MANY teens/college kids..... Some folks complain they do not wish to cruise over the holidays because they do NOT want a bunch of teens aboard.

Don't hesitate about bringing them....there will be plenty of 'young uns for them to hang out with.

[MandyGirl]

Good friends of ours have been on Holland America four times. They tell us there is nobody under 50 on board. Would that be true for a Caribbean cruise at Xmas time?
We were ages 29/31 on our first HAL cruise over Thanksgiving holidays last year. Teenagers and young adults are good at finding things to make them happy, and I'm sure your girls would have fun. Maybe not partying at 3AM like my parents experienced nextdoor to them on their cruise (different cruiseline) but enough activities to keep them happy! (If not just laying by the pool, catching some sun!) And especially over the holidays - the "young" count increases. Just depends on what time of year you cruise. :)

[DougYWG]

Many thanks, folks, we appreciate your responses. You make some good points. Maybe our friends are pulling our legs...

They have indeed taken some long and exotic cruises e.g. 21 days Valparaiso to Rio last Xmas, Panama Canal...

Obviously, we should go for it, so we will. Thanks again.

[hmg]

I sure hope HAL is good for the young ones. :D We're planning on sailing HAL for the first time this XMas with our 19 and 16 year old sons and another family with teens. We've mainly sailed Celebrity in the past and have all loved it, but are willing to try something different.

[superstein61]

Many thanks, folks, we appreciate your responses. You make some good points. Maybe our friends are pulling our legs...

They have indeed taken some long and exotic cruises e.g. 21 days Valparaiso to Rio last Xmas, Panama Canal...

Obviously, we should go for it, so we will. Thanks again.Doug - I don't think your firends are pulling your legs. If they have gone on long and exotic cruises, it is very likely they would have been on a ship with nearly no one under 50 like they state.

Longer cruises attractive a different clientele than shorter ones - especially non-summer ones. A 7 day caribbean cruise over the Holidays will have a vastly different pax mix than a 21 day valpraiso to rio cruise - so you should be fine