New Years Cruise?

[xsnowman99]

DH and I are discussing a New Year's Cruise. I am wondering what kind of celebrations the HAL ships have on board for the celebration. Also, what about the ports that we visit? (Eastern Carribean) Are the towns/shops open on New Years Eve/New Years Day? We are having trouble deciding on a HAL ship or doing the WindStar New Years cruise (we have taken cruises on both lines). Obviously, we are a little late in planning this. Thanks for any insight.

[dakrewser]

DH and I are discussing a New Year's Cruise. I am wondering what kind of celebrations the HAL ships have on board for the celebration. Also, what about the ports that we visit? (Eastern Carribean) Are the towns/shops open on New Years Eve/New Years Day? We are having trouble deciding on a HAL ship or doing the WindStar New Years cruise (we have taken cruises on both lines). Obviously, we are a little late in planning this. Thanks for any insight.
Most cruise lines plan to be "at sea" on major holidays (Christmas, New Year's) because most places ashore will be closed, but New Year's Eve should be an "open" day ashore, I'd think.

Haven't been on a HAL ship for New Year's Eve festivities, so I'm no help to you there.

[stanjj111]

We are taking the Volendam on the 26th out of Ft. Lauderdale. New Years eve is spent in Barbados with the 1st at sea. I do not know what HALS has scheduled for NY eve but I expect it will be special. Much better than spending the time on-board rather than in Times Square. If you find out exactly what is going on on this cruise I would be interested.

[elmorejj]

We did NY on the Veendam once and it was great. NY eve was a formal night and after dinner the fun began. Lots of great noisemakers, hats, streamers etc. Party all night (well until 5am in the Crows nest) From midnight the champagne flowed non stop I loved it.
On a 14 day Holiday cruise on the Rotterdam, we pulled into Barbados on the 26th, Boxing day, and everything was closed. The other days eg Xmas, New Years we were at sea.....jean :cool:

[eliz1]

We are taking the Volendam on the 26th out of Ft. Lauderdale. New Years eve is spent in Barbados with the 1st at sea. I do not know what HALS has scheduled for NY eve but I expect it will be special. Much better than spending the time on-board rather than in Times Square. If you find out exactly what is going on on this cruise I would be interested.

I would be interested to see if the Volendam has any special entertainment for New Years Eve. I will be on the same cruise as a sinlge person and this is the first time I have cruised solo. Really looking forward to it.

[iowacruiser]

We sailed Volendam this past New years and it was great.
We were in San Juan New Years Eve Day and pulled out of port around 6:30..
Dinner was formal that night.
After dinner wwe sailed around the Virgin Islands until 10:30 when the captain brought the ship to a dead stop.
He did it so there would be no wind on the pool deck and thats where the party started. Free champagne (as much as you wanted) with a band and food around the aft pool.
We were up on the deck above over looking the pool.. It was great.
The ship got back underway around 1:30 a.m. We spent New Years day in St Maarten. We were at Orint beach all day so I don't know if the stores in town were open or not.. The stores in the new shopping area at the beach were open and the girls did a litle shopping.
We got a great deal o cabins for that sailing but this year the prices are a little to steep so we are sailing Oosterdam on Jan 2nd and staying in Ft Lauderdale for New Years.

[Marie-Claude]

... this year the prices are a little to steep so we are sailing Oosterdam on Jan 2nd and staying in Ft Lauderdale for New Years.

What a great idea!! We've been wanting to go on a NY cruise, but the prices are a little steep - I love this idea of flying in early to FLL and spending NY's Eve at the hotel, then going on the cruise... We might just do that... Thanks a lot for that great tip!!

[grannynurse]

We've been on several cruises beginning January 2nd and 3rd (not on HAL), but this year we will be on the Zaandam 12/28 sailing from Port Canaveral for an 11 day eastern-western Caribbean.
We are really looking forward to the festivities, especially since this will be our first HAL cruise in a "real" suite, and BTW, our first on HAL to the Caribbean.

I'm just afraid that 11 days will be gone in a flash as we usually take much longer trips, with 17, 21, and 34 days on board. I guess i really have nothing to complain about, i should be ashamed of myself.
GN