Just Booked our first HAL cruise

[flvol77]

My wife and I really can't get away for more than a week and HAL offers the only 7 day southern Caribbean cruise that visits Aruba and Curacao.

We were able to book an aft balcony (our favorite) #5185 on the Westerdam.

We like the idea of anytime dining because we are huge fans of the concept on Princess.

Princess was getting a little old for us - we want to explore new ships and different cruise lines. So we are giving HAL a try. We have been told the beds and the food are great and that is what we are looking for.

We have also been told we are way too young for HAL (both of us are 30) but we have cruised so much that we enjoy just getting away from the daily routines of our demanding jobs.

The HAL board on CC is one of the best laid out sections on CC and helped us really decide to try HAL.

Looking forward to a few months of research.

[Crusing Bob]

You will be very pleased with the Westerdam and as you say don't worry about the age group. That has nothing to do with relaxing on a beautiful ship and enjoying the amenities.

[Alaskabound77]

We are doing our first cruise ever on HAL in June. Check out the HAL Secrets thread. Tons of cool info!

[geocruiser]

Hi,

Welcome to HAL. You will love Westerdam. Lots of beautiful art work on board. Make sure to look at every deck,nice art on each of then. Also look up at the ceilings. They too in the public rooms are beautiful.

I see that you are going on Mariner of the Seas. I was just on her in March. Big ship. Mariner will be a different type of cruise that Westerdam. The Ice skating show was good. We enjoyed our cruise on her but it was a one time deal for us. We enjoy HAL and Princess much better, with HAL being our favorite cruise line.

Geo

[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations on booking your first HAL cruise.

Enjoy!!

[8373seth]

My wife and I really can't get away for more than a week and HAL offers the only 7 day southern Caribbean cruise that visits Aruba and Curacao.

We were able to book an aft balcony (our favorite) #5185 on the Westerdam.

We like the idea of anytime dining because we are huge fans of the concept on Princess.

Princess was getting a little old for us - we want to explore new ships and different cruise lines. So we are giving HAL a try. We have been told the beds and the food are great and that is what we are looking for.

We have also been told we are way too young for HAL (both of us are 30) but we have cruised so much that we enjoy just getting away from the daily routines of our demanding jobs.

The HAL board on CC is one of the best laid out sections on CC and helped us really decide to try HAL.

Looking forward to a few months of research.


We are 35 and 39 so we too were also concerned about age difference. Of course we would rather be in an older crowd than one with a bunch of screaming kids.
We booked on the new Eurodam in a aft verandah cabin. It will be interesting to see the differences between HAL and Princess.
We do like having a lot of activities and from what I've read HAL doesnt have as much as Princess. But, I also read that the food and rooms are nicer on HAL.

[flvol77]

We are 35 and 39 so we too were also concerned about age difference. Of course we would rather be in an older crowd than one with a bunch of screaming kids.
We booked on the new Eurodam in a aft verandah cabin. It will be interesting to see the differences between HAL and Princess.
We do like having a lot of activities and from what I've read HAL doesnt have as much as Princess. But, I also read that the food and rooms are nicer on HAL.

The only thing I am a little worried about (I should have done a little more research) 5185 We usually like the Sun, but I am sure we love having a big balcony and we will have morning and evening sun.

What is strange is that when I looked to change the cabins a day later all the VA, VB, VC cabins are gone.

[sppunk]

Jayson! We just returned from our first HAL cruise on the Westerdam, I just posted a review here on this page.

You two will love it - even in Alaska we didn't feel out of place, although most thought we were with our parents or on our honeymoon! We had some bad experiences on the Westerdam, but I'm writing it off as a one-time thing and we will sail HAL again, soon.

Anytime dining works on HAL, not quite as effecient than Princess but with time I'm sure it'll get there - it's still very new on the Westerdam (introduced in April).

[Rahi]

We were on HAL Noordam a couple years ago.. and we are in our early 40's. It was flawless.. My husband who I have to drag on cruises .. said he could not find fault with one thing.. I loved the older people.. on board.. They were sweet, and kind.. But there were also a fair number our age as well. This is a very classy ship.. If the whole line is like this.. you will have nothing to worry about..

[sail7seas]

Welcome to HAL /CC. Have fun looking forward to your first HAL cruise.

[traveler1980]

We have only done one cruise and it was with HAL and we LOVED it! We are 28 and 31 and the demographics didn't bother us at all. It was relaxing and just the vacation we needed. We are booked again this summer on Veendam. Can't wait!

[Crusing Bob]

As I said earlier, you will love the Westerdam. The demographics didn't bother us either if there are younger people-we are 64 and 59, LOL.

[8373seth]

As I said earlier, you will love the Westerdam. The demographics didn't bother us either if there are younger people-we are 64 and 59, LOL.

Are there lots of activities on board? Like Princess Idle (Fun singing competition like American Idle), Trivia Games and other competitions? Etc.

[Crusing Bob]

In past cruises they have had Trivia, Idol, sometimes boat building contests like you may have seen a thread on, Bingo, I think Scrabble, etc

[jtl513]

The only thing I am a little worried about (I should have done a little more research) 5185 We usually like the Sun, but I am sure we love having a big balcony and we will have morning and evening sun.UH-OH! :eek: 5185 is completely covered - i.e., the deck 6 railing is directly, or almost directly, above the 5185 railing. You won't get much sun unless you are sailing directly away from it and you are close to the rail. Is it too late to move to deck 4?

[flvol77]

For some reason it is....yesterday there were a ton of cabins today they are all gone - strange to say the least. We have had fully covered balcony cabins on the Caribbean Princess (aft) before and we enjoyed it.

It seems as though on HAL there will not be a lot of chair hogs so we should be good to go.