RCCL or HAL???

[BADBUOY]

We will chose one of these two lines for our next cruise this upcoming spring.

I know it's difficult to answer this question without knowing our likes and dislikes but perhaps anyone who has cruised on either and/or both can share with us your experiences on the better aspects of either line.

Thanks.

Buddy

[Tatka]

What ships are you considering to sail on? This is really important question as different ships on each line will give you different experience.

I have been on both lines once...

Splendour of the Seas and Zuiderdam. Both were completely different cruises (Med vs Caribbeans).

Food: Zui >> Splendour

Cabin attendant service: both very good but faster on Splendour

Ships: both were beautifull but very different:

Splendour - easier to navigate, a lot of glass, open feeling, huge windows in dining room, great autrium... Wonderful solarium area.

Zuiderdam - beautifull , a lot of arts, nice pool areas and promenade, expensive look.

Cabins...No contest..Zui wins hands down. Inside cabins are approx 190 sq ft vs 138 on Splendour.

As a Signature of Exellence HAL added fruit baskets in each room, nice duvets.

Activities: Can't really compare as we weren't looking for any other activities beyond sightseeing... On Zuiderdam we had enough activities for Caribbean cruise.

It's not easy to remember everything so please ask me specific questions.:)

[xpcdoojk]

OMG


jc:D

[Orcrone]

OMG


jc:DAm I the only one confused by this post.:confused:

[xpcdoojk]

Sorry, Ocrone. It was an inside comment to Badbuoy, whom is getting ready for his first ever cruise in December. I can't even imagine he is actually considering RCI.

jc

[TedC]

We have been on one RCI cruise, Brilliance of the Seas in the Baltic, during its first year.


It was a great cruise and the then new ship was beautiful, but the food and number of menu choices was very disappointing. And the pizza was attrocious!

We've been on 5 HAL cruises and the food was better on all of them, and the pizza the best we've had on a ship. And we also like the fresh-squeezed OJ that has been available for breakfast on HAL.

The HAL dinner menu usually has 7 entree choices so we can always find something we like. The best food we've had at sea was on the Prinsendam last year.


Passenger average age was lower on the Brilliance than is usually the case on our HAL cruises but that doesn't bother us at all, in fact we like the more mature folks. Perhaps that's one reason we prefer the ambience on HAL.

[Orcrone]

Sorry, Ocrone. It was an inside comment to Badbuoy, whom is getting ready for his first ever cruise in December. I can't even imagine he is actually considering RCI.

jcOK, I feel less dense now.:D

[BADBUOY]

Sorry, Ocrone. It was an inside comment to Badbuoy, whom is getting ready for his first ever cruise in December. I can't even imagine he is actually considering RCI.

jc
jc - I'm only following in your footsteps. If I sail HAL am I going to miss climbing that silly wall or ice skating when I can do that all winter long in my own backyard? Also, do you really think I visit the RCL board on a regular basis just to tangle with you? I actually like what I see believe it or not!

Tatka and Tedc - thanks for your interesting and very informative comparison.
I think we'll enjoy the newer larger ships over the smaller older variety.

B.

[xpcdoojk]

Buddy, I think you have a good grasp of HAL, as I do not think you fit the profile of the folks that prefer HALs older smaller ships.

BTW chill brother.:D

jc

[Brad1185]

RCCL now has made it official, they are charging for french fries, burgers, onion rings etc. $3.95, and if you are foolish enough to book a cruise with them, no more TA discounts allowed. Hopefully you do not enjoy lunch in the dining room, because the few days its open, they only have a small non changing menu. Enjoy

[xpcdoojk]

Dear Brad, I am so happy to see your typical happy expressions in this forum, too. I really have to ask just one more time. On what other cruiseline is there a Johnny Rockets, free or for charge other than RCI? Are you aware that other cruiselines have pay to eat restaurants as well. Some charge for specialty coffees, or ice creams. In other words, why are you still wasting peoples time, slamming RCI. I do hope that someday you will find the perfect line for your tastes, however, I am not expecting that to happen because I don't think anything will ever make you truly happy. I am, also, sorry that your positive attitude after your returned from your first RCI cruise wasn't able to survive your general negative spirit. Here is to hope that someday that may change.

jc:rolleyes:

[bdmarine]

Nevertheless, burgers and fries are available for free on HAL cooked to order from a special dispensary near the pool.

[xpcdoojk]

As they are in the Windjammer and other small eateries near the pool on RCI. Those, however, aren't extra greasy extra fatty ones that taste so good, and the staff doesn't dance to songs on the jukebox for you like they do at JRs. On the cruise I went on with a JRs, I didn't even go in because I didn't see any reason at all to eat a slimey hamburger and onion rings like I could get at home, and try to avoid eating at home. :D

jc

[anngie]

I've sailed on both lines several times. It is kind of like comparing oranges and apples. Service and food is better on HAL. I like the variety of entertainment better on RCCL. When we are with a large group I like RCCL and when we are by ourselves I like HAL better.
Each has a good product.

[doone]

A friend of mine and her daughter have sailed with us on HAL for years, this past winter, they decided to try Royal Caribbean's new Mariner of the Seas. While they had a great time on Royal Caribbean, they decided HAL was what they enjoyed more. She said HAL was more upscale than Royal Caribbean and the food and service was much better on HAL than what they experienced on RCCL. I haven't sailed RCCL and probably won't, but that's what she told me, hope this helps.

[iv18-Diane]

A friend of mine and her daughter have sailed with us on HAL for years, this past winter, they decided to try Royal Caribbean's new Mariner of the Seas. While they had a great time on Royal Caribbean, they decided HAL was what they enjoyed more. She said HAL was more upscale than Royal Caribbean and the food and service was much better on HAL than what they experienced on RCCL. I haven't sailed RCCL and probably won't, but that's what she told me, hope this helps.

Doone, you hit it right when you said more upscale. HAL is a Premium line, RCCL is midsteam so there is really no comparison.
RCI has Celebrity as their more premium product. I was not happy for the food on my Adventure of the Seas Cruise last April, while I loved the food on Star Princess the year before. IMO, Carnival has better food the RCCL.
We did not use the Rock climbing wall and I felt that there was too much Bingo, a revenue producing product on RCI. There were also 900 kids on my cruise. I always cruise on school vacations because I have a 15 year old, but that the largest number of kids I have encountered.

[Brad1185]

To me RCCL and Celebrity were the perfect lines. Not any longer.

Understand HAL has also been hit negatively with a rash of changes, extra charges and cutbacks. But nothing can match the negative changes RCI keeps dishing out.

I stay as far away as I can from greasy high fat food. Some people like it, the more power to them.

Am looking forward to our first cruise with HAL June 4th.

[iowacruiser]

Have sailed both RCCl (Vision of the Seas) and HAL (Volendam)
But will be able t make a fresh comparison soon.
We leave of Explorer of the Seas this Sunday and then on the Oosterdam January 2nd.
I have always prefered HAL..

[jazzsea]

I would always take Holland America Line over RCCL as I like smaller ships with larger staterooms. The only reason I might consider RCCL would be if the itinerary was outstanding and not available on HAL.

[xpcdoojk]

As far as RCI having an unique itinerary, there is no chance. HAL is much more of a world cruise line, and RCI is limited to Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, and Hawaii currently.

Brad, you need to read about all of the HAL changes as they are at least as radical as the RCI changes. I personally, love the idea of the upgraded room beds and bedding. The increased size of TV screens will be nice, too. So many of the HAL complainers fail to include these changes when they are slamming the cruise line. I think it is important to remember that these are billion dollar companies and that they have to compete to survive, and to assume that the way cruising was in 1985 is the way it will be in 2010 is not rational.:D

jc:cool: