Princess vs. HAL

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

Thank you

I'm doing the same thing since HAL cancelled my cruise. I'm booking on Emerald - a sister ship so I'll be interested in reading the responses you'll be getting.

Jane

MDR dining is a tossup. Big difference is what is available between meals.

On Princess you can get a hot meal at the buffet continuously from the start of breakfast until 11 PM or Midinite. HAL has all those gaps where the buffet is shut, most notably no alternative dinner after 8 PM even on late port days. But where HAL tries to compensate with their extensive room service menu, Princess' is relatively limited especially for breakfast.

Princess also has the 24 hour International Cafe with sandwiches salads and desserts. And excellent pizza slices available on deck from 11 AM to 11 PM every day. (Sorry, but HAL's pizza would have to be promoted three ranks just to get to inedible).

Service in general also more or less equal. My one HAL cruise was on a small ship (Maasadam) and I was very impressed by the responsiveness of the purser's desk and the attentiveness of the bar staff. But have generally found the same on all my Princess cruises, including Ruby a couple years ago and Emerald this past spring.

Princess prohibits smoking in the cabins and on balconies. :)

Princess prohibits smoking in the cabins and on balconies. :)

And almost everywhere else on the ship.

You can smoke in the casino, except on formal nights, one area on the starboard (?) side of the Promenade, the "cigar" lounge/sports bar, one area near a pool and one area at the aft pool.

This is all from memory, there may be more places, but not many.

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

 

Thank you

Food - DR's are open each day for breakfast and dinner and for lunch on sea days. I am not a foodie, but can say from my taste I have not found any significant difference in the DR food between Princess and HAL. I feel Princess handles Anytime Dining better than HAL did. For specialty dining the Ruby Princess has the Crown Grill, @$29/pp, and Share by Curtis Stone @ $39/pp. It also has the Crab Shack on some evenings, which is a casual dining meal of buckets of shell fish served in a closed off seating area of the buffet. Also $29/pp. Reservations for specialty dining can only be made after boarding. There is also The Salty Dog Gastro Pub in the Wheelhouse Bar each evening @ $19/pp. Reservations not required. On sea days you will find the Pub Lunch also in the Wheelhouse Bar. This is no charge.

Service: If you are speaking about DR service, sometimes it can be slow. But, it is better if you select traditional dining, same waiter, table, time each evening.

If you are speaking about room steward service, I did not find any difference.

Evening activities, music, entertainment: I found HAL to be lacking in this area. Too sedate for me. Princess has more lively evening activities and more selections to choose, from live music in all the lounges, shows in the theater, theme nights, game shows, karaoke, dancing.

Food is subjective, but our last two HAL cruises we frequented the specialty restaurants because we were so disappointed in the food in the MDR. Not so on Princess. At one time we would have said HAL was superior in many ways, but I barely glance at the information we get from HAL now.

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

 

Thank you

My personal observations...

HAL has better food/service though the Princess food and service are certainly good. And certainly good enough for me.

HAL has better rooms, better layout with a sofa and better bathroom amenities.

Princess has much much more to do all day, more entertainment choices etc.

I have a better time on Princess in spite of the better food/service/rooms on HAL. There is more of a vibe/energy/spirit on Princess ships than on HAL.

All other things being equal I would choose Princess over HAL. However I am sure that over on the HAL forum people would conclude the opposite.

Take a Princess cruise and then decide for yourself. It doesn't really matter what we think.

We have been on one HAL cruise - the Veendam in 2012.

I know food is very subjective, but we found the food in the MDR on HAL extremely disappointing. I actually sent my dinner back twice on a seven night cruise. The buffet wasn't much better. I remember one night craving something - anything sweet. The dessert in the MDR was not very good, the buffet had the same ice cream/ fruit pie/ bread pudding every night, and the coffee cart was closed by 7pm.

On the other hand, the steakhouse was comparable to the crown grille.

I also did not like the food on Holland America. The only thing that was good was the steak. But that was 15 years ago. Small ship alaska. 20+ on Princess. Much better

While Princess is a much better fit for us, we have enjoyed our HAL cruises ... but would only book a port intensive cruise on HAL.

You sort of need to be self entertaining on HAL's sea days and things close up very early in the evening. Way better entertainment options on Princess.

HAL does have very nice cabins. On Princess we book mini-suites but are happy with a veranda cabin on HAL.

The buffet on Princess in open ALL Day until about 11 PM. Then there is the International Café (open 24/7) which is quite good.

We've always had good service in all areas on both Princess & HAL. :)

LuLu

We've been on three HAL cruises, but switched to Princess for a Med cruise out of Venice. We are now platinum on Princess. We like that Princess has laundry facilities. HAL doesn't. And I agree with others, more activities on Princess and it's a younger crowd.

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I'm a 3-star Mariner on HAL was well as Elite on Princess. There are pluses and minuses to both.

Food is subjective and in my experience, the main dining room food and service is comparable. Where I think Princess is better is that there are more excellent "Always Available" options on the Princess menu plus I've found Princess far more flexible and accommodating when asking for course modifications or changes.

For instance, I often like a big salad for my entree. On HAL, I'm looked at strangely and my order is taken reluctantly. On Princess, it's no big deal and I can ask for grilled chicken or anything else on the salad. Another example is that I like to order a baked potato and no sauce on my meat. On Princess, this is done all the time. On HAL, it's a big deal.

Princess pasta dishes and ice cream are far better. HAL's Indonesian dishes are delicious. On HAL, you can order anything off the dining room menu delivered to your cabin. On Princess, the room service menus are adequate but not nearly as extensive.

On HAL, if you get back from a tour at 2pm and you want a late lunch, the buffet will be closed and your options are pizza, the grill or room service. On Princess, the buffet is open for a full meal options from 6am-11pm.

Princess has the International Cafe which is open 24/7 with fresh-baked goodies (muffins, donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, etc.), sandwiches, salads, etc. No charge. HAL has nothing similar. Princess has the Pub Lunch on sea days. HAL has nothing like it.

Overall, I'd give the edge to Princess. I've found Princess service as good or better than HAL.

Good review Pam in CA. Thanks for taking the time to post.

We've been on three HAL cruises, but switched to Princess for a Med cruise out of Venice. We are now platinum on Princess. We like that Princess has laundry facilities. HAL doesn't. And I agree with others, more activities on Princess and it's a younger crowd.

 

 

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Some HAL ships do have laundry facilities for passengers to use. ;)

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

 

Thank you

Princess is much better then HAL.

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

 

Thank you

Yes, in my opinion, we cruise both Princess and Holland America... have not been on the Ruby for a few years, enjoyed it when I did, love the location and atmosphere in Sabatini's on the Ruby.

Did a TA on the Ruby and a TA on the Nieuw Amsterdam... both very similar cruises.

Thanks to everyone for providing the information. Has anyone gone to the Sanctuary Pool area? Is it difficult to get a chair?

Thank you

Thanks to everyone for providing the information. Has anyone gone to the Sanctuary Pool area? Is it difficult to get a chair?

 

Thank you

The Lotus Spa pool is not part of the Sanctuary, I know it seems that way where its located.

There are not very many loungers as its a small area.

Its open to anyone 18 or older.

I'm a 3-star Mariner on HAL was well as Elite on Princess. There are pluses and minuses to both.

 

Food is subjective and in my experience, the main dining room food and service is comparable. Where I think Princess is better is that there are more excellent "Always Available" options on the Princess menu plus I've found Princess far more flexible and accommodating when asking for course modifications or changes.

 

For instance, I often like a big salad for my entree. On HAL, I'm looked at strangely and my order is taken reluctantly. On Princess, it's no big deal and I can ask for grilled chicken or anything else on the salad. Another example is that I like to order a baked potato and no sauce on my meat. On Princess, this is done all the time. On HAL, it's a big deal.

 

Princess pasta dishes and ice cream are far better. HAL's Indonesian dishes are delicious. On HAL, you can order anything off the dining room menu delivered to your cabin. On Princess, the room service menus are adequate but not nearly as extensive.

 

On HAL, if you get back from a tour at 2pm and you want a late lunch, the buffet will be closed and your options are pizza, the grill or room service. On Princess, the buffet is open for a full meal options from 6am-11pm.

 

Princess has the International Cafe which is open 24/7 with fresh-baked goodies (muffins, donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, etc.), sandwiches, salads, etc. No charge. HAL has nothing similar. Princess has the Pub Lunch on sea days. HAL has nothing like it.

 

Overall, I'd give the edge to Princess. I've found Princess service as good or better than HAL.

Very objective. Thanks.

Princess is much better then HAL.

We think the old people on Princess smell better than the old people on HAL :p

I generally cruise HAL, and considering taking a cruise on RUBY. Is the food and service as good as HAL?

 

Thank you

I think it's better on Princess. But that just me.

Tony

I'm a 3-star Mariner on HAL was well as Elite on Princess. There are pluses and minuses to both.

 

Food is subjective and in my experience, the main dining room food and service is comparable. Where I think Princess is better is that there are more excellent "Always Available" options on the Princess menu plus I've found Princess far more flexible and accommodating when asking for course modifications or changes.

 

For instance, I often like a big salad for my entree. On HAL, I'm looked at strangely and my order is taken reluctantly. On Princess, it's no big deal and I can ask for grilled chicken or anything else on the salad. Another example is that I like to order a baked potato and no sauce on my meat. On Princess, this is done all the time. On HAL, it's a big deal.

 

Princess pasta dishes and ice cream are far better. HAL's Indonesian dishes are delicious. On HAL, you can order anything off the dining room menu delivered to your cabin. On Princess, the room service menus are adequate but not nearly as extensive.

 

On HAL, if you get back from a tour at 2pm and you want a late lunch, the buffet will be closed and your options are pizza, the grill or room service. On Princess, the buffet is open for a full meal options from 6am-11pm.

 

Princess has the International Cafe which is open 24/7 with fresh-baked goodies (muffins, donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, etc.), sandwiches, salads, etc. No charge. HAL has nothing similar. Princess has the Pub Lunch on sea days. HAL has nothing like it.

 

Overall, I'd give the edge to Princess. I've found Princess service as good or better than HAL.

We AGREE. Great review. In our limited experience we would simply add that the one time we cruised with HAL (Antarctica) we picked HAL only because of the itinerary. Princess no longer cruises to Antarctica. Population density obviously affects cruise price...HAL is also much more expensive on their smaller ships with unique itineraries (Arctic and Antarctica for example on the Zaandam or Prinsendam) for a balcony that they market as a " vista suite" which is really nothing more than a Princess balcony room (other than tub vs. shower). You are otherwise stuck with an oceanview. Lots of chicken served on HAL and the menu seemed repetitive. We would choose HAL based solely on itinerary...but our preference would be Princess.

Pam's comparison is spot on!

HAL has great itineraries and has received our business recently on some wonderful cruises in Europe for that reason as Princess tends to do the same itineraries in Europe year after year. One of our favorite features of the HAL ships is the Crows Nest Lounge, Princess ships do not have a facility like this with lots of seating and almost 360 degree views from the picture windows. I also love the piano bar on HAL, but for other entertainment options prefer Princess.

I really enjoy both of these lines.

For longer/chillax vacations, we only look to Princess and HAL. Both offer a very similar product in our eyes/experience.

There's a little more to do through the day/night on a Princess cruise, but both also give plenty of time/space for self entertainment/relaxation.

FWIW I think that HAL is a little better in food quality (not that Princess food is bad), but time to eat is far shorter on HAL. I think that the Pinnacle is the best restaurant on the seas and worth more than they upcharge.

I think Princess does a better job entertaining its passengers during the day and has more activities at night. Honestly, the deck rolls up at 10 pm on HAL.

If HAL and Princess were going to the same places for the same price, it would be a hard decision. If we just wanted to be "beach bum" lazy and have as little distractions as possible, HAL might be my choice but my choice might get vetoed by Karen as she greatly prefers Princess to HAL because of the entertainment options.