HAL or "X", which would you choose to Bermuda in 2015?

We're planning a 2015 June cruise to Bermuda. We've been on HAL and "X" both several times and love 'em both. The "Veendam" will dock in Hamilton, the "Summit" will dock at King's Wharf. If price and perks were the same, which would you choose, and why? Maybe there's something I've not taken into consideration that would sway us to one or the other. For us... getting to Boston or Bayonne is not an issue to figure into the equation.

Under the "all other things being equal" (price, perks, your feeling about the ship, travel to the port ) scenario you've laid out, I'd cruise on the Veendam, because it gets a slight edge by docking in Hamilton. (If it also docked in St. George's, like the ships did in "the good old days" it would be a no-brainer. To me St. George's is the best of the three Bermuda docking location.)

We sailed the Veendam a few years ago to Bermuda and just sailed the Summit there last month. The Veendam is a smaller boat with less to do during sea days. The Summit docks at the Dockyard, which is better than it used to be, but still far away from all the best Bermuda has to offer.

So, if you are going for the ship, pick the Summit. If you are going for the island, pick Veendam.

It is a tough choice!

Both good choices. Does one give you more time in Bermuda? If so, that would be my choice. You probably will get a better price/perks on one or the other. IF so, whichever one offers more, that's the one I would take as both are tops. Now if NCL were in the equation the choice would be VERY easy to make. Having been on it.....never again!

Both good choices. Does one give you more time in Bermuda? If so, that would be my choice. You probably will get a better price/perks on one or the other. IF so, whichever one offers more, that's the one I would take as both are tops. Now if NCL were in the equation the choice would be VERY easy to make. Having been on it.....never again!

And since it wasn't in the equation, there was no reason or need to get in a slam about NCL.

We were on Summit to Bermuda last year and are doing it again next year. I agree with others though that being out at the dockyard is not ideal. For us the deciding factor was that X was running really good deals for Bermuda sailings next year with lots of extras which made it the best bang for our buck. I also liked that X spends three full days there where on HAL I believe you do get a little extra time but it's more broken up because of arriving/leaving at 1 pm. This may not be a huge deal though given you are docked in Hamilton.

We're planning a 2015 June cruise to Bermuda. We've been on HAL and "X" both several times and love 'em both. The "Veendam" will dock in Hamilton, the "Summit" will dock at King's Wharf. If price and perks were the same, which would you choose, and why? Maybe there's something I've not taken into consideration that would sway us to one or the other. For us... getting to Boston or Bayonne is not an issue to figure into the equation.

I would pick Veendam because it has more time in Bermuda. I also like docking in Hamilton over the Dockyard. I have been on both ships and I like both of them.

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I would read about each line and each ship.

I have actually sailed on both ships and both cruise lines and on Celebrity to Bermuda and for me Celebrity and the Summit would be my preference for all Celebrity has to offer.

Keith

Have you considered NCL's Breakaway? We have done both the Gem and BA from NUC and loved it. While we were on the Gem friends of ours sailed the Veendam. In 2011 both ships cruised from NYC. They were very disappointed, the ship was dead. We are all 50 and very active. The majority of people on the Veendam were late 70's and 80's. Not that their is anything wrong with that is was just a very different crowd

Have you considered NCL's Breakaway? We have done both the Gem and BA from NUC and loved it. While we were on the Gem friends of ours sailed the Veendam. In 2011 both ships cruised from NYC. They were very disappointed, the ship was dead. We are all 50 and very active. The majority of people on the Veendam were late 70's and 80's. Not that their is anything wrong with that is was just a very different crowd

It is not true that the majority of people on Veendam were in their 70's and 80's. I did Veendam twice and the demographic was similar to Summit.

Since you raised NCL's Breakaway. I did a cruise on her and didn't care for it much. Both Veendam and Summit are a couple of notches above that ship unless you are taking children. It does have the best children's areas.

It is not true that the majority of people on Veendam were in their 70's and 80's. I did Veendam twice and the demographic was similar to Summit.

 

Since you raised NCL's Breakaway. I did a cruise on her and didn't care for it much. Both Veendam and Summit are a couple of notches above that ship unless you are taking children. It does have the best children's areas.

Maybe not when you went, but we went over to meet them in Hamilton to go to the beach. Their were a lot of older people on their cruise

And since it wasn't in the equation, there was no reason or need to get in a slam about NCL.

Just an "FYI"..we booked the "Summit". It was a good rate (pretty much the same as HAL) but the beverage package and prepaid gratuities were the perk. And I don't mean to "slam" NCL either, but as we've been on it as well, that's why it was never considered as one of the options.

And since it wasn't in the equation, there was no reason or need to get in a slam about NCL.

my choice is the most time in Bermuda and the most inexpensive. I agree, slamming NCL was unnecessary. Having done my first NCL last year we booked NCL again for Bermuda this year. No, it isn't my favorite line because I don't care for their food. I simply upgraded to the UDP. I LOVE the causal dress code on NCL.

Both good choices. Does one give you more time in Bermuda? If so, that would be my choice. You probably will get a better price/perks on one or the other. IF so, whichever one offers more, that's the one I would take as both are tops. Now if NCL were in the equation the choice would be VERY easy to make. Having been on it.....never again!

I have sailed all 3 lines. I think all three have their nitch. I do perfer NCL though. The dinning (UDP), suite life and friendly crew are the selling points for me.

But the question... X or HAL. I would go HAL, due to being right downtown for 4 days, 3 nights.

I haven't sailed Celebrity, but did sail the Veendam to Bermuda and wouldn't hesitate to do so again...docking in Hamilton was fantastic.

When we wanted to ferry to St. George, it was a short stroll to the ferry dock where we waited with about 20-30 people. When we got over to the Dockyard for the stop prior to going to St. George, the line was enormous for the ferry (two other ships docked there at the time).

When we wanted to get a bus, it was a short walk to the main bus depot where we could board any of the buses in the terminal, and getting back was so simple because all we needed to do was find a bus stop and board at the right colored "pole" (blue for outbound from Hamilton, pink for inbound to Hamilton).

Have you considered NCL's Breakaway? We have done both the Gem and BA from NUC and loved it. While we were on the Gem friends of ours sailed the Veendam. In 2011 both ships cruised from NYC. They were very disappointed, the ship was dead. We are all 50 and very active. The majority of people on the Veendam were late 70's and 80's. Not that their is anything wrong with that is was just a very different crowd

Always interesting to hear, from someone who has not sailed HAL, about how most people on HAL ships are in their 70's and 80's. Of course, someone who only sails with NCL is not necessarily the best source of information on more upscale lines.

Personally, IOHO, we'd save the Veendam (HAL) for Alaska and sail "X" in the Caribbean.

Always interesting to hear, from someone who has not sailed HAL, about how most people on HAL ships are in their 70's and 80's. Of course, someone who only sails with NCL is not necessarily the best source of information on more upscale lines.

Well I have sailed HAL and NCL, and while the demographic on a summer cruise to Bermuda is going to be more mixed than many other HAL cruises, in general HAL does attract a much older crowd than NCL.

We're in our late 60's and have no interest in cruising with HAL again anytime soon because of the age of their passengers.

Well I have sailed HAL and NCL, and while the demographic on a summer cruise to Bermuda is going to be more mixed than many other HAL cruises, in general HAL does attract a much older crowd than NCL.

 

We're in our late 60's and have no interest in cruising with HAL again anytime soon because of the age of their passengers.

I sailed twice to Bermuda on HAL and the age and demographics of the passengers was similiar to both the many Zenith and Summit cruises I have done to Bermuda. It was not an older crowd of people in their 70's and 80's.

As far as NCL, I have no interest in sailing on their smokey, crowded ships agian anytime soon.

I sailed twice to Bermuda on HAL and the age and demographics of the passengers was similiar to both the many Zenith and Summit cruises I have done to Bermuda. It was not an older crowd of people in their 70's and 80's.

 

As far as NCL, I have no interest in sailing on their smokey, crowded ships agian anytime soon.

I said " the demographic on a summer cruise to Bermuda is going to be more mixed than many other HAL cruises" . My lack of interest in cruising again on HAL is because of the demographic on other itineraries.

I sailed twice to Bermuda on HAL and the age and demographics of the passengers was similiar to both the many Zenith and Summit cruises I have done to Bermuda. It was not an older crowd of people in their 70's and 80's.

 

As far as NCL, I have no interest in sailing on their smokey, crowded ships agian anytime soon.

In terms of rejecting NCL because of their "smokey" ships: NCL banned smoking on balconies effective Nov. 1 and HAL is now the only mainstream cruise line that still allows this. If I'm not mistaken, both lines still allow smoking in the casino; Celebrity does not.

In terms of rejecting NCL because of their "smokey" ships: NCL banned smoking on balconies effective Nov. 1 and HAL is now the only mainstream cruise line that still allows this. If I'm not mistaken, both lines still allow smoking in the casino; Celebrity does not.

Unless they ban smoking in the casino a ship like Breakaway is going to be smokey. The casino is open into the main public areas. Bad design. In addition both NCL ships I have been on were so crowded in all the public areas. Celebrity and HAL have less passengers per square yard. The Veendam casino is small and since the redo a few years ago the smoke is well contained.

The smoking issue is a big deal to me. I booked four cruises this year and all were on Celebrity. Still if Veendam was leaving from New York I would book it because it docks in Hamilton. I would not book a veranda though. Don't really need one for Bermuda anyway. On my four Celebrity cruises I booked three verandahs. One outside and that was the Bermuda cruise on Summit.

In terms of rejecting NCL because of their "smokey" ships: NCL banned smoking on balconies effective Nov. 1 and HAL is now the only mainstream cruise line that still allows this. If I'm not mistaken, both lines still allow smoking in the casino; Celebrity does not.

Unless they ban smoking in the casino a ship like Breakaway is going to be smokey. The casino is open into the main public areas. Bad design. In addition both NCL ships I have been on were so crowded in all the public areas. Celebrity and HAL have less passengers per square yard. The Veendam casino is small and since the redo a few years ago the smoke is well contained.

 

The smoking issue is a big deal to me. I booked four cruises this year and all were on Celebrity. Still if Veendam was leaving from New York I would book it because it docks in Hamilton. I would not book a veranda though. Don't really need one for Bermuda anyway. On my four Celebrity cruises I booked three verandahs. One outside and that was the Bermuda cruise on Summit.

The smoking issue is a big deal to me as well. From what I've read of the Breakaway, it certainly sounds like the smoke from the casino is a problem elsewhere on board, and one of the reasons I have no desire to sail on her. HAL is an issue for me because we do like to book balcony cabins, and that experience can certainly be spoiled by other guests smoking on their nearby balconies.

We love Celebrity for many reasons, including the (no)smoking policy.

And since it wasn't in the equation, there was no reason or need to get in a slam about NCL.

TOUCHY:eek:

TOUCHY:eek:

Ummmm, no. I just never see a reason to slam another cruise line. It serves no purpose other than possibly making the person think their preferred line is "better".

We've cruised four lines, one is our favorite,(and it's not NCL), two are just about equally second and one is meh. You will never find a post where I bad mouthed any line.:)