Most likely the Celebrity ship will be Millennium (the one we sailed on); HAL might be Westerdam or similar.

Millennium built 2000, 91,000 tonnes, 2170 pax

Westerdam built 2004, 82,000 tonnes, 1964 pax.

Very similar.

Millennium Class is our favourite Celebrity ship design.

Westerdam seemed a bit more cramped.

Dress code or lack thereof is the same for both companies.

You will not find a library worth it's name on any Celebrity ship.

I've cruised on both lines extensively, to Japan on Celebrity.

The quality of the cruises is very close and I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

You may have to compare the ships to make a decision.

As MrCruiser stated, the theatre production shows on Celebrity are much better.

The crew on both ships come from Indonesia and Philippines but beyond that, Celebrity has many eastern Europeans mixed in.

Celebrity has many Greek Officers whereas HAL has many from the Netherlands.

We liked the food better on HAL than on Celebrity and the service is exceptional on both lines.

We have cruised on HAL 10x since September of last year and loved the HAL entertainment other than the shows.

Compare the ship layout, the ports to be visited and the roll calls of the ships that you are comparing.

Japan is an amazing experience.

22 hours ago, kazu said:

I think your Rotterdam is a combination of several itineraries but I can list it that way and show the first itinerary.

 

Happy to add them for you 🙂 

I just had my "handle" changed.

Our Rotterdam sailings are 2 - 21 day itineraries that are really 6 back to back cruises.

27 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I’m not a good mind reader 😉

 

 

April 29 Zaandam and May 6 for 2nd week.

Nov 3 to Dec 15 for Rotterdam

Zaandam B2B Montreal to Boston our 11th and 12th HAL cruise since last September.

I'm celebrating a birthday and getting close to 300 days on HAL.

We're also booked on Rotterdam for 6 weeks starting in November.

We're on the same cruise.

This past January we left N Statendam with Pneumonia and my wife took 8 weeks to recover.

In September I left the  N Statendam and tested positive for covid when I arrived home 8 hrs later.

Ships are great for relaxation but the bugs on board that infect us are just looking to spread the joy.

I just don't understand people who book a cruise so that they can eat ashore.  If one does not like the food onboard, why not just drive to a port so that you can enjoy a donut or something more significant such as a lobster roll.

What I do remember about bar harbor is the story about a tender running into an island in the fog.

I like to see tours around or away from the city but then I'm not a foodie but enjoy unique landscapes.

Cruise companies know that some cities don't want 1,000's of pax flooding a town but despite that they still offer destinations which they will cancel after final payment.  Few people read the fine print but strangely continue to believe in the cruise brochures offering ports they wish to visit.

46 minutes ago, vicd1969 said:

I'm seeing a lot of full ships on reports about Pinnacle class ships. HAL must be doing something right. I'd venture that HAL may have enough pricing power to raise rates a bit on those ships. Hopefully if they do, they will also reverse some of the cutbacks.

When we cruised back to back on N Statendam Nov-Jan, there were between 200 and 600 guests doing the same

3 minutes ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I hear the Love Boat song in your future

More like Gilligan’s Island.

It certainly is not me.  I just got banned from sailing on any celebrity or Royal branded ship for contravention of their guest conduct policy and I’m not even on a ship.  It seems they do not like my Who is aboard thread and reaching out to staff members dating back over a decade.

I have just been notified by Celebrity cruises that I have contravened company policy by reaching out to staff to determine who is onboard.  After a number of staff complaints, according to the contact, my wife and I have been banned from sailing on any royal branded cruise ship.

5 hours ago, wey said:

Does anyone know who will be Captain on the Edge in October? 

Most likely captain Nestoroudis.  Captain Kate is on until September 30.

16 minutes ago, rugerdog said:

I keep looking through this thread but I can't figure out who the Captain and CD of the Silhouette currently are.  If any has this information and would be willing share, it would be appreciated!

 

Thanks.

Captain George and Bethany Moorhouse is the CD.

21 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

 

This is why we stand up and voice our opinion.  

But yes, I agree. Just because they reversed a stupid decision does not earn kudos in our mind.

I hope they fired the person who made the decision that angered so many people.

No, wait.  he was put in charge of ice cream on board and the waffle cones were removed to help pay for the movies... that and the removal of prizes from trivia...

Penny wise, pound foolish for those old enough to understand the proverb.

Someone has to pay for those little useless chairs in the retreat.

For those of us who spend weeks on board, a movie is a wonderful alternative to the repeat of the juggler or the production shows.

By the way, those people who enjoy a free scoop of gelato, the waffle cones have been raffled off to pay for the movies.  Gotta save those pennies somewhere.

Movies may also be necessary to replace the lack of a library on board... sorry, some of you don't cruise to enjoy a book...😉

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Check the other threads and call Cekeb again...I belueve they have rekented and will give the airport to cruiseport  transfer even if you fly in early.

 

Best solution fir less stress...pvt transfers from your hotel, etc

OK That's one glass too many.... you're slurring your words... 😉

I'm not sure, depending on the alignment of the stars and the glass of wine I just consumed but...were the free movies available only on S-Class ships and not on M-class?

Since we book back to back cruises a month or so in a row, the free "newly released" movies were a nice option to watching the same "production" show every week.

In the day that so many people stream stuff, is this just not Celebrity's way to get people to buy the internet package if they wish to indulge their movie cravings?

Is this not the same reason that libraries were removed in the latest overhaul?  Let them bring their own kindle books!

Without the free movies, I'll just have to spend more time in the retreat drinking the still free beverages.

Passengers in their cabin don't generate enough income... go gamble, go shopping, go book another cruise..

Royal Caribbean Reports Record Second Quarter Earnings

and a hike in dividends...

This is a for profit company... Who gives a crap about diminishing customer experiences... 😉

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Yes, HAL does offer some movies for free.....but on the other hand, this line has recently eliminated all their Production Shows! 

 

Hank

Celebrity removed them several years ago and replaced them with amateur hour....  😉

On 8/31/2019 at 12:10 PM, helen haywood said:

Does anyone have any ideas as to what caused these three cruises to be moved around?  "Scheduling error?!"

No but my guess is the guy will be promoted to a less critical department.

We are among those cruisers who had their Silhouette Jan 31, 2020 cruise cancelled (for a needed drydock), picked the Dec 1 and 13th B2B cruise and now we have the "Silly Shuffle".

If it is anything trivial that upsets us, it's the activities staff that won't change the questions form one voyage to the next.  Two years ago we were on Eclipse for 6 weeks and the two ladies had different questions every day, morning, afternoon and pub trivia in the evening.  Best trivia experience ever.  (One is now a CD).  Both of them would patrol the floor to make sure no-one was using electronic assistance.

We find that if papers are exchanged, everyone is honest.

Many years ago we were at a table of 6 near the Captain's Table (Aft near the windows on Century) with our friends, another frequent cruising couple.  The (male) strangers at our table was telling us all about his cruising experience (he was wearing a lowest tier HAL pin) and seemed to be an authority on every subject.  The following night 4 of us as top cruisers on this sailing were invited to the Captain's table.  The guy saw us on either side of the captain and got up and left his wife sitting by herself at our table.  I asked another table if they would be willing to invite the lady since her husband was obviously .... (fill in the blanks) .

Sometimes hiding your cruise history is as offensive to some as sharing it.

According to a friend onboard Equinox right now, players will no longer receive a prize if they win the daily quiz.  Last week winners received a deck of cards but that has now been discontinued.  Modern luxury has claimed another victory over an activity that does not generate revenue. Cut, cut, cut is the mantra.

47 minutes ago, hcat said:

 

Fine line for comedy these days...many cannot be funny without insulting groups or picking on audience members.

There is one regular comedian whose only routine seems to involve ridicule of late comers.

We will walk out when that happens even though others seem to enjoy his act.

I once read about an author who believed in: " Humour without malice"

Ventriloquist Dummies have the funniest lines....

Production shows are the clear winner! 😉

Thanks for the poll..

I just called the Customer "Service" number...

I was told that it does not contravene the "Jones" Act Acronym PS something..

I was told that I would have to find my way from the Edge and make my way to FLL where a free shuttle will be provided... to POM

Now from past bad experiences....

Those buses taking passengers from FLL to MIA may be the same buses transferring passengers from the Port of Miami to FLL.

Think turn around time, people getting off flights that have been waiting for a bus, plus all the pax who overnighted in FT Lauderdale hotels.

We once moved in the opposite direction.  Disembarked in Miami, transported by bus to FLL which was to continue on to the Celebrity ship.  As the bus filled we were asked by the port Agent... everyone going to Oasis.... NOOOOO We're going to Celebrity... Wll you're on the wrong bus.  Get off, get our luggage, get on another bus, wait for it to load... Over three hours.

SAS does not pick up in Port Everglades, only from hotels...

Sometimes the best laid plans get SNAFUd.

At least we are not having our cruises shortened by Dorian as thousands of passengers who will not be leaving Florida as scheduled this weekend...

"Sorry your one week cruise is now 4 days long"