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C 2 C

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    Celebrity vs Holland American

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    We have cruised Celebrity to the Z Level and HAL to 4 **** 

    Never have we experienced the repeat back to back cruisers that we experienced over the last year on our 8 week stay on N Statendam.  B2B were never less than 200 pax and as high as 700+.  We found the demographics very similar between the two lines.

    If you are a frequent cruiser (like us) the stage shows on Celebrity get stale fast but guest entertainers are better than on HAL.  However we like to dance and the opportunities on HAL are much better than on Celebrity.  Celebrity has picked all the busiest walkways and put a small dance floor in the middle.

    One thing that I have found as I read threads on both HAL and X, here and another location, is that Celebrity sites have more vicious, nasty and unsympathetic responses if one tries to post a negative experience.  HAL members, as a group,  are friendlier and more helpful by a country mile.  The friends you make on both lines are equally fantastic.

    • Like 3

    Zuiderdam - Quebec City tour and port question

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    59 minutes ago, jaapie said:

    Walk to pier 30 or walk to pier 22? It is my understanding (but I could be wrong) that walking to pier 30 is not permitted because it is thru an industrial area.

    Yes you can walk but the long way round.  Last year we parked our car and tried to take the direct route to the ship.  We were blocked and had to retrace our steps.  

    Alternatives to Celebrity

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:


    I’m a big fan of HAL’s non suite offerings, particularly on their Pinnacle class shops, but it doesn’t appear to me that they are really trying to cater to suite guests.  For example, only the Pinnacle class ships have a separate dining room for suite guests.  Although I haven’t traveled in HAL’s suites,  I’m afraid you would be disappointed.

    You can get a private dining room with club Orange on Pinnacle class.

    Alternatives to Celebrity

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Islander500 said:

    Hello fellow cruisers,

    As a loyal and long-term Celebrity cruiser, I am starting to do some due diligence for other cruise lines. 

     

     

     

     

    We've cruised on every class of Celebrity ship from Horizon to Edge.  We started cruising with HAL in 1989  and cruised a dozen times with them over the last year.  HAL has better itineraries, a crew that is just as friendly as on Celebrity and lower prices for drink packages than X.  We like the new class of Pinnacle ships better than the Edge class.  Celebrity has stunning design but the practicality of HAL's ships is more to our liking.  The Crow's nest on HAL beats anything that Celebrity has as a go to place on board.  Celebrity has given all the best views to suite passengers but HAL uses the forward observation lounge as a meeting place for coffee, puzzles and activities such as trivia.  There are real dance floors on HAL whereas on Celebrity they are walk through locations.  However we love the older Millennium class ships more than the older HAL ships.  We have found that many Carnival cruisers have moved up to HAL just as Royal pax move on to Celebrity.  Flip a coin to pick your voyage when in doubt.  Both lines will give you a fantastic experience.

    • Like 5

    Celebrity vs Holland American

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    On 8/15/2023 at 8:43 AM, GatorMomInNC said:

    Oh too bad.  There was some sort of venue on the Noordam with classical music on my cruise in February.  Is it just on longer cruises (this was 2 weeks)? I am going again in a couple weeks and I was going to actually try and go this time but my next cruise is only 7 nights. 

    I think classical music is coming back but I don't know if it's in the main theatre or elsewhere.

    • Like 2

    Zuiderdam - Quebec City tour and port question

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    On 8/14/2023 at 6:22 PM, showgirl85 said:

    We are sailing on a Canada & NE cruise on the Zuiderdam next month, and our tour to Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre & Montmorency Falls is on a Sunday morning.  Has anyone taken this tour (would love to hear feedback) and did you have access to the Basilica?

     

    Also, I know there are two embarkation ports in Quebec City.  Is the Zuiderdam’s port within walking distance to the Chateau Frontenac?

     

    Thanks!

    This is a picture taken from a ship a little up river from Zuiderdam's docking.  Your choice is taking a vernicular or a zig zag road which is more picturesque. I believe our docking location is right on the river not in the industrial port.  We're sailing B2B 

    Constellation Oct 2009 028.JPG

    • Like 1

    Park West Galleries

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    On 12/12/2019 at 2:48 PM, terrydtx said:

    Goes to prove the cruise companies have no shame on the frauds they allow on their ships. On one of our HAL cruises the Park West people used the Crows Nest Bar and Lounge for their auctions and limited passengers from using the place during daytime hours. On sea days that is where I enjoy my time.

    We had the good fortune NOT to have the "art" guys occupy the space any where on the ship other than their display area.  (12 weeks over the last year on HAL)  On Celebrity they always took over the prime areas and they are the company that wags the tail for the whole ship.  Criticizing them on board may get you in a pile of doo with front office.

    Celebrity vs Holland American

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    baggal you said it all.

     

    nextariel you did not mention the ship

     

    We have cruised on Celebrity for 20 years but in the last year we have sailed HAL a dozen times.

    Both products are very similar but the "shows" on HAL are mediocre on a good day.

    We liked the food better on HAL.  The crew are fantastic on both lines.

     

    If this is the ship, we loved it.

     

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Are Celebrity cost cutting and penny pinching there faithful customers off the ship?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    On 8/1/2023 at 3:49 PM, Maisyboo said:

    Unfortunately Holland America is also changing & not for the better in our opinion. After 17 cruises with HA we are done . Horrible experience  in March aboard the a Nieuw Statendam . Was thinking of going back to Celebrity.  What are the changes that are upsetting loyal customers?. 

    We spent 10 weeks on N  Statendam and loved it, except for the shows.  However shows on Celebrity don't change often enough if one is a frequent cruiser.  The food choices on NS were fantastic and the desserts are way better on HAL and I have the pounds to prove it.

    • Like 1

    Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    20 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

    But you see, I think the exclusion of zeniths is just a deep a cut as all the others...you sound angry at suite passengers as if they had something to do with it.  Maybe they did?  IDK.  My view is that most all cuts are negative regardless of who they immediately impact.  I'm sorry about the Zenith exclusion from Michael's...that's crappy...but try directing your anger at the appropriate entity.

    There were many suite pax happy that, with Zeniths gone, the lounge would be more exclusive and not so crowded.  Zeniths were upset when sky suites were given access, because crowding would become an issue. Some suite pax are just the latest to suffer a cut.  My point is that everyone should be upset by every cut because the next "victim" will be personal.  The "appropriate entity" is untouchable.

    • Like 3

    Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, Robert de Beaumont said:

    Snark aside, you’re correct, naturally.  Voting with one’s feet is the most effective response. Well, this buttercup’s boots are made for walking. 

    Despite being on the outside looking in, we're still sailing faithfully.  The quality of the food, service in MDR  (Luminae and Blu are not in our budget) and the entertainment are more important.  However I'm speculating whether the Retreat Team butlers will still give priority seating to Zs in the theatre among the buttercups.  I hope a few thorns won't upset them much.

    • Like 2

    Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Frankly my dear I just don't give ....

     

     In my opinion, nothing "they" do to any suite passenger will compare to the ostracism of Zeniths from Michael's Club and the Retreat that loyal passengers had enjoyed as a benefit for sailing repeatedly for decades.  No one cares unless they personally feels the knife cut.  It's a business determined to maximize the results for stockholders.  Until the masses start abandoning ship, the people in charge are doing what they have been hired to do.  Suck it up buttercups. 😂

    Is Celebrity going to Eliminate Butlers on Sky and Celebrity Suites?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Whenever the gratuities question arises, the implication is that they represent a large part of the wages of the employees.  I'm just guessing here but I can't see a huge savings for Celebrity and Royal head office.  I don't know how many butlers were onboard but is their cabin space being reassigned?  Once upon a time there was one future sales person onboard.  Cruse activities staff was reduced and more bed space opened up.  I would like to know which department is being increased to take up the accommodation  space vacated by the butlers. 

    • Thanks 1
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