Princess has been our go-to for years, but we tried HAL because they sail from San Diego.
Entertainment is important to us, and HAL was sadly lacking. The bands were good but not good enough to be the only thing to do every evening. Daytime activities were non-existent.
We liked the variety of dining choices, but only because I booked them in advance. Once onboard there were no times left, and the MDR was overcrowded and unfriendly, with limited choices.
So- it’s back to San Pedro and Princess for our local cruises.