I Tried HAL

I just got back from a 10 day Panama Canal cruise in an aft cabin on Holland America. It was my first cruise with them and I was pleasantly surprised. I posted a mini review on their board if you're interested in seeing what I discovered about the other cruise line. I used to be a Celebrity loyalist until the double/double program really kicked in and LLP got her hands in the pot.

Here's the thread. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2607531

I realize that cruise line may not be for everyone and there are still countless Celebrity loyalists. I hope you continue enjoying your Celebrity cruises like I used to.

I just got back from a 10 day Panama Canal cruise in an aft cabin on Holland America. It was my first cruise with them and I was pleasantly surprised. I posted a mini review on their board if you're interested in seeing what I discovered about the other cruise line. I used to be a Celebrity loyalist until the double/double program really kicked in and LLP got her hands in the pot.

 

Here's the thread. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2607531

 

I realize that cruise line may not be for everyone and there are still countless Celebrity loyalists. I hope you continue enjoying your Celebrity cruises like I used to.

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Steve we like Holland also. I'm not sure what the double double program is. Pleas explain that one to me. Thanks.

It is a program to stop discounting, double the revenue and double the profits. Google RCL double/double and you'll read it in their own words in PR releases. Basically that's when they started cutting corners, reducing staff, reducing quality and charging more for things in the name of profits.

I'm glad you found a cruise line you enjoy.

I'm glad you found a cruise line you enjoy.

Thank you. I also enjoyed Azamara and Oceania very much.

I sailed with Holland America for the first time in January and was also pleasantly surprised. I think the entertainment options on Eurodam were outstanding, especially Lincoln Center and BB King's. I was impressed with the crew - they were very personable and genuinely took an interest in the passengers. I've recommended HAL to many friends and will definitely sail with them again.

Liz

Did you notice much smoking on the ship? The restrictive Celebrity policy was one reason that I started, and continued, with Celebrity. I've also enjoyed HAL cruises in the past, but it's been five years or so. Azamara is great, but I think they've priced themselves out of my price range, especially with the lower Canadian dollar.:(:(:(

I read the review...good to know. Thanks for posting the link here.

We are still cruising on X, at least til we try EDGE, but this sounded like the way X used to be. Before LLP completed "Royalizing" X, a complete cultural and experience downgrade..

Over the years, we've probably cruised on HAL as much or more than Celebrity. Both have pluses and minuses and we are quite satisfied booking with either one. Itineraries, dates and pricing are our major considerations.

I keep trying to book HAL, I really do..but just can't do it. Our one and only cruise was awful. The food sucked, the room sucked, the only decent thing was the itinerary and the price. Just can't get excited about going on them again.

Did you notice much smoking on the ship? The restrictive Celebrity policy was one reason that I started, and continued, with Celebrity. I've also enjoyed HAL cruises in the past, but it's been five years or so. Azamara is great, but I think they've priced themselves out of my price range, especially with the lower Canadian dollar.:(:(:(

I didn't notice any smoking. Perhaps I just wasn't in the restricted smoking section.

Thanx for posting, CS

Ira

Thanks for sharing. your perspective is invaluable

I just got back from a 10 day Panama Canal cruise in an aft cabin on Holland America. It was my first cruise with them and I was pleasantly surprised. I posted a mini review on their board if you're interested in seeing what I discovered about the other cruise line. I used to be a Celebrity loyalist until the double/double program really kicked in and LLP got her hands in the pot.

 

Here's the thread. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2607531

 

I realize that cruise line may not be for everyone and there are still countless Celebrity loyalists. I hope you continue enjoying your Celebrity cruises like I used to.

We just did a 10 cruise in mid Jan. on the Riviera. Loved it so much we cancelled our 14 day trip next year on the Reflection & booked a 14 day tip again on the Riviera. I just hope that NCL(which bought Oceania/Regent a few years ago)doesn't screw it up like RCCL is doing with Celebrity. Celebrity is pretty much just like the parent company RCCL.

Hal not for me.

Great when you find a cruise line you really enjoy! :D

I didn't notice any smoking. Perhaps I just wasn't in the restricted smoking section.

While HAL changed its policy disallowing smoking on balconies, my experience in Denali on the TWT bus in Fall of 2016, stopped at a hotel to pickup about 40 or more HAL group passengers. Smoking was not allowed on the bus, but you could smell the pervasive odor of cigarette smoke on their clothes.

I think HAL attracted smokers.

And I believe smoking is still allowed in the casino. It was like a fog on zuiderdam. Saved us a lot of money :cool:

I'm with you Steve. We enjoy HAL and Oceania even more. Lines we will happily cruise on in the future. After reading about the issues the Infinity had on their recent Antarctica cruise with engine issues, we are so glad we went with HAL for that cruise. Twice as much time in Antarctica and a 22 day cruise, rather than 14 for actually a slightly lower price.

It looks as if they are restricting smoking more and more on their ships as they send them to drydock for updates. Here is what it currently says about casinos:

[smoking allowed in] Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos. Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.

This is definitely a change in the previous policy, even from just a year ago. I hope that it is true because I have my first HAL trip coming up to Alaska on Nieuw Amsterdam (which just had updates done in December) and this factored into my decision.

We sailed twice. On Zuiderdam and Veendam.

Zuiderdam was almost new ship and didn't have issues that Veendam had (toilet clogging, low water pressure problem, some upkeep issues), but service was chaotic. Veendam was wonderful in terms of service and food.

I guess we need to try newer ships like Eurodam or Koningsdam to get a full picture.

I wish they sailed from Northeast.

Will be on Celebrity for 12 day eastern Australia cruise, then on HAL for 16 day cruise Sydney to Honolulu.

No reason to stick to one cruise line.

I keep trying to book HAL, I really do..but just can't do it. Our one and only cruise was awful. The food sucked, the room sucked, the only decent thing was the itinerary and the price. Just can't get excited about going on them again.

What ship was that on? I've found the food comparable on the two lines until my recently completed Constellation cruise where it was not nearly as good as HAL....or previous Celebrity cruises.

There are more balconies available on Celebrity but the insides and oceanviews on HAL are very spacious.

Takes a big price increase on HAL to get a balcony so we've never had one even though we've just turned four star Mariner (and just turned elite on X).

We choose based on price and itinerary.

We sailed twice. On Zuiderdam and Veendam.

Zuiderdam was almost new ship and didn't have issues that Veendam had (toilet clogging, low water pressure problem, some upkeep issues), but service was chaotic. Veendam was wonderful in terms of service and food.

I guess we need to try newer ships like Eurodam or Koningsdam to get a full picture.

I wish they sailed from Northeast.

Veendam can have issues but it's my favorite HAL ship. Captain are crew are fabulous. We've been on for cruises of 7, 35 and 48 days and loved it even in an inside cabin. That self service laundry was a real asset on the longer cruises. Hate that it's scheduled to be sold IIRC.

Haven't tried the Zuiderdam.

What ship was that on? I've found the food comparable on the two lines until my recently completed Constellation cruise where it was not nearly as good as HAL....or previous Celebrity cruises.

There are more balconies available on Celebrity but the insides and oceanviews on HAL are very spacious.

Takes a big price increase on HAL to get a balcony so we've never had one even though we've just turned four star Mariner (and just turned elite on X).

We choose based on price and itinerary.

Zuiderdam in Alaska. The food was so bland. Surf and Turf would arrive without the Surf, letting Turf go cold. The cheese plate was a running joke at our table. Someone would order it just to see how far from the actual menu it was. The menu sounded wonderful and then the two saltines and piece of med orange cheddar would show up on your plate. They passed off fake crab as Alaska King Crab and Dungeness crab. I called them on that when we got home and they apologized profusely that it was a mistake and it happened to a 4 star mariner friend of mine about a month later. Obviously not a mistake. They offered us all kinds of offers and upgrades to come back. My login seems to be tagged with some kind of discount but just can't bring ourselves to do it. Maybe on something new like the Koningsdam but I just can't get excited about it.

And just so I'm not completely negative, we did enjoy the PInnacle Grill and the Crows Nest.