Roissy747 Posted March 28, 2012 #1 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Planning an Alaska cruise this coming September, I booke a mini-suite in the Norwegian Jewel (room 11062) but I wonder if I should cancel and book a Superior Verandah suite in the Oosterdam. The Oosterdam is a bit more expensive (really negligible). I have not travelled either cruise lines, so am having a hard time making a decision. I will be taking my 76 year (very very active) mom as a present for her. Any suggestions before I make a final choice? THANKS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted March 28, 2012 #2 Share Posted March 28, 2012 HAL and Princess are the main lines in Alaska. Each has a half dozen ships there each year. Add to that the fact that your mother will be the "young chick" for a week and it seems like a winner to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euro cruiser Posted March 28, 2012 #3 Share Posted March 28, 2012 There's a fit for everyone. We tried NCL for a family cruise that included a range of ages from 11 - 88. We figured that NCL offered the widest range of things to do. On my own, with my mother, I'd absolutely pick HAL over NCL. In fact, it's hard to come up with a scenario that would get me back on NCL. It's not that it was bad, the cruise was fine, but the atmosphere just didn't suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewrit Posted March 28, 2012 #4 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Here is proof that comparison is odious. The cheapest cabin in the saddest ship in the Alaska fleet offers a surpassing experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted March 29, 2012 #5 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Are the itineraries very similar? Or might one to Glacier Bay and the other not? I would scrutinize the itineraries first. If they are the same, consider the style you would like. NCL is very casual and has all open dining and tends to draw a wide age range. HAL has formal night, traditional or open dining options, and a reputation for drawing a much older crowd...as noted above, your mother might feel a "young chick" on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niele da Kine Posted March 29, 2012 #6 Share Posted March 29, 2012 If it were me and my mother, I'd choose HAL. Mostly because HAL is geared towards an older crowd and is a bit more refined. Being a "very active" seventy six is good, but she's still seventy six. She will still be among younger folks on either ship, but on HAL I think she will be with folks that are still within an age group she can relate to. The age group on HAL seemed to run around fifty to seventy more or less with a sprinkling of younger folks but not too many. But choosing a cruise ship is a personal thing. Is she helping with choosing the cruise ship? Can you give her details on each one and let her help pick? Then she would be invested in the choice and not as likely to criticize but only necessary if she's that type of mom. Although for some folks, planning it is half the fun so maybe she wants to start the cruise early by helping plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roissy747 Posted March 30, 2012 Author #7 Share Posted March 30, 2012 HAL it'll be. Reserved a nice Superior Verandah Suite. Thanks, all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celyvabeach Posted March 31, 2012 #8 Share Posted March 31, 2012 You'll be glad you chose HAL. It's our favorite line and we've been on a few of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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