help us decide-hal or carnival

[cruzlvrri]

We are trying to decide between HAL Zuiderdam(e. caribbean) or Carnival Destiny( s. caribbean) in May. This is a 25th anniversary for our best friends and we are going to celebrate with them without our kids(5 teens). We have all been on carnival (4) and princess(1). We like the southern itinerary on carnival,and just did an eastern itierary in 12/04. Please help decide. THANK YOU for any advice wayne

[Himself]

I have never travelled Carnival. I have heard many nagative things about it. I know of cruisers who have done HAL and gone to Carnival and been disappointed. One veteran cruiser, late 30's, told me several years ago that Carnival was a good "Training Cruise Line."

 

Himself

[Randyk47]

Our first cruise was Carnival and it was a great experience....it hooked us on cruising. We stepped up to HAL and have really enjoyed those "dam" ships. I know, we're off on the Galaxy in less than 60 days but an opportunity opened with Galveston becoming a cruise port and we decided to get Celebrity a try but we have nothing against HAL. No doubt Carnival has changed it's product over the past few years and maybe they're not quite to booze cruise they once were with the longer cruises and more varied itineraries that they have now. I can't say we would never go back and try a cruise with Carnival though we still have the impression that they have more of a floating casino resort than the country club of HAL. A four day cruise on Carnival is actually a fun and easy way to find out if you're the least bit interested in this mode of vacationing and travel.

[DFD1]

Socio-economicially, HAL is a bit further up the ladder. More of the '"folks" are to be found on Carnival. It's a lot like comparing apples and oranges. They are just very different.

 

Carnival sells more buckets of beer than HAL. The violin players are better on HAL.

 

We're just back from 14 days on HAL's Volendam and leave this sunday on Carnival's Conquest. ......Go figure.

[grannynurse]

but a 25th is a special event. I would suggest HAL. Having not been on a Vista class ship but having read a lot of opinions, i personally might try it at a later date, but I prefer the "S" class ships for size and more traditional HAL cruising. For our 25th we took the Rotterdam transatlantic and loved it. We had our renewal of vows ceremony on board with family and friends off the coast of Iceland.

 

You may love carnival, I just don't want to chance it.

The Coward,

GN

[viennacruiser]

We have done Carnival, Celebrity and now counting the days until we try HAL...we are in our 40's and not big party people....

we had a great time on all our cruises, we were married on Carnival 4 years ago, it was a second marriage for both of us and brought the kids and friends along ...it was wonderful, the only complaint was the weather...but that can happen on any cruise.

We are again doing Carnival in Aug with the family.

If you like the itinerary and price I would say go for it and try Carnival

[Orcrone]

Wayne,

 

You've been on four Carnival cruises, so I have to assume you enjoyed them. So I don't think I'd worry about the negative comments about them. My last two cruises were on Carnival and HAL. A HAL cruise will be a lot more sedate; some find that a postive, others a negative. There was very little live music by the pool, and pool games were almost non-existant (15 minutes during a 10 day cruise). The music in the lounges were mainly strings and piano, with the exception of the Crow's nest. The band up there was mediocre, and would not take any requests. But that could have been unique to the band on the Maasdam.

 

On the other hand HAL has a lot larger space to passenger ratio, so you won't feel as crowded as you would on Carnival. The ships are tastefully decorated with much artwork (although looking at pictures of the Zuiderdam, I think it's the exception). There were not nearly as many announcements (come buy gold by the inch, yet another art auction).

 

Your kids will undoubtedly find more kids their age on Carnival. But if you're travelling during a school break I'm sure there will be plenty of kids their age.

 

Hope this helps.

[CaptData]

The Zui is a far newer ship with more amenities I think. What are you looking for. You are traveling without kids, do you still want kids then go Carnival if not go HAL. If still undecided which itin is the more special for you and your friends.

[JaniceB]

When I was booking my upcoming cruise, I was also looking at the Destiny for the Southern Caribbean itinerary. I called by TA and he said he would not sail on the Destiny. The ship had not had any refurbishments done to it. He talked me out of cruising on the Destiny, not Carnival, just that ship. Princess also does a Southern Caribbean itinerary similiar to the Destiny. I would look into other ships unless you can find out if the Destiny has had a recent face lift.

 

Good Luck

[beachprincess]

Dear Wayne,

I have been on Carnival (twice) and a little more upper class lines (Royal C. & Norwegian). If you are planning this cruise during any prime student vacation times, you are goign to run into alot more rowdy teens on Carnival then you would on a nicer line (unpleasant flashes of the drunken 20yr olds who knocked on our door 5 out of 7 nights last time we sailed Carnival because they thought our room was theirs keep playing in my mind). But at the same time, I prefered Destiny's itinerary. Carnival ships have lacked the class and sofistication of the other 2 lines I have been on, but have prevailed in their destinations. So it's a matter of your priorities.

[jhannah]

Finally remember, it's win-win either way, every cruise i have been on has been an enjoyable one no matter which line we sailed on.

And that is because of your outlook and approach to cruising. In this regard you appear to be mature beyond your years. We, too, have enjoyed every cruise and every ship we've been on. Some better than others, sure. But one's approach/attitude coupled with reasonable expectations goes a long way in making the cruise vacation memorable. Thanks for sharing your views with us.

[heyabbott]

Socio-economicially, HAL is a bit further up the ladder. More of the '"folks" are to be found on Carnival. It's a lot like comparing apples and oranges. They are just very different.

 

Carnival sells more buckets of beer than HAL. The violin players are better on HAL.

 

We're just back from 14 days on HAL's Volendam and leave this sunday on Carnival's Conquest. ......Go figure.

 

SOUNDS GREAT

 

We're going on our 1st cruise in March on the Westerdam and we were looking for a relaxed, subdued, classy cruise. No party boat. We're 43 & 40 and need some down time not spring break in Panama City. Our TA originally discussed a Princess cruise, but we selected HAL hoping for a more mature crowd, although we going the week leading up to Easter and probably encounter some spring break families. We, fortunately, will be travelling without the kids on this vacation:D

[DFD1]

Great Choice; Have a wonderful time. We sailed on the old Westerdam and can't wait to book a cruise on the New Westerdam. From everything I hear, she's a real beauty and represents HAL at it's best.

 

Be sure and check in when you get home and bring us up to date.

[ger_77]

We have been on both Carnival and Holland America (Carnival's Jubilee and Paradise, and Holland America's Zuiderdam and Prinsendam). We chose to sail on HAL's Zuiderdam to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and it was the best choice ever! We felt we were considered to be guests, rather than cutomers, and felt totally comfortable from the time we stepped on board till we had our cold, bony fngers pried off the gangway railing going home. :D

 

If you've never cruised before and have nothing to compare with, Carnival will likely be a good experience, however, you will find you're always making comparisons between ships and cruise lines after the first sailing. We plan to continue cruising with Holland America (although we're about to embark soon on our first Princess cruise) in the future and are looking forward to being welcomed back to the "Dam" ships. Let us know what you decide.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[oldnavybanker]

Who is the cruise really for? HAL is a bit more mature - there are a fair number of young on board, but they do not dominate the scene as they do on Carnival. The adults seem to have different interests - Carnival is the line for buckets of beer, and wet tee shirt and hairy chest contests, non-stop loud music in dance areas -- they cater to the party animal in all of us. HAL is just a bit more sedate and (at the risk of being called an elitist) a lot classier --

[capeboy96]

30 yo guy who has sailed on both lines- Carnival (6) and HAL (2). Definately prefer HAL. The Destiny is a huge ship with tons of people on board. HAL ships are fairly low key and I prefer the smaller size. I was nervious the first time I went on HAL as my TA refused to book me on the Maasdam stating that I was way too young for HAL. I called the line directly and was very satisfied with the entire cruise experience.

[jcrandle]

I'll throw in my $.02 worth. In recent history, we've sailed on the Carnival Conquest in March 2003 and January 2005 both Western Caribbean. We also sailed the Statendam for Alaska in June 2003 and a transatlantic on the Rotterdam in July 2004. My thoughts -

 

Ships - Obviously the Conquest is a much bigger ship than the two HA ships. That said, I'd say our favorite ship was the Rotterdam. We loved the true Promenade deck, and put in quite a few miles walking. The Conquest will also give you exercise, whether you want it or not, just due to its larger size. We prefer the smaller ships, though we enjoy the big ones OK.

 

Service staff - I can't give an edge to either line, as waiters, bar staff & stewards were friendly and competent.

 

Food - Up until the last Carnival cruise, I'd have given the nod to HA, but the dining experience on Carnival was as good or better than I've had on any line. I'm not sure if it is an abberation, or if Carnival's stated efforts to improve their food are paying off. We tend to eat more beef and lamb and had prime rib two nights on the Conquest and both servings both nights were very tender and prepared to order.

 

Night life - We are NOT party people, so I'll let someone else provide input on this.

 

Shows - Both lines have great shows with talented singers & dancers backed by professional musicians. The best group we've seen was the cast of the Rotterdam, though we have enjoyed all. Most of the show people & musicians sign on for 6 to 9 months, so they have likely rotated out, except for our last Carnival cruise.

 

Cruise Director staff - Depends on what you want. Carnival has the edge if you are into horse racing, belly flop contests, sexy legs contest, although there are plenty of contests offered on HA.

 

Shore excursions & port info. - I'd rate them even, though on our Transatlantic with HA, the presentations by naturalists and cultural commentary about the ports were outstanding. Carnival tends to just do shopping talks. Possibly because on the Caribbean itinerary tends to be more a shopping cruise.

 

Casinos - I don't do that, but you can lose your money in style on either line.

 

Fellow Pax - Expect an older crowd with HA, particularly if you are going during school break season, when more families with kids will be on Carnival. I won't do any more spring break cruises on Carnival, because all of that energy is too depressing for this old guy. That said, we are doing a Spring break on Zuiderdam this March, so I'll be able to compare the two lines better. I'd say you probably need to decide if you will be more bothered by kids running up and down the halls, or by 80 year olds complaining about how the service/ship/etc. is not like it was.

 

Upgrades - In the two HAL cruises I wasn't upgraded. In both Carnival cruises I paid for inside guaranty, and was upgraded to OV, the last one to the Spa deck, with it's floor to ceiling windows. However, I'm not sure this is statistically significant (but it was really neat).

 

In summary, when booking cruises, we consider itinerary first, price second, and cruise line/ship third. We've never had a bad cruise. To paraphrase another comparison, "the worst I've had was marginally superb."

[cruzlvrri]

Thank you to all for your insights and opinions. We have decided to go on the 5/14 E. caribbean on the ZUIDERDAM,it looks to be classier and a little more sedate which is what we were looking for to celebrate our friends 25th. Thanks again, Wayne

[Ritanita]

I've read all the comments and I think you've made a good choice. I've traveled twice on HAL and had marvelous experiences both times. Our first cruise was on the Old Rotterdam, the second on the Carnival Victory, the third on the Amsterdam...

 

On both HAL cruises, the young people... AKA teenagers seemed to enjoy themselves in spite of the fact that the ship didn't have the amenities of the Victory... the disco, to name one. On the Victory there were soooo.... many children and youngsters that I found myself spending most of my time out and about the ship either tripping over baby strollers or being forced to move from my comfy location for watching the view and reading a good book by foul-mouthed teens.

 

Also, the HAL ships are of a more "friendly" size. There is a great difference between being on-board with about 1300 people (Amsterdam) to being on-board with over 3000 people!

 

Have a wonderful anniversary!

[rothbury]

I prefer HAL. Yes, it's more laid back then Carnival so it's a matter of preference, I guess.

 

I'd like to add 2 things:

1. The ports of call on the Eastern aren't the greatest but are you there for the cruise or the ports. I didn't care for Tortola or Nassau but Half Moon Cay is without a doubt the best beach I have been on.

 

2. If you're planning a cruise in May I can tell you that HAL is selling fast and availability may be an issue by now!

[yellowking]

FOr just out and out fun.... I'd have to say Carnival.

 

Love the food.....love the entertainment ..... usually more activities ......

 

HAL is a bit more laid back...great for R & R ...

but Carnival for you now...that's a for sure.

 

Maxine

[cathryn58]

In December of 2003 we went on the Oosterdam (western Caribbean) with 5 teens, three parents and 2 grandparents. I explained to the teens BEFORE the cruise that there would be a lot of older people and not as many younger people on the cruise. We were suprised with the overwhelming number of older (quite older) folks on our ship. BUT after the shock of that sea of white as we entered the cruiseport, we REALLY had a great time. These older people are the most interesting people on earth!

 

We did not have children under foot (as I have had on Carnival). No crying to be heard on OUR ship at dinner (or any other time). The Oosterdam is a Vista Class (like Zuiderdam) and had a teen club and activities. The teen staff appoached us in the cruiseport introducing themselves and giving the kids each a CD case that had the week's activities written up on a paper "CD," one for each day. The teens that were on the ship got together and had a great time.

 

They always had a lounge chair at the pool. Sat in the front row at all of the shows they saw. Went to the movies every night. Ate plenty of Ice Cream! (at all hours) And generally had a marvelous time. Our Barman, Roy always knew where the kids were if we didn't. (They each had a "Coke" card, so that they got unlimited soft drinks). They were jelous of the slide on another ship in port. But when I explained that they might have to share that slide with 100 other (little) kids they agreed that they would rather RULE our ship than be just another kid on that ship. And one more thing -- The Oasis and Loft look PRETTY interesting!! (I think I heard AWESOME and WOW, that's where I'll be) My 17 can't wait to see if it has been completed for our April cruise on the Zuiderdam!

 

As far as the Adults. There is NO question. HAL is IT!! Carnival is for kids. Amatuers. The ART, the FOOD, THE comfort! The service! And people that surround you that appreciate those finer things in life. PLUS there ARE deals to be found on HAL! I think a verandah is the only way to go - that extra space helps with the teens too. They can sit on the verandah after their curfew and write in their jounals in "private" while still being "in" for the night.

 

Good Luck on your decision.

[JaniceB]

Cathryn58,

 

Thank you for sharing with us your experience on a HAL ship with teenagers. I am going on the Zaandam in March with 2 teenagers and my DH. They will have the Teen Oasis and Loft to hang out in. I hope our experience on HAL is as wonderful as yours was.

 

Janice

[MaryTiller]

I have sailed on both HAL and Carnival and even though they are owned by the same company, there is NO COMPARISON between them. HAL has been and will continue to be my Number One Choice for a cruise line. Value for your dollar, service, class, the type of people you meet, crew and staff, even space ratio for each person. You will NEVER feel like you were sailing on a McDonald's ship, HAL feels more like a Country Club. Carnival has Pay per View movies in your cabin... the soap and shampoo were samples like you would get in your Sunday paper where as HAL has truly worked on upgrading the cabin and cruise experience. I hope this helps. If you don't think HAL is for you, I would recommend Princess, my next favorite line in that price range.

Happy Sailing

[gammaf]

Wayne:

 

Glad you decided on taking the Zui. It is a special anniversary for the both of you and it should be on a nice ship. I am not saying that Carnival is not nice, we have sailed Carnival before but if you were to compare Carnival to HAL, I would say Carnival is Beer and Hal is Champaign. A lot nicer and not so many buckets of beer and routy passengers everywhere. There is lots to do and enjoy but with a better crowd of people. That is just our opinion and we like to party with the best. Have a great 25th.