Norwegian vs Holland America what are the main differences?

[saxon6732]

My wife & I have always cruised on Holland America. Next year the National Sweepstakes Convention we go to every year is going to be on a Norwegian cruise. For those of you who have cruised on both of these Lines, what are some of the main differences between the two? Thank you for any info you can share.

[Starflyr3]

NCL is less formal, has (more) nightlife, and will probably have a wider range of ages on board (more kids).

 

NCL is also "Freestyle", which means no fixed dining time assignments.

 

IDK, I found Holland America very boring when I was on the Maasdam, but I was also 19, and it's not really geared towards the younger set.

[MrMan]

NCL:

More specialty dining options

More dining options in general

Better entertainment (depending on ship broadway style shows Rock of Ages, Legally Blond etc)

Ship does not shut down at 10pm

Eat where when you want

Make sure to make dinner reservations if you like 90 days before cruise

Don't miss Japanese Steak house

More families and activities geared for kids

 

Holland:

More reserved

More 'traditional' cruising

Older set

More string quartets etc.

 

Either line you will have a great time

[KateQ22003]

Holland America is much more refined, upscale, and traditional than NCL. The food on HA is wonderful. The HA ships are beautiful and the service is second to none. I like to tell people that when I cruise with my husband, I choose Holland America. When I cruise with the girls and looking for a more laid back atmosphere, I cruise NCL. As you can see by my signature, the girl's trips have been abundant!

Edited March 22, 2016 by KateQ22003

[Lady Arwen]

We're on Breakaway in May and then in November, HAL's new ship, Koningsdam. NCL is lively and fun and sometimes loud. Food is fine, not as good as HAL. Entertainment is better with NCL, but you cannot compare anything to HAL's Crowsnest! I give the edge to HAL for all round cruise experience.

 

Just go with an open mind and go with the flow and you'll enjoy whichever line you choose.

[JKbermuda2014]

NCL is less formal, has (more) nightlife, and will probably have a wider range of ages on board (more kids).

 

NCL is also "Freestyle", which means no fixed dining time assignments.

 

IDK, I found Holland America very boring when I was on the Maasdam, but I was also 19, and it's not really geared towards the younger set.

 

I agree. I thought Holland America was b-o-r-I-n-g! But I was 25 at the time.. it was very much an OLDer crowd.

Love NCL's freestyle, entertainment and activities.

Food was about the same in the MDRs... but love the Specialty Dining on NCL.

Edited March 22, 2016 by JKbermuda2014

[3Fluffies]

My travel agent told me that Holland America does cater to an older, quieter crowd. I had a good experience with Norwegian, but I'm open to trying HA at some point in the future, because they have very nice looking itineraries, and I'm not at all interested in nightlife or rowdy entertainment.

[callmehalia]

I agree HAL food is better, NCL entertainment is better. I prefer HAL staff. HAL is an older crowd, more formal. NCL is laid back.

 

I was actually more bored on the NCL ship; the activities on a HAL ship are plentiful and timed so that you can be busy all day. I didn't do anything on the NCL cruise, and as I don't drink, there wasn't a lot that interested me. But I cruise for the ports and the pricing, so happy to cruise with NCL!

[CruiseReg]

.... HAL uses a 2 oz shot as a standard for drinks vs 1.5 oz on NCL :)

 

I'm in my 40's and enjoy both HAL and NCL (and longer Carnival sailings), but I'm pretty laid back and enjoy just about any time at sea :)

[bruadhin]

.... HAL uses a 2 oz shot as a standard for drinks vs 1.5 oz on NCL :)

 

I'm in my 40's and enjoy both HAL and NCL (and longer Carnival sailings), but I'm pretty laid back and enjoy just about any time at sea :)

 

Well, it takes a bit more for those older livers to notice, at least until they start to go bad. :eek:

[3Fluffies]

.... HAL uses a 2 oz shot as a standard for drinks vs 1.5 oz on NCL :)

 

I'm in my 40's and enjoy both HAL and NCL (and longer Carnival sailings), but I'm pretty laid back and enjoy just about any time at sea :)

 

HEH! That's probably something a lot of people would find pretty useful to know, LOL! Now if we can find someone who can identify the various regular portion sizes for food items on each cruise line, we'll really have some valuable intelligence!

[Cruiser Bruiser]

My wife & I have always cruised on Holland America. Next year the National Sweepstakes Convention we go to every year is going to be on a Norwegian cruise. For those of you who have cruised on both of these Lines, what are some of the main differences between the two? Thank you for any info you can share.

 

Hello, welcome to the NCL board. The answer to your question depends very much on the ship, the itinerary, and the time of your sailing.

 

Any ship other than the four mega ships ( ie. Breakaway, Getaway, Epic and Escape) will feel surprisingly similar to a HAL ship. Most have a forward observation lounge, a wrap around promenade, and a central main pool with adjacent buffet. The decor on NCL is more exuberant. And HAL's covered Lido Pool doesn't exist on NCL. If it's cold and rainy, forget using the pool.

 

Outside of vacation periods, the average age on NCL can be surprisingly high. If you sail during vacation periods, expect more kids than you will ever see on HAL. Generally NCL ships are more crowded.

 

That said, there are many more specialty restaurants on NCL, but Cagney's compares with Pinnacle Grill, and La Cucina compares with Canaletto. Shows on NCL might be better, but the shows I saw last month on Nieuw Amsterdam last month were just as good.

 

I like to sail both lines, so hopefully you will try NCL and be assured of a good time.

[littlelulu01]

I've not sailed mega ships but differences between NCL non mega and our only HAL sailing aboard Zuderdam: nightly theater entertainment on NCL far superior. Food quality about the same but on HAL they really encouraged sharing a table and with NCL it is assumed you don't want to share a table unless you request it.

 

Pool area midship much nicer on Hal. Padded loungers and covered pool. Also not the disco party music that they play on NCL. Onboard music in crows nest was excellent. I'd pay to see the guy they had one evening whereas on NCL I've mostly seen duo groups from the Philippines who probably wouldn't make it to a second round on American idol. On NCL the equivalent to crows nest late night they have dj playing the same 15 dance party songs that even my young adult kids tired of after the first or second night.

 

I've not sailed NCL Caribbean but in Alaska and Europe the dance party scene was not well attended given the lack of younger passengers onboard. Wish they would change that for sailings that aren't attracting a young party crowd.

 

Hal had Much less smoking and smoke smell in public areas. The promenade on Hal has a more classic ship feel with teak decking and teak deck chairs.

 

I've found the overall staff much nicer and ships officers more visible on NCL. The staff on NCL have always gone out of their way to get to know us and make our vacations memorable.

 

NCL didn't seem to have as much hard sell on board but to some degree both do it. Spa on NCL was far superior to Hal but that could depend on the ship.

[lparks1]

My wife & I have always cruised on Holland America. Next year the National Sweepstakes Convention we go to every year is going to be on a Norwegian cruise. For those of you who have cruised on both of these Lines, what are some of the main differences between the two? Thank you for any info you can share.

Hi Alan...I'm a sweeper also. I attened the Boston convention and now I'm planning to for. Las Vegas....

I read everyone's reply and they are correct...

 

Hope to see you in Vegs.

 

Laronda

[4774Papa]

HAL's smoking policy allows smoking on balconies. That is a bummer.

[4cats1bird]

Not anymore.

[ColinIllinois]

Not anymore.

 

 

Welcome to the forum. Why are you bumping up a two year old thread for that comment? This isn't HAL.

[4cats1bird]

Welcome to the forum. Why are you bumping up a two year old thread for that comment? This isn't HAL.

 

Not bumping it, just commenting that you cannot smoke on HAL balconies anymore.

[4774Papa]

More smokers on HAL?

 

HAL was about the last line to eliminate smoking on balconies.

 

We were on the bus in Denali, Alaska when it picked up 40 or so persons for the tour that were HAL passengers. No smoking was allowed on the bus, but you could smell the sick odor of cigarette smoke on the clothes of the passengers when they came on board the bus.

 

I know the policy has changed on HAL, but I wonder if they don't have a lot of smokers on their cruises?

[newmexicoNita]

My wife & I have always cruised on Holland America. Next year the National Sweepstakes Convention we go to every year is going to be on a Norwegian cruise. For those of you who have cruised on both of these Lines, what are some of the main differences between the two? Thank you for any info you can share.

As a good friend of mine put it when we were sailing together NCL just has more energy. I will add the crew is a little more formal on HAL so I prefer the more relaxed atmosphere on NCL. We also like the entertainment on NCL better and the casino.

 

 

Now the more positive things about HAL: larger cabins; better food though not as many choices and the ships are prettier I thing. Of course NCL has a better mixture of ages than HAL, which can be a positive or negative, depending on what you like.

[newmexicoNita]

I agree HAL food is better, NCL entertainment is better. I prefer HAL staff. HAL is an older crowd, more formal. NCL is laid back.

 

I was actually more bored on the NCL ship; the activities on a HAL ship are plentiful and timed so that you can be busy all day. I didn't do anything on the NCL cruise, and as I don't drink, there wasn't a lot that interested me. But I cruise for the ports and the pricing, so happy to cruise with NCL!

wow, other than some great port talks we have found HAL boring with little to do; even the trivia is boring. I guess it is all in what interests you. both ships have movies from time to time, NCL has a lot going on in the atrium most of the time. HAL has a little, but we didn't find that much. We do love the posts, both times we sailed HAL>

I see this is a 2 year old posting, maybe that is why some of the responses are a little different from what I think when I think HAL versus NCL. As for smoking, we actually found more smokers on HAL than NCL>

Edited March 10, 2018 by newmexicoNita

[recruiter 28]

HAL offers free room service. They also have Americas Test Kitchen classes, as well as a Catholic priest on board. They now offer open dining. We have sailed both and on NCL we miss the covered pool in bad weather and the Crows Nest. Having sailed NCL, HAL, Royal, and Celebrity, we enjoy each for their uniqueness. Our booking decision is made on the ports and value.

[Vegas58]

HAL may have an older crowd, but the service, entertainment and food are exponentially better than NCL. Just finished an NCL cruise for the first time, and after only cruising on HAL, I found NCL to be a dissapointment.

I’m no a foodie by any means. I get most my meals out of a vending machine at work, but the food on NCL was terrible. Not all of it, but most of the food was really aweful, and that was a consensus among the people we met. I never had one bad meal on an HAL cruise.

On HAL they will provide meal options that reflect the ports you are visiting, but not so much NCL. Plus the variety and quality of food on HAL is so much better. I know I go on about the food here, but the food is key to the cruise experience.

While the “freestyle” dining seems to be why people like NCL, you can get the same freestyle dining on HAL plus formal dining as well.

I thought the talent and entertainment were also much better on HAL. I remember when we visited Australia, HAL brought on board a diggereedoo musician and builder as part of the entertainment. They really prep you better on the cities you will be visiting.

I still realize that taking a cruise, not matter on HAL or NCL is a good experience, but dollar for dollar, HAL is much better choice from my experience.

[Shoppie124]

My only cruise was on a HAL ship and aside from the blues club, it was very boring. No one was ever on deck. I swear the ship was half empty because I kept running into the same people. Food was great! Staff was awesome. Drinks were even better.

 

 

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[pspercy]

. . . . . Just finished an NCL cruise for the first time, and after only cruising on HAL, I found NCL to be a dissapointment.

I’m no a foodie by any means. I get most my meals out of a vending machine at work, but the food on NCL was terrible. Not all of it, but most of the food was really . . . . .

 

Which NCL ship ?