Celebrity VS Holland America

[Kingofcool1947]

I think we will nix HAL due to its policy allowing cigarettes and VAP on board. smoking is restricted on Celebrity ships and as a non smoker I really cannot deal with the smell or smoke nor can my DH On celebrity no smoking allowed inside the ship even in the casino. I would assume in the Future All cruise lines will do the same Until then no HAL

 

Are you saying the casino is totally non-smoking on Celebrity ship's? That's great, if indeed true. :)

I don't remember that when I sailed with Celebrity a few years ago.

Edited April 27, 2017 by Kingofcool1947

[Cruise Junky]

Are you saying the casino is totally non-smoking on Celebrity ship's? That's great, if indeed true. :)

 

Yes, definitely. It's awesome

[Host Jazzbeau]

Celebrity is the Gold Standard for smoking policies. Even after the latest change, HAL is at the back of the pack.

[shipshape sam]

We did a Caribbean HAL and I thought it was similar to Celebrity. It was our second on HAL and thus have no real status. First was to Alaska, but have no comparison as we have not sailed Celebrity in Alaska. Sailed Princess before HAL.

 

Biggest complaint on our sailing was having to ask for a Manager in Speciality dining restaurant to request the bar staff go to another bar/where ever to get wine we had been enjoying elsewhere. Manager jumped on it and the first 2 glasses were free! He, at least, passed his 'moment of truth' with us. Better yet would have been to empower wait/bar staff. They could have told us they did not have it at that location, BUT they would go get some! That way they would get credit for the extra effort!

 

Best part was Half Moon Cay, my personal favorite private island I have ever been to. I loved sitting up on the high bluff at the bar in the shade with a slight breeze and with a beer looking at the beautiful half moon cay beach with our friends!

[Cruise a holic]

Are you saying the casino is totally non-smoking on Celebrity ship's? That's great, if indeed true. :)

I don't remember that when I sailed with Celebrity a few years ago.

 

Yes. It is a pleasure not to have to deal with second hand smoke.

[rain_bowbrite]

Best part was Half Moon Cay, my personal favorite private island I have ever been to. I loved sitting up on the high bluff at the bar in the shade with a slight breeze and with a beer looking at the beautiful half moon cay beach with our friends!

 

Absolutely agree. HMC is just gorgeous...and that powder white sand...

[signora]

Was on the Celebrity Summit in May 2016 and on the HAL Veendam in 2014 and Nordam in 2015. Enjoyed all three cruises but preferred HAL. The Celebrity ship had excellent food, perhaps better than HAL. But the HAL ships had better libraries - large attractive rooms with access to a coffee bar. The library in the Summit was a small room in an obscure location. Also the HAL ships had more varied and interesting daily activities, including movies with free popcorn.

 

Totally agree but we still prefer Celebrity: maybe it's the style of the ships, or the demographics. But the obstructed ocean view we took on Maasdam for the Eastern Canada cruise was huge compared to Summit's balcony cabin. So do your pro's and con's...

[aka~pella]

Celebrity is the Gold Standard for smoking policies. Even after the latest change, HAL is at the back of the pack.

 

I wonder whether HAL is thinking ahead to the Millenials? Many younger people are vaping as opposed to smoking. It seems to me that they're trying to create a new image of their brand, especially given the new tech on Koningsdam as well as their music walk.

[4774Papa]

This is on their website. Looks like it's allowed in staterooms but not on balconies.

 

Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as smoking areas.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard%20Life&contentMenu=Onboard%20Policies&contentSubMenu=Is%20Smoking%20Allowed%20On%20Board%3F

 

Just another reason to skip HAL. When we boarded the Tundra tour at Denali, Alaska about 40 HAL passengers got on the bus. They brought in the awful odor of cigarette smoke on their clothes. It was bad.

 

I know they stopped smoking on balconies, but they still allow this and smoking in the casino.

Also, every time I check HAL's prices (I book early) they tend to be high. I know HAL can offer great discounts close to the cruise date, but that just never works for us.

 

We still prefer Celebrity or RCI and sometimes NCL.

[ohioelk]

This is from the above link. E-cigs are NOT permitted in staterooms, they are treated like any other smoking material.

 

To better align with guest wishes and health concerns, Holland America Line will implement a new smoking policy beginning in January 2017. Please see below for details.

Smoking Policy beginning January 2017:

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On Prinsendam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is allowed on the port side only. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
  
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
  
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
  
• Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam and Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.
  

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are not permitted in staterooms or in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

[MVPinBoynton]

This is from the above link. E-cigs are NOT permitted in staterooms, they are treated like any other smoking material.

 

To better align with guest wishes and health concerns, Holland America Line will implement a new smoking policy beginning in January 2017. Please see below for details.

Smoking Policy beginning January 2017:

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On Prinsendam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is allowed on the port side only. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
  
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
  
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
  
• Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam and Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.
  

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are not permitted in staterooms or in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

 

Great! Thanks for that update.

[phoenix_dream]

My main reason for never trying HAL is the smoking policy. I am glad they eliminated the balcony smoking, but will not sail any line that allows smoking anywhere inside. The time for that has long since passed. Why anyone would allow themselves to be subjected to the carcinogens in other people's smoke is beyond me (ok, why anyone still smokes is also beyond me but as long as I don't have to breathe it, it's their funeral so to speak)

 

If anyone thinks HAL skews high, I dare you to try a 14 night Caribbean on Celebrity. I am late 60's myself, and have sailed several of these in the past few years. On most of them I felt like the baby sister of the bunch. Shorter cruises are different, with an average age a couple decades younger.

[Hlitner]

My main reason for never trying HAL is the smoking policy. I am glad they eliminated the balcony smoking, but will not sail any line that allows smoking anywhere inside. The time for that has long since passed. Why anyone would allow themselves to be subjected to the carcinogens in other people's smoke is beyond me (ok, why anyone still smokes is also beyond me but as long as I don't have to breathe it, it's their funeral so to speak)

 

If anyone thinks HAL skews high, I dare you to try a 14 night Caribbean on Celebrity. I am late 60's myself, and have sailed several of these in the past few years. On most of them I felt like the baby sister of the bunch. Shorter cruises are different, with an average age a couple decades younger.

 

We would also like to avoid any cruise line that allows smoking indoors and even outdoors. But this does not exist. And if you want to cruise on a line that has zero indoor smoking you are very limited (primarily to Celebrity). We are Elite Plus on Celebrity but have recently cut-back (big time) our Celebrity bookings because of the downward spiral of that line under the mis-management of their current CEO and related team. As to the age on longer Celebrity cruises (there really are not too many) it is not much different then long cruises on HAL. When we do longer HAL cruises we are used to being one of the dozen or so cruisers awake after 11pm. On last year's Voyage of the Vikings cruise the only late night entertainment was in the piano bar where Barry from Boston was the boss :). Around 11:30 Barry used to do the Sesame Street song for a number such as "8" which represented the number or cruisers remaining in the bar. And on that 38 days cruise there were 3 couples who were regularly in Barry's bar until close. So on most nights there were only 1 or 2 other couples (or perhaps a single) awake past 11. Very sad.

 

I will admit that night life on Celebrity is fantastic compared to HAL! But then again, night life in a morgue is usually fantastic compared to HAL...if you consider nightlife after 10pm. If you simply follow this HAL blog it is amazing how many consider a movie the best entertainment on cruise. Why would I go to a movie on a cruise that I can easily see in my own home theater.

 

Hank

[elainec]

We've cruised on Celebrity, HAL, Oceania, RC, Norwegian, Disney and others. Latest was on HAL's newer ship the Koningsdam. It had a totally different feel. Much more modern, but had a major design flaw in my opinion. There was an open curved stairwell between the casino on deck three (I think) down to deck two where they had the Lincoln Center concert area and a piano bar. We loved the incredible musicians at Lincoln Center, but you had to hold a cloth over your face because of all the smoke coming down the stairs. Passengers definitely seemed oldest on HAL. (This was a 10-day cruise in December.) A lot of scooters, wheelchairs and walkers were parked in front of the dining room doors. Itinerary and price were good. Favorite was Oceania. Loved the smaller ships and well-traveled people who seemed to be more active. Will be back to Celebrity again this fall for Canada/New England. Can't wait to see the Summit after it's refurbishment.

[Cruise a holic]

We would also like to avoid any cruise line that allows smoking indoors and even outdoors. But this does not exist. And if you want to cruise on a line that has zero indoor smoking you are very limited (primarily to Celebrity). We are Elite Plus on Celebrity but have recently cut-back (big time) our Celebrity bookings because of the downward spiral of that line under the mis-management of their current CEO and related team. As to the age on longer Celebrity cruises (there really are not too many) it is not much different then long cruises on HAL. When we do longer HAL cruises we are used to being one of the dozen or so cruisers awake after 11pm. On last year's Voyage of the Vikings cruise the only late night entertainment was in the piano bar where Barry from Boston was the boss :). Around 11:30 Barry used to do the Sesame Street song for a number such as "8" which represented the number or cruisers remaining in the bar. And on that 38 days cruise there were 3 couples who were regularly in Barry's bar until close. So on most nights there were only 1 or 2 other couples (or perhaps a single) awake past 11. Very sad.

 

I will admit that night life on Celebrity is fantastic compared to HAL! But then again, night life in a morgue is usually fantastic compared to HAL...if you consider nightlife after 10pm. If you simply follow this HAL blog it is amazing how many consider a movie the best entertainment on cruise. Why would I go to a movie on a cruise that I can easily see in my own home theater.

 

Hank

Having sailed on over 30 Celebrity cruises we have always enjoyed them. iMO service excellent, food in main dining room and luminae ok, but very good in specialty restaurants . Our favorite is the silhouette and reflection but enjoy the others. Looking foward to the edge. However iMO the entertainment on Royal beats all other lines. Love Celebrity ‘s limited announcements and smoking policy. Based on what I have heard about HAL, doesn’t sound like it is for me.

[tallnthensome]

Try sailing a HAL Baltic to Russia when you and your wife are in your 20's ...... We were the youngest people aboard by 40 years. Some people wanted to talk to us just because they were curious who we were . Others were down right mean to us and others wouldn't even sit with us at dinner .......

[BosoxI]

Try sailing a HAL Baltic to Russia when you and your wife are in your 20's ...... We were the youngest people aboard by 40 years. Some people wanted to talk to us just because they were curious who we were . Others were down right mean to us and others wouldn't even sit with us at dinner .......

 

Your table manners must really be atrocious:D:D:D

[Denny01]

I agree that some things have changed on Celebrity and it is noticed by those of us who have cruised on the Line a great deal, but I still find it a major step above all of the other standard (non-all Enclusive Lines) Lines. But for those who are considering trying Celebrity for the first time, this isn’t an issue at all.

 

I’m 70+, but do not enjoy the Lines that are favored by the older crowd, excepting that cruising in itself is used more by retirees. And Lines that allow smoking inside and especailly in common areas such as the Casino are a No Go....for me. One Line tried the ‘oh, we restrict Casino smoking to one side’. Yeah, that works as well as the old days when they put non-smokers two tables away from the smoking.

 

We all remember our first cruise and our first cruise on our current favorite Line. We then cruise over and over, and start seeing ‘issues’. Most are legit, but we Are talking about a fantastic vacation experience.

 

And if we are tiring of a Line, time to move on. There are many choices.

 

Den

[GateGuardian]

I've done a few S class ships and was on the Eurodam a couple of times. Here's what I liked:

 

 

I like the afternoon tea on HAL - It's not AMAZING, but it's a nice activity to attend at 3:30 every day.

I like their little station they set outside of the MDR on HAL that hands out mints.

I find that hallways are empty after 8pm on HAL.

I liked the buffet better on HAL, than Celebrity.

I like how the tables for 2 on HAL in the MDR are not crammed close together like Celebrity's MDR

 

I like Celebrity's theatre shows more, but I enjoyed HAL's smaller shows like Lincoln Center, Billboard, and BB Kings

 

I like how Celebrity offers better promos (i.e. drink package, internet)

I like the grass on the S-Class

I like the specialty restaurants better on Celebrity than HAL

I like the Casino better on Celebrity.

I like the pool on Celebrity better.

[Tarwood3]

I agree with a previous post...the OP should stay in a suite if they normally stay in a suite on X. We have done several X cruises and only one HA; , which was on the Noordam around Australia. While the ship itself is so freaking ugly...Ithink its the most outdated of any of the ships, there are a lot more ships in their fleet which are more modern, light colors etc. I was very nervous about trying HAL, but their itinerary was what we were looking for , when we were looking for. We had a Neptune Suite...aft corner. Room was very spacious, huge wraparound balcony. Our room steward was fantastic!!! Unlimited laundry was amazing. Felt like they couldn’t do enough for us to ensure our happiness. We ate most of our dinners in the MDR ...we did fixed time as I like the guaranty of table for 2 and same waiter. OUr food was amazing every night. I thought it was much better than X and many meals much better than Silversea which we do a lot. I loved the Neptune Lounge, exclusive for suite guests. The concierge staff in there were amazing . We ate all our breakfasts in there and snacks were available all day. Really nice intimate space. Since you dont get drinks included as a suite guest, which was fine. HAL does (or at least on our cruise) Happy Hours from 4-5p in all bars and again from 9-10p in all bars and ...its 2 for 1 drinks. And the prices are very reasonable unlike X if you buy an individual drink. The bars and lounges were packed, so even though the crowd skews a bit older, they were definitely a fun crowd! We are 45 and 50 for reference...but made plenty of friends near our ages... It really was a spectacular cruise and the few ship tours we did were fantastic as well. I really feel like HAL offers a a very good value, great prices and better itineraries than X. We will consider them again in the future, but on a ship that is either newer or refurbished. Oh, and regarding smoking...it wasnt an issue. Most of the smokers sat at the aft pool which is a big area and the smoke never blew my way and didnt hear anyone complaining about it. It was a non issue. We rarely do shows at night or casino, so cant really comment there.