Hal cruise after several Celebrity cruises

[bebe08]

We’ve just returned from an enjoyable 10 day New England cruise aboard the HAL Zaandam.  The last time we cruised HAL was 2012 (was actually our first cruise ever).  After doing several Celebrity cruises we returned to HAL because of a unique itinerary…not because of any issues with X.  All cruises have been in a balcony cabin.

 

Both lines have their pros and cons.  Below is what we felt were some of the key differences/highlights of each:

 

HAL

-        Love that bathroom has a full size tub – don’t need to turn into a pretzel to shave your legs

-        Really enjoyed having the navigator app – I understand X is rolling out something similar but haven’t experienced it yet

-        Piano Bars – there were 2 Piano bars on the ship and we really enjoyed them both

-        Main dining room – feels much less crowded, tables for 2 are not as close together.  The room itself is beautifully decorated

-        Loved the dive-in restaurant for lunch by the pool

-        Lido pool has retractable roof

 

Celebrity

-        Staterooms are brighter and have more outlets

-        Unlimited internet can be shared between users (as long as not logged on at the same time)

-        More variety of food and slightly better quality (based on buffet and main dining room experiences)

-        Café El Baccio – one of our favour venues.  Explorations Café on HAL is similar but doesn’t have the desserts (they do have a few selections of biscotti), or table service

 

Trying HAL again made us realize we won’t book exclusively with Celebrity in future, and will do our homework to compare before booking.  Bottom line is we like both lines, and would sail on either given the right price and itinerary.  We did book another HAL cruise while on board…a 14 night South America cruise which has better pricing than a comparable X cruise, and a slightly better itinerary.

 

I am posting this on both HAL and Celebrity boards and happy to answer any questions about our experience.

[cruisingnewtoit]

theOur 1st cruise was on HAL (last year) and we just sailed on the Summit for our 2nd cruise this year.

 

Definitely agree Celebrity gets the win on variety for food. I missed HAL brick oven pizza. Celebrity has amazing veggie burgers. I had to ask my DH if the burger was real meat because it was so good..I haven't eaten red meat in 13 years.

 

I thought the food tasted better on HAL but I ordered off their vegan menu. My Omni husband thought the lines were comparable.

 

We did think the wine steward was much better on X.

 

We loved our room steward on HAL. He was on point. The one on X was overwhelmed & did not clean that great.

 

I wish HAL would improve their internet. The costs are high for the amount of data you get.

[Turtles06]

17 minutes ago, cruisingnewtoit said:

I wish HAL would improve their internet. The costs are high for the amount of data you get.

 

We took our first HAL cruise last summer, after several cruises on Celebrity.  HAL has switched over internet pricing from minutes to unlimited plans.  And, as on X, any number of people/devices can share a one-device package, as long as only one device is logged on at a time.

 

 

[Cruise Raider]

We are considering a HAL sailing for next year after a long absence from them.  We love Celebrity but at the OP, we really like the HAL itinerary ... just fits into our schedule so perfectly.  

I still have a little research to do as my last HAL sailing was over a decade ago.  But, glad to hear it was enjoyable.  Sure wish Celebrity would have this same itinerary, but they don't so might need to venture a bit!!  

[George C]

Both lines are similar, I do like piano bar on hal , much perfer celebrity buffet, neither is really great for entertainment nothing late . I really like suite perks on celebrity, hal gives you almost nothing.

[quack2]

Give me Holland's teak walking track on the promenade deck.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

We went in with low expectations after reading opposition to changed taking place, such as the crow's nest activities, and removal of the libraries, labeled as cutbacks.  What I found was a line in transition, especially with live music venues, and a focus on destination experience, which benefits us.  

 

I agree with most of the OP's comparison.  Though, the food on our recent Eclipse cruise took a serious downturn.  It is the only ship with a sudden surge of negative reviews, so hopefully a one off.

[Ken the cruiser]

How was the evening entertainment in the Zaandam main theater and did HAL offer any lectures on sea days like X does? Also, did HAL have any fun interactive game shows like X offers between their early and late evening shows outside the main theater?

[jkgourmet]

We would LOVE to return to HAL.  For many reasons, but Especially since X is going in the direction of a two tier class system by taking significant amounts of public space and restricting it to upper class passengers.

 

But we are price sensitive.  We sail in the cheap seats.  When X includes an alcohol package and gratuities, I can't find any other pricing that comes close.  😞   (And we don't give a rip about internet.  Get all we need in port with Wi-Fi or 4g)

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for posting you comments.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Totally agree with in port connection. I also agree about the excellent perks with X also Princess. We have Carnival stock. So the extra OBC on HAL is nice. Had Royal stock to get OBC on Royal & X but you do not get if if yo already have OBC. So we sold it. Carnival stock was a great choice. As for food. Have not cruised on HAL for many years and will try again. Out of many cruise lines. Royal still tops with the food for us. Reading about the food on HAL, sounds like it is great also.

[wwcruisers]

18 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

We are considering a HAL sailing for next year after a long absence from them.  We love Celebrity but at the OP, we really like the HAL itinerary ... just fits into our schedule so perfectly.  

I still have a little research to do as my last HAL sailing was over a decade ago.  But, glad to hear it was enjoyable.  Sure wish Celebrity would have this same itinerary, but they don't so might need to venture a bit!!  

 

Hey there, Raider! We also are considering HAL -- mainly for their presence here on the 'left coast'. It's like pulling teeth to even find a good Pacific Coastal itinerary anymore, on X. Now that HAL has finally come into the 21st Century and banned balcony smoking, there are near the top of the 'possibles' list -- as we consider alternatives to X.

Edited May 7, 2019 by wwcruisers

[Cruise Raider]

30 minutes ago, wwcruisers said:

 

Hey there, Raider! We also are considering HAL -- mainly for their presence here on the 'left coast'. It's like pulling teeth to even find a good Pacific Coastal itinerary anymore, on X. Now that HAL has finally come into the 21st Century and banned balcony smoking, there are near the top of the 'possibles' list -- as we consider alternatives to X.

 

Hey Suzanne ... 

We were having the same problem with X ... love everything about X, but they've abandoned us over here on the west coast!!  

I just got off the phone booking an Alaska sailing with HAL for next year ... for a big birthday of mine.  It's on the Koningsdam, which is one of their newer ships.  Looks like it will be amazing.  It is kind of late in the year for Alaska but that is where my birthday falls ... so we're going for it!  We are then going to take a Princess ship back down to SF on the same day we disembark.  No problem with the PVSA because we are originally starting out in Vancouver.  I would just stay on that Princess ship but they are not including Glacier Bay and that place is so awesome!!   

BTW, HAL is having their $1 deposit day today only ... plus early booking bonuses of the Signature Beverage Package + a dinner at the Pinnacle Grill.  Key is, you don't even have to book a balcony cabin to get in on that.  As much as I'd like to have a balcony, we are up where we can be outside in a flash.  The price (with the perks) was great and you can't beat that $1 deposit day.  It's been a rather expensive month for us so that fit into my plans just perfectly.  

 

 

[cruisingnewtoit]

20 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

We took our first HAL cruise last summer, after several cruises on Celebrity.  HAL has switched over internet pricing from minutes to unlimited plans.  And, as on X, any number of people/devices can share a one-device package, as long as only one device is logged on at a time.

 

 

That's awesome about the internet. We didn't use the internet because of the price and their data plans. Our cell phones data plans worked fine because we were in Alaska. Internet isn't a deal breaker but it is nice.

[cruisingnewtoit]

I wanted to add on HAL you cannot use your OBC until you are on the ship.

 

I love that on X use can use your OBC to pay for excursions before you sail.

[Miaminice]

We returned from our first cruise with HAL Westerdam a week or so ago (Japan). We also booked with HAL because of the better itinerary and better price. 

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and we would cruise with HAL again for an itinerary. However, HAL would not become our first choice. While we felt the service and quality is on one level with Celebrity, we missed the open and airy spaces of a Celebrity ship. Everything seemed small and confined to us.

 

Also we missed the many outside spaces... no pleasant outside dining like Oceanview‘s outside seating, no Oceanview or Sunset Bar - so little connection with the ocean.

 

Another thing was the opening hours... buffet and MDR close early and we were asked for our last order in a bar at 9.45pm. We are no party people, but the day ended after dinner on Westerdam.

[bebe08]

10 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

How was the evening entertainment in the Zaandam main theater and did HAL offer any lectures on sea days like X does? Also, did HAL have any fun interactive game shows like X offers between their early and late evening shows outside the main theater?

We  went to 3 of the main theater shows - they were all guest entertainers and were very good..definitely on par with Celebrity. 

There were lectures and interactive games but we didn't participate so can't comment on that.  There is definitely alternative entertainment available before/during/after the main theater shows.  Considering the Zaandam is a smaller ship, we were actually surprised that the variety of entertainment seemed to at least equal and on same days surpass what Celebrity offers on bigger ships.  

[cangelmd]

Have never done a HAL cruise, only major mass market line we haven't done at least once.

 

What is the age comparison between the 2 lines, say on a 7 day Alaska, and what is the HAL smoking policy now?

 

To the OP, what was the better South American itinerary that led you to choose HAL? I know that is a lazy question, but there it is.

[bebe08]

1 minute ago, cangelmd said:

Have never done a HAL cruise, only major mass market line we haven't done at least once.

 

What is the age comparison between the 2 lines, say on a 7 day Alaska, and what is the HAL smoking policy now?

 

To the OP, what was the better South American itinerary that led you to choose HAL? I know that is a lazy question, but there it is.

South American itinerary with HAL includes Falkland Islands, X doesn't.

I actually posted  here before we left to get some input as I was surprised the HAL cruise was a fair bit cheaper and wondered why...from the responses I got seems like Falkland Islands gave HAL the edge, so with the cheaper price it was a no brainer for us.  We were also able to book during HALs Early Booking Bonus which gives us the beverage package 🙂  One of the reasons we became loyal to X was because of the beverage package...which HAL didn't used to offer.

 FYI both itineraries are Feb 2021 sailings and don't include Antarctica.  

[jkgourmet]

3 hours ago, cruisingnewtoit said:

I wanted to add on HAL you cannot use your OBC until you are on the ship.

 

I love that on X use can use your OBC to pay for excursions before you sail.

 

only if X has given you the OBC.  If it's coming from a TA, you don't get it until you board (but it's usually refundable, which is one of my favourite things about TA OBC).

[bEwAbG]

1 hour ago, cangelmd said:

What is the age comparison between the 2 lines, say on a 7 day Alaska, and what is the HAL smoking policy now?

 

I did a 7-day Alaska last May, and there was a range of ages.  I usually sail X during non-peak times and the age comparison was the same: mainly 50s and above but a mix of younger ages, too (I'm mid-40s), including some families with children.  I found the demographics very similar to X overall.  

 

HAL no longer allows smoking on balconies.  They were the last major cruise line to stop that.  Some of their ships still allow smoking in the casino but some of them do not.  The ones that do not are: Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, so there is no place inside on those where smoking is allowed.  Their two newest ships do allow smoking in the casino, which is unfortunate to me.  I sailed Nieuw Amsterdam twice in the past year and was really pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.  It's comparable to the Celebrity M-Class in size, and I found the service on HAL to be better.

[bebe08]

On the Zaandam smoking was allowed in the casino, but there were a few evenings where the casino was "smoke-free", and it was noted in the When and Where.  

[Stateroom_Sailor]

1 hour ago, cangelmd said:

What is the age comparison between the 2 lines, say on a 7 day Alaska, and what is the HAL smoking policy now?

 

We had a similar experience in May.  Almost exactly the same demographic in general, active baby boomers, often on their first cruise.  We actually noticed that the Asians onboard leaned 10 - 20 years younger, closer to Gen X.  More international passengers overall, with many from Australia and the UK. 

[mafig]

I was looking for the cruises that include the beverage package on HAL, but I didn't see any.  Are they on just a few cruises?  Or are they like Princess, where when they offer a free beverage package it is for sailings far into the future.  (We are looking at December 2019 Holiday sailings)

[Cruise Raider]

44 minutes ago, mafig said:

I was looking for the cruises that include the beverage package on HAL, but I didn't see any.  Are they on just a few cruises?  Or are they like Princess, where when they offer a free beverage package it is for sailings far into the future.  (We are looking at December 2019 Holiday sailings)

 

The sailings that were offering the beverage package are in the future.  It is actually part of the 'early booking bonus' ... so not sure of the dates but it stands to reason they wouldn't be cruises that are right around the corner.....so it looks like the same as how Princess offers them.  The only thing that seems different is that you don't have to book a balcony or higher to take advantage of the promo.   

Oh, and it does expire at the end of the month.