First time on HAL - how is it different?

[charliedalrymple]

We are relatively seasoned cruisers and have sailed primarily on Princess. Unfortunately, we have found that the noise levels in and around the atrium and at all of the shows have steadily increased over the years and have become intolerable. (Most bars and public spaces face the atrium, and it seems there is always an amplified event going on there.) We have also cruised on RC, P&O and Carnival (ugh), among others.

 

We understand that HAL is perhaps the most "sedate" of the mass-market cruise lines, which appeals to us. We have booked our first HAL cruise on Koningsdam for January 2025 (17 days from San Diego to Hawaii, including ten sea days).  

 

I'd like to hear opinions on how HAL is different from the other mass-market lines from those who have experienced both. Given the number of sea days on our upcoming cruise, I'm particularly interested in daytime activities, as well as entertainment options. (I'm aware of the "Music Walk" but don't fully understand it, and I'd also like to hear about other shows and entertainment offerings.)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

[Haljo1935]

Welcome to HAL! We have cruised HAL, Princess and Carnival with varying itineraries and seasons; there's something to like about each of them, but prefer HAL mostly for the smaller ships and quieter spaces. 

We like Music Walk but it is LOUD.

While there is plenty to do, we do think there's a lack of activities and entertainment. The ships have great start of the art theaters, but there are no Broadway type production shows.

I am happy to share the Daily programs from my 16 day San Diego HI cruise Dec 21, 2023 - Jan 6, 2024; no idea what the adjustment removing Christmas & New Years would be as that's my only time for that itinerary. It should give you an idea of what's offered.

If you want them, let me know if you want them posted here or emailed. If email, just provide. 

I love Grand Dutch Cafe - K'dam is 1 of 3 ships that has that - enjoy!

You could also search the Live reviews for HI itineraries on K'dam. 

[MISTER 67]

We are 4 Star Mariners and loved HAL but Covid hurt this line and there have been way too many cutbacks so we are sailing mainly with Princess and Celebrity. HAL IMHO still have the classiest ships with the older ships having the traditional Promenade decks which wrap around the entire vessel, the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam are still my favorite ships. I will continue to monitor CC reviews and I’m sure eventually we will sail again with HAL.

 

[rafinmd]

Here's a set of programs from my last cruise on Rotterdam which should be pretty typical of what's offered
 

https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/rotterdam_programs/

 

Roy

[Riversedge]

12 hours ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

 

I'd like to hear opinions on how HAL is different from the other mass-market lines from those who have experienced both. Given the number of sea days on our upcoming cruise, I'm particularly interested in daytime activities, as well as entertainment options. (I'm aware of the "Music Walk" but don't fully understand it, and I'd also like to hear about other shows and entertainment offerings.)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

HAL is quite laid back.  We like that but get very bored on itineraries that have a lot of sea days.  You will find on a typical day:  bingo, jewelry presentations, spa offerings, pickle ball, bridge, sometimes a port lecture or a lecture on the area you are cruising, adult coloring, casino, wine tasting, once in awhile flower arranging.  Many of their activities bring more money into the ship’s coffers.   There used to be lots more but after Covid not so much.  They tend to show the same shows year after year in World Stage so if you haven’t sailed before you might enjoy those.   My advice is enjoy the ports, the service, takes some books or cards.  Music walk is enjoyed by many but an equal part think it’s way too loud.  You will enjoy the crew…they’re the best.  Stand at the rail and watch the waves go by.  There’s not a better feeling than that.  

 

[agathasmum]

There are also board games and jigsaws in the crows nest area, and a nice library if that is your sort of thing.

 

Lunch in the dining room on sea days is a nice way to pass an hour too 🙂

[SeeSun&Sea]

Pack lightly - overnight laundry is $30 for a cloth-bagful that holds 4-5 days for a couple.

 

HAL does not have Princess's tracking system. You have to tell a waiter where you are and ask your travel companions for their location.

 

Strategically, it is often worth purchasing the lowest level of cabin within a class (A, B, V, ...) then getting Club Orange for $25/day and upgrading for free to the exact cabin you want (within that class.)

Edited March 14 by SeeSun&Sea

[rj59]

I'me Elite on Princess, so I can tell you it will be more sedate, overall (moreso on longer cruises, much less so during school breaks). HAL doesn't have production shows, just some dance shows, which can crank up the volume uncomfortably. There's no atrium, so no music there, and the only loud area will be the BB King's/Rolling Stone lounges, but those are easy to avoid. The Lido and Crow's Nest are quiet, especially in the evening. My favorite places on HAL for peace and quiet are deck 2 music venues during the day, and the outdoor promenade on deck 3, where you can sit all day or walk. That said, the explosion of cruise popularity has somewhat erased 'typical' cruise populations on every line, so I see families, loud drunks, and young people on every cruise line, including HAL and Princess now, and I see kids now on every cruise, with less devotion now to in-person schooling. 

I've been getting more and more annoyed by the Princess movie screens, blasting movies and concerts all day and night, so I find the quite Lido pool areas on HAL quite welcome, especially since they have retractable roofs. There's music piped in to the pool deck and buffet and throughout the ship, but I don't think you can escape that on any cruise line. 

[YourWorldWithBill]

The Koningsdam is also one of the three HAL ships that has a separate dining room for Club Orange. In addition to the upgrade and other benefits (early boarding), we found having that small dining room with very attentive waiters was perhaps an underappreciated benefit.

[charliedalrymple]

16 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

I am happy to share the Daily programs from my 16 day San Diego HI cruise Dec 21, 2023 - Jan 6, 2024;

 

I would love to see those, thanks!  I'll send you a private message with my email.

[charliedalrymple]

6 hours ago, Riversedge said:

My advice is enjoy the ports, the service, takes some books or cards.

 

We booked this itinerary for both the ports (never been to Hawaii) and the sea days, which sound very relaxing--although I'm not sure about ten sea days during a 17-day cruise.  We'll see whether we get bored!

[charliedalrymple]

4 hours ago, agathasmum said:

a nice library if that is your sort of thing.

 

Definitely love to read on cruises!  Otherwise, I never seem to find the time to commit to a long novel.  Oh--and I'm talking about actual books, not Kindle.  Yes, I'm a tech dinosaur!

[charliedalrymple]

3 hours ago, SeeSun&Sea said:

Club Orange for $25/day

 

Thanks for the tip.  I don't know what Club Orange is but will investigate.  Are there perks other than a free upgrate?

[charliedalrymple]

1 hour ago, rj59 said:

I've been getting more and more annoyed by the Princess movie screens, blasting movies and concerts all day and night

 

So you know what I'm talking about with Princess!  I thought maybe I was just becoming a cranky old man. Thanks for confirming what I've also noticed!  

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, rj59 said:

There's no atrium, so no music there, and the only loud area will be the BB King's/Rolling Stone lounges, but those are easy to avoid.

Of course, Koningsdam has an attrium, architexturally. It is just not the center of loud/music activity that other lines use it for. 

[charliedalrymple]

8 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said:

I'll send you a private message with my email.

 

Hi again, Roy.  I just tried to send you a message but it seems that feature is not available.

[crystalspin]

7 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

Thanks for the tip.  I don't know what Club Orange is but will investigate.  Are there perks other than a free upgrate?

You can download a PDF of the benefits from this page:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/onboard-experiences/dining/club-orange

 

CO is capacity controlled and is getting pretty popular!

[sciencewonk]

We were on a 34-day Noordam cruise from San Diego to Sydney that went to Hawaii first.  Overall I think there were about 12 sea days and I was never bored, but I'm a fairly low-key individual.

 

One thing people haven't mentioned that distinguishes HAL from other lines is that the promenade wraps around the ship.  I did laps on the promenade multiple times a day.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[REOVA]

7 minutes ago, sciencewonk said:

We were on a 34-day Noordam cruise from San Diego to Sydney that went to Hawaii first.  Overall I think there were about 12 sea days and I was never bored, but I'm a fairly low-key individual.

 

One thing people haven't mentioned that distinguishes HAL from other lines is that the promenade wraps around the ship.  I did laps on the promenade multiple times a day.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Yes on all ships, except Koningsdam's (Pinnacle Class) is narrower and no lounge chairs like on older ships.

 

Also should visit library after boarding and pick up a few books. 

[rafinmd]

36 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

Hi again, Roy.  I just tried to send you a message but it seems that feature is not available.

That does not work.  You can try rafinmdcc-info AT yahoo Dot com.

 

Roy

[AV8rix]

54 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

Thanks for the tip.  I don't know what Club Orange is but will investigate.  Are there perks other than a free upgrate?

Yes, there is a MAJOR perk -- but only on the Pinnacle-class ships.  You said in your OP that noise was one of the key factors for your becoming disenchanted with Princess.  I agree with others here that the noise level on decks 2-3 of the three Pinnacle-class ships is DEAFENING!  I actually have to get ear plugs from Guest Services to play blackjack in the casino on deck 3.

 

However -- getting back to the original subject -- there is another VERY noisy area on the Pinnacle-class ships that no one has mentioned so far.  And that is the MDR.  Don't know why the acoustics are so deficient in there.  It's not that way on the older ships.  Anyway, it is nearly impossible to converse with your tablemates in the MDR at dinnertime.  So Club Orange is DEFINITELY worth it on those ships.  The dedicated CO dining room on those ships is intimate and QUIET.  JMHO.  

Edited March 14 by AV8rix

[bajae]

51 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

Thanks for the tip.  I don't know what Club Orange is but will investigate.  Are there perks other than a free upgrate?

Fyi, club orange will only be $15 per day/per passenger for a 17 day cruise. 

[Haljo1935]

5 hours ago, charliedalrymple said:

 

I would love to see those, thanks!  I'll send you a private message with my email.

Private message feature is disabled on CC. You can send me a message RMTETrail at yahoo dot com if you want and I will send them to you.

[Haljo1935]

4 hours ago, AV8rix said:

Yes, there is a MAJOR perk -- but only on the Pinnacle-class ships... So Club Orange is DEFINITELY worth it on those ships.  The dedicated CO dining room on those ships is intimate and QUIET.  JMHO.  

And COLD on K'dam. Meat locker cold.

[charliedalrymple]

25 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Private message feature is disabled on CC. You can send me a message RMTETrail at yahoo dot com if you want and I will send them to you.

 

Haljo, I just tried to send you a message but it bounced back as undeliverable!