It would be my first cruise on HAL...

[Jean Lafitte]

...aboard the NOORDAM, sailing from New York, for 11 days (March 10th sailing, 2007). I know the demographic on HAL skews older....I am 38 and my travelling companion is 37. I've sailed with Princess before - for her, it would be her first cruise. Would our fellow passengers be too old for us? Would the atmospher be boring for us? What's IS the atmosphere like? How old is everyone around this message board? Anyone close to our age sail HAL regularly?

 

For the record, we are NOT looking for a party ship, far from it, however, I don't want to be sailing on a floating nursing home (no offense meant to anyone here at all who is a HAL regular, but don't know how else to get my point across clearly).

 

What do people think? Are we too young for HAL?:confused:

[deweydjb]

I am taking my first cruise on HAL next November on the Westerdam. The reason I chose HAL was that it is a smaller, more intimate ship. I am 41 and my companion is 36. I think the atmosphere on HAL is supposed to be changing. I am not a really party type of guy, I prefer pianos and cocktails to nightclubs so I think I will fit in just fine. But reading the boards makes me feel that HAL attracts all kinds of people. I am really looking forward to it.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

[quote name=Jean Lafitte

 

What do people think? Are we too young for HAL?:confused:

 

Bon Soir Monsieur Lafitte:

 

When I read your name, it makes me think of the old "Capn' Crunch" TV commercials of my childhood. Do you remember, or are you too young? ;)

 

There are three regular HAL posters here named Sheebah, LolaWiz, and AlohaPride. Two of them have already sailed HAL a couple of times, and one (AlohaPride) is about to embark on her first cruise, also Noordam from New York (in December.) They are all three in their twenties, and feel that HAL is a good choice for them, their husbands, and/or their extended families.

 

Me? I'm an old hag of 47, and my husband is a month older than I am, which makes him an old coot. We've done one HAL cruise, and we're planning another for December.

 

Age is a state of mind.:)

 

Karin

[fann1sh]

Hi - did my first HAL cruise when I was a couple years younger than you. (That was 15 years ago) At that time, I was perfectly comfortable - I always managed to connect with someone my age (I'm single) But, the demographic of HAL is shifting to younger cruisers, especially with the new Vista ships. Noordam is one of them.

 

HAL wants cruisers like you - you're their new target. But, do expect a lot of your "generation" on the ship to be five or a few years older. Will that bother you? There will also be a large group of people old enough to be your parents. Ditto - any problem?

 

The one area of HAL I found weak in my mid-30's was the disco/late night dancing. Over the years I personally haven't found this much improved. In the evenings there is entertainment in the show lounge, piano bar/Explorer's lounge for music and a quiet drink, plus recent films in the Queens Lounge. But boogie - not so much. Again, this may improve on the Vistas.

 

Personally, hope you go for it!

 

edit for bad spelling and missed words!

[hammybee]

I started sailing with HAL in my mid 30's, many years ago, and have always enjoyed the company of people we met onboard, regardless of their age.

 

Given the time of year you are planning to sail, I think you will be surprised that the average age is probably closer to 40 than 80.

 

I think posters bespf is in his 30's and fcroy (SP ?) may be in the late 20's.

[WNYCRUISER]

I think you would do just fine with HAL based on your description. We are early 40's and have been sailing HAL for 4 years. We enjoy the quieter atmosphere, but know where to go if we want something a little more upbeat.

 

In fact, we are alredy booked on this same cruise, and there is a roll call started, in which we have almost 30 people signed up on. I would invite you to stop by there, and read through the posts. It will give you some idea as to the people that will be on that sailing. (I believe some even list their age group)

[SeaTeacher]

I started sailing with HAL in my mid 30's, many years ago, and have always enjoyed the company of people we met onboard, regardless of their age.

 

Given the time of year you are planning to sail, I think you will be surprised that the average age is probably closer to 40 than 80.

 

I think posters bespf is in his 30's and fcroy (SP ?) may be in the late 20's.

 

I recently did a sampler cruise on the Veendam. I liked it very much. The ship was beautiful, the food was very good, and though the passengers were older on average than on Princess (which is what I'm used to) they weren't all THAT much older. Basically, I saw fewer children and more seniors, but frankly, seniors make a lot less noise and trouble than kids.

 

There are advantages to HAL that lines like Princess do not have. If the HAL freguest cruiser benefits were better, I probably would switch. I think you'll have a good time if quiet, relaxation, and mature adult activities are what you are looking for. I'd cruise HAL again without a problem assuming the itinerary and price were right. In fact, I found out a major HAL exec is a member of my church! Hmmmm.....I wonder if he can get me a discount!

[Hoyaheel]

I'm 33 and my husband is 38--we're booked on an 11 day at the end of the month. Can's wait! We don't care about the average age on the ship (though from much reading, we're guessing we'll be the young'uns) We're not into late nights, dancing, loud music--we booked this cruise to have lots of downtime, sitting on the balcony drinking wine:p

[jhannah]

There are over 40 posts on this thread that deals with age of HAL passengers. Check it out.

[seaisme]

trust me...it's NOT a floating nursing home...we're in our 50's and love HAL due to the variety of entertainment options. And don't discount the "nursing home types!". On one of our HAL trips our table mates included two lovely ladies in the 80's. let's just say that we couldn't keep up with them! One called the other her "bail bondsman" because she got into trouble all the time! One evening they announced that my husband was taking them dancing...poor guy was exhausted! And I just sat there enjoying seeing two wonderful ladies squeezing everything they could out of life.

 

you will find every age category. if you like "hot" nightclubs...it happens on HAL. If you like a quiet piano bar...it's on HAL. Casino is wonderful! I wouldn encourage you to joing the roll-call board to get to know folks on your cruise prior to sailing. we have salied with ages 16 to 60 and everyone had a great time.

Happy sailing!

Cass

[seaisme]

trust me...it's NOT a floating nursing home...we're in our 50's and love HAL due to the variety of entertainment options. And don't discount the "nursing home types!". On one of our HAL trips our table mates included two lovely ladies in the 80's. let's just say that we couldn't keep up with them! One called the other her "bail bondsman" because she got into trouble all the time! One evening they announced that my husband was taking them dancing...poor guy was exhausted! And I just sat there enjoying seeing two wonderful ladies squeezing everything they could out of life.

 

you will find every age category. if you like "hot" nightclubs...it happens on HAL. If you like a quiet piano bar...it's on HAL. Casino is wonderful! I wouldn encourage you to joing the roll-call board to get to know folks on your cruise prior to sailing. we have sailed with ages 16 to 60 and everyone had a great time.

Happy sailing!

Cass

[AlohaPride]

Bon Soir Monsieur Lafitte:

 

When I read your name, it makes me think of the old "Capn' Crunch" TV commercials of my childhood. Do you remember, or are you too young? ;)

 

There are three regular HAL posters here named Sheebah, LolaWiz, and AlohaPride. Two of them have already sailed HAL a couple of times, and one (AlohaPride) is about to embark on her first cruise, also Noordam from New York (in December.) They are all three in their twenties, and feel that HAL is a good choice for them, their husbands, and/or their extended families.

 

Me? I'm an old hag of 47, and my husband is a month older than I am, which makes him an old coot. We've done one HAL cruise, and we're planning another for December.

 

Age is a state of mind.:)

 

Karin

 

Thank you, MAM!! You've got a GREAT memory!! lol, :o oops. That doesn't sound right in this thread for some reason... :rolleyes:

 

I'm 23 (DH 24) and DYING to be on the Noordam this Christmas! :D We may be "old" mid-twenties people. As we happen to prefer quiet nights, a martini (for me and beer for DH), and nice piano music over the "bump and grind" of a dance club.

[Barbara Hornblower]

No, HAL is not a fleet of floating geriatric centers...but as an ancient woman of 31 (and my old man (36) agrees with me on this), I prefer the company of the "Greatest Generation" and persons older than myself to people of my own age. Older adults have a vast store of life experience that makes for great stories and dinnertime conversation.

 

The other upside is that you will not have toga parties and beer games keeping you up all night and grossing you out during the day...again because of the older demographic on HAL.

 

However, having said that, HAL seems to attract a broad spectrum of folks age-wise, and it is a "classier", more elegant experience. Gosh how I love listening to the live classical music after dinner on HAL. That's cool, and if it were geared to a younger crowd, I doubt seriously that kind of entertainment would be featured so prominently.

 

Try HAL; I bet you won't be disappointed.