Anyone sailed HAL and Carnival?

[CoastalCounseling]

I have only sailed HAL. My husband thinks we should try one of the other lines "just to compare".

 

For those of you who have done both, please give me some input.

 

THANKS!

 

Kelly

[Saymyname]

We have sailed Carnival twice and Hal once on May 04.

Hal passengers were very quiet............ Older, I would guess on the Volendam the average age was 70+ (It was a 21 day cruise). ( I saw 5 kids) Carnival has a much younger crowd with families. We went to our cabin on Hal around 10 PM.

On Carnival, I went to the shows and dancing almost every night.

It just seemed as if there was more to do on Carnival. We did get a much needed rest on Hal. The Volendam was beautiful with very expensive art and antiques. I enjoyed both (any cruise is enjoyable).

[krimpet]

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR? IF YOU WANT TO RELAX ,IF YOU WANT A LITTLE MORE CLASS, SERVICE AND GOOD SHOWS YOU WILL LIKE HAL.......... IF YOU WANT FUN,PLENTY OF KIDS,GOOD PIZZA :D AND A GREAT KIDS PROGRAM, YOU WILL LIKE CARNIVAL..............CARNIVAL DOES HAVE GOOD SHOWS AND SERVICE BUT HAL IS A LITTLE MORE UPSCALE! IF YOU DON'T BELIVE ME JUST GO TO THERE BOARD, ALL THEY TALK ABOUT IS THERE DRESS CODE :p ........LOL.........

BTW HAL IS A OLDER CROWD. IF YOU GO AT SPRING BREAK OR WHILE KIDS ARE ON SUMMER VACATION THERE WILL BE A GOOD MIX.....HAL ALSO HAS A GOOD KIDS PROGRAM. I JUST THINK THERE HOURS ARE TO SHORT BUT THAT OK !THAT WHY I TAKE MY KIDS WITH ME .TO VACATION TOGETHER!!!!

[Travelitis]

We've been on HAL's Zuiderdam, the only ship in their fleet with a kid's program. It was still close to being a nursing home at sea. It had no more class than Princess or NCL, but we enjoyed it. It was too quiet at night, though.

 

We're taking our first Carnival cruise over Thanksgiving, but while on the Rhapsody last week talked to an older couple who've cruised HAL and Carnival. They liked them both and didn't rate one over the other. They have great-grandchildren and were in their 70's. They said lines are all pretty much the same, which is what we've found, but we'll know better after Thanksgiving.

[Art123]

I have sailed on each once. Both have been during spring break. I did not find the pax on HAL to be as old as many on this board claim. I would say the majority were familys with parents between 35 and 55. Carnival does tend to be a little younger IMHO. My DW prefers the quiet, relaxing nature of the HAL lines. I personally got a little board in the evenings on HAL, and prefer the more active night life on Carnival. Hal does have some amenities that Carnival doesn't: free hors d'oeuvre and cloth hand towels in the public restrooms.

 

It really depends on what you want. Each line has it good points. I'm sure we will sail on HAL again, and we are booked on a Carnival ship (Celebration) in November.

[Travel Angel]

You will for sure see noteable differences sailing Carnival vs. HAL..... passengers will be of a possibly lower age (although Carnival claims their average passenger age is 55 years old). Entertainment will be more HIGH ENERGY than that of HAL. Staterooms are not as well appointed (Just my opinion folks !), meals are a tuff one as many think that HAL's food tends to be a tad bland.

 

Any cruise in excess of 10 days will tend to have less children onboard for the most part due to several factors i.e. time of year sailing, children missing school, etc..... and will probably have a passenger that can better afford the longer cruises which USUALLY will mean an older crowd !

 

Not to bash Carnival by any means, but you may want to take a look at Celebrity, Princess or maybe even Royal Caribbean.

 

Whichever cruiseline you choose, a cruise is really what YOU make it !

[kkorman]

Passenger age on HAL greatly depends on time of the year. GO over breaks and you would have the normal Carnival crowd with families. Go during a non-school break and it will be a much older crowd. Carnival claims to sail more seniors than any other line... granted most do not have the number of short cruises, but they are there. Food and service are much more refined on HAL. Entertainment is a little lagging, but it is a much more treaditional cruising experience. Personally, I'd choose Princess over HAL, but it is just my preferences.

[Vidimom]

I have sailed on both HAL and Carnival. We were on HAL's Zuiderdam last September for our anniversary. It was a wonderful trip.

 

Trying to compare the two cruiselines is like apples and oranges. They are alot alike in the way they are built, cabin sizes, but they are also two very different type of cruises.

 

HAL is more elegance and less flash. The crew are nice, but not over friendly either. The crew are confident, but more mechanical. There are more "senior" cruisers and less children on HAL. The ship it's self is BEAUTIFUL!!! There is alot of artwork and fresh flowers everywhere. We chose this cruise to celebrate our 15th anniversary and had a wonderful time. We found the food to be bland as well. Didn't care for some choices, but we are not Caviar type people. Did love the Fresh Squeezed OJ every day with breakfast! We met alot of others from CC on board and still stay in touch with alot of them. My husband and I both agreed, we would love to go on another HAL cruise, but wouldn't bring our teens on this line due to lack of activities for teens.

 

Now about Carnival, what can you say but they are "FUN" ships! We have cruise number 10 booked on the Legend this year and are excited to cruise in the Spirit Class. We have always had wonderful service, the food had been from ok to fantastic. It's like any restaurant, sometimes you have a great chef, sometimes you don't. We love the kids program on Carnival. Our kids don't want to get off the ship in ports (when they were younger) and stayed with CC on board. Carnival is definately more "FAMILY FRIENDLY".

 

No matter which cruiseline you choose, just remember a cruise is what you make of it. If you want to relax, RELAX!!!

[momofmeg]

To me the two lines are complete opposites. I am no party animal but I do like a little going on. HAL is very sedate. The food on HAL is better and the Broadway style shows are a better quality. The HAL ships are a lot more tastefully decorated. All that is nice but I still like to hear some live music in the lounges for a little after the shows are over. We usually retire around mid-night on Carnival. On HAL everything was dead by 9 p.m. The "late" buffet was at 10:30 p.m.

 

I have also been on Princess and RCCL. Princess has the grat food and entertainment but more subdued then Carnival but not dead like HAL. RCCL's entertainment in the lounges similiar to Princess but the quality of food more like Carnival.

 

Now if you enjoyed HAL you would probally prefer Princess but if you want things hopping until morning you may like Carnival better, even if you are in between you can still have a good time on Carnival-I would rather have something to do in the evenings and Carnival provides that-if others want to party all night no problem with me-as long as I can sleep in my stateroom- no problem for me. I have never had a bad experience with an obnoxious drunk on Carnival-so I don't care what others do.

[Travelitis]

I wanted to add that the HAL menu is definitely bland. I got off the ship sick of steak. The preparation and quality of the cuts of meat was superior to other ships we'd sailed, and we enjoyed the sterling beef in the Odyssey. Everything had great taste, but it was such an ultra conservative cuisine. I like to try new things, and I didn't find anything new to try on that ship. The other 2 couples at our table found the menu repetitious, too. RCCL didn' t impress us, and our favorite for food has been Princess.

[DEL67]

We have been on both HAL and CCL multiple times and like both, but the experience is very different. As the other posters have said, the passengers tend to be older on HAL and the nightlife more sedate.

 

However I disagree that there is less to do. In fact I often find that there is more to do. It just depends on your what you like. Both have bingo, art auctions, napking folding, trivia, etc. Otherwise, Carnival daytime activities tend to be more boisterous: pool games, knobby knees contests, survivor, etc.. HAL has a points program to encourage you to participate. Activities include ping pong, putting, quoits, volley ball, shuffle board and additional

"mind games".

 

For shows, both offer revues and usually one featuring a singer and/or comedien, but otherwise they tend to be different. Carnival has magicians and juggers where HAL may have a pianist or classical singer.

 

Finally there is also a difference in the food. Again, we like both. Yes, HAL food can be blander, but in general it seems to be higher quality and the diningroom service is better. And HAL offers some special touches: fresh orange juice in the Lido restaurant, berries on the ice cream bar, hot bread pudding, etc.

[CoastalCounseling]

Thanks for all the input!!!!

 

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW!

[scantrelle]

Sailed HAL before we sailed CCL. I thought I would NEVER convince my husband to go on another cruise again. He absolutely hated it. I was not impressed either. The ship was beautiful on the inside with lots of fresh flowers, but we are in our late 40's and the passengers were much, much older. There were not many in our age group, but we did go in February. After 9 p.m, everything is dead. I hated dressing up every single night for dinner and having to stay that way. You are not allowed to change clothes to go into any of the public rooms at night. You must stay dressed just the way you went to dinner. There were no alternatives for dinner. If you didn't eat in the dining room, you did not eat. I finally convinced him to try Carnival and we loved it. I love the fact that I do not have to go in the dining room if I don't want to. I can eat any time I want and I can dress any way I want. I can even go in the discos at night with shorts on. The atmosphere is a lot different. I will never sail HAL again, but that is my choice. I like the lively crowd and the relaxed atmosphere of the whole ship.

[wannacruisemore]

Hi....My first cruise was on the HAL Statendam, large group of 52. In april 2005 40 of us have booked on Carnival Conquest. All i keep hearing is we won't find a bigger suite than HAL.

 

Carol

[momofmeg]

DEL67 I was not talking about Bingo and napkin folding (BORING) I was talking about LIVE MUSIC in the lounges after 9 p.m. The lounges were DEAD with just a few lone drinkers here and there. I for one do not like to sit in a lounge and drink with no entertainment. I did love the broadway style shows-they were top notch-very talented young people much better then Carnival or RCCL. Princess also had great shows with very talented entertainers but Princes also had ball room dancing in one of her lounges and a HOPPING piano bar.

 

As I said I usaully retire around midnight so I don't know what Princess has really late-I have read there is little going on in the early morning hours but as I am sleeping then that does not bother me. I just don't want to go to bed at 9 p.m. The only option at HAL besides the dead lounges was the casino and not all of us are gamblers.

 

Day time activities do not concern me. I never participate in those silly pool games Carnival has but I do enjoy things like the dance classes and tours of the galley etc. I even go to that sillynewly wed game though I do wish ALL the lines would come up with some new and interesting questions for that game.

[mhoffman55]

We have sailed both. My husband and I are in our young 50's and we were among the youngest on Holland America. Not that we didn't enjoy it, but it seemed to cater to an older crowd.

When we sail with our girls in their 20's, we sail Carnival because there are far more activities for them on board ship.

It all depends what your looking for. For a quiet relaxed sail......choose Holland America, if you want more activities and action, Carnival is the better choice.

 

Pacific Princess 2000

Carnival Sensation 2001

Celebrity Century 2002

Celebrity Mercury 2002

Carnival Pride 2002

H.A. Zuiderdam 2003

Carnival Pride 2005

[Guienevere_Arianette]

Sailed HAL before we sailed CCL. I thought I would NEVER convince my husband to go on another cruise again. He absolutely hated it. I was not impressed either. The ship was beautiful on the inside with lots of fresh flowers, but we are in our late 40's and the passengers were much, much older. There were not many in our age group, but we did go in February. After 9 p.m, everything is dead. I hated dressing up every single night for dinner and having to stay that way. You are not allowed to change clothes to go into any of the public rooms at night. You must stay dressed just the way you went to dinner. There were no alternatives for dinner. If you didn't eat in the dining room, you did not eat. I finally convinced him to try Carnival and we loved it. I love the fact that I do not have to go in the dining room if I don't want to. I can eat any time I want and I can dress any way I want. I can even go in the discos at night with shorts on. The atmosphere is a lot different. I will never sail HAL again, but that is my choice. I like the lively crowd and the relaxed atmosphere of the whole ship.

 

They don't allow you to change clothes before you go bar hopping? If you dont' eat in the dining room, you don't eat at all? I was looking at the Zuiderdam for a fall cruise, but that sounds unappealing...

 

Anyone have recent comparisons to report?

[Sprocket]

They don't allow you to change clothes before you go bar hopping? If you dont' eat in the dining room, you don't eat at all? I was looking at the Zuiderdam for a fall cruise, but that sounds unappealing...

 

Anyone have recent comparisons to report?

 

I have sailed on the Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam, and you can eat at the Lido at night if you wish. Room service is available. They also have the alternative Pinnacle Grill, which is very good and priced at $30pp.

 

On formal nights they prefer that you stay dressed up, and DH tries really hard to wear his tux all evening, but at some point I just know he is going to go back to the cabin and change.

 

I enjoyed the Zuiderdam so much I sailed on 2 of her sister ships. This fall however I am booked on the Triumph, just too much $$$ to sail solo on the Zuiderdam or Westerdam this fall.

[Guienevere_Arianette]

I have sailed on the Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam, and you can eat at the Lido at night if you wish. Room service is available. They also have the alternative Pinnacle Grill, which is very good and priced at $30pp.

 

On formal nights they prefer that you stay dressed up, and DH tries really hard to wear his tux all evening, but at some point I just know he is going to go back to the cabin and change.

 

I enjoyed the Zuiderdam so much I sailed on 2 of her sister ships. This fall however I am booked on the Triumph, just too much $$$ to sail solo on the Zuiderdam or Westerdam this fall.

 

Thanks for the feedback Bev; I'd like to experience HAL (was booked for a Prinsendam European trip, but had to cancel), but I don't know anyone who has sailed her recently, or at all, actually :)

[hdawson]

If you enjoyed the HAL experience, I think you should be looking at Celebrity. Younger guest profile and a little more active. The food is the best of all the lines I've tried (19 cruises) and the servcie is superb. The decor is understated elegance with out the Carnival Neon Wow factor. I did enjoy my cruise on HAL's Zuiderdam and thought the Indonesian crew were very good and accomodating. And on Celebrity people know how to dress for dinner.

[Guienevere_Arianette]

If you enjoyed the HAL experience, I think you should be looking at Celebrity. Younger guest profile and a little more active. The food is the best of all the lines I've tried (19 cruises) and the servcie is superb. The decor is understated elegance with out the Carnival Neon Wow factor. I did enjoy my cruise on HAL's Zuiderdam and thought the Indonesian crew were very good and accomodating. And on Celebrity people know how to dress for dinner.

 

I'm also looking at the Celebrity Millenium (see the ressurected threads I've pulled up on the Carnival boards :) ); I just finished reading some member reviews from 06 and they were pretty bad: sewage smells, moldy bathrooms, nonworking toilets, ripped furniture, etc. I've only been on two Carnival cruises, but they were wonderful and the ship quality/state was top notch; I'd hate to pay top dollar for a cruise and have to smell sewage all week!

[CalgonCruiser]

I have been on 5 Carnival cruises, and in 2006 Holland's Zuiderdam. I was 48 and one of the youngest on board. The ship is truly gorgeous! But it was so boring, the Lido pool area played slow waltz's during the day, while everyone slept. The aft pool played more up beat music, but it was a CD with about 20 songs and they repeated it over, and over all week. They shut the ship down really early at night, evening.

 

Would I cruise Holland again? You bet, when I reach 65-70.

 

Happy Cruising, Sea YA !!!

[Iggipolka]

I'm 36 and absolutely loved sailing with HAL. I found a wide range of ages on both HAL cruises I took and had a great time enjoying the evenings entertainment. I danced in the disco every night, except when I was too tired from all of the fun day's activities!

 

I thought that the food was really good, not bland at all. If you want a little added spice, ask the server for some Sambal. :p

 

HAL ships are absolutely beautiful, with great art work and fresh flowers. The staff are so friendly and go out of the way to assist with anything needed.

 

I would cruise HAL again in a heartbeat. I'm sailing Carnival this time due to a great single supplement price. If I could get such a great price on HAL, I'd sail with them immediatly.

[Iggipolka]

I have been on 5 Carnival cruises, and in 2006 Holland's Zuiderdam. I was 48 and one of the youngest on board. The ship is truly gorgeous! But it was so boring, the Lido pool area played slow waltz's during the day, while everyone slept. !

 

ROFL! Great joke!

 

When I was on the Zui they had a steel drum band at the Lido pool and people were too busy drinking, socalizing, playing wacky pool games and eating to nap!

[jessemon]

I have only sailed HAL. My husband thinks we should try one of the other lines "just to compare".

 

For those of you who have done both, please give me some input.

 

THANKS!

 

Kelly

Your age...no offense would be an interesting question for one. What you like to do on board. How late you like to stay up....how formal are you...

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