Honesty Please

[FloridaGator]

Need honest input from cruisers that have sailed RCCL and HAL. We have 29 cruise on RCCL and obviously enjoy it. We enjoy the lively night life, shows lounges and casino. We are not rowdy partiers, but the activities are not much fun if there are only a very few people invloved. We are considering a cruise on HAL but are hesitant after reading so many reviews about the ship activities being, excuse the pin, dead after 10:30 P.M. Does anyone have any experiences to relate?

[cruise4]

While we thought HAL had a lot of 'class' about how they did things, things weren't really that exciting on that cruise. We have only sailed HAL once (it was a good deal at the time and we were looking for a last minute trip), we ended up back on Carnival, which we considered more lively and fun. Our upcoming cruise is with RCCL, and that will only be our second time on them. We usually cruise based on the itinerary at the time -- that's why we have sailed Carnival for most of them. But, we liked RCCL and are anxious to try them again. If you want to just 'chill' and relax, then by all means, HAL is nice. But, if you want more activity, I'd stick with RCCL. That's just our opinion, though. I'm curious to see what others may have to say.

[Bruinboy]

Cruised both ... both were great with HAL being more subdued and RCCL being more lively and active. Given your stated preference, RCCL probably fits the bill a little better.

[COMBOY]

Yes, I would stick to RCCL. HAL is a great product, but caters to a early to bed to early to rise type of passengers. Don't get me wrong; there is late night entertainment but much more subdued than to RCCL.

[FloridaGator]

I thank everyone for their honest impessions. Believe we better stick with RCCL Thanx.

[Corgiboy]

Here's my two cents, you made the right decision. HAL isn't a bad cruise, just a very relaxing one.;)

[cruzincurt]

We have sailed HAL four times. It seems the HAL ships are getting deader and deader. The time food was available in the Lido was very short and we had a terrible experience with My Time dining which was really Their Time dining. . They refused to reset tables so we could have a table for two, they continually tried to force us to tables of eight. They have not mastered the concept of anytime dining, they only wanted to only turn tables at the old dining times of 6:00 and 8:30.

 

We like to spend time in casino. On our last (and really last) HAL cruise, at times I was by myself at the craps table for hours at a time.

 

IMO, HAL is really falling behind. The little touches we experienced on earlier HAL cruises such as a fruit basket and fresh flowers in the cabin are long gone.

 

You won't really know unless you try a HAL cruise. The people on the HAL board are addicted and loyal and will not tolerate any negative opinions. Some are downright nasty over there.

[DMorris]

I have sailed both... I like both lines. It really depends on where the cruise is going and for how long if it is dead after 10pm or not. RCCL is active and active late into the evening. HAL can be active but not as much. If you are into the active crowd I would stay with RCCL. If you are ok with laid back then try HAL. The casino on my last HAL in 11/2008 was very active into the late evening and that was a 10 day. So it all depends on the passengers who board I guess. It is 50/50 with HAL I would guess. RCCL is usually always a late crowd.

[kyriecat]

I've been on 8 RC, 1 X, and most recently 1 HAL cruise. My HAL cruise was 14 days, only 3 of them sea days. Being port intensive, the lounges, with the exception of the casino, seemed to close down around 11 or 11:30. I know the casino was still going after midnight. The shows were okay - I liked the comedians and singers, but the HAL production shows were horrible. I thought Sovereign's production shows were really bad too.

 

For perspective, my Legend and Radiance cruises with RC were also dead for nightlife. Legend seemed to shut down before late seating was done eating dinner. I never saw more than a dozen people in the lounges. It was basically the same on Radiance (but Radiance had a salmonella outbreak so that slowed some people down). With several ports in a row, people tend to go to bed earlier than when they have sea days.

 

We had excursions booked for each stop so I was in bed between 12:30 and 1 most nights. I don't know when the casino finally shut down, other than after I did. There was a midnight dessert buffet one night that was well attended and a star gazing show. Sea day activities were pretty typical - trivia, towel folding demos, bingo, etc.

 

The staff on HAL was mostly fantastic. We had hot water and AC problems in our cabin (Maasdam #196) so I spent ENTIRELY too much time dealing with the front desk staff. On RC when we had a problem, the staff couldn't care less and it never did get fixed. On HAL, it would be fixed for about 4 hours then break again.

 

I preferred the MDR food on HAL over RC, but I'll take Portofinos and Chops over Pinnacle Grill. I'd say the buffets were very similar, although I liked the real ice cream on HAL. The grill food was similar to Solarium food but a better variety. There were pizzas, hot dogs, and hamburgers, but also grilled chicken, tacos, brats, and fajitas.

 

I prefer the layout of the junior suites on RC to the verandah suites on HAL. The size is almost the same (RC being about 10 sq. ft bigger) but the layout just seems roomier on RC. The lounger on HAL's balcony gets a bonus for comfort! I took several naps on it. The bed on HAL were much more comfortable than RC (and HAL still has chocolates and towel animals ;) ).

 

After RC ships, Maasdam did feel "closed in" since they don't have the soaring centrum, but that's being petty of me. The Maasdam atrium was only 3 decks. Maasdam also didn't have the large windows everywhere.

 

I think I'd avoid sailing the "R" class ships (like Maasdam) again simply because of the maintenance issues. However, if HAL has a reasonable priced itineray that I like, I would sail with them again.

[estebofarr]

I've been on both multiple times and agree with most of what was said here but thought I'd mention that BINGO was canceled on the ship I was on due to lack of interest. That was a first for me. I usually choose my cruise for the intinerary.

[Got2Cruise]

I thank everyone for their honest impessions. Believe we better stick with RCCL Thanx.

My 87 year old father is a frequent cruiser. He has sailed all lines numerous times. He refuses to take HAL any longer. His reason? Too many old people. :)

[Garyorient]

My 87 year old father is a frequent cruiser. He has sailed all lines numerous times. He refuses to take HAL any longer. His reason? Too many old people. :)

 

Clearly he is one of those gentlemen who believes that age is a state of mind.

I make him correct.

Though I am only in my early 50's I have behaved progressively less mature every year.

 

You are only on this earth for a short time, make the most of it and tell your Dad I would be happy to share a table with him

[blueboro]

We have been on several RCCL cruises and one HAL (Zuiderdam). I thought the food and service were better on HAL. They actually DID remember our names...never had that happen before. While service has always been good on RCCL thought it was slightly better on HAL.

 

To me there is no comparison in the ships. RCCL newer ships are beautiful. The Zuiderdam, which is a newer class for HAL, had a very dark, closed in feel. Some people may like it but it was like they never wanted you to know you were on a ship. Even where they had views of the sea they had curtains covering them.

 

Other than a true wrap-around promenade which HAL has, RCCL ships have a much better design. Shops are much better on RCCL.

 

Entertainment options were greater on RCCL but we did have one of the best entertainers ever on HAL. We are not party folks but if nightlife is important go with RCCL.

[temple1]

 

The people on the HAL board are addicted and loyal and will not tolerate any negative opinions. Some are downright nasty over there.

 

LOL - That sounds familiar.

 

Temple1 ducks and runs. :eek:

[cb at sea]

Nightlife is very dependant on who is on the ship...we've done cruises where everyone is in bed before dinner is over, and cruises where the ship rocks until the "wee" hours....passenger make-up is the deciding factor!

If you have tablemates, talk them into going out after dinner...that's what we do!!!

[mation101]

My boss who is the epitome of "BORING" thinks RCCL is better and more fun than HAL.