Princess vs Holland America

Other than the smoking policy, any other considerations between these two? Planning a cruise and maybe a land in August 2017.

Thanks so much.

Nobody awake on HAL after ten pm. Younger people on Princess.

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Other than the smoking policy, any other considerations between these two? Planning a cruise and maybe a land in August 2017.

 

Thanks so much.

The short answer: Holland America is a cut above--as is the price. I definitely like HALs smaller ships, like Veendam, much better than any of Princess'.

I like both lines, but HA has better thermal suite and library. HA ships are smaller. Most outside and balcony cabins have bathtubs.

Food is comparable.

Princess public areas are grander. In-room movies are better on Princess

Princess room stewards do not make towel animals 😢😢😢

Have sailed on both several times. HAL is definitely a cut above.

Nobody awake on HAL after ten pm. Younger people on Princess.

 

 

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Our one experience on HAL was that everybody was in bed by 8:30 or soon after dinner. Which BTW for HAL is

early dinner: 3:30 PM

late dinner: 5:30 PM

midnight buffet: 7:30 PM

:rolleyes:

We have nearly 500 days on HAL and about 300 on Princess so guess you would have to conclude that we enjoy both lines. In order to give a good comparison we would need to know the ships since there are many differences (between vessels) on both HAL and Princess. For example, all the HAL ships (except the Prinsendam) have indoor pools. But on Princess, many ships have no indoor pools. This can be an issue...especially if you are cruising to Alaska with kids.

If booking a balcony cabin you do need to consider that HAL allows smoking (including cigars and pipes) on all passenger balconies. If you are a bit unlucky this could prevent you from enjoying the balcony at many key times. Try eating breakfast (HAL has a pretty full cabin breakfast menu) on a balcony when a passenger a few feet away is puffing away on a Cigar!

We think that food in the MDR on both lines is comparable...which means good...but not great. We give Princess the edge on alternative restaurants. And HAL has nothing to compare with the International Cafe (on Princess). Entertainment is a mixed bag...again depending on the ship. We like the BB King Clubs (only on some HAL ships) on HAL and we also like HAL's piano bar. But it is true that on some HAL cruises (especially longer cruises) you might find very few folks awake after 10. Princess is definitely a better choice for late night (after 10). Princess pizza is also great while HAL manages to produce the worst pizza at sea (the Koningsdam is an exception.

Another issue (for some) is that HAL has limited dining hours. For example, their Lido buffet shuts down around 8pm. Breakfast often ends by 10 (this varies). Late night snack options on HAL are awful to non-existent (although you can always order room service).

Hank

We have nearly 500 days on HAL and about 300 on Princess so guess you would have to conclude that we enjoy both lines. In order to give a good comparison we would need to know the ships since there are many differences (between vessels) on both HAL and Princess. For example, all the HAL ships (except the Prinsendam) have indoor pools. But on Princess, many ships have no indoor pools. This can be an issue...especially if you are cruising to Alaska with kids.

 

If booking a balcony cabin you do need to consider that HAL allows smoking (including cigars and pipes) on all passenger balconies. If you are a bit unlucky this could prevent you from enjoying the balcony at many key times. Try eating breakfast (HAL has a pretty full cabin breakfast menu) on a balcony when a passenger a few feet away is puffing away on a Cigar!

 

We think that food in the MDR on both lines is comparable...which means good...but not great. We give Princess the edge on alternative restaurants. And HAL has nothing to compare with the International Cafe (on Princess). Entertainment is a mixed bag...again depending on the ship. We like the BB King Clubs (only on some HAL ships) on HAL and we also like HAL's piano bar. But it is true that on some HAL cruises (especially longer cruises) you might find very few folks awake after 10. Princess is definitely a better choice for late night (after 10). Princess pizza is also great while HAL manages to produce the worst pizza at sea (the Koningsdam is an exception.

 

Another issue (for some) is that HAL has limited dining hours. For example, their Lido buffet shuts down around 8pm. Breakfast often ends by 10 (this varies). Late night snack options on HAL are awful to non-existent (although you can always order room service).

 

Hank

Excellent comparison. Agree with your analysis.

I like both (and I am under 50).

HAL wins on food, room stewards (I've yet to have a great one on Princess), Library, Pools, Thermal Spa, bathroom size.

Rowdiest crowd was on my last Canada/NE cruise, partied to the wee hours. Caribbean tends to be livelier.

PRINCESS wins on activities, night life, entertainment staff. Food is good, with some great moments.

TIED with Amazing Staff, Casino, bars.

The activities tend to end rather early in the evening on Holland. They have a great buffet set up.

Overall, I like Princess a bit better- though the Pinnacle Grille is way better than the Crown- in my opinion.

Can't go wrong with either. On our cruise with HAL the passengers were much older and far fewer kids than Princess. Like others have said, 10PM is pretty much lights out for most on board.

I give HAL the advantage when it comes to attention to detail. For example, just before serving each course the wait staff removed any crumbs/debris from the table, straightened the silverware and drink glasses. Refilled wine and water glasses. Insured you had the proper tableware for the next course and then brought it all at once with the help of junior waiter(s). It's not that Princess doesn't do some of these things some of the time but HAL makes dinner more of a production of it than Princess does.

Even in the buffet there were strategically positioned staff to answer questions about the food and assist with carrying items to your table. Not in an obtrusive or hovering way, more like someone there to answer a question, lend a hand if you had too much to carry or had some mobility issues.

The attention to detail applied to everything on board. If you like that kind of thing HAL wins in my opinion.

Overall, we prefer Princess. But I'll still book a HAL cruise at the right price/itinerary. We were scheduled to sail on the Amsterdam to Alaska last month but had to cancel.

On HAL, there have been a lot of cutbacks. They're more noticeable to me than the Princess ones because they have affected what I enjoy more--cutbacks in the cruise director's staff/activities and cutbacks in the entertainment. For instance, on our last HAL cruise, there were not any male dancers in the production shows.

The one thing I really enjoy about HAL cruises is the programs in the culinary arts center. Most are free, but I've also done a couple of the cooking classes that cost extra.

Cruised HAL many times (3 star Mariner). But last cruise on Eurodam showed a vessel in need of dry dock, a cruise director who had one assistant and then very few activities. Had started cruising Princess (now elite with 38 cruises) and benefits can't be beat. From better future cruise credits, military credit, Internet, mini bar, laundry, wine tasting, ACTIVITIES (plenty of Asst Cruise Directors who are enthusiastic and personable. Never had a bad cabin steward and many truly great.

Buffets on Regal/Royal hard to beat. Choices are great. Captains circle party with free flowing drinks on Princess.

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We prefer both HAL and PCL for longer relaxation vacations. I prefer HAL a little more where as Karen prefers PCL a little more.

Both have a similar demographic (talking about cruises in excess of 10 days) and will be quieter at night than other lines.

If you like a little to do at night, PCL does have more going on. You can always catch the movie showing on Movies Under The Stars (they typically have 2 showings) if you're not feeling the comedian/ventriloquist/juggler in the theater. That's what Karen likes and edges PCL over HAL in her mind.

The 2 greatest months of our lives were spent on HAL & PC and when it comes down to once the "where" is agreed upon, then it is the compromise of the on "who" we'll be spending the time "where".

There's less chance of getting run over by an electric scooter on Princess. :)

I like both lines, but HA has better thermal suite and library. HA ships are smaller. Most outside and balcony cabins have bathtubs.

 

Food is comparable.

 

Princess public areas are grander. In-room movies are better on Princess

 

Princess room stewards do not make towel animals 😢😢😢

They did for my adult daughter - she remembered them from her first cruise and asked. The steward made her towel animals every day.

Our one experience on HAL was that everybody was in bed by 8:30 or soon after dinner. Which BTW for HAL is

 

early dinner: 3:30 PM

late dinner: 5:30 PM

midnight buffet: 7:30 PM

:rolleyes:

Sorry but this just not true!

early dinner is 5:15 pm, 5:30 pm, or 6:00 pm (depends upon itinerary)

late dinner is 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm (again depends upon itinerary)

midnight buffet is non-existent, but then it's non-existent on Princess also. However the buffet on Princess stays open later in the evening than it does on HAL.

Sorry but this just not true!

early dinner is 5:15 pm, 5:30 pm, or 6:00 pm (depends upon itinerary)

late dinner is 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm (again depends upon itinerary)

midnight buffet is non-existent, but then it's non-existent on Princess also. However the buffet on Princess stays open later in the evening than it does on HAL.

I think she was teasing ;).

I'm not finding much of this thread reassuring. I've cruised on 8 different cruise lines...but have, thus far, avoided HAL...mostly due to that elderly demographic/shut down at night reputation.

My sister has been on two HAL cruises and says she's not going back...

But, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law wanted to do a Canada/New England cruise next July and didn't like our first choice of the longer Oceania option, so, we booked HAL Maasdam with them....

First thing we discovered is they don't really have balcony cabins on this ship...They've got a limited number of suites with balconies--at exorbitant prices...and they have something called "Lanai" cabins--with doors out that open to a public area...so people can walk right by your window...no privacy...and you really don't have outside space you own. So we just booked an OV cabin...at what seems like balcony prices...

Now I'm also worried about eating at 5:30 and being bored from 7:00 pm on...

But, maybe we'll just watch the scooter races on the promenade?!? ;)

In my experience I say it's a toss up and depends on the ship & itinerary.

As far as demographics it depends on the location & length of cruise. I was on a HAL cruise to AK that had a lot of young people up late at night dancing in the disco and a Princess cruise that was dead at the disco (port-intensive Medit cruise).

I've found food quality comparable on both but on my HAL cruise last month I was disappointed with the Veendam's buffet....bad setup, no trays and very slow to clean tables. Whereas, on all my Princess cruises the crew practically grabbed your plates before you were done eating (maybe it's the cutting corners others have mentioned with HAL). In other areas service is about the same.

The only two things I can think of where they really differ are:

1) HAL's cabins are larger (inside/oceanview/balcony) with a loveseat and they have bathtubs (beginning at most oceanview levels). Princess bathrooms are smaller and showers are tiny.

2) HAL's beds are so much more comfortable - pillowtop mattresses while Princess beds are hard as a brick (good for some people but gives me a backache).

Other than that, I've equally enjoyed cruises on both and choose based on a mixture of price/itinerary.

Best wishes! :)

Thanks for all your responses. Forgot to say that we are planning an Alaska trip, 2017, August.

Pat

Thanks for all your responses. Forgot to say that we are planning an Alaska trip, 2017, August.

Pat

That's great, HAL & Princess have the best Alaskan itineraries! :)

Sorry but this just not true!

early dinner is 5:15 pm, 5:30 pm, or 6:00 pm (depends upon itinerary)

late dinner is 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm (again depends upon itinerary)

midnight buffet is non-existent, but then it's non-existent on Princess also. However the buffet on Princess stays open later in the evening than it does on HAL.

Apparently you failed to understand a little humor.

Other than the smoking policy, any other considerations between these two? Planning a cruise and maybe a land in August 2017.

 

Thanks so much.

To be fair you should probably also ask this on the HAL board as well. Have done both but lean toward Princess for it's activities. Also love the IC. Have switched at times if itinerary works best.