HAL Negativity

Us: 3-star HAL; 60ish professional couple.

We are long time cruisers starting years ago on RCCL Song of Norway after which we were hooked on the cruise experience. Have cruised virtually every year since except for the last couple of years when other obligations intervened. Early on we cruised RCCL before migrating to Celebrity and HAL.

We settled on HAL for the reasons most have: theH more dignified atmosphere, the elegant service of the dining room staff, good food, relaxation.

We are scheduled on New Amsterdam January 2016 and so have starting reading this board again the last few months. I must say it is discouraging to read all of the negativity about the HAL experience of late. Our last cruise on Eurodam in 2013 certainly met our expectations. Sure we noticed the classical duo rather than the quartet and no live music in the MDR or in the shows but everything was what we have come to expect from HAL and thought the food was fine.

Reading this board, however, has me concerned. So many complaints about the ships, the food, the service, the smoking, the speciality restaurants, the entertainment.

So do I have reason to be concerned that my cruise will not be what I am expecting?

No you have nothing to worry about. Some people are always negative about something. I've read reviews where people on the same ship, same cruise same time, one says never again the other the best ever and can't wait to do it again. I think you have to take it all with a grain of salt. I'll admit not every thing is prefect but then nothing is. I may not like the coffee in the Lido or something else, but over all life is good. We are four star and have cruised with four other cruise lines, we still prefer HAL. Enjoy your next cruise with who ever.

Allan

I recently started reading "todays posts" here on Cruise Critic. I was suprised to see that there are critics of EVERY cruise line. Some people seem to dislike many different cruise lines at the same time - and yet they still cruise.

Food, noise, staff, front desk, cost of cruise changing, cabin location, anything you can think of - has critics.

I think that when it comes to any cruise line the glass is probably much more than half-full. Your on a cruise for goodness sake. Sure there might be something that disturbes you - it is you choice as to how disturbed you allow it to get you. But hopefully, whatever might happen, you still enjoy cruising.

Take whatever cruise interests you and Have A Great Time!:cool:

Awhile ago I was doing the same reading as you and it had me concerned. We had a cruise booked and I started reading negative posts about the ship, condition and of course "smoke" was mentioned etc.

Our first cruise many years ago was on the "new" Maasdam, we were hooked on cruising and the whole experience, the staff, the crew, the ambiance of the ship and HAL. On our next cruise we will be 4 stars, so we are pretty loyal to HAL.

Like you we had a few years where we were unable to cruise. I know it is hard to ignore comments and some are very legitimate, I chose to read between the lines, read positive comments and remember why and how we like to cruise.

Nothing is perfect, there is always a shortfall, but it is how you choose to respond to it. We took that cruise and it was on the aging Maasdam, and we were not disappointed.

Today is Thanksgiving and I was thinking about all I'm grateful for...besides my family, health etc. I'm so grateful for the experience of our cruise vacations. Just my thoughts on your post....

If you look back 2 years or 5 years, you'll find the same type of posts. The food is not as good, the entertainment is bad, smokers on verandah disturb me, ....

BUT mostly, the complaints are that it isn't the way it was. Everything in life changes. We change, the world changes, HAL changes. Better to go with the flow or change cruise lines. Another alternative is to apply to be President of HAL and then (if you have the qualifications to get hired) you can make it what ever you want.

If you look back 2 years or 5 years, you'll find the same type of posts. The food is not as good, the entertainment is bad, smokers on verandah disturb me, ....

BUT mostly, the complaints are that it isn't the way it was. Everything in life changes. We change, the world changes, HAL changes. Better to go with the flow or change cruise lines. Another alternative is to apply to be President of HAL and then (if you have the qualifications to get hired) you can make it what ever you want.

If the job interview thing doesn't go your way, I understand HAL is trying to unload the Veendam for about $150,000,000. I'm sure no reasonable offer would be refused.:D

Like Burger King, you can then have it "your way"

we like the laid back ambiance of HAL, the excellent food in reasonably small portions, smoking on balconies and the wonderful staff. No need for climbing walls, sliding tubes, over the water shelves or very formal or informal dress. X4 is a good program and should be included on all cruises rather than paying for every drink. Sure Pinnacle isn't the finest steak house compared to land based chains but it's a nice change from the main dining room and we really enjoy Tamarind and wish it was on every ship. The lack of kids running thru the halls and pushing all the elevator buttons is definitely a plus. Too many scooters and walkers we can live with as well as the usually empty elevators. We have tried other lines and have settled on HAL since my partner smokes. Too bad if you don't approve, you have a lot of choices, more than us.

Cruise Critic is very much like another site that "advises people on their trips ;)" except Cruise Critic has more than its share of regular posters who view this site as their own personal chat room where they come to pass the time of day and comment on everything or anything whether it affects them or not. Some of them actually cruise very little (they might have in the past, but no longer do) or haven't even cruised on HAL in the past 2-3 years.

When I say Cruise Critic is like that other popular site, just think of your favourite hotel in the world. That one you went to once or many times where everything was just so perfect and you wish you could return to anytime. Now log on to that other site and read the reviews. You will find people telling you about the horrible rude staff, the terrible room service, the awful food in the restaurant, the exorbitant cost of drinks, the dirty rooms, how the room THEY chose was too small, how they should have been upgraded but weren't, on and on ... Cruise Critic is no different!

Cruise Critic is very much like another site that "advises people on their trips ;)" except Cruise Critic has more than its share of regular posters who view this site as their own personal chat room where they come to pass the time of day and comment on everything or anything whether it affects them or not. Some of them actually cruise very little (they might have in the past, but no longer do) or haven't even cruised on HAL in the past 2-3 years.

 

When I say Cruise Critic is like that other popular site, just think of your favourite hotel in the world. That one you went to once or many times where everything was just so perfect and you wish you could return to anytime. Now log on to that other site and read the reviews. You will find people telling you about the horrible rude staff, the terrible room service, the awful food in the restaurant, the exorbitant cost of drinks, the dirty rooms, how the room THEY chose was too small, how they should have been upgraded but weren't, on and on ... Cruise Critic is no different!

Words of wisdom - thank you. Unfortunately some of those posters seem to spend all day every day on CC and then kind of take over a thread. In fairness, some are positive in their comments about HAL. Your analogy about the hotel is spot on.

There are plenty of positive reviews here, too. The difference is that they are upbeat and non-controversial, therefore they sink like a stone and disappear from sight or are quickly forgotten once the reviewer is home again and has finished his/her thread. Just as a quick example, here are a few recent positive/helpful HAL reviews. The first is Oosterdam, the second Nieuw Amsterdam, the third is Westerdam, and then I found a Zaandam review, just to mix it up:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2281285&highlight=oosterdam

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2275799&highlight=nieuw+amsterdam

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2279135&highlight=westerdam

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2269081&highlight=zaandam

And here's a link to my sister's blog that she kept while we recently did a Panama Canal transit in October:

https://twocruisingsisters.wordpress.com/

In summary, HAL suits our needs and interests very well, and we currently have two more cruises booked with them.

The HAL board is better than a few others! Because we don't sail exclusively with one line I will read several boards, and the negative comments seem to cross cruise lines. If you want some real fun, read the NCL board. The new CEO of NCL has implemented so many changes, that many on the NCL board consider non-consumer friendly, that long-time customers appear to be dropping like flies.

We were on the Eurodam this past June, and it was one of our best trips ever; food was very good, service was excellent, and I didn't notice smoking to be an issue. Granted, I've only been on two HAL cruises; one in 2009 the other this past June and didn't notice any glaring differences.

As one CD said he realized that about 5% of the passengers have to be unhappy to be happy.

We have sailed on some of the "maligned" ships here and have had no problems...of course it's not the QE2 or another high-end line, so we don't expect a high-end cruise...but we're VERY happy with what we get...a very comfortable room (and we've had everything from insides to SS), great itinerary (that's usually why we choose a cruise), wonderful staff (if you treat them right, they will treat you right), and overall a calm (no wet T-shirt contests), conservative bunch of passengers that we enjoy meeting.

We actually met someone the FIRST day of the cruise...before we had sailed...who was already making a list of the problems she was noticing!

We're schedule on the Nieuw Amsterdam for June and am sure that you will keep her in great shape for our cruise then...we're taking our family as a celebration of our 50th...so don't mess with the ship! ;-)

We were on the Westerdam last week for our eighth HAL cruise. Our expectations were exceeded. Sure, I noticed minor changes here and there, but I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again. The level of service provided by the crew was just as high as it was on our first HAL cruise in 2008. Don't let the opinions of other affect your cruise.

It's hard to have a bad day on a cruise ship!

We had a lovely cruise on NA recently. She's a beautiful ship in excellent shape with a friendly staff and crew. They'll take excellent care of you. Enjoy!

Make your own decisions about the food, the entertainment, the specialty restaurants and come back and share your positive experiences. Thanks, m--

Granted our first cruise was in the fall of 2012 and we have only cruised on HAL.... I have enjoyed every cruise- they all have the highs and lows but I have enjoyed every one.

One thing that I have noticed is all the of the HAL is going to hell in a hand basket sentiment that I read prior to a cruise on CC that I wonder 'what the hell' after the cruise.

I just chalk it up to I don't know what I am missing.

While I find HAL CC a wealth of information- all of the other noise and hand wringing I now leave to those with more time and sentiment on their hands.

Highlights include:

no trays in the Lido- oh the humanity

no white glove escort to the cabin- how will I get there?

what is the average age of HAL- were it not for my age it would be a death ship....humanitarian mission

petty disagreements/bash someone...hello Joannie? No horse in that race.

sommelier...hello? hello?

dress code in the MDR....google 'stitches rapper'- just be thankful this guy is not at the table next to you. Brick in yo face is a classic.

Edit: Ok, I'll admit I pour a glass of wine and read the smoking thread on a slow Friday night for s**ts and giggles.

steps off soap box and backs away...........

I do find a largely negative tone to most of the posts on this board. I think some cruisers and some posters feel as though they are not personally getting their money's worth on HAL the way they did when they first started cruising on HAL because other lines have made changes that make them more appealing in some posters' eyes.

My first cruise was in 1998 on the Veendam. Many things have changed since that first cruise, but the overall HAL experience is still the best vacation experience I can imagine for the money. I actually like that HAL is a bit old-fashioned. I do not need bells and whistles and all the latest technological gadgets. I love the quiet. I really cannot express how much I like and appreciate the quiet, both noise level and decor. I like that on the HAL ships none of my senses are overwhelmed.

I love that there is not a ton of options for dining, and that good meals are included in my cruise fare. I prefer the dining room to any of the upcharge specialty restaurants -- I like the variety in the dining room.

I like the ports HAL cruises to and the options that having smaller ships brings. I love the attentive staff.

I have never had a bad cruise. There have been a few things that I think could be improved on the ships, but none of them are enough to absolutely ruin my experience.

I notice that most of the negative comments come from either new-to-HAL cruisers who have unreal expectations or repeat HAL cruisers who long for the "good-old-days" or those that feel a sense of entitlement that went unsatisfied or jealousy of cruisers on other lines. I take most of those comments with a grain of salt because I know that what I want in a cruise -- quiet enjoyment of the public spaces and my private space, and transportation to and from the ports are is exactly what I'll get with HAL.

I am sure you'll have a great cruise.

Cruise Critic is very much like another site that "advises people on their trips ;)" except Cruise Critic has more than its share of regular posters who view this site as their own personal chat room where they come to pass the time of day and comment on everything or anything whether it affects them or not. Some of them actually cruise very little (they might have in the past, but no longer do) or haven't even cruised on HAL in the past 2-3 years.

 

When I say Cruise Critic is like that other popular site, just think of your favourite hotel in the world. That one you went to once or many times where everything was just so perfect and you wish you could return to anytime. Now log on to that other site and read the reviews. You will find people telling you about the horrible rude staff, the terrible room service, the awful food in the restaurant, the exorbitant cost of drinks, the dirty rooms, how the room THEY chose was too small, how they should have been upgraded but weren't, on and on ... Cruise Critic is no different!

I totally agree.

I do find a largely negative tone to most of the posts on this board. I think some cruisers and some posters feel as though they are not personally getting their money's worth on HAL the way they did when they first started cruising on HAL because other lines have made changes that make them more appealing in some posters' eyes.

 

My first cruise was in 1998 on the Veendam. Many things have changed since that first cruise, but the overall HAL experience is still the best vacation experience I can imagine for the money. I actually like that HAL is a bit old-fashioned. I do not need bells and whistles and all the latest technological gadgets. I love the quiet. I really cannot express how much I like and appreciate the quiet, both noise level and decor. I like that on the HAL ships none of my senses are overwhelmed.

 

I love that there is not a ton of options for dining, and that good meals are included in my cruise fare. I prefer the dining room to any of the upcharge specialty restaurants -- I like the variety in the dining room.

 

I like the ports HAL cruises to and the options that having smaller ships brings. I love the attentive staff.

 

I have never had a bad cruise. There have been a few things that I think could be improved on the ships, but none of them are enough to absolutely ruin my experience.

 

I notice that most of the negative comments come from either new-to-HAL cruisers who have unreal expectations or repeat HAL cruisers who long for the "good-old-days" or those that feel a sense of entitlement that went unsatisfied or jealousy of cruisers on other lines. I take most of those comments with a grain of salt because I know that what I want in a cruise -- quiet enjoyment of the public spaces and my private space, and transportation to and from the ports are is exactly what I'll get with HAL.

 

I am sure you'll have a great cruise.

I enjoyed reading your post and I feel exactly the same way. Between you and Taxmantoo, everything I wanted to say has been expressed (and probably more eloquently) so there is no need for me to write a long post. :)

Although I do understand that negativity abounds and people will complain long before they will say nice things, have never appreciated why they feel they must vocalize. Think I have sailed with the person making the complaint list while sitting in the terminal pre-boarding...

IMO, the world is a beautiful place full of amazing people and cultures, life is to be cherished, and if you are fortunate enough to be sailing on a cruise ship, be thankful and enjoy! We do know where our next meal is coming from (we may need to decide if the MDR or the Lido), we have a place to put our heads each night, we have clean clothes to wear, we are not ravaged by illness, and we are not my beautiful Tess who is in a war zone keeping our freedoms alive. Things change, maybe not totally to our liking but that is just life. We can always try to get it 'fixed' and make a suggestion to HAL - have seen it work in the past. If we dwell on the negative, we may miss the wonderful things of cruising, of life.

Just my opinions as everyone lives their life with the attitude they choose. My glasses are not rose colored but I choose to enjoy my half-full glass of life then refill it again.

take us away. You said it perfectly. If everything was perfect in this world it would be pretty boring. how lucky are we all to be able to comment on our cruising experiences.

Often when people post something negative on any aspect, those who make a contrary positive observation from their own experience are scornfully referred to as "HAL cheerleaders."

People get tired of seeing their honest input belittled and bashed...and pretty soon, they no longer waste the time to share the good stuff.

HAL has so many terrific features. Enjoy!

If people look hard enough, they can always find faults...

While I admit we did see some changes on our last cruise, we still had a fabulous time. Through our communications to the company following the trip, they did actually rectify one of our issues and apologized profusely about it too. I also admit reading the negativity about cutbacks and changes also had me worried for our upcoming trip but really, when you stop and think about it, we will be on a ship in a beautiful location, experiencing some new islands we have never visited. We will still get to do the things we like. The food will still be good and plentiful. Club HAL will still entertain our children. What else can we ask for? They are still also one of the safest lines - we hear more times about them coming to the rescue of other ships in distress than we hear about from other lines.

But no matter what, each of our HAL trips have far exceeded the other lines we have been on and we are glad we keep coming back.

Us: 3-star HAL; 60ish professional couple.

 

We are long time cruisers starting years ago on RCCL Song of Norway after which we were hooked on the cruise experience. Have cruised virtually every year since except for the last couple of years when other obligations intervened. Early on we cruised RCCL before migrating to Celebrity and HAL.

 

We settled on HAL for the reasons most have: theH more dignified atmosphere, the elegant service of the dining room staff, good food, relaxation.

 

We are scheduled on New Amsterdam January 2016 and so have starting reading this board again the last few months. I must say it is discouraging to read all of the negativity about the HAL experience of late. Our last cruise on Eurodam in 2013 certainly met our expectations. Sure we noticed the classical duo rather than the quartet and no live music in the MDR or in the shows but everything was what we have come to expect from HAL and thought the food was fine.

 

Reading this board, however, has me concerned. So many complaints about the ships, the food, the service, the smoking, the speciality restaurants, the entertainment.

 

So do I have reason to be concerned that my cruise will not be what I am expecting?

There's a lot of us out here who think HAL does a pretty good job. It seems that the most negative and cynical are often the most vocal. I've had issues with HAL in the past, but the problem was either handled immediately or a satisfactory adjustment on a future cruise was offered and accepted at a later date.

I'm not a big fan of "dumbing down" the dress code, but it doesn't interfere with our enjoyment of Gala Nights. Other changes like the suite enhancements are overdue but appreciated. All in all, HAL still offers a good cruise-vacation value.

Okay, I'll be the one who takes the low road...

Why is it so difficult to believe that some people have better experiences than others? I believe nothing is perfect, and I find people who post nothing but rosy red comments to be just as unbelievable as those who do nothing but whine about everything.

I recently went on the NOORDAM, and I was less than impressed. I still had a nice time, but it just wasn't my favorite (especially compared to my past HAL trips). Did I dislike everything? Of course not, but the experience has caused me to rethink whether or not I’ll sail on HAL again. If other folks went on the same cruise and had a wonderful time, well, that’s fantastic; good for them….glad to hear it. But this is Cruise Critic, and anytime you have a group of people in an open forum, there’s going to be differences of opinion.

Cruise Critic is a double-edged sword. People who write less than stellar reviews or comments are classified as whiners, and those who defend their favorite ship or line are often called “cheerleaders.” It’s obvious there’s no winning hand. As much as the administrators of Cruise Critic would like people to believe otherwise, the number of people who post here is very small compared to the number of people who actually cruise; the last thing I would do is worry about negative comments (from me or anyone else).

OP, relax. You are going to have a FANTAB time!

Really.

Is HAL as bad as the negative folks say, not in the least! I think a good portion of the nay sayer are emotionally bereft of the ability to experience enjoyment.

Is HAL as great as the cheerleaders say, not in the least! I think a good portion of the cheerleaders would say the same things about North Korea if they lived there.

You defined HAL best in your original post.

Again, you are going to have a FANTAB TIME!!