HAL or CRYSTAL ALASKA 2011?

[califgary]

This may be a dumb question but we have to decide on an Alaska Cruise between HAL (deluxe veranda suite) and Crystal (reg balcony suite) We are just off the OOSTERDAM and really enjoyed the experience - booked a 14 day Alaska out of Seattle while on board - already had a deposit for Crystal 10 day out of SF.

 

Never done Crystal but heard they are really good price of both cruises same although different lengths. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Input appreciated

[rafinmd]

I'll start with a suggestion to ask the same question on the Crystal forum and I'm going a bit out on a limb attempting to answer on this forum. I have 2 past HAL cruises and am thinking of one more, and 8 with Crystal and 4 more currently booked. I think you would absloutely LOVE the Crystal experience, but I must say I would never book them for Alaska.

 

Many people who try Crystal are unwilling to go back to another cruise line. That is a potential pitfall for you, it can be a big pain in the wallet. The reason I would choose HAL over Crystal is the nature of Alaska.

 

I pretty much refuse to go there without actually spending some time in Alaska itself. To me, a round trip from the Northwest simply doesn't provide an opportunity to fully experience Alaska. If you've never been there I greatly support spending some time there on a cruise tour (HAL is excellent for this) or on your own. If you really want to do a round trip and Crystal appeals to you, then absolutely go for it.

[MightyQuinn]

Our first cruise was to Alaska with HAL almost 20 years ago. At that time, nobody did Alaska better than HAL. Their itineraries & access into the Great Land was unparalleled. I think that remains true to this day.

 

However, if you're considering a more upmarket product like Crystal, you may also wish to consider Oceania. In 2011, they will begin sailing to Alaska on their 684-pax ship Regatta. They have recently announced several very interesting itineraries, including 10-12 day round trips ex-Vancouver and 14-day voyages ex-San Francisco.

[SwissMyst]

We were very underwhelmed with the "Crystal Experience". Marketing hype and under-delivery. Did not like the ship overall and were very happy to find a far more compatible home on HAL. Crystal cabins are very small. I would choose the better cabin on HAL in an instant, particularly when cruising Alaska where you will want to enjoy having these expansive cabin views.

 

Public viewing spots on Crystal are very limited and unaccommodating. Dining room is unappealing, dark, low-ceilinged and claustrophobic compared to HAL ships. The food it not that much better, and a lot worse for a lot of items particularly the fresh baked breads which are terrible on Crystal.

 

The "Crystal Experience" is vastly over-rated and over priced. Glad to hear they are finally coming down in their prices, but what does that really tell you? That it was never a good deal in the first place. The shore excursion and lectures were the worst and the most expensive we had had on any cruise line. HAL staff is far more uniformly professional, smiling and courteous. A lot more random on Crystal.

 

Go with the largest cabin for this cruise and the longest itinerary for the best price. And that almost 100% means choosing HAL.

[gillianrose]

rafinmd: To add to what Mighty Quinn said, there is also an Oceania itinerary that is not round-trip and will let you spend time in Alaska.

 

It's called "Glacial Wilderness" and it is 12 days between Vancouver and Anchorage, with visits to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Hoonah, Skagway, Sitka, Seward and Homer.

 

Departs June 17 & 29, July 11 & 23.

[marienbad]

Of course SwissMyst is entitled to their opinion concerning Crystal. We have the opposite opinion. We much prefer Crystal.

To some extent it depends on individual preferences. We prefer a less crowded ship, with superlative service and cuisine. I am surprised about the description of the Crystal dining room as dark. To us it is light, elegant, and the service and cuisine are superb. There are also two superb specialty restaurants on Crystal: Prego (Italian) and Silk Road (a Japanese restaurant run by Nobu). There is the Bistro for specialty coffees, scones etc. all complimentary. For breakfast in the Lido one gets fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh berries all the time, all manner of omlets, cereals. I could go on and on, but wont. You get the idea, and HAL is fine but not up to Crystal's standard in this area.

The shows on Crystal are much better than HALs. As we said, you never feel crowded on Crystal (the Symphony is a 60,000 ton ship for 900 passengers). It is true that Crystal balcony cabins are smaller than HAL's deluxe verandas.

Of course the major focus of an Alaska cruise is Alaska, and Crystal will provide superior destination lecturers than HAL. As to viewing areas, You will have no trouble enjoying the majesty of Alaska on either cruiseline, though on Crystal there will be fewer people in front of you on the viewing decks.

As to price, I suspect Crystal is somewhat more expensive, but you will not be nickle-and- dimed. Also there is a $500 per person as you wish credit to use for tours etc.

We will be going on Crystal to Alaska May 22nd 2011. It will be our 6th cruise to Alaska, and we expect it to be the best.

[califgary]

Thanks for all the very helpful info - realizing everyone's experience varies it does help to get some first hand experiences. Going to be a tough choice we dont sail until June 2011 so its worth letting some bucks hold both cruises until we make a final choice. Also this will give me time to hear from good folks like you all with their thoughts.

 

Keep those opinons coming in they are much appreciated

[Aunty Pat]

If you:

• want formal nights where everyone in the public rooms stay dressed up for the whole evening,
  
• miss caviar and lobster on the menu and at the special sea day lunch buffets it is all you can eat
  
• want ballroom dancing every night
  
• want bridge every day
  
• want lectures series on health, the history of the destinations you’ll visit and politics
  

Crystal is for you. It is cruisen glike it use to be.

Aunty Pat

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

[AlanAllyn]

Crystal is a 12-day itinerary from SF. We did that cruise in 2005 and will be doing the HAL Amsterdam 14-day RT Seattle this June.

 

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Crystal also, but Swissmyst went overboard IMHO. If you wait until July, I can give a better comparison (since this is my first HAL cruise).

 

With that said, Alaska is a place you sail for the itinerary and HAL wins that hands down. Crystal wastes 1+ days each way in the sometimes rough (it was for us northbound) waters of the Pacific and visits only 4 Alaskan ports. It visits Tracy Arm (no real glacier siting) or Glacier Bay or Hubbard glacier. HAL visits Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier (this year Glacier Bay instead of Tracy Arm and that might happen again if they get some permits closer to sail time as it did this year) and 7 Alaskan ports, including Anchorage.

 

I can't compare the experience on the two, but my feeling was that Crystal ranked somewhat higher than Celebrity, but the price difference is too much for my budget.

[cpinstein]

I went on my first Crystal cruise last November, and it was a game changer. Absolutley loved every second of it. I had already booked HAL for the Norway Fjords this June, and am somewhat dreading the ship experience. (Sailed them a couple of years ago). Once you've been to the mountaintop on Crystal, it's hard to do anything else. My only complaint is that the cabins are not big. They are an adequate size, very beautiful, and very accommodating.

 

That being said, we were never in the cabin. We were always at lectures, etc. Not the "fun and games" of the bigger ships. There is nothing that Crystal didn't and wouldn't do for us. I've traveled a lot of cruise lines, and if you can afford it, I would do Crystal hands down. We're going on them in November out of Lisbon.

 

I can't seak to the itineraries, but the sea days on Crystal are incredible. Food is not to be believed, and I promise you won't have any trouble seeing the sites from the ship.

 

Good luck.

[martinimadam]

I've sailed on both Crystal and HAL numerous times. HAL is a wonderful experience, don't get me wrong, but, Crystal is extraordinary! I'm a solo cruiser, so the price difference can really be a big deal. I kind of "save up" for Crystal, watching for a low single supplement on a cruise I want to take. But, I happily board HAL when the cruise is appealing. I'll be going this September on HAL from Vancouver to San Diego (via the Inland Passage!). Really looking forward to it.

 

As cpinstein implied, once you've cruised on Crystal, it's awfully hard to go on another cruiseline. But, believe me, it can be done. I just adjust my expectations a little and it's fine.

[SwissMyst]

I was excited to hear you could have caviar every night on Crystal until I tasted it. It was tinned, mushy and terrible. No way would I want the stuff the served every night. That explains the hype about Crystal. Most of what they claim they offer is not all that good, even though it sounds good. Not good enough any way for the extra premium prices they charge. That is where it all breaks down when you actually price out the daily differences in prices.

 

Is a marginally better meal actually worth about $700 a day more? The specialty restaurants on Crystal again were not all that good. Certainly not worth the extra charges for Crystal.

 

The one thing Crystal has is more high-end finishings and more coordinated interior decor than HAL ships. HAL ships are a bit fusty. But again is the decor for a few days worth the thousands of dollars more? Everyone can make these decisions for themselves but it is only fair to get down to the exact details that make up the alleged "Crystal" experience.

 

Go for the best cabin and the best itinerary for the same price. Which ever line offers you that between HAL and Crystal. You can only eat so much so any marginal differences in food again simply may not be worth the extra thousands of dollars. Plus Crystal simply does not even come close to HAL's fresh baked breads or even their ice cream. Both have pretty lousy desserts.

 

You do get more pretentious, affected service on Crystal because they have to do something to make their claims. If you like having to wait to be escorted to your table every night on the arm of a phalanx of waiting waiters (boring and a nuisance we thought), then this is one "value-added" Crystal can claim. Again, is this worth the thousands of extra dollars? Whatever.

 

If you are low down on the cabin pecking order on Crystal, (which we were - obstructed view room) you will find this to be a very ordinary cruising experience. It was more a joke for us simply because there was so much pre-cruise hype about this line. End result - a very ordinary, over-priced trip on a large ship. Lousy lectures (very shallow topics) and shore excursions to boot which is apparently where they "use" your on-board credits - by over-pricing the shore excursions.

[marienbad]

Once again we acknowledge that SwissMyst had a poor experience on Crystal. We as others have found it to be the best in the World. By the way, HAL in the suites is quite expensive.

We have not had poor experiences on HAL; only ones that did not compare to Crystal.

De gustibus non disputandum est.

[SwissMyst]

Once again we acknowledge that SwissMyst had a poor experience on Crystal. We as others have found it to be the best in the World. By the way, HAL in the suites is quite expensive.

We have not had poor experiences on HAL; only ones that did not compare to Crystal.

De gustibus non disputandum est.

 

SwissMyst had an ordinary experience with Crystal; not a poor experience with Crystal. The joke was paying twice as much as HAL, for this very ordinary experience. It wasn't a bad experience; it was just a very poor way to spend that much money all things considered.

 

I raise this only for those who want to cost out the "Crystal Difference" so they can see for themselves if getting slightly better food ..sometimes.... is worth the thousands of dollars more, when it still is mass-produced food.

 

How much does that lousy can of tinned caviar really mean when you see how much more you are paying for the privilege of getting it served to you every day? If the idea of getting served (lousy, tinned, mushy) caviar everyday is important, then the thousands of dollars more will be worth it.

 

We learned quickly we would rather do twice the traveling with HAL, but this may only apply to those of us who are travel penny-pinchers. We confess. We are. That is not the right attitude to take on a Crystal Cruise. You have me there.

 

But mainly, it was the small cabins that made no sense for all the Crystal hype or the poor locations when they were offering "sale" prices. (Noisy, near the exterior exhaust fans which for some reason were located on the promenade deck)

 

Caveat Emptor.

[cpinstein]

I found the food in the specialty restaurants on Crystal absolutely fantastic.

 

The service all over the ship was beyond belief. I felt like I owned the ship. Nothing pretentious. Whatever I needed, I was gladly accommodated. For example, my husband woke up with a cough one day. I called the concierge, who said we could cancel our shore excursion scheduled for 2 hours later. No charge.

 

Got a fabulous recommendation for a restaurant in the Caymens from the concierge.

 

After the first day at breakfast in the LIdo, 3-4 waiters knew our names, brought coffee like we like it. How did they remember? Truly amazing.

 

Our lecturers were world renown. If you like golf, how aboutr Billy Casper regaling us with tales of his Masters wins? My friend was ont he Baltic. How about the author who wrote the definitive book on Nicholas and Alexandra before a visit to St Petersburg?

 

Now I do agree that everything is expectations, and if sights are set too high, you can't help but be disappointed. I'm sorry the other poster did not have such a great experience. However, there is a reason that Crystal was voted best cruise line 14 years in a row.

[PennyAgain]

Comparing the two for Alaska ONLY. HAL spends more time actually in Alaska on the 14 day trips, actually docks in Anchorage, visits Homer and Kodiak and gets around Alaska very well.

 

Crystal does the round trip from San Francisco and only visits the old and weary port towns of Juneau and Ketchikan with some glacier viewing.

 

What do you really want?

 

Crystal prices for Alaska are sky high. Ridiculous! The high end dress code on Crystal is of no interest to me for Alaska. I have cruised on Crystal and don't like the snob atmosphere of 'Crystal is so superior and so are we for cruising on Crystal'. Been there and had that!

 

HAL has offered me a much better price for Alaska for 2011.

[SwissMyst]

Comparing the two for Alaska ONLY. HAL spends more time actually in Alaska on the 14 day trips, actually docks in Anchorage, visits Homer and Kodiak and gets around Alaska very well.

 

Crystal does the round trip from San Francisco and only visits the old and weary port towns of Juneau and Ketchikan with some glacier viewing.

 

What do you really want?

 

Crystal prices for Alaska are sky high. Ridiculous! The high end dress code on Crystal is of no interest to me for Alaska. I have cruised on Crystal and don't like the snob atmosphere of 'Crystal is so superior and so are we for cruising on Crystal'. Been there and had that!

 

HAL has offered me a much better price for Alaska for 2011.

 

Seems like getting your name remembered is one of Crystal's most oft-repeated value addeds. You hit the nail on the head with the rest of it.

 

Methinks Crystal sells "bragging rights", more than an authentic travel experience.

[NancyIL]

My mom loved Crystal, and she went to Alaska with them in 2000 for her 75th birthday. However, my travel budget is much tighter than that of the average Crystal cruiser. As far as I am concerned, Alaska is all about the itinerary, so I booked the 14-night HAL Amsterdam cruise for 2011.

[igraf]

You could also add that one could take every meal in the Pinnacle on HAL and still be way ahead on costs (and have meals second to none).

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

 

Is a marginally better meal actually worth about $700 a day more? The specialty restaurants on Crystal again were not all that good. Certainly not worth the extra charges for Crystal.

 

[califgary]

Again getting so much great info on this board - appreciate the discussion. Update on my situation: We were just off a HAL 10 day Mexico cruise (our first with HAL) and did the Future Cruise deal and reserved the 14day out of Seattle in June 2011 (for $200 bucks it is worth it while we decide) - we got a Superior Veranda suite (550 SQ) - the Crystal cruise is actually about $300 less than HAl but it is in a "B" category balcony cabin (around 200 SQ). So price isnt the decider (would actually cost more for us to get to Seattle as we live in San Francisco).

 

We spend a lot of time in our cabin/balcony so space is important but not critical - I dont think we'd go nuts in the smaller cabin.

 

We booked Crystal cuz it is the first line out of the gate going to Alaska from San Francisco that I could find - but as has been mentioned the HAL itinerary is more about Alaska.

 

Also Im getting the impression if you dont have a better room on Crystal than we do - the experience overall isnt that awesome, is this right?

 

Again thanks for this great discussion folks!

[marienbad]

The experience on Crystal is awesome no matter what cabin you take. When we cruise on Crystal we will take the least expensive balcony cabin, and we have essentially the same experience as those in penthouses. The balcony cabin on HAL is bigger than the one on Crystal, but we have been very comfotable on both cruiselines. We spend time in the cabin, particularly on the balcony when the weather is warm. But when are you going to Alaska? Generally we spend less time in the cabin in Alaska than say the Caribbean. And once you leave the cabin, on Crystal there are many delightful venues to relax in. Given the difference in passenger load on Crystal compared to HAL, you will never feel crowded on Crystal.

As to price, you would be getting some extra days on the HAL cruise, and that is a plus. Crystal offers As You Wish onboard credit, but since you made a future booking on HAL, you will have some onboard credit there too.

As I suggested in a previous response, we think Crystal offers better cuisine, service, entertainment and lectures. We like HAL (in a suite with access to the Neptune lounge), but we much prefer Crystal.

[SwissMyst]

7day Mexican Riviera

 

Oosterdam (Reg) _____________Crystal (Sale)

$799 _______________________ $2730-$3230 ________ Reg. Verandah

$1499 _________ Sup. Verandah

$1899 __________ Deluxe Verandah

 

 

Ordinary HAL Verandah: $144 a day

 

Ordinary Crystal Verandah: $428 a day

 

Only $284 a day per person more for all the caviar you can eat on Crystal, in your small ordinary Crystal verandah room.

 

Versus all the perks you get with HAL Deluxe Verandah for $271 a day, compared to Crystal ordinary Verandah at $428 per person (on sale only)

 

And thus, is the Crystal "difference". The question I keep asking, is the $284 per person a day worth it? Yes, for some. No, for others.

 

HAL, how do you do it so well for so little!!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D

[marienbad]

This thread concerns HAL or Crystal in Alaska, not the Mexican Riviera. Cailifgary stated that the price on Crystal for the Alska cruise was actually somewhat cheaper than HAL, and the Crystal price includes airfare. But Crystal is a luxury line, while HAL is not, and the 2011 prices on Crystal are generally higher than other cruiselines such as HAL, but not Regent or Seabourn.

We have many good choices to decide on, and can select the cruise that provides the best value which is not synonymous with the cheapest.

[garydm]

We have done Alaska a number of times including HAL and Crystal. It is a tough decision. The cabins on Crystal are no nicer than HAL cabins, but as you point out you can get a lot more room on HAL for the same money. We very much like Crystal and have consistently had great cruises with them. We have met some very nice people onboard.

 

A big plus I see for you is your proximity to San Francisco. When we did the 10-12 day (can't remember how long it was) RT from San Francisco we took the train to Emeryville and the Amtrak bus dropped us in front of the terminal. No flights=happier Gary.

 

For the price HAL offers more spacious cabins and good solid service. The Crystal specialty restaurants, the Bistro, food in general, and their better and less expensive wine list argue for Crystal.

 

You can't go wrong on the two options you are considering

 

Gary

[SwissMyst]

You are correct. It was an Alaska cruise - I see Crystal is offering free airfare (though they make you register to get the details) and their standard 2 for 1 "specials" off their list prices for the 2011 cruises if you sign up by October 2010:

 

Crystal - 12 day Alaska - 2011 - cheapest balcony - $6,095 per person

 

(List price for a Crystal 12 day trip is $13,330 - List per couple - $26,660)