What activities are on board to do?

[Stevie44875]

I'm a loyal RCI cruiser and have been thinking about trying a new cruise line. I'm 28 and enjoy a relaxing cruise...no screaming kids, no loud/drunk college kids. Holland has seemed to be my next choice so i'm wondering what free activities are there to do on board on cruising days? I'm usually up for trying anything. Also how would you rate their entertainment? Thanks for the help.:)

[fann1sh]

I'm happy with Holland America, but I find free activities HAL's biggest weakness. There are few scheduled activities, and few of the venues Royal Caribbean has (ice rink, rock wall, etc.).

 

There is a daily quiz available in the Explorations Lounge/library at 9 am. This is an "open book exam". You can use the library to research answers, or even go around asking fellow passengers, and spend as much or as little time as you want. The person who turns in the most correct answers (earliest time, in event of a tie) gets a small prize, their answers posted, and bragging rights.

 

There is daily team trivia. Teams of 6 put their heads together to answer 20 questions given by the cruise director. Usually takes about 40 minutes, held in the Crow's Nest, drinks available. Without question, this is the most popular of the daytime activities.

 

There's a daily cooking demonstration. Ship or guest chef will demonstrate recipe prep. This is usually waaay more fun than it sounds.

 

There are often mild sporting games on sea days. There may be golf putting in the Atrium. One day there will be a Walk for the Cure to raise breast cancer funds/awareness.

 

Movies will be shown in the same venue as the cooking demonstrations are held. Free popcorn. However, the screens are only medium sized, and the films are generally the same ones shown in cabin on the TV.

 

On some cruises, there's a week long shipbuilding challenge. If you get on a ship with master ship builder Cruisinetta, join her team!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1279842

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1178843

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1288836

 

There are free casino classes the first day, spa tours (often with free champagne), free wine at the art auctions, the usual gimmicks to get you interested.

 

Digital workshops/computer classes are free, and provided by Microsoft. While some of the info is basic, most people can learn new tips, especially regarding their photos.

 

Each ship has quite a lot of art aboard, as well as antiques/museum items. Each ship provides a free IPOD tour of the ship's art, etc.

 

There's a great library on most ships, many more up to date best sellers than you find on RCI. In addition to the books you can check out during the cruise, there's always a "leave a book, take a book" free exchange shelf.

 

Once a cruise, there will be a free galley tour. It's not very long or extensive.

 

There's a daily tea, but once a week there will be either a Royal Dutch Tea or an Indonesian Tea, usually held in the dining room. Quite fancy - treat for the eyes and the stomach.

 

However, your daily program won't be overflowing with options. Far fewer activities than on Royal Caribbean ships. There are no games like "Pictionary", or "Taboo".

 

In the evening, there will be two sittings of the same show; the disco will be open (although not every ship has one); and the piano bar will have entertainment. I find the production shows are usually weak. Comics, magicians, musicians tend to be better. However, after the second show, on some sailings the nightlife just dies. It really does vary a lot according to the passengers on a particular voyage.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten many free things, and hope other posters give you more info.

[catl331]

Happy Holidays Fannish: Just ran into Linda from Missouri on our Ryndam cruise and we formed a Trivia Team with a couple from CO. We won a coffee mug!:D

[fann1sh]

Happy Holidays Fannish: Just ran into Linda from Missouri on our Ryndam cruise and we formed a Trivia Team with a couple from CO. We won a coffee mug!:D

 

Wonderful! And here's some holiday cheer for you and JTL513:

 

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2579381589899&source=jl999

 

Which reminds me of another free HAL activity: meet and greet with your roll call. There's a "sticky" on the main page about this (second to last).

 

It isn't the *number* of free activities on HAL that counts. It's the amazing people you meet.

[JJPacer]

There is dancing with a live band in several venues. You can choose the genre that you enjoy. They try to please everyone. They'll have a latin night, Rock & Roll night, disco night, caribbean night etc. Also, there are other performers. Such as a clasical guitarist, string quartet, piano bar etc. The music director and lead singer did a cabret show on an at sea day, that was wonderful. Karaoke is popular. The Truth or lies was a very funny show.

 

They have free dance classes and teach you the basics of several dances. These are always popular.

 

You can request DVD movies for free and watch them in your stateroom.

 

You can have breakfast delivered to your cabin for free. (small tip customary) You can always request a complimentary fruit bowl for your cabin, and ask for a refill of the fruits you eat and want to have more.

 

Did anyone mention Bingo?

 

The library is wonderful, and the computer classes are free and fantastic. DH is very computer savvy, but learned new things and enjoyed them.

 

We thought there was plenty to do on the ship. You will also enjoy your port days. Hal has great itineraries.

[DRWhit]

I have cruised on HAL (Veendam) and RCI (FOS) and there was a marked difference in entertainment, but that was mostly due to the different size of the two ships I think.

 

The quality of the entertainers on the Veendam was very high, with the singers much better than on FOS. But there were only two dancers (which was a little awkward) and the production shows had no chance to match the more lavish and technical shows on the FOS. Also, I don't think HAL has anything like the Quest show we saw on FOS.

[Alcarondas]

I think the previous posters have hit all the free stuff. For various fees they also have wine tastings of various levels of expense/expertise; cooking classes where you participate, rather than just watch; the usual frou-frou spa indulgences; art auctions, etc.

 

The evening entertainment (pre- or post-dinner, depending on when you dine) breaks out by venue. The Ocean Bar will feature a small jazz/soft-rock combo playing dancy music (more foxtrot than mosh pit); the Explorer's Lounge will have a string trio or quartet playing classical music (look for the plate of decadent chocolates); On ships with a disco, there will be a DJ playing contemporary(ish) dance music, but with various "theme" nights (50's, 80's, Country, etc.); On ships without a disco, the Crow's Nest will do this with a DJ and/or live band. Otherwise, the CN will feature an instrumentalist of some sort (solo guitar or piano, usually) playing lighter stuff; the aptly-named Piano Bar (or Mix on some ships) will feature predictable sing-alongs. Also, some venues (Ocean Bar for sure) will serve various hors d'ouvres before dinner.

 

Most "entertainment" on HAL ships is of the self-guided sort. Most ships will have a sports court of some kind (basketball, volleyball, tennis, etc), but it's largely self-service. You won't find anything more strenuous than that (i.e., no zip lines, flow riders, rock walls, etc.). If you don't mind a ship and cruise director/staff who will mostly encourage you to amuse yourself, you'll have an enjoyable time. Grab a good book and a teak deck lounger and chill out. On the other hand, if you like to be bewildered by choices and constantly entertained, you might get bored.

[George C]

We have done 11 RCCL and just finished a HAL cruise, there were a couple of trivia, we just won once, I thought nightly entertainment was very good. Shows in main room were good ( we were on the Westerdam )

[SwissMyst]

I'm a loyal RCI cruiser and have been thinking about trying a new cruise line. I'm 28 and enjoy a relaxing cruise...no screaming kids, no loud/drunk college kids. Holland has seemed to be my next choice so i'm wondering what free activities are there to do on board on cruising days? I'm usually up for trying anything. Also how would you rate their entertainment? Thanks for the help.:)

 

In all our 5 HAL cruises we never once saw what you are trying to avoid, so I think you are off to a good new choice.

 

For free activities, I like the cruise director interviews with various ships personnel which is usually done in the mornings on cruise days which also allow for audience questions. Watch your daily program for these as they go by different names.

 

Nothing personalizes a trip more than getting this background introduction and learning about what goes on in the back of the house. There are also tours of the ship's kitchens and backstage with the entertainers. Those too are also excellent.

 

The evening entertainment is always at least entertaining if not always top quality. They stick to fairly standard music selections that hit the right target with the average ages of the passengers - most are recognizable which helps any lack of talent with at least some familiar enthusiasm. Crew shows are fun but sorry they are so late (11pm) that we often cannot get to both of them.

 

I have found the "shopping tips" programs worthless and even insulting, but port excursion lectures usually helpful and give tips about what to expect with each shore excursion. Maps and information offered in the daily programs before port stops leaves a lot to be desired so it pays to do your own port homework ahead of time, or online or try and get copies of travel books at the ship library.

 

The best lectures we found are the more enrichment type lectures on broader topics appropriate to the areas visiting like the one about the real story of the "pirates of the Caribbean", their history and famous personages and how pirate imagery evolved over time. We learned pirate ships used to fly a solid red flag giving rise to the name "jolie rouge" (trans: pretty red) which over time became "Jolly Roger". And since a ship's flag was often the first spotted sign of identification on the high sea they tried to look as menancing as possible, hence the addition of the skull and cross-bones. Fun stuff.

[Stevie44875]

Thanks for all the information! It will help to decide if my next cruise will be with Holland or Royal.

[PCruzer]

Some cruises offer craft classes. We were on the Maasdam this past July for the Voyage of the Vikings cruise out of Boston. There was a different crafting class every day! I especially enjoyed these classes!

[CTBob]

I'm a loyal RCI cruiser and have been thinking about trying a new cruise line. I'm 28 and enjoy a relaxing cruise...no screaming kids, no loud/drunk college kids. Holland has seemed to be my next choice so i'm wondering what free activities are there to do on board on cruising days? I'm usually up for trying anything. Also how would you rate their entertainment? Thanks for the help.:)

We just returned from a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I guess because of the time of year and some special promotions there were more children on board than ever before. They weren't really bad, but I'm way past that stage of life and if I want to go with the Grandkids we'll do Disney Cruise Lines. From now on I'm sticking to the 10 day cruises. However the entertainment was the best I have experienced on HAL.

[Hawaiidan]

Holland is more for people who can entertain themselves.. So0 so shows were of questionable worth oth of 14 nights I considered only 2 shows good... the rest average to poor.

Nice little movie theater, Great Piano Bar. Not many late night activites after 10..... most people are day folks... not night life/clubbers; just my observation.

 

I avoid and cruise shorter than 14 ( prefer 21 or longer) and pick when there is no school vacation because the adult Children wont or dont supervise their little darlings. Kids can really ruin an otherwise great relaxing experience..... pick carefully. Longer trip is kid insurance.:o

 

Cruise ports in Mexico seem to attract a lot of drinkers and bar-types,

Pick cruise ports that are not popular resorts but are rich in cultural or historic interest....

[monakayk]

Also, some venues (Ocean Bar for sure) will serve various hors d'ouvres before dinner.

 

.

 

:confused:Can you (or anyone) explain more about the hors d'ouvres before dinner that are served in the Ocean Bar? Are these free?

[lvz2cruz]

Thanks for all the information! It will help to decide if my next cruise will be with Holland or Royal.

 

Have you considered Celebrity?

They are comparable to HAL but have a good assortment of daily activities. There are some kids but probably not as many as RCI and very rarely drunks. Your Crown and Anchor status on Royal will be matched in Celebrity perks.