X or HAL?

[startpacking]

Thinking of a Panama Canal cruise and the only two cruiselines that have an itinerary I am interested in are X and HAL. I have been on X, only once a few years ago and I have never sailed on HAL. How do the two brands compare? I am particularly interested in hearing from people who have sailed on both cruiselines recently.

 

Thanks.

[Gonzo70]

They are fairly similar in that both tend to offer a more upscale, sophisticated experience than respective larger sister lines (RCI and Carnival) - focusing more on a relaxing, pampered, upscale experience versus a high energy, activity focused, party type atmosphere.

 

On average (i.e. across similar itineraries) HAL will attract a slightly older demographic than X. HAL's ships tend to be more classically styled with lots of brass, teak flooring, wrap-around-promenades whereas X's ships are more modern/innovative/chic. Celebrity's newer ships have a bit more to offer in terms of diversity of specialty restaurants, unique venues such as the Lawn Club (an area of the ship with natural grass). X has a more strict smoking policy. Both tend to be fairly similar in terms of the quality of the cuisine and service. My preference goes to X as I feel they are a bit more hip/chic than HAL, but I did have a good experience on HAL.

[Keith1010]

I have sailed both lines and prefer Celebrity I find the food and the entertainment to be better on Celebrity and find much more to do on the Celebrity ships than we did on HAL.

 

Keith

[lambcom]

I'll second what Gonzo said. The biggest HAL ship would be equivalent to an M class ship on Celebrity, hence more options with X. Both treat passengers exceptionally well. However, if smoking really bothers you, Celebrity wins hands down. My eyes ached for an hour from just walking through the HAL casino!

 

George +

[Cretia]

I'm going to preface this by saying I have not yet gone on a Celebrity ship.

 

My husband and I did the 15 day trip to Hawaii in October of 2007 for our honeymoon. The rooms were nice and comfortable. The food was exquisite. The service was impeccable.

 

Our fellow passengers were perhaps among the worst human beings I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. Our first introduction to our fellow passengers was on the first full day on the ship when we ventured to the buffet for lunch where I got an elbow in the stomach from an elderly "lady" that apparently felt she was going to pass on to the next life if she didn't get that piece of chicken she wanted. It was the only time there was physical contact on the boat, but old woman elbows are sharp and tend to hurt. As we were honeymooners, we didn't venture out much, but when we did, it was to a great deal of rude comments.

 

We never could figure out why our fellow passengers were so abusive. We were always dressed appropriately. We're nonsmokers and very quiet people. Later, our travel agent, who apparently knew this about HAL told us it was our age (late 20s at the time), but it was such a horrible, horrible experience that it's taken me close to 4 years to convince my husband to give cruising another try on a different line.

 

I'm hoping to go on a Celebrity cruise this fall.

 

We chose Holland America because his parents had taken a cruise to Alaska with them and loved it. They've since gone to the Caribbean and done the Panama Canal trip. They've had less problems with their fellow passengers than we did, although on the canal trip, they noted that the crowd was indeed older and meaner.

 

If you're closer to my parent's-in-law ages than you are to me and my husband, HAL might be okay for you. But despite the fact that I loved the staff and feel terrible about doing it, I will actively discourage anyone under the age of 60 from taking HAL.

 

Now I'm worried about Celebrity's "slightly younger" crowd. Perhaps we'll just have to stop cruising for the next 30 years or so....

 

/sigh

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

I have cruised with both lines multiple times. Most recently, I cruised on the Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Century in 2010 and the Zuiderdam in December 2009 (to the Panama Canal). I like both lines and think the products are fairly similar. However, I prefer Celebrity. The Celebrity product seems more contemporary (especially the decor of the newer ships) and the passengers are younger. Of course, the passenger age varies by itinerary. I think people who like Celebrity also will like Holland America.

 

My parents have done several longer cruises with Holland America (on the Amsterdam, multiple cruises on the Rotterdam and Prinsendam) and like Holland America. In fact, they most recently cruised on the Rotterdam earlier this year. My parents currently are aboard the Celebrity Equinox in the Mediterranean and have been raving about their cruise in e-mail to me. My mother has declared that the Celebrity Equinox has the best food and production shows that she has ever experienced on a ship.

 

Chuck

[DrKoob]

 

Now I'm worried about Celebrity's "slightly younger" crowd. Perhaps we'll just have to stop cruising for the next 30 years or so....

 

/sigh

 

Don't worry Cretia,

We have done both. You are going to LOVE X.

 

Jim

 

PS: To everyone else. We are Elite on X and sail her when we can. Just off a short one in Pac NW on HAL's Zaandam and enjoyed the ship but the smoke nearly killed me. I will not go back on HAL until they change their smoking policy to a lot closer to X.

 

I should add we had a horrible time with their "anytime dining" and found ourselves waiting up to an hour to get into the mostly empty dining room. Service was good when you could get it. Actually was the second person in line to get a latte at their "paid" coffee bar and it took almost 30 minutes. People behind came and gave up. Regular coffee on the ship was horrid. But I have had bad coffee on X.

 

If they fix their smoking policy we will go back as I like the smaller ships. We did Azamara last year and it was the best cruise ever but they have become so expensive. The Zaandam is about the size of Century and we are booked on her (Century) three times in the next year. S-class is just too big for us. Did Solstice in her third month and will go back only for an amazing itinerary. Love the M-class as well.

[gentlemancruiser]

I'll second what Gonzo said. The biggest HAL ship would be equivalent to an M class ship on Celebrity, hence more options with X. Both treat passengers exceptionally well. However, if smoking really bothers you, Celebrity wins hands down. My eyes ached for an hour from just walking through the HAL casino!

 

George +

 

I believe the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam are almost as large as the Solstice, however with HAL there's more space per passenger.

 

These comparison can be very subjective. It depends upon you and what is important to you when you cruise.

[CruiseAdict218]

I believe the Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam are almost as large as the Solstice, however with HAL there's more space per passenger.

 

These comparison can be very subjective. It depends upon you and what is important to you when you cruise.

 

The Solstice class is 122,000GT and the Signature Class is 86,000GT

[torybruno]

If you are under 70...Celebrity!!

[miched]

I'm going to preface this by saying I have not yet gone on a Celebrity ship.

 

 

Our fellow passengers were perhaps among the worst human beings I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. Our first introduction to our fellow passengers was on the first full day on the ship when we ventured to the buffet for lunch where I got an elbow in the stomach from an elderly "lady" that apparently felt she was going to pass on to the next life if she didn't get that piece of chicken she wanted. It was the only time there was physical contact on the boat, but old woman elbows are sharp and tend to hurt. As we were honeymooners, we didn't venture out much, but when we did, it was to a great deal of rude comments.

 

 

/sigh

 

We are seniors and it is unbelievable how rude some of the older people can be, especially what I refer to as the Condo Comandos that reside in FL. I am usually easy going, tolerant, and patient but being older I can/am allowed to give it back and I do if they get too pushy. If something like that happens again a upset plate does wonders and gets their attention real fast. ;)

 

The only HAL cruise we took was about 11 years ago and it was on the old Westerdam and we weren't impressed. We recently sailed on X and have another already scheduled. I think you will find it to be an enjoyable quite, relaxing elegant cruise. The no smoking policy is great and for us was an added bonus.

[worries gone]

Just got off the Eurodam this May and the Solstice a year ago. While the Eurodam is a perfectly fine ship both my wife and I prefer Celebrity and in fact just booked another cruise on X.

 

My wife loves going to the evening shows but was deeply disappointed in HAL's. We were also disappointed in the maps given to us regarding the ports and directions given for finding your way around, though the man giving a history of the ports was excellent. He knows his history.

 

Yes we found the passengers on HAL to be older than on X, but found everyone to be friendly. Service on HAL was good but seemed to miss the panache that Celebrity has.

 

As I said we just booked another cruise through Celebrity and I told my wife it felt like I was going home again.

[ariawoman]

I loved my HAL cruise (i'm 37) in the Mediterranean last fall and wouldn't hesitate to book with them again, though their new smoking policy taking effect on 1/15/2012 will make me less likely to book as I feel that I'll have more issues in a verandah room due to smokers being forced out to their verandahs.

 

The passengers were not all old (maybe because I did a med cruise, YMMV) and everyone was quite friendly. The staff was incredible, and the ship was spotless 24/7. I couldn't believe how often I'd find them cleaning everything. Felt very taken care of.

 

All that being said, while I wanted to remain loyal to 1 brand, X had the better price/itinerary/smoking policy for me so they won this year.

 

Go with whichever itinerary you like best, just because one passenger feels 1 way doesn't mean you will (which can of course be good or bad depending on how they felt).

[Gonzo70]

Now I'm worried about Celebrity's "slightly younger" crowd. Perhaps we'll just have to stop cruising for the next 30 years or so....

 

/sigh

 

I wouldn't give up cruising over that; just research the cruise lines so you can find the right line and ship to best suit you. HAL just happens to primarily attract a senior demographic. Some lines such as RCI and Carnival generally attract a young average demographic. Princess is somewhat in the middle and Celebrity a bit older, but not as old as HAL. Within the same cruise line the longer the cruise the older the demographic. Also within the same cruise line the newer and larger ships tend to have more venues that appeal to 20 and 30 somethings. Cruise Critic is a great site to utilize to research a future cruise and find something that best fits your needs.

[startpacking]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

I'll admit, in the past I have read about HAL catering to an older demographic, however, never have I encountered comments like Cretia's. Cretia, I am happy to report I did not encounter similar problems when I cruised on X, and I was much younger than many of the passenger's onboard.

 

I have sailed on a few different cruise lines, and sadly I have encounted rude passengers on all the cruiselines I've travelled with. To be fair, one cannot blame the cruiseline for passenger's who are rude. I have travelled (by land, not on a cruise), with some very very inconsiderate people, and I know better than to let these people spoil a destination for me. I suppose somepeople think nothing of spoiling things for others, sad but true.

[StartrainDD]

We really like both lines. I have a slight preference for HAL and DW has a slight preference for X. In so many ways we find the experience to be similar.

 

However, if you are considering the Panama cruise on the Infinity, from personal experience I can't say enough good things about the cruise. We found the entertainment was the best we have ever had on a cruise, and X went "Above and beyond" what we expected in so many ways. DW just loves the Spa Cafe on X and we both really like the T-Pool in the solarium.

 

There is of course something to be said about HAL's smaller ships, and generally slightly larger cabins. But if I was going to do the Canal again, I would not hesitate to go on Infinity.

 

Now that I said all that, if I could hop on a Canal cruise on the Amsterdam (the best "Dam" ship or any ship I've even been on) that would be a wonderful choice!

 

Either way, I think you will have a great time - and watch out for those elbows in the buffet! (We try to avoid the buffet)

[Pilot70D]

We do cruise on both and have enjoyed each and every voyage. However, we much prefer Celebrity.

Over a period of time we saw the service level on HAL go downhill not because HAL personnel were unwilling but because of manpower cutbacks dictated by management. As of right now we believe that the overall quality of the Celebrity product is better and in some specific areas is much better. We do look at itenerary and price before making our decision.

 

Never loose sight of the fact though that for a while HAL was considering naming their most recent new ship the Geritolendam. :D

:):)

[dabear]

We've been on both and they are comparable with some differences as noted above. HAL tends to be more classic style with smoking allowed. X tends to be more modern with better food. Both have good service and the age of pax imho is more based on the length and itinerary of the cruise. If there is a significant difference in price, I would go with the better deal, but in general we prefer X. Of course if you go on the HAL thread you probably will get different opinions.

[CathyCruises]

I will say that I noticed many more older pax on our Caribbean cruise with =X= than on our Mediterranean ones. We dubbed it the "WWC Cruise" for wheelchairs, walkers, and canes--not, of course, that there's anything wrong with that! :) Just an observation. . .