beachbum6264 Posted March 1, 2013 #1 Share Posted March 1, 2013 We just booked our first HAL cruise. While this is not my first cruise I do understand that all cruise lines are different. What do you wish you had known for your first (or second, or third) HAL cruise? Any great tips? What not to miss, what to skip? Inside info to share? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taxguy77 Posted March 1, 2013 #2 Share Posted March 1, 2013 1. HAL is not as premium as I had thought, maybe you expect more, too. 2. We sailed on the Rotterdam, which has magnificient art work throughout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRL_Joanie Posted March 1, 2013 #3 Share Posted March 1, 2013 We just booked our first HAL cruise. While this is not my first cruise I do understand that all cruise lines are different. What do you wish you had known for your first (or second, or third) HAL cruise? Any great tips? What not to miss, what to skip? Inside info to share?Thanks in advance. I wish I'd known ahead of my first HAL cruise just how awesome they were and still are, BTW:) The ambiance, classiness, near spotlessness, friendliness of the crew, the look of the ship itself, the offerings on board and most especially the stateroom photos, are what I'd have liked to read and see mor of before our first cruise. I still cannot believe just how awesome HAL is!! While it may not be top of the line or premium like Silver Sea or Azamura are purported to be, but it is in hubby and my eyes, the best cruise line for us to date and the classiest!! Joanie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetocruise2020 Posted March 1, 2013 #4 Share Posted March 1, 2013 What ship, cabin catagory and sailing are you on? We can help you more that way. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northshorecruisers Posted March 1, 2013 #5 Share Posted March 1, 2013 I wish I'd known ahead of my first HAL cruise just how awesome they were and still are, BTW:) The ambiance, classiness, near spotlessness, friendliness of the crew, the look of the ship itself, the offerings on board and most especially the stateroom photos, are what I'd have liked to read and see mor of before our first cruise. I still cannot believe just how awesome HAL is!! While it may not be top of the line or premium like Silver Sea or Azamura are purported to be, but it is in hubby and my eyes, the best cruise line for us to date and the classiest!! Joanie I have to agree with everything Joanie said :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbum6264 Posted March 1, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted March 1, 2013 What ship, cabin catagory and sailing are you on? We can help you more that way. :) We are on the Noordam, ocean-view cabin for the 21 day Wayfarer/Seafarer in Jan 2014. All we are expecting is to have a great time! We are both retiring at the end of May, and this is our way of keeping away from the cold weather next winter :D We love to snorkel and will be looking for the best beaches on this itinerary. We've been to St. Thomas and St. Maartin, but all the others will be new experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted March 1, 2013 #7 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Part of me wishes nobody had told me because of the calories, but the rest of me is glad someone told me about the wonderful bread pudding at HAL's Lido buffet at lunch. In St Thomas, consider sea kayaking. There's a good "ecotour" company in St Thomas, and we've gone with them twice, both times as cruise excursions, but you can book with them directly. It's a nice kayak trip through a mangrove area and then to a lagoon where you can snorkel. Excellent quality kayaks, drybags and snorkel equipment provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted March 1, 2013 #8 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Here's what I wished I had discovered sooner: I wish I had known about in room dining. The ability to order from the MDR and have dinner in your room. I wish I had taken advantage of the room service for breakfast earlier in my cruising history. I wish I had realized how helpful the ginger was and taken advantage of it earlier. Lastly, I wish I had started sailing HAL earlier and realized how truly wonderful the staff is:) Smooth seas :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted March 1, 2013 #9 Share Posted March 1, 2013 The movie shown one day in the theatre is shown on TV the next day There is usually an afternoon "tea" in the main dining room. I haven't made it to one in 4 years, but keep intending to ;) One side of the Lido breakfast buffet has waffles, the other side has Eggs Benedict. So check BOTH sides :D Room service is great. And you can order from the dining room menu for in-room dining if you feel like "slothing" some evening 3 laps around the Promenade Deck = 1 mile. That is a great way to start or end a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted March 1, 2013 #10 Share Posted March 1, 2013 There's only one thing I wish I had known when I started cruising, but it's no longer a valid concern: I wish I had known it was customary to tip the crew when HAL sailed under the "Tipping not Required" policy. I believed them, and regret it to this day. Other than that, I am glad that I boarded with my eyes not so much wide open as popped! I was like a kid on Christmas morning discovering things I had only dreamed about. Learning all these new things a little at a time, over the course of several early cruises, kept me in wonder for a long time. That was a joy that's not duplicated when you know too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted March 1, 2013 #11 Share Posted March 1, 2013 I wish I had known about CC before my first cruise. Lots of questions would have been answered for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted March 1, 2013 #12 Share Posted March 1, 2013 There's only one thing I wish I had known when I started cruising, but it's no longer a valid concern: I wish I had known it was customary to tip the crew when HAL sailed under the "Tipping not Required" policy. I believed them, and regret it to this day. Other than that, I am glad that I boarded with my eyes not so much wide open as popped! I was like a kid on Christmas morning discovering things I had only dreamed about. Learning all these new things a little at a time, over the course of several early cruises, kept me in wonder for a long time. That was a joy that's not duplicated when you know too much. I had the same problem as Ruth with the tipping question on our frist HAL cruise 12 years ago. I thought tips were included, but of course they were not. Poor wording on HAL's part. Fortunately, a couple we met on our cruise "showed us the ropes" with HAL. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startwin Posted March 1, 2013 #13 Share Posted March 1, 2013 I wish I had known about CC before my first cruise. Lots of questions would have been answered for me. You are absolutely right! I think I had done 2 or 3 cruises before I found CC - and then I learned soooo much invaluable info on just about every topic associated with cruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted March 1, 2013 #14 Share Posted March 1, 2013 I wish I had known to always carry some cash for tipping staff I might encounter again. Also----someone mentioned the movie would be on tv the next day. Gosh I wish I had known that. We really wanted to see Lincoln but the theater times didn't work. We needed this thread a few weeks ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted March 1, 2013 #15 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Should have known about CC years before we started cruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamesEM Posted March 2, 2013 #16 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I wish that I knew about Holland before booking several Celebrity Cruises, the crew and staff are outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseasnomad Posted March 2, 2013 #17 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I wish we had discovered HAL earlier in our cruising career because we'd now be 4 star mariners instead of 2 star. After this next cruise, I'll be 3 star at long last. I wish we had known how courteous the staff was, how lovely the ships are, and how delicious (and sinful) the bread pudding is. Do you get the picture that I regret spending money on other cruise lines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted March 2, 2013 #18 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I wish I had known to always carry some cash for tipping staff I might not encounter again. Also----someone mentioned the movie would be on tv the next day. Gosh I wish I had known that. We really wanted to see Lincoln but the theater times didn't work. We needed this thread a few weeks ago! Meant to say cash for people you may NOT see again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted March 2, 2013 #19 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Wish I'd paid attention to the daily schedule to note when they posted Tai Chi classes, and attended them. Wish I'd booked hands-on cooking classes on embarkation day at the front desk (small, sell out.) Now I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelmalouise-n-thekid Posted March 2, 2013 #20 Share Posted March 2, 2013 3 laps around the Promenade Deck = 1 mile. That is a great way to start or end a day. Is it the same on the Westerdam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted March 2, 2013 #21 Share Posted March 2, 2013 I didn't know about CC until our 2nd or 3rd cruise, I could fill a book with what we didn't know. :p I would have liked to know about HAL's generous wine policy (it isn't common knowledge to someone who isn't on CC, much as some would like you to believe) I wish I knew then about how wonderful it is to get room service breakfast, afternoon appetizers, and dinner from the MDR delivered to your cabin. The cabinet in the Explorers Lounge with the collection of books -- (take one, leave one). I always check that out, and usually leave the paperback I've brought with me so I don't have to bring it home. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangerinebunny Posted March 2, 2013 #22 Share Posted March 2, 2013 We just booked our first HAL cruise. While this is not my first cruise I do understand that all cruise lines are different. What do you wish you had known for your first (or second, or third) HAL cruise? Any great tips? What not to miss, what to skip? Inside info to share?Thanks in advance. It's all about location. Our first cruise was a last minute mark-down. It was above the show lounge and in the extreme front of the ship. We managed both noisy and rough. Nevertheless, we had a great cruise and have learned that cabin location matters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted March 2, 2013 #23 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Is it the same on the Westerdam? Each class of ship is different in size, so is different in the number of laps equals a mile. I don't know which ship CowPrincess was referring to... there will be signs posted on the deck stating how many laps equal a mile on that particular ship. The Westerdam is a Vista class, so larger than the S and R class or the Prinsendam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted March 2, 2013 #24 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Each class of ship is different in size, so is different in the number of laps equals a mile. I don't know which ship CowPrincess was referring to... there will be signs posted on the deck stating how many laps equal a mile on that particular ship. The Westerdam is a Vista class, so larger than the S and R class or the Prinsendam. The OP specified Noordam, and that is the ship I was referring to in my comment. The smaller ships are 4x = 1 mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted March 2, 2013 #25 Share Posted March 2, 2013 The OP specified Noordam, and that is the ship I was referring to in my comment. The smaller ships are 4x = 1 mile. Oops, of course :o So yes, the Westerdam would be the same as the Noordam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.