Why I sail with HAL..why do you?.

[Lkcossmfr]

My husbands jacket was wrinkled from travel so he sent it in the morning to be pressed.

Later that day he realized he had left 500$$ in cash in the pocket. (He likes to hide his cash then likes to forget where)

We called our cabin steward and explained the problem. He immediately rushed down to laundry.

Hubs thought we would never see that money again but but the cash was back within the hour.

Sealed the deal for me!

[Daisyloo]

Good to know that there are still honest people out there.

We are HAL fans too!

[1of4]

My son can get sick...FAST. He can go from healthy to fighting for his life with pneumonia in a matter of 3 hours.

 

HAL understood and did what it took to reassure me when he was 7. They kept their word and we had a wonderful family vacation. They earned our loyalty.

 

Yes anything can happen but HAL was the cruise line that allowed me the reassurance I needed to book. Up to then we had only booked land vacations in destinations with similar hospital systems to North American standards.

[0bnxshs]

For me, one reason for sailing HAL is knowing that many of my father's family (his mother, his father, their siblings and parents, etc.) immigrated to the US on board several different NASM and HAL ships in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It's sort of like twirling one of the threads of my family's history around my finger when walking the promenade deck and watching the sea roll past.

[imae39]

My dad when he was 12 years old along with his family came over on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 1927 from Grotegast in Gronigen. My husband's grandfather came over in 1906 on the Ryndam from Alten in Gelderland.

[ScriptOhio]

I'm not loyal to just one cruise line. However, I do like HAL's longer (and more unique/exotic) itineraries.

[oofroggie]

We ( DH & DD ) started sailing with HA for a very different reason. DD was adult size when she was 12 so crawling or should I say slithering into a upper was difficult and HA's 3rd is a couch , so 3 lowers. DD is grown and married and DH passed away 6 yrs ago, but we fell in love with HA and I am still a active cruiser, but alas alone. I am a 5 star mariner working my way to the presidents club and hoping that I still have many cruising years in my future.

[Vict0riann]

I have to say I think it's because of the crew. We do like other lines, but always feel so welcomed aboard a HAL ship. Many of the Filipino staff are from Cebu, I've been thinking of them today after that terrible earthquake. They must be so worried about family members.

[antique sailor]

AHOY SHIPMATES,

I and DW each have over 1,000 days on HAL and 100+ on other Cruise lines. We prefer HAL, by far the friendliest crew and staff, from the Capt to the Cabin Stwd. It isn't what it used to be because of the reduction of staff and disappearance of many perks and entertainment downgrade. We still rate it best for the price for the longer cruises.

We live in Jacksonville about 10 mi. or 15 min. from pier where Carnival Fascination docks and are very happy with the friendliness and service on the 5 day trips we take between the cruises on Holland America. We still like the older smaller ships. The new larger ones are too generic.

[tangerinebunny]

I sail with HAL because the crew makes me feel like an honored guest in their gently used but greatly cherished home.

[PunkiC]

We booked our upcoming HAL cruise because it offered an interesting itinerary at a good price. We also liked the idea of having a Catholic Priest on board and being able to bring our own wine on board. That was enough to make us book HAL instead of Princess where we are elite and get a lot more perks.

 

The new HAL wine policy will send us back to Princess once again. We also have a Cunard cruise coming up which we booked for pretty much the same reasons that we booked the HAL cruise.

[mor mor]

For all the reasons above (except ancestry immigration) plus flying has become such an ordeal we like HA because we can leave from San Diego (home), or at least FLA, and at the worst there is only one TA or TP flight.

[Cruising-along]

For us it's the crew and the better itineraries.

 

We like Celebrity too, and their crew is *almost* as good, but we've found HAL's itineraries to be much better.

[antique sailor]

I sail with HAL because the crew makes me feel like an honored guest in their gently used but greatly cherished home.

AHOY SHIPMATE,

 

nicely stated........I tend to ramble.

[iancal]

We select HAL when the itinerary, the ship, the time, and the price is right for us.

 

Exactly the same for a few of the other cruise lines. We find very few differences in the cruise lines that we prefer....greater and more important differences for us are to be found it the individual ships.

[pris993]

Love the traditional cruise experience, looking forward to TA on Nieuw Amsterdam next April. :D

[0bnxshs]

I sail with HAL because the crew makes me feel like an honored guest in their gently used but greatly cherished home.

 

AHOY SHIPMATE,

 

nicely stated........I tend to ramble.

 

I ditto both of you here (about myself, sailor, not you...LOL)! Well stated, Tbunny! :)

[mamamzee]

For me, one reason for sailing HAL is knowing that many of my father's family (his mother, his father, their siblings and parents, etc.) immigrated to the US on board several different NASM and HAL ships in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It's sort of like twirling one of the threads of my family's history around my finger when walking the promenade deck and watching the sea roll past.

 

Husband's maternal ancestors immigrated in early 17th century on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I am certain the boat has changed!!!

[mamaofami]

I like the feeling of coming home. The crew is always wonderful and I know where everything is. It's a comfortable feeling.

[startwin]

Quite simply - great itineraries, great crew. But I do cruise another line as well.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have enjoyed reading all the various stories here.

Love HAL's larger cabins.

[nana51]

I could say we always travel HAL because it is the only ship we've been on and are quite happy. I have lately been looking at reviews for Alaska and have heard complaints from people on other cruise lines and think I'll stay where I am. My husband has Asperger's and doesn't handle change well, so he likes the same ship. I did get him off Oosterdam and on the Zaandam this year and he liked it fine. Can't get him to go on my Alaska trip because it is too long and too many flight changes, and stays at different cities. I have looked online at other lines(not the expensive ones) and none of them compare to the elegant ships of HAL

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

HAl the crew I love how the crew treats me. I usually travel solo and they have been outstanding to me

 

Also Promenade deck. I love walking around the deck. On other ships you cannot do this. This is a huge reason why I cruise Hal

 

another the Amsterdam I also love Her. Also smaller ships I don't want to be on a ship that has thousands pf pax. also the itinerary itineraries.

 

 

Mary

[sun~]

No choice if I want to sail on a charter cruise. HAL is my least favourite cruise line. I have had bad experiences on most of the ships I have been on (Zaandam, Maasdam, Eurodam-twice and the Nieuw Amsterdam). The ships are average at best.

 

I love going on the Legendary rhythm and blues cruise. They have used HAL for quite a few cruises. The smaller ships work for the way the cruise is set up.

 

My hubby was so excited that the October '14 cruise was not on HAL, he asked me to book it. We are still going on January '14 and '15 on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I hope the ship is cleaner and better run than last January.

 

Flame away! I am sure the board nasties will be out in full force ;)

[MR NW GUY]

It appears that HAL's people make the difference.

 

I was pretty darn impressed this past summer on the Oosterdam, the lady in the spa greeted me back by name and ask how my DW was by name and she was not present.

 

Then later in the Casino, a dealer (Josie) who we played with on the Zuiderdam had the bar waiter bring me a drink. She remembered me by name too...

 

Yea, I was impressed!