Celebrity or Holland America to Bermuda

[winncruiser]

Which do you recommend?

Celebrity docks at the Dockyard and is there for like 52 hours.

Holland America docks in Hamilton and is there in Bermuda for 70 hours.

Celebrity sails round trip out of NY.

Holland America sails round trip out of Boston.

I have never been on either line, only on about 15 cruises on Princess. Never been to Bermuda either. Thank you for your thoughts!

 

 

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[Knolmom]

Actually, most folks I've spoken to prefer NCL from NYC. More informal and since you are on land a lot I guess the informality doesn't matter to them.

[Sillyjilly]

No, no, no to NCL. :eek:

 

I cruise Princess most often so my vote is for Celebrity. I've found Holland America to be a much older crowd.

Edited May 12, 2015 by Sillyjilly

[hypercafe]

As for the ship I would pick NCL, as for the service and food I would pick X, as for the location of docking in Bermuda Holland wins hands down. We just got back from the Summit last week, had a nice trip but for us the Dockyard is played out.

[kelmac]

Which do you recommend?

Celebrity docks at the Dockyard and is there for like 52 hours.

Holland America docks in Hamilton and is there in Bermuda for 70 hours.

Celebrity sails round trip out of NY.

Holland America sails round trip out of Boston.

I have never been on either line, only on about 15 cruises on Princess. Never been to Bermuda either. Thank you for your thoughts!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Mac-O-Meter* is on:

 

Holland America -- older ship; smaller ship; more mature crowd; very traditional; Hamilton is downtown, which is nice; good food; smoking everywhere. 8.3 rating

 

NCL -- crowded new ship; loads of kids; small cabins, but designed well; Only cruise NCL with the UDP (ultimate dining package); stay out of the buffet; eat lunch in the dining rooms; better smoking situation (no smoking on balconies); great entertainment and a responsive crowd; casual experience. 8.7 rating

 

Celebrity -- more adult atmosphere; best MDR food; more formal; bright and modern; very restrictive smoking policy (no inside smoking at all :) ); upscale feel without being stuffy. 9.1 rating

 

(*Very Scientific Rating System -- yeah right! :rolleyes:)

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[tangerinebunny]

Which HAL ship is it? Some are older and not in the greatest repair. Others are much newer and better maintained.

 

HAL limits smoking; it's not 'everywhere.' But it may well be present on a balcony too near you. It's also allowed in the casino.

 

I've sailed both lines and there seem to be a similar number of seniors on both lines.

Edited May 12, 2015 by tangerinebunny

[winncruiser]

It's the HAL Veendam, which I do believe is one of the older ships.

 

Thank you all for your responses and insight. Keep them coming!

 

 

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[miched]

One would be to consider the convienance of the departing port. If you you are driving the parking fees may be a factor.

 

Many like to dock in Hamilton but I found that area to be rather dull and boring. It's more of a business area. On Wed night they have a street fair that you may enjoy if you like street vendors with over priced useless dust collectors. You can take a ferry there form the dockyard that event but the ferry may be filled leaving you stranded and forced to use other transportation back.

 

Celebrity is almost smoke free and offers nice perks of paying the gratuities, drink pack, plus some ship board credit.

 

Never sailed on NCL so I can't really comment on it except it looks like a very large ship.

 

You are on the Celebrity section so it will be a little biased.

 

happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[kelmac]

It's the HAL Veendam, which I do believe is one of the older ships.

 

Thank you all for your responses and insight. Keep them coming!

 

 

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HAL Veendam = built 1996; refurbished 2011; 55,451 tons; 43.80 space ratio; 1,266 passengers (2 per cabin) Boston

 

Celebrity Summit = built 2001; refurbished 2012; 91,000 tons; 46.67 space ratio; 1,950 passengers (2 per cabin) New Jersey

 

NCL Breakaway = built 2013; 144,017 tons; 35.75 space ratio; 4,028 passengers (2 per cabin) New York

 

NCL Dawn = built 2002; refurbished 2011; 41.50 space ratio; 2,224 passengers (2 per cabin) Boston

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[hypercafe]

I would never sail the Veendam as Hal added cabins to the back of it and took away the aft pool. They had lots of trouble with leaks into the dinning room. I believe they are trying to sell it. As a side note the Summit has had cabins added to it and now carries around 2100 pas. If some think Hamilton is boring what can they possibly think of the dock yard?

 

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[boscobeans]

We have been there three times and although docking at Hamilton was fine as well as at St George's the Dockyard was equally as good. No matter where you are docked the water taxi (ferry) system or buses will get you everywhere in comfort.

 

We have a Summit cruise to Bermuda booked and chose it over the Veendam because we love the Summit, but would not hesitate going on the Veendam even if it has a wrinkle or two here and there. HAL cruises have never disappointed us in the past.

 

bosco

[dkjretired]

Mac-O-Meter* is on:

 

Holland America -- older ship; smaller ship; more mature crowd; very traditional; Hamilton is downtown, which is nice; good food; smoking everywhere. 8.3 rating

 

NCL -- crowded new ship; loads of kids; small cabins, but designed well; Only cruise NCL with the UDP (ultimate dining package); stay out of the buffet; eat lunch in the dining rooms; better smoking situation (no smoking on balconies); great entertainment and a responsive crowd; casual experience. 8.7 rating

 

Celebrity -- more adult atmosphere; best MDR food; more formal; bright and modern; very restrictive smoking policy (no inside smoking at all :) ); upscale feel without being stuffy. 9.1 rating

 

(*Very Scientific Rating System -- yeah right! :rolleyes:)

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

 

Very good explanation, agree completely....

[blueboro]

If you go to the HAL boards you will find that even long-time HAL fans are saying they would never cruise Veendam again. Old and many "little" things, like AC and plumbing, have had continual problems over the past few years. Now, we did Nieuw Amsterdam and loved it.

Edited May 12, 2015 by blueboro

[winncruiser]

Thank you all for your wonderful comments!

[SRch]

we stayed in Bermuda for a week because we loved it so much when we stopped there on a repositioning cruise on the Summit a couple of years ago. We liked the summit (although not as much as the s class ships) and it has a Thalassotherapy pool which was awesome. When we were in Bermuda I believe it was the Veendam that was in port in Hamilton and we were shocked at the shape of the outside of the ship. It looked like it had been through a war. Even some of the windows at the top of the ship were boarded up with wood. Have never seen a cruise ship look so rough. We have never been on HAL so can't comment of it other than to say it sure looked rough on the outside. Bermuda is easy to get around by bus so I don't think the Dockyards is an issue. It is a beautiful, clean, well manicured island.

[junetraveler2014]

Mac-O-Meter* is on:

 

Holland America -- older ship; smaller ship; more mature crowd; very traditional; Hamilton is downtown, which is nice; good food; smoking everywhere. 8.3 rating

 

NCL -- crowded new ship; loads of kids; small cabins, but designed well; Only cruise NCL with the UDP (ultimate dining package); stay out of the buffet; eat lunch in the dining rooms; better smoking situation (no smoking on balconies); great entertainment and a responsive crowd; casual experience. 8.7 rating

 

Celebrity -- more adult atmosphere; best MDR food; more formal; bright and modern; very restrictive smoking policy (no inside smoking at all :) ); upscale feel without being stuffy. 9.1 rating

 

(*Very Scientific Rating System -- yeah right! :rolleyes:)

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

 

 

 

We agree wholeheartedly with this review. But will add one more reflection to the list.

NCL is a very large ship, holds 4000 without kid, then it can hold upwards of 6000 eek. Lines getting on and off ship are scary, hallways are tight and all venues are very crowded. By the way, no matter which ship or port in Bermuda, Bermuda is the friendliest, most clean and has many attractions for all ages, I could not think of a better place to be. Going on Celebrity end of month for the 8th time. Enjoy your choice and definitely enjoy your cruise.:cool: