Help me make a decision please!

[missymoo2008]

Hi,

My husband and I are deciding between these 2 cruises for our anniversary.

Most important things to us are food and the shows at night (as well as other things to do).

 

I like the ports of call on the Royal Carribean (and have cruised with them before) one but have always heard great things about Holland boats.

Please shed some light if you can on the boats or ports of call.

Thanks!!

 

Royal Carribean-Independence

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Philipsburg, St Maarten

Basseterre, St. Kitts

 

Holland- Westerdam

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

[Canadianweaselette]

I am sailing the Royal itinerary that you posted in a few weeks but even if I wasn't I would still choose the Holland America cruise. I really want to do Grand Turk so that would be a selling feature for me.

[SuiteTraveler]

Holland America - average age 70+

 

RCCL - average age 30's to 50's, some kids (number depends on if school is out) and few elderly.

 

We tried HAL, found the food bland, our suite was very nice, the entertainment was lacking and there was practically no one our age (40's). We spent a lot of time reading in our suite as there was nothing else worth doing.

 

We tried RCCL, found the food good to excellent, suite very nice, entertaiment good to excellent and lots of people our age. We didn't get a chance to read as there was so much to do.

 

I think HAL is better if you are older and RCCL is better if you are younger.

[Crew News]

Hi,

My husband and I are deciding between these 2 cruises for our anniversary.

Most important things to us are food and the shows at night (as well as other things to do).

 

I like the ports of call on the Royal Carribean (and have cruised with them before) one but have always heard great things about Holland boats.

Please shed some light if you can on the boats or ports of call.

Thanks!!

 

Royal Carribean-Independence

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Philipsburg, St Maarten

Basseterre, St. Kitts

 

Holland- Westerdam

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic. We have been on HAL a number of times on your proposed itinerary.

 

Determining an average age aboard a cruise line is very subjective. The average age on cruise ships is directly related to the school schedules. When kids are in school, parents with kids find it difficult to cruise which leaves those without kids on board. This pushes the average age up on most cruise lines. This is especially true for longer cruises with higher prices that younger families may find to costly.

 

Here is a link to my photographic tour of the Westerdam:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/travel-2/ms-westerdam-tour/

 

Here are the scanned daily activities (On Location) for our same itinerary from Dec 2014 to give you an idea of a typical day on board a HAL ship:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/travel-2/eastern-caribbean-ms-nieuw-amsterdam-on-locations-daily-activities-2014-15/

 

Many describe HAL as "traditional" cruising and RCCL more "modern".

[Scrapnana]

Not sure if the size of the ship matters to you but Independence is much larger than Westerdam (and can carry over twice as many).

 

Independence has a flow rider, rock climbing wall, an ice skating rink and other outdoor activities if those are important to you.

[dorisis]

RC!!! The Oasis and Allure would be my choice for things to do. And the entertainment is fantastic. There are 25 food venues and many are excellent. Google it and see all they have to offer.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Check the length of time that you are in the ports. Some ships stay longer in the ports than other ones.

Not everyone on HAL ships is over 70.

[kelkel2]

It's hard to say, I don't know much about you. But if it were my husband and I'd anniversary and we were picking between those two cruises. I would pick the Royal Caribbean.

[OCruisers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

 

We'd pick the HAL cruise! :D

 

LuLu

[cruiseapril]

We'd choose the HAL cruise. Have been on the Westerdam- beautiful ship and a mid-sized ship.

 

Half Moon Cay is a great beach day, as is Grand Turk- if one is looking for

good beaches.

[geoherb]

I'd go with the Westerdam as well. Royal Caribbean's new ships are too big for me. We don't need rock climbing walls, ice skating, and flow riders to have a good cruise. HAL has pretty good food.

[Aquahound]

Royal Carribean-Independence

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Philipsburg, St Maarten

Basseterre, St. Kitts

 

Holland- Westerdam

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

 

Independence for the ship and entertainment. Westerdam for the itinerary. I'm familiar with both lines and have been on sister ships to both of your choices. Based on the brief description of what you said you're looking for, I think IOS is the better choice for you.

[searoses]

Not even for turks and Caicos would I get on a hal ship....I prefer x but rc has a lot to do and better shows and more adventurous food than hal....