Please help me decide - HAL or Celebrity for Transatlantic?

[andnosyd]

First world problem...

I have the Pinnacle Suite booked on the Eurodam for a TA next November and a Celebrity Suite for the same time, both 15 day cruises. I like Celebrity better than HAL, but the Pinnacle Suite is only about $2K more, includes their drink package, onboard credit, so it works out to almost be the same cost. Celebrity doesn't offer their BBB deal on Transatlantic, but we would have free drinks in Michaels club. The itinerary for the Celebrity cruise is a little better as we did somewhat similar TA on HAL last year. We're traveling as a family of 4, so the Pinnacle Suite with the extra space is really nice, but Celebrity Suite is good too for 15 days.

Any input would be appreciated, as I really can't decide.

[TeaBag]

Which Celebrity ship? Never have sailed HAL. We are sailing on Eclipse TA on Sunday. This will be our 5th TA.

[andnosyd]

Sorry, the Celebrity ship is the Silhouette. So the Celebrity Suite is smaller than the M class Celebrity Suites.

[TeaBag]

As I said, I haven't sailed HAL but the Silhouette is my very favorite ship. I would sail her again just for the Lawn Club Grill. If you are in a CS then you would have access to Luminae. People rave about it. We don't sail in suites. Maybe someday!:)

[Champagne Cruiser]

I like both cruise lines but Celebrity is our favorite. I find the food superior on X, especially Blu. Since you are cruising in a suite you can choose Luminae or Blu so you would have more variety for a long cruise. I also think the variety of bars (Martini, the new World Bar as well as Michaels) might weigh in on your decision. I find the entertainment on X to be better, but HAL has a great piano bar. A big factor for us is the no smoking policy on Celebrity vs the smoking allowed in HAL in the casino (really, who believes the smoke behaves and never leaves the immediate casino area?)

Edited October 27, 2015 by Champagne Cruiser
Typos

[kitty9]

We were greatly disappointed in our Eurodam cruise. The food in the MDR wasn't nearly as good, and the buffet was much worse than on Celebrity. We did like the Concierge Lounge on HAL, but that wouldn't be a reason for us to book HAL again. We didn't like the smoking in the casino and in the sports bar next to the casino. But the big problem we had was the lack of air conditioning in our cabins. We traveled with friends, so we had cabins all over the place and every single one was terribly hot. Everyone called guest services to complain about the heat in the cabins, and they did send people to look, but the temps never changed. You'd work up a huge sweat just getting dressed each night for dinner. It was not good.

[andnosyd]

We were greatly disappointed in our Eurodam cruise. The food in the MDR wasn't nearly as good, and the buffet was much worse than on Celebrity. We did like the Concierge Lounge on HAL, but that wouldn't be a reason for us to book HAL again. We didn't like the smoking in the casino and in the sports bar next to the casino. But the big problem we had was the lack of air conditioning in our cabins. We traveled with friends, so we had cabins all over the place and every single one was terribly hot. Everyone called guest services to complain about the heat in the cabins, and they did send people to look, but the temps never changed. You'd work up a huge sweat just getting dressed each night for dinner. It was not good.

 

Between this statement and reading about the constant cutbacks on HAL, I think Celebrity is the better choice. Celebrity certainly works to enhance the suite experience, while HAL is moving the other way. Thanks for the feedback!

[ladylemondrop]

Silhouette is a beautiful ship, really lovely, and of the itinerary is also slightly better, then my vote is for Celebrity, especially as you are still sailing in a great suite!

[maximus217]

You may need to check the price of the Royal Suite since this comes with additional amenities. More expensive than Celebrity Suite, but you may come up even if you add all the extras that comes with it.

[andnosyd]

You may need to check the price of the Royal Suite since this comes with additional amenities. More expensive than Celebrity Suite, but you may come up even if you add all the extras that comes with it.

 

Unfortunately all the suites are sold out for the crossing. If a royal suite opened up, then that would be very tempting, but it hasn't happened. Why do all the suites on the crossings sell so quickly? Price?

[diligaf51]

I am a loyal celebrity cruiser....elite plus, but I love the hamburgers and hot dogs on HAL. Not a deciding factor just an FYI.

[ghstudio]

Since itinerary is not the critical part of this cruise, we would choose based on the smoking policies of each line....and would choose Celebrity for their non-smoking policy.

[Caribbean Chris]

We've made several TAs on HAL (both directions) and one on Celebrity westbound the first time Eclipse sailed into Florida in 2010.

 

I have fond memories of the HAL cruises - LOVE the wraparound full promenade decks for walking on sometimes brisk-weather sea days...and the ships feel home-like and comfortable. I love the ambiance of the Explorations Cafe (library-coffee bar-Internet) and spend a lot of time there.

 

BUT as mentioned, the smoking policy is a factor on HAL TAs because it really does spill out of the casino mid-day, day after day (unlike cruises where it is closed in port.) Due to some ships' deck plans, it pours right into the Explorations Cafe.

 

Celebrity does more for suite passengers than HAL in my experience, especially with Luminae now in place.

[grayjay]

We have sailed both on Silhouette and the Eurodam, not in suites though. Even if we found the general service, their afternoon teas , the guest speakers and yes, even the food to be better on HAL, I'd prefer the Silhouette in this case. We found the Eurodam's furnishings etc. dark and drab . Entertainment in the bars was good, but the production shows left a lot to be desired. During our cruise there were a lot of vibration problems on Eurodam as well, sometimes the ship was shaking so hard that we were happy to sail in the Baltic sea where the next port was not too far.

I'd vote differently if it was the new Koningsdam vs. the Silhouette, though!

[andnosyd]

We have sailed both on Silhouette and the Eurodam, not in suites though. Even if we found the general service, their afternoon teas , the guest speakers and yes, even the food to be better on HAL, I'd prefer the Silhouette in this case. We found the Eurodam's furnishings etc. dark and drab . Entertainment in the bars was good, but the production shows left a lot to be desired. During our cruise there were a lot of vibration problems on Eurodam as well, sometimes the ship was shaking so hard that we were happy to sail in the Baltic sea where the next port was not too far.

I'd vote differently if it was the new Koningsdam vs. the Silhouette, though!

 

Thank you, I appreciate the comparison.

[cindy1957]

We have sailed Celebrity and HAL several times each so our experience isn't extensive but... They are both very nice lines with pros and cons. It depends on you taste. I found the interior design of the Celebrity ships to my liking. They have more light and modern color schemes. HAL ships I have been on are classic. I love the feel of them as a traditional seagoing vessel both inside and out. There has been a big difference in the predominate median ages Celebrity vs HAL, we are in our late 50's. On HAL we were the babies on board. On Celebrity we were pretty average or on the older side. That demographic impacts the vibe of the ship especially after 9:00 at night. HAL was very quiet in the pm. No complaints about food on HAL but Celebrity has more additional fee choices. We did the HAL cruises because we liked those particular itineraries better. One involved Alaska and HAL does that very well. We have a TA on Silhouette planned for April 2016. In this instance I think Celebrity is the better choice in style, food, ports and price.

[mickey89]

If you smoke choose HAL, you will have great company !

[grayjay]

If you smoke choose HAL, you will have great company !

Sorry, but I disagree. We have cruised on HAL ships several times now and would prefer them to be as officially smoke-free as Celebrity but we only once found a significant number of smokers ONE evening in the casino which we don't use anyway. Perhaps we have been lucky but we didn't have smokers next to us on the balcony and there were only a few in the smoker's area at the back of the ship.

So I'm not sure if it's a real complaint still valid for HAL ships or something that is (falsely?) repeated quite often - often combined with the "fact" that only the true geriatric crowd cruises on HAL ships and evenings are "dead" both of which we haven't found as being true on the cruises we've been on. Perhaps we were lucky again? by the way the oldest passengers we have ever encountered were recently, on the Summit. 3 kids on board but masses of scooters, walkers, canes and elderly people - and my - was that a lively crowd!

[Charles4515]

Since itinerary is not the critical part of this cruise, we would choose based on the smoking policies of each line....and would choose Celebrity for their non-smoking policy.

 

Same here. Since HAL allows smoking on their balconies and their casino I have stopped booking HAL. I keep hoping they would at least end the balcony smoking and I would book with them again but so far no sign of change.

Edited October 30, 2015 by Charles4515