timbom Posted June 12, 2017 #1 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Recently took these two ships out of Boston on an almost back to back (came back on Dawn from Bermuda on Fri and left on Massdam for Canada on Saturday). Liked much on both but saw stark differences in the two cruise lines. Entertainment - No doubt the RCL does this best. Entertainers on Holland ship it varied from passable to really awful. Ncl had some great shows as well as special entertainers. Food - Buffet on NCL was held in the Garden room (after several days we called it the Garbage room). It was always massive crowds and impossible to find a table. Holland had a really good hamburger bar and taco bar with crowding never a problem plus good food on buffet. Holland had a far more refined dining and better food by far including a new England seafood dinner one night and Lobster and lamb chops another with no required add. Also had room service several times on Holland with no added service charge Shipmates - RCL was comprised of probably 90% people from Boston who were on the unlimited beverage package. On first day at sea saw two fights and on arrival of ship in Bermuda saw the shipboard security staff forcing a couple off of the ship who were in cabin near me. Holland was comprised of more mature people from all over the US and Canada. Wait staff for drinks was non existent and waits at bars for a drink often exceeded five minuets. With such overloading of staff quality of drinks was always suspect. Waiters in dining room handled all drink orders and often got them wrong and had no knowledge of wine. Had no problem getting drinks on Holland and they were more economically priced with a 15% service charge vs. 18% on RCL Casino - Always smoke filled on RCL but with much action Holland casino was dead all of the time. Embarking and exiting ship - because the RCL was almost three time as large spent much time in lines with over two hours being required to get on ship at the beginning and at the end of cruise. If you like lines you will love RCL. Children program was very good on NCL and was poor on Holland. Used the threat on my child that if they misbehaved I would check him into this program. It worked. General conclusion. Unless I receive another free promotion coupon from NCL I will probably never cruise them again. Holland offered far more of what I was after (with no upcharge like NCL) and am contemplating other cruises with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g>ravel Posted June 12, 2017 #2 Share Posted June 12, 2017 I do not understand where RCL comes into play in this comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeniEncinitas Posted June 12, 2017 #3 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Thank you so much for your comparison. Will be on The Maasdam next February. For a 28 day cruise. Denise:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted June 12, 2017 #4 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Very interesting report - and good news for those who want better entertainment on HAL ships. They now know there are other choices. But for HAL passengers who like all the other positives you reported, we hope HAL continues to provide them for the rest of us. Not sure any cruise line can be all things to all people, and keep the prices at the level found on HAL ships. We'll take the overall HAL experience and forgo any reallocations to the entertainment side of the cruise equation. Other reports here indicated HAL parents have been very happy with the hAL children's programs. Sorry your experience was the opposite. However, if you choose HAL again and sailing with children chances are high you will more likely will find this to be a good experience after all. Though sounds like it worked out for "leverage" benefits, which is good too. Thank you for taking the time to provide this contrasting report. Being with young, unruly drunks in a closed system setting. No thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbom Posted June 12, 2017 Author #5 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Sorry all RCL = NCL. Am Diamond on RCL and many of the comments on NCL apply to RCL also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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