Celebrity cruiser considering Holland America

[Ergates The Ant]

Our favourite cruise line so far is Celebrity, but I have seen a very tempting itinerary on the Neuw Amsterdam.

Anyone who has experienced both lines have any comments?

Things we like about Celebrity are

Lovely bathrooms on Solstice class ships

Restricted smoking areas including smoke free casinos

Well laid out and spacious buffet, again Solstice class.

Friendly service

 

What we would like,

A good coffee shop, don’t mind paying for the coffee but would like complementary food, snack options available.

A proper walk around promenade deck, preferably smoke free

 

Thanks in advance

[OlsSalt]

Sounds like you will like the Nieuw Amsterdam on most points - not sure whether the "lovely bathroom" will meet your expectations because I have never sailed on Celebrity, but depending on your HAL cabin choice they are perfectly fine. Good thing you did not mention entertainment or onboard activities because that is not the emphasis of HAL ships - they are much more low-key and quiet, which many of us think is a good thing.

 

You did hit on the long-standing HAL advantage- tempting itineraries. They continually keep us coming back for more, new and interesting offerings particularly on their smaller ships. Always hard to go into a new cruise line without comparing it to your own favorite. Hope this works out for you.

 

We do like the Nieuw Amsterdam if we had to pick a larger HAL ship. Be sure to enjoy the pan-Asian Tamarind as well and learn where the hidden nooks and crannies are from prior posts about this ship.

[Ken the cruiser]

Our favourite cruise line so far is Celebrity, but I have seen a very tempting itinerary on the Neuw Amsterdam.

Anyone who has experienced both lines have any comments?

Things we like about Celebrity are

Lovely bathrooms on Solstice class ships

Restricted smoking areas including smoke free casinos

Well laid out and spacious buffet, again Solstice class.

Friendly service

 

What we would like,

A good coffee shop, don’t mind paying for the coffee but would like complementary food, snack options available.

A proper walk around promenade deck, preferably smoke free

 

Thanks in advance

As far as cabins and bathrooms go, check out www.halfacts.com where you can view photos of cabins on different HAL ships such as the Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

The evening shows on Celebrity Solstice class ships and their theaters themselves have a tendency to wow us whereas we go to HAL shows with MUCH LOWER expectations. We also like interactive game shows which Celebrity usually has on a regular basis whereas on a HAL cruise, it's usually hit and miss especially on the shorter cruises.

 

Do not expect lectures on HAL cruises 14 days or less whereas on the Celebrity cruises we've been on, there are 2-3 lectures on sea days irregardless of length.

 

When comparing buffets we much prefer HAL over Celebrity, especially when it comes to table and beverage service. HAL servers bring you water and beverages whereas it has been our experience that Celebrity buffet servers do not. Also, HAL's buffet is much more organized with far less "serve yourself" offerings.

 

The Explorations Cafe on HAL has a great coffee bar and their food/snack offerings are free.

 

And, of course, all HAL ships have a full promenade deck to walk off all those extra calories!

[cartervan]

;You're probably going to get a lot of replies from people like me who go back and forth between Celebrity and Holland America and enjoy the best of both. One of the things Holland America is known for is the "all the way around" outdoor promenade although the Koningsdam has made it a little less spacious. No smoking allowed. Unfortunately, you will find smoke in the casino. I think the Lido buffet on all the HAL ships is very good, and very much like the ones I have found on Celebrity ships. We were most recently on the Koningsdam which has pretty much eliminated self-service, but it certainly seems much more sanitary, and is handled very efficiently. I'm not sure if all the ships have gone away from self-service. And speaking of service, we have found friendly, cheerful and attentive staff on all HAL ships. If you like Celebrity, you will most certainly like Holland America.

[HokiePoq]

;You're probably going to get a lot of replies from people like me who go back and forth between Celebrity and Holland America and enjoy the best of both. One of the things Holland America is known for is the "all the way around" outdoor promenade although the Koningsdam has made it a little less spacious. No smoking allowed. Unfortunately, you will find smoke in the casino. I think the Lido buffet on all the HAL ships is very good, and very much like the ones I have found on Celebrity ships. We were most recently on the Koningsdam which has pretty much eliminated self-service, but it certainly seems much more sanitary, and is handled very efficiently. I'm not sure if all the ships have gone away from self-service. And speaking of service, we have found friendly, cheerful and attentive staff on all HAL ships. If you like Celebrity, you will most certainly like Holland America.

 

Agree. There are more likenesses than differences. I find the entertainment pretty much a wash with these two lines. Food has been comparable except on our last X cruise in February when it was not as good as usual (Asia itinerary). Service is excellent on both. We are four star Mariners and Elite on X and love both lines. We choose on itinerary and price.

[mcrcruiser]

As a Carnival corp stock holder (100 shares or more ) We can get stock holder on board credits for all the Carnival corp cruise lines . This is in addition to what has been already said above . We recently booked 3 cruises : one week in Dec 2018 to Mexico on Eurodam & the CCL on board credit is $100 . Then we booked the 10 day koningsdam for So Caribbean in March 2019 & that CCL in board credit is another $100 . Then we booked 15 night Hawaii cruise on Star Princess for Dec 2019 & that CCL on board credit is $250

 

Even being a RCCL stock holder it is very difficult if even possible to get the on board credit if you take other perks . This is not so with any Carnival Corp cruise line ships :D:D

 

We have sailed a lot on Celebrity ships (Elite + level ) ;but ,we can no longer sail them because one they have abandoned the Calif ports (except Eclipse is doing a Hawaii cruise from San Pedro ;but ,it has been a very long time since any RCCL corp ships have sailed from Calif ports . We can easily gey a Carnival ,a Holland america or a Princess ship from California ports .We live in the San Diego area . Thus ,we need not fly :D

[mcrcruiser]

We also have sailed many times with Royal Caribbean ships . Diamond level there .

 

Our total preference is now Holland America cruise ships or Princess . Princess is sending out Royal Princess to cruise the West Coast . :D

 

Princess generally has better night entertainment than Holland America

[Fouremco]

Add DW and I to the list of those who go back and forth between HAL and Celebrity. The two are very comparable in many ways and neither has any serious shortcomings. If you enjoy Solstice-class ships, you're bound to enjoy the Nieuw Amsterdam, especially if you've found a tempting itinerary. I heartily recommend that you give it a try.

[dogo88]

Add DW and I to the list of those who go back and forth between HAL and Celebrity. The two are very comparable in many ways and neither has any serious shortcomings. If you enjoy Solstice-class ships, you're bound to enjoy the Nieuw Amsterdam, especially if you've found a tempting itinerary. I heartily recommend that you give it a try.

 

Totally agree/ We've done mostly HAL cruises but branched out to others a couple of years ago and found some real nice ships. Only been on one Celebrity cruise but it was excellent. We've got another scheduled for next March. One item we really miss on the longer HAL cruises is the lack of alternate dining venues. The Nieuw Amsterdam is a great ship. We'd go on her again.

[Crew News]

Our favourite cruise line so far is Celebrity, but I have seen a very tempting itinerary on the Neuw Amsterdam.

 

What we would like,

A good coffee shop, don’t mind paying for the coffee but would like complementary food, snack options available.

A proper walk around promenade deck, preferably smoke free

 

Thanks in advance

 

Here is a link to my photo review of the Nieuw Amsterdam to use for comparison with Celebrity:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-nieuw-amsterdam-on-board-images

[Ergates The Ant]

Great info, thanks everyone. Sounds like it is worth a closer look. I’m not a fan of sea days so would be looking at a port heavy itinerary.

We don’t cruise for the evening entertainment, as we usually find the music is too loud and the singers shouting to overcome it.

Your comments have been helpful and reassuring. I haven’t looked at Hal previously because of their lenient smoking policy but with that sorted out, they are now on my radar. And it sounds as if the Nieuw Amsterdam is even more non smoker friendly than Celebrity, where half of the already short prom deck can be unpleasant.