Hopping Over from RCCL

[DesireeC03]

Hi Everyone. First time posting on HAL's forum as I have only ever cruised RCCL. Perused this board over the last couple of days and learned about the Standby program. I am on a low budget and have a guaranteed Spring Break as I am a teacher and went ahead and got on the list. Can anyone compare the Amsterdam to a Royal Ship please. Also, we are used to the entertainment incidentals such as karaoke, trivia, bingo..., will we find this on HAL? Queer scene on the ship? General vibe?

thanks for your time

[HELENPSL]

5 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

Hi Everyone. First time posting on HAL's forum as I have only ever cruised RCCL. Perused this board over the last couple of days and learned about the Standby program. I am on a low budget and have a guaranteed Spring Break as I am a teacher and went ahead and got on the list. Can anyone compare the Amsterdam to a Royal Ship please. Also, we are used to the entertainment incidentals such as karaoke, trivia, bingo..., will we find this on HAL? Queer scene on the ship? General vibe?

thanks for your time

The Nieuw Amsterdam is one of HAL’s mid size ships and holds about 2100 people.  You won’t find rock climbing walls or go carts like on some RCCL ships.  You also won’t find a million kids.  What you will find is some of the best service on any ship.  There are multiple music venues, bingo, trivia and various games.  I believe there is an LGBQT meeting every day.  The ships are much smaller than most RCCL ships and easy to navigate.  It’s a much more laid back experience.

Helen

[DesireeC03]

thank you this is so helpful - so excited about the service

[kazu]

I rarely disagree with @HELENPSL but if you are going at spring break, there is a good chance there could be a ton of kids (for HAL) on the cruise.

 

I did a B2B2B on Koningsdam at Christmas & New Years.  We had 500 - 600 children on each segment.

 

I haven’t been on a spring break cruise so can only say what I saw at the holiday season.

 

I completely agree with Helen on the remainder 0 a much smaller ship - not the bells and whistles of RCCL but it suits me just fine 👍 

[lyndarra]

I have found the trivia on HAL lots of fun and less competitive than it used to be as there are no "prizes". The trivia hosts were very entertaining (moonlighting comedians?) and we marked our own answer sheets - honesty system. I used to like music trivias but on my last couple HAL cruises I floundered, the questions have been updated - I'm still stuck in the 60s and 70s.

Edited March 3 by lyndarra
clarity

[DesireeC03]

3 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

I have found the trivia on HAL lots of fun and less competitive than it used to be as there are no "prizes". The trivia hosts were very entertaining (moonlighting comedians?) and we marked our own answer sheets - honesty system. I used to like music trivias but on my last couple HAL cruises I floundered, the questions have been updated - I'm still stuck in the 60s and 70s.

sounds perfect - we aren't there for the competitive piece - more for the shared experience

[lyndarra]

Just now, DesireeC03 said:

sounds perfect - we aren't there for the competitive piece - more for the shared experience

I forgot to mention my last cruise  was on N Amsterdam (Alaska) in early June - no kids.

[HELENPSL]

7 minutes ago, kazu said:

I rarely disagree with @HELENPSL but if you are going at spring break, there is a good chance there could be a ton of kids (for HAL) on the cruise.

 

I did a B2B2B on Koningsdam at Christmas & New Years.  We had 500 - 600 children on each segment.

 

I haven’t been on a spring break cruise so can only say what I saw at the holiday season.

 

I completely agree with Helen on the remainder 0 a much smaller ship - not the bells and whistles of RCCL but it suits me just fine 👍 

Most spring breakers here in Florida gravitate to Carnival…more party and a lot less money.  We are leaving March 16 on the Nieuw Amsterdam.  I purposely picked that date since that’s when spring break ends for most colleges.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 😍

[DesireeC03]

1 minute ago, lyndarra said:

I forgot to mention my last cruise  was on N Amsterdam (Alaska) in early June - no kids.

was there a special location on the ship that you enjoyed spending the most time? Or any pointers?

[DesireeC03]

3 minutes ago, HELENPSL said:

Most spring breakers here in Florida gravitate to Carnival…more party and a lot less money.  We are leaving March 16 on the Nieuw Amsterdam.  I purposely picked that date since that’s when spring break ends for most colleges.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 😍

is there a certain must do or see that you would recommend to a 1st timer?

[lyndarra]

6 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

was there a special location on the ship that you enjoyed spending the most time? Or any pointers?

The Crows Nest was my #1 go to. Relaxed, quiet, bar and barista service, close to library. #2 would be pre dinner drinks in the Ocean bar where there was, live, light musical entertainment.

Edited March 3 by lyndarra
typo

[HELENPSL]

Just now, DesireeC03 said:

is there a certain must do or see that you would recommend to a 1st timer?

Which ports?  If you’ve never been there before I would suggest a tour around the island or a hop on/hop off bus.

 

[HELENPSL]

8 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

was there a special location on the ship that you enjoyed spending the most time? Or any pointers?

I am absolutely the wrong person to ask since we spend most of our time in the casino.  DO NOT DO THAT! 😁

Helen

[Ineke]

39 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

was there a special location on the ship that you enjoyed spending the most time? Or any pointers?

If you booked an inside or oceanview cabin, we love to sit on the Promenade deck, love their comfy wooden loungers, and it is not as busy as the pool decks. If we have a verandah cabin we spend much of our time on the verandah. But that’s our thing. 

[DesireeC03]

40 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

The Crows Nest was my #1 go to. Relaxed, quiet, bar and barista service, close to library. #2 would be pre dinner drinks in the Ocean bar where there was, live, light musical entertainment.

love this so much

[DesireeC03]

38 minutes ago, HELENPSL said:

Which ports?  If you’ve never been there before I would suggest a tour around the island or a hop on/hop off bus.

 

Turks 

DR
Half Moon Cay 

we love riding the hoho!

[DesireeC03]

40 minutes ago, HELENPSL said:

I am absolutely the wrong person to ask since we spend most of our time in the casino.  DO NOT DO THAT! 😁

Helen

slots or cards?

[DesireeC03]

9 minutes ago, Ineke said:

If you booked an inside or oceanview cabin, we love to sit on the Promenade deck, love their comfy wooden loungers, and it is not as busy as the pool decks. If we have a verandah cabin we spend much of our time on the verandah. But that’s our thing. 

are chairs easy to come by?

[1ANGELCAT]

Since you are on the Nieuw Amsterdam, I recommend dinner at Tamarind.

[lyndarra]

1 minute ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

Since you are on the Nieuw Amsterdam, I recommend dinner at Tamarind.

Mentioned in OP "on a low budget".

I have never use the pay-up reastaurants as I am happy enough with the MDR or Lido food. I don't see the point of paying OTT for food that I can get as good as and cheaper that I can have at local restaurants at home.

BTW The "Dive In" on Lido deck is great for burgers and dogs. Can be made to order.

[SeaMatesNYC]

1 hour ago, HELENPSL said:

 I believe there is an LGBQT meeting every day.

Policy seems to be to put a meet up notice in the daily program for day 1 and sometimes day 2. This may or may not be “hosted” by a staff person who may or may not stay for more than a few words. The follow on meet ups are generally left to participants to organize and agree upon - e.g. let’s meet at Billboard at 5:00pm.  Which can be fun if you want to join others for dinner. The overall “scene” around the ships varies greatly depending on the destination, time of year, etc. There are really not any late night venues as one might find on other lines with bona fide discos.  From my “youth,” I remember G32 on QM2 and Skywalkers on the Princess ships. Plenty of cruising happened there!  I gather hanging out at the casino drinking and gambling late does attract a crowd. Not our thing. 

[DesireeC03]

8 minutes ago, SeaMatesNYC said:

Policy seems to be to put a meet up notice in the daily program for day 1 and sometimes day 2. This may or may not be “hosted” by a staff person who may or may not stay for more than a few words. The follow on meet ups are generally left to participants to organize and agree upon - e.g. let’s meet at Billboard at 5:00pm.  Which can be fun if you want to join others for dinner. The overall “scene” around the ships varies greatly depending on the destination, time of year, etc. There are really not any late night venues as one might find on other lines with bona fide discos.  From my “youth,” I remember G32 on QM2 and Skywalkers on the Princess ships. Plenty of cruising happened there!  I gather hanging out at the casino drinking and gambling late does attract a crowd. Not our thing. 

thanks - we are not true late owls but we love to dance. Are there silent discos?

[SeaMatesNYC]

2 minutes ago, DesireeC03 said:

thanks - we are not true late owls but we love to dance. Are there silent discos?

Nope. No loud or silent discos, unless you count the dance floor in BB Kings for the Orange Party, which can get sort of disco-y 🕺.  There is dancing at BB Kings most nights, but it’s no disco. But it can sound pretty groovy!  All depends what you like. I don’t think I’ve seen any dancing at the Rolling Stone Rock Room, but maybe?

[DesireeC03]

Everyone has been so helpful - thank you

[SeaMatesNYC]

Just now, DesireeC03 said:

Everyone has been so helpful - thank you

Hope you have a great trip!  Come back and share your impressions!  It’s a good product (usually) and has lots of loyal customers. But I admire your trying something new. I’ll be 4* soon and I know, once I start getting the free laundry, I’ll be hard pressed to branch away again. 🤪