To HAL or not to HAL

[jplotts865]

I would enjoy feedback from HAL passengers regarding the HAL cruise experience. Having been on RCI quite a few times - my line of choice until just recently - I'm looking for another line that may be more my cup of tea. RCI ships are just getting to be too big and much to casual - I am especially getting frustrated with the improperly attired passengers in the main dining room at dinner and more particularly on formal nights. I also do not like the "free style" dining options RCI is now trying to introduce as I have always enjoyed meeting my table companions the first night and then getting to know and enjoy their company throughout the cruise. As far as attire is concerned I have a particular aversion to jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps et al...in the dining room at dinner that is.

 

Will I run into this "problem" on HAL?

 

Also, I have always had the impression - perhaps unsupported - that HAL courted a rather stuffy and conservative passenger. In spite of my irritation at the way people dress on board ship I am anything but stuffy and far from conservative. If anything, I'm a hopeless romantic who does not want to give up civility, good taste, manners and want a generally "good old days" cruise experience.

 

So...do I try HAL? Would love to hear your comments...I'm shopping for a ship. Thanks...

[jhannah]

I believe you'll be pleased with Holland America ships. The dress code is a subject of much discussion and controversy, but at this point HAL is still conducting formal nights wherein proper attire is "requested." Depending on the itinerary, tuxes/gowns will be in the majority or minority. HAL allows dark suits for men on formal evenings.

 

I haven't found many HAL passengers to be stuffy. (There's always the occasional exception.) Yes, the line's demographics skew toward the more seasoned traveler ... but you'll find families, too. Again, itinerary will play a large role in the ratio of younger vs. older passengers. (The longer the cruise, the "older" it will tend to be.)

 

Holland America is still offering traditional fixed seating in their dining rooms. But this is being combined with a variation of "anytime" dining. So if you want fixed seating, you must book early. Those slots fill very quickly.

 

As for ships, HAL has a good selection. The Vista class ships are larger, but not near the behemoths other lines are going to. They also have a small ship, the Prinsendam, that accommodates just under 800 passengers. It's very nice. There are also ships in between, so you can have pretty much what you'd like. (Check out the sticky on the main page to learn more about ship classes/sizes.)

 

I find that Holland America offers a refined cruise experience in the setting of an elegant ship with outstanding service.

 

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

[jplotts865]

Thanks for the response. I've had a varied cruise history...from the rather small but nicely understated "Olympic Voyager" (which is no longer in service) on a long Amazon River cruise to the fairly "grand" QM2 transatlantic. I find the new RCI megaships are getting to be just too glitzy and mall-like for my taste - with similar crowds on board - and am pretty sure I'd be happier on a somewhat smaller, more refined, HAL ship. At this point I am leaning heavily toward HAL for my next cruise...so, we shall see how it all plays out.

[bruce-r]

You sound like you would very much enjoy a HAL cruise.

[Harry1954]

You will enjoy HAL .. we have seen stuffy folks, but generally we find them on Regents or Crystal, not HAL ..

regarding baseball caps in dining room - haven't ever seen that one .. most everyone comports themselves quite well and they tend to follow the dress code .. there will always be a few errant jerks, but they are always ignored.

harry

[Richard in Panama]

You sound like you are ready for a step up . . . and I think you would like Holland America . . . a tradition of excellence that still in some ways feels like the old luxury ships. Holland America has lots of dining options - and if you like a fixed seating getting to know and eat with the same folks every night, you'll find it. If you prefer to eat when you want and either alone, or with a different couple, you'll find that too. It's not stuffy - there are more "fashion police" on Cruise Critic than on the ship - but it's not NASCAR either.

[caviargal]

I would enjoy feedback from HAL passengers regarding the HAL cruise experience. Having been on RCI quite a few times - my line of choice until just recently - I'm looking for another line that may be more my cup of tea. RCI ships are just getting to be too big and much to casual - I am especially getting frustrated with the improperly attired passengers in the main dining room at dinner and more particularly on formal nights.

 

So...do I try HAL? Would love to hear your comments...I'm shopping for a ship. Thanks...

 

As a former RCI fan (49 cruises with them since the '70s), I jumped for those same reasons as well as the complete emphasis on families which changed the entire experience.

 

HAL is a great for us as it allows us to enjoy a more traditional experience with great service and good food. We like the size and layout of the Vista class ships and they are definitely our favorite mass market line.

 

We do prefer open dining and can choose from this and traditional on HAL.

 

As for ships, we have cruised the Noordam, Zuiderdam and Oosterdam. Overall we enjoyed the Oosterdam the most except for the ports, thought the Noordam was the most beautiful and had excellent service on the Zuiderdam. Next up for us is the Westerdam and the Eurodam will be booked when the deck plans are complete.

[NoNoNanette]

It's not stuffy - there are more "fashion police" on Cruise Critic than on the ship - but it's not NASCAR either.

 

Excellent point, Richard.

 

That has been our experience with HAL. Much to our delight! ;)

 

JPlotts.... I've got a feeling that HAL will knock you out. The service/crew is absolutely incredible. Efficient, friendly, above-and-beyond anything else I've seen. You can read my reviews of the Volendam and the Amsterdam in my signature links. :)

[sassyredhat]

I say "go for it" ! We love HAL for all the reasons stated above. There are fewer passengers, no children running everywhere, beautiful ships with beautiful flowers.

 

The food is wonderful and the service is outstanding. We are spoiled.

 

Pat

[DFD1]

HAL will welcome you and I think you'll have a great time. There is something special about HAL. That specialness is made up of many small differences and a few large ones. For me, the operative word is elegant.....but not stuffy.

 

I hope you sail HAL and have a wonderful cruise.

[jplotts865]

Well...thanks to everyone! This is the sort of feedback I was looking for and will definitely "jump ship" from RCI to HAL. Unfortunately the world - and RCI it would seem - have changed and not necessarily for the better. I will book my next cruise on HAL...absolutely! Merci...

[kenito799]

We just finished our first cruise ever and we were really happy on the Veendam. Docking next to the Mariner of the Seas in Cozumel provided quite an obvious contrast between the two lines and we were really happy to get back on the Veendam!

 

Since the Veendam comes out of Tampa, and our cruise did not coincide with any school vacation periods, this is what we found:

 

average age of pax >65 (we are 34 and 40)

number of kids under 12 on board: less than 10

number of teenagers: less than 5

number of people in the pools at any given time: less than 5

times when you could not get a deck chair by the pool: 0

number of people dressed casually in the dining room on formal nights: 0

however, percentage in tuxedos: less than 10%

number of people dressed casually in the casino on formal nights: 2, and they really stood out, two 20-somethings in sweatshirts

 

Service was outstanding, variety and quality of food excellent, the chef demonstrations in the culinary arts center were wonderful (especially the very funny chef Phillip).

We absolutely loved the liberal HAL wine policy (we brought 15 bottles on board to share with the other 14 family members traveling with us). Our cabin steward brought 4 wine glasses and a full champagne-sized ice bucket every afternoon so we always had a cold white or sparkling wine available in the evenings.

 

There's no question, we would definitely cruise with HAL again.

[CinWin]

I feel the same way about comparing the massive RCI ships to a theme park or shopping mall experience. That is why my DH and I just booked a cruise on HAL's upcoming "Eurodam". After all the terrific comments I've read about the HAL experience, I am sure we will be glad we are giving it a try. :)

Cindy