Holland America Vs. Celebrity

[wckdtrix]

We are looking at trying out Holland America for our next cruise. We have had three fantastic cruises on Celebrity (and one not so good one on Royal Carib). Anyone that has been on both Celebrity and Holland America, how do they compare? How are they different? The best parts to us about Celebrity were the service and food, we are hoping that Holland America is comparable, or even better....Any help would be greatly appreciated, as we were just about to book another 'X' cruise when we decided to change our minds and try a different cruise line. Thanks for your help

[tompeter]

Although you will find some people have strong preferences for one or the other, We find both these lines provide what we look for in a cruise.

It is what you indicated, Service and food. I think you will be very happy trying out HAL... nothing to fear;)

 

Tom

[Palms2Pines2Sea]

We found many more similarities than differences when comparing the food between HAL and Celebrity.

Overall guest service, however, was far superior on HAL.

 

Just our experience - others will differ. And that is the beauty of having choices!

[Softball20]

We have been on both Celebrity and Holland. The service and food on Holland were both fantastic. The food on Celebrity, we thought, was just about as good as HAL. I think that HAL was a tad better, but my husband thinks they were pretty much neck and neck. I do think that the service on HAL was a bit better, too, but we were very impressed with Celebrity. Actually, it's these two cruises that I have liked the best out of the ones we have been on.

[pipedreams62]

The tiebreaker is the friendly staff on Holland America and the comfy bedding.

[Coco Creek]

I am a Celebrity cruiser who is planning to sail the Eurodam over New Year's.

 

What is the smoking policy on Holland America? Joy of joys, Celebrity today announced no smoking in staterooms or verandas effective Oct. 1.

[ninkb]

DH loves his ice cream so he says HAL wins hands down . . . lots of variety and long hours each day . . . Isn't it really personal? Whatever floats your boat, just take another cruise and be happy.

 

:):):)ninkb

[O2B@C]

The tiebreaker is the friendly staff on Holland America and the comfy bedding.

 

I agree - those are two of the most important things for me, and HAL has the edge on both. I would add that HAL's more extensive room service breakfast menu, and the ability to order room service dinner from the dining room menu, are both nice touches - and available in all cabins, not just some categories. HAL's room service coffee is better, too. Also HAL's disembarkation procedure allows you to order room service breakfast and then stay in your cabin until your number is called, if you choose.

 

The only ways I think Celebrity is better are: (1) so far, no open seating dining (but this may be a minus for some); (2) just-announced policy placing increased limits on smoking (ditto); and (3) welcome glass of champagne upon boarding (a small thing, but a nice touch).

[Sir PMP]

smokers stay home!

[Bill S]

We've sailed on both lines-HAL a lot; Celebrity once. I agree that they are more similar than disimilar.

We gave Celebrity a slight edge on food and entertainment over HAL. But, HAL's service and beds are better, in our opinon.

Both lines provide a quality and enjoyable experience, IMO.

[kelmac]

Must be time for the MacO'Meter!

 

My wife and I are pretty much just alternating between Holland America and Celebrity. Both lines offer an outstanding product and are classified as Premium Cruise Lines:

 

1) Embarkation: Celebrity 9.2.....HAL 9.0 (varies cruise to cruise)

2) Captain's Club, Mariner's Club Celebrity 8.8.....HAL 7.5 (HAL's events are bit depressing; CC hostess is a nice touch)

3) Beds and Beddings HAL 9.5.....Celebrity 9.0 (HAL's the best!!)

4) Cabin decor Celebrity 9.1.....HAL 8.8 (Celebrity a bit more modern)

5) Cabin size HAL 9.3.....Celebrity 8.9 (HAL has a bit more room)

6) Ship decor Celebrity 9.4 (modern).....HAL 9.2 (traditional)

7) Cabin stewards HAL 9.4.....Celebrity 9.4 (varies cruise to cruise)

8) Lido/Buffet HAL 9.5......Celebirty 9.2 (HAL wins here, Celebrity is getting better + has the best waffles)

9) Dining room Cuisine Celebrity 9.6.....HAL 9.1 (Celebrity wins here, both are pretty good)

10) Alternative Restaurants Celebrity 9.9.....HAL 8.6 (Huge difference here)

11) Over-all service HAL 9.5 (warm).....Celebrity 9.5 (formal) (Both excel in this area)

12) Itineraries HAL 9.7.....Celebrity 8.9 (HAL's way ahead here)

13) Ship design (large ships) Celebrity 9.4.....HAL 9.1 (I like Celebrity's designs better Vista vs Millennium)

14) Ship design (med size ships) HAL 9.7.....Celebrity 8.8 (HAL's smaller ships are wonderful)

15) Entertainment Celebrity 8.6.....HAL 8.2 (not a strong point for either company)

16) Showtime Theatre Celebrity 9.0.....HAL 8.4 (Celebrity's theatre designs are better)

17) Onboard activities HAL 8.2.....Celebrity 8.2 (Tie -- neither excels here)

18) Disembarkation HAL 9.0.....Celebrity 9.0 (HAL lets you stay in your cabin; CC members can leave the ship early)

 

Things I love about HAL -- wrap around promenade decks, personable service, movie theaters, nice libraries, Lido, aft pool area, R/S class ships.

 

Things I love about Celebrity -- Dining room cuisine, Formal/Special feel, Aqua Spas/ Aqua Spa Cafe, deck spaces, new smoking policy, assigned seating only in Dining room, lack of PA announcements.

 

As I said before, we love both of these cruise lines!

Celebrity cruises = 12 + 2 coming up HAL cruises = 6 + 2 coming up.

 

Enjoy!:)

Kel

[cruznon]

Like Bill, we've sail HAL many times and Celebrity once. I find the lines to be very similar in food and service.

I also love the touch of being handed champagne as you board and a crew member takes your carry ons and escorts you to your cabin.

I found that those on Celebrity do believe in formal nights--lots of gowns and tuxes.

Celebrity's horrible bedding is a negative. IF you have a suite, I understand the beds are comfy. However,we had only an oceanview cabin and it was like sleeping on a sofa bed--bar and all! (Yes, we did ask/get for an eggcrate pad.)

I would give a nod to Celebrity's food (our one experience)over HAL. But I do think HAL's presentation is a tad better in the dining room..

[TessM]

(3) welcome glass of champagne upon boarding (a small thing, but a nice touch).

 

I've heard that Celebrity does this and I think it's quite elegant. Although it's not the greatest champagne, I like the thought.

 

This is a bit off-topic, but I'm curious, do they have an alternate handy for non-drinkers? (Lots of Friends of Bill W on cruises).

[chrismch]

Yes, they offer orange juice.

[TessM]

Yes, they offer orange juice.

Thanks. I figured they must have an alternative. Orange juice seems like a good choice for universal appeal.

[caviargal]

What I like better about X:

 

The Aqua Spa Cafe

The large T pool on M class ships

The Martini Bar

The Cova Cafe, a nicer coffee venue

Better live dance music

 

What I prefer about HAL:

 

The Asian influenced cuisine

Anytime Dining

The maintenance standard of their ships

The staff

The bedding

The Elemis amenities generously provided

The full room service menu in all categories

The large bathrooms

The Explorers Cafe

The Culinary Center

[wckdtrix]

Thanks for all the great responses and information. I think our next cruise will definitely be on a Holland America Ship. Everything sounds just as we hoped it would.

 

Thanks again, everyone! :D

[sondrad]

DH and I have cruised twice; once on HAL (last July) and once on Celebrity (last week). We thought the food was significantly better on Celebrity and we liked the welcome champagne. We enjoyed both very much and will cruise with them both again, but Celebrity won out in our opinion by a slight margin. The things that we did miss about those "damn ships": the comfy beds, towel animals, drink cards and "yum yums".

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[iancal]

They are both great. We like both, though our first HAL cruise was last this past Feb. We think HAL's beds are better. We found the service about the same .We thought Celebrity food was better. But they guy across the street has other preferences and opinions. Can't go wrong with either. We don't travel by cruise line, we select on itinerary, value, and ship.

[florisdekort]

Celebrity's horrible bedding is a negative. IF you have a suite, I understand the beds are comfy.

 

Do note that Celebrity rolled out new bedding fleet wide during Q2/Q3 of last year... Maybe still not quite HAL, but a HUGE improvement compared to what it was.

 

Floris

[happy cruzer]

Everyone hit it so far thought I would add the following:

 

HAL has a more friendly wine policy regarding bringing your own wine on board and paying corkage fee in dining room. Also better wine list and nice by the glass rates.

[kelmac]

Do note that Celebrity rolled out new bedding fleet wide during Q2/Q3 of last year... Maybe still not quite HAL, but a HUGE improvement compared to what it was.

 

Floris

 

I agree 100% -- Celebrity's new beds and beddings are a huge improvement. If fact, the bed we had on the Millennium, was the best bed we have had on any cruise ship. I think the problem is the quality; perhaps Celebrity's new beds are "breaking down" at a faster rate compared to HAL's?? The bed we had on the Constellation two weeks ago was new but already having issues, including the dreaded "crack".

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[caviargal]

Do note that Celebrity rolled out new bedding fleet wide during Q2/Q3 of last year... Maybe still not quite HAL, but a HUGE improvement compared to what it was.

 

Floris

 

True, better by a wide margin but not the plush comfort of HALs. I dislike the rounded corners we had on Century in CC class as the bed felt shorter. We also had the crack in the middle.

[m steve]

why pay extra on X. We'll stick to HAL and Princess since all three are quite similar in almost every way from food to entertainment.

[Mary Ellen]

Thanks for asking this question! We're now giving serious consideration to moving to Celebrity because of their new smoking policy :D and have been wondering how they compare. We'd like to be able to get a balcony and know we'll be able to enjoy it smoke free (haven't booked one on HAL for the last 5 yrs. in part due to this). From what I've seen on the X boards, we're also concerned that HAL will 'inherit' smokers from X, making this more of a problem on HAL. I have 79 days currently booked on HAL, but it may be time for a change.