If HAL is your first choice, who would be your second?

[Tonklily]

Have not had a bad cruise yet! However, my top two choices are definitely HAL and Princess. I really, really liked the Grand Princess, and the Caribbean Princess was phenominol because of it's size. HAL and Princess are pretty equal on food quality. Both are excellent with HAL perhaps taking the lead by a nose. HAL's cabins seem to be a bit larger than most. We liked that. Also, if you prefer Phillipino staff as opposed to European, than you would enjoy HAL more. However, I must say, that we have had fantastic staff on all of our cruises, regardless of their nationality. We love all of the entertainment, especially the Production Cast Shows. Have never not been entertained on any of our cruises. (Note: I wish that more people would attend the Production shows, because they are really good). Sometimes it just gets down to the itinerary. Hope the above helps in your decision making and have a great cruise! :)

[KLLund]

My second choice is also Princess .. but I prefer the Sapphire or smaller to the Caribbean where they added the deck of cabins without adding public space. If you had never sailed the Sapphire ( or the Diamond) you probably wouldn't notice it ..

I am getting the impression that the Eurodam has the same situation and that is really too bad .. IMHO

 

Third choice would be Celebrity

 

but I aspire to Cunard and Crystal :)

[MightyQuinn]

I like the smaller ships, so my second choice is Oceania. The ships are really nice, and they sail some very interesting itineraries.

Our thoughts exactly. We also prefer smaller ships & really enjoy the R & S class vessels of the HAL fleet. Oceania would be on our radar if we couldn't find an interesting itinerary on one of HAL's smaller ships.

[mikjr]

So, for those of you who enjoy HAL above all other cruise lines (at least, in its price range), what would be your second choice for cruise line if you had to take a different one - and why that one?

 

Celebrity has always been our first choice, with Princess second.

 

We will be trying HAL for the first time in September... so, there may be a NEW number one!! We have heard so many good things about HAL, and our expections are high. I hope HAL comes through.

 

Check back for our thoughts in late October

[kakalina]

Since we have only sailed on HAL we really can't make an informed choice. But if HAL were to disappear off the face of the earth than I would probably try Crystal or Regent. I like the small ship feel.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Celebrity ... M-class:) . Actually, Celebrity is my first choice and HAL my second. But generally they've moved back and forth over the years. Right now HAL is second.

[cruisinbulldog]

HAL first.. And in their price range Princess second..

 

Bulldog

[barbon2]

Absolutely Celebrity!!

Barbara

[kelmac]

Celebrity/Azamara would be first; HAL is a close second. Can't beat those Millennium class ships of Celebrity -- if they just had a wrap around promenade deck!:rolleyes: :)

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[localady]

Celebrity would be our 2nd choice also.

[Marmarjudy]

Only once on HAL, many on Princess, once on Cunard, and 20+ on the others, including 6 on Celebrity.

 

HAL and Princess are pretty much tied in our opinion.

 

Judy

[c-cruise]

In addition to HAL we have done NCL, Princess, Celebrity and RCCL. Our order of preference would be:

 

1. HAL

2. Princess

3. Celebrity

4. RCCL

5. NCL

[newmexicoNita]

Depends on whether we are talking luxury lines or mass marketed. Mass marketed:

 

Our first choice is NCL

second is HAL;

 

totally different experiences. Of the mass marketed our least favorite is RCI. I didn't list Carnival as we have only cruised her once, several years ago and it was a four day cruise, this isn't a fair comparison.

 

Nita

[CinWin]

. I think any cruise is great, just some better than others, and it all depends on your attitude. If you go onboard comparing everything, you will probably be let down. Enjoy every ship for what they are!

 

I loved what you said in the above quote, Sue. You are so right! :)

Cindy

[martinimadam]

My first choice is actually Crystal; but, with the economy the way it is, I'm trying to scale back. HAL is definitely first choice in the mass market lines. I've sailed on HAL a number of times, loved the old Noordam and really like the Maasdam. I've also sailed on Princess, Carnival, and NCL. If I can't have Crystal, and I can't have HAL, I'm not sure I'd do much more cruising!

[serendipity1499]

We also enjoy the smaller ships..Before we cruised on Oceania, HAL's Prinsendam was Ist, & HAL's Amsterdam was second..Now both HAL's Prinsendam & Oceania's 3 ships are No. one on my list..

 

HAL's production shows are still the best & we do enjoy Formal nights nights on HAL...However, most people on Oceania dressed beautifully (country club casual)..We wore the same evening attire on both Lines, minus the TUX & the more formal sparkly tops..Although I did see a few sparkly formal tops..

 

HAL does not beat Oceania's service & food..I could not go for a cup of coffee, or even walk back with a full tray to our table with it in the Terrace café, before someone took it away from me & escorted me back to our table..Only saw that on HAL with Physically challenged Psgrs or Psgrs who are well known to staff..

 

On HAL we enjoy the Pinnacle which is $20.00 per person, On Oceania both alternative Restaurants Toscana (Italian) & Polo (Steaks/chops) are free..The second time we dined in these Restaurants we learned to ask for 1/2 orders of salad & some desserts..We could not eat all that food..If they did not have a particular thing we enjoyed they insisted on going to other parts of the ship to find them for us..We could not believe it!

Oceania also has outside dining in their Trattoria...And Oceania has the best Hamburgers we've ever had on a cruise..Rare! with all the trimmings..Oceania's Pizza station is wonderful & they make the best fried eggs in the morning in the Terrace Cafe.. But HAL's Pasta Bar, Soups & Bread Pudding in the Lido are to die for!

 

The Prinsendam outside cabins are larger with walk in closets & you can't beat HAL's $12.00 offer for laundry by the bag.. Missed the wrap-around Prominade deck on Oceania..

 

Now to compare prices of our cruises: In April 2006 we took a 25 day to the Amazon on HAL's Prinsendam & in Nov 2007 took 26 day On Oceania's Regatta also to the Amazon...Our cruise on Oceania for the same cabin type (Outside/midship) was actually less expensive..The reason? Oceania gave us a $500 air credit for flights we didn't use (we drive) plus Pre-Paid Gratuities (11.50 per day), Plus $50.00 OBC per psgr...Our TA augmented the OBC with another $25 pp & wine..

 

Oceania's gratuities for non suite Psgrs are now up to $12.50 per day & It's more for Suite Psgrs....I personally believe that is the reason for the excellent all around service...Even the gal who cleaned the public bathrooms, the steward who was polishing the staircase, & all the stewards/stewardesses on the ship always greeted us & asked us how we were enjoying our day ..When we left the DR or the Terrace Café, every steward & Matre d' we passed thanked us for coming & told us to have a good day...Even on the days we decided not to have wine for the evening, the wine stewards greeted us with a big smile & chatted for a few minutes..

 

HAL's fuel surcharge is capped, but Oceania's is not..Can't remember the price difference per day though..

 

One of the best things we loved on Oceania was the "No Smoking" policy in Cabins,most Public Areas & on Balcony's..They had two areas for the smokers..One inside & one outside..The smokers were fine with that..Oceania even put a Psgrs off one of their ships last year because he was warned once about smoking on his balcony & he did it again..You don't get a second chance on that subject with Oceania..

 

So which is No. One & Number Two2, I'm hard pressed to say, as they are both uniquely different experiences..

 

Sorry for the long post..I never did a review as promised & it looks like this is a review....

 

Thanks..Cheers..:) Betty

[iancal]

DW, a self appointed expert in these matters, would select Celebrity as choice number one, number two, and number three for mass market lines. We also like Princess. For the high end, we have only been on Crystal. We loved it. But alas, we do not want to buy the ship, just rent a room. Our budget does not currently stretch to Crystal. We are waiting for a good value deal from Oceana...really anxious to try them based on the great reports. Having said that, we have never had a bad cruise. They have all been good, just different from each other.