Help calm my nerves about HAL (if you can)!!!!

[MadManOfBethesda]

I'm 24 and have heard Holland America Line described as "your Grandmother's cruise line" ....

 

Well, on another thread there is an ongoing discussion about the average number of people who die on each HAL cruise and on how many bodies the ship's morgue holds. Somehow, I doubt that those topics ever have been discussed on the Carnival board. That will give you some inkling of the difference between the demographics of the two lines.

 

That said, I've sailed on both Carnival & HAL multiple times and have always had a great time on each cruise. And I'm sure that you will too.

[GS99]

As far as the age range, you've got a couple of factors working in your favor:

 

Itenerary: Caribbean - attracts younger crowd

Length: 7 days - attracts younger crowd

Holiday Cruise: New Years - attracts younger crowd

 

We just got off the Noordam and had about 50 - 75 youths on board. The next crowd (for Christmas) had 220 +/- and about 10% more passengers in total.

 

 

DON'T FORGET - Room Service is free! Order anything on the list, from the book in your stateroom, or from the menus posted for the Dining Room. And it's free.

 

Order ANYTHING you desire from room servce and they seem to find a way to make it. We wrote in "blue cheese" for our English Muffins and got three or four scoops complete with some nuts and seeds as garnish. We ordered two ham, provolone and onion sandwiches on rye and wrapped in Saran Wrap for a day's excursion off the ship and they even came with chips. (I have to bring baggies next time for the chips.)

 

If you order something that looks bare on the plate, it will come with something else to spice up the presentation.

 

If you order the fresh fruit for breakfast and write in "no watermelon" they'll likely pick and poke to get it right. If you order tea, specify the flavour you desire. The room service isn't perfect, one time our "picnic" sandwich came toasted, but they do what they can with what you request. The more specific you can be the closer they are likely to come to what you want.

 

GS

[GS99]

If you like wine, consider a wine tasting class (there is a cost), or if you like cooking, check out the cooking classes (again there is a cost).

 

On the back to back cruises I just finished on the Noordam there were two free cooking demo presentations with two recipes per presentation and samples of one of the recipes were handed out to all in attendance.

 

 

As well, plan on taking a good book,

 

We met a number of people on the Noordam who used the 2000 book ships library. One friend managed to get through 5 books on the back to back 20 days.

 

GS

[DizzyDallasDi]

I want to second GS's compliment of HAL's room service. On my Eurodam cruise in Nov., I ordered a cheese plate the first evening for a snack but they called me back to apologize that it wasn't available. No big deal to me and I appreciated that they took the time to call and let me know. The next evening, I ordered something else from room service and the delivery steward ponted out that they had added the cheese plate to my order since it wasn't available the nght before. What a nice gesture! I really didn't need or want the cheese plate with that order, but I was very impressed that they were trying to right what had happened the night before.

 

Also, each time I ordered room service, I was given a time period it would be delivered (usually 30 - 45 min.) and they always added that they would try to get it to me sooner. I never waited more than 20 min. I had breakfast room service each morning (via the card on the door) and it was prompt, correct and the right termperature.

 

The crew is very nice, always greeting you with a smile and friendly word.

 

It's HAL's dedication to excellent service that makes such a world of difference!

 

Diane

[usctrojangal]

Avril,

My husband and I cruised HAL Sept. 2007 to Alaska - it was our first cruise and I didn't know prior to cruising that HAL had a reputation for older clientele. I'm 32, my husband is a little older. We had a blast. There was a mixed bag of age groups. I was definitely not the youngest aboard. I'd prefer to be with a more mature crowd anyway. I love to dance and was excited to try out the disco. No one was in there and I was the lone dancer. The casino was so much fun and I sat next to interesting crowds of people at the roulette table. Saw an older lady sitting in her wheel chair playing two slot machines at the same time hitting the spin button on one machine with her cane and using her had on the other machine.... quite the sceen! HAL did have several programs like bingo and ping pong tournaments but they seemed to schedule them while at port. I think it's great they provide those programs - hey - some of us don't have the opportunity to play games like that at home so take advantage of new activities. By the way - I have a perception of Carnival - that it's a younger, partying, booze cruise sort of crowd. I'm sure it's not but that is the perception I have. I will certainly try a Carnival cruise though and you should look forward to your HAL cruise. Keep an open mind, have fun, meet new and interesting people and age groups.

[happy cruzer]

In the OPs signature, I see Princess and Celebrity. If you enjoyed those cruises, you will be just fine on HAL. However, if you only enjoyed the Fun Ship experience, then you may be a little bored at night.

 

Just doing a short, older Carnival ship, I experinced much more entertainment at night. Several rock/disco type venues plus the main showroom and the karaoke and adult humor that start at 11 or 12. Hal has the main showroom, one ballroom stype band, piano bar, and disco. If the disco is quiet on your cruise, which can happen, then the other venues are more sedate than Carnivals. Enjoyable but just not as crowded and a bit quieter. I think your main difference activity wise will be after dinner. Hal won't be totally dead but it doesn't hop like the Fun Ships.

 

In all other ways, HAL is a notch above the Carnival experience. But typically you pay more per night so that makes sense.

 

JMHO.

[Nasmas]

I'm about to sail on my 14th cruise (on December 27th). :D It will also be my 1st Holland America Line cruise. I normaly sail with Carnival and know them by heart. I'm not sure quite what my question is but I have to say that I'm a little (ok, a lot) nervous about trying something new. Please tell me all you can and help calm my nerves about sailing with Holland America Line (I'm 24 and have heard Holland America Line described as "your Grandmother's cruise line" meaning hardly any activities beyond Bridge Tournaments, Bingo Games and no nightlife what-so-ever). What sort of events/activities do they have? I sail in 8 days and I'm really excited!!!! :D Please help all you can (if you can). I'm sailing on the Eurodam if that makes a difference.

I've never been on Carnival either, but some friends of ours that sail regularly on HAL took their teen-aged children on Carnival a couple of years ago. Their take on it was, " It was ok, but certainly not what we're accustomed to.' So, I think if you like Carnival, you'll love HAL. And no, its not your grandmother's cruise. I was relatively young (not yet 40) the first time I was on HAL and I loved it. If you're looking for a week-long party, though, Carnival is probably still your best bet. We like to party but we also like the cruise for some down time. Its all what you're looking for.

[pokeyjones]

On the Zuiderdam's sea days, we had line dance lessons in the afternoon, sailaway parties after port days, poolside with the HAL Cats and singer (Jalynn), Late night disco was always fun, especially on sea days, about 1 hour or so, after the last performance...the dancers and singers would come in for 30-45 minutes, then go up for the late buffet in the Lido.

 

Just get out there and have fun!

[Dancer Bob]

This was Caribbean, mid-winter. Forgot to mention the Maasdam had a very nice library.

[Misery (Missouri) Man]

Avril...

 

You asked for and received a generous handfull of replies. Now I'll ask something of you:

 

I'm genuinely interested in hearing your opinion AFTER your first HAL cruise. In this same thread, when you get back would you please post a short (if you wish) but candid message reporting how your HAL cruise stacked up for you in comparison to Carnival?

 

Thanks!

[CelebConsult]

Please calm my nerves... It will also be my 1st Holland America Line cruise. I normaly sail with Carnival and know them by heart...

Your question is a bit analogous to asking, "I've enjoyed driving my simple, loud, cheap Yugo, and I don't know if I'm up to driving a BMW 7-Series."

 

It's more dependent on your comfort and maturity level. If your selection of HAL was made on itinerary, port shorex opportunities, cuisine and service quality, then you'll be in cruise heaven, relatively speaking. If you are a drinking party-animal, HAL will not be your environment.

 

END

[Sundagger]

Your question is a bit analogous to asking, "I've enjoyed driving my simple, loud, cheap Yugo, and I don't know if I'm up to driving a BMW 7-Series."

 

It's more dependent on your comfort and maturity level. If your selection of HAL was made on itinerary, port shorex opportunities, cuisine and service quality, then you'll be in cruise heaven, relatively speaking. If you are a drinking party-animal, HAL will not be your environment.

 

END

 

She is already on the ship and halfway through the cruise.

[Mooguy]

I'm about to sail on my 14th cruise (on December 27th). :D It will also be my 1st Holland America Line cruise. I normaly sail with Carnival and know them by heart. I'm not sure quite what my question is but I have to say that I'm a little (ok, a lot) nervous about trying something new. Please tell me all you can and help calm my nerves about sailing with Holland America Line (I'm 24 and have heard Holland America Line described as "your Grandmother's cruise line" meaning hardly any activities beyond Bridge Tournaments, Bingo Games and no nightlife what-so-ever). What sort of events/activities do they have? I sail in 8 days and I'm really excited!!!! :D Please help all you can (if you can). I'm sailing on the Eurodam if that makes a difference.

 

 

Hoping we will get a followup on this.

[GOLDENBONNY]

I'm about to sail on my 14th cruise (on December 27th). :D It will also be my 1st Holland America Line cruise. I normaly sail with Carnival and know them by heart. I'm not sure quite what my question is but I have to say that I'm a little (ok, a lot) nervous about trying something new. Please tell me all you can and help calm my nerves about sailing with Holland America Line (I'm 24 and have heard Holland America Line described as "your Grandmother's cruise line" meaning hardly any activities beyond Bridge Tournaments, Bingo Games and no nightlife what-so-ever). What sort of events/activities do they have? I sail in 8 days and I'm really excited!!!! :D Please help all you can (if you can). I'm sailing on the Eurodam if that makes a difference.

 

wE JUST BACK FROM OUT 1-ST HAL CRUISE,i DONT KNOW WHO MADE THIS RUMOR,THAT ITS "grandmather " cruise:confused:We had sooo many kids,teens,and "young people" like us 35-40:D.We are not party animals:),so we loved more older crowd around us.Its true ,that they don't have as much activities as other lines during days,but night time I even found its too late for us,most of activities start 11 pm?:confused:Hal is different,but good different from other lines(We been on Costa,Princess,NCL).We loved Hal,we like bigger ships,so its not gonna be our first choice cruise line,but service is great,food is best we ever had on cruise line.

[AlohaPride]

wE JUST BACK FROM OUT 1-ST HAL CRUISE,i DONT KNOW WHO MADE THIS RUMOR,THAT ITS "grandmather " cruise:confused:We had sooo many kids,teens,and "young people" like us 35-40:D.We are not party animals:),so we loved more older crowd around us.Its true ,that they don't have as much activities as other lines during days,but night time I even found its too late for us,most of activities start 11 pm?:confused:Hal is different,but good different from other lines(We been on Costa,Princess,NCL).We loved Hal,we like bigger ships,so its not gonna be our first choice cruise line,but service is great,food is best we ever had on cruise line.

 

 

I'm so happy you enjoyed your cruise!!