HAL Noordam vs. Celebrity Millenium

[baby]

I would like opinions on which ship to choose

 

our likes are

 

good food

 

good dancing and entertainment where the lounges are not "asleep" after 10:00PM

 

comments please

 

carol

[Hlitner]

hmmm. From my experience (stopped counting at 50 cruises) both HA and Celebrity are asleep after 10! This would be particularly true on cruises longer than a week where the crowd tends to be a bit older. On our first HA cruise (we were in our 40s) a comedian said, "Welcome aboard to the seniors...and their parents." The problem with that joke was that it was at the 2nd seating show and there were only a few folks awake! On our last Celebrity cruise (Infinity) they did not have that kind of joke because even the comedian was asleep by 10! :)

 

Hank

[HALFans]

I'll be watching this thread closely too!

 

Looking at the Millennium for Alaska this Fall.

 

(Must be my inner Star Wars geek that loves that name so. Wonder if I'll see Han Solo, or just some <here it comes...> European woman with armpits like Chewbacka :eek:)

[mafig]

I would pick Noordam.

 

She's newer.

 

HAL is known as the "clean fleet." Celebrity has drawn criticism for their upkeep on their ships. Read the reviews. I don't consider it praise for a review to read "well, the condition of the ship wasn't too bad."

 

Also, Noordam, as far as I know, is mechanically sound. The M-class has had their share of problems.

 

Not that I wouldn't cruise Celebrity again. I would. But I would be looking at Solstice or Equinox.

[takemewithyou]

I would like opinions on which ship to choose

 

our likes are

 

good food

 

good dancing and entertainment where the lounges are not "asleep" after 10:00PM

 

comments please

 

carol

 

The Mille is scheduled for a drydock in May, prior to the Alaska season. All softgoods will be changed out and upholstery updated as well as rugs and other things. It is true that it has had some pod problems and a cruise mid-March had to be cancelled and the pod is being worked on right now. There are many thread about it on the X board.

 

I just finished a sailing on Noordam and have booked one on the Mille for this Fall. Looking forward to trying X again.

 

I think you may find a little more nightlife on X because it does attract a somewhat younger crowd. One of the biggest differences between HAL and X.... is the smoking policies. You might want to review those - there has been much spirited discussion about it on this board lately!

[AJD]

Carol,

 

We seem to have similar tastes to you, we like good food, dancing and night life, we sail on the Noordam for the first time in just a week so hope we are not disappointed!

We have sailed Millennium sister ships Constellation and Summit 4 times in the last couple of years on 10 to 14 day cruises. We had no complaints about the upkeep of the ships and the service was excellent. We had second seating dinner dinner so got out 10:30ish, dancing to live music and the piano bar went on till about midnight, also some shows were after dinner. After midnight it was pretty quiet most nights, maybe some activity in the night club or the casino. We don't believe any any mass market line can better Celebrity's specialty restaurants, they are outstanding, the Aquaspa Café is also excellent and the main restaurant is good.

[baby]

Hello Similar Tastes

 

please write a review of the noordam when you return

 

we are still trying to decide millie or noordam - hard choice

 

thanks carol