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I've enjoyed the cruises I've been on.... all out of Seattle so far. No basis for comparison because I've never been on another... but if RCI is the BK of cruise lines I must be missing out because I've been happy so far with the quality and service.
Maybe you are; maybe you aren't. A lot of people's happiness with vacations include the sting of how much it costs, and in that context, Royal Caribbean beat Holland America (especially in Alaska)... this week the comparison runs on the order of $1178 versus $1459.
Maybe you are; maybe you aren't. A lot of people's happiness with vacations include the sting of how much it costs, and in that context, Royal Caribbean beat Holland America (especially in Alaska)... this week the comparison runs on the order of $1178 versus $1459.
I paid $3200 last year for 3 with tips included for an interior stateroom 7 nights to Alaska.
My upcoming 7 night SF cruise in September I paid $2900 for 3 with tips included... and this time I got an oceanview balcony.
I consider it a pretty good deal... $138 a day per person with 3 meals a day for 7 nights on the Pacific Coast. Maybe I'm spoiled though.... living 25 minutes from the cruise terminal and avoiding airfare is a huge part of the good deal.
They are changing. The old folks are complaining big time, but the cruise line isn't relenting in its efforts to strive for relevance for the core of the market. My spouse is applying for Medicare next year and we met many more passengers younger than that on our recent cruise than older than that.
good to hear, I still think the age group the OP is in would be better with a different line. I do know HAL is trying to change their image, just like Carnival is trying to change theirs, but it takes time and there is a plac for all lines. They should not all be the same.
I don’t now, and never have done, any cruises. However a friend of mine goes all the time. He said he tried a Disney Cruise (I didn’t even realize they did them) for the first time and he said that it was a bit smaller than the others he had been on but was the best overall cruise experience he’s ever had. He’s planning on doing more with them. FWIW.
Disney does a great cruise but there are two things to consider: 1-the cost for a Disney cruise is almost double what a mass marketed line charges and 2-no matter what time of the year, the ship is going to be geared to families and kids. That is what the ships are designed for. I just think, for a new cruiser there are better choices and ones that are more economical. That has to be a consideration when taking your first cruise.
good to hear, I still think the age group the OP is in would be better with a different line. I do know HAL is trying to change their image, just like Carnival is trying to change theirs, but it takes time and there is a plac for all lines. They should not all be the same.
If HAL would change their smoking policy, I think it would go a long way to getting more younger folks on their ships. Their policy is 'generous' to say the least. I can't think of another cruise line that is marketed mostly to US passengers that still allows smoking in the casino. They even allow vaping in the cabins.
It's one of the reasons that we haven't sailed on HAL in years. Well, the perks of free alcohol package, prepaid tips and the $300 OBC for a OV cabin kinda sways us towards Celebrity.
He enjoyed the experience for the price he paid and parks don’t visit different ports.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkgourmet
If HAL would change their smoking policy, I think it would go a long way to getting more younger folks on their ships. Their policy is 'generous' to say the least. I can't think of another cruise line that is marketed mostly to US passengers that still allows smoking in the casino. They even allow vaping in the cabins.
It's one of the reasons that we haven't sailed on HAL in years. Well, the perks of free alcohol package, prepaid tips and the $300 OBC for a OV cabin kinda sways us towards Celebrity.
Carnival and RC allow smoking in their casinos. Don't Princess and NCL?
Well, actually they should. A mass market line should serve the mass market and therefore mass market interests. Specialty interests should be served by boutique lines, whole-ship charters, etc. The problem Holland America faces, serving a special interest far longer than it should have, is that it has this reputation that invariably constrains its ability to perform.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita
Disney does a great cruise but there are two things to consider: 1-the cost for a Disney cruise is almost double what a mass marketed line charges and 2-no matter what time of the year, the ship is going to be geared to families and kids. That is what the ships are designed for.
I'm sorry to disagree again so quickly, but my experience was that the Disney cruise line ships are far more expertly designed to insulate adults from the children aboard. The ships are very well designed to offer different experiences depending on who you are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jkgourmet
If HAL would change their smoking policy, I think it would go a long way to getting more younger folks on their ships. Their policy is 'generous' to say the least. I can't think of another cruise line that is marketed mostly to US passengers that still allows smoking in the casino. They even allow vaping in the cabins.
That all changed January 2017.
Quote:
For the comfort of all of our guests, beginning with sailings
departing in 2017, all staterooms (cabins) including stateroom
verandahs, showrooms and most other indoor areas are
designated non-smoking. Smoking is also permitted on certain
other designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for
all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.
º Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On
Prinsendam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is
allowed on the port side only
º Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
º Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side
on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and
Amsterdam
º Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
º Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam
and Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam
Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two
nights per cruise
Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship,
with the exception of the Oak Room on the Noordam; it is only
permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise
allowed. Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are permitted in
staterooms but are not permitted on stateroom verandahs. These
devices may be used in all designated smoking areas listed above.
Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of our policy
will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation.
We spent a week aboard Nieuw Amsterdam earlier this month and the only time we noted cigarette smoke is when we walked past the Sea View (Retreat) Bar. The casino presented to us as completely smoke free for the entire trip.
]I paid $3200 last year for 3 with tips included for an interior stateroom 7 nights to Alaska.
My upcoming 7 night SF cruise in September I paid $2900 for 3 with tips included... and this time I got an oceanview balcony.
[/b]
I consider it a pretty good deal... $138 a day per person with 3 meals a day for 7 nights on the Pacific Coast. Maybe I'm spoiled though.... living 25 minutes from the cruise terminal and avoiding airfare is a huge part of the good deal.
Alaska has a short cruising season, ships usually sell out, so it comes down to supply and demand
[quote=bUU;52568252]Well, actually they should. A mass market line should serve the mass market and therefore mass market interests. Specialty interests should be served by boutique lines, whole-ship charters, etc.
I do not agree at all. That's like saying every mass market restaurant should be serving the same food in the same atmosphere, etc. And leave specialty interests to boutique restaurants and places that are rented out in full like for weddings. Even the mass market has different tastes, preference for modern or tradition, budgets, preferences for high activity vs. Quiet and relaxing, etc.
RE: HAL smoking policy, even what you quoted from their website says that smoking is allowed in designated sections of the casino. I'm glad to hear that it wasn't a problem for you. And I agree that NCL, RCCL and I think Princess allow limited smoking in the casino.
I'm an ex smoker. I prefer not to be around smokers, but I DO accept that they exist and have certain rights to perform a legal activity in public. That said, restrictions on venues that allow smoking are reasonable and fair (and required by the majority of consumers.) IMHO, those venues should be restricted to limited outdoor locations only.. And I'd say the same for the stupid vaping and e-cigarette trends.
Last edited by Jkgourmet; 07-22-2018 at 08:07 AM..
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