By "Bells & Whistles" you mean water parks, go carts & being 30 deep at the bar? I like Holland BECAUSE it's more quiet & relaxed than those "Resort" ships. My opinion, my money. 🙂
I love Holland America and have done quite a few Caribbean excursions with them, but what surprises me is that, because their clientele tends to be older, they don't focus too much on single travelers. This is the perfect cruise line to do so. There are many older and retired people who have lost their partners and who travel alone. Why isn't someone at the cruise line thinking about this for future ships?
Holland America is the only cruise line my wife and I Use. Even your suggested negative reasons are pretty much positive reasons for us. Thank you so much for your videos, enjoyable and very informational. Thank you
Our very first cruise was with Holland America back in 1994. We've tried all other cruse lines and so far (IMO) nobody seems to match Holland America's service.
Spot on. I choose Holland America for the exact reasons you pointed out. Plus I like all the things that you pointed out that others may not; I don’t care about resort facilities, I like to get dressed up, etc. Excited to be sailing on HAL next year in the Mediterranean.
We switched from Princess to Holland America about 3 years ago. Now done two, one coming up in two days to Alaska, and in six months a Panama Canal cruise. For us the age group is just right, and prefer a little more reserved experience.
I love HAL. Great itineraries and the people are a little older and more relaxed. People seem more willing to talk and exchange stories. Half Moon Key is the best. Crew has always been friendly and seemed to enjoy their jobs. Great music too.
I think it’s important to know what type of cruiser you are. A good cruise travel planner will ask you questions to determine your cruise style and budget then match you to the cruise line and ship that best suits that style.
Although I enjoyed the traditional nature of the HA cruise we went on, I felt that the cruise appealed more to older people. That being said, because the other passengers were a lot more sedate than other cruises I have been on, I felt perfectly safe letting my daughter (8 at the time), go back to the room and get stuff. Also, the music went beyond the truly awful music usually offered. I always enjoy a bit of classical music in the afternoons or evenings.
Maybe I'm weird in this regard, but I LIKE the more stringent dress codes, even at 34 y.o. I remember doing a princess alaska cruise with my parents when I was 13 and needing to wear a suit for formal night. I don't know, it just adds an extra air to it that might keep some people away who might not feel the draw for a more formal cruise/the formal budget.
I think the same. I mean, if I am lazy, I can still get some food in the cabin or buffet. But once/twice a year, it is nice to dress up a little. And I say that, although for the rest of the year, my dresscode is more like beach casual and flip flops (Weather permitting).
To each their own. I'm 39 and formal nights are annoying to me. I'm on vacation. I already dress formally at work. I'm not paying to dress up to eat some average cruise ship food.
I find Holland to be one of the best balances between the traditional cruising elements, enrichment activities, and formal air. Higher class than Princess, fewer onboard activities than (say) Celebrity, and a more relaxing time all-around… especially on sea days! the library is a particularly good place to hang out, if you’re not one for the Pool Deck. Along with this, Holland does have an older passenger crowd than most lines, except possibly Cunard. Besides the Caribbean lines, I also recommend their Hawaii and New England runs. Fall Colours are fantastic! …and most especially, their Alaska Cruisetours, taking the Alaska Rail from Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks. Inland Alaska is NOT what you expect it to be!
I think I have probably been on every single itinerary that HAL offers in the Caribbean. Sometimes, I go on excursions, some times, I just get off and walk around--and sometimes I simply stay on the ship. I have never had a bad HAL Caribbean cruise! Can't wait for my next one.
I'm glad to hear that as we are booked on the March 27th, 2022 - 21 day caribbean cruise. We love the Caribbean and we love HAL so I think the combination works perfectly to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
Good review.We have over 700 days on HAL so,we’re obviously very happy with them.Yes,we have had “issues” but they have always tried their best to please.We have done several extended cruises including 3 world cruises and 2 other Grand voyages.We have been on Celebrity and found them to be very good too but slightly more expensive. We have been on all of their Caribbean itineraries and enjoyed them very much too.We are seniors and like the more traditional experience….it’s nice to dress up occasionally.😎
Holland America is my favorite cruise line because of the live music and the classic cruise experience. For my first trip on Holland America I was 36 yrs old. There were lots of people in their 80s but that is no problem for me.
Slight correction to the information presented - according to the HAL website, the daily Crew Incentive Charge is $15.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $17.00 per guest per day for suite guests. I've done several solo cruises to the Caribbean on HAL and have been able to pay less than a 100% single supplement on inside and outside cabins. I find HAL's itineraries more interesting than Princess or Celebrity, and the I Could Stay Here Forever Bar on HMC is not to be missed.
Slower paced crowd? Yes. Shooting the breeze over drinks before dinner with retired city cops and other interesting folk? Yes. Listened to crazy train by Ozzy in the rock club? Yes! The one thing I learned on HAL is that the retired crowd can tie one on and still be friendly and respectful of their fellow passengers.
One of the reasons I like HA is because of the ‘more’ formal dress code on Gala night. I find dressing up for an evening or two can be quite fun, especially if lots of people are doing it. Creates a very unique atmosphere for the evening.
You are an enabler, Gary! My husband and I just booked a Holland America Caribbean cruise for early next year. Thanks for the great info on your channel.
We prefer Holland America over Royal Caribbean because they are less "buy, buy, buy" in your face. Royal C. focuses all its "seminars" about ports on which shops they want you to patronize. We also are quite fond of the size of the Holland America ships, which seem to have hit that sweet spot for big enough but not overly crowded.
Have gone all over the world with HAL, do you think their around Africa cruise Oct 2022 has a good shot of happening? Started cruising with them when we were one of the youngest couples, not so now, ha,ha! Their staff treatment of older travelers is second to none!
Great video footage, thanks for posting this video. My wife and I have been on Holland America Line for 3 different Caribbean cruise’s. We have had great experiences with no complaints, so we would definitely recommend HAL
My husband and I have cruised many times on Holland America. We have gone to the Carribbean many times as well as the South Pacific. We like everything about Holland except the food. We like the food on Celebrity much better!
That’s all I needed to hear. I love Celebrities food already, and my favorite cruises have been with them. I don’t want to have to carry extra clothes for a formal night, I like casual cruising best. Celebrity has a dress up night for those that want to travel with suits, high heels, and formal dresses in their luggage.
I love HAL. The food is above average. The America's test kitchen is fabulous. The activities on board are fun. I'm going on a Hawaiian cruise it will take 5 days to get there, so we can take ukulele lessons, make flower lei's, and see presentations on the culture, the wildlife, and history. They also offer so many excursions that you really have a hard time, choosing. If the ship is the destination for you, and not the itinerary then you might want to consider another line.
Been on HAL every year for last few years, except last year,and never had a Gala night. Dining room just wants no shorts and I still saw plenty that did and were not asked to leave. They have been serving you at the buffet for years ( yeah). Only thing they don’t have are water slides, and amusement parks on board.
I’ve been on two HAL Caribbean cruises. I like them because it is totally relaxing, there are very few children. I don’t need roller coaster, race tracks, etc. on a cruise ship and I don’t need to party. Also like that their ships are smaller therefore not as many people.
We like HA and the older segment that they serve. We're not in that segment yet, but we like the classy, quiet elegance for a relaxing cruise vacation. No thank you to loud, blasting music around the pools, non-stop talking drunks at bars, and wild, roaming teen activities in other cruise lines. I hope Carnival doesn't change HA and goes after the rowdy, younger hipsters as other cruise lines.
If you don’t mind my asking, do you do a lot of gambling or a little. I ask because I have been with them once and I used the casino, but not to much, yet somehow I’m on their casino offer list. No complaints! I was just curious.😅
I went to cruz with so many different cruz ships. I love them all but Holand America is my favorite. Nice ships, good food, not to many people. Nothing negative about them.
I actually cruised the Panama Canal itinerary on the ship you featured in this video, the Zuiderdam, in 2018. One plus you didn't mention (my father also felt this way) was the food was generally really good and compared favorably against some other lines. A surprise standout was the Dive-in burger/hotdog stand; surprisingly good. We never felt we had to overdress for any dining venue so people, don't stress out over that. The only negative on THAT ship was they had some kind of a sewage issue on one of the main floors by a public restroom that somewhat smelled requiring fans to aerate the space. But, you offered great info in this video.
@@letsgomets002 Technically NCLS was not a full 72 hours like HAL. Unfortunately though I haven't seen Bermuda on HALS site lately so may have to go NCL.
We no longer cruise on HAL due to the lack of self-service laundry facilities for passengers. Princess, another Carnival Corporation line, does have them and is priced similar to HAL.
Totally agree. Have sailed many times on Carnival...but one trip on HAL changed us forever. Difference between high school and graduate school....instead of "Diamonds International" sales pitches...there were classes of various types.
I like the boredom! I'm 62 and very active There's plenty to do I don't want a water slide I don't want a hairy chest contest Or watching some clown juggling kittens! I have been on all lines Give me holland america. It is true clientele is older Looks more like a titanic reunion Sometimes. Daily cruise planner Has its own obituary column Lotta of Emergency calls with the oldsters Trying to slip in one more cruise So it is quite entertaining!
HAL has the best itineraries. They also have wonderfully comfortable beds and all cabins have Elemis products in the bathroom . The Vista class ships have bathtubs in the balcony cabins, making them my favorite ships.
Once booked there is a premium price bottle service that can be pre ordered. It will be waiting for you when you board. If you don't drink a ton, this is a nice option. Also bring your max allowed on soda. One bottle of wine each allowed to board right? So that's one way of doing it. Ice is included. Options.
I'd be interested in a Viking vs Holland America comparison, should you ever be inclined. From everything I've read/watched, I'm leaning toward Viking over everyone, but haven't heard a direct comparison with Holland America.
I travel SOLO about 80% of my time (travel at least 8 cruises per year) .... I must admit that I couldn't understand all that you mentioned about this, but nevertheless, Holland is one of the few (if any) that give a break in many of their sailings, having solos pay less than the customary 200%.
We have done 3 Caribbean cruises (2 eastern plus Panama partial transit) and one Alaska on HAL. One of the things you didn't mention which we absolutely love is being able to walk around outside on Promenade. On other ships we've been on (Carnival, Princess, Celebrity), you had to detour through the ship or go to the top deck and dodge people and chairs. You can't beat HAL's Promenade for a nice stroll after dinner in the Caribbean or finding the Naturalist on the fantail looking for whales in Alaska.
They have some inclusive rates now but you have the choice to take it or not which I like as I am not a big drinker and I am a four star mariner which gives me 50% off specialty dining and special coffees and teas.
Great stuff, Gary! Thanks for providing your insight. I'm booked on a HAL cruise to the Caribbean in 2022. For my interests and priorities, HAL is the best choice. Your video just confirmed that! Thanks.
I love HAL. I would recommend any region for HAL, and for the Caribbean, it is perfect. An easy afternoon reading a great novel (and I get through these in hours), great music, lovely staff, great restaurants, and wonderful destinations. It is popular and whilst I have not considered Celebrity or Princess, I would be hard pressed to accept considering either compared to HAL. I would do so for Alaska but that would be a Big ask. All my other friends in their 40s also love HAL, nothing but positive experiences reported by all.
I have a disability (age 33) and my mom (age 72) is retired and I live with her. It's almost like we're on vacation everyday as our Home Owners Association has an outdoor pool for us to enjoy and we don't really have any daily activities scheduled. We're the complete reverse of the business worker who needs some time to relax. Holland America has been suggested to us for being good at personal enrichment. I hope that they are more about exploring and learning than sitting around relaxing all of the time.
Every day they have something, like talks about the region, cooking classes, ship walk events, actually too much to do. I appreciate the mature crowd. I don't like screaming kids and pushy buffet gluttons. Its a bit more refined on Hal.
We sailed HAL pre and post Carnival, my honest feelings is, HAL is fine, but Carnival managed to turn it into Princess with darker fittings. They cut down on the staffing levels so you no longer get the full HAL experience. The suites on the older ships are the same as you will find on Carnival ships, except again with darker tones.
I use to love HAL until our Christmas Cruise last year. Love the music walk! However last year on the Nieuw Amsterdam the food was absolutely awful. Tasteless and repetitive. The wait staff in the main dining room was subpar. We have sailed HAL in the Baltic and the Caribbean several times, but this time was just bad. The ship was beautiful. The spa was great. Mind you we went on this cruise after sailing Azamara 2 months before. That’s why we went back to Azamara for our cruise in June. Unless HAL has an itinerary that is compelling I’m not planning on sailing HAL again.
As a 3 Star Mariner I have been disappointed with my last few HAL cruises in terms of basic hotel operations issues, (i.e. food, service, cabin cleanliness). In the hospitality industry it's the "little things" that make an impression. As a consumer of the cruise travel product HAL no longer meets my expectations. Enter Viking Ocean!
Holland America is mostly for the older people crowds as they tend to be more to catering to them. As I have seen for Alaska on Princess Cruises as most of the people coming off of a Holland America Ship where older as in 60 and over to me.
Disembarked 4/13/24, Rotterdam. This ship had issues keeping hot food hot and cold food cold. Call it equipment problems. The staff were very friendly but not trained very well. The food is meant for a 70+ demographic, so lots of tuna or chicken salad at the buffet with lots of bread everywhere. Best food was the Pinnacle Grill. Just unimpressed!
I'm biased because my first cruise ever was on the old Westerdam, and probably the majority of my cruise days are on HAL. I've found them to be a really good line with excellent food, but perhaps a bit pricier than other lines like Carnival. (Although not always). The dress codes are not THAT strict as you pointed out, and for me kind of hit the "sweet spot" between "dressing up" and "Hey I'm on vacation." My biggest issue, not really a complaint per se, is that the crowd tends skew older. As in MUCH older. My last cruise was on the Koningsdam in Dec of 19, and I was 58 at the time and I'm quite sure I was well below the median age of the passengers. Oh and I love the BB King Blues Club, but for the love of God HAL would you turn the volume down? I have to remind myself to pack ear plugs the next time I sail. HAL is by far my favorite line, but ironically my return to cruising will aboard a Carnival ship.
I am traveling with HAL next for 7 days, could someone please advise if there are formal nights on the Eurodam ship? I’ve been only on 2 other lines in the past and they’ve had mandatory formal nights on those ships.😢
My Mom and I were on our way home from Hawaii on a HAL cruise and she won a cruise to the Bahamas. We took that cruise out of New York and found the food not as good as our other HAL cruises and the staff weren't as friendly or accommodating. I wouldn't go back to the Bahamas.
Gary, would you mind sharing what you wore on HAL gala night? My husband and I, and another couple, are cruising 14 days from Ft Lauderdale on the Staatendam at the end of November. Husbands want to know if a sport coat and smart slacks are ok, or do they pack the tuxedos?
Gary. Can you do a video for those in the UK who don’t want a fly cruise? Seem to be limited to P&O or Fred and it’s generally Spain, Madeira etc. Someone was suggesting ferry to Rotterdam or Amsterdam to pick up HAL, any other cruise lines set sale from there? Would love to do Greek islands and further afield without flying. Thanks. Julie
We did one Holland American cruise and that was enough. We didn’t care for the layout of the ship and the passenger’s age skewed very old and the nightlife was virtually non existent. Just not what we want on a cruise.
A shame, because you could have found out all that if you had researched beforehand. This is the most important factor in cruising, choose the cruise line that is right for you.
Thanks so very much for this review. We were considering Holland America but after watching this video we have been convinced not to try them and will stick to Celebrity. Take care.
@@tipsfortravellers Yes! I joined the Zuiderdam in January as a 2nd officer. That last cruise was very special. I remember going ashore in Puerto Limon to buy supplies for myself because we expected to be at anchor for maybe a month or more…… I did the departure manouver from the dock in Costa Rica (March 15), not knowing it would be the last departure with guest for the entire year. It was also the last time I stepped ashore for the rest of the contract! I was supposed to go home on first week of April, but ended up flying home from Asia in a chartered plane at July 26th. We sailed all the way to: Brazil, Cape Town, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. I will never forget those adventures.
My wife and I have been on 27 cruises.The three that stand out were on Holland America.In not a good way.The first two,the ships vibrated so bad,it was unbearable in the cabin.The last one the Nieuw Amsterdam.The cabin was so bad we couldnt stay in it anymore.The refrigerator was burning.The air conditioning never worked.Wall paper peeling off the walls.The worse thing was the bathroom drain would backup raw sewage.I have pictures.It took them four days to move us to another cabin.We are 74,and really like the older crowd on their ships,but we will never cruise with them again.
Carol, give Seabourn a look as well. More expensive but all-inclusive and exquisite dining. Ships range from 450-600 passengers so their largest ones are less than half the size of the Eurodam class ships. Very close to 1-1 staff passenger ratios. No tipping. No upcharges whatsoever. WIFi now included.
Sounds like you have not really researched Holland America very well. The three new Pinnacle class ships all have single cabins. And they also have two different fare opens the base fare and the Have It All fare which includes drinks, internet, a specialty dinner each week, and a $100 short excursion credit each week.
@@chriswilliams6568 then it should have noted that it was a rerelease of old out of date material for extra views and not really a new video. HAL has had the new pricing structure for months now and this video was released four days ago.
@@pewing99 I find it annoying that no video seems to have a date on them, so that we could tell. This is a defect in the TH-cam format. Not the vloggers fault.
If I go on a cruise, I want to cruise. I dont want a go-kart track, rock climbing wall or ice skating rink on board. All of that non-sense just turns a cruise into into normal resort style vacation. Thus Ive gone on HAL the majority of the time and love it. Not a huge fan of some of the changes theyve made over the years either... I feel that they have been losing the "Tradition of excellence".
I have never cruised on HAL yet. Reading most of the reviews, it seems that average age over 70. Is that accurate or are most of the reviews exaggerating?
It’s four / five years since I did an HAL / I’ve done several ; at that time I was 55 and think I was pretty much the youngest passenger . A lot of retirees
The food was good but I would never go on HA again. It's a line for old people... as in "we go to bed at 7pm" kind of old. HAL decor is reminiscent of the 80-90s too. Yuck! Also they don't have a nursery. If you have kids under 3 there are no options for them.
Hubby is a tobacco smoker and won't consider a cruise due to "being stuck in a windy corner" 7 floors away from the room to smoke. Are there any (maybe international) cruise lines that have a more liberal smoking policy?
Hi. No, all lines are basically the same with smoking only in designated areas on deck. Princess has a room inside for smokers but still means going there
Possibly 😀 Even the people I know who work for them call it Holland America when they talk about it. But understand your point. It’s the actual name !!
My husband and I only cruise on HAL. It’s classy, so relaxing, delicious food and specialty dining and the staff is wonderful.
There was only one specialty dining restaurant on the Oosterdam. The portions in the main dining room were too small.
@@georgeshepherd6431 order more than one entree
By "Bells & Whistles" you mean water parks, go carts & being 30 deep at the bar? I like Holland BECAUSE it's more quiet & relaxed than those "Resort" ships. My opinion, my money. 🙂
YES!
Damn skippy right!
And those snotty nose kids
I love Holland America and have done quite a few Caribbean excursions with them, but what surprises me is that, because their clientele tends to be older, they don't focus too much on single travelers. This is the perfect cruise line to do so. There are many older and retired people who have lost their partners and who travel alone. Why isn't someone at the cruise line thinking about this for future ships?
Try Saga cruises from the UK, 20% of cabins are for solo travellers and for the over 50s. Gary has a vlog on it.
My husband and I love sailing with Holland America! It's the only cruise line we use.
Holland America is the only cruise line my wife and I Use. Even your suggested negative reasons are pretty much positive reasons for us. Thank you so much for your videos, enjoyable and very informational. Thank you
Exactly! Wife & I are the same way: If it's not Holland America, we're not going! 👍
@@enjoyinglifeoneportatatime251 I'm a solo traveler and while I do sail some of the other lines, by far Holland America is my fav!
Our very first cruise was with Holland America back in 1994. We've tried all other cruse lines and so far (IMO) nobody seems to match Holland America's service.
Spot on. I choose Holland America for the exact reasons you pointed out. Plus I like all the things that you pointed out that others may not; I don’t care about resort facilities, I like to get dressed up, etc. Excited to be sailing on HAL next year in the Mediterranean.
I completely agree!!!
I don't
We switched from Princess to Holland America about 3 years ago.
Now done two, one coming up in two days to Alaska, and in six months a Panama Canal cruise.
For us the age group is just right, and prefer a little more reserved experience.
I love HAL. Great itineraries and the people are a little older and more relaxed. People seem more willing to talk and exchange stories. Half Moon Key is the best. Crew has always been friendly and seemed to enjoy their jobs. Great music too.
Half Moon Cay is amazing! Best beach I've ever seen only a few steps from the tender dock.
My dad works on Holland as Public Health, I loved it when I got to go with him for a cruise while he was working.
I think it’s important to know what type of cruiser you are. A good cruise travel planner will ask you questions to determine your cruise style and budget then match you to the cruise line and ship that best suits that style.
Holland has been my favorite cruise line since my first cruise in 1985. Whenever, I’m doing the planning for & booking of a cruise, it’s on HAL.
Although I enjoyed the traditional nature of the HA cruise we went on, I felt that the cruise appealed more to older people. That being said, because the other passengers were a lot more sedate than other cruises I have been on, I felt perfectly safe letting my daughter (8 at the time), go back to the room and get stuff. Also, the music went beyond the truly awful music usually offered. I always enjoy a bit of classical music in the afternoons or evenings.
Don't let your guard down
Maybe I'm weird in this regard, but I LIKE the more stringent dress codes, even at 34 y.o. I remember doing a princess alaska cruise with my parents when I was 13 and needing to wear a suit for formal night. I don't know, it just adds an extra air to it that might keep some people away who might not feel the draw for a more formal cruise/the formal budget.
Although I don't usually bring a tux, I think the tradition is a great idea. Lots of people do like to get dressed up
I think the same. I mean, if I am lazy, I can still get some food in the cabin or buffet. But once/twice a year, it is nice to dress up a little. And I say that, although for the rest of the year, my dresscode is more like beach casual and flip flops (Weather permitting).
To each their own. I'm 39 and formal nights are annoying to me. I'm on vacation. I already dress formally at work. I'm not paying to dress up to eat some average cruise ship food.
I hate to wear a suit
@@davidfence6939 I'm 72 agree with you ...I'm not wearing no suit on a cruise ship...NCL...is better
I find Holland to be one of the best balances between the traditional cruising elements, enrichment activities, and formal air. Higher class than Princess, fewer onboard activities than (say) Celebrity, and a more relaxing time all-around… especially on sea days! the library is a particularly good place to hang out, if you’re not one for the Pool Deck.
Along with this, Holland does have an older passenger crowd than most lines, except possibly Cunard.
Besides the Caribbean lines, I also recommend their Hawaii and New England runs. Fall Colours are fantastic! …and most especially, their Alaska Cruisetours, taking the Alaska Rail from Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks. Inland Alaska is NOT what you expect it to be!
I think I have probably been on every single itinerary that HAL offers in the Caribbean. Sometimes, I go on excursions, some times, I just get off and walk around--and sometimes I simply stay on the ship. I have never had a bad HAL Caribbean cruise! Can't wait for my next one.
I'm glad to hear that as we are booked on the March 27th, 2022 - 21 day caribbean cruise. We love the Caribbean and we love HAL so I think the combination works perfectly to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
@@jimblatchford2706 Congratulations! My husband and I are doing a 21-day in January. We're not quite to 50 years yet, but getting there quickly!
Good review.We have over 700 days on HAL so,we’re obviously very happy with them.Yes,we have had “issues” but they have always tried their best to please.We have done several extended cruises including 3 world cruises and 2 other Grand voyages.We have been on Celebrity and found them to be very good too but slightly more expensive.
We have been on all of their Caribbean itineraries and enjoyed them very much too.We are seniors and like the more traditional experience….it’s nice to dress up occasionally.😎
Holland America is my favorite cruise line because of the live music and the classic cruise experience. For my first trip on Holland America I was 36 yrs old. There were lots of people in their 80s but that is no problem for me.
Slight correction to the information presented - according to the HAL website, the daily Crew Incentive Charge is $15.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $17.00 per guest per day for suite guests. I've done several solo cruises to the Caribbean on HAL and have been able to pay less than a 100% single supplement on inside and outside cabins. I find HAL's itineraries more interesting than Princess or Celebrity, and the I Could Stay Here Forever Bar on HMC is not to be missed.
Glad you mentioned it. Was researching it the other day as discovered their "Have It All" option does NOT include gratuities 🤔
Slower paced crowd? Yes.
Shooting the breeze over drinks before dinner with retired city cops and other interesting folk? Yes.
Listened to crazy train by Ozzy in the rock club? Yes!
The one thing I learned on HAL is that the retired crowd can tie one on and still be friendly and respectful of their fellow passengers.
Gary, you have fantastic videos! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!! Great to hear you enjoy them 👍🏻
One of the reasons I like HA is because of the ‘more’ formal dress code on Gala night. I find dressing up for an evening or two can be quite fun, especially if lots of people are doing it. Creates a very unique atmosphere for the evening.
You are an enabler, Gary! My husband and I just booked a Holland America Caribbean cruise for early next year. Thanks for the great info on your channel.
fab!!!
We prefer Holland America over Royal Caribbean because they are less "buy, buy, buy" in your face. Royal C. focuses all its "seminars" about ports on which shops they want you to patronize. We also are quite fond of the size of the Holland America ships, which seem to have hit that sweet spot for big enough but not overly crowded.
Have gone all over the world with HAL, do you think their around Africa cruise Oct 2022 has a good shot of happening? Started cruising with them when we were one of the youngest couples, not so now, ha,ha! Their staff treatment of older travelers is second to none!
Great video footage, thanks for posting this video. My wife and I have been on Holland America Line for 3 different Caribbean cruise’s. We have had great experiences with no complaints, so we would definitely recommend HAL
My husband and I have cruised many times on Holland America. We have gone to the Carribbean many times as well as the South Pacific. We like everything about Holland except the food. We like the food on Celebrity much better!
That’s all I needed to hear. I love Celebrities food already, and my favorite cruises have been with them. I don’t want to have to carry extra clothes for a formal night, I like casual cruising best. Celebrity has a dress up night for those that want to travel with suits, high heels, and formal dresses in their luggage.
I love Holland America. I love the tranquility and peace. My next cruise is an elusive single with Oceanview.
I love HAL. The food is above average. The America's test kitchen is fabulous. The activities on board are fun. I'm going on a Hawaiian cruise it will take 5 days to get there, so we can take ukulele lessons, make flower lei's, and see presentations on the culture, the wildlife, and history. They also offer so many excursions that you really have a hard time, choosing. If the ship is the destination for you, and not the itinerary then you might want to consider another line.
Been on HAL every year for last few years, except last year,and never had a Gala night. Dining room just wants no shorts and I still saw plenty that did and were not asked to leave. They have been serving you at the buffet for years ( yeah). Only thing they don’t have are water slides, and amusement parks on board.
I’ve been on two HAL Caribbean cruises. I like them because it is totally relaxing, there are very few children. I don’t need roller coaster, race tracks, etc. on a cruise ship and I don’t need to party. Also like that their ships are smaller therefore not as many people.
Why go on cruise....no partying sounds boring
@@letsgomets002Yeah, I love the ghetto element and fistfights on Carnival. Better to have that than enrichment activities…not!
Holland America sounds very relaxing, definitely need to check them out. Thanks
Last cruise was royal Caribbean and many years ago so now doing family cruise in Jan on Staatendam so it’s going to be a blast
We like HA and the older segment that they serve. We're not in that segment yet, but we like the classy, quiet elegance for a relaxing cruise vacation. No thank you to loud, blasting music around the pools, non-stop talking drunks at bars, and wild, roaming teen activities in other cruise lines. I hope Carnival doesn't change HA and goes after the rowdy, younger hipsters as other cruise lines.
Need a little music like latin dance music...good shows ....relax i could spend a week in my backyard and relax...need some fun !!!
Love HA! Casino offers are the best! Food is great and very few kids. Leaving tomorrow to do an 11 carribean on the Rotterdam.
If you don’t mind my asking, do you do a lot of gambling or a little. I ask because I have been with them once and I used the casino, but not to much, yet somehow I’m on their casino offer list. No complaints! I was just curious.😅
@@TOhara-eb2lp it depends on the cruise and number of sea days. I've spent as little as $20 on a few trips
I went to cruz with so many different cruz ships. I love them all but Holand America is my favorite. Nice ships, good food, not to many people. Nothing negative about them.
It's cruise....not ...cruz...really!!!
@@letsgomets002 sorry but you know what I mean. My English is not so good or sometimes my phone
I actually cruised the Panama Canal itinerary on the ship you featured in this video, the Zuiderdam, in 2018. One plus you didn't mention (my father also felt this way) was the food was generally really good and compared favorably against some other lines. A surprise standout was the Dive-in burger/hotdog stand; surprisingly good. We never felt we had to overdress for any dining venue so people, don't stress out over that. The only negative on THAT ship was they had some kind of a sewage issue on one of the main floors by a public restroom that somewhat smelled requiring fans to aerate the space. But, you offered great info in this video.
Only cruise with HAL now, best by far. Ships are fantastic, no cattle boats ! Hardly any children! Booked for January.
I love HAL's Bermuda cruise. They stay 72 hours in the same port. No hurrying back to the ship, stay out as long as you want.
So does NCL....its not so unique
@@letsgomets002 Technically NCLS was not a full 72 hours like HAL. Unfortunately though I haven't seen Bermuda on HALS site lately so may have to go NCL.
Thank you Gary for the video. HAL is great for its diverse itineraries, western, eastern, southern. It is a great cruise line.
Love Holland America. Did 2 regions of the Caribbean back to back. Great cruise.
We no longer cruise on HAL due to the lack of self-service laundry facilities for passengers. Princess, another Carnival Corporation line, does have them and is priced similar to HAL.
We love Holland America! We plan to sail soon!
I am doing a transatlantic in October with them my first time on them
Having done a Caribbean cruise on HAL, I would do it again.
Totally agree. Have sailed many times on Carnival...but one trip on HAL changed us forever.
Difference between high school and graduate school....instead of "Diamonds International" sales pitches...there were classes of various types.
Only HAL for us. Food and staff are fantastic, but we MUST cruise with the Music Walk. Never had any complaint. And yes, we're seniors.
I like the boredom!
I'm 62 and very active
There's plenty to do
I don't want a water slide
I don't want a hairy chest contest
Or watching some clown juggling kittens! I have been on all lines
Give me holland america.
It is true clientele is older
Looks more like a titanic reunion
Sometimes. Daily cruise planner
Has its own obituary column Lotta of
Emergency calls with the oldsters
Trying to slip in one more cruise
So it is quite entertaining!
HAL has the best itineraries. They also have wonderfully comfortable beds and all cabins have Elemis products in the bathroom . The Vista class ships have bathtubs in the balcony cabins, making them my favorite ships.
Once booked there is a premium price bottle service that can be pre ordered. It will be waiting for you when you board. If you don't drink a ton, this is a nice option. Also bring your max allowed on soda. One bottle of wine each allowed to board right? So that's one way of doing it. Ice is included. Options.
I'd be interested in a Viking vs Holland America comparison, should you ever be inclined.
From everything I've read/watched, I'm leaning toward Viking over everyone, but haven't heard a direct comparison with Holland America.
I like that there is a dress code.
I travel SOLO about 80% of my time (travel at least 8 cruises per year) .... I must admit that I couldn't understand all that you mentioned about this, but nevertheless, Holland is one of the few (if any) that give a break in many of their sailings, having solos pay less than the customary 200%.
We have done 3 Caribbean cruises (2 eastern plus Panama partial transit) and one Alaska on HAL. One of the things you didn't mention which we absolutely love is being able to walk around outside on Promenade. On other ships we've been on (Carnival, Princess, Celebrity), you had to detour through the ship or go to the top deck and dodge people and chairs. You can't beat HAL's Promenade for a nice stroll after dinner in the Caribbean or finding the Naturalist on the fantail looking for whales in Alaska.
They have some inclusive rates now but you have the choice to take it or not which I like as I am not a big drinker and I am a four star mariner which gives me 50% off specialty dining and special coffees and teas.
Great stuff, Gary! Thanks for providing your insight. I'm booked on a HAL cruise to the Caribbean in 2022. For my interests and priorities, HAL is the best choice. Your video just confirmed that! Thanks.
Great to hear ! Thanks for watching
I have not yet been on a Holland America cruise and I can't wait.
Glad to see you back in the “mainstream” Mr. Gary! (Actually, happy to see ME back!)
I love HAL. I would recommend any region for HAL, and for the Caribbean, it is perfect. An easy afternoon reading a great novel (and I get through these in hours), great music, lovely staff, great restaurants, and wonderful destinations. It is popular and whilst I have not considered Celebrity or Princess, I would be hard pressed to accept considering either compared to HAL. I would do so for Alaska but that would be a Big ask. All my other friends in their 40s also love HAL, nothing but positive experiences reported by all.
Good question!
I have a disability (age 33) and my mom (age 72) is retired and I live with her. It's almost like we're on vacation everyday as our Home Owners Association has an outdoor pool for us to enjoy and we don't really have any daily activities scheduled. We're the complete reverse of the business worker who needs some time to relax. Holland America has been suggested to us for being good at personal enrichment. I hope that they are more about exploring and learning than sitting around relaxing all of the time.
Every day they have something, like talks about the region, cooking classes, ship walk events, actually too much to do. I appreciate the mature crowd. I don't like screaming kids and pushy buffet gluttons. Its a bit more refined on Hal.
We're going on Holland American in April. We'll have 2 teenage nephews coming also. Hope they like it!
They will be bored to many old people ...
@@letsgomets002 They had a blast last time we went. They had a lot of kids their age.
Yes!
We sailed HAL pre and post Carnival, my honest feelings is, HAL is fine, but Carnival managed to turn it into Princess with darker fittings. They cut down on the staffing levels so you no longer get the full HAL experience. The suites on the older ships are the same as you will find on Carnival ships, except again with darker tones.
You should update this video as one of your “negatives” no longer applies as they now offer the “have it all” package which is very reasonable!
My husband and I will love to go here
I use to love HAL until our Christmas Cruise last year. Love the music walk! However last year on the Nieuw Amsterdam the food was absolutely awful. Tasteless and repetitive. The wait staff in the main dining room was subpar. We have sailed HAL in the Baltic and the Caribbean several times, but this time was just bad. The ship was beautiful. The spa was great. Mind you we went on this cruise after sailing Azamara 2 months before. That’s why we went back to Azamara for our cruise in June. Unless HAL has an itinerary that is compelling I’m not planning on sailing HAL again.
My favorite line.
As a 3 Star Mariner I have been disappointed with my last few HAL cruises in terms of basic hotel operations issues, (i.e. food, service, cabin cleanliness). In the hospitality industry it's the "little things" that make an impression. As a consumer of the cruise travel product HAL no longer meets my expectations. Enter Viking Ocean!
Holland America is mostly for the older people crowds as they tend to be more to catering to them. As I have seen for Alaska on Princess Cruises as most of the people coming off of a Holland America Ship where older as in 60 and over to me.
I've been to the Caribbean several times & on various cruise lines. Holland America is just more civilized.
The reason I chose Holland America is the lack of kids, adults oriented. Mother and I are taking a cruise to the Panamal Canal In December..
Disembarked 4/13/24, Rotterdam. This ship had issues keeping hot food hot and cold food cold. Call it equipment problems. The staff were very friendly but not trained very well. The food is meant for a 70+ demographic, so lots of tuna or chicken salad at the buffet with lots of bread everywhere. Best food was the Pinnacle Grill. Just unimpressed!
My wife and I love sailing on HAL ships. Wish they would of kept the “S” class ships.
which cruise line is best for visiting the greek islands and santorini,etc. We are seniors if that matters
Get a suite on celebrity edge and compare it to a suite on HAL enough said!
I'm biased because my first cruise ever was on the old Westerdam, and probably the majority of my cruise days are on HAL. I've found them to be a really good line with excellent food, but perhaps a bit pricier than other lines like Carnival. (Although not always). The dress codes are not THAT strict as you pointed out, and for me kind of hit the "sweet spot" between "dressing up" and "Hey I'm on vacation." My biggest issue, not really a complaint per se, is that the crowd tends skew older. As in MUCH older. My last cruise was on the Koningsdam in Dec of 19, and I was 58 at the time and I'm quite sure I was well below the median age of the passengers. Oh and I love the BB King Blues Club, but for the love of God HAL would you turn the volume down? I have to remind myself to pack ear plugs the next time I sail. HAL is by far my favorite line, but ironically my return to cruising will aboard a Carnival ship.
I am traveling with HAL next for 7 days, could someone please advise if there are formal nights on the Eurodam ship? I’ve been only on 2 other lines in the past and they’ve had mandatory formal nights on those ships.😢
My Mom and I were on our way home from Hawaii on a HAL cruise and she won a cruise to the Bahamas. We took that cruise out of New York and found the food not as good as our other HAL cruises and the staff weren't as friendly or accommodating. I wouldn't go back to the Bahamas.
I keep missing your Saturday "live" but I have a question. Do the officers share is the gratuities?
Gary, would you mind sharing what you wore on HAL gala night? My husband and I, and another couple, are cruising 14 days from Ft Lauderdale on the Staatendam at the end of November. Husbands want to know if a sport coat and smart slacks are ok, or do they pack the tuxedos?
I just wore a long sleeved shirt and smart trousers. A sports jacket and slacks would be very suitable and what many men wore. Very few tuxedos
Gary. Can you do a video for those in the UK who don’t want a fly cruise? Seem to be limited to P&O or Fred and it’s generally Spain, Madeira etc. Someone was suggesting ferry to Rotterdam or Amsterdam to pick up HAL, any other cruise lines set sale from there? Would love to do Greek islands and further afield without flying. Thanks. Julie
Thanks for that suggestion! Now that the Eurostar also goes to Amsterdam that is also an option.
I was going to say, can’t you train to European ports?
I know this is for Seasoned Travelers. How many people sailing are typically in their 40's and 50's?
Is that hull Black or Blue?
Will there be a daily mass onboard with Holland America cruise line?
What about Orange dining room
We did one Holland American cruise and that was enough. We didn’t care for the layout of the ship and the passenger’s age skewed very old and the nightlife was virtually non existent. Just not what we want on a cruise.
A shame, because you could have found out all that if you had researched beforehand. This is the most important factor in cruising, choose the cruise line that is right for you.
Thanks so very much for this review. We were considering Holland America but after watching this video we have been convinced not to try them and will stick to Celebrity. Take care.
Ok! It's also good when these help people decide what not to do !
Do you have a preference between Holland America and Oceania? And why?
Were you on the Zuiderdam on her last cruise before the cruise shut down?
March 2020?
Yes! Shutdown happened while on that cruise. Were you too?
@@tipsfortravellers Yes! I joined the Zuiderdam in January as a 2nd officer.
That last cruise was very special. I remember going ashore in Puerto Limon to buy supplies for myself because we expected to be at anchor for maybe a month or more……
I did the departure manouver from the dock in Costa Rica (March 15), not knowing it would be the last departure with guest for the entire year. It was also the last time I stepped ashore for the rest of the contract!
I was supposed to go home on first week of April, but ended up flying home from Asia in a chartered plane at July 26th.
We sailed all the way to: Brazil, Cape Town, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta.
I will never forget those adventures.
Must I drag along a tuxedo??
No, very few people wear them on HAL
My wife and I have been on 27 cruises.The three that stand out were on Holland America.In not a good way.The first two,the ships vibrated so bad,it was unbearable in the cabin.The last one the Nieuw Amsterdam.The cabin was so bad we couldnt stay in it anymore.The refrigerator was burning.The air conditioning never worked.Wall paper peeling off the walls.The worse thing was the bathroom drain would backup raw sewage.I have pictures.It took them four days to move us to another cabin.We are 74,and really like the older crowd on their ships,but we will never cruise with them again.
What Holland American offers is what I cruise for. Not a zip lining, surfing and go-carts. They belong at an amusement park.
Carol, give Seabourn a look as well. More expensive but all-inclusive and exquisite dining. Ships range from 450-600 passengers so their largest ones are less than half the size of the Eurodam class ships. Very close to 1-1 staff passenger ratios. No tipping. No upcharges whatsoever. WIFi now included.
@@thomaspoke8511 thank you, I will.
Sounds like you have not really researched Holland America very well. The three new Pinnacle class ships all have single cabins. And they also have two different fare opens the base fare and the Have It All fare which includes drinks, internet, a specialty dinner each week, and a $100 short excursion credit each week.
That is because this video was probably made before HAL introduced this new form of pricing.
@@chriswilliams6568 then it should have noted that it was a rerelease of old out of date material for extra views and not really a new video. HAL has had the new pricing structure for months now and this video was released four days ago.
@@pewing99 I find it annoying that no video seems to have a date on them, so that we could tell. This is a defect in the TH-cam format. Not the vloggers fault.
@@chriswilliams6568 I'm not sure what you mean. You can see when a video was posted below the video by the view count. This one was four days ago.
@@pewing99 no sorry, cannot see a date anywhere, I never do. I am viewing on an I Pad.
If I go on a cruise, I want to cruise. I dont want a go-kart track, rock climbing wall or ice skating rink on board. All of that non-sense just turns a cruise into into normal resort style vacation. Thus Ive gone on HAL the majority of the time and love it. Not a huge fan of some of the changes theyve made over the years either... I feel that they have been losing the "Tradition of excellence".
I have never cruised on HAL yet. Reading most of the reviews, it seems that average age over 70. Is that accurate or are most of the reviews exaggerating?
It’s four / five years since I did an HAL / I’ve done several ; at that time I was 55 and think I was pretty much the youngest passenger . A lot of retirees
Celebrity is all inclusive, and no more expensive.
All fine and dandy, but do they have karaoke? 🎤
The food was good but I would never go on HA again. It's a line for old people... as in "we go to bed at 7pm" kind of old. HAL decor is reminiscent of the 80-90s too. Yuck! Also they don't have a nursery. If you have kids under 3 there are no options for them.
It is absolutely focused on an older non-family target
Hubby is a tobacco smoker and won't consider a cruise due to "being stuck in a windy corner" 7 floors away from the room to smoke. Are there any (maybe international) cruise lines that have a more liberal smoking policy?
Hi. No, all lines are basically the same with smoking only in designated areas on deck. Princess has a room inside for smokers but still means going there
@@tipsfortravellers Just to add to that, the Royal class ships has a great, easy to access room.
Am I the only one who is annoyed by people continuously calling it “Holland America” in stead of “Holland America Line”?
Possibly 😀 Even the people I know who work for them call it Holland America when they talk about it. But understand your point. It’s the actual name !!
In the Travel trade we say HAL, Holland America Line. As in RCI for Royal Caribbean Line, I hate that when folk just say “Royal” ,