Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
A couple of things you left out. Holland America offers included breakfast in the main dining room that is white glove plus. On sea days they also include lunch in the main dining room with occasional gourmet dishes. Most importantly, even when the ship is sold out it never seems overly crowded. They offer the most public spaces, widest and most spacious hallways and largest amount of quiet space I have seen on modern boats. Also, the Lido buffet usually has a few Asian offerings at dinner that are native to crew members. WARNING. This is not the boat for hyper-active teens and pre-teens.
After watching this video, and and reading your post, I definitely want to go on one of these cruises Do they normally have painting classes on there? Because I keep seeing that B roll,And I love to paint.
I did not see this in the video, the pool area looked really crowded, deck chairs were very close together people looked like they could barely move without bumping into someone and the pool is completely surrounded by 2 story walls. It's hardly like being outside at all.
@@Commonsenseisnotcommon8Beats me. They seem to be more food and music oriented. The only painting I've ever seen are the guys hanging on lines doing the outside of the ship.
Went on our 20th Wedding Anniversary/Wife's 50th Birthday with HAL on the Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska. A lot of the Hotel Staff are Indonesian and I introduced myself to our Cabin Attendant in Indonesian. He was beaming as a lot of people don't know is that staff are not to speak their native language on the ships, especially around passengers unless the passengers spoke to them in Indonesian first. My wife is fluent and they had an interesting conversation. We went to the Pinnacle Grill which was pre booked for dinner. The Crew Grapevine was working overtime and, BOOM, we were escorted to a table by a window to watch the sunset by the Maitre'd who spoke to us in Bahasa, (Indonesian). We ended up with a personal waiter, what seemed to be larger portions, little delicacies and all the conversations were in Bahasa. This reoccurred in the MDR, Lido Buffet etc. Amazing time. The crew were happy they could speak their native language.
Holland America is a more civilized way to travel. The journey is the adventure, with ports and places other lines don't go. Cultural enrichment left us feeling like we understood our stops better. The smaller ships are more intimate with fewer total passengers it does have a more familiar setting. The longer itereraries didn't have many families with small children, which I do appreciate. I've been on those lines that cater to families and have seen too many over caffinated, unsupervised kids running amuck. The Music Walk in the evening offers great entertainment.
I would agree with this description. If you and your travelling party appreciate a more laid back experience focused on the journey and don't need to be constantly on the move, Holland America can be great. I loved the Music Walk venues on Koningsdam, especially the band at Rolling Stone Rock Room.
Clearly Holland America is for people who have a more laid back personality but still like the option of having some party fun without having it be the primary vibe of the vacation. I would really enjoy doing paintings and crafts by day and some live music and dancing at night. I may book them for my next cruise.
I appreciate that HAL's newest ships are built more like classic older ships where there are a ton of ocean views from pretty much every public space. On many of the other lines new mega ships you can go days without ever seeing water.
The views are great but everything is inside. I guess if you're in a cold climate this is a good thing but if you're in the Caribbean wouldn't you like to be outside? I want to fee that salt air and smell the ocean not be stuck in a pretty viewing room.
@@lennybuttz2162 I did just say public spaces which I guess could imply just indoor. On Nieuw Statendam last month I was very impressed with all the outdoor space. There was a full promenade, the adult pool, most of deck 10, all of deck 11, half of deck 12 (although that was The Retreat) and the little known deck 14. And the roof opens on nice days for the Lido pool. And, not a Go-Kart occupying any of it. 😄 Also, they opened the bow up for especially scenic cruising out of Stockholm. Give it a look, you may be impressed!
@@_echobravo From the video all I saw was indoor space so that's all I had to go by. I've also noticed on a lot of the new ships even on the open decks they have walls of glass going up quite a ways. It makes me if it's really windy or if they're just worried about jumpers?
I absolutely love Holland America! My husband and I went on 10 Cruises including an Inaugural Cruise in the Penthouse. But then my dear husband died so I haven’t cruised in about 15 years. Am looking forward to taking my cousin with me and start cruising again!
We have been to Alaska twice and we are returning in '24. I would recommend it for anyone. It is very relaxing, you can do as little or as much as you want☘
We have over 250 cruise days with HAL over the last 12 years. As with anything, occasionally one experiences the odd problem however the service and cuisine are generally exceptional. The one thing to note, is that the staff really want to please you so if your service or food is not satisfactory, nicely mention it to the server or Asst. Maître D. They will quickly resolve it. I hate hearing people who complain after the fact instead of discussing it politely with someone who can help them at the time. We think the staff attitudes and training are the best of any cruise line. We don’t book Club Orange because the dining room on the Pinnacle class reminds us of a fish bowl as everyone walks by the windows on their way to the MDR and because of our Mariner status we get several of the other benefits included already.
In two weeks, we are sailing with HAL for the second time and prefer their smaller ships. They never seem crowded, and we appreciate the demographic as we are seniors.
I think that all of your information on Holland America was spot on accurate and we are booked on them in January 2024 on the Eurodam. I think that one thing that you did NOT emphasize was that the MDR breakfasts had the BEST and most varied selections of any cruise ships. As for the evening activities, I would say that while the main shows end around Midnight, there was always something going on until 1:30 am for the few looking for something to do. We were on the Konigsdam in December 2022 and did find some shortcomings which were as a result of short staffing, especially in the MDR. One other thing to mention is that most HAL cruises offer Catholic Masses and Interdenominational Sunday services, which is uncommon on most other lines.
I've traveled on HAL for over 20 years, and for me , it's the only way to go! Leaving in October for a 40-day cruise to Antarctica. 😅 I did learn a couple of new items. Especially the AARP benefit. Many thanks. 😊
I have travelled with HAL many times. I have a mobility issue and I find the staff are more courteous to me then other other cruise lines. I could stay and listen to the piano players all night. Their worth the price of admission. If your looking for night entertainment due check out what’s available first as I notice some of their older smaller ships don’t have a lot going for it. Good video Ilana.
Not sure about the other ships but Nieuw Amsterdam has a new lending library with a great variety of recently published hardcover books. Based on the stacks of books returned last day of cruise it was a well loved perk. I read two on my cruise.
We loved the library on our cruise, too. Some of the books I'd had on hold from our local library for months, so was excited to read them. As a former librarian I was especially impressed with their library on the Nieuw Amsterdam.
Going on my first cruise. It’s on Holland America. This video really is great! So much information on so many categories. I’ll definitely be watching it again! Thank you.
Be sure and read all the great information on your HAL app. This will be our third cruise next month, and we still refer to the app. Tip: you can view menus for the main dining room in advance. Enjoy!! 🛳️
Same! We have our first Holland America Alaskan cruise booked for May 2025. The one and only cruise we’ve done previously was on Orient Cruise Lines in 2001 to Greece! So we are really cruise novices. Appreciate all the advice possible.
Club Orange! There was not a cabin upgrade on our cruise so it was only $15. It was worth it for only the special dining room as my husband doesn't like crowds. Also the fast lane for getting off at ports. There is also a Club Orange special line at guest services. There was an airline strike while we were in Europe and the Club Orange Guest Services line saved us HOURS trying to find a way home.
I give HAL customer service 2 thumbs up. We had to delay our cruise due to illness. We were told we would lose about $900 in fees but our cruise coordinator callled us back she got the fees applied to our future cruise.
The Laundry Pkg was a best kept secret for a long time. It is a bargain, especially on longer cruises. I love returning home with all my clothes clean and pressed! I love HAL and have been sailing them for more than 25 years.
We made Holland America our cruise line at least 10 years ago. We cruised on a few other lines and we just like the vibe of Holland America much better as it seems to be a more relaxed atmosphere. The food is outstanding on board and service is the same. Like you advised if you like to party late, Holland America may not be the best choice. We have done about 19 cruises total and have 2 more coming up in Nov and Dec and look forward to the adventures !
What do you think of the public furniture? The cabins look lovely and very comfortable but the seating in public areas does not look comfortable at all. It looks more like they want to discourage people from settling down with a good book. Some of the furniture look really uncomfortable and not well suited for a senior person who may have more difficulties. It also looks like they just cater to fit people, no big butt seating.
Thank you Llana for the sweet reminder of why we love HAL. Heading on a Transatlantic cruise on our favorite Rotterdam in October, we are so excited. We loved it when it we sailed 2021 and can’t wait to do it again. We have been on several Carnival ships, and giving Celebrity Beyond a try April 2024. We love the simplicity, quietness, attentiveness of staff, and the “just chill” vibe on the Rotterdam. By the way, my husband and I are celebrating our 65th birthday in Paris… yeahhhh. Great job on the HAL recap!
I loved the smaller ships no longer in service. The Crows Nest of old had many cushy leather seats directly in front of windows and elsewhere. Its been blended with shore excursions, etc so no longer as comfy. The Prinsendam had a great covered wooden deck aft where many deck chairs provided excellent outdoor area. And the wide walking deck went around the entire ship.
CLUB ORANGE!!! We love it :) The $25 a day fee is for shorter cruises, with longer cruises having a $15 a day fee. Definitely worth it! You also get priority boarding for tenders. This really came in handy on our Med cruise. While others had to go pick up a ticket for a specific time, we were able to go directly to the tender when we were ready to go. Another option for cruise credit is for active military & veterans. Love HAL :)
We have sailed on HAL for 9 years. We love it. We are in our 60s and enjoy the demographics on HAL!!! Thank you for mentioning the AARP on board credit. We are 4 star mariners and have never heard that before! You didn’t mention the outdoor movies in the evening. I believe that is only on the largest ships, but we really enjoy that.
Hi Ms Ilana, enjoyed the HAL review. One other money saving tip that we did was to dine at the pinnacle specialty during lunch. The price was a bit less than half of what you pay at dinner time and the food is just as good. Also, it is very quiet, less crowded.
@@MeowMeow-vo9cj Maybe. I say that because I had something they serve in the evening. However, they might include same items on both. I just came off the celebrity edge and had lunch to celebrate a friend’s birthday at the roof top grill and was disappointed to see they had a completely different menu, but it was decent, though. For the edge cruise I had looked at the evening menu before making my reservations thinking it would be the same.
Hi - we just did our first cruise on the HAL Koningsdam, 7 day Alaskan inside passage - loved it !!! - hydro bath & spa / sauna was well worth it & great after late nights !!! - all staff / food / room etc were great - ship was full but didnt seem crowded except the buffet at peak times but we still didnt wait long - only issues were with their billing system as we prepaid the gratutities but then they credited them back to us & took them off daily ??? - also one of our shore excursions was cancelled & our money refunded to us quickly but we lost $$ again on the exchange rate & then again when we chose another excursion - advised on the HAL survey that for me it would have been better to keep it as onboard credit until the end & then balance it out.- For us we prepaid the gratutities & also gave cash tips - really enjoyed the cruise & now we're already looking for another cruise with HAL !!!! 🇦🇺
We’re leaving in late Jan. For our 3rd HAL cruise. We love the size of the ships. This time,we’re going to the Caribbean. We’ve been to Alaska and a Spain, Portugal France cruise. We preferred the dining room and walk in dining. We shared tables on many nights and enjoyed meeting new people. We found out about the Dutch Tea room on our last cruise(get the gigantic cream puff!) and can’t wait to visit it again! We were so happy with our stewards, waiters, and all the staff. We also found out if you buy a bottle of wine for dinner, they will label it and store any unfinished wine for the next day’s dinner. It’s great for someone who only drinks one or two glasses per night. You need to book shore excursions early! We love Holland America!
Your HAL scenes feature a lot of people dancing. That's what I like about HAL. Lots of dancing. And yes, the ship kind of turns in early but it is pretty active evenings until about 11 pm. And you offer such useful info. Great job by HAL to have an app to keep people connected to what's going on on the ship and with fellow passengers.
Last time I went was in the late 1990s as a teen and it was most definitely older age 40 and up so I thought they were ancient lol 😂but I’m 49 now and want to try as food is great there - that I remember well!!
My wife and I (mid 60's) took our first HAL cruise earlier this year (31 days) and absolutely fell is love with this cruise line. Formerly we mostly cruised on Princess. The nightly music was fantastic. The food as you stated was consistently good, and the ship size was very manageable. We are sailing on HAL in a few weeks and will book another HAL cruise around Australia and New Zealand while we are on board the ship to take advantage of the extra on board credit offered.
Hi Ilana,my wife and I have more or less the same tastes as you, concerning cruise lines, princess and celebrity, your video will certainly convince us to test holland America, since we have confidence in your choices
We really enjoyed our recent HAL Alaska cruise. We cruised with our two teen boys who are pretty laid-back and we really appreciated the quiet of the ship as well as the educational programs, entertainment and trivia. The in room service was amazing and the ship was spotless.
We're boring....we go on cruises to relax, hang by the pool, and listen to good music. Don't need go-karts, water slides, towel animals, and escape rooms. Would prefer a bit more Broadway style entertainment, but not a deal breaker for us. My only complaint was the folks who "reserved" pool chairs and disappeared for hours at a time....which really isn't HAL's fault. Great crew, good food, and just a relaxing vibe for us. Second HAL cruise set for Jan 21 2024 on the Nieuw Statendam.
Holland America is based in Seattle, and has a reputation for generosity. At one agency that serves abused women and children, every year they would consult with agency staff ahead of time, then arrive before Christmas in a full size tour bus loaded to the gills with carefully-chosen presents.
We had club orange latest trip and since a balcony upgrade wasn't available we paid $15. My husband hates crowds - one of the reason we sail Holland America - and we loved the club orange dining room. It was definitely more intimate and we had Breakfast and Dinner there most days. They were not usually open for lunch. Just that small dining experience made it worth it for my husband. It was also nice to "skip the line" getting off at ports and there was a special line at guest services as well. That was so nice when SAS went on strike and we all needed help finding another way home. The Club Orange line would have 2-3 people vs. Dozens in the regular line. Check out the features. It was definitely worth it for us.
I'd love to see a video which advises people with low vision, or total blindness what the cruise line's rules, and accessibility considerations are. I saw the bit about Club Orange. LOL ;) Thanks.
12:09 - That in app communication is only so-so. Your phone will not make any noise when there is a new message so you have to constantly check the messages to see if there is anything new (as of our last cruise in August of 2023). It would be great if they would fix that.
I leave (with my sister) on my third Holland America cruise…my sister’s maybe twelfth or more cruise with HAL going on the 18 day cruise to Alaska leaving in about three weeks. I am very excited for this trip. It was a wish of my late husband to do an Alaskan trip…and although he won’t be with me physically he will be with me in spirit. Thank you for your helpful tips.
Even tho this video posted 4 mos ago, and the comments were by seasoned, as well as, first timers, there is something to add. If possible, book your next cruise while on a cruise with HAL. Your place on that next cruise can be held with a $100/person deposit, AND that deposit can be transferred. As I write this, it is early January, 2024. For example, you are on a HAL cruise in February in the Caribbean. There is always a desk set up close to Guest Services that will book future cruises. So you book a HAL cruise to Alaska for August 2024, and pay your deposit. 90 days before August when your cruise has to be paid for, you realize you can’t make that schedule. You can transfer your deposit to a different cruise in a future year, up to four years away (tho HAL only publishes cruises 2 years in advance.) The point is that your deposit is a fraction of what a first-timer has to pay, and it is transferable for up to 4 years. Also, if you are new or newish to cruising, try several different lines to find the one you like best and do so as quickly as possible. All cruise lines have reward points or programs, and the sooner you find your favorite, the sooner you will get more perks for cruising with your favorite,e.g., free laundry, free drinks, discounts, and upgrades, etc.
I am sailing on the Volendam next summer for 24 days - Boston- NE, Canada, Greenland, Iceland ( returns to Boston). So looking forward to this trip from our home port!
Your comments are right on. I've often said the main difference between HAL and other lines we've sailed (RCCL for example) is that while they are about the journey, with forced frivolity and lots of things to do or not to do, HAL is about the destinations. The itineraries are excellent and the journey to get there is very good but less frenetic. We've found that we enjoy the smaller ships. Even on the cruise lines that have the megaships, we prefer the smaller ships. We have also noticed the demographics seem to change with the length of the cruise and time of year. In March, on a 14-night Caribbean, there were 3 (yes, three!) children and an overall older demographic. On our 7-night Adriatic cruise in June, there were lots of families and a much younger crowd. The service on HAL is very good as well. While we are Diamond members with RCCL, we see ourselves moving over to HAL for future cruises. Our next cruise is already booked. Since it is 22 nights in January, we don't expect any children and should also be an older crowd since most younger people don't have the leave at work to take a 3-week cruise, nor can the children miss that much school. We love the orange party!
Everything is relative because the famous Statendam class ships were 55,000 tons and were considered midsized while ships the size of the newest HAL ships were considered "mega"ships. Now they're "smaller" ships. But even at the larger size, the new ships design some intimacy in them.
I will be cruising HAL for the first time this October. I was told by some people that it is for old people. I’m 56, and my niece is 41, we both agree that older people can be a hoot. Also, me being 56, I’m not exactly a spring chicken. A lot of people consider me a young 56, but realistically speaking, my body disagrees. 🤣🤣🤣
I did my first HAL cruise when I was younger than you are. As Ilana points out, HAL does tend to attract an older demographic, especially on the longer itineraries and during the school year. (Also my own experience.) I did a 14-day Australia /New Zealand, and there were times I could be forgiven for thinking I had walked into an old folks home. A friend and I also did a 7-day Norway, and there were lots of younger people on that one. I think we had a couple of busloads of mostly younger people for the hike up to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rick), a trek that would be a bit too brutal for a lot of people in their 80s and 90s.
I’m on the Volendam for the holidays. I’m a bit worried about the small ship. This will be our 4 th cruise on HAL and our first Christmas cruise. I’m looking forward to the food which never disappoints on HAL. I love the Dive In!
Sally, I’m a pinnacle class ship FAN - and so was likewise hesitant to try a small HAL ship. But the itinerary I wanted was only available on a small ship. So - I found myself on the Zaandam a couple months ago - and really enjoyed it! It did take a bit of getting used to as the layout is a bit different plus I found it hard to believe I could walk from one end of the ship to the other so quickly 😂. But I will never be reluctant to sail on a HAL smaller ship going forward. Hope you enjoy your time as much as I did. Happy holidays!
Watching your video makes us even more excited for our 2 week cruise to the Norway Fjords in September on the Rotterdam! This will be our 7th cruise - but our first on Holland America! We will be celebrating our 40th anniversary and cannot wait!
I went on Holland America's Koningsdam for a 7-night Alaska inside passage cruise at the end of May/beginning of June. While there were some families and younger couples the vast majority of the passengers were 50+ and a majority or very close to it were 65+. And there were few activities and services oriented toward younger adults and children. That's not to say they can't have a great time on Holland America. If you and those you're travelling with are fine with a more laid back experience without fancy hi-tech attractions and elaborate stage shows (though the music at Koningsdam's Music Walk venues was terrific), then Holland America is great. But if you want a more lively experience with more attractions, then you're probably better going with another cruise line.
In 2016 we went on an Alaska cruise on Holland America with our daughter and her family including her 7-year-old twins. The children had a wonderful time. They especially enjoyed Club Hal and the pool. No one seemed annoyed by them and I don't think they got in anyone's way.
Every line caters to a slightly different demographic population. Just as Carnival guests wouldn't be happy on HAL, I don't want to be on a Carnival ship.
I enjoyed this video as we haven’t cruised on HAL in several years due to Covid, and we wanted to try some more luxury cruise lines. Some were worth the experience because of the itinerary and service, but, alas, we are returning to HAL and going on a Hawaiian cruise in January 2024. We’re 5 star members and the perks are worth it. We paid several thousand dollars more for the so-called premium ships and were terribly disappointed with the service, food, room size, knowledgeable front desk help, and overworked, unhappy crew, from running out of supplies, etc. There have been so many obvious cutbacks, that we are returning to HAL. We’ve been cruising for over 20 years, and since Covid the cruising experience has changed. You pay more for less. Thank you for the HAL update. Sandra
Cruised Norway and Denmark in July 2023 on HA Nieuw Statendam in a Neptune Suite. Beautiful marble bathroom larger than mine at home! Loved the access to Orange Club and the private lounge. One thing not well known is the men’s and women’s saunas near the spa area. The doors are pocket doors and appear as if they are part of the spa where you pay extra but they are not! I learned this from another cruise video I watched before we took our cruise. And there was no mention anywhere on the tv or signage indicating this feature. I only found it due to watching the video. Probably why it wasn’t busy with people! Very quiet area to relax.
Your review was right on the money. We are heading out in October on our 5th HA Pinnacle class cruise in 2 years. It’s a great cruise line for us, we are in our 60’s. we have had Club Orange on the last 4 and it’s well worth the cost. The only correction I would make is the laundry service cost $69 until you get to level 3 mariner. It’s $49 after that. Keep the great reviews coming.
I booked Club Orange for a cruise on the Rotterdam next year, I would love to hear you thought on Club Orange dinning, I have not seen much online. The upgrade is an amazing value in it self, but I would like to know what to expect.
@@Tom-pw2ni it’s a really good value, we have been on Holland America 4 times since Dec 2021, and have 3 more booked starting next month. Each time we book Club Orange. To start with we pay for a obstructed balcony and get upgraded to a unobstructed is it same room for free. You get priority boarding and have your own private line at guest services no so long line to wait in, but the dining is best feature. On Pinnacle class ships you get a separate more intimate dining room for breakfast and dinner. You just walk in and get seated no waiting around. They restrict the number of people per cruise that can purchase this option so it’s not over crowded. Most of the menu is the same as the main dining room with a few extra items not found there. Also, if you want something not on the menu that night they will get it for you. I like French onion soup and even though it was not offered every night our waiting got it for me everyday and the same with my wife
Club Orange. We were on Koningsdam May 7-14, 2022. We had an aft Neptune suite (we we could only afford due to FCC from a 2021 cruise that was cancelled due to covid). That suite gave us access to Club Orange. We at breakfast there twice and enjoyed it and the mimosas. We really loved the crows nest. We spent a lot of time there on the first Sea day just sitting and watching the ocean go by. We also put a puzzle together. We did traditional dining early seating and loved it. Our waiters were exceptional. This was my first cruise ever and loved it. I would go back on a HAL ship again.
My Husband and I are both retired physicians in our 70’s and are scheduled to go on a 10 day cruise to Alaska on HAL in August 2024. Would we also qualify for this onboard credit?
Hi Ilana! i'm new to your channel and have been binge watching your videos, really enjoying my time, it makes me daydream! I'm considering surprising my Mom with a first time, once in a lifetime type cruise after the passing of my dad but the problem is that we're not wealthy, at all. I'd like to surprise her with a Caribbean cruise in February, what cruise line would you suggest? Also i'm from Montreal like you, what travel agency would you recommend? Thanks for taking the time!
Welcome! There are a couple of great options (you don’t need to be wealthy & there are ways to get the value you’re looking for). Please send me an email lifewellcruised@gmail.com for a local recommendation
We cruised Alaska with Neiuw Amsterdam in June. For most shore excursions we generally did not need to show the e-ticket, they had clipboards with our names and wanted to see our room key (we did need the e-ticket for the Lumberjack show), but definitely good advice to screenshot it. Be sure to find out where the ramp will be for shore excursions and look at the ship map, they assured us there would be signs, but we found them to not always be changed from the day before, and we had to guess which deck to start from. We got some extra steps in a couple of days. The Crow's Nest is well worth the trip, one of our favorite places on board. Where else can you sit in a $6000 leather chair (the ones overlooking the bow)? It was surprisingly quiet even when it was packed for a talk with the naturalists. There were many games to play, and many types of seating....tables, different types of comfy chairs, the leather chairs with ottomans, and even a couple sectional sofas. They added additional nicer folding chairs for during popular talks. The coffee there was quite good (I love the iced), and they keep the line moving quickly. (They also have a bar there.) The menus work on the app before your trip, and it's fun to watch them the week before yours to get an idea of what will be served....we did some Googling to be prepared regarding dishes we weren't familiar with. The Dive In burgers and fries and the NY Pizza and salads were amazing if you want something hot and quick. While the Lido stations did have the dishes listed on a displayed menu, the individual dishes are not labeled, so you need to ask if you want something specific, otherwise there was a lot of pointing (and I often just asked for a small sample of everything 'not spicy' at the Asian station). Be sure to watch, there are some custom things you can have, especially for breakfast there are fresh crepes and you can have eggs made your way. The buffet is mostly staff served, but there are bowls of fruit (our favorite....perfectly ripe melons and pineapple all week, plus often grapes, papaya, and mango), plus desserts, breads, and a few other things were self-serve. Beverages could be self-serve, the servers have water, coffee, and lemonade....and can run out to the bar to get you a soda or other beverage....we got that ourselves before we came in, the Lido servers work hard enough. If you see a dessert you want on the Lido, be sure to grab it right away. We never saw the 'famous bread pudding', and a few times I had planned to go back for something and it was gone, or we went to dinner later and something on the dessert menu wasn't there at all. Many of the items that were to be served in the main dining room were also available on the Lido, so we ended up eating there the most since we could try more things and rush or linger as we wished. We also very much enjoyed the fruit smoothies....available pretty much at any bar. Ironically, we found the volume level at the Lido to be less than the main dining room, and we enjoyed the views from the large windows, there's seating on both sides of the ship, and even if you can't grab a popular window table, you can see plenty, and benefit from many many eyes looking for whales! ;) For Alaska, while we did very much enjoy having our own balcony, if you need to save money you will still have a wonderful experience with even an inside cabin. They open the bow for certain viewing times, the aft pool deck is open all the time, and there's the promenade deck to be outside. Inside, there are many opportunities to snag a window seat in the many public areas, which we did at times as the ship turned, making the action on the other side of the ship from our cabin. We saw more wildlife on our way to a show, walking the public areas of the ship, than from our balcony.
You’re just full of good tidbits. 😊 I’ve sailed HAL many times - but never stumbled across being able to see the daily menus during the week-before cruise on the app. Will try that the week before my next HAL cruise in DEC. Tks!
We took our first HAL Alaska cruise out of Seattle on the Westerdam and we had an awesome time, both on the ship and on the excursions. The food was so delicious and we really enjoyed the main dining room the best. The Crow's Nest was our fave spot on sea days as were able to have a great time playing cards with our friends while watching the beautiful scenery. We also loved the Navigator app for checking in with those friends, looking at menus and checking activity/show schedules. We had more fun in the Rolling Stone Lounge nearly every night as the live band was the best. Your cruise videos really prepared us for our trip and send you a huge "thank you." Your information was invaluable. Now planning our next adventure with Holland America.
Another nice option. If you have club, orange is at guest services, there is a designated line for club orange guess that can save a lot of time standing in line if it’s crowded.
My first HAL cruise is in December and I can't wait! This video just reiterates why I think HAL will be one of my favorite cruise lines going forward. Q1: Can the discounts be combined - AARP, CCL Stockholder and any Mariner level savings? Thanks for mentioning these! As a solo cruiser going forward, I need to save $$ wherever I can. (I don't like the solo cabins though, so I find other ways to save - lol)
@LifeWellCruised This Video was quite a help. I have booked my 1st ever cruise and will be going on the Eurodam next year to Alaska. I am also a solo traveler and I am hoping I can still use my AARP to get onboard credit even though I have already booked the cruise......What is your experience with this? Thank you.
In 2015 we sailed on the Veendam on a 35-day round transatlantic trip from Boston to Norway and back. On that trip the demographic average age was 82. As we disembarked, we received a summary sheet that told us how far we had traveled and a few other things. One was the demographic.
I think you'll find that in any 30-day plus cruise. Not many successful working people can afford to be away that long and still feel secure about their position. Internet while at sea, is well below what people operating in today's 5G world consider acceptable.
Hey, We are in our 80s, active, and enjoy a good time, too😂. What is important to us and has always been is a less raucous vibe, classic dining, excellent quality in every aspect of the ship, and a relaxed environment. We never have liked the 'party boats size ships (been on a couple), not for us at any age.😊
Great review. The only thing I would add is you have to register AARP membership with HAL 2 days BEFORE booking the cruise to get the credit. The pinnacle class ships sports deck have some exercise machines out in the sunshine with beautiful views. So you can exercise in the fresh air and sun shine.
I just booked a 2/2025 and had AARP added two days later….TA will send you a link, received 200$ in 10 minutes, I wish they would be that quick with the stock OBC.
Yes! We loved it! Going again October 2023. There aren’t many African Americans on HAL but we enjoyed it. It’s a Premium Cruise line a little more pricier than others.
Veteran cruisers, this October we’re taking our first HAL cruise on the Noordam, a 48-day cruise from San Diego to Auckland. This will also be our longest cruise ever. We are really getting excited as the time draws nearer. I appreciated everything you shared in your video as it will help us prepare. Any additional information on the Noordam and long cruises would be appreciated. Finally, where can we learn more about benefits for AARP members, veterans, and any other promotions? Thank you so much!
We just did a 31-day S America cruise last March. I would definitely check into laundry service. Pack less! It was so convenient! Relax on sea days as much as possible. Try to do as much as you can at ports! Noordam does not have pizza place or Dutch Cafe or movies at the pool. Beautiful ship! Have fun
We always book Neptune Suites, which include Club Orange Membership. 🧡 our Club Orange benefits, as well as the Neptune Suite benefits. Highly recommend! (We're ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mariners.)
Please comment on HA removing The Lincoln Center music venue. We understand there is no longer classical music offered on HA ships. If that's true, we will be soooo disappointed.
HAL was my first cruise. My Mom and Dads 50th anniversary in 1996. I was Hooked. I love their ships.. Nieuw Amsterdam was my first ship, 1,200 passengers. Did a full circle HAL on the new Nieuw Amsterdam. She was a bit larger, 2,000 -3,000… but still a wonderful cruise. My favorite cruise line.
We love HAL, it is our go to cruiseline. We have tried others but always seem to go back to HAL. Love the smaller ships, food is excellent and the staff is amazing. It’s a classy cruiseline and very relaxing. We always book the spa package and I think that is my favourite part of the cruise.
We've sailed on Holland America, trips for the last 3 years. The Club Orange is worth every penny. The pinnacle ships are the best. So much more to do on them . Have the best time ever.
![BEST CRUISE LINE? 8 Major Cruise Lines Compared [2025 Ultimate Guide]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cI7se8vrUF0/mqdefault.jpg)
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/
😊
A couple of things you left out. Holland America offers included breakfast in the main dining room that is white glove plus. On sea days they also include lunch in the main dining room with occasional gourmet dishes. Most importantly, even when the ship is sold out it never seems overly crowded. They offer the most public spaces, widest and most spacious hallways and largest amount of quiet space I have seen on modern boats. Also, the Lido buffet usually has a few Asian offerings at dinner that are native to crew members. WARNING. This is not the boat for hyper-active teens and pre-teens.
Thanks for sharing this!
I agree. I absolutely love hal
After watching this video, and and reading your post, I definitely want to go on one of these cruises
Do they normally have painting classes on there? Because I keep seeing that B roll,And I love to paint.
I did not see this in the video, the pool area looked really crowded, deck chairs were very close together people looked like they could barely move without bumping into someone and the pool is completely surrounded by 2 story walls. It's hardly like being outside at all.
@@Commonsenseisnotcommon8Beats me. They seem to be more food and music oriented. The only painting I've ever seen are the guys hanging on lines doing the outside of the ship.
Went on our 20th Wedding Anniversary/Wife's 50th Birthday with HAL on the Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska. A lot of the Hotel Staff are Indonesian and I introduced myself to our Cabin Attendant in Indonesian. He was beaming as a lot of people don't know is that staff are not to speak their native language on the ships, especially around passengers unless the passengers spoke to them in Indonesian first. My wife is fluent and they had an interesting conversation. We went to the Pinnacle Grill which was pre booked for dinner. The Crew Grapevine was working overtime and, BOOM, we were escorted to a table by a window to watch the sunset by the Maitre'd who spoke to us in Bahasa, (Indonesian). We ended up with a personal waiter, what seemed to be larger portions, little delicacies and all the conversations were in Bahasa. This reoccurred in the MDR, Lido Buffet etc. Amazing time. The crew were happy they could speak their native language.
Wow!! That’s amazing. Happy anniversary 🥂
Most human beings like when you treat them with respect. In the service industry it tends to come back to you five fold. Glad you had an amazing time.
Holland America is a more civilized way to travel. The journey is the adventure, with ports and places other lines don't go. Cultural enrichment left us feeling like we understood our stops better. The smaller ships are more intimate with fewer total passengers it does have a more familiar setting. The longer itereraries didn't have many families with small children, which I do appreciate. I've been on those lines that cater to families and have seen too many over caffinated, unsupervised kids running amuck. The Music Walk in the evening offers great entertainment.
That’s a good point about the enrichment
I would agree with this description. If you and your travelling party appreciate a more laid back experience focused on the journey and don't need to be constantly on the move, Holland America can be great. I loved the Music Walk venues on Koningsdam, especially the band at Rolling Stone Rock Room.
More civilized??
Civilized or boring? Lets go on the 2 floor wall surrounded deck and play a game of cornhole. Where's the shuffleboard?
Great summary of HAL.
Clearly Holland America is for people who have a more laid back personality but still like the option of having some party fun without having it be the primary vibe of the vacation. I would really enjoy doing paintings and crafts by day and some live music and dancing at night. I may book them for my next cruise.
It's nice to see HAL getting some love. They are my favorite cruise line, but it seems like very few TH-camrs talk about them.
It probably depends what people are looking for, but we enjoy HaL
We love Hal❤. It is definitely an older crowd which suits us perfectly.
Thanks so much!🎉
I appreciate that HAL's newest ships are built more like classic older ships where there are a ton of ocean views from pretty much every public space. On many of the other lines new mega ships you can go days without ever seeing water.
This is true 👏
The views are great but everything is inside. I guess if you're in a cold climate this is a good thing but if you're in the Caribbean wouldn't you like to be outside? I want to fee that salt air and smell the ocean not be stuck in a pretty viewing room.
@@lennybuttz2162 I did just say public spaces which I guess could imply just indoor. On Nieuw Statendam last month I was very impressed with all the outdoor space. There was a full promenade, the adult pool, most of deck 10, all of deck 11, half of deck 12 (although that was The Retreat) and the little known deck 14. And the roof opens on nice days for the Lido pool. And, not a Go-Kart occupying any of it. 😄 Also, they opened the bow up for especially scenic cruising out of Stockholm. Give it a look, you may be impressed!
@@_echobravo From the video all I saw was indoor space so that's all I had to go by. I've also noticed on a lot of the new ships even on the open decks they have walls of glass going up quite a ways. It makes me if it's really windy or if they're just worried about jumpers?
I absolutely love Holland America! My husband and I went on 10 Cruises including an Inaugural Cruise in the Penthouse. But then my dear husband died so I haven’t cruised in about 15 years. Am looking forward to taking my cousin with me and start cruising again!
We have been to Alaska twice and we are returning in '24. I would recommend it for anyone. It is very relaxing, you can do as little or as much as you want☘
What do you recommend doing in the various ports? We leave from Whittier on HAL on May 19.
Going on a cruise with our family in late May. So looking forward to it!
We have over 250 cruise days with HAL over the last 12 years. As with anything, occasionally one experiences the odd problem however the service and cuisine are generally exceptional. The one thing to note, is that the staff really want to please you so if your service or food is not satisfactory, nicely mention it to the server or Asst. Maître D. They will quickly resolve it. I hate hearing people who complain after the fact instead of discussing it politely with someone who can help them at the time. We think the staff attitudes and training are the best of any cruise line.
We don’t book Club Orange because the dining room on the Pinnacle class reminds us of a fish bowl as everyone walks by the windows on their way to the MDR and because of our Mariner status we get several of the other benefits included already.
I agree completely! Thanks for mentioning the Mariner program. I wondered if it was still in existence.
Glad to read your experience 👏
Thank you. This is very helpful, particularly about dining in a fish bowl. Aarrggghhhh!
Only cruise with HAL now. Love the service, free room service, small ships, relaxing, love it!
In two weeks, we are sailing with HAL for the second time and prefer their smaller ships. They never seem crowded, and we appreciate the demographic as we are seniors.
Awesome!! Enjoy
I think that all of your information on Holland America was spot on accurate and we are booked on them in January 2024 on the Eurodam. I think that one thing that you did NOT emphasize was that the MDR breakfasts had the BEST and most varied selections of any cruise ships. As for the evening activities, I would say that while the main shows end around Midnight, there was always something going on until 1:30 am for the few looking for something to do. We were on the Konigsdam in December 2022 and did find some shortcomings which were as a result of short staffing, especially in the MDR. One other thing to mention is that most HAL cruises offer Catholic Masses and Interdenominational Sunday services, which is uncommon on most other lines.
Great to hear!
I've traveled on HAL for over 20 years, and for me , it's the only way to go! Leaving in October for a 40-day cruise to Antarctica. 😅
I did learn a couple of new items. Especially the AARP benefit. Many thanks. 😊
Awesome! Thanks for watching
We're on that cruise as well but we're doing the entire loop.
We'll be on board too. See you soon!
Ok@@BTimmer
I have travelled with HAL many times. I have a mobility issue and I find the staff are more courteous to me then other other cruise lines. I could stay and listen to the piano players all night. Their worth the price of admission. If your looking for night entertainment due check out what’s available first as I notice some of their older smaller ships don’t have a lot going for it. Good video Ilana.
Not sure about the other ships but Nieuw Amsterdam has a new lending library with a great variety of recently published hardcover books. Based on the stacks of books returned last day of cruise it was a well loved perk. I read two on my cruise.
Awesome 👏
We loved the library on our cruise, too. Some of the books I'd had on hold from our local library for months, so was excited to read them. As a former librarian I was especially impressed with their library on the Nieuw Amsterdam.
@@annriding may I ask if there are also books in german on Oosterdam??? Thanks
@@IreneSchmidt I was on another ship, so I do not know about the Oosterdam.
Going on my first cruise. It’s on Holland America. This video really is great! So much information on so many categories. I’ll definitely be watching it again! Thank you.
@@ruthannbrucato2466 that’s awesome! So glad it was helpful
Be sure and read all the great information on your HAL app. This will be our third cruise next month, and we still refer to the app. Tip: you can view menus for the main dining room in advance. Enjoy!! 🛳️
Same! We have our first Holland America Alaskan cruise booked for May 2025. The one and only cruise we’ve done previously was on Orient Cruise Lines in 2001 to Greece! So we are really cruise novices. Appreciate all the advice possible.
Club Orange! There was not a cabin upgrade on our cruise so it was only $15. It was worth it for only the special dining room as my husband doesn't like crowds. Also the fast lane for getting off at ports. There is also a Club Orange special line at guest services. There was an airline strike while we were in Europe and the Club Orange Guest Services line saved us HOURS trying to find a way home.
We have been on 2 Holland American cruises and what I liked is that they have great itineraries on the longer cruises.
That sounds great!!
I give HAL customer service 2 thumbs up. We had to delay our cruise due to illness. We were told we would lose about $900 in fees but our cruise coordinator callled us back she got the fees applied to our future cruise.
Please make sure you get insurance, they were nice to do that but that’s not the norm.
Perfectly what I have always wanted...a quieter cruise w more educational events! We love HAL!
The Laundry Pkg was a best kept secret for a long time. It is a bargain, especially on longer cruises. I love returning home with all my clothes clean and pressed! I love HAL and have been sailing them for more than 25 years.
It is nice!!
I haven’t been able to find pricing on that. How much was it?
How much was the laundry please. I’d love that as well.
Hahaha, you should sell an orange "I live for cruising" shirt to wear for the orange party. Thanks for all the advice!
Love the crows nest! I usually hang out there a lot. Sometimes it's soooo peaceful!
We made Holland America our cruise line at least 10 years ago. We cruised on a few other lines and we just like the vibe of Holland America much better as it seems to be a more relaxed atmosphere. The food is outstanding on board and service is the same. Like you advised if you like to party late, Holland America may not be the best choice. We have done about 19 cruises total and have 2 more coming up in Nov and Dec and look forward to the adventures !
Thanks for sharing your experiences :)
What do you think of the public furniture? The cabins look lovely and very comfortable but the seating in public areas does not look comfortable at all. It looks more like they want to discourage people from settling down with a good book. Some of the furniture look really uncomfortable and not well suited for a senior person who may have more difficulties. It also looks like they just cater to fit people, no big butt seating.
I've never had a problem with the public furniture and always find a nice place to sit@@lennybuttz2162
Thank you Llana for the sweet reminder of why we love HAL. Heading on a Transatlantic cruise on our favorite Rotterdam in October, we are so excited. We loved it when it we sailed 2021 and can’t wait to do it again. We have been on several Carnival ships, and giving Celebrity Beyond a try April 2024.
We love the simplicity, quietness, attentiveness of staff, and the “just chill” vibe on the Rotterdam. By the way, my husband and I are celebrating our 65th birthday in Paris… yeahhhh.
Great job on the HAL recap!
Happy anniversary!!!
@@LifeWellCruised Thank you, our 65th birthdays
I loved the smaller ships no longer in service. The Crows Nest of old had many cushy leather seats directly in front of windows and elsewhere. Its been blended with shore excursions, etc so no longer as comfy. The Prinsendam had a great covered wooden deck aft where many deck chairs provided excellent outdoor area. And the wide walking deck went around the entire ship.
CLUB ORANGE!!! We love it :) The $25 a day fee is for shorter cruises, with longer cruises having a $15 a day fee. Definitely worth it! You also get priority boarding for tenders. This really came in handy on our Med cruise. While others had to go pick up a ticket for a specific time, we were able to go directly to the tender when we were ready to go.
Another option for cruise credit is for active military & veterans.
Love HAL :)
Thanks for sharing! You’re right, longer cruises make CO & even better value
As I have only cruised HAL (and perfectly happy with them with no desire to change), you did a great job describing HAL.
I really appreciate your feedback! Thanks ☺️
We have sailed on HAL for 9 years. We love it. We are in our 60s and enjoy the demographics on HAL!!! Thank you for mentioning the AARP on board credit. We are 4 star mariners and have never heard that before! You didn’t mention the outdoor movies in the evening. I believe that is only on the largest ships, but we really enjoy that.
We just got back yesterday on the Koningsdam and they showed movies in the pool area every night.
Hi Ms Ilana, enjoyed the HAL review. One other money saving tip that we did was to dine at the pinnacle specialty during lunch. The price was a bit less than half of what you pay at dinner time and the food is just as good. Also, it is very quiet, less crowded.
Great tip!!
Do they serve a different menu during lunch hour?
@@MeowMeow-vo9cj Maybe. I say that because I had something they serve in the evening. However, they might include same items on both. I just came off the celebrity edge and had lunch to celebrate a friend’s birthday at the roof top grill and was disappointed to see they had a completely different menu, but it was decent, though. For the edge cruise I had looked at the evening menu before making my reservations thinking it would be the same.
@@LifeWellCruisedI’ll look into that, sailing 1-30-24 on Koningdam. Thanks
The Crow's Nest is our favorite place and somehow we discovered it on our first cruise. 😊
Who knew about AARP and Club Orange! Thanks
Awesome!!
Hi - we just did our first cruise on the HAL Koningsdam, 7 day Alaskan inside passage - loved it !!! - hydro bath & spa / sauna was well worth it & great after late nights !!! - all staff / food / room etc were great - ship was full but didnt seem crowded except the buffet at peak times but we still didnt wait long - only issues were with their billing system as we prepaid the gratutities but then they credited them back to us & took them off daily ??? - also one of our shore excursions was cancelled & our money refunded to us quickly but we lost $$ again on the exchange rate & then again when we chose another excursion - advised on the HAL survey that for me it would have been better to keep it as onboard credit until the end & then balance it out.- For us we prepaid the gratutities & also gave cash tips - really enjoyed the cruise & now we're already looking for another cruise with HAL !!!! 🇦🇺
17 days 15 hours and 11 minutes until our first cruise ever! Thank you so much for all of your help. I feel like I may know what I'm doing.
We've done six Holland America cruises and have our seventh scheduled. You will love it!
26 days 6 hrs and 33 minutes til my first cruise I'm so excited
We’re leaving in late Jan. For our 3rd HAL cruise. We love the size of the ships. This time,we’re going to the Caribbean. We’ve been to Alaska and a Spain, Portugal France cruise. We preferred the dining room and walk in dining. We shared tables on many nights and enjoyed meeting new people. We found out about the Dutch Tea room on our last cruise(get the gigantic cream puff!) and can’t wait to visit it again! We were so happy with our stewards, waiters, and all the staff. We also found out if you buy a bottle of wine for dinner, they will label it and store any unfinished wine for the next day’s dinner. It’s great for someone who only drinks one or two glasses per night. You need to book shore excursions early! We love Holland America!
Absolutely fantastic cruise blog I would even go as far to say this is the best Holland American cruise blog I have ever seen well done
Your HAL scenes feature a lot of people dancing. That's what I like about HAL. Lots of dancing. And yes, the ship kind of turns in early but it is pretty active evenings until about 11 pm. And you offer such useful info. Great job by HAL to have an app to keep people connected to what's going on on the ship and with fellow passengers.
Just booked with Holland America, Alaska! It will be our first Cruise!
Us, too!
Just got back and it was amazing !!
@@mdgirl12345which ship? I’m going on westerdam and looking for feedback on cruise ship
This video couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ll be sailing the koningsdam Aug 26 so this is perfect! Thank you so much for the valuable tips.
Yay!! Enjoy your cruise!
Last time I went was in the late 1990s as a teen and it was most definitely older age 40 and up so I thought they were ancient lol 😂but I’m 49 now and want to try as food is great there - that I remember well!!
My wife and I (mid 60's) took our first HAL cruise earlier this year (31 days) and absolutely fell is love with this cruise line. Formerly we mostly cruised on Princess. The nightly music was fantastic. The food as you stated was consistently good, and the ship size was very manageable. We are sailing on HAL in a few weeks and will book another HAL cruise around Australia and New Zealand while we are on board the ship to take advantage of the extra on board credit offered.
Glad you spoke about Club Orange. 👍
Hi Ilana,my wife and I have more or less the same tastes as you, concerning cruise lines, princess and celebrity, your video will certainly convince us to test holland America, since we have confidence in your choices
I hope that you enjoy it. Let me know :)
I am strongly considering a HAL cruise soon...thanks...any solo supplement tips are appreciated.
We really enjoyed our recent HAL Alaska cruise. We cruised with our two teen boys who are pretty laid-back and we really appreciated the quiet of the ship as well as the educational programs, entertainment and trivia. The in room service was amazing and the ship was spotless.
We are going with our two teen boys in July next year! They are pretty laid-back as well- which ship were you on?
Thank you very much, I'm cruising on Holland for the first time an d your video was excellent. I like how you explained everything. Already subscribed
We're boring....we go on cruises to relax, hang by the pool, and listen to good music. Don't need go-karts, water slides, towel animals, and escape rooms. Would prefer a bit more Broadway style entertainment, but not a deal breaker for us. My only complaint was the folks who "reserved" pool chairs and disappeared for hours at a time....which really isn't HAL's fault. Great crew, good food, and just a relaxing vibe for us. Second HAL cruise set for Jan 21 2024 on the Nieuw Statendam.
I loved the fresh flower arrangements throughout the ship. Stunning!!
Holland America is based in Seattle, and has a reputation for generosity. At one agency that serves abused women and children, every year they would consult with agency staff ahead of time, then arrive before Christmas in a full size tour bus loaded to the gills with carefully-chosen presents.
We love HA, did Alaska with them. Also did an HCL Joy, way too loud and crowded, can't wait to go back to HA
We had club orange latest trip and since a balcony upgrade wasn't available we paid $15. My husband hates crowds - one of the reason we sail Holland America - and we loved the club orange dining room. It was definitely more intimate and we had Breakfast and Dinner there most days. They were not usually open for lunch. Just that small dining experience made it worth it for my husband. It was also nice to "skip the line" getting off at ports and there was a special line at guest services as well. That was so nice when SAS went on strike and we all needed help finding another way home. The Club Orange line would have 2-3 people vs. Dozens in the regular line. Check out the features. It was definitely worth it for us.
You purchased the club orange ahead of time through your travel agent?
Wow, that’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing
Club orange is only available before you board the ship
@@arl4945 I contacted Holland America directly
Club Orange - Cabin upgrade!!! expanded dining!!! can't wait!!
I'd love to see a video which advises people with low vision, or total blindness what the cruise line's rules, and accessibility considerations are. I saw the bit about Club Orange. LOL ;) Thanks.
12:09 - That in app communication is only so-so. Your phone will not make any noise when there is a new message so you have to constantly check the messages to see if there is anything new (as of our last cruise in August of 2023). It would be great if they would fix that.
I leave (with my sister) on my third Holland America cruise…my sister’s maybe twelfth or more cruise with HAL going on the 18 day cruise to Alaska leaving in about three weeks. I am very excited for this trip. It was a wish of my late husband to do an Alaskan trip…and although he won’t be with me physically he will be with me in spirit. Thank you for your helpful tips.
That’s wonderful! Enjoy
HAL also gives $100 OBC to military, active, reserve and retired. You must register your status with HAL. The $100 is same for all cruise lengths.
Even tho this video posted 4 mos ago, and the comments were by seasoned, as well as, first timers, there is something to add. If possible, book your next cruise while on a cruise with HAL. Your place on that next cruise can be held with a $100/person deposit, AND that deposit can be transferred. As I write this, it is early January, 2024. For example, you are on a HAL cruise in February in the Caribbean. There is always a desk set up close to Guest Services that will book future cruises. So you book a HAL cruise to Alaska for August 2024, and pay your deposit. 90 days before August when your cruise has to be paid for, you realize you can’t make that schedule. You can transfer your deposit to a different cruise in a future year, up to four years away (tho HAL only publishes cruises 2 years in advance.) The point is that your deposit is a fraction of what a first-timer has to pay, and it is transferable for up to 4 years.
Also, if you are new or newish to cruising, try several different lines to find the one you like best and do so as quickly as possible. All cruise lines have reward points or programs, and the sooner you find your favorite, the sooner you will get more perks for cruising with your favorite,e.g., free laundry, free drinks, discounts, and upgrades, etc.
I am sailing on the Volendam next summer for 24 days - Boston- NE, Canada, Greenland, Iceland ( returns to Boston). So looking forward to this trip from our home port!
Your comments are right on. I've often said the main difference between HAL and other lines we've sailed (RCCL for example) is that while they are about the journey, with forced frivolity and lots of things to do or not to do, HAL is about the destinations. The itineraries are excellent and the journey to get there is very good but less frenetic. We've found that we enjoy the smaller ships. Even on the cruise lines that have the megaships, we prefer the smaller ships. We have also noticed the demographics seem to change with the length of the cruise and time of year. In March, on a 14-night Caribbean, there were 3 (yes, three!) children and an overall older demographic. On our 7-night Adriatic cruise in June, there were lots of families and a much younger crowd. The service on HAL is very good as well. While we are Diamond members with RCCL, we see ourselves moving over to HAL for future cruises. Our next cruise is already booked. Since it is 22 nights in January, we don't expect any children and should also be an older crowd since most younger people don't have the leave at work to take a 3-week cruise, nor can the children miss that much school. We love the orange party!
Everything is relative because the famous Statendam class ships were 55,000 tons and were considered midsized while ships the size of the newest HAL ships were considered "mega"ships. Now they're "smaller" ships. But even at the larger size, the new ships design some intimacy in them.
We went to Alaska on HAL last year and everything was great. Our ages were 41 and 43.
I will be cruising HAL for the first time this October. I was told by some people that it is for old people. I’m 56, and my niece is 41, we both agree that older people can be a hoot. Also, me being 56, I’m not exactly a spring chicken. A lot of people consider me a young 56, but realistically speaking, my body disagrees. 🤣🤣🤣
Lol, I agree I’ve had great conversations with people that have “lived a little”
I did my first HAL cruise when I was younger than you are. As Ilana points out, HAL does tend to attract an older demographic, especially on the longer itineraries and during the school year. (Also my own experience.) I did a 14-day Australia /New Zealand, and there were times I could be forgiven for thinking I had walked into an old folks home. A friend and I also did a 7-day Norway, and there were lots of younger people on that one. I think we had a couple of busloads of mostly younger people for the hike up to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rick), a trek that would be a bit too brutal for a lot of people in their 80s and 90s.
We are and went for the orange upgrade
I’m on the Volendam for the holidays. I’m a bit worried about the small ship. This will be our 4 th cruise on HAL and our first Christmas cruise. I’m looking forward to the food which never disappoints on HAL. I love the Dive In!
Hope you enjoy! Let me know :)
Sally, I’m a pinnacle class ship FAN - and so was likewise hesitant to try a small HAL ship. But the itinerary I wanted was only available on a small ship. So - I found myself on the Zaandam a couple months ago - and really enjoyed it! It did take a bit of getting used to as the layout is a bit different plus I found it hard to believe I could walk from one end of the ship to the other so quickly 😂. But I will never be reluctant to sail on a HAL smaller ship going forward. Hope you enjoy your time as much as I did. Happy holidays!
@@jayrow5029 Thank you! Happy holidays to you as well!
Watching your video makes us even more excited for our 2 week cruise to the Norway Fjords in September on the Rotterdam! This will be our 7th cruise - but our first on Holland America! We will be celebrating our 40th anniversary and cannot wait!
I went on Holland America's Koningsdam for a 7-night Alaska inside passage cruise at the end of May/beginning of June. While there were some families and younger couples the vast majority of the passengers were 50+ and a majority or very close to it were 65+. And there were few activities and services oriented toward younger adults and children. That's not to say they can't have a great time on Holland America. If you and those you're travelling with are fine with a more laid back experience without fancy hi-tech attractions and elaborate stage shows (though the music at Koningsdam's Music Walk venues was terrific), then Holland America is great. But if you want a more lively experience with more attractions, then you're probably better going with another cruise line.
In 2016 we went on an Alaska cruise on Holland America with our daughter and her family including her 7-year-old twins. The children had a wonderful time. They especially enjoyed Club Hal and the pool. No one seemed annoyed by them and I don't think they got in anyone's way.
Definitely, I think you described the experience well. Shows every cruise line offers something different
Every line caters to a slightly different demographic population. Just as Carnival guests wouldn't be happy on HAL, I don't want to be on a Carnival ship.
We Luv HAL, new cruise is 24-day Baja & Hawaiian Circle in January 2024. Thank you for all the information💗
Are you on the early January cruise or the January 30th cruise?
Will be on the latter one.
I enjoyed this video as we haven’t cruised on HAL in several years due to Covid, and we wanted to try some more luxury cruise lines. Some were worth the experience because of the itinerary and service, but, alas, we are returning to HAL and going on a Hawaiian cruise in January 2024. We’re 5 star members and the perks are worth it. We paid several thousand dollars more for the so-called premium ships and were terribly disappointed with the service, food, room size, knowledgeable front desk help, and overworked, unhappy crew, from running out of supplies, etc. There have been so many obvious cutbacks, that we are returning to HAL. We’ve been cruising for over 20 years, and since Covid the cruising experience has changed. You pay more for less. Thank you for the HAL update. Sandra
That’s very interesting. It’s true unfortunately we see cutbacks everywhere, but HAL is still a lovely experience
Also taking the 1-30-24 out of San Diego. Should be a relaxing voyage. Cheers
We especially like all the sea days on this cruise. It couldn’t be more relaxing 😎 . Bon voyage
Cruised Norway and Denmark in July 2023 on HA Nieuw Statendam in a Neptune Suite. Beautiful marble bathroom larger than mine at home! Loved the access to Orange Club and the private lounge. One thing not well known is the men’s and women’s saunas near the spa area. The doors are pocket doors and appear as if they are part of the spa where you pay extra but they are not! I learned this from another cruise video I watched before we took our cruise. And there was no mention anywhere on the tv or signage indicating this feature. I only found it due to watching the video. Probably why it wasn’t busy with people! Very quiet area to relax.
Your review was right on the money. We are heading out in October on our 5th HA Pinnacle class cruise in 2 years. It’s a great cruise line for us, we are in our 60’s. we have had Club Orange on the last 4 and it’s well worth the cost. The only correction I would make is the laundry service cost $69 until you get to level 3 mariner. It’s $49 after that. Keep the great reviews coming.
Ahhhh thanks for the correction
I booked Club Orange for a cruise on the Rotterdam next year, I would love to hear you thought on Club Orange dinning, I have not seen much online. The upgrade is an amazing value in it self, but I would like to know what to expect.
@@Tom-pw2ni it’s a really good value, we have been on Holland America 4 times since Dec 2021, and have 3 more booked starting next month. Each time we book Club Orange. To start with we pay for a obstructed balcony and get upgraded to a unobstructed is it same room for free. You get priority boarding and have your own private line at guest services no so long line to wait in, but the dining is best feature. On Pinnacle class ships you get a separate more intimate dining room for breakfast and dinner. You just walk in and get seated no waiting around. They restrict the number of people per cruise that can purchase this option so it’s not over crowded. Most of the menu is the same as the main dining room with a few extra items not found there. Also, if you want something not on the menu that night they will get it for you. I like French onion soup and even though it was not offered every night our waiting got it for me everyday and the same with my wife
@@rh4267 Thank you so much! This is very helpful.
Club Orange. We were on Koningsdam May 7-14, 2022. We had an aft Neptune suite (we we could only afford due to FCC from a 2021 cruise that was cancelled due to covid). That suite gave us access to Club Orange. We at breakfast there twice and enjoyed it and the mimosas. We really loved the crows nest. We spent a lot of time there on the first Sea day just sitting and watching the ocean go by. We also put a puzzle together. We did traditional dining early seating and loved it. Our waiters were exceptional. This was my first cruise ever and loved it. I would go back on a HAL ship again.
They also give you $100 onboard credit if you're a healthcare professional.
My Husband and I are both retired physicians in our 70’s and are scheduled to go on a 10 day cruise to Alaska on HAL in August 2024. Would we also qualify for this onboard credit?
I've done seven cruises with Holland America Line, the most recent in 2022. Based on my experience, your comments on Holland America are dead on.
Hi Ilana! i'm new to your channel and have been binge watching your videos, really enjoying my time, it makes me daydream! I'm considering surprising my Mom with a first time, once in a lifetime type cruise after the passing of my dad but the problem is that we're not wealthy, at all. I'd like to surprise her with a Caribbean cruise in February, what cruise line would you suggest? Also i'm from Montreal like you, what travel agency would you recommend? Thanks for taking the time!
Welcome! There are a couple of great options (you don’t need to be wealthy & there are ways to get the value you’re looking for). Please send me an email lifewellcruised@gmail.com for a local recommendation
Club Orange also gets you to the front of the line for open seating dining.
👏👏
We cruised Alaska with Neiuw Amsterdam in June. For most shore excursions we generally did not need to show the e-ticket, they had clipboards with our names and wanted to see our room key (we did need the e-ticket for the Lumberjack show), but definitely good advice to screenshot it. Be sure to find out where the ramp will be for shore excursions and look at the ship map, they assured us there would be signs, but we found them to not always be changed from the day before, and we had to guess which deck to start from. We got some extra steps in a couple of days.
The Crow's Nest is well worth the trip, one of our favorite places on board. Where else can you sit in a $6000 leather chair (the ones overlooking the bow)? It was surprisingly quiet even when it was packed for a talk with the naturalists. There were many games to play, and many types of seating....tables, different types of comfy chairs, the leather chairs with ottomans, and even a couple sectional sofas. They added additional nicer folding chairs for during popular talks. The coffee there was quite good (I love the iced), and they keep the line moving quickly. (They also have a bar there.)
The menus work on the app before your trip, and it's fun to watch them the week before yours to get an idea of what will be served....we did some Googling to be prepared regarding dishes we weren't familiar with. The Dive In burgers and fries and the NY Pizza and salads were amazing if you want something hot and quick. While the Lido stations did have the dishes listed on a displayed menu, the individual dishes are not labeled, so you need to ask if you want something specific, otherwise there was a lot of pointing (and I often just asked for a small sample of everything 'not spicy' at the Asian station). Be sure to watch, there are some custom things you can have, especially for breakfast there are fresh crepes and you can have eggs made your way. The buffet is mostly staff served, but there are bowls of fruit (our favorite....perfectly ripe melons and pineapple all week, plus often grapes, papaya, and mango), plus desserts, breads, and a few other things were self-serve. Beverages could be self-serve, the servers have water, coffee, and lemonade....and can run out to the bar to get you a soda or other beverage....we got that ourselves before we came in, the Lido servers work hard enough. If you see a dessert you want on the Lido, be sure to grab it right away. We never saw the 'famous bread pudding', and a few times I had planned to go back for something and it was gone, or we went to dinner later and something on the dessert menu wasn't there at all. Many of the items that were to be served in the main dining room were also available on the Lido, so we ended up eating there the most since we could try more things and rush or linger as we wished. We also very much enjoyed the fruit smoothies....available pretty much at any bar. Ironically, we found the volume level at the Lido to be less than the main dining room, and we enjoyed the views from the large windows, there's seating on both sides of the ship, and even if you can't grab a popular window table, you can see plenty, and benefit from many many eyes looking for whales! ;)
For Alaska, while we did very much enjoy having our own balcony, if you need to save money you will still have a wonderful experience with even an inside cabin. They open the bow for certain viewing times, the aft pool deck is open all the time, and there's the promenade deck to be outside. Inside, there are many opportunities to snag a window seat in the many public areas, which we did at times as the ship turned, making the action on the other side of the ship from our cabin. We saw more wildlife on our way to a show, walking the public areas of the ship, than from our balcony.
You’re just full of good tidbits. 😊
I’ve sailed HAL many times - but never stumbled across being able to see the daily menus during the week-before cruise on the app. Will try that the week before my next HAL cruise in DEC. Tks!
We took our first HAL Alaska cruise out of Seattle on the Westerdam and we had an awesome time, both on the ship and on the excursions. The food was so delicious and we really enjoyed the main dining room the best. The Crow's Nest was our fave spot on sea days as were able to have a great time playing cards with our friends while watching the beautiful scenery. We also loved the
Navigator app for checking in with those friends, looking at menus and checking activity/show schedules. We had more fun in the Rolling Stone Lounge nearly every night as the live band was the best. Your cruise videos really prepared us for our trip and send you a huge "thank you." Your information was invaluable. Now planning our next adventure with Holland America.
Fantastic Review! Thank you for sharing!!!
Thanks for watching! 😊
Another nice option. If you have club, orange is at guest services, there is a designated line for club orange guess that can save a lot of time standing in line if it’s crowded.
My first HAL cruise is in December and I can't wait! This video just reiterates why I think HAL will be one of my favorite cruise lines going forward. Q1: Can the discounts be combined - AARP, CCL Stockholder and any Mariner level savings? Thanks for mentioning these! As a solo cruiser going forward, I need to save $$ wherever I can. (I don't like the solo cabins though, so I find other ways to save - lol)
That’s awesome! I believe they are combinable, but check with a TA or HAL to be sure :)
@LifeWellCruised This Video was quite a help. I have booked my 1st ever cruise and will be going on the Eurodam next year to Alaska. I am also a solo traveler and I am hoping I can still use my AARP to get onboard credit even though I have already booked the cruise......What is your experience with this? Thank you.
we applied for the vet & the stock credits but didn't know about the AARP...we did get both.
We took our son and his best friend on a cruise with us. They spent more time at the Lido Buffett, they had a blast on the cruise.
In 2015 we sailed on the Veendam on a 35-day round transatlantic trip from Boston to Norway and back. On that trip the demographic average age was 82. As we disembarked, we received a summary sheet that told us how far we had traveled and a few other things. One was the demographic.
Wow!! Cool to know
Too old for us
I think you'll find that in any 30-day plus cruise. Not many successful working people can afford to be away that long and still feel secure about their position. Internet while at sea, is well below what people operating in today's 5G world consider acceptable.
Early 70s average now
Hey, We are in our 80s, active, and enjoy a good time, too😂. What is important to us and has always been is a less raucous vibe, classic dining, excellent quality in every aspect of the ship, and a relaxed environment. We never have liked the 'party boats size ships (been on a couple), not for us at any age.😊
I did not know about Club Orange! Thanks for the tip
👏👏
Great review. The only thing I would add is you have to register AARP membership with HAL 2 days BEFORE booking the cruise to get the credit.
The pinnacle class ships sports deck have some exercise machines out in the sunshine with beautiful views. So you can exercise in the fresh air and sun shine.
Thanks for sharing that info 👏
I just booked a 2/2025 and had AARP added two days later….TA will send you a link, received 200$ in 10 minutes, I wish they would be that quick with the stock OBC.
I was told by a HAL rep that the AARP onboard credit is for new bookings only. We are out of luck on our upcoming cruise with them.
Club Orange is super nice and worth the extra. We tried it and book it every time now!
Is this Cruise Line African-American friendly
Absolutely
Thanks
Yes! We loved it! Going again October 2023. There aren’t many African Americans on HAL but we enjoyed it. It’s a Premium Cruise line a little more pricier than others.
I didn’t know about Club Orange before I booked for the cabin upgrade.
I just found out how good it is recently :)
Veteran cruisers, this October we’re taking our first HAL cruise on the Noordam, a
48-day cruise from San Diego to Auckland. This will also be our longest cruise ever. We are really getting excited as the time draws nearer. I appreciated everything you shared in your video as it will help us prepare. Any additional information on the Noordam and long cruises would be appreciated. Finally, where can we learn more about benefits for AARP members, veterans, and any other promotions? Thank you so much!
We just did a 31-day S America cruise last March. I would definitely check into laundry service. Pack less! It was so convenient! Relax on sea days as much as possible. Try to do as much as you can at ports! Noordam does not have pizza place or Dutch Cafe or movies at the pool. Beautiful ship! Have fun
We're going on our first Holland America cruise over our 30th wedding anniversary. We're very excited!
We always book Neptune Suites, which include Club Orange Membership. 🧡 our Club Orange benefits, as well as the Neptune Suite benefits. Highly recommend! (We're ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mariners.)
Please comment on HA removing The Lincoln Center music venue. We understand there is no longer classical music offered on HA ships. If that's true, we will be soooo disappointed.
HAL was my first cruise. My Mom and Dads 50th anniversary in 1996. I was Hooked. I love their ships.. Nieuw Amsterdam was my first ship, 1,200 passengers. Did a full circle HAL on the new Nieuw Amsterdam. She was a bit larger, 2,000 -3,000… but still a wonderful cruise. My favorite cruise line.
found out that you can collect pins from different destinations from trivia games if you win.
My husband and I are leaving this Sunday for Alaska on Holland America. We are really looking forward to it.
Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Thank you for all your wonderful advise. You are awesome.
We love HAL, it is our go to cruiseline. We have tried others but always seem to go back to HAL. Love the smaller ships, food is excellent and the staff is amazing. It’s a classy cruiseline and very relaxing. We always book the spa package and I think that is my favourite part of the cruise.
Heading on my first cruise around Japan next month on board the Westerdam, thank you for the informative video
Thanks. Heading out thru Panama Canal for 17 days in Nov. Looking forward to it immensely.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING CLUB ORANGE AND MORE ON MY FIRST HAL TRIP SOON
We've sailed on Holland America, trips for the last 3 years. The Club Orange is worth every penny. The pinnacle ships are the best. So much more to do on them . Have the best time ever.