Cruise Talk: Holland America v. Princess

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Lines » Holland America v. Princess - Alaska Cruise

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Topic: Holland America v. Princess - Alaska Cruise

kbk
Just Boarded
Member # 641

posted 02-03-1999 10:56 PM

My parents are taking their first cruise - destination Alaska. They are unsure of which cruise line to take - Holland America or Princess. It would be the Crown Princess or Sun Princess on the Princess line or the Statendam on Holland America. Any info on these ships or cruise lines would be greatly appreciated!

Posts: 2 | From: The Woodlands, Texas, USA | Registered: Feb 99

lauri
First Class Passenger
Member # 663

posted 02-04-1999 12:38 AM

Read Travel Page's favorite cruise
section.....and you will see the MS
Statendam Alaska inside passage as one
of their favs!
I have not been on it but hoping to go
this summer in Alaska as well.

I think your parents would love Holland America, they are known for
class and appeal to a slghtly older
crowd. I'm in my thirties, and one of
my best friends swears by them.

Also pull up Fielding's web page and
read their reviews also.

I am going to see 3 Princess ships
this weekend. The Regal, which is a
little older and that is the Crown's
sister ship. Also will tour the Grand
Princess, and the Sea Princess and
have lunch on board. I'll let you know
how it goes.

Princess competes head to head with
HAL in Alaska. They are both good
lines, but I would lean towards HAL
for your folks to have a classy time.

P.S. Rent The movie "OUT TO SEA"
with Lemmon & Mattheau it was filmed
on HAL's Westerdam!
Hope this helps....lauri

Posts: 13 | Registered: Feb 99

edward v
First Class Passenger
Member # 565

posted 02-04-1999 11:39 AM

A slightly different opinion - HAL does cater to the older crowd, so if your folks are in the upper 60s or above, I would say go with them. HAL is really oriented to the bingo set. Princess does provide better and more imaginative food/service. The land tours for both are contracted out so that's a tossup. If your folks are travel experienced, I'ld seriously suggest having them do direct bookings of their tours - better prices and more personalized interest based.

Posts: 10 | From: Overland, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 99

Bobby G
First Class Passenger
Member # 49

posted 02-05-1999 05:21 PM

My wife and I are in our mid 60's and we traveled to Alaska with Princess in July 97. We took the 6 day land tour and then the 7 day cruise from Seward to Vancouver. First and LAST trip with Princess.

Lucky we had our personal preprinted itinerary from Princess or I don't know where we would have ended.

When we arrived in Anchorage airport there were Princess representatives there but they did not expect us. When the people they were expecting received their luggage they were ready to go and we about had to beg them to wait for our luggage.

When we arrived at the hotel they did not have a room for us but they did find one after a reasonable time. Likewise there were no tickets for the train, no reservations at hotel in Denali, train to Fairbanks and no reservations at the hotel in Fairbanks. There were representatives in all three hotels but none would take the initiative to correct the error. We were told to check in at the desk tomorrow or at the next hotel. We spent so much time checking, and getting the run arround that it put a damper on the whole tour wondering if we would get to the next stop.

We did make it to all of the events but with the time we spent checking I felt I did not get my moneys worth.

We flew back to Anchorage, boarded the Crown Princess and enjoyed the cruise portion of the trip. We have been on 7 cruises and it seems the food was better on the other lines. Their lobster left a lot to be desired.

We corrosponded with Princess numerous time and all we received was very weak responses.

During 1997 we also cruised on the Westerdam and we probably enjoyed all aspects of this ship over all the others.

From my experience I would recommend Holland American.

Posts: 36 | From: SC | Registered: Feb 99

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 02-05-1999 07:52 PM

Sounds like another vote for Holland America. As per my review on this site, HAL knows how to take care of their passengers.

Also, if you do rent "Out to Sea" be careful - many of the interior shots were actually filmed on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. You're not going to find interiors like that on any of today's ships.

Joe

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago!

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-09-1999 10:24 AM

You might want to also consider 'Celbrity Cruises' (Mercury or Galaxy)? You may find their prices a little cheaper than HAL? Their food is always rated as excellent. I cruised Alaska with them last year - very nice!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!

Joe at PwC
First Class Passenger
Member # 225

posted 02-09-1999 04:23 PM

One other point about "Out to Sea": at times, the movie has the unfortunate tendency to make the crew look tyrannical. Although I can't speak from experience with HAL, I can bet this is surely not the case.

Posts: 385 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!

Kathleen
Just Boarded
Member # 252

posted 02-13-1999 12:18 PM

Holland America by all means. Yoy never have to struggle and do the work of ground representatives. I brought my parents on the Maasdam for their 50th anniversary, they had cruised before but were absolutely thrilled with the class of service and attention on that line. I am in my fourties and don't feel out of place on HAL ships at all. Bear in mind it isn't a party ship but it has something for everyone from disco to string music. They are also the best cruise line do deal with illness or medical emergencies although they would not advertise it for obvious reasons. Their port staff in Alaska is well trained for emergency situations. We had to evacuate the ship when my father had a heart attack and their professionalism and follow up attention in port was outstanding.
Go for it. Their quality of service is tops.

Posts: 1 | Registered: Feb 99

Ralph
Just Boarded
Member # 388

posted 03-20-1999 05:22 PM

My wife and I sailed to Alaska last June aboard the Sun Princess. It was our first cruise. Everything went like clockwork for us and we were extremely pleased with the entire experience. Princess does provide you with an "upscale experience." The Sun Princess is a gorgeous ship and never felt crowded. I understand that the Crown and Regal have less outside "rail space" to view the scenery (as they have no outside promenade deck). We would sail with Princess again in a second. I really think you'll run into people who have had good and bad experiences on any line. Check out other passenger comments on cruiseopinion.com - it is very helpful!

Posts: 4 | Registered: Mar 99

CB
First Class Passenger
Member # 58

posted 03-25-1999 12:21 PM

I just returned from a 10 day Southern Caribbean cruise on the Ryndam which is a sister to the Statendam. One word describes Holland America..."Class." Your parents will enjoy the ambience of this midsize ship(maximum of 1266 passengers). Food and service was excellent.
I am trying Princess for the first time on my next cruise, so I will find out what they are all about.

Posts: 109 | From: Arlington, TX, USA | Registered: Mar 99

Gail M Durniok
Just Boarded
Member # 160

posted 04-17-1999 11:43 PM

My mother and I sailed on the Ryndam last June on a cruise which started in Seward and ended in Vancouver. We picked a 3 day post cruise land tour which included Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle. This was a perfect vacation. The service food and entertainment on board the Ryndam were first rate. My mother is 76 yrs young and is still very active. She could probably run circles around most younger people. The crew members ask her name and remember her all week saying hello and stopping to talk to her when they saw her on deck or at one of the many activities on board. This meant a lot to her.
Our land tour was organized by Holland America/West tours was also perfect. They put us up at first class Hotels. The city tours and going to Buchart Gardens in Victoria were my favorite.
Going on Holland America was a great choice. It was a first class trip down to the last detail.

Posts: 2 | From: Norton, MA USA | Registered: Apr 99

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