Celebrity vs Holland American

The last time I have sailed on the Celebrity cruise was for my Honeymoon (Horizon) in 1997. We found the food, service, and overall cruise wonderful. I have also been on the Celebrity many years ago when it was the Chandris Line. Since my honeymoon we have sailed on Holland American (HAL) the past 4 cruises. How does the Celebrity rate in comparison. Over the years I have been on Norweigian and Royal Caribbean, but I didn't love them. HAL has been great, however, the past cruise on the Zuiderdam - 4-30-05, I was disappointed with the service in the dinning room and in the Lido. I have never heard no before from a staff member until this cruise. Please let me know.

Have been on numerous cruises on both lines and would put them at the top of the list .ASge grp a little younger on Celebrity and the food somewhat better because of outstanding pastries and wonderful sushi bar open every nite before dinner.The alternative restaurant mainly Olympic outstanding on Millennium.The champagne upon boarding nice touch along with cold towels by the pool very classy .Holland will offer the better service and you wiil feel very close to those who serve you.The hot hourdouves served in the bars a real plus.Flowers everywhere and great string music in the lounges before dinner.You will not go wrong with either and sure beats staying at home.

Thanks for the info.

[MaryLou]

Having just done HAL last week, I would say, in my opinion, Celebrity is more service oriented. The food on HAL was wonderful, no complaints there, but HAL just doesn't have the special "touches" of Celebrity.

My wife and I have sailed on both HAL and Celebrity and have enjoyed both lines. The service on the Celebrity ships is just a cut above that of HAL. The food on Celebrity is just a bit more tasty and beautifully presented. The ships of both lines are beautiful, but Celebrity is more refined. We would love to sail on either of these two lines again, and are on the Summit in September. The main point is to just enjoy the experience and the wonderful places you will visit.

Tj

Would agree on the food but servicea little better on Holland.Have taken over 7 cruiseson both lines with an assortrment of ships.on every cruise have been escorted to my room on Holland not true on Celebrity.Hot appetizers in all the bars a nice touch on Holland.Like both lines which stand above the rest without a doubt.

[nojokes314]

DH and I took our first cruise on HAL . . . and we were blown away and hooked on cruising! We then did a RCL and 2 Carnival cruises. We didn't think that the service or the food was that great on RCL but did like the open airy atrium and other common areas. Carnival was fun but again, the service and food were not what we experienced on HAL. We've booked our first Celebrity cruise in December (Zenith out of Miami for 5 days.) If it is equal to or exceeds HAL then I'm ecstatic!

I'm a repeat Celebrity cruiser sailing five cruises with them mostly on the M Class. I have never been disappointed.

But Holland has a 30-day Hawaii/Tahiti cruise that looks wonderful. Even if the service or the food is not as good as Celebrity, the itinerary makes up for it. Holland does have some unique itineraries that the other lines do not offer.

I've heard the newer Holland ships are quite nice. I guess when I run out of itineraries with Celebrity, I would try Holland.

There is always something you will like and dislike on a cruise. But my feeling is, there is no such thing as a bad cruise.

Celebrity provides a superior product. If you enjoy HAL you will certainly enjoy Celebrity. The ships are beautiful, the service is top notch, and the food is well above adverage. My wife and I have sailed on both Celebrity and HAL and have enjoyed both lines. Overall, Celebrity gets my vote as the best of the two.

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree with the previous note. I think
HAL beats Celebrity on nearly everything. Food, cabins, crew,
entertainment, and just about everything else is better on HAL.
As my brother said, Celebrity is an HAL want-to-be.

I have done 37 cruises with HAL including either full or segments of the WCs. I have done 10 cruises with Celebrity and I would go on Celebrity anytime over HAL. There is a noticeable cutting back of everything at HAL that you don't see on Celebrity and to top it off Celebrity now has Perry Grant as an on board guest entertainer, the best there is on ships!

Equal, IMO.

Joyce -

We were on Horizon in March and Zaandam in April. There was nothing on the Celebrity cruise that even came close to HAL. The people on Celebrity act like they are just there doing their job and nothing more. And I certainly have never seen a private island on Celebrity of any like, let alone the likes of Half Moon Cay.

I'll second this reply..
Better service and better sauces and taste.

[Chuck Palm]

Both lines are extremely comparable in many ways. I.M.H.O.

It depends on the ship, the crew, itinerary, and the particular cruise' client make-up