Hey everyone. I was just wondering if there are any Holland America lovers out there. My wife and I really enjoy Holland America. We are married with a 2 year old and one on the way...I am in my early 40's and my wife is early 30's. There doesn't seem to be alot written about HAL in the cruise chat.com. So anyone who sails on HAL please respond.

My wife and I prefer the treatment we have received on our H.A. cruises. I like them better than say Princess, however, that could be blamed on experiences on a given ship.

Any cruiseline is only as good as it's last cruise. If a younger passenger is more interested in a party atmosphere, certain lines have reputations in that category. If you are looking for 4 or 5 star service, you will sail on another line. Food is pretty subjective, and some people confuse quantity with quality.

Holland has a rep. for being favored by an older crowd, and has entertainment to match. They make it up however, in other areas.

We have had the good fortune to sail on the best that both Princess and Holland have to offer,
and in our opinion, Holland gives you the best overall bang for the buck.

This is just my opinion, I'm sure the next poster will have another favorite. That's the way it should be, as it keeps the lines competitive.

As I prefer the small-ship lines, I can't say HAL is my favorite, but my first experience on HAL this fall was delightful. I for one appreciate the entertainment, as there was nothing even PG-13 involved, and for me, the cleaner the better. Enjoyed the service too - very nice, and with a nice attitude, friendly but not in-your-face about it. Not sure how well they do for kids/teens/families, though we had a large church group aboard (families included) and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. I posted a review (Maasdam) on Cruisereviews.com if you want to check it out.
Karen