Thread: Radiance Refugees

Thats such a shame (all the little places gone),but I understand it.........even here,lots of horse farms sold to make room for subdivisions and malls!

Morning everyone!

I will upload and post pictures of both ships and our trip in the next day or two. I am at work today, so not to much time.

I did really like Princess, the ship was beautiful and the cabins nice. But I like RC cabins a bit better, I think the beds are better on RC and there was just a chair no sofa in the balcony cabin. I think the food on Princess was very similar to Royal Carribean, maybe a tad better than RC. But the buffet on Princess, was the smallest most crowded hard to get thru mess I have ever seen.

On HAL, the regular balcony cabins have a little sofabed, and a huge king bed, or two twins. Along with a bathtub, fully stocked mini frig, including hard liquor, nice flat panel TV with DVD player, lighted make up mirror, and lots of storage. And I just really liked the small feel of the ship.

Susan, tell your Dad to check out the Crows nest first thing, awesome place to sit and relax and see the views of Alaska without being outside, they even have big comfy recliner chairs.

The buffet (Lido restaurant) is the biggest buffet I have seen on a ship, it is made up of lots of stations with all the different types of food, hot, cold, asian, mexican, italian, salads, you name it. I had a wonderful lamb shank for lunch, while my Mom had mexican, my sister had a burger, and my friend had soup and salad. They also have a 24 hour ice cream bar, with sundaes and waffle cones, frozen yogurt, etc... at no extra charge. I also like that they were making food to order right at the buffet, and serving you, especially at breakfast, they are making fresh pancakes, and fresh eggs, right there, not hauling in premade stuff.

The entertainment was very good, they have a piano bar right off of the casino, that had a very good gal playing and singing, everyone was singing along and yelling out requests. My Mom and sister went to the broadway type show, and said it was very good also. I can't remember what else, they had. Oh yea, a disco, didn't go there though.

The service in the dining room was very good, the food was awesome, the best scallops I have ever had! Also the coffee was really good, and they don't try to give you fake cream.

Most people were dressed very nicely for dinner.

Overall, I still think I am a RC cruiser, but I would not hesitate to book on HAL again. I did not find it stuffy, people were very friendly as was the staff.

Okay, back to work, more later......

Glad you had a good time Jen, interesting about the differences....

Welcome home to travelers...anxious to here travel tales....

Happy Monday...I was OK with TAR...happy with the final 3 so any of them were OK

Apprentice was vicious....had not watched anything but last night...got interested from Donald's comments on Fox yesterday morning.

Morning all ..........crazy Monday here with payroll....orders to do...stock to pull...It NEVER ends...just a vicious circle...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAR...hope you're enjoying it on the cruise!!!

Jen........sounds like you had a great time.....maybe we'll try HAL sometime........right now I'd go on Carnival if it'd get me on a cruise ship....

DD just booked a week at Kamp Kanakuk here in Branson for the whole family....she got a great deal and it sounds fun (even including care for the twins)....sooo that shuts me out of one week in June I'm looking at for a cruise...

I'll get one booked...I"M DETERMINED

j

HeyJen! Have you met my Dad??? The things you spoke about are just what he would want to know! He's a huge singer (was the president of the local singing group) so directing him to the singalong bar was great! He'll be so happy when I can share this with him tonight! He leaves Wed morning, so if you think of any other tidbits today or tomorrow, chime in! It makes me want to book a HAL cruise!

Originally Posted by WannaBeCruisin

HeyJen! Have you met my Dad??? The things you spoke about are just what he would want to know! He's a huge singer (was the president of the local singing group) so directing him to the singalong bar was great! He'll be so happy when I can share this with him tonight! He leaves Wed morning, so if you think of any other tidbits today or tomorrow, chime in! It makes me want to book a HAL cruise!

Esp when loyal to Royal is not what it usta be...

Originally Posted by WannaBeCruisin

HeyJen! Have you met my Dad??? The things you spoke about are just what he would want to know! He's a huge singer (was the president of the local singing group) so directing him to the singalong bar was great! He'll be so happy when I can share this with him tonight! He leaves Wed morning, so if you think of any other tidbits today or tomorrow, chime in! It makes me want to book a HAL cruise!

That's too funny! I will get the pictures uploaded tonight so you can see them.

Also KrazyKruisers here on CLF was on the whole 21 day sailing, if you have any specific questions.

One other thing I really liked on HAL was, that you could get full breakfasts in your cabin, even on the day of departure, which both Princess and RC shut down room service the last morning. They also let you stay in your cabin until your color is called to disembark.

Originally Posted by Barbee

Esp when loyal to Royal is not what it usta be...

EXACTLY! Many, many years ago my TA wanted me to try HAL, but at the time I thought they were all old-farts (can I say that on here?? ) and no entertainment, etc, so I told her to quit selling HAL to me. I figured she got a bigger kick back/ commission from them. Now maybe I was WRONG all this time!!! I still have no personal complaints for RCCL, but now will ne more open minded to shopping around for better price/itineraries than I used to!

Originally Posted by ScrapperJen

One other thing I really liked on HAL was, that you could get full breakfasts in your cabin, even on the day of departure, which both Princess and RC shut down room service the last morning. They also let you stay in your cabin until your color is called to disembark.

I am all over that one! thx!

I did notice that RC still has the best booking perks while on board. I think Princess gives you $50 obc on a 7 day cruise, and HAL gives you $35 obc on a 7 day cruise, not much of an incentive.

There was a pretty could mix of people on both cruises, there were two Weddings on the Star Princess, and lots of anniverseries etc...

I also noticed that people did seem to be dressed a bit better on HAL in the evenings.

It also seemed pretty easy to find a deck chair. A really nice teak deck chair with cushions, btw.