Thread: Hello from Bonnie Scotland

Originally Posted by nealberk

Margaret, welcome to the site! I am a bit surprised that you jumped from Celebrity or HAL to NCL. Totally different experience! NCL specializes in free style cruising where you can do anything at any time. Dining is totally unassigned, you chose the restaurant and time at your convenience.

HAL and Celebrity are more "old school" where you have the option of selecting your own dining OR you can go to assigned seating where you have the same people sitting with you every dinner. It gives a bit of order to what is otherwise a very unstructured day. Personally I like assigned seating better with a large table. I like to get to know the people I am cruising with a little bit more intimately than just a "hi" at the start of the meal and having to reintroduce myself to a new group of people.

HAL compared to Celebrity. Actually HAL is two cruise lines under a single name. You have the older ships (pre vista class) which are smaller, more intimate, and more European, and the new ships which are bigger and cater more to families. Both are interesting.

Celebrity is a bit more upscale than HAL with less European and more continental influences, meaning a bit less teak and a bit more fine china and chrome.
Personally I feel that Celebrity is better than HAL right now. In an effort to appeal more to the masses HAL has lost a bit of its quality.

I think I know both lines, feel free to ask questions.

I feel the same way about assigned seating. I like the relationship with the waitstaff and the tablemates.

Thank you all so much for your help [especially Neal] He has given me SO much information.
I have been hospitalised, hence my absence, but I had plenty of time to read and digest all posts. I also read trip reports elsewhere but this is where I got the most relevant information.
I have taken the majority advice and gone for a 7 day cruise. I'm going on the New Amsterdam on 2nd January to the Caribbean.
Thanks again.
Margaret

Welcome! Pull up a chair and stay a while!

Margaret- Interesting choice and a good one. That is the newest Holland America ship and she should be brand spanking new for your cruise. HAL has some interesting unique features on their ships- my favorite is their bread pudding. While not as good as it used to be, it is still very good. Also good is the food and the culinary arts performances that they give.

I have some comments on HAL on my website Holland America if you want more info. Not as much on the Noordam as the Veendam. The Noordam was a miserable cruise for us and I never felt like doing a real writeup on it.

That is a fantastic blog, full of information. There's no need to read anything else. The blog says it all.
Margaret

Enjoy your time at CLF. A very friendly group of people!!