Which HAL ship?

Since we have not ever tried HAL, and are thinking of changing that, which
one of their ships would you select if you were going to take a cruise to
Alaska and why you would take that particular ship? It has to be one that
does the inside passage with a port in Sitka so we can visit our
granddaughter, who lives there now.

--Jean

Some HAL purists will not agree with me, but I think most of the HAL ships
are so similar in design that it doesn't matter which one I'm on. Some are
a little bigger than others, some have the back pool on the Lido deck and
some have it on the Navigation Deck, some have a few more penthouse suites
than others. But for most the layout of the interior public spaces and the
cabins are pretty similar; the most noticeable differences are only in
decor. The exceptions are the older, smaller Noordam, which doesn't do
Alaska, and the newest HAL ships, the Oosterdam (which does Alaska) and the
Zuiderdam (which doesn't). If it were me, I would pick based on itinerary,
sailing dates and price rather than by ship.

Have a great cruise, whatever you choose.

Joanne


"Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@> wrote in message
news:1HLzb.7536$UT.3638795356@newssvr30.news.prodi gy.com...
> Since we have not ever tried HAL, and are thinking of changing that, which
> one of their ships would you select if you were going to take a cruise to
> Alaska and why you would take that particular ship? It has to be one that
> does the inside passage with a port in Sitka so we can visit our
> granddaughter, who lives there now.
>
> --Jean
>
>

Joanne G. wrote:
> Some HAL purists will not agree with me, but I think most of the HAL ships
> are so similar in design that it doesn't matter which one I'm on. Some are
> a little bigger than others, some have the back pool on the Lido deck and
> some have it on the Navigation Deck, some have a few more penthouse suites
> than others. But for most the layout of the interior public spaces and the
> cabins are pretty similar; the most noticeable differences are only in
> decor. The exceptions are the older, smaller Noordam, which doesn't do
> Alaska, and the newest HAL ships, the Oosterdam (which does Alaska) and the
> Zuiderdam (which doesn't). If it were me, I would pick based on itinerary,
> sailing dates and price rather than by ship.
>


I absolutely agree with you. The Statendam ships and the Statendam-based
Rotterdam and Volendam class ships are very, very similar. The different
ships are those that Joanne states with the addition of the Prinsendam.
I don't know if the Prinsendam does Alaska.

Ben S.



> Have a great cruise, whatever you choose.
>
> Joanne
>
>
> "Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@> wrote in message
> news:1HLzb.7536$UT.3638795356@newssvr30.news.prodi gy.com...
>
>>Since we have not ever tried HAL, and are thinking of changing that, which
>>one of their ships would you select if you were going to take a cruise to
>>Alaska and why you would take that particular ship? It has to be one that
>>does the inside passage with a port in Sitka so we can visit our
>>granddaughter, who lives there now.
>>
>>--Jean
>>
>>
>
>
>

Then certainly make your choice based on route. HAL is an excellent line with
supurb service. Be certain to factor in big bucks for touring- just excellent
selections. I never book any ship excursions and always direct with the
venders.

You can do your own shore excursion in Juneau by taking the city bus to the
stop about a mile and a half from the Mendenhall glacier face. The walk is
pleasant along a paved sidewalk and you can visit the face of the Glacier
and visitor center at your leisure. The city bus runs about every half
hour, but just ask one of the bus drivers as they are quite friendly. Total
cost will be about $2.50 pp round trip.

"Joanne G." <joanneg1@charter.net> wrote in
news:vsvjf2l68v5ia2@corp.supernews.com:

> Some HAL purists will not agree with me, but I think most of the HAL
> ships are so similar in design that it doesn't matter which one I'm
> on. Some are a little bigger than others, some have the back pool on
> the Lido deck and some have it on the Navigation Deck, some have a few
> more penthouse suites than others. But for most the layout of the
> interior public spaces and the cabins are pretty similar; the most
> noticeable differences are only in decor. The exceptions are the
> older, smaller Noordam, which doesn't do Alaska, and the newest HAL
> ships, the Oosterdam (which does Alaska) and the Zuiderdam (which
> doesn't). If it were me, I would pick based on itinerary, sailing
> dates and price rather than by ship.
>
> Have a great cruise, whatever you choose.
>
> Joanne
>
>
> "Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@> wrote in message
> news:1HLzb.7536$UT.3638795356@newssvr30.news.prodi gy.com...
>> Since we have not ever tried HAL, and are thinking of changing that,
>> which one of their ships would you select if you were going to take a
>> cruise to Alaska and why you would take that particular ship? It has
>> to be one that does the inside passage with a port in Sitka so we can
>> visit our granddaughter, who lives there now.
>>
>> --Jean
The OOsterdam is really nice. Just back from the 3 day pre and I loved
the ship, food is so much better than it used to be that It was truly
amazzing, review to follow

jc

"Joanne G." <joanneg1@charter.net> wrote in message
news:vsvjf2l68v5ia2@corp.supernews.com...
> Have a great cruise, whatever you choose.
>
> Joanne

Thanks to Joanne and all who answered my query~~I guess I will have to
choose the Hal ship that goes to Glacier Bay, Sitka and Ketchikan if they
are all pretty similar.

--Jean