Where's your favorite spot on a HAL ship?

L

Lady Jag(Bobbie)

Guest
Since we've never cruised with HAL, we're wondering what places we shouldn't miss. Where is your favorite place?

:)
 
C

CruisinTex

Guest
Crow's Nest, definitely. Wrap-around windows, comfortable chairs. Great place to sit during the day and watch the scenery, read a book, have a drink, take a nap - whatever. Also great for drinks and hors d'oeuvres before dinner, or drinks and dancing after dinner. Ocean Bar is our second favorite. Actually, I guess our favorite spot is really just hanging out on our verandah with a book and bottle of champagne. Then there's the Lido for breakfast buffet, Lido Terrace Grill for burgers, great little cookies in the Java Cafe, ice cream sunday bar...oops, I better not get talking about food or I'll be looking for a mid-afternoon snack!
 
J

Judi

Guest
Crow's Nest is THE spot on HAL ships. We're not big on "stage" entertainment, so if there's someone halfway decent in the Piano Bar, we generally hang there after dinner. As CT said, the Ocean Bar is another nice place for dancing and drinks.

The Java Cafe is great for an afternoon Capuccino!

I second the notion of your own verandah, too! We spent a lot of time on ours this past May in Alaska!!!

Then again, when it comes down to it, every little nook and cranny of an HAL ship is the best place to be for me! :thumb :thumb


Let's see here....we have 69 more days till the Ryndam Sea of Cortez, 273 more days till the Rotterdam Caribbean, and 434 more days till the Rotterdam Canada/New England!!!
 
L

lougee1043

Guest
normally its the crows nest but since the upgrade God recently shined on us it was the verandah of our cabin
 
S

sail7seas

Guest
Not yet having seen Zuiderdam....can only answer in terms of the current HAL fleet.....and IMO.....every "dam" inch of every "dam" HAL ship is where I'm happy.
 
M

MarieA

Guest
I love sitting in the wicker chairs under the umbrellas at the Dolphin (?) bar - it just feels so ..... vacationy.
 
B

Bruce

Guest
Dolphin Bar at night with a cigar and a very very old Brandy. While my wife terrorizes the casino.
 
C

cruzman

Guest
I personally enjoy the aft pool deck, especially when there is a band playing "Big Band" music. I especially enjoy the sailaway parties held there.
 
S

sail7seas

Guest
Bruce....you are a man who knows how to enjoy yourself and your cruise to the fullest.
Sounds heavenly....and I have an image of you sprawled comfortably savoring every moment. :cheers
 
T

tomc

Guest
Sky Deck at night (and during the day, for that matter) or the Lido restaurant during the evening when it's quiet and I can read with an endless mug of tea at the ready.
 
E

Einstein

Guest
Gotta go with the crowd here and also say the Crows Nest. A Gr8 to share a drink with a view. :) Spreading out on a lounger on the Promenade ain't all that bad either. :thumb
 
R

rocster

Guest
Crows nest, then the sky deck during sailaways the the rear pool deck in the evenings doing what Bruce suggests!
 
J

jeanoh

Guest
S7S, I`m with you, anywhere on the ship is wonderful, but I do like an afterdinner drink along with the awesome hand made Dutch chocolates in the Explorer Lounge, also like to sneak into the piano bar for a last call night cap!.....jean
 
D

Days@Sea

Guest
You all are missing something..

The Promenade!
Nothing like a night at sea, close to the water with the stars on the horizon, and teak underfoot.

Or

During the day, with a good book, a dutch beer (it is a Dutch cruise line after all), and a true teak steamer chair.

Does anyone else miss the Rotterdam V, aka Rembrandt, a true ocean liner? Did any of you have the fortune of sailing on her?

Darrell
 
2

2m2cruz

Guest
The Crows Nest for drinks anytime and the Explorers Lounge in the evening for after dinner drinks and the string quartet music.
 
S

Shipstern

Guest
Never had the chance to sail on Holand America yet , but all you guys make the ships sound GREAT. We have two more cruises booked with Celebrity and have had extremely wonderful cruises with them but need to try a new line and that will definetly be Holland America after reading many of these posts.
All the wonderful spots on the ships mentioned make me want to go back to sea and, smell the salt air, listen to the waves, watch the stars at night, and enjoy good company and conversation. Enjoy!!!!!!!
 
M

Mariposa

Guest
I'm with TomC on the Lido restaurant idea. Actually I discovered that sanctuary one night after the Crow's Nest and casino had shut down and my Sis wanted to go to sleep but I was wide awake. I had my cruise journal with me at the time and headed up there for some iced tea since it is available 24 hrs. Well, it was so quiet, empty, and peaceful that I just sat there writing for over two hours. After that wonderful discovery I found myself heading there each evening. I just loved hanging over the railing on the aft deck and watching the wake of the ship glowing in the moonlight, or sitting out by the Lido enclosed pool area as well. I had the whole place to myself and actually fell asleep one early AM on one of the loungers as I watched the waves lapping against the sides of the pool. LOL But soon as the lightening lit up the skies around me I scampered off to the cabin. AWWW to be instantly transported back to that ship. Maybe in my dreams tonight.
 
D

debbi

Guest
I found the chairs on the lower promanade deck. Sat there after a day on an island right before we leave and always take a nap. It was the best naps I had in ages. The breeze and the rolling of the ships was wonderful.
 
Top