Hello - Please help if you have advice on this...My fiance and I are getting married and instead of a big wedding, we are taking our immediate family on a cruise. We are not getting married on the ship, but leaving the next day. The decision now is between Holland's Veendam and Royal's Legend. If anyone has sailed on either one or both please let us know your feedback/advice. They are both priced the same for the week we are going, and we are torn on which way to go. Those sailing with us range from 22 months to 81 years old. We'd be interested in comments on food, entertainment, activites, etc. Thanks so much for your help!!!!!!
I think, to appeal to such a wide range of ages and interests, you'd enjoy Royal Caribbean a bit better than Holland America. Both are good cruise lines, have children's programs, etc. but I think RCCL has a little wider appeal.
I hope, since you have such a large group to make arrangements for, that you are doing this through a cruise-oriented travel agent!! Organizing such a group is a lot of work, and you will be tearing your hair out before long - especially with wedding plans tossed into the mix - if you try this on your own. Please do yourselves a favor and let someone else handle this (with your input, of course!)
Hi Honeymooner79,
Welcome to cruise chat where you will find all kinds of opinions on anything cruise-oriented. I'll toss in my two cents - and respectfully disagree slightly with Karen. I would very strongly recommend the Veendam for your group and I believe that a professional, cruise knowledgeable travel agent will agree with me. I have sailed on the Veendam and she is a delightful ship with very good food (I'm a foodie bigot) and excellent service. Plus, given the new policies on RCI, your group would have a better time on a Holland America ship.
Thanks for your post, what new RCL policies are you referring to? We are very close to booking with RCCL, but I'd be interested in understanding what you mean. Thanks!
LIQUOR!!! This has nothing to do with bringing liquor on board which all of the lines prohibit.
On HAL you can order a setup for your cabin so that you can mix your own cocktail to enjoy before going to dinner.
RCI (because of its many problems with passengers overindulging and falling overboard) on the other hand has become quite paranoid about liquor consuption on board their ships and have setup some very stringent rules governing the use of liquor on board.
Please elaborate, Chuck - not sure what you're referring to. If it regards bringing liquor onboard ship, virtually all cruise lines consider that a no-no, as you know. Perhaps RCCL decided to start enforcing it.
My wife and I have been on both ships and enjoyed our cruises on both of them. Veendam is a quieter ship and offers little for children or younger adults who might like more active options and a livlier disco, etc. Legend has a vast range of activities on offer and I think would better suit a wide age span. In our opinion the food was very similar on both ships. We would happily cruise on either again so neither is a bad choice it's really down to what your various age groups would like to experience on a cruise.
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Cunard QE2 1984 & 1990
Carnival Fantasy 2001, Inspiration 2003, Glory 2005,
Celebrity Horizon 2004, Galaxy 2005, Summit 2006, HAL Zuiderdam 2004, Veendam 2005
Princess Star 2003, Sun 2004
P&O Oceana 2004
RCCL Nordic Empress 2002
Regal Empress 2002
RCCL Legend of the Seas Apr 2006
Saga Ru** June 2006
P&O Arcadia July 2006
Carnival Miracle Oct 2006
Booked:
RCCL Navigator Apr 2007
P&O Aurora Sep 2007
QM2 Sep 2007
Sapphire Princess Apr 2008
Chuck, please tell us where we can find those new stringent rules. Are you telling us that if we want a cruise where we can drink untill we pass out, then go HAL ?
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