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What matters to you most when you book a cruise? Do you care about family facilities, shore excursions, Wi-Fi or simply cost?
Find out how Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line (HAL) compare to each other on multiple factors to pinpoint the brand that’s best for you.
| Feature | Celebrity | Holland America | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where does it sail to? |
|
| Both lines cover similar destinations. |
| Does it have Wi-Fi? | Yes, for a fee. | Yes, for a fee. | Both offer Wi-Fi for a fee. |
| Does it provide towels? | Yes. | Yes. | Both provide towels. |
| Contact options |
|
| Celebrity offers live chat. |
| Is it all-inclusive? | No. | No. | Neither is all inclusive. |
| How much is the deposit? | 1-6 nights: $200 7-14 nights: $400 15+ nights: $800 | Deposits range from US$350-2,900 per person. | Celebrity’s deposit policy is simpler than HAL's. |
| Does it have a gym? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have gyms. |
| Does it have hairdryers, laundry and irons? | Hairdryers are available. Laundry and ironing is charged for. | Hairdryers are available. Laundrettes are available on ms Amsterdam, Maasdam, Prinsendam, Veendam and Zaandam for a fee. | Some HAL ships have self-service ironing. |
| Does it include food? | Yes. | Yes. | Both include food. |
| Does it have casinos? | Yes. | Yes. | Both offer casinos. |
| Does it have an ATM? | Yes. | No. | Celebrity offers ATMs. |
| Does it have formal nights? | Evening Chic nights – cocktail dresses, skirts trousers or designer jeans are acceptable. | Gala nights – dressy without the need for black tie. | Both offer pared-down formal nights. |
| How much are drinks? | Beer: US$6-7 Wine: US$9-11 | Beer: US$6-7 Wine: US$9-11 | Prices are similar. |
| Is it good for families? | Yes. Kids’ clubs and family dining. | Yes. Kids’ clubs on all ships except for ms Prinsendam. | Both have family facilities. |
| Does it have child care? | Yes, for children over 12 months old. Fees apply. | Babysitting is available. Fees apply. | Both offer child care. |
| Does it have virtual balconies? | No. | No. | Neither has a virtual balcony. |
| Does it have a waterslide? | No. | No. | Neither has a waterslide. |
| Does it have a promenade? | Yes. | Yes. | Both have promenades. |
| Does it have free room service? | Yes from 6am-11pm. | Yes. | Both offer free room service. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Both lines have similar payment options. |
| Can I price match? | No. | No. | Neither price matches. |
| Does it allow for cancellations/changes? | The minimum cancellation charge is the deposit. Charges apply to some changes. | Cancellation charges of 15-100% apply. | Both have cancellation penalties. |
| How much are airport transfers to the departure port? | Fly-cruise packages include ship transfers. | Prices vary. They start at US$20. | Transfer costs vary though they are included in fly-cruise packages. |
| How much are gratuities? | US$14.50 daily per person for staterooms. You can opt out or adjust. | US$13.50 daily for staterooms. | HAL’s gratuity charges are less than Celebrity’s. |
| Has a ship ever sunk? | No. | No. | No ships have sunk in either line. |
| Book | Book your Celebrity cruise | Book your Holland America Line |
Prices for a 10-night southern Caribbean cruise stopping at the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Key West and Miami start at $1,379 per person with Celebrity Cruises.
The verdict?
In a similar-cruise comparison, Holland America Line comes out a touch more expensive than Celebrity. Some of the ports of call on HAL’s itinerary are a little less commercial than on Celebrity’s though.
Celebrity Cruises is rated as 4/5 on cruise review website Cruise Critic. Reviewers remark on the informal onboard atmosphere and inventive food offering. Holland America Line is rated as 4/5 on Cruise Critic. Reviewers talk about the relaxed onboard atmosphere and how the ships are great places to unwind.
Holland America Line offers a best-price guarantee on its EXC Tours, aka shore excursions. If you can find a better price for any tour HAL offers, before you embark on your cruise, the cruise line will refund you 110% of the difference in the form of onboard credit.
Holland America Line promotes limited-time offers on its cruises. Examples include round-trip air packages and offers that feature onboard spending money.
Celebrity Cruises runs deals like free drinks and second guests go free on selected cruises.
The verdict?
Both cruise lines tend to run limited-time deals. These are vast and varied and can include perks or discounts on packages. It's best to check on both when searching for your cruise to see what the current offering is.
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