Which cruise line comes out on top? We’re taking a deep dive into Cunard Line vs Holland America Line, two of the most iconic and best Premium Cruise Lines sailing today. We rank everything from: Dining and Cabins We reveal which cruise line is better in 2025, who offers best value for money, and which is the best fit for your next premium or luxury cruise. From entertainment, to Pricing, and ship design, to help YOU choose the best cruise. Whether a transatlantic crossing, a Caribbean voyage, or a Mediterranean cruise.
🥇We Rank & Rate:
Cruise Fare Value – what’s included, what’s not
Dining Showdown – MDR, buffet, room service, and specialty restaurants
Cabins – worn vs modern, comfort, space & design
Pools & Deck Areas – who does relaxation better?
Ship Style & Vibe – traditional vs contemporary cruising
Onboard Experience – enrichment, formality, dress codes & more
Are either the best cruise line for 2025?
This is not just a comparison — it’s a full cruise face-off, with real opinions and insider insights.
As seen on the TV series: Supercruising: Life at Sea
#cruise #cruisetips #hollandamerica
🍽️ Dining & Restaurants Featured:
Britannia Restaurant (Cunard)
Queens Grill & Princess Grill
Main Dining Room (HAL)
Club Orange
Pinnacle Grill
The Verandah (Cunard)
Rudis Sel de Mer
Tamarind
Aranya Indian (Cunard)
Aji Wa Japanese
Orange Party
Afternoon Tea
Queens Room
Ballroom
Gala Night
Formal Night
Best luxury cruise
best premium cruise
Holland America review
Cunard review
cruise comparison
Holland America food review
Cunard food review
formal nights Cunard
Buffets & Room Service compared
🚢 Ships Covered:
Cunard Line:
Queen Mary 2 (QM2)
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Victoria
Queen Anne
Holland America Line:
Rotterdam
Nieuw Statendam
Koningsdam
Eurodam
Westerdam
Oosterdam
Noordam
Zaandam
Zuiderdam
Volendam
Amsterdam
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned luxury travel enthusiast, this is the video you need before booking your next cruise!
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👇 Let us know in the comments: Which cruise line wins for you?
#CunardVsHollandAmerica
#CruiseComparison
#LuxuryCruiseReview
#CruiseTips2025
#HollandAmericaLine
#cunardcruise
Hi, welcome to Ritzy Travel Guide, my name is Bill, we are here bringing you our latest travel reviews from around the globe! We’ll be travelling right around the world on cruise ships, all inclusive resorts, tropical destinations… and the deals of the day.
In this video :
00:00 – Intro
02:58 – Their Look & Feel Comparison
06:24 – Score for Look & Feel
06:45 – Entertainment Comparison
12:39 – Score for Entertainment
13:12 – Main Dining Comparison
19:56 – Ritzy Travel Guide on Social Media
21:15 – Cunard Grills Restaurants
22:02 – Specialty Dining Comparison
28:46 – The Buffet Comparison
31:35 – Room Service Comparison
33:05 – Score For Dining
33:31 – Pools & Decks Comparison
36:57 – Score for Pools & Decks
37:18 – What’s Special & Unique for each
37:28 – Afternoon Tea
38:42 – Gala Evening / Formal Night
39:46 – Libraries & Lounges
40:32 – Staff on Holland America
41:11 – HAL Itineraries
41:45 – Orange Party
43:15 – Holland America Retreat
44:20 – Score for Unique Features
45:02 – Cabins Comparison
48:04 – Score for Cabins
48:21 – Price Comparison
50:21 – Our Final verdict
52:50 – Upcoming Videos
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ABOUT ME:
Hi, my name is Bill. The aim of this channel is to give interesting, and helpful insights into travel. We have been cruising for over 25 years, across almost every single cruise line. We do not sell vacations. The information provided in this video, and all other videos on our channel, is for general entertainment purposes only. While I strive to offer helpful travel tips and advice, I am not a professional, and the content should not be considered as professional or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional, travel, or legal advisor before making decisions related to travel, legal matters, or any specific circumstances. I am not responsible for any actions or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided in this video. Please contact your travel agent, hotel, representative, or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
40 Comments
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Finished! Haha! Thanks again Bill for the fantastic video and some take outs from previous videos from the family! Very interesting and very fair review. But you know what? I think I cannot show it to Malou… She was complaining a bit about Queen Victorias Lido, because of the lack of seafoods! I said to her: "Hey, you are on one of the best lines ever, no need to complain!"… and now my friend Bill comes around showing lobster, seafoods, gambas on Holland America! I am in a trap here! 🫣
Thanks for another very well produced video. My twin brother and I travelled on the QM1 in 67, we both remember it well, but that was it for big boats until we passed 50. Now and his wife are regular Cunard passengers while we are stalwart Hal fans. It's partly geography. He lives in UK, me in Canada. Neither of us has been on the others favourite. But your video very clearly gives us an idea what to expect if we ever jump ship. Any difference in bed quality btw? HALs are good once you've had a topper added, which they are always happy to do.
My first ship I was on was with Cunard and have been on 2 cruises with them since. I have been on 5 Holland America cruises so far, the most recent starting in Auckland and ending in Victoria BC 42 nights later. I will on the Westerdam again next year to Japan. I would have been on another Queen Elizabeth cruise but then some silly idiot at Cunard told me that I had to have an "Accessible" cabin that cost a minimum of $550 US more than the cabin that I had booked on. I don't like being treated like that, so I cancelled. She clearly was on a vendetta against scooters, even though her story was very inconsistent. One minute the rules had changed, the next the rules hadn't changed. I was then told that if I attempted to board the ship with my very light weight foldable mobility scooter, I would be denied entry. No matter that I had been on the same ship several months previous in the same sized and type of cabin, with zero issues. I get the message! They really don't want disabled people aboard, and only if they pay extra!!! Of course, that might change if they can't find enough passengers to fill their ships!
So since that happened, which my travel agent was really taken aback by, I have never been on a Cunard ship, and that will continue. Since then, I have been on 5 cruises using my mobility scooter, without incident. Shame on you, Cunard!
I am not one to be enthusiastic about Broadway type shows, so I much prefer the entertainment setups on Holland America (Koningsdam especially), along with Norwegian the last time I was on one of their ships (The Sun). I also prefer the food with HAL. In addition, the Burger joint, along with the Pizza joint on at least the Koningsdam are excellent and at no additional cost. As far as my latest cruise on the Westerdam, my cabin steward and dining room stewards were the best I have ever had over all of the cruises I have been on. HAL libraries are great as far as selection, and I really like the "leave a book, take a book" option.
As far as prices, on my QE Panama cruise, I was able to time it so that I got a cabin with zero supplement, which you could assume was due to them having difficulty filling cabins. I usually sail as a single. And due to my mobility scooter issue, they will have one less passenger from now on, since I will be choosing based on itinerary, cost and attitude towards those with mobility scooters. The cruise lines I will be considering are Holland America, Norwegian, Celebrity and Princess. Too bad, so sad for Cunard, since I used to have a loyalty for them. No more!
Another great production. Balanced and entertaining at the same time. Since both lines offer longer voyages with many sea days, I would also add daytime activities as a category. Cunard and their several Insight lectures per day may give them an edge in this category. I’ll be on QM2 again in Oct and will have my radar out for some of the concerns you have about a bit of a decline on Cunard and will report back.
Excellent comparison, thank you.
Excellent information. Thank you!
I enjoy both lines and would add Princess as similar to the others. I'd include Celebrity but they have overpriced themselves and no longer give good value. BTW, Holland's Dive-In next to the pool is fantastic and should bump up their overall buffet score.
Very informative. Thank you for all the hard work you have obviously gone to in creating this. Might I suggest however, that you put a warning on it that it should not be watched if you are hungry.
I have always thought I would hate Cunard. Thanks for confirming.
Give me Holland America over Cunard any day of the week/month/year.
And for me the music on offer is also a win for Holland America, by a country mile. A ballroom is wasted on me.
And Cunards Class status dining would just annoy me.
I really like and am happy with Holland America
Cunard every time for me, not a go kart circuit or climbing wall in sight. Although I'm not that keen on Anne sadly
Cunard is #1 although that may change once I go on Explora I in 2027.. Queen Vicky next year and I did find Homer.. The new President of Cunard is changing a lot of things to save apparently her salary is not one of them. Solo travels now have to pay the FULL price.. They will give out 1/2 bottles not the full size bottles.
I'm interested in trying the HAL Volendam which is small enough to get up to Montreal – less capacity sounds ideal to me
I understand that HAL is planing to return a classical music venue- somewhat like their former Lincoln Center concerts.
Magnificent review, as usual. I believe your insights simply couldn't be more accurate. As for myself, I love them both, each with its unique character and style. However, I consider Cunard a once-in-a-lifetime experience though I would sail with HAL once and again with no hesitation. I'm not saying one is better than the other; it's simply a personal choice.
I enjoy your videos, but seems like there are now more ads
Excellent as always.
Another excellent video 👍. I loved my Transatlantic crossing on the QM2 🤩!
I was on The Koningsdam Holland America , San Diego to Mazatlan last November . Maybe I’m a bit fussy , but I loved my balcony , I traveled solo so I was paying big $4300 . Still loved my room. All the help were from Malaysia or Philippines , very nice but smiles very insincere . I had a broken leg ( skiing) and had very little staff help. Actually they kind of tried to look away when they thought I’d need help. My other complaint was the food .i took pictures and yes I complained. One morning I ordered eggs Benny and fruit plate. I got ( no kidding) one grape , one blackberry , the thinnest slice of kiwi( could see through it) and a tiny slice of cantaloupe . I was texting that fruit plate picture to everyone I knew for a good laugh.
None of the dinners were anything special. I wasn’t expecting Michelin star restaurants because of the amount of people , but portions were ridiculously small,my friend and I were going to split a Caesar Salad , and the waiter told us that they were too small to split. Well. They were child portion, romaine leaves were white, no anchovies , and just dressing . It was a joke . I wish I could say meals were delicious , but they were just okay, or tasty be , but that’s the best compliment I could give. It went on and on……. And we did try almost all the restaurants .I had better food flying first class on American Air. They never disappoint ! But the Malaysians and Phillapino staff looked over worked , forced smiles and perfunctory service . I wrote an e mail mid week, and a person did come to apologize, but that was it , no complimentary compensation , nothing , not even a cheap bottle if Champaign or Prosecco to my room . SO ……..
That was my first and last cruise AND FOR SURE NO HOLLAND AMERICA !
QVictoria is not the Baby. She was launched before QE.
Hope to see you on Wave Awards shortlist next year as your videos outshine the rest of the crowd!
Had to stop watching. The double and triple flashes between segments nearly gave me a seizure.
Thanks Bill, I think your video reviews are terrific – entertaining and informative. We were on the Queen Victoria in June.
Afternoon tea on Cunard is at 3pm – not 3.30. It's also served in the buffet so no queueing needed if you don't mind serving yourself (tho ne tea from a teapot!)
One main difference I find is that Cunard is geared more to British style cruising. Holland America is geared more to American style cruising.
If you have cruised on both a British ship and an American ship you will understand what I mean. Whether it is food or service they are quite different. Attitude to tipping is also quite different.
Although I am British, I actually prefer the American style cruise which means I prefer Holland America.
Unfortunately for us, these two lines have ships that are way too big. We found Cunard’s “class” system and dress code to be outdated. And the last HA ship we were on…around Australia…had abysmal food. In the last few years, we’ve stuck with Viking…small ships, no children, all staterooms with verandas, no up-charges for alternative dining, spa access, 24-hour room service, and no casino. This fits our lifestyle very well.
Danke!
We love HAL for all they do right. We don’t need all night parties. This is way behind us now. So true that HAL entertainment is not up to par. We noticed this ever since cruising has opened back up since covid. Did a 14 day Panama Canal sailing from FL to San Diego and we only had 3 nights of good entertainment. Sad. Plus HAL removed lobster night. I miss that so much. HAL crews are awesome in spite of the ship’s shortcomings Sailing on a Cunard ship is a bucket list but feel I won’t fit it or like the more formal settings. Thanks for sharing.
Here is my list of ships which are better than QM2:
Thanks for reading.
Love the video! Excited for the upcoming cruise lines and the one on all 4 Cunard ships. Will we see a Viking cruise? Or maybe you’ll even go crazy and try Disney?!
I suppose the clincher is that the QM2 is an ocean liner and not a cruise liner.
Must I shlepp a tux on Holland America??
This was fabulous Bill! Thank you so much. The content and sharing of so many family moments with us felt special. I haven't yet cruised but these are my two favorite lines by style and tradition. 🎉
Thank you very much for this very interesting and informative video. And by the way, your voice and how you speak are very pleasant.
Our first cruise ever, 15 years ago, was on the QM2 and it was love at first sight. We have also tried a few other cruise lines (Princess, NCL and MSC, which was a once and never again experience), but we always come back to Cunard. Princess and NCL were okay in their own way and we had a good time on board.
Since Corona, we have unfortunately noticed that the service, not the staff, but especially the quality of the food, has declined significantly. We love the formal nights, but as former employees in the upscale restaurant industry, our focus is very much on the food on board.
As retired persons, we will have much more time to cruise from the end of this year, which we will take advantage of. We have already booked a cruise with Oceania for 2026, as the offer was simply unbeatable.
After watching your video, we will book a cruise with HAL straight away.
Thank you!
Beautiful production!
Dining: never mind the architecture and the other miscellaneous fluff which is a waste of time. Get to the food comparison expeditiously.
Been on many Holland America cruises and their BB Kings Blues Club is outstanding and is the main reason I keep going back. However their main theater (world stage) is poor, yes poor. The entertainment is substandard on the stage and probably the worse shows of any major cruise line. It's obvious HA was diverting the money away from this theater to the live music and they haven't fooled anyone. More Broadway type shows are needed immediately!
Thank you for a wonderful presentation
I think this is a very fair comparison.