New Menu for Mariners Brunch

[Krazy Kruizers]

Many years ago HAL actually served the 'real' Dover Sole...also known as 'common' sole or Solea solea...which is imported from Europe and expensive. U likely remember it!

What has been served since that time until they did away with it and have now brought back, is what the Americans/Canadians call Dover Sole, is Microstomus Pacificus from the NorthEast Pacific region and is a lot cheaper..Both types are flatfish (flounder)..

 

I and I'll bet u also, wld prefer the tastier Solea solea but most folks wouldn't know the difference..:)

 

So many things aren't what they used to be on cruises including 'moi' - mores the pity :) and I so agree with u regarding the mariners brunch!! :(

 

HAL - please bring back the cocktail party - much more enjoyable IMO also, if for no other reason than u were free to move around and meet lots of folks..At a luncheon u can only converse with those u sit with..

 

Have happy cruisin'! :)

 

We loved the Solea solea -- gosh that was so long ago.

I also wish we would go back to the original cocktail parties -- very nice affairs -- and yes we did get to talk to more people at them.

I actually started a thread about this some time ago.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1191325&highlight=

[Infi]

Thanks for posting the new menu. From everyones' comments, I take it the old menu had been used for quite awhile, so the change must be welcome. I actually enjoyed the other menu's offerings, so hopefully this one will be just as good.

 

At our one experience with the Mariner's Brunch, it seemed awfully disorganized. Everyone stood at the doors, waiting for the MDR to open. When the doors opened, there was a giant cattle call as everyone rushed in and was told to take any table that was open. Some people would take large tables and refuse to share them - i.e. 3 people at a table for 8. :rolleyes: No assigned seating and very messy and unprofessional, IMHO. I can live without assigned seating, but there must be a better way to organize people than that. I've read the discussion re: the assigned tables, but I hope what we experienced doesn't happen on every cruise.

[GmaPajama]

... At our one experience with the Mariner's Brunch, it seemed awfully disorganized. Everyone stood at the doors, waiting for the MDR to open. When the doors opened, there was a giant cattle call as everyone rushed in and was told to take any table that was open. Some people would take large tables and refuse to share them - i.e. 3 people at a table for 8. :rolleyes: No assigned seating and very messy and unprofessional, IMHO. I can live without assigned seating, but there must be a better way to organize people than that. I've read the discussion re: the assigned tables, but I hope what we experienced doesn't happen on every cruise.

I'm so sorry you had that experience, and can't imagine why it happened. We don't attend the Mariner's Lunch every time, but when we do - the line has moved quickly and folks have been personally escorted to a seat. We'll definitely catch the next one, as I'm excited about the new menu - Thanks for posting it, Sail.

[Maxine]

Thanks for posting the new menu. From everyones' comments, I take it the old menu had been used for quite awhile, so the change must be welcome. I actually enjoyed the other menu's offerings, so hopefully this one will be just as good.

 

At our one experience with the Mariner's Brunch, it seemed awfully disorganized. Everyone stood at the doors, waiting for the MDR to open. When the doors opened, there was a giant cattle call as everyone rushed in and was told to take any table that was open. Some people would take large tables and refuse to share them - i.e. 3 people at a table for 8. :rolleyes: No assigned seating and very messy and unprofessional, IMHO. I can live without assigned seating, but there must be a better way to organize people than that. I've read the discussion re: the assigned tables, but I hope what we experienced doesn't happen on every cruise.

 

 

We have been escorted to a seat on the last two Noordam cruises at the Mariners' Brunch.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for posting the new menu. From everyones' comments, I take it the old menu had been used for quite awhile, so the change must be welcome. I actually enjoyed the other menu's offerings, so hopefully this one will be just as good.

 

At our one experience with the Mariner's Brunch, it seemed awfully disorganized. Everyone stood at the doors, waiting for the MDR to open. When the doors opened, there was a giant cattle call as everyone rushed in and was told to take any table that was open. Some people would take large tables and refuse to share them - i.e. 3 people at a table for 8. :rolleyes: No assigned seating and very messy and unprofessional, IMHO. I can live without assigned seating, but there must be a better way to organize people than that. I've read the discussion re: the assigned tables, but I hope what we experienced doesn't happen on every cruise.

 

I can understand what you are saying about the cattle call.

As a rule there are assigned tables for those holding medals -- used to be tables for 100 day medal holders, 300 day, 500 day and a table for those over 700 days.

But we have had experiences with people just rushing in and sitting at the reserved when they are not suppose to -- and no stops them.

[canadarocks]

Is there a mariner's embarkation lunch on each ship and on every cruise?

[SwissMyst]

Is there a mariner's embarkation lunch on each ship and on every cruise?

 

Two different things: One is access to the MDR for Mariners Club members on embarkation day for lunch instead of going to the Lido. The second is a special event luncheon on a sea day for Mariner Club members that give awards to the top level cruisers.

 

Not all ships yet have offered the embarkation lunch so you do need to tell the welcoming staff this is where you would like to go, if you board around lunch time, because they automatically guide new passengers up to the Lido buffet until cabins are ready later.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

Yay! Finally a Vegetarian option! Now attending the brunch is at least an option.

We will actually attend on our next cruise. Good to see HAL is listening.

[ariawoman]

Here's a related question - the Mariners Embarkation lunch..is that always the day you board? Reason I ask is we board on 10/6 but don't leave port until 10/7, so would the mariners lunch be the day we set foot on board, or the day we leave port? Just curious :-) If it's the day we arrive we'll prob miss it, as we dont land in venice until 11am or so. :( Either way, I'll be on vacation, so I don't care much :-)

[bepsf]

Before MCD, we never would miss last night in the dining room. Now, we are never present last night. We feel a little cheated that we have to opt out of being at our table with the dining team that has worked so hard to please us because we cannot abide the 'flying salad bowl' extravaganza. We miss the specialness we always enjoyed with last night and 'the goodbye song.'

 

 

Must agree - Last nite in the MDR is the worst night due to the Baked Alaska/MCD.

Perfect night for Pinnacle.

Love the new Mariner's Luncheon menu - Looking forward to it!

[KirkNC]

On our recent Maasdam cruises, we found they are serving a new menu at Mariners Brunch.

 

A few folks asked about it so here it is:

 

Appetizer

 

Warm Salmon, Spinach and Romaine Lettuce Salad - with chickpeas and tomato, drizzled with orange-olive oil dressing

 

Apple and Pear Gazpacho with Passion Fruit Sorbet

 

 

 

Entrees

 

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Roasted Garlic Cloves - Slowly cooked in a rich gravy, served over classic mashed potato and baby corrots with chives

 

or

 

Butter Basted Pacific Sole Fillet with Leeks - With a timbale of golden yellow rice and roasted basil flavored cherry tomatoes

 

or

 

Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche - Served with orzo pasta sauteed spinach and grilled tomato

 

 

Dessert

 

Key Lime and White Chocolate Tart - A sweet and tart filling baked in a flaky pastry tartlet, topped with a dollop of whipped cream

 

Petits Fours, Coffee, Tea

 

The short ribs were awesome!

 

Kirk

[bcscot]

We were on the Rotterdam in July & enjoyed lunch in the dining room on embarkation day as a pleasant & restful alternative to the hectic activity in the Lido. We did NOT, however, enjoy the Mariners' Brunch. I am sure that it will vary in quality from ship to ship & day to day, as these things do, but alas, we did not enjoy ours. I had the ribs & my wife had the fish. The whole meal was mediocre & definitely did not feel 'special' in any way, like the old event in the show lounge used to. Also, when they started doing the Mariners' Brunch, they used to serve really nice wines. On this occasion, both white & red wines were very poor. No sparkling wine was offered. We probably will not go again, as this is the second of these that we have found to be poor. :rolleyes:

 

I am very glad to read that it is not only us that detest the horrible spectacle of the Master Chef's Dinner. We avoid this too! :D

 

Before anyone asks why we cruise on HAL if we don't like it, we love sailing on HAL ships, we just dislike the Mariners' Brunch & hate the MCD! ;)

 

Come on HAL. You can do better.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the Rotterdam in July & enjoyed lunch in the dining room on embarkation day as a pleasant & restful alternative to the hectic activity in the Lido. We did NOT, however, enjoy the Mariners' Brunch. I am sure that it will vary in quality from ship to ship & day to day, as these things do, but alas, we did not enjoy ours. I had the ribs & my wife had the fish. The whole meal was mediocre & definitely did not feel 'special' in any way, like the old event in the show lounge used to. Also, when they started doing the Mariners' Brunch, they used to serve really nice wines. On this occasion, both white & red wines were very poor. No sparkling wine was offered. We probably will not go again, as this is the second of these that we have found to be poor. :rolleyes:

 

I am very glad to read that it is not only us that detest the horrible spectacle of the Master Chef's Dinner. We avoid this too! :D

 

Before anyone asks why we cruise on HAL if we don't like it, we love sailing on HAL ships, we just dislike the Mariners' Brunch & hate the MCD! ;)

 

Come on HAL. You can do better.

 

Like you we have gotten to hate the Mariner's Brunch and totally avoid the Master Chef Dinner.

But we sail on HAL because of the friendly crew and larger cabins.

At our Mariner's Brunch you only had a choice of CHEAP Pol Clemente -- hate that stuff -- and barely got 1/2 glass -- no big deal -- I just mine sitting on the table. There were no refils -- the bar staff after they poured the Pol Clemente left the dining room -- no refils.

[SwissMyst]

Must agree - Last nite in the MDR is the worst night due to the Baked Alaska/MCD.

Perfect night for Pinnacle.

 

Ironic, since we tried to avoid the MCD on the Zuiderdam last June, and ended up with the worst dinner and the worst baked Alaska at the Pinnacle that night. And we didn't get to say good by and honor our wonderful MDR staff. It's a toss up what to do, except keep getting the message to HAL that maybe some MCD changes would be welcome.

[Hlitner]

We were really pleased that on our recent 42 day Prinsendam dinner they never had a MCD. Perhaps they are listening!

 

Hank

[bcscot]

We were really pleased that on our recent 42 day Prinsendam dinner they never had a MCD. Perhaps they are listening!

 

Hank

 

I think that some things are a little different on Prinsendam; a little more refined maybe. :)

[Hlitner]

I think that some things are a little different on Prinsendam; a little more refined maybe. :)

 

You go that right. We could even forgive the rust and peeling paint in our cabin, the broken reading lights over our bed, and a few other maintenance issues because that ship is a true classic that seems to attract cruisers that love to cruise. We enjoyed the passengers on that cruise more then any other cruise in years. In fact, we just booked another 41 day cruise on that ship (hope our cabin has no rust).

 

Hank

[cruisecrasy]

We loved the Solea solea -- gosh that was so long ago.

I also wish we would go back to the original cocktail parties -- very nice affairs -- and yes we did get to talk to more people at them.

I actually started a thread about this some time ago.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1191325&highlight=

 

U nailed it - the thread makes good reading. Lets hope HAL pays attention....

 

Yes, it was a wee bit ago wasn't it...:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Ironic, since we tried to avoid the MCD on the Zuiderdam last June, and ended up with the worst dinner and the worst baked Alaska at the Pinnacle that night. And we didn't get to say good by and honor our wonderful MDR staff. It's a toss up what to do, except keep getting the message to HAL that maybe some MCD changes would be welcome.

 

The nest to the last night of the cruise we inform our dining wait staff that we won't be dining there on the last night of the cruise. That is when we say our goodbyes and pass out our extra tips.

[Krazy Kruizers]

U nailed it - the thread makes good reading. Lets hope HAL pays attention....

 

Yes, it was a wee bit ago wasn't it...:)

 

Memories!!

[tamsocal]

Must agree - Last nite in the MDR is the worst night due to the Baked Alaska/MCD.

Perfect night for Pinnacle.

Love the new Mariner's Luncheon menu - Looking forward to it!

 

any thoughts on if there will be a MCD on the 5th & 12th night of our night 12 night cruise being sold as a 5night, 7 night & 12 night? trying to decide which night for Pinnacle (planning for 2-3 nights total for the cruise), ?at least one night dining in the PS

[luvcruisn']

Thank you, sail7seas, for posting the new Mariners Brunch menu. It looks good. I like the brunches, but do wish they were a little later in the day, as the menu is really for a lunch, not brunch.

[sail7seas]

I'm happy I posted it. Seems there has been a lot of interest in it.

 

Whatever party/event HAL chooses to run for Mariners, some will like it and some will not. We will always attend at least some of whatever it is that is planned.

 

[SwissMyst]

I think a lot of us like the Mariner tiles! Hope they don't change that, except for the designs. We love watching our collection grow.

[airlink diva]

Thanks for the updated menu!

I enjoy going to the brunch mainly to meet other HAL cruisers and talk about the cruise. But good food also enhance the brunch.