Things Being Discontinued

[Crew News]

A continuation from the previous thread, which I can't find...

 

My daughter just got off the Zuiderdam, and there was no Dessert Extravaganza, so maybe that's it, or one of the things, being discontinued. Personally, I think it's a good thing as it seems such a waste of food. She also mentioned.... no table clothes in the Lido buffet at dinner time.

 

It must be noted that on our b2b aboard the Zuiderdam May 2013 the Dessert Extravaganza was NOT on Formal Nights but rather the next evening.

 

This was different than all of our previous HAL cruises but was more appealing to those who chose to not dress up for Formal Night.

 

Refer to: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/travel-2/alaska-zuiderdam-menus-on-location/

 

Most of the items are meant for display only (present for both weeks of our cruise) with perishable items available for serving to the passengers.

[Pettifogger]

We had a dessert extravaganza on the Prinsendam in May in the MDR in the afternoon. I can't imagine that it was 'scaled down' because it seemed to take up the entire MDR.

 

At first glance, I thought it was just thousands of the little desserts one finds in the Lido most days, but then I came to the good part. There was an apricot cake with almonds so good that I've booked another Prinsendam cruise partly in the hope that I'll get it again.

[LaCat3]

We had a Dessert Extravaganza on the Prinsendam last weekend. Also, there were tableclothes on the Lido at night.

[Typhoon1]

My daughter just got off the Zuiderdam, and there was no Dessert Extravaganza, so maybe that's it, or one of the things, being discontinued. Personally, I think it's a good thing as it seems such a waste of food.

 

We wouldn't miss it. It has slowly gone downhill over the last ten years, and really was turning into a disappointment.

[lovetocruise2020]

Checked my notes from the Westerdam. It wasn't called the Dessert Extravaganza -- it was called "Tea Extravaganza as there wasn't any afternoon that day in the dining room.

You could get tea -- but many people were ordering cocktails and there was a special drink that day -- prosseco and raspberry kir -- we got those -- delicious.

[

Guess who ordered the chocolate coated glass? :D

 

Utterly completely amazing!

 

I would bite the glass!

Lets hope they still have something, otherwise be surpassed by other lines that have not nearly as much history, and are definately not as premium as HAL.

 

Looking forward to whatever the NA offers. Hopefully something nice...

[sail7seas]

Chocolate has gotten expensive -- especially dark chocolate (which is all I eat at home and take my own supply onto the ships).

 

On the old Norway (sure do miss that ship) -- they also had the chocolate extravaganza in the afternoon.

 

I agree the price of chocolate has influenced the decrease in how much real chocolate is served.

 

We have not been to a Dessert Extravaganza in many years but I am sorry if they discontinue it as many other people enjoy it. It is a tradition of cruising that will be lost and that will sadden me. As the traditions all drop away, one by one, cruising takes on new meanings, for DH and me.

 

[lovetocruise2020]

I agree the price of chocolate has influenced the decrease in how much real chocolate is served.

 

We have not been to a Dessert Extravaganza in many years but I am sorry if they discontinue it as many other people enjoy it. It is a tradition of cruising that will be lost and that will sadden me. As the traditions all drop away, one by one, cruising takes on new meanings, for DH and me.

 

 

I agree completely. You said it right. It would be very sad to lose something so important to the tradition...

RCCL does it so very well. I woke my DH (db) 9 years ago, to witness his first. I told him it was worth getting out of bed for, and for the sight alone, it certainly was.

[vjh]

This looks like the drinks on the Westerdam on Halloween 2012.

[sail7seas]

We were on Westerdam two weeks over Thanksgiving 2012 and I never saw those drinks in any of the lounges. Must have been just the Extravaganza? Or I just never noticed them.

[YubaSutter]

A continuation from the previous thread, which I can't find...

 

My daughter just got off the Zuiderdam, and there was no Dessert Extravaganza, so maybe that's it, or one of the things, being discontinued. Personally, I think it's a good thing as it seems such a waste of food. She also mentioned.... no table clothes in the Lido buffet at dinner time.

 

Woohoo, no table clothes in the lido. I can start eating dinner naked.

[msteries]

I also mourn the sad ending of the SS Norway, and watch my old video every so often. Remember those incredible crystal gemstone sculptures, and the white glove high teas?

On the old Norway (sure do miss that ship) -- they also had the chocolate extravaganza in the afternoon.

[Krazy Kruizers]

YUM.....!!!

 

Did the chocolate "pop" off.......I couldn't leave that alone.....:)

 

No -- I had to wait until the glass warmed up -- and then I licked it off.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I agree the price of chocolate has influenced the decrease in how much real chocolate is served.

 

We have not been to a Dessert Extravaganza in many years but I am sorry if they discontinue it as many other people enjoy it. It is a tradition of cruising that will be lost and that will sadden me. As the traditions all drop away, one by one, cruising takes on new meanings, for DH and me.

 

 

We loved the idea that it was in the afternoon -- but since we had early dinner -- we only had the drink and 2 small pieces of dessert each.

Neither of us are big fans of HAL's desserts.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This looks like the drinks on the Westerdam on Halloween 2012.

 

We haven't been on the Westerdam at Halloween.

But we have done quite a few repositioning cruises on her and this was the first time we had this in the afternoon with the special drinks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on Westerdam two weeks over Thanksgiving 2012 and I never saw those drinks in any of the lounges. Must have been just the Extravaganza? Or I just never noticed them.

 

It was just from 3 - 4 PM for the Tea/Dessert extravaganza -- and only in the atrium -- which included the Ocean Bar, Pinnacle Bar. I am not certain if the Atrium Bar opened for it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I also mourn the sad ending of the SS Norway, and watch my old video every so often. Remember those incredible crystal gemstone sculptures, and the white glove high teas?

On the old Norway (sure do miss that ship) -- they also had the chocolate extravaganza in the afternoon.

 

In those days NCL was a very nice cruise line -- we also had the white glove high teas on Cunard.

I think the crew on HAL wore white gloves for high tea when we first sailed on her in 1996.

[sail7seas]

In those days NCL was a very nice cruise line -- we also had the white glove high teas on Cunard.

 

I think the crew on HAL wore white gloves for high tea when we first sailed on her in 1996.

 

 

Yes, HAL crew wore white gloves for high tea during our early years of cruising HAL. The stewards also lined up on the gangway at Embarkation wearing white gloves and escorted us to our cabin. We used to suggest we didn't need the escort and tried to save them the trouble but they always 'gently insisted'. We'd tell them we'd been in the same cabin a number of times but they were so gracious about escorting us.

 

[gillybean1974]

There was no dessert extravaganza on the Amsterdam two weeks ago. Not sure why. Was no big loss to us as we had already seen it. Must be a relatively recent change, personally I think its a lot of work for the staff for something that's over so quickly and its not like they don't have enough to do as is.

[carri cruiser]

Thanks, Startwin, for doing this continuation of my original thread.

 

We had the Dessert Extravaganza on both our May-June Zaandam Alaska Collector's. Unfortunately we did not attend either, but I do know that the Salmon Bake was a poor imintation of the usual Alaska BBQ/Bake/Whatever that we are used to each year on the Alaska cruises.

 

Thanks again!

 

We were on Zaandam June 23 to AK on a collectors cruise , 14 days, I looked for the chocolate extravaganza, but never did find it!!! does anyone

know if I just missed it, or was there one??? have never made it to one yet!! maybe next time!, if it hasn't been discontinued.

[Krazy Kruizers]

In those days NCL was a very nice cruise line -- we also had the white glove high teas on Cunard.

 

I think the crew on HAL wore white gloves for high tea when we first sailed on her in 1996.

 

 

Yes, HAL crew wore white gloves for high tea during our early years of cruising HAL. The stewards also lined up on the gangway at Embarkation wearing white gloves and escorted us to our cabin. We used to suggest we didn't need the escort and tried to save them the trouble but they always 'gently insisted'. We'd tell them we'd been in the same cabin a number of times but they were so gracious about escorting us.

 

 

I remember those days when we escorted to our cabins -- if we arrived after they were ready. In early years cabins were not ready until 1 or 1:30.

[sail7seas]

sail7seas

 

Yes, HAL crew wore white gloves for high tea during our early years of cruising HAL. The stewards also lined up on the gangway at Embarkation wearing white gloves and escorted us to our cabin. We used to suggest we didn't need the escort and tried to save them the trouble but they always 'gently insisted'. We'd tell them we'd been in the same cabin a number of times but they were so gracious about escorting us.

 

 

Krazy Kruizers

 

I remember those days when we escorted to our cabins -- if we arrived after they were ready. In early years cabins were not ready until 1 or 1:30.

 

 

I remember when we used to sit upstairs in the terminal and wait to board and you are right it was usually about 1 or 1:30. But I also remember the small duty free shop they had in the terminal and people would buy bottles of liquor and cigarettes. There were a few other items and those packages were delivered to the gangway before the ship left and people either picked them up at a given location or they were brought to guest's cabin. :)

[rafinmd]

I remember when we used to sit upstairs in the terminal and wait to board and you are right it was usually about 1 or 1:30. But I also remember the small duty free shop they had in the terminal and people would buy bottles of liquor and cigarettes. There were a few other items and those packages were delivered to the gangway before the ship left and people either picked them up at a given location or they were brought to guest's cabin. :)

 

Isn't it interesting how the conversation always comes around to things that were "cut" or "discontinued". Seems like we get a chance to board early and have lunch in the MDR or lido and what we remember is that there used to be white gloved staff waiting at the gangway and it's been discontinued. While the white gloved escort may have been nice, I'm glad waiting to 1:30 to board has been discontinued.

 

Roy

[sail7seas]

Isn't it interesting how the conversation always comes around to things that were "cut" or "discontinued". Seems like we get a chance to board early and have lunch in the MDR or lido and what we remember is that there used to be white gloved staff waiting at the gangway and it's been discontinued. While the white gloved escort may have been nice, I'm glad waiting to 1:30 to board has been discontinued.

 

Roy

 

 

Roy,

 

We were merely reminiscing.

Our memories are the best part of what we have from our cruises past.

No need to make any more out of it than two people who are sharing fond memories.

 

It's so easy to misinterpret innocent comments into far more than ever intended.

 

Thanks. :)

 

[Tinknock50]

We always enjoyed the Dessert Extravaganza but, in truth the stuff always looked far better than it tasted. :rolleyes:

 

Jonathan

 

I hear ya , Jonathon. I am beginning to believe HAL ordered large drums of brown food coloring because so many "chocolate" desserts taste very little of chocolate.:rolleyes: They did LOOK yummy.:)

[cruz chic]

I hear ya , Jonathon. I am beginning to believe HAL ordered large drums of brown food coloring because so many "chocolate" desserts taste very little of chocolate.:rolleyes: They did LOOK yummy.:)

So that's why they tast bad:D;):p.