Windsailer Posted July 28, 2013 #1 Share Posted July 28, 2013 OK - so I'm going to be on the Prinsendam soon. I was planning to buy a few bottles of wine in Amsterdam to take on the ship. Guess now I'll just buy two. I was looking at the Wine List for in cabin purchases. While I found a few that I mght buy, I won't now because the prices are outrageous. The Navigator's 5 wine package. I priced it out with their "list of wines you might be able to select from". HAL package is $186.25. Retail prices add up to only $60.00 at most. Nine Hats Syrah. Retail is $21.99, HAL price is $86.25. Mondavi Private Select Merlot (bottle of the barrel - pun intended - to me) Retail is $6.47 HAL is $ 52.50 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut - Retail is $29.99; HAL is $80.96. Last cruise I bought an Alice White Shiraz in the MDR. Drinkable. Cost me around $36 with the 15% service fee. Total Wines price $5.47. So I won't be buying any of HAL wines. I'll just drink my wine in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 28, 2013 #2 Share Posted July 28, 2013 There was a time when HAL had a very good wine list with reasonable prices. On one of our South American cruises, they even brought wines from the various ports onto the ship for us to buy -- 1998. But when HAL started to allow people to bring unlimited bottles of wine onto the ship -- and people were not buying much of HAL's wines -- the list started to change drastically and the prices went up. We are fortunate that we are 5 star Mariners and get the wine packages for 50% off (so can 4 star Mariners and3 star Mariners get 25% off). We bought the 5 bottle Admiral package on our last cruise and there were some nice choices on there. We are not big wine drinkers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinmike Posted July 28, 2013 #3 Share Posted July 28, 2013 . . . and you just explained in a nutshell why people are upset over the new HAL policy regarding bring-aboard wines. Lower-tiered wines purveyed at a vast mark-up while essentially not allowing non-ship wines aboard slaps some cruisers right in the face. Either allow wines to be brought aboard with a corkage fee per bottle or expand the wine list to include a much better selection of drinkable wines. Some folks value a dining experience that includes quality wine just as they might enjoy socializing with friends in their rooms with a quality glass. . . . and we're willing to pay for that experience. We're just not willing to pay exorbitant prices for crap wine. It's not hard to figure out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 28, 2013 #4 Share Posted July 28, 2013 OK - so I'm going to be on the Prinsendam soon. I was planning to buy a few bottles of wine in Amsterdam to take on the ship. Guess now I'll just buy two. I was looking at the Wine List for in cabin purchases. While I found a few that I mght buy, I won't now because the prices are outrageous. The Navigator's 5 wine package. I priced it out with their "list of wines you might be able to select from". HAL package is $186.25. Retail prices add up to only $60.00 at most. Nine Hats Syrah. Retail is $21.99, HAL price is $86.25. Mondavi Private Select Merlot (bottle of the barrel - pun intended - to me) Retail is $6.47 HAL is $ 52.50 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut - Retail is $29.99; HAL is $80.96. Last cruise I bought an Alice White Shiraz in the MDR. Drinkable. Cost me around $36 with the 15% service fee. Total Wines price $5.47. So I won't be buying any of HAL wines. I'll just drink my wine in port. I agree they need a better wine list - but if you are interested - they have a red and a white - Rudi's recommended (or something like that). If memory serves they were around $35 each. I ordered a couple of those for our room and they were actually quite decent wines. Granted, you don't want to drink the same thing each night - but when I was looking and posted to ask - no one had tried them - so I thought I would share in case it was of help to you. they don't show on the MDR menu I don't think, but you can order them on line for the MDR/stateroom (and just take it if you are so inclined) and you can ask for it. Like you, I regret the current wine decision. We cruise in Europe a LOT and not to be able to bring a bottle or two on board is not pleasant. I don't want to spend my time in ports drinking - I want to explore and bring it back. I have sent my email to HAL - they can do what they want with it - and I can do what with I want with my wallet and book cruises elsewhere. Easy Love the Prinsendam - enjoy your cruise (pretty sure they would let you bring a single bottle on in ports - I'm not comfortable doing it - but go ahead and try - what's the worst that can happen?);) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windsailer Posted July 28, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Kazu, the worse that can happen is that my wine is confiscated, I don't get to drink it on the ship and I have to bring it back to the states. Red wine in my suitcase? Think not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted July 28, 2013 #6 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Someone on another thread mentioned that you can order wine from room service at a reduced price. Does anyone know how reduced? It seems to me that on the Noordam in 2011, we ordered a Malbec for about $30. Also, does get a Mariner discount for such purchases or is that only on wine packages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 28, 2013 #7 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Someone on another thread mentioned that you can order wine from room service at a reduced price. Does anyone know how reduced? It seems to me that on the Noordam in 2011, we ordered a Malbec for about $30. Also, does get a Mariner discount for such purchases or is that only on wine packages? I must have ordered the wrong wine - my price wasn't reduced on room service. the Mariner discount only applies to the wine packages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted July 28, 2013 #8 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I must have ordered the wrong wine - my price wasn't reduced on room service. the Mariner discount only applies to the wine packages. I've never heard of a reduction in price of wine ordered from room service. Likely the person was confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solocanadian Posted July 28, 2013 #9 Share Posted July 28, 2013 OK - so I'm going to be on the Prinsendam soon. I was planning to buy a few bottles of wine in Amsterdam to take on the ship. Guess now I'll just buy two. I was looking at the Wine List for in cabin purchases. While I found a few that I mght buy, I won't now because the prices are outrageous. The Navigator's 5 wine package. I priced it out with their "list of wines you might be able to select from". HAL package is $186.25. Retail prices add up to only $60.00 at most. Nine Hats Syrah. Retail is $21.99, HAL price is $86.25. Mondavi Private Select Merlot (bottle of the barrel - pun intended - to me) Retail is $6.47 HAL is $ 52.50 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut - Retail is $29.99; HAL is $80.96. Last cruise I bought an Alice White Shiraz in the MDR. Drinkable. Cost me around $36 with the 15% service fee. Total Wines price $5.47. So I won't be buying any of HAL wines. I'll just drink my wine in port. These markups are outlandish. Guess I will go without wine now at dinner. The wine packages are too many bottles for me as I sail solo. How much wine do they expect one person to drink in 7 days, which is my final cruise of the year.:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted July 28, 2013 #10 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Yes they do need to improve their wine list and now with the change in their new policy maybe they will, I sure hope so and their prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted July 28, 2013 #11 Share Posted July 28, 2013 I've never heard of a reduction in price of wine ordered from room service. Likely the person was confused. Or I was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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