Neptune Suite - what should we know?

[hrhdhd]

The Neptune Suites are really nice--but you can go back. We do about every third cruise in a Neptune. Generally, the cost is so much more than verandah or a Signature suite that I can't justify it, although I agree that breakfast in the Pinnacle is lovely.

[Crew News]

As a suite guest, you have the option of disembarking the ship anywhere from 7:30 to 9:30 AM. This means a leisurely Room Service breakfast on your verandah while the crowds wait in line to disembark and go through customs. Being last off the ships means shorter lines and finding your luggage so much easier.

[brazilgirl]

What is the breakfast at the Pinnacle Grill like? What is served? What time is the breakfast served til and how long does it take? ( for shore excursion planning)

Thanks!

[DaveOKC]

What is the breakfast at the Pinnacle Grill like? What is served? What time is the breakfast served til and how long does it take? ( for shore excursion planning)

Thanks!

 

The menu is the same as in the main dining room and it is open the same hours. It does take about an hour to dine. You might want to try to get a schedule for your cruise from someone who has just done the same one to get the details of MDR hours (it varies by day depending on if it is a port or sea day. Do a search for breakfast menu and I am sure you will find one on this board.

 

DaveOKC

[cruz chic]

The coffee machine in the Neptune Lounge is pretty dam good too:D

 

Laundry, dry cleaning and pressing are all complimentary for these suites.

 

Love the coffee machine

[brazilgirl]

The menu is the same as in the main dining room and it is open the same hours. It does take about an hour to dine. You might want to try to get a schedule for your cruise from someone who has just done the same one to get the details of MDR hours (it varies by day depending on if it is a port or sea day. Do a search for breakfast menu and I am sure you will find one on this board.

 

DaveOKC

 

Thanks , I appreciate it.

[bloofer]

For me, the best perk was breakfast at Pinnacle. Great atmosphere.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On the Westerdam the Pinnacle Grill has oceanviews on a number of tables - what OlsSalt was referring to was that on the older ships, Pinnacle is an interior room lacking views.

 

To add on to the list - you likely will be invited to 2 cocktail parties - one in the Neptune Lounge the first evening, the second being the Captains VIP reception on another (this is by invitation only).

 

DaveOKC

 

 

Not always -- we have over 800 days -- and do not always get invited to the VIP party.

[Typhoon1]

Do take advantage of the wonderful services offered by the NL concierges.

 

They can fulfill almost any request.

[brazilgirl]

Does anyone have the MDR breakfast menu? I did a search and couldn't locate it.

Thank you.

[Crew News]

Does anyone have the MDR breakfast menu? I did a search and couldn't locate it.

Thank you.

 

The only breakfast menu that I have is Room Service. See below.

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/?page_id=908

[brazilgirl]

Thanks for the link- we ordered from room service quite a bit in July , so pretty familiar with it :) But never made it to the MDR for breakfast so curious . Am intrigued by the PG possibility on our Alaska cruise....

[kazu]

Thanks for the link- we ordered from room service quite a bit in July , so pretty familiar with it :) But never made it to the MDR for breakfast so curious . Am intrigued by the PG possibility on our Alaska cruise....

 

I don't have the menu but here is a post that Krazy Kruizers did and I think it is still pretty accurate

 

 

Breakfast Menu:

 

Something Simple:

Cold Cereals: Cornflakes - Cheerios - Special K - Raisin Bran - Shredded Wheat - Rice Krispies - Frosted Flakes - Fruit loops - Granola - All Bran - Bran Flakes -- served with your choice of milk -- add sliced banana on request.

 

Breakfast Parfait - layers of creamy Greek yogurt, fresh berries and granola

 

Hot Cereals: Old-Fashioned Oatmeal - Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal - Cream of Wheat - Creamy Grits -- served with sliced banana, raisins, brown sugar, maple syrup, milk, or half & half on request

 

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich - scrambles egg and Cheddar cheese served on a toasted English muffin. Add sausage patty, hickory smoked bacon or ham slice on request.

 

Bagel and Lox - a freshly toasted bagel served with slices of cold smoked salmon, cream cheese, sliced onion and capers.

 

Greenhouse Spa Selections:

Cottage Cheese and Fresh Fruit - a small bowl of creamy cottage cheese lightly dusted with cinnamon, served with your choice of sliced banana, strawberries, blueberries or diced melon.

 

Swiss-Style Muesli - a mixture of low fat yogurt, fresh fruit, milk, toasted hazel-nuts, oatmeal and honey.

 

Frittata Italiana - healthy without sacrificing flavor, egg whites combined with low-fat cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, then lightly baked and served with whole grain toast.

 

 

International Classics:

All American Breakfast - two jumbo eggs, cooked to order, served with hash browns, hickory smoked bacon or sausage and toast.

 

Eggs Benedict - toasted English muffins, layered with Canadian bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

 

Eggs Royal - toasted English muffins, smoked salmon and two poached eggs with creamy hollandaise sauce.

 

Eggs Florentine - toasted English muffins, topped with sauteed spinach and two poached eggs draped with hollandaise sauce.

 

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs - home-made corned beef hash topped with two eggs cooked to order and served with a side of toast.

 

Kippered Herring - served with two scrambled eggs and smothered onions.

 

Dutch Breakfast - the Uitmijter, a classic open-faced sandwich with thick white bread, sliced ham, Gouda, and two eggs sunny side up.

 

Japanese Breakfast - hot miso soup, steamed white rice, tamagoyaki and boiled salmon served with a cup of hot green tea.

 

The Full English Breakfast - two jumbo eggs scrambled, English banger sausage, English back bacon, baked beans, hash browns and a grilled half tomato.

 

Scandinavian Breakfast - smoked salmon and pickled herring, served with hard-boiled egg and slices of dark rye bread.

 

Three Egg Omelets:

All omelets are served with hash browns and toast. Egg whites or egg substitute available on request.

 

Denver Omelet - green bell pepper, onion, ham and a mixture of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Swiss cheese.

 

Garden Vegetable Omelet - tender asparagus, sauteed spinach, diced tomato and sliced button mushrooms with creamy goat cheese.

 

Southwest Omelet - diced sweet roasted bell peppers, tomato, green onion, and Monterey Jack cheese, topped with avocado, sour cream and fresh salsa.

 

My Choice Omelet - build your own omelet with any of the following: ham, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, asparagus, Cheddar, Jack, Swiss, goat or Gruyere cheese.

 

Hot Off the Griddle:

Belgium Waffle - thick, crisp Belgium waffle topped with your choice of warm strawberries, apple-cinnamon or plum compote.

 

 

Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast - thick slices of egg bread French toast, dusted with cinnamon-sugar. Served with whipped butter and hot maple syrup.

 

Stack of Pancakes - three fluffy pancakes stacked high. your choice of buttermilk, banana or blueberry. Served with whipped butter and hot maple syrup.

 

From the Bakery: toast - English Muffin - Bagel - Roll

Baked Fresh Daily: Butter Croissant - Chocolate Croissant - Raisin Bun - Cheese Danish - Fruit Danish - Danish of the Day - Blueberry Muffin - Muffin of the Day - Coffee Cake. Served with butter, margarine, jam, jelly honey, Nutella or cream cheese on request. Fresh baked sugar-free pastries upon request.

 

On the Side:

Hickory Smoked Bacon - English Bangers - Pork Sausage Links or Patty - Carved Honey Glazed Ham - Corned Beef Hash - Turkey Bacon - Turkey Sausage links - Morningstar Farms Vegi Links - Hash Browns.

Fruits and Yogurts: Fresh Fruit Plate - Half Grapefruit - Sliced Banana - Stewed Prunes, Apricots or Kadota Figs - Assorted Yogurts

 

Beverages: Coffee - Tea - Decaffeinated Coffee and Tea - Whole, Low Fat and Skim Milk - Chocolate Milk - Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice - Apple Juice - Cranberry Juice - Grapefruit juice - Grape Juice - Pineapple Juice - Prune Juice - Tomato Juice - V-8

[brazilgirl]

Ohhhhh that all looks lovely! Thank you so much!

[startwin]

I don't have the menu but here is a post that Krazy Kruizers did and I think it is still pretty accurate

 

 

Breakfast Menu:

 

Something Simple:

Cold Cereals: Cornflakes - Cheerios - Special K - Raisin Bran - Shredded Wheat - Rice Krispies - Frosted Flakes - Fruit loops - Granola - All Bran - Bran Flakes -- served with your choice of milk -- add sliced banana on request.

 

Breakfast Parfait - layers of creamy Greek yogurt, fresh berries and granola

 

Hot Cereals: Old-Fashioned Oatmeal - Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal - Cream of Wheat - Creamy Grits -- served with sliced banana, raisins, brown sugar, maple syrup, milk, or half & half on request

 

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich - scrambles egg and Cheddar cheese served on a toasted English muffin. Add sausage patty, hickory smoked bacon or ham slice on request.

 

Bagel and Lox - a freshly toasted bagel served with slices of cold smoked salmon, cream cheese, sliced onion and capers.

 

Greenhouse Spa Selections:

Cottage Cheese and Fresh Fruit - a small bowl of creamy cottage cheese lightly dusted with cinnamon, served with your choice of sliced banana, strawberries, blueberries or diced melon.

 

Swiss-Style Muesli - a mixture of low fat yogurt, fresh fruit, milk, toasted hazel-nuts, oatmeal and honey.

 

Frittata Italiana - healthy without sacrificing flavor, egg whites combined with low-fat cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, then lightly baked and served with whole grain toast.

 

 

International Classics:

All American Breakfast - two jumbo eggs, cooked to order, served with hash browns, hickory smoked bacon or sausage and toast.

 

Eggs Benedict - toasted English muffins, layered with Canadian bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

 

Eggs Royal - toasted English muffins, smoked salmon and two poached eggs with creamy hollandaise sauce.

 

Eggs Florentine - toasted English muffins, topped with sauteed spinach and two poached eggs draped with hollandaise sauce.

 

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs - home-made corned beef hash topped with two eggs cooked to order and served with a side of toast.

 

Kippered Herring - served with two scrambled eggs and smothered onions.

 

Dutch Breakfast - the Uitmijter, a classic open-faced sandwich with thick white bread, sliced ham, Gouda, and two eggs sunny side up.

 

Japanese Breakfast - hot miso soup, steamed white rice, tamagoyaki and boiled salmon served with a cup of hot green tea.

 

The Full English Breakfast - two jumbo eggs scrambled, English banger sausage, English back bacon, baked beans, hash browns and a grilled half tomato.

 

Scandinavian Breakfast - smoked salmon and pickled herring, served with hard-boiled egg and slices of dark rye bread.

 

Three Egg Omelets:

All omelets are served with hash browns and toast. Egg whites or egg substitute available on request.

 

Denver Omelet - green bell pepper, onion, ham and a mixture of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Swiss cheese.

 

Garden Vegetable Omelet - tender asparagus, sauteed spinach, diced tomato and sliced button mushrooms with creamy goat cheese.

 

Southwest Omelet - diced sweet roasted bell peppers, tomato, green onion, and Monterey Jack cheese, topped with avocado, sour cream and fresh salsa.

 

My Choice Omelet - build your own omelet with any of the following: ham, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, asparagus, Cheddar, Jack, Swiss, goat or Gruyere cheese.

 

Hot Off the Griddle:

Belgium Waffle - thick, crisp Belgium waffle topped with your choice of warm strawberries, apple-cinnamon or plum compote.

 

 

Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast - thick slices of egg bread French toast, dusted with cinnamon-sugar. Served with whipped butter and hot maple syrup.

 

Stack of Pancakes - three fluffy pancakes stacked high. your choice of buttermilk, banana or blueberry. Served with whipped butter and hot maple syrup.

 

From the Bakery: toast - English Muffin - Bagel - Roll

Baked Fresh Daily: Butter Croissant - Chocolate Croissant - Raisin Bun - Cheese Danish - Fruit Danish - Danish of the Day - Blueberry Muffin - Muffin of the Day - Coffee Cake. Served with butter, margarine, jam, jelly honey, Nutella or cream cheese on request. Fresh baked sugar-free pastries upon request.

 

On the Side:

Hickory Smoked Bacon - English Bangers - Pork Sausage Links or Patty - Carved Honey Glazed Ham - Corned Beef Hash - Turkey Bacon - Turkey Sausage links - Morningstar Farms Vegi Links - Hash Browns.

Fruits and Yogurts: Fresh Fruit Plate - Half Grapefruit - Sliced Banana - Stewed Prunes, Apricots or Kadota Figs - Assorted Yogurts

 

Beverages: Coffee - Tea - Decaffeinated Coffee and Tea - Whole, Low Fat and Skim Milk - Chocolate Milk - Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice - Apple Juice - Cranberry Juice - Grapefruit juice - Grape Juice - Pineapple Juice - Prune Juice - Tomato Juice - V-8

 

 

Thanks Jacqui (and KK!) I think I'll be eating breakfast and skipping lunch on my cruise:D So many lovely choices.

[LVSue]

My favorite perks are:

 

priority boarding!!

Unlimited laundry and drycleaning

Neptune Lounge: coffee, concierge, and munchies all day

Pinnacle grill breakfast, though it can go on too long for me

Priority tendering off the ship--no waiting for tickets

Fabulous cabin stewards

Space, space and more space

[erewhon]

If you wish to order flowers for your stateroom, the concierge has a folder showing photos of arrangements that can be ordered.

[OlsSalt]

Thanks Jacqui (and KK!) I think I'll be eating breakfast and skipping lunch on my cruise:D So many lovely choices.

 

HAL does a very nice job with breakfasts, but especially with their fresh baked goods from breads, croissants, and breakfast sweet breads and pastries. They are legendary and available in other appropriate forms for BLD and tea.

 

Start saying salad bar -salad bar -salad bar for lunch in order to get past all the other good meals you will be facing. Or this is when the bite sized goodies in the Neptune Lounge are good enough for lunch, if you are still on the ship.

 

The hard thing for us is we like to have lunch when ashore to try out local food so of late I have had to cut back on those wonderful breakfasts. This is when one appreciates the shorter cruises - can't do as much damage as the longer ones can rack up over time.

[Crew News]

HAL does a very nice job with breakfasts, but especially with their fresh baked goods from breads, croissants, and breakfast sweet breads and pastries. They are legendary and available in other appropriate forms for BLD and tea.

 

The wonder of full Room Service breakfasts is the case for the first few days. Common sense kicks in as those fluffy omelets with two orders of bacon and hash brown potatoes becomes muesli with fruit yogurt. OK, maybe just one croissant instead of three and hold the butter.

 

Of course common sense dictates that by the third day, you consume only one scoop of ice cream per cone, half portion of the famous HAL bread pudding per day, and only eat half of your MDR dessert (unless it contains chocolate, then eat it all).

 

While your spirit is on vacation, your body is now working overtime to digest all of the food opportunities.

 

Note that the MDR will serve you whatever is on their menu in any quantity that you request. That means each of the two soups, two different salads, two appetizers, and only the lobster portion of the surf-turf entree.

 

In addition, the internet connection in the Neptune Lounge is one of the better locations on the ship. You can use their PC or bring your own laptop. There is a fee for internet connection.

[OlsSalt]

The wonder of full Room Service breakfasts is the case for the first few days. Common sense kicks in as those fluffy omelets with two orders of bacon and hash brown potatoes becomes muesli with fruit yogurt. OK, maybe just one croissant instead of three and hold the butter.

 

Of course common sense dictates that by the third day, you consume only one scoop of ice cream per cone, half portion of the famous HAL bread pudding per day, and only eat half of your MDR dessert (unless it contains chocolate, then eat it all).

.......

 

Agree, I think they plan on a three day consumption peak, when the novelty overtakes common sense. I finally got down to no butter on the rolls, no sugar in the tea, salad bar only for lunch with only a smidgen of dressing, split dessert with DH and occasionally having an appetizer only as an entree. Only two croissants max even when I want four (hey, they're small!) and occasionally eating my beloved powder sugar donut, but with a knife and fork to make each bite last longer. :cool:

 

And a mandatory few strolls around the promenade deck every day not in port.

[law@115]

Regarding Priority Boarding, DW and I are in a Neptune Suite on the Ryndam, but the Daughter and Mother-in-Law are in ocean view, can they check in with us? Or need to stand in their own line?

[OlsSalt]

Regarding Priority Boarding, DW and I are in a Neptune Suite on the Ryndam, but the Daughter and Mother-in-Law are in ocean view, can they check in with us? Or need to stand in their own line?

 

The people directing the line are usually very flexible. I would be surprised if they broke up your family group. When the priority boarding line gets short, they put regular passengers into it anyway.

[Randyk47]

Regarding Priority Boarding, DW and I are in a Neptune Suite on the Ryndam, but the Daughter and Mother-in-Law are in ocean view, can they check in with us? Or need to stand in their own line?

 

They will be directed to their own line....most of the time. Nothing is cast in rock hard concrete so I won't or can't say it hasn't happened. I actually think the priority check-in and boarding is nice but the least of the benefits. Unfortunately that won't be the only thing they'll be left out of because they're not in a Neptune Suite.

[Lauranne]

Regarding Priority Boarding, DW and I are in a Neptune Suite on the Ryndam, but the Daughter and Mother-in-Law are in ocean view, can they check in with us? Or need to stand in their own line?

 

This past week we embarked with DH's parents who did not have priority boarding while we did. We offered to go into the regular line so we could stay together but we were all kindly directed to go into the priority line.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Before I developed mobility issues, I had issues with people being allowed in the Deluxe Suite Line for check-in. We were numbers 3 and 4 at the door and by the we were allowed in, went through security and got to our check-in line -- there were already about 30 people there and the lines were long.

Someone had allowed them to enter via the back door way before 11 AM. And when we finally got to check-in, I asked questions. These people had arrived at 10:30 and they felt sorry for them standing in line -- that hit a sour note with us. We had arrived at 10:45 and had no choice but to stand in line.

And then I found out -- none of them were in a Deluxe Suite!!

Just another incidence of different rules for different ships.

Sorry for the rant.

But I believe that everyone should go to their proper lines.