Nervous newbie, seeking re-assurance

[starryuk]

We usually sail with P&O, but have decided to try another line for a change.

 

Why HAL? well, being female it was simply because I like the more traditional look of the ships...and the black hull.

 

I'm English. What about my morning cups of tea in bed? (P&0 supply a kettle and biscuits in the cabin!)

 

Do I have to book room service the night before?

Does the tea arrive with semi-hot water and a teabag on the side?:eek:

Would they bring me a large pot of tea?:)

 

What other differences can I expect?

 

...by the way, I am not seriously worried about the tea, just wondering. We are really looking forward to the new experience.

Edited June 29, 2015 by starryuk

[Krazy Kruizers]

No tea kettles in the cabin -- fire hazard.

 

You can call room service for a pot of tea. There are choices of tea bags -- check them out on embarkation day and take note so that you can tell room service what you want.

 

Now if you want a pastry to go with your tea, you will have to fill out the card the evening before if you want faster service. First delivery time is 6 AM. No biscuits.

[Stratheden]

No tea kettles in the cabin -- fire hazard.

 

You can call room service for a pot of tea. There are choices of tea bags -- check them out on embarkation day and take note so that you can tell room service what you want.

 

Now if you want a pastry to go with your tea, you will have to fill out the card the evening before if you want faster service. First delivery time is 6 AM. No biscuits.

 

Ask for PG Tips for your tea.

[take us away]

Hate to say this but HAL changed their tea vendor from Bigelow to Fields and something and I find the tea mediocre. Haven't cruised since Dec so anyone know if it is the same vendor? May be a good idea to bring a few of your favorite tea bags or tea and infuser/tea ball with you then order hot water (if you ask for very hot water, it will help). You can order when you wake up but it will take longer for delivery than if you fill out the room service card the evening before.

[Stratheden]

Hate to say this but HAL changed their tea vendor from Bigelow to Fields and something and I find the tea mediocre. Haven't cruised since Dec so anyone know if it is the same vendor? May be a good idea to bring a few of your favorite tea bags or tea and infuser/tea ball with you then order hot water (if you ask for very hot water, it will help). You can order when you wake up but it will take longer for delivery than if you fill out the room service card the evening before.

 

They still have PG Tips if you ask for them.

[regnig]

If you normally want more than 2 small cups of tea order 4 cups and they will bring you 2 of the thermal pots of hot water and 4 tea bags. If you want milk for your tea also make certain you ask for it too. Room service is great :) but if you don't ask for something you won't get it.

[PatsyAnne]

Not in bed, but there is an afternoon (3:00?) tea almost every day. The Indonesian one is my favorite.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Definitely bring tea or teabags from home. I cannot emphasize that enough. I already have ours packed for our August cruise so we don't forget them.

[starryuk]

Thank you for these tips everyone. I shall bring my own teabags, ask for 4 cups and milk, very hot water and order the night before!

 

Sad isn't it, but little things like a nice cuppa....

 

[sail7seas]

BTW, for the sake of accuracy, HAL hulls are a gorgeous blue, not black. :)

We'll make you a HAL'er. ;) :)

 

[take us away]

Thank you for these tips everyone. I shall bring my own teabags, ask for 4 cups and milk, very hot water and order the night before!

 

Sad isn't it, but little things like a nice cuppa....

 

 

Feel the same way about my coffee.

 

Oh, you need to specify what kind of milk you want as they have several (2% whole milk, etc.) or half and half.

[starryuk]

BTW, for the sake of accuracy, HAL hulls are a gorgeous blue, not black.

We'll make you a HAL'er.

 

Whoops! Must get my eyes tested! I shall inspect the hull thoroughly close up when I embark!:D

[Dismomx5]

Thank you for these tips everyone. I shall bring my own teabags, ask for 4 cups and milk, very hot water and order the night before!

 

Sad isn't it, but little things like a nice cuppa....

 

From a different London, but the feeling's the same. I need my tea, although green is my preference!

 

I remember paying $7.00 :eek: for a cuppa (black at that time) in Europe yeeeaaarrs ago, I was so desperate for a good cup!

[worldtrekker]

Now if you want a pastry to go with your tea, you will have to fill out the card the evening before if you want faster service. First delivery time is 6 AM. No biscuits.

 

Coming from the UK, I assume by biscuits the OP meant "cookies", rather than US-style biscuits (which are more like what we would consider scones). We have ordered cookies/biscuits in the afternoon with tea, but not in the morning. Perhaps if you wrote it on the room service tag the night before, they could bring some. They have never been the traditional shortbread type, however. Hope that helps!

[Crew News]

Thank you for these tips everyone. I shall bring my own teabags, ask for 4 cups and milk, very hot water and order the night before!

 

Sad isn't it, but little things like a nice cuppa....

 

 

Here is the Room Service Breakfast card that you will complete and hang on your door handle before retiring for the evening:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Room-Service-Breakfast.pdf

 

As stated previously, write-in your tea selection (if you didn't bring your own) or anaything else that you would like. If they don't have your write-in, they will call your room several minutes before delivery to let you make an alternate selection.

 

There will also be tea available in the Explorations Cafe for a charge and they have free sweets of your choosing. Here is the Explorations Cafe menu:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Explorations-Cafe.pdf

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Crew News

[starryuk]

Thank you for the links, Crew News.

 

Now another question! I saw mentioned on HAL site, something about late night chocolate extravaganza. Are they saying we can go and help ourselves to a late night chocolate snack? (should we be starving at midnight??!!:D)

[Crew News]

Thank you for the links, Crew News.

 

Now another question! I saw mentioned on HAL site, something about late night chocolate extravaganza. Are they saying we can go and help ourselves to a late night chocolate snack? (should we be starving at midnight??!!:D)

 

The chocolate extravaganzas were discontinued. There is a themed Late Evening Snack aimed at crew members and late revelers. Here is a link to the daily menus for the Lido Restaurant and Main Dining Room to give you an idea of what is available. Note that the Main Dining Room (DR) is not open on some port days for the Eastern Caribbean (Dec 2014):

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-eastern-caribbean-mdr-and-lido-restaurant-menus/

 

I also have the menus for our Alaska cruise last month if you are heading for Alaska.

[Pathfinder1964]

Not in bed, but there is an afternoon (3:00?) tea almost every day. The Indonesian one is my favorite.

 

We went to afternoon tea @ 3PM several times on our Westerdam cruise last week. Loved the little scones, cupcakes and mini bagels with brie and veggies on them.

[Scrapnana]

Whoops! Must get my eyes tested! I shall inspect the hull thoroughly close up when I embark!:D

 

The sun has to be shining the right way and I had to squint like mad to see the blue. It is a very, very dark navy blue!:D

 

I agree about bringing your own tea bags. The new brand does not make "A Nice Cup of Tea" but a very weak one. Some friends and I experimented (letting the tea steep a long time, using two tea bags, etc.) and never were able to get a really good cuppa.

[Love the beach]

Hate to say this but HAL changed their tea vendor from Bigelow to Fields and something and I find the tea mediocre. Haven't cruised since Dec so anyone know if it is the same vendor? May be a good idea to bring a few of your favorite tea bags or tea and infuser/tea ball with you then order hot water (if you ask for very hot water, it will help). You can order when you wake up but it will take longer for delivery than if you fill out the room service card the evening before.

 

On my recent RCCI cruise they also had the new tea bags......yuk! I was glad I brought my own. I guess this is the case on all Carnival owned ships now.....maybe if they get enough complaints they will go back to Bigelow or Twinings which they also had in the past.

[onelegcraig]

Just got off the Zaandam. Did NOT like the tea, I thought it was just me! Will add tea bags to my packing list next trip!

[momatibm]

We have a smallish thermal tea maker. We bring loose tea and make our own. We get hot water from either the lido or the Neptune lounge depending on what kind of 'upsell' we were able to snag.:rolleyes:

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

The sun has to be shining the right way and I had to squint like mad to see the blue. It is a very, very dark navy blue!:D

 

I agree about bringing your own tea bags. The new brand does not make "A Nice Cup of Tea" but a very weak one. Some friends and I experimented (letting the tea steep a long time, using two tea bags, etc.) and never were able to get a really good cuppa.

 

I agree - HAL's new tea bags are horrible. I will be bringing my own as well. It is rather sad that one has to do that.

[CanadianDee]

 

I also have the menus for our Alaska cruise last month if you are heading for Alaska.

 

We're looking at booking an Alaska cruise. Would you mind sharing the menu?

[Spursgirl]

Returned from the Zuiderdam last weekend. We had a great time but the tea was terrible. Certainly bring your own tea bags but if your experience is like ours you will find it almost impossible to get really hot water.

 

Afternoon tea was disappointing apart from the Dutch Tea although I couldn't find anything Dutch about it. P&O's is far superior BUT it is the only thing they do better IMO.

 

This was my second HAL cruise and I would certainly sail with them again.

 

Enjoy your cruise