Lunch on embarkation day

[Old As Dirt Mom]

For what it's worth: Our latest HAL cruise was our Panama Canal transit that left Seattle in late September 2015, and embarked additional passengers in Vancouver and San Diego. Embarkation lunch, open to all, was served in the lower main dining room at each of those three ports.

[gigianne]

On our NA cruise in late January - the cabins were not ready and that is why the passengers were being directed to the Lido. Quite unusual as this is the first time in the past five cruises that our cabins were not ready. We were in the first group to board - NS and 4 & 5 star between 11:45-12 noon.

[rkacruiser]

Interesting thread, to say the least.

 

The bottom line seems to me to be this:

 

Dear Mr. Orlando Ashford:

 

Consistency of expectations and product delivery, whatever it may be, needs to be instituted across the ENTIRE fleet.

 

It is difficult to "Savor the Journey" when the "Journey" is not what we guests expected.

[cruz chic]

Interesting thread, to say the least.

 

The bottom line seems to me to be this:

 

Dear Mr. Orlando Ashford:

 

Consistency of expectations and product delivery, whatever it may be, needs to be instituted across the ENTIRE fleet.

 

It is difficult to "Savor the Journey" when the "Journey" is not what we guests expected.

 

That certainly would be lovely.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Interesting thread, to say the least.

 

The bottom line seems to me to be this:

 

Dear Mr. Orlando Ashford:

 

Consistency of expectations and product delivery, whatever it may be, needs to be instituted across the ENTIRE fleet.

 

It is difficult to "Savor the Journey" when the "Journey" is not what we guests expected.

 

 

 

Love it!!

We were disappointed in our Eurodam cruise and our upcoming cruise will decide whether we will continue cruising with HAL. My DH hates computers but last fall when we got home, he spent nearly an hour doing his survey. Never did hear from HAL -- guess they just hit the "Delete" button.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We haven't encountered a cruise yet where the MDR isn't open and hope the Westerdam is no exception.

 

But, we don't always go - there is another solution on embarkation day with out overworking the crew on this busy day.

 

Just send whomever in your group (or yourself if you are solo) to the lido, to get what you want and bring the lunches back to the cabin. You don't have to eat in the food in the Lido. We've chosen to do that a couple of times, and I return the plates to the Lido ;)

 

It's a busy day and no need to starve on a cruise ship ;)

 

 

Sadly that idea wouldn't work for us.

I use a Rollator and there isn't any way I can bring back lunch for 2.

DH's Parkinson's has gotten worse and he can barely carry a plate back to a table without something dropping off of it -- he can't keep it level. No way could he bring back food for 2 of us. And using the tray under the ice bucket wouldn't help him either. Everything would be on the floor.

[Myrtle Ave. Mayhem]

On our cruise last month on the Zuiderdam, the MDR was open for lunch on embarkation day. Hopefully, this will continue for those of us who prefer a more quiet setting.

 

A calm relaxed lunch in the MDR has always been a tradition for me. I'm strictly "old school" in my approach and preferences to cruise travel. I remember when the concept of "lido restaurant" was mostly unheard of. We went to breakfast and lunch to our assigned tables. If memory serves me correct, the old Rotterdam was the first ship to add a specific lido style restaurant..... aft by the single outdoor pool.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I remember those old days when we went to the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That is the way it was on our Cunard and Princess cruises.

There wasn't any buffets on the ships.

[sapper1]

We used to attend the embarkation lunches in the dining room, but now we just grab a quick lunch in the Lido so we can get all appointments made and be unpacked and settled prior to lifeboat muster. We take longer cruises so there is a lot of unpacking to do.

I have discovered that I can get a head start on unpacking by just visiting the elevator lobby and grabbing one of our suitcases myself, rather than waiting for cabin delivery by a steward.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Hi,

 

My husband, parents and I are going on the Zuiderdam on March 18 through the Panama Canal.

 

We are all 2 star Mariner's although my DH and I will hit 3 star on this cruise, although I know we don't get any additional perks until the next cruise.

 

I heard that they do not offer the Mariner's luncheon any more on embarkation day. Besides the Lido is there anywhere else that is available to us for lunch? Don't know if it makes a difference but we have 2 Neptune suites.

 

My parents are 94 and 95 years young and the Mariner's luncheon was always a nice way to start the cruise with out it being too busy.

 

Also, do they still offer the luncheon at the end of the cruise for Mariner's? I forget what it was called but it was a sit down dinner and usually you got a gift. On the Eurodam it was a ceramic square with the picture of the Eurodam on it. Thanks!

 

I suggest you drop your carry-on bags in your suites and head to the MDR lower level and see what's going on. If you want to save your parents some steps, send DH as a "scout." If it's open, he should be able to find a house phone to call you. Don't bother to ask anyone about the embarkation lunch. Nobody ever seems to know, so they'll just tell you there's no MDR lunch. (I've had this happen 2 or 3 times when the MDR was open)

 

If it isn't open, go to the Neptune Lounge and say hello to the concierges. If it isn't busy, you can stay there and have a light lunch from what they offer. Or pick up some food to take back to your suite. Embarkation nibbles on the balcony are a nice way to start a cruise.

 

I wouldn't bother to order and pay for any treats.

 

How lovely that your parents are able to travel with you. The Canal is a fascinating voyage. I hope you enjoy it!

[Myrtle Ave. Mayhem]

I remember those old days when we went to the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That is the way it was on our Cunard and Princess cruises.

There wasn't any buffets on the ships.

 

Those were the days & how I miss them ! When I talk to people who are new to cruising and I tell them about what it was like to board the ship and be greeted by a line of white gloved stewards to take my hand bag and escort me (all the way) to my cabin, it's like I'm speaking a foreign language. My eyes glaze over, I foam at the mouth, & my hands start twitching, lol.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Myrtle Ave. Mayhem

[OlsSalt]

You can still get that "white glove service" when you cruise. You just have to be willing to pay for it. What is the problem?

[3rdGenCunarder]

Those were the days & how I miss them ! When I talk to people who are new to cruising and I tell them about what it was like to board the ship and be greeted by a line of white gloved stewards to take my hand bag and escort me (all the way) to my cabin, it's like I'm speaking a foreign language. My eyes glaze over, I foam at the mouth, & my hands start twitching, lol.

 

I know what you mean. It was VERY different when I started cruising. Of course, if I look at what I paid early on and roughly "inflate" the cost to today's money, the price then was much more than the prices we can find now.

 

 

You can still get that "white glove service" when you cruise. You just have to be willing to pay for it. What is the problem?

 

The only passengers who get the "white glove service" on HAL are in Pinnacle suites.

 

My early HAL cruises are so long ago that I don't recall if we had the steward escort, but on QE2, we had that service, and we were in the "cheap seats." Ships probably don't have enough staff to do that nowadays.

Edited February 24, 2016 by 3rdGenCunarder

[RuthC]

Remember, when we had that white glove, escorted to the cabin upon boarding, service, we boarded later in the afternoon. We had no lunch on board at all that day.

Do you want to go back to that procedure?

 

Personally, I don't. I like being aboard early so I can unpack my carry-ons, sort through the mail on the desk, confirm the dining reservations are in the system, talk to the shore excursion people to determine if I can handle the selections I booked (and cancel those I can't), book salon/spa, eat a lunch, and unpack---all before muster.

 

If HAL has to close down the dining room so they utilize those workers doing things that let me get those things done, and they continue to leave the Lido open until right before muster, then everything works out.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I can remember those days when we were escorted to our cabins by stewards wearing white gloves -- HAL and Cunard.

There was also a time when a concierge came ashore and escorted those of us who were in the Penthouse Suites. That has changed. Being in a wheelchair and being in a PS -- we aren't always among the first ones on the ship. And we rarely get all lout luggage before lifeboat drill.

[cruz chic]

I know what you mean. It was VERY different when I started cruising. Of course, if I look at what I paid early on and roughly "inflate" the cost to today's money, the price then was much more than the prices we can find now.

 

 

 

 

The only passengers who get the "white glove service" on HAL are in Pinnacle suites.

 

My early HAL cruises are so long ago that I don't recall if we had the steward escort, but on QE2, we had that service, and we were in the "cheap seats." Ships probably don't have enough staff to do that nowadays.

 

No, you don't get the white glove service with the pinnacle suite :). I really don't care.

 

Perhaps they should shut the lido down and only have the MDR open. Problem solved :);):D.

[RuthC]

Perhaps they should shut the lido down and only have the MDR open. Problem solved :);):D.

Too funny.

[3rdGenCunarder]

No, you don't get the white glove service with the pinnacle suite :). I really don't care.

 

Perhaps they should shut the lido down and only have the MDR open. Problem solved :);):D.

 

I thought Pinnacle guests were escorted to the suite. That's all I expected by way of white glove service. I know there isn't a butler, not that it matters. I doubt I'll ever be in a Pinnacle suite--unless the Upgrade Fairy smiles on me.

[cruz chic]

I thought Pinnacle guests were escorted to the suite. That's all I expected by way of white glove service. I know there isn't a butler, not that it matters. I doubt I'll ever be in a Pinnacle suite--unless the Upgrade Fairy smiles on me.

 

You are escorted but no white gloves. Mine was an upsell.

[rkacruiser]

No first hand knowledge of this, but I have read that if you book a Yacht Club suite on a MSC ship, a Butler will meet you at the curb, taking your luggage and you to your suite.

[sail7seas]

A calm relaxed lunch in the MDR has always been a tradition for me. I'm strictly "old school" in my approach and preferences to cruise travel. I remember when the concept of "lido restaurant" was mostly unheard of. We went to breakfast and lunch to our assigned tables. If memory serves me correct, the old Rotterdam was the first ship to add a specific lido style restaurant..... aft by the single outdoor pool.

 

It was HAL that first introduced the concept of Lido Buffet on the ships. That idea was adopted by so many of the other cruise lines through the years.

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, when we had that white glove, escorted to the cabin upon boarding, service, we boarded later in the afternoon. We had no lunch on board at all that day.

Do you want to go back to that procedure?

 

Personally, I don't. I like being aboard early so I can unpack my carry-ons, sort through the mail on the desk, confirm the dining reservations are in the system, talk to the shore excursion people to determine if I can handle the selections I booked (and cancel those I can't), book salon/spa, eat a lunch, and unpack---all before muster.

 

If HAL has to close down the dining room so they utilize those workers doing things that let me get those things done, and they continue to leave the Lido open until right before muster, then everything works out.

 

I remember the white gloved escort to the cabins and in all honesty, I didn't always love it. We knew where we were going, knew how to get there and felt a little silly having the young steward take us there. I used to suggest he bypass us and escort someone new to HAL ships that didn't know how to get to their cabin. :)

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

I remember the white gloved escort to the cabins and in all honesty, I didn't always love it. We knew where we were going, knew how to get there and felt a little silly having the young steward take us there. I used to suggest he bypass us and escort someone new to HAL ships that didn't know how to get to their cabin. :)

 

 

On QE2, escort duty seemed to fall to waiters. At least twice, our escort was very new to the ship and didn't know the layout. The lower decks on QE2 were a rabbit warren of side corridors, very confusing. And what would a waiter know about passenger cabin locations, anyway? So when we had a new escort, we would lead the way and let him carry the hand luggage. (And no, before someone asks, we didn't complain. I thought it was funny, except for the fact that the escort was embarrassed.)

[erewhon]

It's not new. You've been able to get in your cabin (usually) for at least 4 years, maybe longer. I'm going from memory. I don't have the Hal press release to back me up ;).

 

In 2010 we sailed the last Alaska cruise of the season,(September15th) on the Volendam and stayed on board for the Trans Pacific cruise, beginning September 22nd.

On the morning of the 22nd, then Hotel Manager Rene Tuinman was in our hallway checking the rate that the staterooms were being cleaned, there other staff apart from the usual room stewards helping, he told us that it was the first day to have staterooms ready by 1130 for embarking passengers.

[igloo810]

We just returned also from the Zuiderdam Panama Canal cruise (early February, maybe just before you) and the MDR was definitely open for us on embarkation day :confused: :confused: :confused:

 

 

Sailed on the January 25th and also on the February 5th sailing. The January 25th we didn't board until 2pm or so, so might have missed it. If it was available for February 5 it was not advertised. I did feel that the food on the Zuiderdam was excellent.

[igloo810]

Just checked our roll call for that cruise (Zuiderdam - January 25) and we were on the same ship. The MDR was DEFINITELY open that day and I still have the receipt for a bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut to prove it ;)

 

 

Did we ever have the meet and greet? I thought it was scheduled for the day in half-moon Cay. Went to the crows nest at four and there was another event going on. Perhaps I missed something.