CanuckinSMA Posted July 19, 2017 #1 Share Posted July 19, 2017 I've had a look at a few menus..it refers to Alaskan salmon. How would you know what other fish is "local" ie. is the halibut local. We are fish eaters and would like to have local fresh fish so would like to know how to tell? Is all the fish frozen or is there some fresh? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted July 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted July 19, 2017 The fish will be frozen. Between seasons and logistics, it is not practical to try and feed 1200-2200 people fresh fish every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted July 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted July 19, 2017 HAL usually says the salmon is Alaskan and/or fresh, but this is debatable. There is some idea that cruise ships are supposed to load only frozen protein. One thing: HAL does a tremendous job of thawing all fish before cooking: you would often think it IS fresh. HAL does salmon very well, especially grilled. You might like to try the Asian breakfast with the grilled salmon! Overall, HAL does fish well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 19, 2017 #4 Share Posted July 19, 2017 HAL usually says the salmon is Alaskan and/or fresh, but this is debatable. There is some idea that cruise ships are supposed to load only frozen protein. One thing: HAL does a tremendous job of thawing all fish before cooking: you would often think it IS fresh. HAL does salmon very well, especially grilled. You might like to try the Asian breakfast with the grilled salmon! Overall, HAL does fish well. Asian breakfast what is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestyling Posted July 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Asian breakfast what is that? Available in the Lido Marketplace in the Asian section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted July 19, 2017 #6 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Asian breakfast what is that? The old Japanese breakfast. Miso soup, grilled salmon, rice, tamagoyachi (eggs), green tea. My go-to MDR breakfast. If the salmon is well grilled it is divine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temesgen Posted July 20, 2017 #7 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Can anyone confirm the salmon are not farm raised? That's my primary concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbag7 Posted July 20, 2017 #8 Share Posted July 20, 2017 The old Japanese breakfast. Miso soup, grilled salmon, rice, tamagoyachi (eggs), green tea. My go-to MDR breakfast. If the salmon is well grilled it is divine! A big if, but an excellent breakfast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted July 20, 2017 #9 Share Posted July 20, 2017 A big if, but an excellent breakfast! Yes, I agree, as I have experienced the salmon not cooked through in the middle (the thickest part). The best breakfast on the ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madtown_cruiser Posted July 20, 2017 #10 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I doubt that the fish, in general, will be fresh. That said, they did serve up some fresh salmon during the cruise that was picked up in port during the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvteaching Posted July 20, 2017 #11 Share Posted July 20, 2017 We got off the Amsterdam on Monday and had some wonderful fish dishes. We had halibut twice and the first time it was "naked" and was delicious. The second time it was smoked salmon crusted halibut and it was divine! I had sole, cod, lobster, plenty of shrimp, and salmon several ways and enjoyed every one of them. The ginger pesto salmon on the everyday menu was scrumptious. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare geoherb Posted July 20, 2017 #12 Share Posted July 20, 2017 We've only taken Princess cruises to Alaska. On our last one, two brothers (who were traveling with their grandmother and had been on the land portion with us before the cruise) went fishing in Ketchikan. The chefs prepared two of their fish for them that night. Fortunately, our table was next to theirs and they shared with us. Princess also does an afternoon seafood buffet that includes whole fresh salmon one day on its Alaskan cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted July 20, 2017 #13 Share Posted July 20, 2017 (edited) There is some idea that cruise ships are supposed to load only frozen protein.The Prinsendam purchased some large fresh fish in the Azores for a poolside buffet. Edited July 20, 2017 by jtl513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted July 20, 2017 #14 Share Posted July 20, 2017 There are a couple of reasons that the ships tend towards frozen fish: parasite destruction and record keeping. Any fish that can contain parasites (and salmon is one), that is to be served either raw (sushi) or uncooked (ceviche, gravlax, etc) needs to be frozen to -31*F for 15 hours. Otherwise it needs to be cooked to 145*F minimum to ensure parasite destruction. The record keeping is that unfrozen fish must be accompanied by documentation showing the temperature that it has been held at since catching/cleaning. The source of the fish must also be certified in the country of origin (this pertains to all seafood, frozen or fresh). Outside the US there is more leeway in obtaining fresh seafood, if the local country's laws are met. Princess will cook fresh caught salmon only from their sponsored fishing excursions, not third party ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Rarely have we gotten fresh fish on any Alaskan cruise. It is bought in bulk and frozen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted July 20, 2017 #16 Share Posted July 20, 2017 On the roundtrip from Seattle two-week Maasdam Alaska cruise last year, I ordered Alaskan King Crab legs, and they were delicious. A huge serving! Probably frozen, but very well prepared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 20, 2017 #17 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Can anyone confirm the salmon are not farm raised? That's my primary concern. HAL's menus distincly say "sustainable seafood". So, some fish may be farmed and some fish not. For the fish I have chosen it did not taste farmed (I can usually tell the difference) I don't usually get salmon on HAL as it is a "regular" menu item at home. DH does and is usually pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herfnerd Posted July 20, 2017 #18 Share Posted July 20, 2017 On the roundtrip from Seattle two-week Maasdam Alaska cruise last year, I ordered Alaskan King Crab legs, and they were delicious. A huge serving! Probably frozen, but very well prepared. IIRC, crab legs are almost always frozen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted July 20, 2017 #19 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Don't overlook the fact that you can take excursions that include salmon bakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted July 20, 2017 #20 Share Posted July 20, 2017 IIRC, crab legs are almost always frozen Most probably. While there are other crabbing seasons than the winter one made famous by the TV show Deadliest Catch little crabbing is done in the summer months. Much most likely to get fresh Alaskan salmon than fresh crab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herfnerd Posted July 20, 2017 #21 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Most probably. While there are other crabbing seasons than the winter one made famous by the TV show Deadliest Catch little crabbing is done in the summer months. Much most likely to get fresh Alaskan salmon than fresh crab. True. And I guess we should probably state that Snow and Alaskan King are generally frozen. Dungeness and Blue are an entirely different matter....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted July 20, 2017 #22 Share Posted July 20, 2017 True. And I guess we should probably state that Snow and Alaskan King are generally frozen. Dungeness and Blue are an entirely different matter....... Having grown up in Tacoma eons ago I was very spoiled to have what was back then fairly unlimited and inexpensive access to Dungeness crab, Hood Canal oysters, and fresh salmon. Those were the days when in season you could go down the commercial fishing docks and buy crab and fresh fish right off the boats. $5-$10 went a long ways back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted July 20, 2017 #23 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Regardless of what the cruise line tells you - or what you want to hear - the fish you eat on a mass market cruise ship in Alaska will NOT be fresh. 2. The United States Public Health Service "insists" that all shell fish and any fresh fish is frozen for a minimum 72 hours before it is prepared and served to cruise ship passengers. Cruise lines sailing outside the USA sometimes ignore this rule, but the ships sailing in Alaska don't want to take the chance of getting caught. While this is true for nearly every all fish, it is only required by USPH for fish that is to be served in a raw or uncooked style. All shellfish, both molluscan and crustacean can be received in a live condition, and therefore are not frozen. Even shucked mollusks can be received raw if certified by the FDA as to shellfish safety, and properly packaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted July 20, 2017 #24 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I would be a bit concerned about fresh Pacific salmon from wild sources these days... or has this warning passed? http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/health/salmon-tapeworm-food-study/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted July 20, 2017 #25 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I would be a bit concerned about fresh Pacific salmon from wild sources these days... or has this warning passed? http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/health/salmon-tapeworm-food-study/index.html Pacific salmon has had the possibility of tapeworm for years, which is why the USPH requires freezing or proper cooking temperatures to kill parasites. Cod has had worms for centuries. The article also gives the false impression that salmon sushi is from fresh fish, when in fact the FDA requires the same thing on land as the USPH does on the ships: sushi grade fish must be frozen to -31*F (much colder than any home freezer and most commercial freezers) for a minimum of 15 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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