Hail to the YumYum Man ( Dining Room Greeter)!

[colonialinnkeeper]

I am continually amazed at how he remembers what each of us likes after dinner.   It is such a wonderful tradition and hope that it continues.  HAL has so many "HAL" things they do--small things that make a difference and stand out from the crowd.  Makes our trips special.

[lcand1923]

When I couldn't find the Yum-Yum man I wandered around the ship looking for the treats, at least.  They weren't to be found on the Nieuw Statendam, upper or lower level Dining Room.  Again, I was hoping it was just a mix-up because I was on the Premier Voyage.  (Several other things hadn't arrived on the ship, either.)  From what I'm reading, I think the Yum-Yum man may be totally gone from the Pinnacle Class ships. 

[retafcruiser]

7 minutes ago, lcand1923 said:

  From what I'm reading, I think the Yum-Yum man may be totally gone from the Pinnacle Class ships. 

More cost-cutting.

[kevingastreich]

We had a great YYM on the Zuiderdam Viking Passage Cruise in Aug. 2018.  He played his xylophone every night to announce the dinner service and was there at the end to pass out the candy, ginger etc. He was very personable and entertaining. I didn't know it was unique to HAL but we really do enjoy it.  I hope the tradition continues!

[Turtles06]

1 hour ago, kevingastreich said:

We had a great YYM on the Zuiderdam Viking Passage Cruise in Aug. 2018.  He played his xylophone every night to announce the dinner service and was there at the end to pass out the candy, ginger etc. He was very personable and entertaining. I didn't know it was unique to HAL but we really do enjoy it.  I hope the tradition continues!

 

We were aboard as well.  It was our first HAL cruise; we had late seating, and the YMM definitely came around playing his xylophone at 8PM.   But we never saw him at the end of the meal; we did notice a cart with dates and candy as we left the MDR, but had no idea what that was about since no one was ever there.  Were you in early seating? 

 

We'll be aboard again in September.  I will know what to be looking for! 

[kevingastreich]

On 1/27/2019 at 7:25 PM, Turtles06 said:

 

We were aboard as well.  It was our first HAL cruise; we had late seating, and the YMM definitely came around playing his xylophone at 8PM.   But we never saw him at the end of the meal; we did notice a cart with dates and candy as we left the MDR, but had no idea what that was about since no one was ever there.  Were you in early seating? 

 

We'll be aboard again in September.  I will know what to be looking for! 

We had anytime dining. I remember him coming through the Ocean Bar every night before dinner playing his xylophone and he was standing at the cart when we left, usually somewhere between 7-8:30.

[sail7seas]

On 1/22/2019 at 4:07 AM, Despegue said:

I Just wanted to start a topic in support of the Dining Room greeters onboard the HAL vessels, who give a

truly unique feeling to the HAL dining experience, and a remind us of the Golden years of Ocean Crossing and the Holoand America Heritage.

 

The Dining Room greeter, more popularly known as “ Yum Yum Man”, a term which the greeters DO NOT consider rude by the way, and has no bad meaning in Bahasa, is the crewmember in the unique old style uniform, somewhat resembling a Porter or Piccolo uniform. Their. uniform used to be very easily recognizeable as it was bright red with golden accents.

since the new Uniforms, it is white, with orange accents. They always wear a hat.

 

The main function is to welcome passengers ( call me oldfashioned, but I call guests onboard a moving platform passengers) into the dining room, Say goodbye to them while offering some after dinner sweets, notably mints and candied ginger ( a traditional stomach settler and remedy for mal-de-mer).

 

he also will go around the public rooms on the main decks with a xylophone right before the Early and Late ( called Main on HAL) Seating. He will then play a chime to kindly remind passengers that it is time head towards the Dining room.

 

I realize that these are very oldfashioned traditions, and I am all for a modernisation of HAL and its decoration and habits. However: some items must be preserved to keep the company

Unique. The Yum Yum man is within the core of HAL DNA.

Please do not eliminate the role!

 

Please feel free to share your stories, pictures of the HAL Dining Room greeters.

 

please tell us if you have found these wonderful Crewmen onboard your Cruise, particulary on KONINGSDAM/ NIEUW STATENDAM as it seems the new vessels

do not have this  function anymore, and no more before dinner chimes can be heard onboard the newest sisterships. 

 

 

Please correct me if I am wrong but I think  the  title   of Yum Yum's   position is 'doorman'.      🙂

 

Quote

 

 

 

 

 

sail.noodam@gmail.com

Edited January 30, 2019 by sail7seas

[kazu]

52 minutes ago, sail7seas said:

 

 

Please correct me if I am wrong but I think  the  title   of Yum Yum's   position is 'doorman'.      🙂

 

 

 

 

 

sail.noodam@gmail.com

 

I know the old official title was “door greeter”.  Not sure what it is but what does it matter? 

 

Yum yum man is much more recognizable on this board than “doorman”.

 

Who would know what a ‘doorman’ is?  Sounds like a guy at a hotel that opens the doors for you - not the charming men we’ve seen that make the beginning and end of our meal enjoyable.

 

[DougK]

Is there any update on the status of the Yum Yum Man in 2019? Has he appeared on the Nieuw Statendam yet, or has he disappeared from other ships? I'm going to be on the Nieuw Amsterdam in a few weeks, and I'm hoping he'll be there...

[JennysUncle]

Captain Albert has posted on his blog a photo tribute and full list of the crew finishing the last cruise of the Prinsendam.  One member of the food services team is called the Dining Room Greeter, so that is probably the official title.

[SempreMare]

On 1/22/2019 at 5:03 AM, Caribbean Chris said:

(The first time I saw a YYM, it reminded me of the Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel lobby staff who wore a similar hat.)

 

I was there in March on a work trip and remember noticing the interesting attire of the people on the first floor! 

At my pleading we had peking duck and I was able to check off a bucket list item: 

a complete Peking duck dinner in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong

 

Thanks for the pics @fleduc33 and @St Pete Cruiser

 

@Crew News, did you see a Yum Yum Man on the Westerdam? 

Edited June 30, 2019 by SempreMare

[Crew News]

24 minutes ago, SempreMare said:

 

I was there in March on a work trip and remember noticing the interesting attire of the people on the first floor! 

At my pleading we had peking duck and I was able to check off a bucket list item: 

a complete Peking duck dinner in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong

 

Thanks for the pics @fleduc33 and @St Pete Cruiser

 

@Crew News, did you see a Yum Yum Man on the Westerdam? 

 

I ate only two meals in the MDR on the Westerdam and did not see the YYM at either of them.  Since it seems to be a matter of interest, I will keep an eye open for them in December aboard the Nieuw Statendam.

[Husker frog]

When we were on the Westerdam in March, the dining room supervisor told me that they were doing away with the Yum Yum Man (Door Man) on all Holland ships.

[DougK]

3 hours ago, Husker frog said:

When we were on the Westerdam in March, the dining room supervisor told me that they were doing away with the Yum Yum Man (Door Man) on all Holland ships.

 

That's a pity. The Yum Yum Man will always have a soft spot in my heart, based on my last HAL cruise (a decade or so ago). We took our nieces on an Alaska cruise. Of course, my expectation was that the high points would be seeing whales and watching a glacier calve, and other natural wonders. But, as it turned out, I think the single thing they most enjoyed on the whole cruise was the Yum Yum Man (I believe his name was Iz). Kids, go figure...

[65 Gator]

5 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

Captain Albert has posted on his blog a photo tribute and full list of the crew finishing the last cruise of the Prinsendam.  One member of the food services team is called the Dining Room Greeter, so that is probably the official title.

 

Just off of the Amsterdam in Alaska after the World Cruise and there was NO Yum Yum Man.  We really missed the chimes to announce the opening of the MDR and the treats at the end of the dinner...  Come on HAL...  Don't stop this...

 

[BJzink]

Another reason I have no interest in the Pinnacle ships.  He would walk by the "Mix" every afternoon with his chimes.  There are those in the head office who would say the position wasn't cost-effective....Love the candied Ginger!!

[bennybear]

Didn’t see the yum yum man on the Westie in April.  The candy, ginger and dates were there, but after watching people manhandle them I could not partake!

[ski ww]

The Yum Yum Man on the Eurodam in Mar. He remembered us from a past cruise. Which I find remarkable considering how many people he must see daily. I think it's a great tradition.

 

[GeorgesGal]

Really too bad HAL is eliminating his position!  Always enjoyed the smiling countenance and the candied ginger!  Another tradition down the drain, along with the porters greeting you as you stepped on board and escorting you to your stateroom - in the same red uniform and pillbox type hat as the yum yum man originally wore, and the dining room waitresses making those cute dutch hats from napkins for the ladies after the formal night's dinner.

 

But these last two were many years ago......  Sadly missed.

Donna

[kazu]

We had the chimes on the Prinsendam in April/May and the yum yum man was out and about but seemed to be doing other things after dinner.  The goodies were there, but the yum yum man wasn’t most nights.

 

Missed him when he wasn’t there.  Last year we had an amazing one who made us an origami zoo.  He brought a lot of joy to a lot of people.  It’s the little touches that make HAL special.

[lindi]

No Yum Yum guy on our Koningsdam cruise this past February. I asked where he went to and maître de said they opted to have an extra staff member in the dining room to help out waiters. 

[SilvertoGold]

Not on the Westerdam in June. This was the first HAL cruise ever when we did not have him.

[feathersandnananose]

Just wondering .... on many ships there are TWO floors to the dining room.  Since anytime diners eat "anytime", perhaps the ONE "yum yum man" just hangs out on the floor with fixed dining.  Otherwise, he'd be ringing his bells all night long.  Just saying.  

We were on the Zuiderdam in June, and he was there.... for the late fixed dining.   My two mints, and my hubby's candied ginger.

[slidergirl]

While it was a tradition, it was a little too "colonial" for me.   Ever have a Yum Yum Woman?  Ever have a Yum Yum Person who was not Indonesian/Philipino?    Kind of like on the cruise line with the "washy washy" girls who stood at the entrance to the dining area to make sure you squirted yourself with sanitizer before you entered...

 

Have a member of the dining staff do the chimes at the start of dinner.  Make it an honor to do it.  You'd have people of all genders and nationalities taking the chimes in a tradition then.  

[kazu]

13 minutes ago, slidergirl said:

Ever have a Yum Yum Person who was not Indonesian/Philipino?  

 

I think you mean Filipino?

 

I’m perplexed by this statement as  these are the traditional servers on HAL for dining and beverages.  It seems natural to me that the Yum Yum man would be chosen from the servers.