New to HAL Have a few questions mostly about dining.

[farjar]

We will be on the Oosterdam later this year.  Although we have sailed NCL, MSC and Carnival it is our first HAL cruise.  We love NCL's Freestyle Dining so have requested anytime seating for dinner. I've read I can reserve a table for two people for three days at a time if I go to the MDR when I first get on the ship?

 

Is the MDR open for breakfast and lunch everyday?  Can you go anytime?

 

Does the lunch menu change daily? NCL now only has one MDR lunch menu for the entire cruise.

 

For Gala nights is a coat and tie required or will a nice collared shirt and slacks suffice for men? (Mexico cruise)

 

Since we've sailed on Carnival I gather we will get the Embarkation Day lunch benefit plus a past guest party?

 

Also NCL's policy is that if your cruise price drops after final payment they will give you a one time OBC of 1/4th the amount of the price drop.  Does HAL have anything similar?

 

Thanks.  Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

[friendswithdave]

I took two HAL cruises in the last year. Here is what I remember.

 

MDR is open for breakfast every day but lunch I believe only on sea days. 

 

Lunch does change every day. They usually have a carving station, and it changes daily. I've thought the lunch on HAL was better than all other lines (until we cruise in Celebrity). Dinner in MDR on HAL was preferred even over Celebrity.

 

More than half of gents will have a jacket on formal nights, but a dress shirt and slacks are fine on formal nights.

 

Not sure about the embarkation lunch with Carnival benefits. We got it with HAL.

 

Contact your TA about compensation for price drops. You will likely get some OBC.

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

The main dining room is open for lunch on embarkation day to ALL passengers.

 

Since you have sailed on Carnival you should have been assigned a HAL number by now.  Your ID card when you get it at check in will show that you are 1 star Mariner.  That means that you should be invited to a Mariner brunch near the end of the cruise.

 

It is up to you to keep track of price drops.  Sometimes HAL will honor -- sometimes HAL doesn't.  If you have been given any perks, you will probably lose them if HAL gives you the lower price.

[lesliew]

Good Day... just wondering about the Carnival references here.

Does it entitle you to anything?

We have only sailed HAL once before and received a Mariner number from that, but have sailed Carnival several times.

What, if any, benefit does this give us?

Thanks for info.

LeslieW

[Crew News]

19 minutes ago, lesliew said:

Good Day... just wondering about the Carnival references here.

Does it entitle you to anything?

We have only sailed HAL once before and received a Mariner number from that, but have sailed Carnival several times.

What, if any, benefit does this give us?

Thanks for info.

LeslieW

 

Only the first Carnival cruise earns any Mariner credit. 

[lesliew]

Ok Thank you.

LOL - didn't think so, but I had to ask!

[Crew News]

2 minutes ago, lesliew said:

Ok Thank you.

LOL - didn't think so, but I had to ask!

 

If Carnival Corporation would allow loyalty rewards for all of their lines to be shared, there would be a lot of very happy cruisers willing to try all of the Carnival lines.

[lesliew]

Aha.. YES  you got that right!

[Click.Write.Post.]

On 8/19/2019 at 1:29 PM, farjar said:

“Does the lunch menu change daily? NCL now only has one MDR lunch menu for the entire cruise.“

 

Yes, the MDR and the Lido Market lunch menus changes daily.

 

The MDR breakfast menu is the same each day with the possibility of specials or menu items prepared a little differently from day to day. When possible, have breakfast in the MDR.  We enjoyed the low key, less hectic atmosphere versus the Lido Market. We also did breakfast in our cabin on days we needed to up early for port excursions. 

 

Here are some pictures from our MDR breakfasts:

 

Amazing views

 

Delicious pasteries

 

Healthy fruit plate 

 

Ham and cheese Skillet minus the poached eggs

 

 

Buttermilk pancake stack with sausage and ham

 

The Lido Market, at lunch time only, at least on my last cruise, served an amazing bread called a fantail roll flavored with rosemary and red chili flake, but not spicy. Once I discovered these by the salad bar if I recall correctly, I easily had 2-3 per day even if I didn’t eat in the Lido Market. Such an indulgence! I even requested the recipe, but sadly I have yet to make them. 

 

 

Let me know if you have any questions or would like to see additional Holland America Line food pictures.

Edited August 20, 2019 by Click.Write.Post.
Correction of typos

[tere247]

More pictures, please😊

[Click.Write.Post.]

7 hours ago, tere247 said:

More pictures, please😊

Absolutely! I will post some more pictures later tonight or tomorrow.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

You will like it just be a little flexible. You are on vacation with other passengers. Pop

[DoggyDaddy]

FriendswithDave mentioned a carving station at lunch. I believe that this is only in the Lido. Lido lunch is very good, lots of choices.

 

DD

[Click.Write.Post.]

A few more food pictures from my last cruise on the ms Amsterdam:

 

Dining Room - Dinner Entree

 

Dining Room - Dessert

 

Lido Market - Beecher’s Mac N Cheese

 

Lido Market - Dinner Options

 

Lido Market - Dinner Options

 

Dining Room - Soup at Dinner

 

Dining Room - Salad at Dinner

 

Dining Room - Dinner Entree

 

Dining Room - Dessert

 

Dining Room - Dessert

 

Dining Room - Appetizer (We recall this being very good)

 

Dining Room - Dinner Entree

 

Dining Room - Dinner Entree

 

Dining Room - Dessert

 

Dining Room - Dessert

 

Dining Room - Gala Night

[STANCPA44]

On 8/19/2019 at 3:29 PM, farjar said:

We will be on the Oosterdam later this year.  Although we have sailed NCL, MSC and Carnival it is our first HAL cruise.  We love NCL's Freestyle Dining so have requested anytime seating for dinner. I've read I can reserve a table for two people for three days at a time if I go to the MDR when I first get on the ship?

 

Is the MDR open for breakfast and lunch everyday?  Can you go anytime?

 

Does the lunch menu change daily? NCL now only has one MDR lunch menu for the entire cruise.

 

For Gala nights is a coat and tie required or will a nice collared shirt and slacks suffice for men? (Mexico cruise)

 

Since we've sailed on Carnival I gather we will get the Embarkation Day lunch benefit plus a past guest party?

 

Also NCL's policy is that if your cruise price drops after final payment they will give you a one time OBC of 1/4th the amount of the price drop.  Does HAL have anything similar?

 

Thanks.  Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

 

The food on Holland is far superior to NCL, and better than Carnival.  One time I ordered bratwurst for dinner on NCL, what I got was four hot dogs.