How do you spend your evenings "after dinner"?

[herb]

I thought it might be nice (especially for those who are new to cruising or for that matter new to Holland America) to hear how Holland America caters to its guest apres - dinner. Any special venues we should look forward to that might not be available on other cruiselines?

What do you enjoy doing after a delicious dinner?

[ger_77]

We like to take a slow walk around the Promenade deck to clear our heads and settle our dinner, then either take in a show, or linger over a coffee and liquer in the Explorer's Lounge, listening to beautiful music. It's a lovely way to end a day on a cruise ship.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[sail7seas]

One of the most lovely features of an HAL cruise is the classical music played each evening after dinner in the Explorer's Lounge. Have a cognac, coffee....homemade chocolates in that beautiful setting and enjoy the music.

[IggleDoer]

The thermal suites after dinner. Then a nice walk on the Promenade Deck.

[lka1012]

Since regardless of the sitting, by the end of the meal I am almost face down snoring, generally I go to bed.

[RuthC]

Usually I'll head to the late show, and if there's time first I'll stop in the Explorer's Lounge for a bit. If the musician in the Piano Bar/Lounge is any good at all I'll head there after the show and stay until closing. If he's really good I might not make the show!

Those few times the Piano Bar hasn't been good I've gone back to the Explorer's Lounge. It closes too early, but whacha gonna do.

[bepsf]

I also enjoy a turn around the Promenade Deck to get some air and settle the tummy...

 

...then a Flaming Spanish Coffee in the Explorers Lounge followed by smart cocktails watching the couples dancing in the Ocean Bar or up in the Crow's Nest, then maybe a late night snack/dessert in the Lido.

 

Often take a late-night art-tour of the ship and/or a walk on Observation Deck to see the stars, the lights on the funnels and the smoke streaming off into the distance. Particularly enjoy walking through the midship Lido on rough seas to see how high the waves in the pool are (Will the water hit the Magrodome again? Whee!!!! :D)

 

...then finally back to the stateroom for a few moments on the verandah gazing at the lights of distant ships before bed.

[jhannah]

Man, you all are making me wish even more that I was onboard a ship right now! A show, stroll and lovely music generally make up our apres-dinner routine.

[Cruiseoften]

Much depends on on-board acquaintances - as a couple we're happy with each other but most certainly are open to others - we enjoy a coffee and cognac after dinner; attending a show - that's ok too - perhaps the Casino for an hour - we're not into serious gambling - we usually stroll the all around Prom deck and enjoy watching the wake - then it's bedtime:)

[ekerr19]

followed by smart cocktails

 

Brian - Do cocktails have an IQ??? Let me know if there is something I could be drinking (especially containing alcohol) that could actually improve my brain power, lol!!! :D

 

But seriously, what is a smart cocktail? Something neat or straight-up? I honestly have never heard the term...

[kryos]

Usually I have late seating dinner, and if the show looks promising, I catch that after dinner.

 

Then, I sometimes head up to the Lido for a nice hot cup of tea ... or, if I am still feeling energetic, the Explorations Cafe is a nice place to stop for a white hot cocoa and to do a bit of reading or perhaps listen to some music in those nice comfortable chairs with the headphones. You can program your own playlist, and they have a very, very extensive selection to choose from.

 

I found on my Amsterdam cruise that the Explorations Cafe is one of the best areas onboard the ship. They have a great selection of magazines you can read, not to mention books that can be browsed. You can really waste some time in there. :)

 

Usually, though, I'm in bed by midnight or shortly thereafter on a sea day. On port days I can often be exhausted and will head to the Lido for my tea and smoke right after dinner, and then straight to bed.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[RevNeal]

After dinner I usually waddle out to the Explorer's Lounge, settle down for a cognac and to listen to the classical music for 10 or 15 minutes. After that, if I've heard that the show is any good, I'll waddle forward and enjoy it. Then, it's out to the promenade for a leisurely lap or two. If I'm with people, there's usually conversation in the midst of all this. :)

 

I'll then sometimes go up to the Crows Nest (or the Northern Lights, on a Vista ship) for some conversation and dancing. I've spent many a late night aboard ship in various venues chatting with fellow passengers, or meeting ship's crew, officers, entertainment cast, etc.

 

If it was a VERY long day ashore, I'll sometimes go to bed around midnight. If not, I'll usually stay up to around 2 am. It all depends upon what's going on, the kinds of people I'm around, etc.

[Candy]

I can be found at the Craps table, and Jim in the Hold'em Parlor.

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[airlink diva]

With me, it varies. Most of the time, I enjoy a walk around the deck and then head to the Crows Nest for a drink.

Other times I go to the casino and try my luck on the nickle slots.

If I had a busy day in port, I just head to my room to read a book and relax.

I like HAL because it's very relaxing after dinner mode around the ship. Not rowdy, but nice.

I'm a fairly "young" 37 years old, but I prefer HAL to all others!!

[Steamboatin]

Just sit out on the balcony and listen to the waves going pass the ship and relax.

 

All the rest I mostly can do at home.

 

But at home cannot listen to waves going pass the ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

After dinner, if there isn't a good show, we usually go the Explorer's Lounge for an after dinner drink and extra chocolates.

Sometimes we get a cordial and have it out on our verandah.

[yiddishkopf]

On our recent Statendam trip (NZ-Australia), we often went to the Explorers Lounge where my SO recognized a violinist who, many years ago, played at a restaurant in Chicago! This surprise was eclipsed only by the fact that I met a former neighbor at our hotel in Auckland. We both lived in Munster, IN (they still live there) on the same street, about 4 houses apart!

 

On our 14 day cruise, we probably went to about 5 or 6 shows, saw one after dinner movie, and as a trivia nut, I went to PM trivia once after dinner. On days when I was available and not on an excursion, I never missed daytime trivia and came home with many prizes.

 

In the Explorers Lounge, we too enjoyed the flaming Spanish coffee and further enjoyed the wonderful music.

[gizmo]

It varies. It could be the Explorers Lounge, Ocean Bar, Casino Bar, Roulette table, or the show.

 

I do enjoy a Captain's coffee after dinner.

[Randyk47]

We'll mix up our evenings with either dancing in the Crow's Nest or gambling in the casino or both.

[arzz]

After dinner we always:

--spend some time in the Explorer's Lounge listening to the classical music -- especially when the group is as good as they were on our recent Maasdam cruise

--spend some time on our balcony with the stars (assuming that we can see the stars)

--we often go to the show

--we often walk the promenade deck

--we often curl up and read someplace quiet for a while

--very occasionally we donate to the nickle slots in the casino

 

There is always something to do -- more than we have time for -- but it is all so quiet and elegant on HAL

[capnjoe]

After dinner we like to take a stroll around the deck, maybe stop in at the northern lights and if we hear the show is pretty good we will go there, but I am addicted to the casino, so I do all the above so my wife dont mind if I partake in a little action in the casino:D

[kakalina]

I usually go to the Ocean bar or the Crows Nest to listen to the band as I prefer early sitting. Then if it's a good show I will wander into the lounge to watch. After the show I might check out the dance hosts and then penny slots for me.

We generally order hot chocolate or tea and dessert from room service before we go to bed.

[Stakeout]

we usually do 'early seating'.. tried late seating one time.. ugh.. don't like getting finished with din-din near 10pm with midnite buffet at 1130... just something wrong with that..

 

after dinner.. a stop in the casino... check out the shops.. check to see what show is on and if we've seen it on previous HAL cruises.. a trip to the Explorers lounge..one of our favorite places to relax.. might be the Piano Lounge or Ocean bar on subsequent nites..but the Explorer's usually wins out for us... then back in the casino ..take the money and run like this hit on the last nite of our last cruise..

 

 

then get an early 5am wakeup call the next morning and head up to the gym bright eyed and bushy tailed....:D

[Debi Girl]

We just love strolling on the Lower Promenade deck even when it's cold and only 36 more days until we can!!!

[Druke I]

My wife & I are not night people. Absent an interesting show in the lounge, we'll take a turn around the deck, and turn in early.