Is there a bar on Nieuw Statendam that has curated crafted cocktails?

[C-sea]

Is there a bar on Nieuw Statendam that specializes in talented bartenders, showcasing artisanal cocktails like, World Class Bar on Celebrity Cruises?

[crystalspin]

On the (sister ship) Rotterdam, there is the Half Moon Bar, menu here thanks to @Crew News:

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Half-Moon-Bar.pdf

 

Its location is between the Ocean Bar and Club Orange, on the Plaza Deck (2). That location on Nieuw Statendam is marked as "Blend", with this program also from Roger:

https://rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Blend-Activities.pdf

 

I have done a similar activity in a wine cellar on land and, while fun, once is enough.

 

Now, I see on the "Bar Menus -- All Bars" FIVE curated cocktails, apparently available from any bar on any HAL ship, on the first page, here:

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Bar-Menu-2021.pdf

 

Roger knows HAL ships and their menus better than I think anyone alive, so maybe he can add more info.

 

ETA: I have not YET sailed on a Pinnacle Class ship, but have three cruises booked on the (sister ship) Koningsdam. If I were you, I would spend a seaday touring the bars on the ship and finding an environment I felt most comfortable in, with seating near or at the bar, and see if I hit it off with the bartender there. Ask about those five cocktails plus the ones from the Half Moon Bar (on Rotterdam) AND if he (or she) had any specialties up the sleeve!

Edited September 14, 2022 by crystalspin

[Crew News]

It is my experience that the HAL bartenders can make almost any drink if they have the mixer/ingredients.  Just ask.  There is usually an exotic drink of the day on every cruise that may not be on the regular menu. 

 

Here is a link to all of the HAL beverage menus:  HAL Beverage Menus

 

[Greysandy]

We usually try a few of the craft cocktails with different bartenders until we find the bartenders who we feel make the most balanced and properly crafted cocktails, then we just try to visit those bartenders. I particularly liked the "penicillin" but had it made terribly at a few of the bars. Our motto is always "find our favorite bartenders, tip them well, and ask them where they are working each day so we can find them."

[chefchick]

On the subject of cocktails…boarding the NS tomorrow.  I like a VERY dry martini, or a (not too sweet) old fashion- is finding the right bartender more of a priority than the right “bar”?  Also, I prefer Belvedere or Grey Goose for vodka and Buffalo Trace or Woodford for bourbon, are these available under the HIA package and for those of you who have sailed recently, available readily on board?  I sailed Royal Caribbean recently where they were literally out of stock of ANY brand of bourbon 😱 

[oakridger]

See post #2 link for lists.  All of yours are there and less than $11, so on the HIA!  As for availability, I guess you'll find out tomorrow. 😁

 

Bon Voyage!

 

~Nancy

[FredT]

22 hours ago, chefchick said:

On the subject of cocktails…boarding the NS tomorrow.  I like a VERY dry martini, or a (not too sweet) old fashion- is finding the right bartender more of a priority than the right “bar”?  Also, I prefer Belvedere or Grey Goose for vodka and Buffalo Trace or Woodford for bourbon, are these available under the HIA package and for those of you who have sailed recently, available readily on board?  I sailed Royal Caribbean recently where they were literally out of stock of ANY brand of bourbon 😱 

If you can still see this, try the bar in the Casino.   We just got off the NS (8 hours ago) and found the bartender there the best one on the entire ship... (In terms of making oddball drinks "correctly")

[aliaschief]

Every bar as of late, in our experience, has some signature cocktails on their cocktail menus. At least that is the case on Pinnacle Class ships.

[robotpony]

I'm pretty easy with drinks (my default is gin/soda), but I did find a few bartenders who made extra dry martinis and old fashions (the sort that are not too sweet). I was impressed with the overall consistency of drinks on our last sailing.

[Jettech1a]

Just got off NS this morning. We found Jamaica in the Crow's Nest made excellent cocktails and will remember your preferences. If you see her tell her Brian and Elaine said Hi. She remembered our names and preferences the first day!

[Cruisegoer]

On 9/13/2022 at 8:48 PM, C-sea said:

Is there a bar on Nieuw Statendam that specializes in talented bartenders, showcasing artisanal cocktails like, World Class Bar on Celebrity Cruises?

World Class Bars are a thing of the past on Celebrity, gone on all newer and Revolutionized ships. Not sure they are even calling them the World Class bar on remaining non-Revolutionized ships.

 

[Greysandy]

We have never seen them run out of standard bourbons. On a cruise from England, they ran out of Pimm's, and higher end tequila's not available in every bar, but bourbon seems to be fairly standardly available.

On 9/16/2022 at 4:31 PM, chefchick said:

On the subject of cocktails…boarding the NS tomorrow.  I like a VERY dry martini, or a (not too sweet) old fashion- is finding the right bartender more of a priority than the right “bar”?  Also, I prefer Belvedere or Grey Goose for vodka and Buffalo Trace or Woodford for bourbon, are these available under the HIA package and for those of you who have sailed recently, available readily on board?  I sailed Royal Caribbean recently where they were literally out of stock of ANY brand of bourbon 😱 

 

[chefchick]

Just off the NS today….great cruise and I certainly had my fill of cocktails, but the bourbon supply was not great ( but I made do)😜. The biggest “problem” I saw was the weird Canadian maritime rule of only one bar open per deck while in port.  As a port intensive itinerary this meant that there was often no convenient bars open for pre dinner drinks and the poor servers had to scramble to the far reaches of the ship to serve everyone.  Again, not complaining, it was a great cruise and the crew was outstanding.