12noon boarding - no Mariners Lunch?

[msteries]

Although my boarding pass says Priority, an email from HAL gives a 12n boarding time.  Seems late.  Usually with Priority I time it so I arrive a bit before 11, and head for the Mariners Lunch.

[RuthC]

Your 'boarding' pass really reflects a check-in time. Even those with a check-in time prior to 11:00 AM likely won't actually board the ship until 11:30 (or later). The crew is at lunch until 11:30 on embarkation day. 
Lunch in the dining room goes until 1:00 (or 1:30), so you have plenty of time to arrive, check-in, board, and head to lunch. 

[RAS4331]

We are currently on the Koningsdam.  We boarded on Tuesday, and a day or two later we received an invitation to a Mariner’s Lunch on Friday, so ours was not held on embarkation day.  

[OlsSalt]

1 minute ago, RAS4331 said:

We are currently on the Koningsdam.  We boarded on Tuesday, and a day or two later we received an invitation to a Mariner’s Lunch on Friday, so ours was not held on embarkation day.  

 

At one time, the MDR was open only for Mariner members on embarkation day. Everyone else had to go to the Lido.  Now I think the MDR  is open to anyone.  No longer just a "Mariners Lunch" on embarkation; not to be confused with the invite Mariners Lunch and awards ceremonies. 

 

Correct me if I am wrong about MDR embarkation day no longer being just for Mariners. 

[kazu]

I think the OP is referring to the embarkation lunch - it used to be just for Mariners and no longer is restricted.  Moreover, the menu is basically the same for every lunch albeit a special on the cruise.

 

The Mariner’s Luncheon where Mariners are recognized with a special lunch is on a sea day and based on my past cruise, seriously upgraded and quite nice.  

[RAS4331]

Ok, sorry if I confused the issue.  I didn’t realize the embarkation lunch and the other Mariner’s lunch were two different things.

[TiogaCruiser]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

The Mariner’s Luncheon where Mariners are recognized with a special lunch is on a sea day and based on my past cruise, seriously upgraded and quite nice.  

It’s been missing for at least some of us for our past 2 cruises ( both post Covid.)

 

I know on our last cruise there was a Mariner’s lunch close to the beginning of the cruise because someone who I think was 2 stars said they attended. We only have 1 more star and didn’t get any invitation ( and interestingly it was the cruise that our steward delivered my copper medallion to my hubby. Honestly Mariner’s isn’t that big a deal for me, but this time it just seemed tacky because of the “milestone “).

 

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, RAS4331 said:

Ok, sorry if I confused the issue.  I didn’t realize the embarkation lunch and the other Mariner’s lunch were two different things.

Yes, they're different; I think a few years ago the one on Embarkation Day may have been referred to as a Mariners Lunch 🤔but not now. As said, everyone that boards in time is welcome to have lunch in MDR2 on Embarkation Day. It's typically served 12-1:30, could vary by ship.

Mariners Lunch will be later on a sea day; there may even be more than 1 depending on the number of Mariners onboard. This is invitation only w/a different menu.

[kazu]

15 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

It’s been missing for at least some of us for our past 2 cruises ( both post Covid.)

 

I know on our last cruise there was a Mariner’s lunch close to the beginning of the cruise because someone who I think was 2 stars said they attended. We only have 1 more star and didn’t get any invitation ( and interestingly it was the cruise that our steward delivered my copper medallion to my hubby. Honestly Mariner’s isn’t that big a deal for me, but this time it just seemed tacky because of the “milestone “).

 

 

Post covid the Mariners lunch was missing for a long time.  I seems to have come back recently just based on my cruise experience post covid…

 

on the cruises where it was offered it was for 3, 4 and 5* Mariners.  The sad fact is that there are just too many of them. None are special despite what they hope or believe.

 

To not be invited when you received your copper seems strange to me and, for the cruises I have been on, you were well qualified.  In the old days B.C. (Before covid) you would have been escorted in.  I wonder if the lack of an invite was an oversight or a failure on delivery.  Congrats on your 100 days at sea 👍 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

6 hours ago, msteries said:

Although my boarding pass says Priority, an email from HAL gives a 12n boarding time.  Seems late.  Usually with Priority I time it so I arrive a bit before 11, and head for the Mariners Lunch.

I don't think it is done any more.

[msteries]

4 hours ago, kazu said:

I think the OP is referring to the embarkation lunch - it used to be just for Mariners and no longer is restricted.  Moreover, the menu is basically the same for every lunch albeit a special on the cruise.

 

The Mariner’s Luncheon where Mariners are recognized with a special lunch is on a sea day and based on my past cruise, seriously upgraded and quite nice.  

Yes, you are right.  My last cruise on HAL was just before covid, and embarkation lunch in dining room was for Mariners. Then there was a special event later.  

[Btimmer]

Our experience on many post COVID HAL cruises is that there has been a Mariner reception on embarkation day; however, our boarding times have precluded our participation.  The Mariners award luncheon on our last cruise just completed on the Oosterdam in SA had the best food for a Mariner lunch we have ever had: a choice of a filet, or lamb or a vegetarian option as I best recall.

[cruiseaholic78]

Last October on Westerdam, no embarkation lunch in MDR, we were directed to the Lido but I went to the MDR to check. It’s a shame because it was always a nice relaxed way to start a cruise.

Just hoping they might bring this back!

[Real NHDOC]

4 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

Last October on Westerdam, no embarkation lunch in MDR, we were directed to the Lido but I went to the MDR to check. It’s a shame because it was always a nice relaxed way to start a cruise.

Just hoping they might bring this back!

We’ve never had an embarkation day where lunch wasn’t served in the MDR. It’s typically not publicized and only served in the lower dining room until 1pm. If they didn’t do it on your cruise it is an anomaly. It’s nothing special in terms of menu but nicer than the lido. Most people realize you can just ignore the check in time shown on your board pass and just get to the port in time for them to start boarding and you will get on in plenty of time to go to the MDR for the lunch. 

[Avery's Gram]

We’ve had two cruises in Alaska where we were told the dining room was closed on embarkation day.  I HATE the Lido, so we went to check and it was closed.  We ended up at the Dive In, which was nice but not what we prefer.

 

on at least two previous cruises we were directed to the Lido, enquired about MDR, were told no but found it open when we checked.  So I’d always check, but won’t be surprised either way.

 

Barbara M. In NH

[sunviking90]

There was no mdr embarkation day lunch on our Volendam cruise in November and when ai asked was told there were too many crew changing over for them to staff it that day. We did have it on the Koningsdam in January, so it seems like they have it unless they are short crew.

[iflyrc5]

On 2/4/2024 at 9:00 PM, kazu said:

 

Post covid the Mariners lunch was missing for a long time.  I seems to have come back recently just based on my cruise experience post covid…

 

on the cruises where it was offered it was for 3, 4 and 5* Mariners.  The sad fact is that there are just too many of them. None are special despite what they hope or believe.

 

To not be invited when you received your copper seems strange to me and, for the cruises I have been on, you were well qualified.  In the old days B.C. (Before covid) you would have been escorted in.  I wonder if the lack of an invite was an oversight or a failure on delivery.  Congrats on your 100 days at sea 👍 

We a 5 star and have done 12 cruises (Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam (twice), Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam) since the Covid pause - they now apparently now only have the Medal awards ceremony for Silver medal and above.

[kazu]

5 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

We a 5 star and have done 12 cruises (Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam (twice), Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam) since the Covid pause - they now apparently now only have the Medal awards ceremony for Silver medal and above.

 

I agree on the Medallion awards - it has been silver and above on the ones I have attended post covid as well.  My understanding from the post was that they were not invited to the Mariner’s luncheon which I found surprising since they are 3*.  

[POA1]

On 2/4/2024 at 3:46 PM, RuthC said:

Your 'boarding' pass really reflects a check-in time. Even those with a check-in time prior to 11:00 AM likely won't actually board the ship until 11:30 (or later). The crew is at lunch until 11:30 on embarkation day. 
Lunch in the dining room goes until 1:00 (or 1:30), so you have plenty of time to arrive, check-in, board, and head to lunch. 

They changed that on 1/25/2024. It's now the boarding time. We have a booking coming up and received an email to that effect.

 

I don't know if that will clear up confusion, or just make a new kind.

Edited February 6 by POA1

[sunviking90]

5 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I agree on the Medallion awards - it has been silver and above on the ones I have attended post covid as well.  My understanding from the post was that they were not invited to the Mariner’s luncheon which I found surprising since they are 3*.  

On the Volendam recently I believe there were 2 Mariners lunches back to back. We were at the second with other 3 stars from what we gathered. Not hosted by anyone and no awards. My 100 medal was had been left in our room the day before. I would assume the 4 and 5 stars had officers attend and medal awards, but not sure. The lunch was very good.
I didn’t mind not having my medal “awarded” as we don’t like attention generally, but I thought it was odd that there was no “host” for the luncheon. I would have at least expected a 1 minute blurb from someone about thanks for your loyalty, etc.

The last one we attended was probably 8 years (we’ve been 3 star a LONG time) ago, was hosted, awards presented, etc. 

[kazu]

1 minute ago, sunviking90 said:

On the Volendam recently I believe there were 2 Mariners lunches back to back. We were at the second with other 3 stars from what we gathered. Not hosted by anyone and no awards. My 100 medal was had been left in our room the day before. I would assume the 4 and 5 stars had officers attend and medal awards, but not sure. The lunch was very good.
I didn’t mind not having my medal “awarded” as we don’t like attention generally, but I thought it was odd that there was no “host” for the luncheon. I would have at least expected a 1 minute blurb from someone about thanks for your loyalty, etc.

The last one we attended was probably 8 years (we’ve been 3 star a LONG time) ago, was hosted, awards presented, etc. 

    

All the medallion ceremonies have always been by invitation and done before the  luncheon.  The captain or CD used to recognize people with very high numbers of days but I haven’t seen that in a number of years.

 

The officers were at our luncheon but not mingling that I saw nor sitting with anyone.  We did have the standard HAL toast though.  I believe it was the captain who did it.  

[sunviking90]

14 minutes ago, kazu said:

    

All the medallion ceremonies have always been by invitation and done before the  luncheon.  The captain or CD used to recognize people with very high numbers of days but I haven’t seen that in a number of years.

 

Thanks for clarifying. 😊 

[TiogaCruiser]

7 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I agree on the Medallion awards - it has been silver and above on the ones I have attended post covid as well.  My understanding from the post was that they were not invited to the Mariner’s luncheon which I found surprising since they are 3*.  

Exactly. And the context was also there reportedly had been a Mariner lunch towards the beginning of the cruise that a 2 star was invited to. Honestly, not a big deal, just tacky when looking at the larger picture. 

[OlsSalt]

Last Medallion ceremony on the Noordam (2023) also recognized those with high Mariner points too - over 1000+ points,  since there is no Mariner recognition beyond five star Mariner status.  So this was a hybrid recognition ceremony. Both Medallions and very high Mariners points.  

 

But the medallions were limited to silver and above,  plus recognition of those who had already achieved their higher medallion status in the past. It was nice to spend time with others who do love HAL and demonstrate it by their repeat business. Lots of good HAL  travel tales to share.

[love4trvl]

I see on our upcoming Nieuw Amsterdam cruise that on the daily

program it says that Mariner Society Welcome Aboard Lunch in the MDR noon....?