Suite buffet/lucheons

[Krazy Kruizers]

Suite lunches/buffets!!

I know many of you do not book suites, but I am extremely upset to have received a new brochure from our TA that on 7 day cruises the suite buffets will be discontinued!!

 

At one time we used to have the suite sit-down Indonesian Luncheon and that was replaced with the buffet. Now even that is going to be replaced.

 

Recently someone, somewhere mentioned that there was a meeting and HAL wanted to know what they could do to provide more perks for suite passengers.

 

Looks as though HAL has chosen to take away even more pleasures that we suite passengers are used to looking forward to.

 

So in other words - those meetings were worthless as far as suite passengers are concerned!!

 

Now some of you know why we have said that we are looking at other lines.

[twinkletoes4445]

Hmmmm...that's interesting. Well, we are still glad we have our suite booked, but considering the cost, I hope they don't take away too many perks. The perks offered were the main reason we booked with HAL. Well, and the wonderful things everyone has had to say...but really, it was the suite perks that sold us.

[MercedMike]

That's too bad. We just came back from the Zuiderdam and had a lovely suite luncheon, with the Hotel Manager and the concierges taking very good care of us. It was a nice little perk.

 

OTOH, I would gladly trade it for free wireless access in the Neptune Lounge!

 

;o)

 

Mike

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I for one can say that this is extremely upsetting:( This is the one thing DH looks forward to on our cruises and is one of the many reasons we book a S Suite. To be honest I could go back to booking a regular Verandah or maybe a SS Suite on the Vista Class and save a heck of a lot of money. Especially if they start cutting back items they offer in the Neptune which is how it seemed on our recent Ryndam cruise.

Well, our next cruise is a 4 day one that we already knew we would not have the Suite luncheon and the next cruise is a 10 day so we should have it then.

[PRINSENDAM]

Suite lunches/buffets!!

I know many of you do not book suites, but I am extremely upset to have received a new brochure from our TA that on 7 day cruises the suite buffets will be discontinued!!

 

.

 

 

 

NO CAVIAR FIX ON A 7 DAY CRUISE!!!!!! :mad: DAMN!

 

Thankfully STATENDAM Vancouver to Auckland is 28 days!

 

Stephen

 

 

[PRINSENDAM]

In a way I can understand HAL eliminating this perk on 7 day cruises. More often than not the event is on the last day when everyone is busy doing other things.... like enjoying the last day at sea. On many occassions the buffet is very poorly attended.

 

On the last sea day of the cruise, especially prior to entering a US disembarkation port, the Captain and his officers are usually very busy and it is not convenient for them to take a break. The buffet will be missed but I can understand the reasoning behind the decision.

 

Perhaps one night each cruise they could hold a caviar and champagne (or vodka) party in the Neptune Lounge before dinner.:)

 

Stephen

[garydm]

I'd be real happy if just the coffee maker worked in the Neptune Lounge!

 

Gary

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Perhaps one night each cruise they could hold a caviar and champagne (or vodka) party in the Neptune Lounge before dinner.:)

 

Stephen

 

Stephen, that is actually not a bad idea, but I will say when we were on the Ryndam in May they did not even have the Caviar for the Suite Luncheon. Actually the normal spread for the Suite Luncheon is reduced by several items.

[elmorejj]

I am with KK and Laffnvegas on this. The S prices are going way up and the amenities are going way down. I`ve been checking prices for 07 and the S prices are double what they are this year. What other perks are they going to take away? We take about 4 vacations a year at all inclusive resorts in the Carib. or Mexico, we get so much more for our money. I guess this is the way we will be going in the future.........jean:cool:

[dakrewser]

Sometimes we book suites, sometimes we don't. When we do, it's on cruises with a larger number of "at sea" days because we like the added room the suite gives us. I'm also partial to the Neptune Lounge coffee machine.

 

But the buffet isn't all that big a deal - sometimes we go, sometimes no. The major advantage, we feel, is that it's held at lunch on a sea dea so we avoid the big crowd in the Lido...

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wasn't there a big meeting Las Vegas just this past June??

 

Wasn't one of the topics about adding suite perks???

 

I could be wrong about the above.

 

But if HAL can afford to send employees to expensive Las Vegas for meetings, then HAL should not be thinking about taking away suite perks.

[gizmo]

:mad:

In a way I can understand HAL eliminating this perk on 7 day cruises. More often than not the event is on the last day when everyone is busy doing other things.... like enjoying the last day at sea. On many occassions the buffet is very poorly attended.

 

Then why hold it the last day ?

 

I am with the others. This is NOT good news.

[imacrusing]

We have always booked S SUite BUT NEVEr gone to the SUite luncheon..just not interested..but for those that are..I am sorry

 

We book the suites for the verandah...size of room.....and just generally spend lpts of time on verandah reading, napping and enjoying the cruising..we also book ruises with the most sea days..no private island visit if possible.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Wasn't there a big meeting Las Vegas just this past June??

 

Wasn't one of the topics about adding suite perks???

 

I could be wrong about the above.

 

But if HAL can afford to send employees to expensive Las Vegas for meetings, then HAL should not be thinking about taking away suite perks.

 

Yes, they were here the first part of June and yes they were looking at Suite ammenities but.....I am not sure coming to Las Vegas was a good thing. It could have back fired for us as customers. Las Vegas is very expensive and even for the Suites you really do not get anything compared to the ships yet, people keep coming. Plus my personal opinion is that Las Vegas customer service is at an all time low and unless you are spending thousands on the casino floor they could care less about you. I think they should have gone to the Grand Wailea in Maui and stayed in their suites;)

[KAKcruiser]

My guess is that HAL can keep selling the suites even without the perks. I used to enjoy the suite dinners in the past but they discontinued them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thankfully any cruises we book will be longer than 7 days.

[p.nutgirl]

I have to admit, I have not sailed yet, my first time will be in October, but I started reading the boards and decided that HAL was the place for my family.. I booked the suite for all of the amenities, I hate to see even one go away..

 

Gary, please tell me that I misunderstood you... THere are not problems with the coffee makers? Is there?? I have to have my coffee:D

[LolaWiz]

i am sorry if i did not read this already on this post, but does anyone know when the suite lunch will be stopped?

we really enjoyed it this past Jan. That was one of the main reasons we booked another "S" because of this perk (along with complimentary laundry) :(

[PRINSENDAM]

:mad:

 

Then why hold it the last day ?

 

I am with the others. This is NOT good news.

 

 

Gizmo,

 

The unfortunate fact is that on most 7 day cruises there are only two sea days. Obviously the first day is not a good day for the buffet and that leaves only the last day.

 

It also becomes a real hassle when you have a Mariner's party at 11 o'clock and then a suite buffet at noon.

 

But I agree with you completely, this is NOT good news, no matter how you look at it.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[debjo]

Like "Lolawiz", I too, would like to know when the "discontinued" luncheon buffet for suite passengers is to take effect. Like "p.nutgirl", I've booked my first HAL cruise in a suite because I wanted all the "perks"...many that other cruise lines do not offer. I, too, am looking forward to my October cruise and would like to know what I can start to "not" look forward to.

 

And, "p.nutgirl"...what cruise are you taking in October...we're on the Westerdam 10/15 to the Eastern Caribbean and wonder if you are traveling with us?

 

Debjo

[Krazy Kruizers]

I dot have an exact date as to when this will go into effect.

Yesterday, we received a brochure from our TA (Canada/New England) for 2007.

On Page 16 at the bottom of the second column is this note "a special suite-guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length".

I do not have any NEW brochures of the Caribbean or Alaska or any place else so I do not know when this take place on the 7 day cruises.

[krewzin]

Well, that is indeed disappointing. We thoroughly enjoyed the 'suite buffet' in the Crow's Nest during our recent Zuidy cruise (although they need to use bigger plates...but that's now a moot point!), it was a lot of fun.

 

I wonder who is responsible for this decision and, more importantly...why?

[mick70]

Well maybe it is time We try Silversea.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Has anyone else picked up new brochures and seen this bit of information??

[debjo]

JUST GOT THE NEW CARIBBEAN & MEXICO BROCHURE...October 2006-December 2007...

 

In comparing the new brochure with my "old one" (April 2005-April 2007), I did find a few differences in the "suites", although neither brochure had mention of the suite buffet luncheon. I zeroed in on the "suite" perks because we are avidly awaiting our first "suite experience" (SC-Deluxe Verandah Suite on the aft corner) on the WESTERDAM in October '06...a booking that I've had since August '05.

 

Here's what I saw as "different" as far as the "suite perks" go:

1. The old brochure mentioned "24 hour one-touch telephone concierge service in suites". This is not mentioned in the new brochure.

2. It also looks like the "personalized cruise stationery" has been discontinued. This may sound odd, but I was looking forward to having our "personalized cruise stationery" to record special cruise memories on and put in our scrapbook! My DH is an avid collector of ocean liner memorabilia and has several pieces of vintage ship stationery...it would have been nice to have some with our names on it!

3. It looks like the fresh flowers in the "suites" has also been discontinued, as I didn't find any mention of it in the new brochure.

 

I should note that a "VIP Party with the Captain" is mentioned in BOTH the old and new brochures...could it be that this is the "Suite Buffet Luncheon" that is talked about on this thread?

 

Debjo