Just Back From Noordam

[romancing_the_sea]

Your cruise sounded simply fabulous! Haven't sailed HAL in a while and learned a couple of new things - the iPod Art Tour and the Sommelier Dinner. Wow! Gotta do both!

[Sinbad37]

WeLove, Thank you for your wonderful and informative review!

We also are great HAL addicts, and have cruised the Oosterdam and Westerdam in the Vista class. Noordam sounds delightful. We just returned from our favorite, the Maasdam, 10/30/07. and had a great cruise, and also wished to stay aboard, but alas, no room in the inn!

Our children are doing Noordam the first of December, so will pass this information on. I wished to do the ipod on Maasdam but somehow ran out of time! Have you read the one where people want to know what one does on Sea days? Oh, My?

Cheers!

[Krazy Kruizers]

 

 

Sommelier Dinner

Ovidiu hosted a special Sommelier Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill one night. It was a course by course wine pairing with explanations of each, and the cost was $69 per person. The evening started with champagne in the Pinnacle Bar, and with Ovidiu demonstrating a celebratory opening of a bottle of Dom Perignon with a sword. (Unfortunately Ovidiu was the only one drinking the Dom as we were all drinking the free stuff at that point). We sat with two other couples (one of whom I know reads these boards but doesn’t post….Hi, “T” from Arizona if you’re reading this). It was great fun and we would definitely do it again. Here is my recollection of the menu:

· Amuse of Foie Gras Pate with pears, paired with Taittinger Premier Rose Champagne

· Salad of Lobster Tail on mesclun greens, paired with Chateau St Michelle Chardonnay

· Red Pepper bisque paired with a Gerwuztraminer (cant recall which)

· Halibut paired with Caymus Conundrum

· Orange sorbet floating in Champagne for palate cleanser

· Filet with mushrooms paired with Cabernet (so much wine at this point, no hope to remember which!)

· Chocolate mousse, and the red wine was flowing freely J

 

It is good to hear that they reserved one night for people to enjoy this dinner. That's the way it was back in 2004 when HAL started this sprcial Pinnacle dinner. Although the wine wasn't flowing like you mentioned.

[sail7seas]

 

Is there an extra charge for breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill? Is it the only

breakfast venue available other than the Lido?

 

 

Hi Studebaker..... I'm not WeLove but can answer one of your questions.

 

Pinnacle Grill is open for breakfast for guests in "S" and 'PS" cabins. There is no additional charge but only those guests can breakfast there. The Dining Room is open for breakfast every morning including disembarkation day. As you said, Lido serves breakfast and there is also Room Service.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for your review.

 

Enjoyed it very much.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Did I miss it???

 

What about the Mariner's Party?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Thank You for a Fantastic review:) Great detail and writing. Sounds llike you had as great time on the Noordam as we did in both June and September.

Your Sommelier Dinner sounds wonderful and I may just have to try that on the Oosterdam.

[Comptech]

Hi,

With the ipod tour, does the download include Video or is it just audio?

 

 

For everyone interested in the iPod tour, I really hope you do it. It made us appreciate the ship even more (is that possible :D ?). We learned interesting things about the thought behind some of the items, color schemes, floors, ceilings, etc. The tour also pointed out some pieces from the old Noordam that we recognized, but would have missed on our own. It starts in the Explorations Cafe and takes under an hour to complete. It tells you when to pause the iPod and go to a new area of the ship, and is really easy to follow. There was only one time we couldnt figure out what it was describing....a painting in the Oak Room that I'm convinced just isnt in there...but other than that it was right on.

 

Joanne

[Comptech]

Sorry double post DOH......

 

 

For everyone interested in the iPod tour, I really hope you do it. It made us appreciate the ship even more (is that possible :D ?). We learned interesting things about the thought behind some of the items, color schemes, floors, ceilings, etc. The tour also pointed out some pieces from the old Noordam that we recognized, but would have missed on our own. It starts in the Explorations Cafe and takes under an hour to complete. It tells you when to pause the iPod and go to a new area of the ship, and is really easy to follow. There was only one time we couldnt figure out what it was describing....a painting in the Oak Room that I'm convinced just isnt in there...but other than that it was right on.

 

Joanne

[Comptech]

Sorry tripple post... aggghhhh

 

 

For everyone interested in the iPod tour, I really hope you do it. It made us appreciate the ship even more (is that possible :D ?). We learned interesting things about the thought behind some of the items, color schemes, floors, ceilings, etc. The tour also pointed out some pieces from the old Noordam that we recognized, but would have missed on our own. It starts in the Explorations Cafe and takes under an hour to complete. It tells you when to pause the iPod and go to a new area of the ship, and is really easy to follow. There was only one time we couldnt figure out what it was describing....a painting in the Oak Room that I'm convinced just isnt in there...but other than that it was right on.

 

Joanne

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would still like to know about the Mariner's Party???

[WeLoveCruising]

Hi all,

Sorry for the delayed answers to your questions. I was away on a business trip and just got back last night.

 

KK - The Mariner's party was a luncheon on the last full sea day. Unfortunately my DH injured his back that morning and we were unable to attend. When I was in the Neptune Lounge I heard someone saying they liked it alot, and then someone else telling the concierge that they didnt like the new lunch format. Sorry I dont have more info. However, at the Suite reception the first evening, they were passing the usual champagne and mimosas, and I saw a man order a Manhattan and they went and got it for him (knew you'd be interested).

 

Comptech - The iPod art tour is just audio. There is a different picture displayed for every chapter, but it's just a fixed picture of one of the objects.

 

Sinbad37 - I dont know if you sailed HAL before or not, but the sea day activities arent as lively as on some other lines (that's exactly what we like). There's plenty to do - board games, trivia games, movies, two pools, Explorations Cafe which has puzzles, music listening stations, books...all that suits us very well. The casino and shops are also open. We met a few that were used to RCI or Carnival and looking for extensive pool games (belly flop contests, treasure hunts, hair chest contests and the like)..you wont find that type of stuff. My favorite way to spend a sea day is to read a book by the pool, meet and spend time talking to other people, play a game of trivia, have a nice lunch outdoors, do a few laps around the teak promendade deck, etc.

 

Studebaker59 - Sorry it took me so long to get to you! Your questions arent stupid at all. We all had to learn, ask, or figure this stuff out at one time ;) . You can borrow an iPod in the Explorations Cafe, so dont worry if you dont have one. The thermal suite was $250 for the whole cruise for both of us (one person was $150). I believe it's $40 a day if you want to do only a day or two. They will give you a tour if you ask before you decide to purchase. Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill is free, but only available to passengers in a Deluxe Verandah or Penthouse Suite. Besides the Pinnacle Grill you can have breakfast at the Lido, Dining Room, or via Room Serive. The Dining Room has a fixed menu of most standard offerings. The Lido has different stations of almost anything you'd want - a make to order omelette station, eggs benedict, pancake and french toast (regular and "special" items every day such as Dutch pancake, raisin bread french toast), eggs to order (not just a buffet style as on some other lines), fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit, European style meats and cheeses...the list goes on. For room service you can leave a card on your door the night before, or just call in the morning. There are set selections, but we also write in items without a problem (For example, I requested blueberry pancakes a few times and even though they're not a choice on the card I got them each time). For some reason the Lido has the fresh squeezed orange juice...I didnt like it in the other venues. My only other "wish" item is that I grew up in New England and am partial to real maple syrup. All I can find on the ships is "pancake" syrup.

[RuthC]

My only other "wish" item is that I grew up in New England and am partial to real maple syrup. All I can find on the ships is "pancake" syrup.

I know exactly what you mean---that stuff is awful. Try the sugar-free syrup. Believe it or not it actually tastes better! There is a detectable maple taste to it---unlike that other liquid they try to pass off as syrup.

[jandiart]

When will you be posting the menus? We will be on the December 1st cruise and need to know when to eat in the Pinnacle Grill. Also, Is there a "Chefs Dinner" on this ship? Thanks

[sab490]

When will you be posting the menus? We will be on the December 1st cruise and need to know when to eat in the Pinnacle Grill. Also, Is there a "Chefs Dinner" on this ship? Thanks

 

Jandiart -

 

We have 61 people on our roll call. Many of us are Noordam repeaters. We are having a "Meet & Greet" in the Crow's Nest on the first sea day. Please join us!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=464165

 

- Steve

[WeLoveCruising]

When will you be posting the menus? We will be on the December 1st cruise and need to know when to eat in the Pinnacle Grill. Also, Is there a "Chefs Dinner" on this ship? Thanks

 

There wasnt a Master Chef's Dinner on our cruise. I have heard that having one is now at the discretion of the Hotel Manager.

 

I'll post the menus under a separate thread. Unfortunately though I'm not sure I kept them in the exact day order. You can check the menus early in the day outside the dining room, (or if you're in a Deluxe Suite they'll deliver them to you), to see the exact menu of the day.

[RuthC]

It appears there's at least one hidden reply. Perhaps this will break up the log-jam. :confused:

[JimVrhovac]

Enjoyed the review. Thank you for taking the time to prepare it.

 

One question about casino:

 

Is it smoking, non smokin. or half and half

 

Thank you in advance

 

Ruth & Jim

[innlady1]

I know exactly what you mean---that stuff is awful. Try the sugar-free syrup. Believe it or not it actually tastes better! There is a detectable maple taste to it---unlike that other liquid they try to pass off as syrup.

 

I have to have real maple syrup...I wonder if one can sneak on a small bottle in their luggage? It's something I've been meaning to ask for a while!

[mamaofami]

Why would you have to sneak it on? What could possibly be wrong with bringing it?

[WeLoveCruising]

Enjoyed the review. Thank you for taking the time to prepare it.

 

One question about casino:

 

Is it smoking, non smokin. or half and half

 

Thank you in advance

 

Ruth & Jim

 

Jim,

I dont smoke or gamble (oh, I have plenty of vices, just not those ;) )....so I dont know for sure - but - I remember seeing a sign at least one night that said smoking after 10:30 in the casino. I'll read through my programs and see if I can find anything else. I did notice that they moved the smoking section from the Lido pool area by the Dolphin bar to the aft pool bar. (Unless maybe all the Vistas have always been like this and I just noticed.?)

 

Joanne

[RuthC]

I have to have real maple syrup...I wonder if one can sneak on a small bottle in their luggage? It's something I've been meaning to ask for a while!

You don't need to "sneak" it---just bring it on. It's not against any rules.

Many's the time I've boarded in Vancouver and purchased a small can just before boarding. My only problem was remembering to bring it up to breakfast!

I haven't even worried that it wasn't refrigerated, either. Didn't kill me---and room temperature is so much better than having it cold! :D Now, if they would only warm it for you, huh? ;)

[innlady1]

You don't need to "sneak" it---just bring it on. It's not against any rules.

Many's the time I've boarded in Vancouver and purchased a small can just before boarding. My only problem was remembering to bring it up to breakfast!

I haven't even worried that it wasn't refrigerated, either. Didn't kill me---and room temperature is so much better than having it cold! :D Now, if they would only warm it for you, huh? ;)

 

I'm glad there's someone else here who understands the importance of real maple syrup!

 

With all the talk about taking food off the ship, I didn't know if it was a no no on boarding. Glad that it's not!

 

I've heard the waffles are great on HAL...but I wouldn't even bother unless I had maple syrup to pour on top!

 

I go through a lot of maple syrup here...our four granddaughter's breakfast of choice when they sleep over is pancakes or waffles. They, too, only like real maple syrup! I've spoiled them!

 

One of my daughters told me that her oldest would be happy with a jug of maple syrup for Christmas!

[innlady1]

Why would you have to sneak it on? What could possibly be wrong with bringing it?

 

Perhaps sneak was too strong a choice of words! LOL!

 

So much talk lately about not taking snacks ashore that I thought perhaps we couldn't bring food on board either.

[JimVrhovac]

They are experimenting over the whole fleat to see what will work with the least amount of complaints so it is hard to say what is going on on each ship.

 

Thank you for your reply and your help...

 

Ruth & Jim