falcon10156

Also, I have a question for you, is it true that it's through the librarian that you can get decks of cards with HAL logo on them?

On the Veendam we went to the Casino cashier and were able to purchase cards to keep for $1.00 if you needed cards to play with. Not necessarily HAL though :(

In No particular order -

Escargot

Bread Pudding (I go to the Lido as soon as I get on board just to get a taste)

Raisin Cinnamon buns for breakfast

Chocolate Chip Cookies

(and on our last cruise - Really good Empanadas. I am not sure if they have this on all cruise but we were on a South American sailing)

... not particular food but

Indonesian Tea and the sweets

and the sweets at the Dutch tea

Cant wait until my next HAL cruise

In your opinion, what is the absolute best thing about HAL that sets it apart from other cruise lines?

The Crew, the beds, the chocolate chip cookies and the bread pudding.

There are no high teas on the ship. Afternoon (low) tea is held daily.

There will be an assortment of small, open faced sandwiches, pound cakes, scones w/choice of marmelade or jam and whipped cream, and other desserts.

 

Some of the low teas are specialty teas. During the course of the cruise there may be Royal Dutch tea, Indonesian, and cupcake tea. On a mid-length cruise all three will be held.

"

Afternoon Tea Service

For more than 400 years, tea has been a civilized respite from the workaday world. For Holland America Line, tea time is as much about time as it is about tea -- time to sit with friends, time to talk, and time to savor.

We offer several types of tea services onboard our cruises: daily casual tea, Royal Dutch High Tea, and Indonesian Afternoon Tea. Tea schedules vary for each sailing, so your cruise could include a combination of some or all of these types of tea."

From Holland America Site - http://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Simple.action?requestPage=Tea

not sure if link will work but the Royal Dutch High Tea is amazing

Oh cool! & how many different kinds of High Teas are there? Do you remember any?

Depends on how many days? We did have a type of tea served in MDR almost everyday of our 17 day cruise at 3:00pm. Perfect break in the day before dinner and after lunch. :)

What is served at the High Teas I hear so much about?

Dutch High tea - has tea and sandwiches and sweets. All Dutch style in buffet then sat down in MDR and we were served tea

English High Tea - is scones, cream and jelly and of course tea. Served with white gloves when we had it.

There was also a nice Indonesian Tea on my last cruise on the Veendam. Rice balls were amazing. I also liked the cinnamon tasting tea. They also had other Indonesian sweets and other types of teas. The servers were dressed in traditional Indonesian clothes - very nice.

Hope this helps.

Are the formal nights on the 'first Inside Passage' day, Thursday -- and the Glacier Bay day, Sunday?

 

We want to book the Pinnacle but not on a formal night.

 

Also -- do they still have 'Tea' in the afternoons? If so - what lounge ?

 

Thank you!

Tea is usually served in part of the MDR on most HAL ships around 3:00pm.

It's supposed to be.

I did ask to borrow the iPod on the Prinsendam, as I wanted to do the tour, but the person I asked didn't know what I was talking about.

Either the Prinsendam doesn't have it, or I spoke with the wrong person.

It is on the Prinsendam too. I have used it. Ask the CD they usually know about it. I did download it as well for Veendam and going to for the Volendam too.

BTW - The chocolate chip cookies and bread pudding are to die for as well as the Cinnamon icecream.

I'd love to go to Poland! I've thought "Why would I ever do a Baltic cruise again now that we've done it once?" Well. THAT is my answer! Because it goes to different ports! lol

 

I know it's a year later, but if anyone has any questions about ports or whatever just ask! :)

Poland is why we choose this particular date. The Baltic cruises in 2013 go to diffferent ports on each of the summer sailings that we looked at and Poland clinched it for us.

Debbie

I may have questions and thanks for this again.

I am going July of 2013 on this itinerary. It is different in some ways. We are not going to Stockholm nor Tallin. Instead we are going to Ystad, Sweden; Gdansk, Poland and Klaipeda, Lithuania.

The ports that you reviewed were very helpful. I will re-refer to it as I start thinking about my shore excursion selections.

I am on the Prinsendam, which I have sailed before so I am familiar with the ship but your details and personal comments were great.

Thanks for posting.

Debbie