Mariners brunch

[madera1]

I read that someone was worried that they might miss the Mariners brunch. Can someone please tell me more about what this is and who is invited.

[kazu]

Not sure which Mariner's brunch you are referring to - most likely the first one - but to be safe - here are both.

 

There is a Mariner embarkation lunch (most times) in the MDR. Most times there are no invites. Any past sailers of HAL (who are Mariners) may attend. Lunch is usually served from 12 to 1:30.

 

Then there is the Mariner's lunch which is by invitation. (Invitation is important as there may be two or three lunches depending on how many mariners are on board and how many stars they hold). This is usually close to the end of the cruise. Again, it is for all Mariners. This is when the souvenir tiles are handed out.

 

Hope this helps a bit.:)

[RetiredMustang]

It is a brunch held, usually in the main dining room, and usually hosted by the Captain and Hotel Manager, for repeat HAL cruisers. It is generally held toward the end of the cruise, but timing varies depending on itinerary; it is almost always an at-sea day in my experience.

 

Anyone who has sailed at least once before on a HAL cruise is considered a Mariner, and is invited. HAL has a lot of repeat customers, so often a ship will host two brunches, one for 3 and 4 star Mariners (those with a lot of cruises), and another for 1 and 2 star Mariners (those will fewer than 75 sailing days) because not all can fit into the dining room in one sitting.

 

Generally, the Captain and Hotel Manager will say some nice words about appreciating the repeat business, and sometimes will give some updates about the HAL fleet and plans. Sometimes Mariners who achieve a particular star level that cruise will be recognized, and sometimes those with the most sailing days are also recognized, but not always; it depends on the hosts.

 

A pretty nice meal is served, and free wine is offered in addition to the usual tea, coffee, etc. Here is the menu we had on board Ryndam this February:

 

 

Appetizers

 

Warm Chicken and Gourmet Salad - With chicken and tomato, drizzled with orange-olive oil dressing.

 

Apple and Pear Gazpacho

 

 

Entrees

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Roasted Garlic Cloves - Slowly cooked in a rich gravy, served over classic mashed potatoes and carrots

 

Butter Basted Salmon FIllet with Leeks - With a timbale of golden yellow rice and roasted basil flavored cherry tomatoes.

 

Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche - Served with orzo pasta and grilled tomato.

 

 

Dessert

Key Lime and White Chocolate Tart - A sweet and tart filling baked in a flaky pastry tartlet, tiopped with a dollop of whipped cream.

 

Hope this helps,

Dave

[Krazy Kruizers]

on one of our cruises -- our mariner lunch was the first sea day

and our menu was slightly different:

Mariner's Brunch on the Nieuw Amsterdam

 

Appetizer:

Warm Chicken Bites and Arugula Salad with mix lettuce and tomato, drizzled with orange-olive oil dressing

OR

Apple and Pear Gazpacho with fruit sorbet

 

Entree:

Beef Short Ribs with Roasted Garlic Cloves - slowly braised in a rich gravy, served boneless over classic mashed potatoes and vichy carrots with clives

OR

Butter Basted Pacific Ling Cod Fillet - with a timbale of golden yellow rice, sauteed zucchini, red beets abnd roasted basil flavored tomatoes

OR

Vidalia Onion, Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche - served with orzo pasta and grilled tomato

 

Dessert:

Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding

 

Petits Fours, Coffee and Tea

[RetiredMustang]

As Kazu pointed out, there is also usually a lunch served in the dining room on embarkation day, normally called Mariners Luncheon -- the two terms are easy to confuse.

 

Also, sometimes we have gotten tiles at the Brunch, but sometimes have had them delivered to our cabins.

 

 

Here is the luncheon (not Brunch :D) menu on embarkation day from our Ryndam February cruise:

 

Appetizers

 

Mediterranean Salumi - Thinly-sliced mortadella, prosciutto and salami served with grilled marinated vegetables, kalamata olives and drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

 

Bay Shrimp Cocktail - Plump bay shrimp with a cocktail sauce enriched with cream and cognac.

 

Soups

 

Cream of Broccoli - A classic puree of tender borccoli topped with tiny broccoli florets and toasted pine nuts.

 

Barley and Mushroom Soup - Slowly cooked beef broth with tender barley, mushroom, onion and carrot.

 

Entrees

 

Angel Hair Pasta with Sauteed Vegetables - Tossed with sauteed garlic, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and bell pepper, sprinkled with goat cheese.

 

Chicken and Mango Salad - Shredded roasted chicken, mixed with cashew nuts, diced celery, red onion and mustard vinaigrette served over a chopped romaine lettuce, finished with a fan of fresh mango.

 

Grilled Rueben on Rye - Russian rye bread with layers of sliced pastrami, topped with tangy sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing, served with potato chips and a dill pickle spear.

 

Avocado and Bacon Burger - Grilled beef patty served with bacon and avocado. Served on a freshly baked bun, served with all your favoritecondiments, plus shoestring potato fries.

 

Pan-Seared Salmon Fillet - Moist salmon drizzled with avocado-tomato aioli, served with parsley potatoes and fresh garden vegetables.

Crispy Country-Style Buttermilk Chicken - Served with red skin mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach.

 

Dave

[hpf]

Oh, my mouth is watering and it's 3 more months to go. I've had a bad cold and flu for the past week and don't care if i even see food let alone eat it; but with all these menus i definitly feel like I am now comeing alive. Marinersd lunch, mariners brunch, here I come (In 3 Months). Madera1 enjoy your next cruise and thank you RetiredMustang and KrazyKruisers for for always being there for all of us who need answers to our questions. Helen

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our Ryndam cruise in October we had the Indonesian Lunch menu -- no other choices -- it was not posted outside the dining room and many people had no idea that there was only the one meal -- many people got up and left

Appetizer:

Gado Gado - a refeshing green salad with tofu, steamed green beans and hard boiled eggs tossed with creamy peanut dressing.

 

Soto Ayam - lemon grass and lime leaf flavored Indonesian chicken soup with glass noodles finished with a hint of coconut milk.

 

Entree:

Indonesian Reijsttafel - a traditional Indonesian style lunch consisting of oven baked Indonesian spice rubbed chicken leg, beef Sumartra, Sate, Chopped Omelet, and Indonesian fried rice served with pickles and scallions.

 

Campuran - Condiments:

Krupuk - Shrimp Crackers

Sambal Katjang - Peanut Sauce

Sambal Pedas - sharp chili sauce

Ketjap - soy sauce

 

Dessert - Rice Pudding

[Travalot]

On our Ryndam cruise in October we had the Indonesian Lunch menu -- no other choices -- it was not posted outside the dining room and many people had no idea that there was only the one meal -- many people got up and left

 

 

Perfect example of different strokes for different folks. I would have been thrilled to find out we were getting served the Rice Table (Indonesian Reijsttafel).

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I too would love an Indonesian lunch as a change from the traditional fare served at these events. Love the Indonesian tea events.

[Linda&Vern]

On our Ryndam cruise in October we had the Indonesian Lunch menu -- no other choices -- it was not posted outside the dining room and many people had no idea that there was only the one meal -- many people got up and left

 

Appetizer:

Gado Gado - a refeshing green salad with tofu, steamed green beans and hard boiled eggs tossed with creamy peanut dressing.

 

Soto Ayam - lemon grass and lime leaf flavored Indonesian chicken soup with glass noodles finished with a hint of coconut milk.

 

Entree:

Indonesian Reijsttafel - a traditional Indonesian style lunch consisting of oven baked Indonesian spice rubbed chicken leg, beef Sumartra, Sate, Chopped Omelet, and Indonesian fried rice served with pickles and scallions.

 

Campuran - Condiments:

Krupuk - Shrimp Crackers

Sambal Katjang - Peanut Sauce

Sambal Pedas - sharp chili sauce

Ketjap - soy sauce

 

Dessert - Rice Pudding

On our Zuiderdam cruise last November this is the menu served during our Deluxe Suite luncheon in the Pinnacle. It was wonderful!

[andeesue]

We were invited to the Mariner Brunch and since it coincided with other plans we had already made, found that a call to the front desk allowed us to change to one of the other brunches scheduled during the cruise. We didn't want to miss out!

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our Zuiderdam cruise last November this is the menu served during our Deluxe Suite luncheon in the Pinnacle. It was wonderful!

 

we have gotten that menu on nearly every ship with cruises over 10 days for the suite lunch the last few years

we love it

[kazu]

we have gotten that menu on nearly every ship with cruises over 10 days for the suite lunch the last few years

 

we love it

 

It is really good. We enjoy it too. It does take some explaining for first timers. Maybe that's why they don't do it for the Mariners.

 

People should never walk away without trying ! After all, you don't know if you don't try. ;)

[timothy998]

It is a brunch held, usually in the main dining room, and usually hosted by the Captain and Hotel Manager, for repeat HAL cruisers. It is generally held toward the end of the cruise, but timing varies depending on itinerary; it is almost always an at-sea day in my experience.

 

Anyone who has sailed at least once before on a HAL cruise is considered a Mariner, and is invited. HAL has a lot of repeat customers, so often a ship will host two brunches, one for 3 and 4 star Mariners (those with a lot of cruises), and another for 1 and 2 star Mariners (those will fewer than 75 sailing days) because not all can fit into the dining room in one sitting.

 

Generally, the Captain and Hotel Manager will say some nice words about appreciating the repeat business, and sometimes will give some updates about the HAL fleet and plans. Sometimes Mariners who achieve a particular star level that cruise will be recognized, and sometimes those with the most sailing days are also recognized, but not always; it depends on the hosts.

 

A pretty nice meal is served, and free wine is offered in addition to the usual tea, coffee, etc. Here is the menu we had on board Ryndam this February:

 

 

Appetizers

 

Warm Chicken and Gourmet Salad - With chicken and tomato, drizzled with orange-olive oil dressing.

 

Apple and Pear Gazpacho

 

 

Entrees

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Roasted Garlic Cloves - Slowly cooked in a rich gravy, served over classic mashed potatoes and carrots

 

Butter Basted Salmon FIllet with Leeks - With a timbale of golden yellow rice and roasted basil flavored cherry tomatoes.

 

Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche - Served with orzo pasta and grilled tomato.

 

 

Dessert

Key Lime and White Chocolate Tart - A sweet and tart filling baked in a flaky pastry tartlet, tiopped with a dollop of whipped cream.

 

Hope this helps,

Dave

 

We were on the NA March 27-April 3 and received no invitation...nothing...regarding a Mariner brunch. Not sure if the 5 of us were persona non grata, but we all had our Mariner numbers in the system...based on the details here, there must have been a mixup or different levels of recognition. Sort of made us feel like chopped liver. It isn't a "big" thing, but if there was something on our cruise for Mariners, we were not included. We may only be one-start Mariners...but we ARE Mariners. We really enjoy HAL but this is not a good way to influence people who are putting things like world cruises onto their "bucket lists."

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the NA March 27-April 3 and received no invitation...nothing...regarding a Mariner brunch. Not sure if the 5 of us were persona non grata, but we all had our Mariner numbers in the system...based on the details here, there must have been a mixup or different levels of recognition. Sort of made us feel like chopped liver. It isn't a "big" thing, but if there was something on our cruise for Mariners, we were not included. We may only be one-start Mariners...but we ARE Mariners. We really enjoy HAL but this is not a good way to influence people who are putting things like world cruises onto their "bucket lists."

 

that is a shame you didn't get your invitations for the mariner brunch on the nieuw amsterdam

like i said -- on our nieuw amsterdam cruise they had all we top mariners -- ones with the most days at the first brunch on the first sea day -- then the ones with the least number of days were invited to the second mariner brunch -- last sea day

[RetiredMustang]

On our Zuiderdam cruise last November this is the menu served during our Deluxe Suite luncheon in the Pinnacle. It was wonderful!

 

And it is the one we had on Ryndam for Collectors Cruisers, on the second half. Note: We had both the Gado Gado and the Soto Ayam --we did not have to choose one over the other. Delicious!

 

Dave

[NancyJewel92]

Thanks, everyone, for this info. It's been a while since we've sailed HAL, so we'll be on the lookout for the luncheon.

 

On our Alaskan sailing, I recall that there was a Mainers cocktail party in the big theater. At the event, in addition to the welcoming words from the captain and hotel manager, those passengers that had reached certain milestones were acknowledged. I think they might have been given something also, but I recall that we received our tiles in our cabin. :)

 

Everyone on the ship received tote bags in their cabin on the first port day. Are tote bags still given?

[Juanita462]

Is the Indonesian meal very spicy? We love to try the national cuisines but can't handle a lot of spice anymore.

 

It sounds wonderful and would really like to attend this meal- is it the lunch served on embarkation day?

[RuthC]

On our Alaskan sailing, I recall that there was a Mainers cocktail party in the big theater. At the event, in addition to the welcoming words from the captain and hotel manager, those passengers that had reached certain milestones were acknowledged. I think they might have been given something also, but I recall that we received our tiles in our cabin. :)

Sure has been a while for you! The Mariners' cocktail party has long-since been replaced by a reception for long-term Mariners, and a luncheon for all Mariners.

Everyone on the ship received tote bags in their cabin on the first port day. Are tote bags still given?

Yes, totes are still given before the first port. Frequently now, though, it's one per couple instead of one per person.

[madera1]

I want to thank everyone who replied and now I know that we should be invited to one lunch as well as attend the embarkation lunch since we became Mariners last summer when we sailed on the Eurodam to the Mediteranean in May. At that first sailing on Hal we had already obtained mariners numbers prior to the cruise but were not invited to the lunch and from your replies it is because we had not completed our first cruise. We are getting quite excited about the cruise and these two lunches sound like they will be a great addition to our experience. We have booked a second cabin for our two adult daughters and they will be sailing for the first time on Hal. I wonder if they will be able to join us for either of these lunches?