Coffee Aboard

[overinvester]

This might seem a silly question, but my husband who is a huge coffee fan, rather standard, room service or dining room, or specialty, he just can't stand Starbucks, and am hoping this is not what they serve. On our last Celebrity cruise they featured Seattles Best, but am fearful HAL serves Starbucks.

 

Any input would be appreciated.

 

Overinvester

[andeesue]

It's not Starbucks, sorry, don't recall the brand, though it was an Italian one on my most recent cruise this April. This is in the Explorations Cafe, not the dining room.

Isn't Seattle's Best owned by Starbucks?

[overinvester]

No there not. Starbucks is just way to "burnt" tasting to him. Seattles Best is a nice mild blend.

 

Thank you for your input on this "silly" but important issue.

 

Overinvester:eek:

[1025cruise]

The free coffee available was fine to me, definitely not Starbucks.

 

And yes, I do believe Starbucks does own Seattle's Best.

[terrydtx]

One of the few sub par things on HAL IMO is the terrible coffee they serve for meals and breakfast and room service. I believe it is intentional so that we have buy the better coffee in the Exploration Cafe for close to 5 bucks a cup.:mad:

[glutenhab]

Have read on Princess threads that they use a syrup for their coffee & comments that it is just terrible.

Please tell me that HAL does NOT use a syrup!

 

My son, 22 & still living with us, roasts his own beans & has an $800 grinder & a $3000 espresso machine & has me spoiled for the taste of FRESH coffee.

I don't even realize how good his coffee is until I have to endure someone elses.

I guess I will have to get used whatever HAL has and account for the extra spending in Explorations.

[sail7seas]

One of the few sub par things on HAL IMO is the terrible coffee they serve for meals and breakfast and room service. I believe it is intentional so that we have buy the better coffee in the Exploration Cafe for close to 5 bucks a cup.:mad:

 

 

I don't think it accurate to say HAL charges close to $5 for a cup of coffee at Exploration Cafe.

 

I also think the complimentary espresso and cappacino in the Main Dining Room for breakfast, lunch and dinner is very good. JMO.....

[Mary Ellen]

I believe Starbucks has owned SBC since July 2003. Kind of like how Carnival Corp owns HAL (among others).

[terrydtx]

Have read on Princess threads that they use a syrup for their coffee & comments that it is just terrible.

Please tell me that HAL does NOT use a syrup!.

 

My last HAL cruise was 3 years ago and at that time the coffee was from a syrup. I couldn't wait to get my espresso at the Italian ports when we got off the ship.:) We eat breakfast in our cabin out on our Veranda and with room service the complementary espresso is not available.:mad:

[sail7seas]

My last HAL cruise was 3 years ago and at that time the coffee was from a syrup. I couldn't wait to get my espresso at the Italian ports when we got off the ship.:) We eat breakfast in our cabin out on our Veranda and with room service the complementary espresso is not available.:mad:

 

 

Choices......... all about choices.

 

Not to mention the wonderful coffee machine in Neptune Lounge. Almost everyone agrees coffee there is excellent. We think it is.

[RuthC]

Please tell me that HAL does NOT use a syrup!

HAL does not now, and to my knowledge never has, made coffee from a syrup. It is brewed.

[solocanadian]

Espresso is available from room service if you ask. I did every morning on the Oosterdam this past spring. I'd ask for half espresso & half regular. Served in 2 pots - one medium & one small. They never let me down. Just had to hand write it on the breakfast card menu. Hal did serve Starbucks a few years ago but it proved unpopular. I do recall seeing coffee being made from syrup but that was many years ago. Coffee may be good in the Neptune Lounge but many, many of us are not able to partake of it.

[terrydtx]

Espresso is available from room service if you ask. I did every morning on the Oosterdam this past spring. I'd ask for half espresso & half regular. Served in 2 pots - one medium & one small. They never let me down. Just had to hand write it on the breakfast card menu. Hal did serve Starbucks a few years ago but it proved unpopular. I do recall seeing coffee being made from syrup but that was many years ago. Coffee may be good in the Neptune Lounge but many, many of us are not able to partake of it.

 

I saw syrup used 3 years ago on the Noordam at the Lido and was told by a crew member that syrup was used in all the dinning venues. I found it to be terrible. I will try asking for espresso on our cruise next month for room service breakfast. Can you order espresso free on the Lido for breakfast as well? What good is having good coffee in the Neptune Lounge when 90% of the passengers do not have access.:mad:

[piscesgal223]

Hal's coffee is VERY strong(and still is even after adding cream and sugar-always been a cream and sugar-well, sugar substitute-gal, and always will be.)

[kazu]

I saw syrup used 3 years ago on the Noordam at the Lido and was told by a crew member that syrup was used in all the dinning venues. I found it to be terrible. I will try asking for espresso on our cruise next month for room service breakfast. Can you order espresso free on the Lido for breakfast as well? What good is having good coffee in the Neptune Lounge when 90% of the passengers do not have access.:mad:

 

amazing as last year on the Zuiderdam we saw both beans in the galley tour and the penthouse! if I recall correctly, it looked like a Dutch blend but I'm not sure. Mind you, I rarely drink coffee in the Lido (except very early am when I am barely awake) so I can't comment too much there. I usually pick on the Neptune or the MDR coffee. :D

[Karennella]

It's not Starbucks, sorry, don't recall the brand, though it was an Italian one on my most recent cruise this April. This is in the Explorations Cafe, not the dining room.

Isn't Seattle's Best owned by Starbucks?

There was little comparison between the coffee we had in our two weeks in Italy prior to our cruise, and what was available on the ship. Coffee was a not to our taste at all on the ship.

[Jo-Bob]

One of the few sub par things on HAL IMO is the terrible coffee they serve for meals and breakfast and room service. I believe it is intentional so that we have buy the better coffee in the Exploration Cafe for close to 5 bucks a cup.:mad:

 

 

Not sure where you live, but ALL the coffee's in the Explorer's lounge are a real bargain. Where else can you get a med cafe mocha for $3.60?

 

I keep waiting for those prices to go up, more in keeping with land prices. But they haven't and I'm grateful. And it's pretty good coffee. Maybe bring your own since you seem so offended by the choices on board.

[Boytjie]

I saw syrup used 3 years ago on the Noordam at the Lido and was told by a crew member that syrup was used in all the dinning venues.

 

Are you sure it was HAL? I saw them make coffee in the Lido and it was ground coffee.

 

amazing as last year on the Zuiderdam we saw both beans in the galley tour and the penthouse! if I recall correctly, it looked like a Dutch blend but I'm not sure. Mind you, I rarely drink coffee in the Lido (except very early am when I am barely awake) so I can't comment too much there. I usually pick on the Neptune or the MDR coffee. :D

 

IIRC correctly it was a dark brown bag of ground coffee I saw in teh Lido, could not see the brand name.

 

 

 

Hal's coffee is VERY strong(and still is even after adding cream and sugar-always been a cream and sugar-well, sugar substitute-gal, and always will be.)

 

HAL coffee s not nearly as strong as Starbucks. HAL's coffee is fine for me and I like stronger coffee, though I am not a huge Starbucks fan.

[ASIWISH]

No there not. Starbucks is just way to "burnt" tasting to him. Seattles Best is a nice mild blend.

 

Thank you for your input on this "silly" but important issue.

 

Overinvester:eek:

 

Starbuck's owns Seattles Best. Seattle Best is their "supermarket brand". Very low quality...

[piscesgal223]

Starbucks is definitely strong(the reason I order their coffee and not much else..I know what I like there!)

 

 

Last time I was on a HAL ship they definitely had the ground coffee and not syrup.

[ASIWISH]

Can you order Cappuccino from Room Service?

[Boytjie]

Starbuck's owns Seattles Best. Seattle Best is their "supermarket brand". Very low quality...

 

I don't consider it very low quality. They sell both Starbucks and Seattle's best in our work cafeteria - I get the SB. :)

 

 

Starbucks is definitely strong(the reason I order their coffee and not much else..I know what I like there!)

 

For me Starbucks is over-roasted/burnt; I have heard that happens when they try to mask lesser quality beans. ;)

[ASIWISH]

I don't consider it very low quality. They sell both Starbucks and Seattle's best in our work cafeteria - I get the SB. :)

 

 

 

 

For me Starbucks is over-roasted/burnt; I have heard that happens when they try to mask lesser quality beans. ;)

 

Peter: You are exactly right about Starbuck's being over-roasted. They make additional money buy buying coffee in large quantities a couple times a year. Coffee beans have oil in them. Oil gets rancid over time... they way they mask it is by over-roasting it. Most quality coffees buy coffee more frequently, thus it is fresher - so there is nothing to mask. (I'm in the coffee business). Starbuck's makes up for it with beautiful stores and employee arrogance!:p

 

As for Seattle's Best, it's a good cup of Joe... but, it is a value brand, and as a result they must start with lesser quality beans.

 

ever wonder why decaf doesn't cost more, even though it has been further processed adding cost? They simply use lesser quality beans to absorb that expense. So, Starbuck's Regular and Starbuck's Decaf are very different coffees...

[piscesgal223]

I don't always go to Starbucks-in fact,I prefer my neighbourhood place which has unburned tasting coffee. Starbucks is my only option when I go to my parents' house-and they have free WiFi. Sorry.

[ASIWISH]

I don't always go to Starbucks-in fact,I prefer my neighbourhood place which has unburned tasting coffee. Starbucks is my only option when I go to my parents' house-and they have free WiFi. Sorry.

 

I prefer Dunkin' Donuts or McDonald's... excellent coffee, at very reasonable prices.