Happy Hour

[In Toronto]

A couple of questions:

 

On the Happy Hour - buy one, get second for $1. What are usually the 'selected' drinks? Wine? Lemon Martini? Liqueurs? etc.

 

Does HAL still serve warm and cold appetizers in the Crow's Nest around 5 p.m.? We so enjoyed watching the ocean, relaxing with a 2 for 1 drink and munching on served appetizers.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Haven't seen the cold crudites on HAL ships in years.

On all the cruises we have been on recently the Happy Hour has been from 4 - 5 -- drinks costing up to $6.95 (that may have changed recently as drink prices have gone up) -- but not including premium alcohol. No appetizers were served during this time.

On some ships when we went for a drink at 5 PM we had to ask for the hot appetizers.

We gave up the Happy Hour time as it was too early for us. And a few times we had to wait and wait to get someone to take our order and then we had to wait and wait for the drinks to be served. (Cut backs in staff.)

[luv2cruisenz]

We were on the Amsterdam last month and happy hour was 4-5pm, and alot of the time there was another one at either 7, 8 or 9pm for the first segment. The second segment it was 4-5pm only. No appetisers, we got goldfish for a while then peanuts. Twice toward the end we got roasted mixed nuts but never any hot appetizers.

 

Drinks were around $6.95 and the Crows Nest did allow premium alcohol in happy hour as well, as we sat with a couple who asked and then ordered the top brand whiskey whatever that was. I didn't think that was usually allowed either, so it just pays to ask!

 

The only time it was super busy and we had to wait was when bingo was not held in the Crows Nest the same time as happy hour, which was only about twice in 31 days. When we didn't want to hear the noise of the bingo we opted for the Ocean Bar.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the Amsterdam in June/July and could not order Grey Goose during the 2 for 1 drinks.

[Typhoon1]

Happy Hour is offered prior to dinner at the various bars on the ship. Pricing is constantly changing, expect anything.

[PathfinderEss]

We were on the Amsterdam in August and the Zaandam in December, we got appetizers in the Crows Nest during happy hour.

[In Toronto]

Thanks for info. Too bad that it seems appetizers are not a sure thing anymore. One of the HAL perks I enjoyed.

 

Were glasses of wine included?

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for info. Too bad that it seems appetizers are not a sure thing anymore. One of the HAL perks I enjoyed.

 

Were glasses of wine included?

 

Cold appetizers no but both the Crows Nest and Ocean Bar have hot appetizers in the evening - every evening.

We were on 4 different ships this last year and they all had them.

[luv2cruisenz]

Yes glasses of wine are included in happy hour, and on our cruise they seemed to be a popular choice!

[redhot1]

We drink Crown and it was included in the happy hour in the Ocean bar also.on the Zandaam for their New Years cruise. However appetizers didn't come out until 5 both hot and cold ones. Alwaysa just ask they are very accomadating.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We drink Crown and it was included in the happy hour in the Ocean bar also.on the Zandaam for their New Years cruise. However appetizers didn't come out until 5 both hot and cold ones. Alwaysa just ask they are very accomadating.:)

 

When you say "cold" ones -- do you mean the little breads with cream cheese, etc?

Those are not what we got years ago. Back then we got crudites.

[iriemon]

We were on the Noordam in Dec. Appitizers were hit and miss. Some bars had them some did not. Mostly goldfish. Sometimes we got premium drinks without a charge, sometimes not. No consistancy on the ships or even on a single ship! :eek:

[rgaudet]

On Nieuw Amsterdam a few weeks ago (over New Year's) and there were hot appetizers every night in the Ocean Bar during the happy hour. Very nice all around!

 

I think we got them in the Crow's Nest too but I can't recall 100%.

 

Rob

[solocanadian]

Haven't seen the cold crudites on HAL ships in years.

 

On all the cruises we have been on recently the Happy Hour has been from 4 - 5 -- drinks costing up to $6.95 (that may have changed recently as drink prices have gone up) -- but not including premium alcohol. No appetizers were served during this time.

 

On some ships when we went for a drink at 5 PM we had to ask for the hot appetizers.

 

We gave up the Happy Hour time as it was too early for us. And a few times we had to wait and wait to get someone to take our order and then we had to wait and wait for the drinks to be served. (Cut backs in staff.)

That is why I sit at the bar.

[GeriatricNurse]

Haven't seen the cold crudites on HAL ships in years.

 

On all the cruises we have been on recently the Happy Hour has been from 4 - 5 -- drinks costing up to $6.95 (that may have changed recently as drink prices have gone up) -- but not including premium alcohol. No appetizers were served during this time.

 

On some ships when we went for a drink at 5 PM we had to ask for the hot appetizers.

 

We gave up the Happy Hour time as it was too early for us. And a few times we had to wait and wait to get someone to take our order and then we had to wait and wait for the drinks to be served. (Cut backs in staff.)

 

That is why I sit at the bar.

 

solocanadian, thank u for the 'hint'! :) As a solo cruiser, from now on, I too will sit at the bar during 'Happy Hour' for faster service as I'm not much good at waiting! ;)

[PathfinderEss]

That is why I sit at the bar.

We also sit at the bar most the time. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

There was a time when we sat at the bar.

But now with my severe spinal stenosis, I can no longer do that. Need a good chair for support.

[In Toronto]

Thanks for all your comments.

 

I am going to plan on sitting in the Crow's Nest, glass of wine in hand, enjoying the appetizers!

 

Cheers.

Ellen

[MarKandi]

sometimes I think the length of the cruise was in relation to Happy Hour being offered.

We were on a 6 day Pacific Coastal and no Happy Hours were offered for the entire cruise, at least none that we saw advertised or inquired about.

Our other HAL cruises offered Happy Hour though

[Windsailer]

had Happy Hours every day, both in the Crow's Nest and the Ocean Bar. Nice hot appetizers in the Ocean bar. It was the Westerdam.

[sammygoose]

Always got hot appetizers and a glass of nuts on the NA Crow's nest in Oct.

Beer,wine,drink of the day,margaritas, cosmos,martinis, that's what I remember. Not a big premium liquor girl.

2-1 was 430-530 Crow's Nest and 530-630 Ocean Bar. Best deal on the ship.