BlackJack2 Posted November 13, 2014 #1 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Just off the Zuiderdam. The was no Dessert Extravaganza. Our waiter said that they have done away with this event because no one attended. Is this fleet wide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted November 13, 2014 #2 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Every one I have been to has been packed with people, so I doubt that is the reason. Maybe it just cost too much for HAL. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjw869 Posted November 13, 2014 #3 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Every one I have been to has been packed with people, so I doubt that is the reason. Maybe it just cost too much for HAL. DaveOKC I agree. I don't think it was the attendance and also think it was the cost. We always went after the crowds died down and there was always mounds of desserts still remaining. It also wasn't on the Zuiderdam in May of this year. I think it was a very expensive photo-op. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appygirl Posted November 13, 2014 #4 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I think they did away with it a year ago. The last time I went to the one on Zuiderdam was 2 years ago and it was packed with people. I agree probably discontinued due to cost and too many leftovers. I see why. At 10:30 at night I'm not too hungry. All I'd take was a couple of strawberries. And I live chocolates and dessert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elycelynne Posted November 13, 2014 #5 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'm now wondering if the reasons that HAL staff/crew give for the disappearance of things are all a bunch of BS and the real reason all boils down to $$$$? For example, I was told by a cruise director that the reason for the discontinuation of the Dam Dollars was that passengers were counterfeiting them and using the counterfeits so much that HAL was losing money. Considering that there aren't very many activities anymore where there's a prize involved, and that the ones that do still exist have crappy prizes like pins or a deck of cards, I wonder if the counterfeiting story was just something that the powers that be were telling cruise directors to say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted November 13, 2014 #6 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Just off the Zuiderdam. The was no Dessert Extravaganza. Our waiter said that they have done away with this event because no one attended. Is this fleet wide? Sorry to hear that. I have no idea if it is fleet wide, we usually don't go because were not much of dessert people. The Dessert Extravaganza has always been kind of a tradition, with passengers alway seeming to enjoy it. If true, how sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted November 13, 2014 #7 Share Posted November 13, 2014 None on the Prinsendam this past July. There were several sea days so they cannot blame it on a busy itinerary. The other thing missing was a gala grilled buffet on the pool deck, they had one small version of it at lunch on a port day, very few attended. Nothing lavish, some grilled chicken, brats, some vegetables. No array of desserts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted November 13, 2014 #8 Share Posted November 13, 2014 My understanding was that the Dessert Extravaganza was done away with because of huge amount of work leading to the huge amount of waste. Which of course is very expensive waste. The desserts looked lovely but the ones I tried had little taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman2 Posted November 13, 2014 #9 Share Posted November 13, 2014 On our recent Nieuw Amsterdam TA, there was not a Dessert Extravaganza. However, they did have a "Galley Lunch" (noon) buffet in the dining room which included a massive amount of desserts. It also had the ice sculptures and carved fruits etc. I didn't go but my DW did. Maybe this is a substitute for the Extraganza... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie68 Posted November 13, 2014 #10 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I didn't mind it not being on the Zuiderdam early this year, or on our Alaska cruise last year. There is such a huge amount of waste. It's a just a photo op for many attendees. But I have to say that all the ones we have been too were packed with people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantravel1 Posted November 13, 2014 #11 Share Posted November 13, 2014 We were on the Zaandam in October (October 5th to October 27th - from Vancouver to Valparaiso, Chile) and there was a Dessert Extravaganza at the Pool on the Lido Deck. It was towards the end of the cruise. Lots of people there that night! This was a 22 day cruise, so maybe they still have them on the longer cruises? Colleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted November 13, 2014 #12 Share Posted November 13, 2014 It was beautiful for picture taking but I can't eat much late at night. Most of it was a waste and really not missed by me. Just not into sweets. now lobster or crab legs.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted November 13, 2014 #13 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I also agree with the lack of taste in most of the deserts at the event, so I just skipped it. I will say that the deserts in the main dining room on the Z last week were very good - much improved from our cruises last year. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraelorMex Posted November 13, 2014 #14 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I'm now wondering if the reasons that HAL staff/crew give for the disappearance of things are all a bunch of BS and the real reason all boils down to $$$$? I cannot think of one thing that DOES NOT boil down to dollars. Not one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer slope Posted November 13, 2014 #15 Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) We were on the Westerdam last year for a B2B. They had the Chocolate extravaganza the first week but not the second. We asked and they said it cost them over $60K for the event and it wasn't very well attended. I bet there weren't 100 people present. Lots of waste. Edited November 13, 2014 by dixiefinn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted November 13, 2014 #16 Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) None on the Prinsendam this past July. There were several sea days so they cannot blame it on a busy itinerary. The other thing missing was a gala grilled buffet on the pool deck, they had one small version of it at lunch on a port day, very few attended. Nothing lavish, some grilled chicken, brats, some vegetables. No array of desserts. Wow! We had a number of the gala grilled buffets on the Lido both at lunch at a dinner on a port day where they knew people would be coming back late. They were all delish! Plus the little buffets when we returned from ports reflecting the ports we had been at. And our itinerary was very port intensive - 25 port days out of 30 if I recall correctly. Things shouldn't vary that much on the same ship:confused::( Edited November 13, 2014 by kazu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted November 13, 2014 #17 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I am conflicted over this possible change. While I do enjoy attending the event, the crowds (if they appear) discourage my attendance. Being a 2nd sitting diner, I eat little, but I always enjoy the flambe stations. One poster stated that this was an expensive photo op, and I do agree with that point. Waste of food in all ship venues has concerned me for some time and I do applaud the attempts to limit it. The Midnight Buffet has passed from the cruising scene. Maybe it is time for the Gala Dessert Showcase to go as well. Perhaps, such an event would be more suitable for longer cruises than 7 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted November 13, 2014 #18 Share Posted November 13, 2014 kazu, The mini-buffets that represent the "Taste of wherever the port is" are wonderful! This is part of the "On Location" entertainment side of the cruise program that I think is a very good addition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swice Posted November 13, 2014 #19 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I agree, they all "looked" much better than they tasted. The chocolate fountains were always a hit... but all of the cakes were the same basic inside with very little actual taste. We did NOT have one in the Baltics this summer. Maybe if they simply did chocolate fondue fountains with dipped fruit, everyone would be happy. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie68 Posted November 13, 2014 #20 Share Posted November 13, 2014 We were on the Zaandam in October (October 5th to October 27th - from Vancouver to Valparaiso, Chile) and there was a Dessert Extravaganza at the Pool on the Lido Deck. It was towards the end of the cruise. Lots of people there that night! This was a 22 day cruise, so maybe they still have them on the longer cruises? Colleen Not on our 22-day Zuiderdam cruise. So maybe even longer than that. I don't miss it anyway.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cbr663 Posted November 14, 2014 #21 Share Posted November 14, 2014 We haven't experienced a dessert extravaganza in a while. I agree with other posters though, the event was well attended but not very successful. Ultimately, food needs to not only look good, but it must taste good. We always found the dessert extravaganza flavour disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted November 14, 2014 #22 Share Posted November 14, 2014 We haven't experienced a dessert extravaganza in a while. I agree with other posters though, the event was well attended but not very successful. Ultimately, food needs to not only look good, but it must taste good. We always found the dessert extravaganza flavour disappointing. I agree, the flavour of much of what was offered didn't live up to the appearance. Except the crepes Suzette. Those were amazing :D I think it was an enormous waste of valuable/limited resources. I can see the point in discontinuing the dessert extravaganza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxout Posted November 14, 2014 #23 Share Posted November 14, 2014 I agree, the flavour of much of what was offered didn't live up to the appearance. Except the crepes Suzette. Those were amazing :D I think it was an enormous waste of valuable/limited resources. I can see the point in discontinuing the dessert extravaganza. Agreed, beauty is only skin deep in this case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted November 14, 2014 #24 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Agreed, beauty is only skin deep in this case... In many cases, in my experience ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxout Posted November 14, 2014 #25 Share Posted November 14, 2014 In many cases, in my experience ;) Indeed. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now