Dining tutorial for newbie

[lisakoivu]

As Denzel Washington likes to say, "Explain this to me like I'm two years old."

 

How do I eat on HAL?

 

We're used to NCL, where you show up when you want to. Can I do that on HAL? We don't mind eating at a larger table with more people, we just don't like the idea of assigned dining times if we can avoid it. Can anyone explain to me how everything works. Yeah, I know, I can read through all the HAL stuff, but I'm thinking the veterans will make it clearer for me, maybe? We are going on the Maasdam in August if that helps....Thanks in advance.

Edited July 11, 2015 by lisakoivu

[boulders]

For breakfast and lunch, just show up at the venue (Lido or dining room) any time during their open hours. The dining room isn't open very long at lunch. For dinner, at booking, you'll be asked if you want early, late or open seating. If you choose early or late, you have an assigned time to show up and an assigned table. If you choose open seating, again just show up during the hours that the dining room is open. Like a restaurant on land, you may be seated immediately or you may have a wait, depending on how busy it is. You can make reservations which may make the process go more smoothly.

 

You also have the option of room service. HAL's room service offerings are very tasty, but there is not a huge variety. We always have room service breakfast, and many times lunch or a snack.

[lisakoivu]

Do you mean when I book the cruise? Because I don't remember being asked that, but of course, I must have been, and I must have checked open. Will have to go back and look at docs. Thanks.

[Lauranne]

You can also order your room service dinner from the dining room menu. Swing by the dining room in the afternoon and make note of what you would like. I have read on this forum to order in the first hour that the dining room is open but you can ask for the food to be delivered at a specific time. I was told that I could order up until 8 o'clock but this may vary from ship to ship so the first hour may be the way to go. We did this on one evening and very much enjoyed it.

Laurie

[Krazy Kruizers]

The lower level of the dining room is used for Open Seating at dinner time. Open Seating dinner is from 5:15 - 9 PM.

Breakfast is from 7:30 - 9 on port days and 8 - 9:30 on sea days in the dining room.

Some days the dining room is open for lunch -- Noon to 1:30.

There is always the Lido Buffet for all meals. They serve pretty much the same food as the dining room even at dinner time.

[sue1898]

Dive In at the Lido Pool is another lunch til around 5 o'clock option. Specialty burgers, hot dogs and fries. Check the On Location for times as they vary somewhat during the week. If you like me would rather a burger cooked medium they will do it but you have to request it that way. When you order they give you a pager to let you know when your order is ready so you can go make other selections from the Lido and grab a table while you wait. Hope you enjoy the Maasdam as much as we did...this time last week we were disembarking in Boston.

[sppunk]

In the lido you get a plate, usually too hot to hold, and get food that you want. You also grab silverware or have it at the table already.

 

You unroll the napkin to reveal the knife fork and spoon. Ypusing these three utensils you cut, slice, stab, scoop or shovel food on aforementioned plate into the largest hole on yr head.

 

In the dining room it's a little different in the plates are brought to you, but the scooping, slicing and shoveling continues.

 

Unless you are the Dive In where you use God-designed utensils and hold the food next to your mouth and bite.

 

:)

[notjaded]

In the lido you get a plate, usually too hot to hold, and get food that you want. You also grab silverware or have it at the table already.

 

You unroll the napkin to reveal the knife fork and spoon. Ypusing these three utensils you cut, slice, stab, scoop or shovel food on aforementioned plate into the largest hole on yr head.

 

In the dining room it's a little different in the plates are brought to you, but the scooping, slicing and shoveling continues.

 

Unless you are the Dive In where you use God-designed utensils and hold the food next to your mouth and bite.

 

:)

 

LOL! Thanks.

[cruz chic]

The lower level of the dining room is used for Open Seating at dinner time. Open Seating dinner is from 5:15 - 9 PM.

Breakfast is from 7:30 - 9 on port days and 8 - 9:30 on sea days in the dining room.

Some days the dining room is open for lunch -- Noon to 1:30.

There is always the Lido Buffet for all meals. They serve pretty much the same food as the dining room even at dinner time.

 

I've found on my last several cruises that the breakfast hours do not deviate for port and sea days like they used to. I find it's usually 8-9:30. I've also found that lunch is generally only 1 hour not 1.5 hours like it used t.o be. Best to consult the daily program.

[lisakoivu]

Thanks everybody!

[POA1]

One other piece of advice, particularly if you are having breakfast or lunch in the Lido: It tends to get crowded at the same times every day. If you arrive 15 minutes before that time, there are no lines, plenty of seats, and a generally more pleasant experience. It will only take you a day or so to figure out when the peak times are. Just commit them to memory and arrive 15 minutes earlier, or 45 minutes later. I don't know why everyone eats at almost the exact same time, but they do.

 

Also, order the room service club sandwich at least once. It will change your life. ;)

[Shetlander]

Also, order the room service club sandwich at least once. It will change your life. ;)

 

I shall file that one away for my forthcoming cruise! Thank you.

[syesmar]

I vote for the Club Sandwich, too! And with a slice of chocolate cake! Speaking of dessert, be sure to try the creme brûlée.

 

The MDR is famous for their cold soups. This is an item that is not found on the dinner menu in the Lido, but as others have said, can be ordered to your room.

 

(Also use the Search Forum feature for various opinions on how to keep your seat in the Lido).

 

Just wanted to add a couple things about lighter fare. If you attend the cooking shows (listed in the Daily On Location guide), you will be given a sample serving of one of the features.

 

There are also hors d'oeuvres served upon request in the Crows Nest during & Ocean Lounge during cocktail hours. They're not really advertised, but if you ask they will be brought to you in the lounge.

 

Afternoon Tea is served daily, and there are special teas at various points of the cruise. One, the Royal Dutch Tea, also has fare like chicken a la king and tea sandwiches.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[boulders]

Do you mean when I book the cruise? Because I don't remember being asked that, but of course, I must have been, and I must have checked open. Will have to go back and look at docs. Thanks.

 

Yes, if you booked online, there was a box to check, but different cruise lines default to different options. I don't recall what HAL's default is. If you booked with a TA, they would have chosen something for you. It will be on your confirmation whichever way you booked.

 

I vote for the Club Sandwich, too! And with a slice of chocolate cake!

 

Ssshhh! Don't tell everyone about the club sandwich and the chocolate cake. Those are my favorites. I don't want them to run out.

[scluvsrain]

Yum. I think I will have to try room service for lunch or dinner one of the sea days. I've done a lot of breakfasts via room service but never lunch or dinner.

 

I like fixed seating. I get tired of telling new people every day my name, where I'm from, what I do, etc etc. Fixed seating means only saying it once. And, you always have the option of open seating on a day when you may be out in port and get back late, or want to eat earlier or whatever. Just because you have fixed seating doesn't mean you can't eat via open seating.

[RuthC]

And, you always have the option of open seating on a day when you may be out in port and get back late, or want to eat earlier or whatever. Just because you have fixed seating doesn't mean you can't eat via open seating.

Although that may have happened on rare occasion, that's not the way fixed/open seating is supposed to work.

A passenger in fixed seating may be allowed to switch to open seating, but that's a permanent change. The same is true for anyone wanting to change from open to fixed.

 

If a passenger doesn't want to eat at their assigned fixed seating on any given night, the alternatives are Lido, Room Service, or to make a reservation at a specialty restaurant.

Just showing up at the door for open seating is not an option.

[RMLincoln]

We usually have open seating and ask for a 2-top, usually on the early side. But on a few cruises on the second night during our dinner we were asked if we wanted to have that table and time for the whole cruise. To us this is a great advantage becasue we can plan on that time but if we decide to do something different, like if we are late cleaning up after a port day or want to have cocktails and sailaway or enjoy the sunsets, they only hold the table for 15 minutes for us then give it to someone else and we are free to eat wherever and whenever we want. I love open dining.

 

Reservations can be made for open dining but only for limited hours... 5:15 - 6:30 maybe and then again later... not too sure 7:45-8:30 maybe. In between are the busy hours and they don't reservations in the MDR for those ties, you just walk -up and they'll give you a pager if there's a wait.

 

And similar to NCL there are also extra charge dining venues, Caneletto for $10pp Italian and the Pinnacle Grill for $29pp.

 

I've enjoyed Maasdam, hoping you do too. And we'll be cruising home from Europe on NCL Jade in October so if you have any tips for me, pass'em on :) Enjoy, m--

Edited July 12, 2015 by RMLincoln

[scluvsrain]

While I understand the intent of the differences between open dining and fixed seating, we were told by the dining room assistant manager that it would be okay if we had to skip a dinner and show up for open seating on a particular port day. We asked ahead and he said that was the solution. He did warn us that we might have to wait and could also be seated with others, no guarantee as to a table, etc.

 

If that is wrong and a big no-no, then I apologize to the readers of this thread for leading you astray.

 

I guess going forward, I'll just stick to room service and order that club sandwich and chocolate cake. The upside to that is getting to eat in my jammies!

[cruz chic]

Yum. I think I will have to try room service for lunch or dinner one of the sea days. I've done a lot of breakfasts via room service but never lunch or dinner.

 

I like fixed seating. I get tired of telling new people every day my name, where I'm from, what I do, etc etc. Fixed seating means only saying it once. And, you always have the option of open seating on a day when you may be out in port and get back late, or want to eat earlier or whatever. Just because you have fixed seating doesn't mean you can't eat via open seating.

 

Please don't encourage fixed people going to open. As a person who takes open there can be long lines at times. I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy me taking your table in fixed when you were wanting to use it. Please show those in open the same courtesy.

Edited July 12, 2015 by cruz chic

[cruz chic]

We usually have open seating and ask for a 2-top, usually on the early side. But on a few cruises on the second night during our dinner we were asked if we wanted to have that table and time for the whole cruise. To us this is a great advantage becasue we can plan on that time but if we decide to do something different, like if we are late cleaning up after a port day or want to have cocktails and sailaway or enjoy the sunsets, they only hold the table for 15 minutes for us then give it to someone else and we are free to eat wherever and whenever we want. I love open dining.

 

Reservations can be made for open dining but only for limited hours... 5:15 - 6:30 maybe and then again later... not too sure 7:45-8:30 maybe. In between are the busy hours and they don't reservations in the MDR for those ties, you just walk -up and they'll give you a pager if there's a wait.

 

And similar to NCL there are also extra charge dining venues, Caneletto for $10pp Italian and the Pinnacle Grill for $29pp.

 

I've enjoyed Maasdam, hoping you do too. And we'll be cruising home from Europe on NCL Jade in October so if you have any tips for me, pass'em on :) Enjoy, m--

The only time I've been sucessful in getting a reservation later than 5:30 is when I've been in a Neptune suite.

[PatsyAnne]

I've found on my last several cruises that the breakfast hours do not deviate for port and sea days like they used to. I find it's usually 8-9:30. I've also found that lunch is generally only 1 hour not 1.5 hours like it used t.o be. Best to consult the daily program.

 

 

As cruz chic said, the daily program lists the hours for each dining venue every day. These can change - the MDR is not always open for lunch.

 

OP, you mentioned you don't mind eating with other people. When you check in for open dining, you will be asked if you mind eating with other people. Each of us has our own preferences, and if we want to eat with other people, ours is to have a table of 4-6. For me, the 8-top is too large for visiting and can also take longer to eat. Later in the cruise, if you find people you'd like to eat with, just show up at the same time and ask to be seated together.

Edited July 13, 2015 by PatsyAnne

[bonvoyagebites]

On our blog page, listed below... there is a HAL MS Amsterdam review (still in progress) and a "Food Porn" video, showing some of the selections we had on our 3-day from San Diego to Vancouver...

 

People above had mentioned that the Lido Buffet had the same food as the Main Dining. I saw this same thing on our cruise. We did not have Lido for dinner, but while checking it out, we noticed the exact same dishes plated there.... worth a try if you want to keep it quick and easy. :)

 

Enjoy !!!

[catl331]

I don't know why everyone eats at almost the exact same time, but they do.

At lunch time a lot of the 11:00 activities end right around 11:50 - 12:00, so ...

 

If you're in Open seating for dinner we've found it's best not to show up at a quarter-hour multiple, but rather something in between (5:38, 6:07, 6:23 etc) because so many people tend to show up on the quarter hours. ;)

 

I get tired of telling new people every day my name, where I'm from, what I do, etc etc.

Ask for a table for two, and wait if you have to. Or make reservations for 2-tops. Edited July 13, 2015 by catl331