Dessert extravaganza?

[Tina G]

I've been away from HAL for two years. What happened to the dessert extravaganza that used to be on the last formal night? Desserts have gone down in quality since I last cruised with HAL IMHO.

[Crew News]

I've been away from HAL for two years. What happened to the dessert extravaganza that used to be on the last formal night? Desserts have gone down in quality since I last cruised with HAL IMHO.

 

No more extravaganzas. They were held too late in the evenings and the items were never all consumed which caused a lot of waste.

 

Also the International menu on the last night is long gone as well.

Edited October 6, 2015 by Crew News

[cb at sea]

Desserts on ALL lines are no longer what they used to be. So sad.

[Fouremco]

Desserts have gone down in quality since I last cruised with HAL IMHO.

I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly prior to our cruise last month on the Maasdam. Best darned desserts I've enjoyed in a long time! :)

[colonialinnkeeper]

We just returned from two weeks on the Statendam in Alaska and we too have been really disappointed with the dessert menu--unimaginative, bland and generally seems that little effort goes into execution. It would be so nice to have a worthwhile ending to a lovely meal.

[denatravels]

I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly prior to our cruise last month on the Maasdam. Best darned desserts I've enjoyed in a long time! :)

 

 

Yay, maasdam!! That's what I have booked!

[Fouremco]

Yay, maasdam!! That's what I have booked!

Great choice! :)

 

I should clarify my earlier comment: the desserts in the Lido! Those in the MDR and specialty restaurants were good, but those in the Lido g-r-e-a-t.

[Tights]

Great choice! :)

 

I should clarify my earlier comment: the desserts in the Lido! Those in the MDR and specialty restaurants were good, but those in the Lido g-r-e-a-t.

 

I will second that, my DH had 3 desserts one evening because they all looked so lovely

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we were on a repositioning cruise in 2012 on the Westerdam, we had a dessert extravaganza in the afternoon in the atrium.

We were told that it was going to be the last one.

Too much food was being wasted.

[take us away]

As much as I loved seeing the dessert extravaganza, it was wasteful so not too sad.

[sppunk]

We had a dessert extravaganza on Eurodam in October 2012. The custom-made cabinets to hold the caramelized apples were jaw-dropping.

 

On the Rotterdam in September 2013 there was a dessert extravaganza in the atrium that featured cheeses and Dutch treats. That cruise left from Rotterdam and was 95 percent Dutch. :)

[visagrunt]

Not an event that I miss--but I certainly understand others disappointment.

 

I have always felt that desserts on HAL have been pretty pedestrian; but that makes it easy to pass them by and get cheese plate, instead.

 

And don't forget, if there's a chilled fruit soup on the MDR menu, you can just order that for dessert--and they are invariably excellent!

[3rdGenCunarder]

Not an event that I miss--but I certainly understand others disappointment.

 

I have always felt that desserts on HAL have been pretty pedestrian; but that makes it easy to pass them by and get cheese plate, instead.

 

And don't forget, if there's a chilled fruit soup on the MDR menu, you can just order that for dessert--and they are invariably excellent!

 

What a good idea! HAL's cakes are all bland (I think they put the ship's quota of vanilla into the yummy bread pudding). Creme brulees are good. But a fruit soup for dessert sound delicious! (except I'd want a cookie on the side...)

Edited October 6, 2015 by 3rdGenCunarder

[POA1]

We had some excellent desserts on the Nieuw Amsterdam last year. Some were pretty basic, but there were some real stand outs. Granted, nothing has ever topped the vintage 2003-2004 Snickers Pie....

 

Always ask your waiter for dessert recommendations. Even if you don't order, it's good to know.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We had some excellent desserts on the Nieuw Amsterdam last year. Some were pretty basic, but there were some real stand outs. Granted, nothing has ever topped the vintage 2003-2004 Snickers Pie....

 

Always ask your waiter for dessert recommendations. Even if you don't order, it's good to know.

 

Even if I don't order???? :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Moi NEVER skips dessert!!!!!

[take us away]

Not an event that I miss--but I certainly understand others disappointment.

 

I have always felt that desserts on HAL have been pretty pedestrian; but that makes it easy to pass them by and get cheese plate, instead.

 

And don't forget, if there's a chilled fruit soup on the MDR menu, you can just order that for dessert--and they are invariably excellent!

 

So true about the cold soups. Our waiter would add a small scoop of ice cream every now and then - heaven! If you want a cookie 3rd gen cunard all you have to do is ask as they are always available for the sorbet dessert. My favorite is lemon sorbet with fresh raspberries. Sigh - 3 more months before I sail again.....

Edited October 6, 2015 by take us away

[Krazy Kruizers]

It has been over a couple of years since we have eaten in the main dining room.

But when we did, we were not impressed with HAL's desserts.

[cruz chic]

We had some excellent desserts on the Nieuw Amsterdam last year. Some were pretty basic, but there were some real stand outs. Granted, nothing has ever topped the vintage 2003-2004 Snickers Pie....

 

Always ask your waiter for dessert recommendations. Even if you don't order, it's good to know.

 

Oh the snickers pie .....LOVE! I know we had a really good dessert one night that both your DW and I had that was so good. I can't remember what it was :o. I'm thinking it was an ice cream espresso pie but I'm not sure.

[sail7seas]

We had some excellent desserts on the Nieuw Amsterdam last year. Some were pretty basic, but there were some real stand outs. Granted, nothing has ever topped the vintage 2003-2004 Snickers Pie....

 

Always ask your waiter for dessert recommendations. Even if you don't order, it's good to know.

 

The Snickers Pie was so jaw dropping sweet and SO delicious. I loved that pie and was one of the few desserts I could not pass up. I also like the cappuccino bomb ice cream ball coated in chocolate. :) Makes me swoon just thinking about it.

 

[cruz chic]

The Snickers Pie was so jaw dropping sweet and SO delicious. I loved that pie and was one of the few desserts I could not pass up. I also like the cappuccino bomb ice cream ball coated in chocolate. :) Makes me swoon just thinking about it.

 

 

Yeah the bomb was good. I like the fruit crisps they have now. It seems to be my go to dessert quite often and I can pretend it's health because it's fruit :D.

[Lizzie68]

It has been over a couple of years since we have eaten in the main dining room.

 

But when we did, we were not impressed with HAL's desserts.

 

I find that the desserts do not taste anywhere near as good as they look. Very bland, in fact.

Edited October 6, 2015 by Lizzie68

[3rdGenCunarder]

I find that the desserts do not taste anywhere near as good as they look. Very bland, in fact.

 

The cakes certainly are bland. We went to a cupcake tea one time and every cupcake tasted the same--sweet. Just sweet, not other flavor. They just had different food coloring in the cake and the frosting. I wanted to find a grocery store in port and buy the pastry chef a few lemons and a bottle of vanilla extract. Oddly, though, they put plenty of vanilla in the bread pudding and the sauce that goes with it. Maybe they use it all that way?

[iflyrc5]

On the Statendam 30 day South Pacific cruise in Feb we have the desert extravaganza one of the last nights but on the Veendam 35 day Voyage of the Vikings in Aug we did not have it.

 

My favorite desert is the brownie stack with ice cream.:D

[ski ww]

As much as I enjoyed the dessert extravaganza, it is an awful waste of food. I have a sweet tooth so I eat way more dessert then is good for me. I never have found cause to complain about dessert, there is always lots to choose from. The only thing I ever complain about is the horrible coffee that is served in the Lido, the rest of the ship the coffee is drinkable.

Allan

[Loreto]

The Snickers Pie was so jaw dropping sweet and SO delicious. I loved that pie and was one of the few desserts I could not pass up. I also like the cappuccino bomb ice cream ball coated in chocolate. :) Makes me swoon just thinking about it.

 

The Cappuccino Bombe was my favorite, too!:) It was explained to me why it is no longer offered: It was created off the ship, and must have been expensive to make and offer....so sad it's gone. I enjoyed the sorbets frequently on our Statendam Alaska cruise. Our assistant steward was very good with dessert recommendations, and often created sundaes just for me.

 

I don't miss the dessert extravaganza, beautiful to look at, but all that chocolate kept me awake at night!:eek:

 

Karen