Afternoon tea

[RuthC]

Perhaps this solves the mystery of what happened to the fake palm tree that used to adorn Veendam's Seaview "pool". ;)

Is it gone? (finally?)

Gone, but not forgotten?

 

I didn't realize someone tossed it overboard!

[SilvertoGold]

The trouble with HAL and tea is that HAL has recently gone to "Herbal Infusuions" which some companies insist on calling "tea". Probably so as not to turn off all their regular tea drinkers.

 

If you read the label, you find an amazing amount of "stuff", none of which is tea. So beware, read the label so you know what you are getting!

 

The lemon flavoured green teas (actual tea) are very nice.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

That was it. Someone "selected" some weeds from a "field" and called it "tea". :rolleyes:

Thanks for refreshing my memory, and giving me a good way to remember the name.

 

Have a good time on the Maasdam.

 

LOL, your name for it is very similar to mine, which was "weed water":D And thanks, we're looking forward to experiencing the Maasdam for the first time:)

[Bescotti]

 

I will be doing my "tea research" when we're on the Maasdam in less than two weeks:)

 

Please report back on your "tea research" as I'm on the Maasdam for 39 nights from January and am wondering whether I should take my own tea with me.

[ExpatBride]

Afternoon tea was still served in the MDR on Zuiderdam last week. It's at 3PM, and I didn't see clotted cream.

[Whiteowl]

We tried afternoon tea on Eurodam in June. It was pathetic. It consisted of 6 tables in a corner of the MDR. No atmosphere at all. They made one pass with small open sandwiches, scones and small cakes. You had to take the whole lot at once as otherwise you would miss out. There was a selection of packet teas but it was impossible to get a second cup. the whole experience lasted no more than 10-15 mins.

 

They need to see how Oceania do afternoon tea. It is fabulous with a mouthwatering selection of savouries, proper sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and various cakes cut to order from the sweet trolley. they also have the string quartet providing background music. You can have as much as you like. The whole experience in the Horizon lounge is very elegant.

 

HAL is just playing at it and getting it very wrong.

[dakrewser]

We tried afternoon tea on Eurodam in June. It was pathetic. It consisted of 6 tables in a corner of the MDR. No atmosphere at all. They made one pass with small open sandwiches, scones and small cakes. You had to take the whole lot at once as otherwise you would miss out. There was a selection of packet teas but it was impossible to get a second cup. the whole experience lasted no more than 10-15 mins.

 

They need to see how Oceania do afternoon tea. It is fabulous with a mouthwatering selection of savouries, proper sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and various cakes cut to order from the sweet trolley. they also have the string quartet providing background music. You can have as much as you like. The whole experience in the Horizon lounge is very elegant.

 

HAL is just playing at it and getting it very wrong.

 

If afternoon tea is the reason you cruise, then maybe HAL isn't for you. There is a reason only 6 tables were used - no one else wanted to go.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We tried afternoon tea on Eurodam in June. It was pathetic. It consisted of 6 tables in a corner of the MDR. No atmosphere at all. They made one pass with small open sandwiches, scones and small cakes. You had to take the whole lot at once as otherwise you would miss out. There was a selection of packet teas but it was impossible to get a second cup. the whole experience lasted no more than 10-15 mins.

 

They need to see how Oceania do afternoon tea. It is fabulous with a mouthwatering selection of savouries, proper sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and various cakes cut to order from the sweet trolley. they also have the string quartet providing background music. You can have as much as you like. The whole experience in the Horizon lounge is very elegant.

 

HAL is just playing at it and getting it very wrong.

 

I'm amazed that so few people showed up! Any time I've gone, it's been quite busy. I admit that I'm not thrilled about the teabag approach, but other than that, it's been very pleasant, and they let us stay and eat/chat for more than 10-15 minutes.

[RuthC]

I'm amazed that so few people showed up! Any time I've gone, it's been quite busy. I admit that I'm not thrilled about the teabag approach, but other than that, it's been very pleasant, and they let us stay and eat/chat for more than 10-15 minutes.

That's my experience, too. There have always been many tables filled with people chatting and enjoying.

When I want some more of something, I just ask, and it's brought to me. That includes another tea bag and hot water.

[rastewa]

We'll be returning on the Westerdam, to Vancouver from a Hawaii round-trip with the last day into Victoria, the icon of high tea at the Empress Hotel. We are so hoping to have high tea on board!! Anyone know if they might serve it while in port?

[RMLincoln]

Sorry... I should have used the quote function.. this is in reply to post #35 above.

 

HAL usually has Afternoon Tea on port day as well as sea days, I can't guarantee it but usually.... but it's not High Tea like at the Empress, but then again neither is the price.

 

Some cruise lines charge extra for Afternoon Tea, so I'm thankful that HAL still offers it and it can be quite enjoyable but again, don't expect it to be comparable to the Empress.

 

I hope you get to try Indonesian Tea and the Dutch Tea, usually each is presented one day per cruise, so do watch for them in the On Locations. m--

Edited August 22, 2016 by RMLincoln

[serendipity1499]

We tried afternoon tea on Eurodam in June. It was pathetic. It consisted of 6 tables in a corner of the MDR. No atmosphere at all. They made one pass with small open sandwiches, scones and small cakes. You had to take the whole lot at once as otherwise you would miss out. There was a selection of packet teas but it was impossible to get a second cup. the whole experience lasted no more than 10-15 mins.

 

They need to see how Oceania do afternoon tea. It is fabulous with a mouthwatering selection of savouries, proper sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and various cakes cut to order from the sweet trolley. they also have the string quartet providing background music. You can have as much as you like. The whole experience in the Horizon lounge is very elegant.

 

HAL is just playing at it and getting it very wrong.

 

I honestly do not understand posts like this.. :confused:There is an old saying "You get what you pay for"

 

We've been on several Oceania cruises & agree they do a wonderful job when serving "Afternoon Tea".. I always go to Afternoon tea with DH when we are on Oceania.. However we pay a lot more for our cruises on Oceania than we do on HAL for the same type of cabin..

 

IMO your analogy is way off.. It's like comparing Tiffany's with Macy's..:rolleyes:

[serendipity1499]

If afternoon tea is the reason you cruise, then maybe HAL isn't for you. SNIP

 

I agree.. As mentioned before I often go for Afternoon tea on another cruise line, but not normally on HAL unless DH really wants to go.. Many times he wants & enjoys afternoon tea, since he rarely gets it at home only because we often have "Afternoon coffee" with store bought cake or cookies.. And, I don't prepare the wonderful meals for DH that we get when cruising..LOL:D

 

However, like other posters, we've never been rushed on HAL & there are often long lines for "Afternoon tea"..We usually wait a bit before we go to the MDR for tea..

Edited August 22, 2016 by serendipity1499

[rastewa]

Sorry... I should have used the quote function.. this is in reply to post #35 above.

 

HAL usually has Afternoon Tea on port day as well as sea days, I can't guarantee it but usually.... but it's not High Tea like at the Empress, but then again neither is the price.

 

Some cruise lines charge extra for Afternoon Tea, so I'm thankful that HAL still offers it and it can be quite enjoyable but again, don't expect it to be comparable to the Empress.

 

I hope you get to try Indonesian Tea and the Dutch Tea, usually each is presented one day per cruise, so do watch for them in the On Locations. m--

Thank-you so much for the response, looking forward to it, and yes, will be thankful to avoid the $75. charge!! yikes. and thanks for the heads up for the Indonesian and Dutch tea events.

[OlsSalt]

... thanks for the heads up for the Indonesian and Dutch tea events.

 

These are popular so expect some lines waiting to go in and go through the buffet lines for each of these special tea events. The other teas are table service.

[SilvertoGold]

We'll be returning on the Westerdam, to Vancouver from a Hawaii round-trip with the last day into Victoria, the icon of high tea at the Empress Hotel. We are so hoping to have high tea on board!! Anyone know if they might serve it while in port?

 

Generally regular Afternoon Tea is every day at 3 pm excepting embarkation day.

 

Having done your cruise several times, we know it certainly will not be "High Tea" but the regular one for sure.

 

Lovely cruise! Enjoy!!

[RMLincoln]

These are popular so expect some lines waiting to go in and go through the buffet lines for each of these special tea events. The other teas are table service.

 

My memory is that Indonesian Tea is table service with trays offered of the Indonesian treats - banana fritter, crepes of coconut..... but Dutch Tea has had the short buffet of chafing dishes at the MDR entrance..... mmmm, those warm specialties that I've never had elsewhere! I can't wait! m--

[OlsSalt]

My memory is that Indonesian Tea is table service with trays offered of the Indonesian treats - banana fritter, crepes of coconut..... but Dutch Tea has had the short buffet of chafing dishes at the MDR entrance..... mmmm, those warm specialties that I've never had elsewhere! I can't wait! m--

 

Last Indonesian teas we went to were buffet - in two lines starting at the decorated table at the entrance to the MDR - can't remember which ships those were but one of them must have been the Amsterdam. Kind of put us off going to the ones on the recent Zuiderdam. So I can't report on that one.

 

However, I also remember them coming around with trays after the buffet line so you could select more .....of those wonderful green crepe things with the palm sugar. Yum.

Edited August 22, 2016 by OlsSalt

[RMLincoln]

Last Indonesian teas we went to were buffet - in two lines starting at the decorated table at the entrance to the MDR - can't remember which ships those were but one of them must have been the Amsterdam. Kind of put us off going to the ones on the recent Zuiderdam. So I can't report on that one.

 

However, I also remember them coming around with trays after the buffet line so you could select more .....of those wonderful green crepe things with the palm sugar. Yum.

 

Thanks for the heads-up OldSalt. I may have remembered it wrong, or it may have changed. We'll be on Amsterdam late next month, really starting to lay out the plans! I do plan to enjoy many Afternoon Teas, especially the French press coffee at Indonesian Tea ;) m--

[OlsSalt]

Thanks for the heads-up OldSalt. I may have remembered it wrong, or it may have changed. We'll be on Amsterdam late next month, really starting to lay out the plans! I do plan to enjoy many Afternoon Teas, especially the French press coffee at Indonesian Tea ;) m--

 

You got that memory right for sure - it was the Sumatra coffee at the Indonesian Tea that blew us away. There were two types offered, but this one was the very best we thought.

Edited August 22, 2016 by OlsSalt

[RocketMan275]

You got that memory right for sure - it was the Sumatra coffee at the Indonesian Tea that blew us away. There were two types offered, but this one was the very best we thought.

 

Is the french press coffee really that good?

[SeagoingMom]

I guess this is an okay time to do a little "grumbling."

 

We're 4 Star Mariners with HAL. I love afternoon tea, but always skip it on HAL. They kind of seat everybody together at as few tables as possible, make one pass of all the goodies, and send you on your way. It seems very perfunctory, to me. Not the relaxing, pleasant afternoon experience it should be. We sometimes sail with Princess, and they do a much better job, so I make sure to "indulge" as often as possible on our Princess cruises.

 

Okay. End of grumble. I'm obviously not going away hungry from any HAL cruise.

I am wondering how your tea seating worked on Princess, as when we sailed a couple of years ago on CB, we were seated with other people at a large table -- everyone was seated to fill tables. (Notwithstanding this, the tea was very pleasant and relaxing, at least for us.)

 

On the other hand, we requested and were seated at a table for two on HAL Zuiderdam when we sailed 5 years back. (Also very pleasant and relaxing, btw...)

[david,Mississauga]

We'll be returning on the Westerdam, to Vancouver from a Hawaii round-trip with the last day into Victoria, the icon of high tea at the Empress Hotel. We are so hoping to have high tea on board!! Anyone know if they might serve it while in port?

 

The Empress does not serve "high tea"; they serve "afternoon tea". (Admittedly it is often served at noon and into the evening in order to accommodate the crowds.) High tea is rarely served in hotels or on board ships. The Royal Dutch Tea might be close to meeting the definition of high tea because of the warm delicacies on offer.

 

The quality of tea on board HAL has been discussed previously in great length. It is almost impossible to get a decent "cuppa" on HAL even if you bring your own tea bags. Vaguely hot water, which may or may not have been boiling at some point, poured over a tea bag in a cup is not tea. The closest thing to boiling water we found on the Noordam was in the Neptune Lounge. Along with our own tea-bags it was acceptable.

 

On a cruise aboard the Rotterdam in 1974 we attempted to partake of afternoon tea in one of the lounges. Several stewards distributed silver teapots to about a third of the tables, then they left. We thought they were going for more teapots. Alas, that was not the case and a few minutes later the staff returned to collect the teapots. We did get a sandwich though. As I recall we did get tea in silver pots in the dining room and it was drinkable.

 

Before anyone makes a snide comment about tea being unimportant I would point out that those who fancy coffee would never put up with the rubbish that tea drinkers are expected to tolerate in many establishments.

[SeagoingMom]

Ooh, fellow tea snobs!!

 

I love this thread! :)

[kazu]

Is the french press coffee really that good?

 

If it is done properly, yes. Make sure the top is pressed all the way down.

 

The only problem with French Press is that it cools quickly in the pot/press.