First cruise - few questions

[guest26]

thismis our first cruise ever. Going with family to Norway fjords and have few questions:

- what is open during ship in port - which restaurants? Pools? Anything else?

- what time all restaurants gets closed and when open? I plan to wake up around 04:00 or 05:00 in morning to see the ship travels through fjords and hoping to eat breakfast around 06:00...

- can eat breakfast outside to enjoy the view? Any recommendation?

- BBC earth - what is it about? Lectures? Movie? Anyway of lectures about the destination, Norway?

[kazu]

thismis our first cruise ever. Going with family to Norway fjords and have few questions:

- what is open during ship in port - which restaurants? Pools? Anything else?

- what time all restaurants gets closed and when open? I plan to wake up around 04:00 or 05:00 in morning to see the ship travels through fjords and hoping to eat breakfast around 06:00...

- can eat breakfast outside to enjoy the view? Any recommendation?

- BBC earth - what is it about? Lectures? Movie? Anyway of lectures about the destination, Norway?

 

Open in port - the LIdo, Dive In, pizza, etc. MDR is not open for lunch usually but it and all the specialty restuarants are open in the evening. Casino and shops are closed while in port by Government regulation. The pools are open of course as well as the bars.

 

Breakfast? Depends on the port days but IIRC, Lido opens around 6 for Continental breakfast and a bit later for regular breakfast (7 or 7:30 I think). MDR breakfast depends on if it's a port day or not but on port days usually earlier - around 7:30 am

 

You can eat outside to enjoy views. Tell us which ship you are on and we can help more.

[Krazy Kruizers]

While in port, the pools will be open. Restaurants are closed while in port. But the Lido Buffet will be open, along with the Dive In and Pizza place.

Lido will have a continental breakfast around 6 AM. As to opening the rest of the Lido -- depends on if it a port day or sea day. Full breakfast will start at either 6:30 or 7 AM. Then the Lido starts to close one section down around 10:30 to prep it for lunch. Then it starts to close some parts at 2 or 2:30. Dinner is from 5:30 to 8 or 8:30. Things like sandwiches, salad bar, pizza stay open till around 4 PM -- also ice cream and deserts.

Dive In -- Hamburger & hot dogs -- 11:30 to 5 or 6 PM.

Breakfast -- dining room -- sea days: 8 - 9:30---- port days: 7:30 - 9.

Pinnacle Grill -- open usually on sea days for lunch from Noon - 1:30. Dining Room open for lunch on sea days -- Noon - 1:30

Dinner -- fixed dining times -- usually 5:30 and 8 PM -- times vary by ship and itinerary. Open seating dinner: 5:30 - 9 PM.

Don't know which ship you are on but some ships have more specialty restaurants than others.

You can fix you own plate of food from the Lido and take it to the aft pool area.

[grsnovi]

- BBC earth - what is it about?

 

We did Norway this past June. The BBC Earth is a show held in the main show lounge. It consists of video with a set of live musicians. The video is of various interesting animal situations that were filmed in exotic locations. As I recall, the video is narrated in appropriate locations. It was fantastic! Go see it!

 

As to your eating questions: you can always order room service for an early breakfast. I don't believe there are times when room service isn't available.

[guest26]

Well we will be in Nieuw Statendam and I (40 years old) will be with children so cannot go to the aft sea view pool as it to adults only, just the lido pool area.

The ship arrives to ports at 07:00 and in other day at 08:00 and cruising few hours between fjords to reach it. So I thought to wake up early.

What about the cafe? What about the observation at the last floor?

 

I know children are rare on HAL but mine are not into big water slides and well behave. First time on ship will be quite an adventure for them. This cruise suits us by price and date (also looked specifically for fjords).

However, we all getting up quite yearly at home.

[kazu]

Well we will be in Nieuw Statendam and I (40 years old) will be with children so cannot go to the aft sea view pool as it to adults only, just the lido pool area.

The ship arrives to ports at 07:00 and in other day at 08:00 and cruising few hours between fjords to reach it. So I thought to wake up early.

What about the cafe? What about the observation at the last floor?

 

I know children are rare on HAL but mine are not into big water slides and well behave. First time on ship will be quite an adventure for them. This cruise suits us by price and date (also looked specifically for fjords).

However, we all getting up quite yearly at home.

 

children are not as rare on HAL as you may think ;)

 

I believe they are allowed in the aft (sea view pool area) to enjoy views. I've certainly seen them there. They are just not supposed to use that pool.

 

As far as I know, it's only the pool that is off limits for children, not the entire sea view (aft) area.

 

Crow's Nest (observation on top floor) is open early in the morning. I'm an early riser and often go there. Nothing served there, though.

 

I think the Explorations Lounge is usually open around 6:30 or 7:00 depending on ship, itinerary, etc. The times will be posted in your When and Where daily on board.

[Mutumbojimbo]

We struggled with the time change on our cruise to Alaska and were up very early most mornings, we were able to get toast or croissants with butter and jelly from room service. I think the breakfast menu was available after 6 and it had several hot breakfast options that were complimentary and very good on the morning that we had an early port. We certainly found it preferable to working through the buffet.