Gala night, MDR?

[J4NEC]

Hi everyone.  We are a family of four ( two older teens), going on our very first cruise on Koningsdam to Eastern Med on 29 July.  Please forgive my ignorance but is it best to have dinner in the MDR on Gala nights,  thought we might book Pinnacle Grill but don’t want to miss out on the festivities!

 

Also, does anyone know what time they show outdoor movies ?

 

Thanks  xx

[sevenseasnomad]

15 minutes ago, J4NEC said:

Hi everyone.  We are a family of four ( two older teens), going on our very first cruise on Koningsdam to Eastern Med on 29 July.  Please forgive my ignorance but is it best to have dinner in the MDR on Gala nights,  thought we might book Pinnacle Grill but don’t want to miss out on the festivities!

 

Also, does anyone know what time they show outdoor movies ?

 

Thanks  xx

Movies are generally shown in the evenings, around 9-10 p.m. on our cruise.  Check your daily planner for the specific time each day, as it can vary.  

 

MDR Gala Nights, IMO, aren't the pull-out-all-the-stops events that they once were.  In those days, waiters placed white covers over the chairs, lighting was more subdued, live musicians played, and more passengers dressed up.  The second Gala Night has usually offered the filet mignon and lobster tail.  If you want to double check, simply visit the Front Desk as soon as you board.  The ladies (and gents) who serve Guest Relations often have menus for the full cruise, and you can decide whether dining in the MDR is worth it to you.  If not, head to the dining booking station (location varies from ship to ship on the first day) and make your reservations.  Only you can decide if the MDR offers menu items you prefer over the PG's set menu on Gala Nights.  You may also want to consider Tamarind.  

Edited March 6, 2019 by sevenseasnomad

[Crew News]

16 minutes ago, J4NEC said:

Hi everyone.  We are a family of four ( two older teens), going on our very first cruise on Koningsdam to Eastern Med on 29 July.  Please forgive my ignorance but is it best to have dinner in the MDR on Gala nights,  thought we might book Pinnacle Grill but don’t want to miss out on the festivities!

 

Also, does anyone know what time they show outdoor movies ?

 

Thanks  xx

 

The second Gala Night is surf 'n turf with shrimp cocktails appetizers so it is worth going to Gala Night.  The first Gala Night is not as extravagant.  Other than upscaled food, there are not other festivities. 

 

Most nights the poolside movies are 7:00 and 10:00 PM

Edited March 6, 2019 by Crew News

[OlsSalt]

There are no real "festivities" on Gala Night, nor is it even universally formal - just an invitation to dress up a bit more formally for those who still enjoy this old sea travel tradition . We often dress up when we dine at the Pinnacle anyway. I wouldn't let Gala Night interfere with your choice one way or the other to dine at the Pinnacle.  

[DaveOKC]

We generally avoid booking the Pinnacle on Gala Nights as we like the food in the MDR those evenings.  We like to save the Pinnacle for a late port night or the last night of the cruise as it gives us more time flexiblity (we normally have Early fixed dining).

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Not sure what festivities you thought HAL would have on Gala nights.  But they don't exist.

 

When we did dine in the dining room, formal (gala) nights -- we went to a specialty restaurant.  Don't like warm water, very salty lobster tails and chewy filet.

 

Your ship has the Tamarind restaurant -- way better than the Pinnacle Grill.  JMO

[Lido deck main]

34 minutes ago, J4NEC said:

Hi everyone.  We are a family of four ( two older teens), going on our very first cruise on Koningsdam to Eastern Med on 29 July.  Please forgive my ignorance but is it best to have dinner in the MDR on Gala nights,  thought we might book Pinnacle Grill but don’t want to miss out on the festivities!

 

Also, does anyone know what time they show outdoor movies ?

 

Thanks  xx

Hi, 

personally as this is your first cruise and you have two teenagers I would do both Gala nights in the MDR.  If you like Escarcots they serve that as an appetizers first Gala night only.   It is special, a lot of people dress up, not over the top, would be a great night to take a family photo as all the photographers are out taking pictures.  

Have a great cruise.

[CruiserBruce]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

 

The second Gala Night is surf 'n turf with shrimp cocktails appetizers so it is worth going to Gala Night.  The first Gala Night is not as extravagant.  Other than upscaled food, there are not other festivities. 

 

Most nights the poolside movies are 7:00 and 10:00 PM

 

Not quite correct.  The FINAL Gala night will have the lobster. Just in case you are on a cruise with more than two gala nights.

[RocketMan275]

18 hours ago, Crew News said:

 

The second Gala Night is surf 'n turf with shrimp cocktails appetizers so it is worth going to Gala Night.  The first Gala Night is not as extravagant.  Other than upscaled food, there are not other festivities. 

 

Most nights the poolside movies are 7:00 and 10:00 PM

I've seen those 'upscale' items served on the buffet as well.

[canadianbear]

We just got off the Koningsdam yesterday.  We like dining in the MDR on gala nights.  Just a heads up if you like escargot-our cruise and the one before it had no escargot.  They said they were having trouble stocking it.  

 

You might like to book the first & last night at the specialty restaurants like Tamarind, Pinnacle or Canalleto.  

[catl331]

38 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

You might like to book the first & last night at the specialty restaurants like Tamarind, Pinnacle or Canalleto.

I would put Sel de Mer in as my second choice, after the Tamarind. It is pricey though, unless you are 4 or 5 star.

Edited March 7, 2019 by catl331

[canadianbear]

Wasn’t sure with teens if Sel de Mer would be something they’d like.  Lots of choices! 

[HMSDingy]

On 3/7/2019 at 1:36 PM, canadianbear said:

We just got off the Koningsdam yesterday.  We like dining in the MDR on gala nights.  Just a heads up if you like escargot-our cruise and the one before it had no escargot.  They said they were having trouble stocking it.  

 

You might like to book the first & last night at the specialty restaurants like Tamarind, Pinnacle or Canalleto.  

Did you dine in the MDR? One of the posts above commented that the surf n turf was nothing to write home about.  We're booked in the Tamarind for our second gala night but we can change it for another night if the MDR menu is decent.

Edited March 25, 2019 by HMSDingy

[canadianbear]

23 minutes ago, HMSDingy said:

Did you dine in the MDR? One of the posts above commented that the surf n turf was nothing to write home about.  We're booked in the Tamarind for our second gala night but we can change it for another night if the MDR menu is decent.

We didn’t do the MDR night (1st gala night) when they didn’t have escargot.  We did the 2nd gala night and all 4 of us had the surf & turf. We found it excellent.  

 

We book Tamarind ahead of time for the first night as always find the MDR a zoo as we have any time dining.

[esimon]

On 3/6/2019 at 7:09 PM, Krazy Kruizers said:

Not sure what festivities you thought HAL would have on Gala nights.  But they don't exist.

 

When we did dine in the dining room, formal (gala) nights -- we went to a specialty restaurant.  Don't like warm water, very salty lobster tails and chewy filet.

 

Your ship has the Tamarind restaurant -- way better than the Pinnacle Grill.  JMO

wow  my husband was just talking about snooty people -- lol  - how do you stand the food on these ships. LOL   Love gala nights and enjoy all parts of it.  

[Snowesha]

I love the escargot! Which night is the escargot? That is the only thing I look forward to on Gala night! BTW I do like to dress up for them, call me old fashioned!

[canadianbear]

Just now, Snowesha said:

I love the escargot! Which night is the escargot? That is the only thing I look forward to on Gala night! BTW I do like to dress up for them, call me old fashioned!

It’s usually the 2nd gala night.  Would be interested to know if anyone has had escargot recently on a HAL ship.  We really love the way HAL does it (Celebrity offered it every night but nowhere near as good as HAL’s).  We will be on the NA next month so I hope it’s back in stock!

[HMSDingy]

18 hours ago, canadianbear said:

We didn’t do the MDR night (1st gala night) when they didn’t have escargot.  We did the 2nd gala night and all 4 of us had the surf & turf. We found it excellent.  

 

We book Tamarind ahead of time for the first night as always find the MDR a zoo as we have any time dining.

Speaking of anytime dining, are they flexible with the hours.  We normally like to dine at 7.

[canadianbear]

1 hour ago, HMSDingy said:

Speaking of anytime dining, are they flexible with the hours.  We normally like to dine at 7.

They encourage after 7:30.  However, if you go before and it’s super busy they give you a pager so you can go have a drink while waiting.  If you’re willing to sit with others it’s usually not too long of wait (except the first night we’ve found, hence we pre-book a specialty restaurant).  

[kazu]

16 hours ago, canadianbear said:

It’s usually the 2nd gala night.  Would be interested to know if anyone has had escargot recently on a HAL ship.  We really love the way HAL does it (Celebrity offered it every night but nowhere near as good as HAL’s).  We will be on the NA next month so I hope it’s back in stock!

 

I’ve never NOT had escargots on a HAL ship on that Gala night.

 

I’ll certainly report on board but I do expect to have them again 😉 

[canadianbear]

1 minute ago, kazu said:

 

I’ve never NOT had escargots on a HAL ship on that Gala night.

 

I’ll certainly report on board but I do expect to have them again 😉 

I’m sure they’ll get stock, just not sure when.  We were quite disappointed as we really enjoy escargot-love that garlic too!! 

[HMSDingy]

5 hours ago, canadianbear said:

They encourage after 7:30.  However, if you go before and it’s super busy they give you a pager so you can go have a drink while waiting.  If you’re willing to sit with others it’s usually not too long of wait (except the first night we’ve found, hence we pre-book a specialty restaurant).  

Then I guess the best thing would be to book a specialty restaurant for the first night & avoid the mayhem.  

BTW British Columbia is beautiful as is the rest our our country!

[canadianbear]

20 minutes ago, HMSDingy said:

Then I guess the best thing would be to book a specialty restaurant for the first night & avoid the mayhem.  

BTW British Columbia is beautiful as is the rest our our country!

When you board the ship you can also try to make reservations in the MDR but usually it’s either very early or 7:45.  We found going around 7:30 was very easy to get in. 

 

Born and and raised in BC & still love it!  Great Alaska cruises from here 😁