5-star Mariner Cooking Class??

[Primus]

Does anyone know if this 5-star Mariner benefit listed on the HAL website and cruise planners still exists: "Complimentary Culinary Arts Center cooking class (1 per cruise) Complimentary cooking workshop (1 per cruise)?"  My husband and I recently became 5-star Mariners and we were looking forward to this perk.  We were just on the Koningsdam for 22 days (collectors voyage) and the front desk staff had no idea what this benefit was.  I talked to numerous people at the front desk on day 1, they promised to look into it, and I was eventually told an invitation to a talk for just 5-Stars would be sent.  This didn't happen on the first leg so I followed up again.  No invitation on the second leg either.  I was later provided a summary sheet of Mariner benefits and this one wasn't listed.  

[igraf]

31 minutes ago, Primus said:

Does anyone know if this 5-star Mariner benefit listed on the HAL website and cruise planners still exists: "Complimentary Culinary Arts Center cooking class (1 per cruise) Complimentary cooking workshop (1 per cruise)?"  My husband and I recently became 5-star Mariners and we were looking forward to this perk.  We were just on the Koningsdam for 22 days (collectors voyage) and the front desk staff had no idea what this benefit was.  I talked to numerous people at the front desk on day 1, they promised to look into it, and I was eventually told an invitation to a talk for just 5-Stars would be sent.  This didn't happen on the first leg so I followed up again.  No invitation on the second leg either.  I was later provided a summary sheet of Mariner benefits and this one wasn't listed.  

 

The cooking class is currently listed as a 5-star amenity:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/mariner-society.html

 

Nobody thought of looking this up when you inquired?

 

igraf

 

 

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

The K and NS don't have a place for a hands-on class. ATK was converted to Club Orange. When I was on the K, they used the world stage for demos. I don't recall there being any hands-on classes.

 

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

One the last two cruises I was on - Prinsendam and Nieuw Amsterdam, I was invited to a ATK cooking demo as 5*. I don't think they do "hands on" anymore due to health considerations. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 minutes ago, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

One the last two cruises I was on - Prinsendam and Nieuw Amsterdam, I was invited to a ATK cooking demo as 5*. I don't think they do "hands on" anymore due to health considerations. 

 

Back when I did take a few hands-on classes (on the Vista ships), we didn't eat what we cooked. This was before ATK. The classes were to make a meal in the demo kitchen, and then we went to to the Pinnacle to have the chef-prepared version of the meal. 

[taxmantoo]

On the Volendam in February, the class (more like a TV show demonstration - no hands on cooking) was held in the Wajang Theater.  We were handed the recipes and a America's Test Kitchen apron.

 

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

24 minutes ago, taxmantoo said:

On the Volendam in February, the class (more like a TV show demonstration - no hands on cooking) was held in the Wajang Theater.  We were handed the recipes and a America's Test Kitchen apron.

 

 

 

So the 5* perk now is getting an apron?

 

Edited April 30, 2019 by 3rdGenCunarder

[iflyrc5]

A little personal story on this subject.  We are 5 star - Before our 42 day B2B2B2B on the Kdam this past January/Feb I contacted the Mariner Society folks and they assured me that we would have the 5 Star cooking classes.  When I got on the ship I went to the front desk and asked about the classes and got the deer in the headlights look.  During the first segment of our cruise I talked to the ATK chef on board and she said that with the new configuration on the Kdam (and Nieuw Statendam) that they could not offer the 5 star classes and that ATK had notified HAL of this in December 2018.   So, when we had our turn around day in Ft Lauderdale I called the  HAL Mariner Society folks and after a lot of back and forth discussion over 45 minutes they finally agreed that yes these classes were not being offered on the these 2 ships.  I asked what alternative they would offer because this 5 Star benefit was not available.  I suggested an additional complimentary dinner in the Pinnacle and they offered a $25 OBC for each of us.   After a few days the OBC did show up on our account.  We will be on the Rotterdam this fall and the Volendam in January 2020 so it will be interesting to see if the classes are available on these ships.   If anyone are on these ships and reads this I would be interested to know if the classes are being offered. 

[iflyrc5]

4 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

So the 5* perk now is getting an apron?

 

Nope - no Apron on the Kdam in January - see my posting above

[BJzink]

The cooking classes were a lot more interesting & fun when HAL was associated with "Wine & Food" magazine.

[3rdGenCunarder]

25 minutes ago, BJzink said:

The cooking classes were a lot more interesting & fun when HAL was associated with "Wine & Food" magazine.

 

I may be the only person who isn't fond of ATK, but I liked the classes and demos better before ATK. 

[syesmar]

14 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I may be the only person who isn't fond of ATK, but I liked the classes and demos better before ATK. 

While the presentation was very nice on our last cruise, I missed being able to sample the recipes during the show.

Also, before ATK, if I missed the demonstration, the Party Planner/Host would always give me a copy of the recipe (even offering to have any that were missed sent to the stateroom at the end of the sailing), but I learned quick last year, as I was told recipe cards were in high demand and couldn't be retrieved from the cabinet after they were put away😕  If I didn't stop by before or during the show, I wasn't getting the card.  Missed having the demos on TV, too.  Not complaining, but things were just different.

Primus, you may want to reach out to the Mariner Society to ask about the lack of classes.

Edited April 30, 2019 by syesmar

[taxmantoo]

48 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

So the 5* perk now is getting an apron?

 

Indeed 😉 Don't say it too loud, now everybody will want to become a 5-star.  Good thing is that if you drop ketchup on it, you can get it cleaned for free  

[kazu]

56 minutes ago, BJzink said:

The cooking classes were a lot more interesting & fun when HAL was associated with "Wine & Food" magazine.

 

29 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I may be the only person who isn't fond of ATK, but I liked the classes and demos better before ATK. 

 

I agree.  I much preferred the heads on cooking class.

 

On this cruise our “free” one for 5*’s was offered when we were in Barcelona and most people would be in port.  We were in Tarragona so obviously did not go.

 

Didn’t receive an apron.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When HAL started the new 5* level, we were already well over the 500 points needed for this level.  On some ships we got a call right away about taking the perk of a free cooking class.  DH wasn't interested so we didn't take the class.  We did go to many demos and loved them -- especially when they passed out samples.  Now all that is gone.

 

When we were on the Westerdam in 2016, there wasn't even a cooking class and only a couple of demos and no samples.  21 day cruise.

[BJzink]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

 

I agree.  I much preferred the heads on cooking class.

 

On this cruise our “free” one for 5*’s was offered when we were in Barcelona and most people would be in port.  We were in Tarragona so obviously did not go.

 

Didn’t receive an apron.

I should give credit to the EXC cruises on Maasdam.  There were guest chefs who gave demos and emphasized the culture of food in the areas we traveled.  Much more interesting dishes created - which were duplicated in the kitchen & samples served at the "Sip & Savor" events.  

[Ottawa traveller]

2 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

A little personal story on this subject.  We are 5 star - Before our 42 day B2B2B2B on the Kdam this past January/Feb I contacted the Mariner Society folks and they assured me that we would have the 5 Star cooking classes.  When I got on the ship I went to the front desk and asked about the classes and got the deer in the headlights look.  During the first segment of our cruise I talked to the ATK chef on board and she said that with the new configuration on the Kdam (and Nieuw Statendam) that they could not offer the 5 star classes and that ATK had notified HAL of this in December 2018.   So, when we had our turn around day in Ft Lauderdale I called the  HAL Mariner Society folks and after a lot of back and forth discussion over 45 minutes they finally agreed that yes these classes were not being offered on the these 2 ships.  I asked what alternative they would offer because this 5 Star benefit was not available.  I suggested an additional complimentary dinner in the Pinnacle and they offered a $25 OBC for each of us.   After a few days the OBC did show up on our account.  We will be on the Rotterdam this fall and the Volendam in January 2020 so it will be interesting to see if the classes are available on these ships.   If anyone are on these ships and reads this I would be interested to know if the classes are being offered. 

I was on the Veendam , Westerdam and Volendam within this past year. All ships offered the class though you had to ask at the front desk. In all three cases the classes were on port days and the topic was how to crack eggs and make an omelet. I don't know if they have changed the topic yet.

[ottahand7]

I am not a 5* Mariner but on 2 cruises in the last 18 months we were able to snag an unclaimed 5* Mariner spot and pay around $39 each to take the class.  It was wonderful on the Oosterdam in April 2018 when we did pastry but just horrible on the Rotterdam in February.   It was an insult to us that paid for the class and for the 5* Mariners that invested time in the class.  The class was Eggs which was a great topic making deviled eggs, mayonnaise and meringue.  Sadly our instructor took a tour in Grand Cayman prior to her class.  We were told to be 10 minutes early and she was 15 minutes late as was flustered and poorly prepared.  Some of the very elderly classmates were floundering putting their egg filling in their pastry bag and I helped them not the instructor.  She didn't have any mustard for the deviled eggs.   She mismeasured the sugar for the meringues and one of the others in the class and I just looked at each other like "what a waste of time". I had done a good job selling this "fun" event to my fiance' and it was a total flop.  I complained on my feedback form and heard nothing from HA.  If you are a 5* go and get your pretty apron and if the instructor stinks just throw in the towel.  Next time we will take our $80 and spend the hour in the casino or in port as our instructor had.....    

[J&Dhighdesert]

We were on the Volendam doing a B2b in January.  We were sent a invitation with an RSVP.   I accepted with nothing better to do.  What a waste of time.  .  She also did the egg and mayo demo.  I suggested she buy an egg cooker from Amazon instead of using so many pots.  My eggs  always come out just fine. She did not take my suggestion very well. There was no samples and no hands on.  To me the cooking demonstration have really gone down hill.  It used to be so much fun.  I am probably the only one because the general shows are always packed,

[Caribbean Chris]

HAL certainly needs to stop promising this benefit to 5* mariners if the ship’s aren’t consistently able to deliver it.

 

One of the hands-on class that I attended years ago was especially good with a personable HAL chef (from the kitchen, not a guest chef) who gave tips and seemed to enjoy interacting with the 12 passengers in the class. We prepared things served on board, such as creme anglaise made with vanilla beans, and actually learned things. (Other later classes were not so good, and one chef seemed annoyed to be there.)

 

Not too long ago, every HAL brochure portrayed apron-wearing people (attractive mature models, of course) happily participating in those fun classes.Too bad the real-deal cooking classes are gone.

Edited May 1, 2019 by Caribbean Chris

[Primus]

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I've stopped going to ATK presentations because there is nothing new.  The egg classes are not something I would want to attend either.  I'll contact HAL.  I expect they'll just offer an addition Pinnacle dinner which is something I do not need.  Shipboard credit would be much preferred.

[3rdGenCunarder]

A lesson on how to crack an egg? I am proud to say that I can crack and open an egg one-handed (without breaking the yolk), which I learned from watching Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. The ATK classes are either about things I've done for years (like making deviled eggs) or things I have no intention of doing (making my own pasta, I'm way too lazy to do that). 

 

I was so lucky with my classes pre-ATK. Both times there was a guest chef, and the interactions with the chef and with my fellow classmates was great. Plus, the chance to chat with the chef during lunch was really special. 

[ScottC4746]

On 4/30/2019 at 4:32 AM, Primus said:

Does anyone know if this 5-star Mariner benefit listed on the HAL website and cruise planners still exists: "Complimentary Culinary Arts Center cooking class (1 per cruise) Complimentary cooking workshop (1 per cruise)?"  My husband and I recently became 5-star Mariners and we were looking forward to this perk.  We were just on the Koningsdam for 22 days (collectors voyage) and the front desk staff had no idea what this benefit was.  I talked to numerous people at the front desk on day 1, they promised to look into it, and I was eventually told an invitation to a talk for just 5-Stars would be sent.  This didn't happen on the first leg so I followed up again.  No invitation on the second leg either.  I was later provided a summary sheet of Mariner benefits and this one wasn't listed.  

Yes.   Unfortunately only on port days. 

[idiebabe]

3 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

Yes.   Unfortunately only on port days. 

 

That's been my experience as well!  Only offered on Port days when we're off the Ship!

[ScottC4746]

1 hour ago, idiebabe said:

 

That's been my experience as well!  Only offered on Port days when we're off the Ship!

On Eurodam they said it is a safety issue.  Lectures on sea days and hands on on port days.