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Appetizers and such

DanBoy

By DanBoy,
in Holland America Line

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DanBoy

DanBoy

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I may be showing my age but my first cruise was on the OLD Volendam in 1983. I have been on over 50 cruises since that time, but haven't been on HAL in 20 years. Will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam March 14.

Two part question: I days of old one for the big things   were "hot appetizers" served by white gloved staff in some of the lounges before dinner.  Does this still happen?

The second question is they would have a staff member dressed like  the Old Philip Morris commercial guy (Really showing my age!) walk around with some sort of chime "calling you to dinner"..  So curious as to whether or not these things still happen.. I am guessing probably not..

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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16 minutes ago, DanBoy said:

I may be showing my age but my first cruise was on the OLD Volendam in 1983. I have been on over 50 cruises since that time, but haven't been on HAL in 20 years. Will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam March 14.

Two part question: I days of old one for the big things   were "hot appetizers" served by white gloved staff in some of the lounges before dinner.  Does this still happen?

 

From reports on the boards things seem to vary.  Our last sailing was on the Prinsendam and yes, there were hot appetizers served at happy hour.  I don’t recall the servers wearing white gloves, though 😉 

 

16 minutes ago, DanBoy said:

The second question is they would have a staff member dressed like  the Old Philip Morris commercial guy (Really showing my age!) walk around with some sort of chime "calling you to dinner"..  So curious as to whether or not these things still happen.. I am guessing probably not..

 

The yum yum man with the chimes?  Again your experience will vary.  Last year on the Prinsendam we certainly had chimes calling us to dinner.  Also on previous Prinsendam and Rotterdam cruises.  But, things are changing constantly.

Hopefully someone who has been on the N Amsterdam recently can confirm for you how things have worked on that ship.

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BJzink

BJzink

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3 minutes ago, DanBoy said:

Thanks!.. Yes!.. The Yum Yum man.. lol.. We always enjoyed before dinner music as well, but I am guessing that is gone too.. sad if it is..

 

Yum yum man was on my fall Rotterdam cruise, but not on the winter 2020 Maasdam. not sure why the difference.

He was in the top MDR, escorting ladies to their tables, etc.  He also gave out the after dinner mints, ginger, etc.  I have read that there are appetizers in some  bars for Happy Hour - can't confirm that,

 

 

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Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

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It has been years since the servers wore white gloves.

 

There have been times when we had to ask for the hot appetizers.

 

The Philip Morris man is also known as the yum yum man.  Many times he is too busy to serve the after dinner mints and ginger.

 

Haven't heard the chimes calling us to dinner in quite a few years.

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rkacruiser

rkacruiser

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My most recent experiences:

 

No Yum Yum Man; no chimes calling one to dinner; no white glove service observed wherever.

 

During Happy Hour, at least at the Ocean Bar on Eurodam and Volendam, warm and cool hors d' oeuvres are served:  3 per tray presented.  If you wish more, just ask.  Sometimes, if there are some yet to be served later, they will be available.  Ask.  Peanuts, sometimes honey coated, are always available as are Goldfish if requested.  Mixed nuts?  Rarely, if ever at the bars.   Mixed nuts were on the tables during the Mariner Society Parties as well as on New Year's Eve; maybe Christmas Eve as well.  

 

The hors d' oeuvres differ each day; some look unusual/odd; most are quite good.  During 16 days on Volendam and 11 days on Eurodam:  never saw any Bitterballen, though. 

(Maybe they were served on the days I missed HH.)  

 

An interesting addition that I observed on one of the two ships was the presentation of a small tray with a dish of peanuts (mixed?, don't remember accurately), a dish of potato chips, with a glass in the center with two flavored bread sticks.  I saw this twice and it was well after HAL's usual 4:00-5:00 HH time.

 

Has a previous poster noted, one's experience at HH may vary depending upon the ship on which one is sailing.  

 

For me, my HH experiences were important to my enjoyment of my two recent HAL cruises.  

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Shmoo here

Shmoo here

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29 minutes ago, LuAnn said:

Is there still a piano player in the Ocean Bar in the early evening prior to dinner?

Well, it's be a little while, but there was a piano player (just background music, not a piano bar type) but the sets were pretty much during dinner seatings.  

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TAD2005

TAD2005

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The older "R" class ships (Rotterdam) still have a trio or quartet (sometimes with a vocalist) playing in the Ocean Bar before dinner.  There is a decent sized dance floor and many people will be dancing.   On the larger ships, there is no room to dance, so they occasionally have a single piano player doing background music.

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rkacruiser

rkacruiser

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58 minutes ago, LuAnn said:

Is there still a piano player in the Ocean Bar in the early evening prior to dinner?

 

On the December 20, 2019 cruise of the Volendam, yes.  On the January 15th cruise of the Eurodam, no.  And, according to Roman, a bartender, there had not been any music prior to dinner for some time.

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St Pete Cruiser

St Pete Cruiser

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One of the "little things" that put Holland America Line above the main line ships.  From my recent experience, the "S" and "R" class ships still have the yum yum man, although not in the old European Bell Hop suit, and they still call the guests at early and late seatings by ringing the chimes.  Captain Albert has stated that the yum yum man was the most photographed crew person aboard the ships.  On Zuiderdam last year, the officers stood to greet us on gala nights at the MDR and some were also present at the gangway on return from shoreside.

The new Pinnacle class ships have done away with the yum yum position as well as some of the other fine dining traditions in favor of more modern ways.  They are beautiful in their own way, but will never resemble the class and refinement of the previous fleet.

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