35 Days to the South Pacific with The Inside Cabin - Live from the Zuiderdam

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Internet very bad in this part of ocean.  Can't upload any photos.    More later.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Todays menu

[The-Inside-Cabin]

I did the $25 Art Studio project.    There are 3 different paintings.    You follow along to a video instructor.  
  
fun time! 
 

Here are the other two projects. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

here is a link to the company that provides the video. 
 

https://www.paintingtogogh.com/pages/painting-party?utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&utm_term=at home paint party&utm_campaign=&hsa_src=g&hsa_kw=at home paint party&hsa_mt=b&hsa_acc=3460734882&hsa_grp=119759412159&hsa_ad=574919531670&hsa_cam=12693721401&hsa_tgt=kwd-294786568267&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjPCayMrz9gIVh4XICh2v0QjIEAAYASAAEgLR2fD_BwE

Edited April 1, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Winner of the boat building contest.   8 entries.    

[canadianbear]

10 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Winner of the boat building contest.   8 entries.    

Wow!  That’s impressive 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Did origami class.  Self paced. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Coloring class gives you a chance to work on these.   Self paced. 

[rkacruiser]

23 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 It was the op of this thread.  It may be on long cruises.  It’s not on 7 day.  I think people are reading various things on this thread and assuming it’s the same on every cruise.

 

Based on what the OP has said on many posts previously, I think they are "guinea pigs"--in the best possible sense--in experiencing very creative and different for HAL menus.  In preparation for the 2023 World Cruise?  Or other long cruises?  The menus do not "read" like a regular 7 day cruise menu.  But, if such interesting menus were offered on their shorter cruises, might that not become an "attraction" to some cruisers who might prefer trying  Galumpki rather than Market Fish of the Day (which often has shown up on the menus of my most recent HAL cruises)?

 

[Florida_gal_50]

32 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Based on what the OP has said on many posts previously, I think they are "guinea pigs"--in the best possible sense--in experiencing very creative and different for HAL menus.  In preparation for the 2023 World Cruise?  Or other long cruises?  The menus do not "read" like a regular 7 day cruise menu.  But, if such interesting menus were offered on their shorter cruises, might that not become an "attraction" to some cruisers who might prefer trying  Galumpki rather than Market Fish of the Day (which often has shown up on the menus of my most recent HAL cruises)?

 

They did have these dishes on hal menus years ago.  Hal is not going back to that I’m pretty sure.  I do enjoy Hal’s fish. It’s usually cooked pretty perfectly.  The food is always going to be nicer on longer cruises because I’m sure there is a premium associated with that.  That said, I’m not seeing to many cheap prices unless it’s right before it sails or for casino freebies (not that I see those).

[rkacruiser]

6 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 I do enjoy Hal’s fish. It’s usually cooked pretty perfectly.  The food is always going to be nicer on longer cruises because I’m sure there is a premium associated with that.  

 

Their seafood/fish preparations have always pleased me.  I have found it interesting to see the differences in the recipes used for Escargots in the MDR, Pinnacle Grill, and Rudi's Sel de Mer though.  All have been delicious.  But, all are different.

 

The cost/day for food on the longer cruises, such as the world cruise, is more.  I have heard that from executives on those ships more than once.  

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

On 3/31/2022 at 5:57 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

It looks like I said that steak and lobster is back.  It was the op of this thread.  It may be on long cruises.  It’s not on 7 day.  I think people are reading various things on this thread and assuming it’s the same on every cruise.  This is a 35 day cruise (I believe).  I think people will be disappointed if the assume this is business as usual.  Hal has cut food on shorter cruises.  Nothing to do with supply chain as others assumed.

Good reminder.   This was the longest continuous cruise since the restart and HAL did many things and had more activities than on shorter cruises.   30 days seems to be the cut off for an enhanced experience.   We are doing a 27 day cruise in August - will be interesting to see if this is the case.   

 

On shorter cruises I don't think you will see the Gala menus I have shared here.   You will probably get Surf and Shrimp tail.    Same with Bridge instructors and extra lecturers etc

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Watermelon and cheese.  Not a combo I would have expected.  Pretty good 

 

[Caribensun]

Thanks, I hope the Art studio class will be offered on my voyage.  Your art is beautiful 

Take care of the ship for us.

[Florida_gal_50]

9 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Good reminder.   This was the longest continuous cruise since the restart and HAL did many things and had more activities than on shorter cruises.   30 days seems to be the cut off for an enhanced experience.   We are doing a 27 day cruise in August - will be interesting to see if this is the case.   

 

On shorter cruises I don't think you will see the Gala menus I have shared here.   You will probably get Surf and Shrimp tail.    Same with Bridge instructors and extra lecturers etc

Yes, you are right.  It will be interesting to see the difference in menus between the 27 day and 35.

[boze9999]

On 3/25/2022 at 8:29 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We are going to the Pinnacle Gala tonight.  $142 pp     Here is the menu 

 

 

We've enjoyed it three times now and absolutely have loved it each time! On the Rotterdam, the cocktail hour was on the floor of the BB King Lounge with cocktails and dancing! First class all the way! 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, boze9999 said:

We've enjoyed it three times now and absolutely have loved it each time! On the Rotterdam, the cocktail hour was on the floor of the BB King Lounge with cocktails and dancing! First class all the way! 

Did you have the same menu each time?   Did you have any presentations or commentary between courses?

[ger_77]

15 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Watermelon and cheese.  Not a combo I would have expected.  Pretty good 

 

Watermelon and feta cheese makes a great summer salad!

[boze9999]

10 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Did you have the same menu each time?   Did you have any presentations or commentary between courses?

the menus have generally been the same with a little tweak each time. Ideally they will modify the GALA Experience menu throughout the seasons or corners of the world. Regardless, we will always book it on those 10+ days it's offered. In my opinion, the Rotterdam was a more impressive venue and evening than on the NA - primarily due to venue. Everyone on the ships wondered "who" the VIPs were as we were entertained during the cocktail hour and walked across the red carpet! (We only had presentations in the beginning and the end).......

 

[nunuc2000]

11 minutes ago, ger_77 said:

Watermelon and feta cheese makes a great summer salad!

Agreed! I make that often during the summer, along with some fresh mint leaves and a drizzle of balsamic glaze - Yummy!!

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

22 minutes ago, boze9999 said:

the menus have generally been the same with a little tweak each time. Ideally they will modify the GALA Experience menu throughout the seasons or corners of the world. Regardless, we will always book it on those 10+ days it's offered. In my opinion, the Rotterdam was a more impressive venue and evening than on the NA - primarily due to venue. Everyone on the ships wondered "who" the VIPs were as we were entertained during the cocktail hour and walked across the red carpet! (We only had presentations in the beginning and the end).......

 

We also had a portrait taken and delivered as part of the package price.   Was that also your experience?

[boze9999]

3 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We also had a portrait taken and delivered as part of the package price.   Was that also your experience?

Yes - a wonderful bonus! And the paired wines flowed as freely as you wished.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, boze9999 said:

Yes - a wonderful bonus! And the paired wines flowed as freely as you wished.

Ours was not on a Gala night - everyone was asked to wear Gala attire and everyone complied.  Was that also your experience?   

 

We had 1/2 of the dueling pianos - no dancing - what band provided your music?

[boze9999]

21 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Ours was not on a Gala night - everyone was asked to wear Gala attire and everyone complied.  Was that also your experience?   

 

We had 1/2 of the dueling pianos - no dancing - what band provided your music?

The Rotterdam (and I assume the other Pinnacle ships) had a wonderful stage performance by the Ocean Bar singer/instramentalist - incredible entertainment. On the Signature ships (or those without the Ocean Bar entertainers), it was just one of the Piano Bar/Billboard musicians playing background music. And yes, the Gala Experience is completely separate from the Gala (aka formal nights). It is truly stand alone, but for many it is also confusing by the use of the word GALA.....nonetheless, we have truly enjoyed the Gala Experience!

[TiogaCruiser]

1 hour ago, boze9999 said:

The Rotterdam (and I assume the other Pinnacle ships) had a wonderful stage performance by the Ocean Bar singer/instramentalist - incredible entertainment. On the Signature ships (or those without the Ocean Bar entertainers), it was just one of the Piano Bar/Billboard musicians playing background music. And yes, the Gala Experience is completely separate from the Gala (aka formal nights). It is truly stand alone, but for many it is also confusing by the use of the word GALA.....nonetheless, we have truly enjoyed the Gala Experience!

Recycled names for things: that, too, is a HAL tradition.

[boze9999]

8 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Recycled names for things: that, too, is a HAL tradition.

I suggested a different name - perhaps the "Pinnacle Experience"....