Embarkation Day Lunch In Diningroom

[spcl4cs_gal]

What time would they start to serve lunch in the diningroom on the day of sailing? The Lido is a bit too crowded for my mother who has trouble walking. Thanks. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Lunch is only available on the Vista class ships and the Eurodam in the dining room from Noon until 1 PM.

Very limited menu.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This was our menu on the Westerdam:

Starters:

 

Antipasto Platter - marinated grilled vegetables with salami and mortadella

 

or

 

Oregan Bay Smrimp Cocktail

 

or

 

Beef and Barley Soup

 

Entrees:

 

Pan Seared Orange Roughy - Avocado tomato aioli, steamed brown rice and carrots

 

or

 

Lemon Herb Crusted Turkey Tenderloin - honey dijon glazed with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes

 

or

 

Ziti alla Carbonara - large tubepasta tossed with pancetta cream sauce and freshly grated parmesan

 

Desserts:

 

Cheesecake with Strawberry sauce

 

or

 

Chocolate Mousse

 

or

 

Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry Ice Cream

[Travalerie]

Enough choices for us! We will eat in the DR if we are able to get on before 1!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I just wish that we had been told when we got to the ship that the dining room was open for lunch on our cruise.

[Travalerie]

I just wish that we had been told when we got to the ship that the dining room was open for lunch on our cruise.

 

I am assuming they prefer people dining in the Lido?? I feel so privelaged to have all this inside information from people like you on the board. I know what to ask for now!

[timothy998]

My stomach is rumbly now after reading that even limited menu! What is the difference between what is served in the Lido versus the dining room, please? It sounds like the dining room would be less crazy for our kids, and allow them some time to settle in and acclimate without running the Lido buffet gauntlet. Does it make sense to skip the Lido first thing and go for the more sedate (I trust) dining room? I know my two youngest would love the shrimp...I think that by the second day our servers will have the shrimp ready & waiting!

[Travalerie]

My stomach is rumbly now after reading that even limited menu! What is the difference between what is served in the Lido versus the dining room, please? It sounds like the dining room would be less crazy for our kids, and allow them some time to settle in and acclimate without running the Lido buffet gauntlet. Does it make sense to skip the Lido first thing and go for the more sedate (I trust) dining room? I know my two youngest would love the shrimp...I think that by the second day our servers will have the shrimp ready & waiting!

 

I have two kids too, and I would rather just sit and be served then having to take turns going through the line with the chaos and the crowds.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am assuming they prefer people dining in the Lido?? I feel so privelaged to have all this inside information from people like you on the board. I know what to ask for now!

 

Yes -- they would prefer eating in the Lido.

[catl331]

They don't advertise that the dining room is open for lunch on the first day. Even asking at the front office doesn't work. Best to check personally to see if it is open. It wasn't on the 3 day Eurodam last wk but the Lido wasn't crowded.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Even our concierges on the Westerdam didn't tell us that the dining room was open for lunch. The Neptune Lounge was really crowded.

 

The menu was on our bed when we went to our cabin around 1:15.

[sfocruiser]

If you consider how taxed the dining staff (or the staff in general) is during embarkation, it makes sense that they don't want to promote this. It's surprising that they even open the formal dining room for lunch.

[waASPCrusier]

Actually on our Oosterdam cruise last week as we boarded at roughly 11:45 they were directing people to the rear of the ship to the Vista dining room instead of the Lido...we peeked in and saw it was getting quite busy. Since we had already done this on our last cruise when it is was not well known and very empty we just headed upstairs for those great burgers....and it was early enough that there was no line :D

 

Tayo and Kristy

[mafig]

Lunch is only available on the Vista class ships and the Eurodam in the dining room from Noon until 1 PM.

 

Very limited menu.

 

 

So, lunch IS available on the Eurodam?

[Krazy Kruizers]

So, lunch IS available on the Eurodam?

 

In Europe I heard that it was.

Now the newest reports say "no".

I have a feeling that it was only open then because of all the new ports for her and HAL hosting tons of Mariners and TA's.

[Krazy Kruizers]

If you consider how taxed the dining staff (or the staff in general) is during embarkation, it makes sense that they don't want to promote this. It's surprising that they even open the formal dining room for lunch.

 

For the first couple of years, the Vista class ships never offered this.

This was a time for some of the crew to get a couple of hours off.

[sail7seas]

Many of the dining stewards are escorting people as they board to the elevators and taking them to Lido. The dining stewards take Suite guests to Neptune. We ALWAYS beg off from them to give them one less trip they need to make.

 

We know the way. ;)

 

With stewards working lunch in Lido and working embarkation, there are limited stewards available to work the dining room. They cannot handle a fully crowded dining room.

 

We love going to Lido on Embarkation Day. I enjoy the excitement and gaity and love starting my cruise with a Lido full of happy, excited folks. We know by the time the first dinner is finished, there will be a grumbler or two. Some folks refuse to be happy for more than 5 minutes. Always have to find the negative.

 

 

[Zyzygy]

We were part of a group steered directly to Vista upon boarding, although I had planned to go anyway, thanks to CC advice.

 

I think they just open the Vista for a little while on Vista Class ships when they think the Lido will be overcrowded with everyone boarding at once.

 

It can't hurt to drop by the main dining room on any cruise, just to see if it is open. Lower level was open on our cruise. If they are trying to herd you to the main elevator to go to the Lido, just pretend you have to go to the bathroom.

 

As mentioned above, lunch menu and hours were limited. But the lunch was still good and restful, without negotiating the excited Lido crowds.

[sail7seas]

Why pretend. :confused:

 

Say it right out.

 

"We would like to go to the dining room. We understand it might be open for lunch."

 

No one is going to refuse you.

 

[DizzyDallasDi]

I'm goiing to have a late breakfast so I won't be wanting to head staight to the Lido for some grub after boarding. I'd like to sit on deck with a nice "welcome aboard" adult beverage and begin to unwind while waiting for the "rooms are ready" announcement. Is room service available for dinner or evening snacks on embarkation day? (My upcoming cruise on the Eurodam will be my first on HAL.)

 

Diane