Wine Packages

[Caribbean Caroline]

I sailed on the Zaandam in 2002 and they had a great wine package that we bought call the Wine Navigator. It gave us 4 or 5 bottles of wine (can't remember) that we can have at dinner any evening. It cost around $80. I will be on the Westerdam Dec 12 and just curious if they still have this type of program and what the cost is. Thanks so much for your input.
:cool:
Caroline

[Krazy Kruizers]

On the Statendam there were 2 types of wine packages available.

The regular Wine Navigator package is $82 for 4 bottles and $125 for 6 bottles.

Then there is the Wine Navigator "Admiral's Choice" - much better wines -- 5 bottles for $175 and 10 bottles for $325.

[tankerjo2]

Called ship services a couple of weeks ago looking for the 4 bottle wine package that we had purchased in the past and was informed it was not available anymore the current option being a 6 bottle package, I believe it was listed @$145.00. I seem to recall we had paid something like $70 or a few $$'s more for our 4 bottle package and since 6 bottles is a bit much for us on a 7 day cruise I ended up just ordering 3 individual bottles.

Perhaps they may offer something different when you arrive for embarkation, I seem to remember purchasing the wine package in the Terminal at a table they had set up.

[CDRMark]

There is ample opportunity while onboard to review the wine list and decide if a package works for you. Maasdam last week had a desk set up at the entrance to the Lido on a daily basis offering the wine packages. There are also decent wines by the glass if one does not feel like getting a whole bottle.

Cheers
MarkB

[DJP]

DH and I were on the Zaandam last week and bought the 6 bottle wine package for $125 plus 15% tip. There is a smaller package, but I don't recall the price. They had a table set up with the wines available the day of embarkation and they are pretty good.

[Aussie Gal]

We bought the dearer of the two wine packages on the Prinsendam. It cost approximately $130 or so I think for 6 bottles. We would never buy that one again. We found the wine to be not up to the standard we enjoy and in future we are going to order from the wine list when we need it.

We are wine buffs but do not drink a lot of US wine. Most of the wine offered on that particular package came from the state of Washington which doesn't seem to have enough sun for ripening of the grapes and therefore there was very little flavour.

Jennie

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL is pushing the wines from Washington.

Nearly every wine offered at the wine luncheons and special wine dinners are all from Washington.

On our last cruise we did not do the special wine dinner and did only 1 of the 2 special wine luncheons for this very reason.

[the2ofus]

Caroline, glad to hear you will be on the Westerdam 12/12 sailing. Do come over to the roll call board and join us. We're a real friendly bunch. :)

I think you will find that they are offering the smaller wine packages at the table in the terminal on embarkation day. Also, you can choose several different wines or just several bottles of one wine in the package if that is your preference.

[dakrewser]

We bought the dearer of the two wine packages on the Prinsendam. It cost approximately $130 or so I think for 6 bottles. We would never buy that one again. We found the wine to be not up to the standard we enjoy and in future we are going to order from the wine list when we need it.

We are wine buffs but do not drink a lot of US wine. Most of the wine offered on that particular package came from the state of Washington which doesn't seem to have enough sun for ripening of the grapes and therefore there was very little flavour.

Jennie
Some of the best US Pinot Noir and Riesling comes from Washington state, but the Chardonay, Cabernet, Zin, Syrah, etc. don't do as well there.

-dave

[Cerinda]

The upper left hand corner of the country produces good pinot gris also! :)

[JimVrhovac]

Keep in mind that if you do not consume the bottles they deliver them to your room the nightbeforedeparture so you can bring them home with you.

[Aussie Gal]

Dave,

"Some of the best US Pinot Noir and Riesling comes from Washington state, but the Chardonay, Cabernet, Zin, Syrah, etc. don't do as well there."



Thanks for the information regarding the wine. We do like Pinot and Reisling but I don't think they were on that particular wine package. I think there was Chardonay and some red. Anyhow next time we will be more selective. We do like Californian, French and Chilean wines and of course we cannot go past our Aussie and NZ wines which are getting better every year. Give me a NZ Sauvignon Blanc any day. Unfortunately the good wines that we have here at home are not on the wine lists.

Jennie

[Mark1513]

Many very good wines are available only at the winery or to the winey's wine club members. I have bottles from productions of under 500 cases. In one case only 50 cases were produced. Some of these bottles will be with me on the cruise. My local wine store has a selection from both Australia and New Zealand.