After Dinner Shots and Explorer Lounge?

[MetathoraX]

MS Zuiderdam

Are there after dinner shots in the main dining room? And can you keep the glasses?

And

In the explorer lounge what are the deserts and the special after dinner drinks?

Thanks

[Esme]

Never heard of "shots" after dinner on any of the HAL ships. :confused:

Dessert in the Explorer's Lounge after dinner on the Westerdam was a flammbe (different one each night). Don't know of any special after dinner drinks. We go in there for after dinner coffee. or a cognac or brandy.

[gizmo]

There are not "After Dinner Shots" on Hal. I think it is Princess that does this.
(I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong about it being Princess)

[elmorejj]

Yes Gizmo it is Princess. On our one and only cruise on that line I was shocked when the Maitre D came around pushing liqueurs in horrible neon coloured plastic glasses. He said he was embarrassed to do it also.....jean :cool:

[RevNeal]

After dinner shots???
Sounds like you're talking about injections, vaccinations, or something. :) :D :eek:

[grenouille]

Quick question- are the after-dinner coffees and flambee desserts complimentary in the Explorer's lounge?

[MetathoraX]

Thanks for those with replies that have meaning!

[dakrewser]

Thanks for those with replies that have meaning!

Oh, they all have meaning......

;) -dave
I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.

[ekerr19]

dave-

No kidding. I was certain this was a joke. I've never heard of doing shots in the D/R... ;)

[MetathoraX]

Yep, we went on Royal Carribbean in 2003, Carnival in 2001 and they all had after dinner shots in little collectors glasses you can take home. There of course is a price but every alchol drink costs money. It is always a nice ending to your dinner, guess I will just have to find the bar instead :D

[thulewx]

No, they're not complimentary - regular prices. :(

[Esme]

Quick question- are the after-dinner coffees and flambee desserts complimentary in the Explorer's lounge?

The desserts are complimentary, but when I asked for a Cappuccino, was told I would have to pay for it. Plain coffee was free. I still can't figure out why if the Cappuccino was free in the dining room that I would have to pay for it in the Explorer's Lounge. I meant to ask the F&B Mgr. about this, but forgot. I just walked out and went to the Windstar for a good cup of coffee.

[bepsf]

When did they start serving desserts in the Explorers Lounge?

I'm only aware of coffees including the Flaming coffees after dinner - but desserts?

[peaches from georgia]

On some of the ships, and maybe all of them now, the flambes were served in the Explorer Lounge after dinner. I know it was this way on the Maasdam this summer.

[cruzluvrs]

Every RCL cruise we have been on has done these "after dinner shots". They are actually called Shooters. Each night they have a different shooter, in a different colored glass. Usually all contain Baileys with one or two other liquers. They are very good.

[bepsf]

On some of the ships, and maybe all of them now, the flambes were served in the Explorer Lounge after dinner. I know it was this way on the Maasdam this summer.

Peaches--

Were they the same flambe's served in the dining room? Pear, Apple, Peach, etc. depending on the night?

Or were they served there instead of in the dining room on Maasdam?

[peaches from georgia]

Deleted

[peaches from georgia]

Instead of in the dining room, Brian. :(

BUT, on 2nd thought, it could have been on the Oosterdam and not the Maasdam. I will check the menus of both cruises to be sure, but just picturing the dining room and where we were sitting on both ships, I do believe it was the Oosterdam that did the flambes in the Explorer and on the Maasdam it was still done in the dining room. I know the menus tell you about the Explorer, so I will check.

[mjmagee]

It has been a few years since our last Princess cruise but the little cart that came around after dinner was full of liquers (sp?) not shots. You could purchase the after dinner drink in a souvenir Princess glass and they did come in many colors. I think I have a red one and a gold one in my china cabinet. These were most definitely not shots of anything. Unless you wanted to pay 6 bucks to "shoot" a Grand Marnier, instead of savor it.

[sinkers22]

And, this thread is precisely the reason I probably would never sail on Holland American Line. When I sail, I want to have a good time, with fun people. That doesn't seem possible on HAL. I'll stick to RCCL, NCL and Carnival. No snobs there.

[ekerr19]

I guess we are not considered "fun" because doing shots in the D/R isn't high on our list... btw - I do know what a shot is! :D

It's all about the time & the place, imo. ;)

[bepsf]

And, this thread is precisely the reason I probably would never sail on Holland American Line. When I sail, I want to have a good time, with fun people. That doesn't seem possible on HAL. I'll stick to RCCL, NCL and Carnival. No snobs there.

You're absolutely right, Linda - No snobs there...

Unlike HAL, everyone on Carnival and NCL is allowed to get drunk and fall off the back of the boat.
:p

[Oceanwench]

Instead of in the dining room, Brian. :(

BUT, on 2nd thought, it could have been on the Oosterdam and not the Maasdam. I will check the menus of both cruises to be sure, but just picturing the dining room and where we were sitting on both ships, I do believe it was the Oosterdam that did the flambes in the Explorer and on the Maasdam it was still done in the dining room. I know the menus tell you about the Explorer, so I will check.

It was the Oosterdam ... when I sailed last November.

[peaches from georgia]

Yes, it was the Oosterdam, not the Maasdam. I did check the menus from both ships and then forgot to come back and say so. :p

[dakrewser]

And, this thread is precisely the reason I probably would never sail on Holland American Line. When I sail, I want to have a good time, with fun people. That doesn't seem possible on HAL. I'll stick to RCCL, NCL and Carnival. No snobs there.

Oddly enough, I always have a good time, with fun people, on HAL. No snobs there (it's not Seabourne, after all :rolleyes: ). I had fun on NCL too, and look forward to doing so on Celebrity next fall. But, not so oddly, my idea of "fun" doesn't include doing shooters in the dining room.

There's a time and a place for everything. I also don't expect slot machines in the DR or for the show cast to come in hoofing & singing.

[sinkers22]

Not everyone who sails on NCL or Carnival gets drunks and falls off the back of the ship. In fact, it can happen on HAL or Seabourne for that matter. Our tablemates on the Nordic Empress were not drunks or low-class, and either are we. It was a fun time. We are all middle aged, professionals having a "special" Baileys concoction of some sort, (it was different every night, in a different colored pony glass) and after the 2nd night became a tradition at our table. There's a big difference between a "Skoal" and "L'Chiam" after dinner, to celebrate our good time, and sitting at the table doing shots of Tequila. I never saw anyone on NCL, RCI or Carnival sitting at the dining room downing shots of anything. We saved that for later. :D You people really do need to lighten up.

[peaches from georgia]

....We are all middle aged, professionals having a "special" Baileys concoction of some sort, (it was different every night, in a different colored pony glass) and after the 2nd night became a tradition at our table. There's a big difference between a "Skoal" and "L'Chiam" after dinner, to celebrate our good time, and sitting at the table doing shots of Tequila. I never saw anyone on NCL, RCI or Carnival sitting at the dining room downing shots of anything.....
That's exactly what I was going to ask. This doesn't sound like what I would call "shots" at all. It sounds like liqueurs such as Baileys, Amaretto or Cointreau being served in liqueur glasses, like I might do after a dinner party here at home. A vast difference from downing a shot of tequila or scotch at a bar.

Maybe this whole thing is just misnamed when it is called 'shots'? Do I have this wrong? :confused:

[dakrewser]

Our tablemates on the Nordic Empress were not drunks or low-class, and either are we. It was a fun time. We are all middle aged, professionals having a "special" Baileys concoction of some sort, (it was different every night, in a different colored pony glass) and after the 2nd night became a tradition at our table. There's a big difference between a "Skoal" and "L'Chiam" after dinner, to celebrate our good time, and sitting at the table doing shots of Tequila.

Ah, but that's not what the OP asked. Having a liquer or brandy after your meal is civilized. Tossing back shots isn't. It's not difficult to tell the difference. Evidently, on Princess (according to one poster), neon colored "shooters" are hawked in the dining room. That's what most of us are ranting about...

[sinkers22]

Thanks, Peaches, precisely! Some people sip, some shoot! :D We have a 6-pack of beautifully colored pony glasses from RCI and great memories of our tablemates. They were all made with Baileys, and every night a different liqueur was added. They were all delicious and I'm sure that is just what the OP had in mind. He probably was hoping to collect another set. We're hoping they have them on NCL. It's a great ship souvenir and better than going into the Galleria and paying through the nose for some piece of junk.

[ekerr19]

Ok, so what is the difference? We don't choose to "shoot" tequila (which is the primary ingredient in a shooter), but will sip Baileys, Amaretto, Couvasier or Cointreau... you are talking about two entirely different scenarios here...

[CanadianMAG]

oops double post

[CanadianMAG]

Princess does do this.. at least they used to!

Princess does do this.. at least they used to! and it was a bailey;s like drink if I recall... I think people did it for the keep-sake not to get drunk!?!?[/

[sinkers22]

ekerr, a Shooter is anything you drink down in one gulp or sip for that matter! Anything can be a shooter, not just Tequila. But, maybe it's different in Colorado. In any bartenders guide you find the definition of a shooter as "a straight shot of whiskey, or any other liquor, taken neat (without water)". But, Tequila's good!! :D I'm just a sissy and would rather it was sweet and creamy like Tia Maria with a little bit of Baileys' floating on top.

[FoxyTerrier]

The desserts are complimentary, but when I asked for a Cappuccino, was told I would have to pay for it. Plain coffee was free. I still can't figure out why if the Cappuccino was free in the dining room that I would have to pay for it in the Explorer's Lounge. I meant to ask the F&B Mgr. about this, but forgot. I just walked out and went to the Windstar for a good cup of coffee.

I had a Cappuccino every evening on our Baltics cruise this summer and was never charged anything. BTW - I only had to ask the first evening and then the waiter just brought it every evening there after.

It seems odd they would charge in the dining room when it was free in the Lido.

As far as "shots" in the dining room that seems awful. It's one thing to be servering after dinner drinks, but shots seems like something from a frat party.

Joni

[gizmo]

I had a Cappuccino every evening on our Baltics cruise this summer and was never charged anything. BTW - I only had to ask the first evening and then the waiter just brought it every evening there after.

It seems odd they would charge in the dining room when it was free in the Lido.

Joni

I think you got it backwards. Esme was not charged in the dining room but was charged in the Explorer's Lounge.

[peaches from georgia]

I just don't understand why anyone would want to gulp down Bailey's, or any liqueur for that matter, in one swallow, if that is what is done. If not, then they shouldn't be called 'shots'. A liqueur is meant to be savored and sipped.

[Zeta3]

I have been on 15 Carnival cruises and never been served an after dinner "shot". They do offer after dinner cordials and liqueurs on the dessert menu but I have never seen dining room "shooters" I think maybe some folks just aren't familiar with cordials so the small glass and liqueuers and assume it is a shot. Some folks may just prefer to "sip quickly" ;)

[dakrewser]

So I was cruisin the net looking for some new pix when I came across this hilarious review (http://site2bhold.com/cruise2001.htm) of a trip on the Carnival Elation. A must read for those who have never had the Carnival "experience".

'Bargain Cruise' pretty much means anybody can afford it. And if they can afford it, they will come. I'm not saying it was all bad, but picture if you will, a trailer park at sea. That's right. We had a boat full of Rednecks, tattoos, and belly rings......and those were just the women.

Read the whole thing.....

[bepsf]

You're right Dave - its funny as hell!

[dakrewser]

You're right Dave - its funny as hell!

It pretty much captures what we saw on our very first cruise aboard the Carnival Exasperation a dozen years ago. We avoided crusie ships for years afterwards! :rolleyes:

[ekerr19]

Very funny! Thanks Dave. :D