where's the baked alaska?

[judithbiggs]

Recently came back from the holiday cruise on the Maasdam, and we did not have baked alaska on the last formal night. Also the Indonesians did not sing their farewell song on the last night of the cruise. Have they done away with these traditions? We had our whole family on the cruise for the holiday, and were disappointed as our future daughter in law had never cruised before, and we had told her about these traditions

[doone]

Oh boy, that's the first I heard of that. Last March on the Rotterdam, the baked alaska and their farewell song was well and alive. I hope it still is!!!

[Aussie Gal]

In October on the Prinsendam we had both the Baked Alaska and the Farewell song. I always enjoy it when the crew sing, it does bring tears to my eyes.

Jennie

[gizmo]

Looks like you are the first to report this.

[peaches from georgia]

Haven't heard this before, but with the staggered dining times there have been problems and complaints. One level is sitting around waiting for the song and Baked Alaska presentation, while the other level has their salad course interrupted and are eating in the dark. Some HM's may have decided to forego the tradition.

[jhannah]

Some HM's may have decided to forego the tradition.
That would be too bad. Times change, for sure ... but some of these cruising traditions should not go the way of the dodo bird.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I am hoping they just ran out of NEOPOLITAN ICE CREAM:p I think this is one tradition that should NOT go away. Granted it is far from my favorite dessert but it is TRADITION. When we were on the Oosterdam last May just after the change to 4 dining times we were just getting our main entree whne they did the Baked Alaska Parade but....on the Ryndam it was perfect and we had the same dining time. I had a chance to talk to the Chef on the last day and he said that they have found a way to slow down the upper level while speeding up the lower level for that night so that the timing of the Baked Alaska Parade works well for both Dining Times. They also did their singing that night. Please correct me if I am wrong and I can be a lot lately, but.. isn't the Farewell Song sung at the Debarkation Talk on the last Day?? We have never gone but always watch it on the TV the last night.

[gizmo]

Haven't heard this before, but with the staggered dining times there have been problems and complaints. One level is sitting around waiting for the song and Baked Alaska presentation, while the other level has their salad course interrupted and are eating in the dark. Some HM's may have decided to forego the tradition.

Good response, I forgot about this. I don't think I would like eating my salad while they were parading around with the Baked Alaska.

My suggestion is my usual mantra, bring back 2 seatings. :rolleyes:

[Aussie Gal]

Lisa,

I think it depends on the ship where they sing the Farewell song. On the Noordam in 2003, it was sang at the dembarkation talk but last year on the Prinsendam, it was sung at our last Formal night after or before (I cannot remember) the Baked Alaska. It is always moving and I must admit I do get teary.

Jennie

[jhannah]

I.. isn't the Farewell Song sung at the Debarkation Talk on the last Day?? We have never gone but always watch it on the TV the last night.
I believe there are two songs. One sung by the dining room stewards, and one sung as you mentioned by the ship's staff in the showroom. Isn't "Love in Any Language" is the name of it?

[CDRMark]

Recent Thanksgiving cruise on Maasdam we had Baked Alaska and farewell song on our final formal night. It was extremely schmaltzy, corny as Kansas in August, and I would not have missed it for the world. I am sure we can get a reason somewhere. Anybody?

Cheers
MarkB

[Linda&Vern]

Recently came back from the holiday cruise on the Maasdam, and we did not have baked alaska on the last formal night. Also the Indonesians did not sing their farewell song on the last night of the cruise. Have they done away with these traditions? We had our whole family on the cruise for the holiday, and were disappointed as our future daughter in law had never cruised before, and we had told her about these traditions

We were on that cruise also. Had 5:45 upper dining and they did sing farewell at the top of the staircase -- but no Baked Alaska parade that we ever saw! However, I do not remember if this was New Years Eve (last formal) or the next night (last cruise dinner).

[Himself]

When I was on the Volendam in November we had the Baked Alaskan

[intandemNV]

I just got back yesterday from the Westerdam. We had the baked Alaska and the Goodbye song. A wonderful evening!! Actually, they all were wonderful...;)

[dramamama]

We also had the Baked Alaska on the last formal night and the farewell song the last night on the Veendam last week.

[Nanner]

Judith, don't know when you cruised, but just an idea...was it around the time of the tsunami? I sure wouldn't be up to singing for a day or two after that if it struck near my home.

I sure hope they didn't do away with the tradition. Yes, I hated eating my salad while the baked Alaska was presented (we had the last seating) in May, but if they quit serving it altogether I would be very disappointed.

[judithbiggs]

thanks for all the responses. WE were definitely on when the tsunami Hit, so that could be a plausible reason for no baked alaska or farewell song. To the person who wrote that was on the cruise with me, I do not recall any singing the last night, and we made a point of paying attention, and telling our future daughter in law to be ready to take pictures. Never happened. I am going again the end of feb. on the Westerdam. I hope some of the old silly traditions will be restored

[sail7seas]

We had the traditional Baked Alasaka Parade on our recent Veendam cruise.

[Oceanwench]

Had both the song and the dessert in November on the O.

[Linda&Vern]

thanks for all the responses. WE were definitely on when the tsunami Hit, so that could be a plausible reason for no baked alaska or farewell song. To the person who wrote that was on the cruise with me, I do not recall any singing the last night, and we made a point of paying attention, and telling our future daughter in law to be ready to take pictures. Never happened. I am going again the end of feb. on the Westerdam. I hope some of the old silly traditions will be restored
What time/level were you dining on? We were 5:45 upper. Have 2-3 photos DH took while the staff was singing at the top of the staircase.

[mcduck]

No Baked Alaska on the Westerdam Christmas cruise.

[judithbiggs]

I too was in the upper area early, and I sware to you tha none of our family of seven heard any song or saw any sign of it. I was not even drinking wine that night. You are sure you were on the Maasdam this past holiday? The trip with the missed HMC and very chaotic late boarding in Norfolk??

[Linda&Vern]

I too was in the upper area early, and I sware to you tha none of our family of seven heard any song or saw any sign of it. I was not even drinking wine that night. You are sure you were on the Maasdam this past holiday? The trip with the missed HMC and very chaotic late boarding in Norfolk??
Yes - we were there - same cruise. We are looking at the photos now. The crew is at the top of the stairs looking down onto the main level. The two maitre d's are in the middle. We can see our dining table steward (Jaka) and our wine steward (Bambi) in the group. "Candy Man" is playing the guitar. The 2 pictures we have are the last 2 taken with my little pocket digital camera, so I know it was the last night. In one photo we can see people at tables on the lower level, so it would have to have been after 6:15 when they sang.

[iluvcruzin]

Although I'm sure Baked Alaska is a highlight on HAL, I found it to be the worst Baked Alaska I've ever had on the Maasdam. I think the other cruiseline's do a better job - more cake and better merangue that is toasted. If I sail HAL again, I will remember to skip this dessert.

[dakrewser]

Although I'm sure Baked Alaska is a highlight on HAL, I found it to be the worst Baked Alaska I've ever had on the Maasdam. I think the other cruiseline's do a better job - more cake and better merangue that is toasted. If I sail HAL again, I will remember to skip this dessert.

A good Baked Alaska should only have about a half inch Genoise cake as the base - how much are you looking for?

[judithbiggs]

All I can think, is that we left the dining room before the singing happened. We did have excellent and quick service so that we could accomodate our 10 month old grandson's restlessness. Perhaps you recall him. He was the baby in the tux everyone was coming up to see?

[Linda&Vern]

All I can think, is that we left the dining room before the singing happened. We did have excellent and quick service so that we could accomodate our 10 month old grandson's restlessness. Perhaps you recall him. He was the baby in the tux everyone was coming up to see?
DH and I can't remember baby in a tux - but was he the baby we were teasing in an elevator on one of the first nights of the cruise about having his shoes off and still not being happy?

[judithbiggs]

could have been him, although my daughter is pretty strick about his shoes being on at dinner. I never took the elevator so I can't be sure. There were quite a few little ones on that cruise.