Midnight Buffets?

[Louann301]

Hello, I'm going on Hal in March and was wondering if they have Midnight Buffets and also if they make those cute animals made out of towels for your stateroom. This will be my first time on HAL any advice would be great. Thanks!:D

[jhannah]

No towel animals on any cruise I've been on. The only "midnight" buffet I'm aware of is the desert extravaganza which, on the Prinsendam, was held at 10:30 p.m. Maybe it's done differently on different ships, but I'm not aware of a general midnight buffet on HAL ships.

[JaniceB]

Louann301,

When in March are you cruising and what ship? I am cruising on the Zaandam March the 19th. I had wondered the same thing, but from reading this board I don't think HAL does midnight buffets. This will be my first HAL cruise, also.

[gizmo]

The Lido opens around 11:30 for a snack. I don't remember the exact time but it is before midnight. There is usually a different theme every night, like Mexican or Indonesian. Desserts and ice cream are available. This is not the big buffet that cruise lines used to do.

On some ships there is a big dessert extravaganza one night. Vista Class ships do not have the dessert extravaganza but have a watered down version in the afternoon in the main dining room.

[nauticaz24]

Last year we sailed in march, and they had a Midnight Buffet every night, and a dessert extravaganza one night as well. Did they recently change this?

[Louann301]

Hi, I'm going March 12 on The Zaandam. I was hoping for beautiful Ice sculptures along with the Midnight Buffets. These are always nice to see and take puictures of. The towel Animals are another Favorite of mine. It adds a nice little touch to your night!

[Esme]

Gizmo is right - the former midnight buffet is now called "Late Night Snack" and has been for some time. On the Westerdam it was held from 11pm until midnight. We had french, southwestern, american, asian & californian. I looked through the daily programs and didn't notice a dessert buffet.

[Shifra]

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but you will not find towel animals or midnight buffets on HAL. No belly flopper pool games or shooters.:(
But you will find a beautiful ship with excellent service and all the usual shipboard amenities that one expects on a cruise.

FYI regarding towel animals you won't find them on Celebrity or Princess either.

[dakrewser]

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news but you will not find towel animals or midnight buffets on HAL. No belly flopper pool games or shooters.:(

Oh I get it... like humor... but different!:(

-dave

[RuthC]

There is a "midnight" buffet; it's just not held at midnight. It will start at 11:00 or 11:30 and close by 12:30.

The entertainers eat what amounts to their supper then.

[michmike]

but on the bright side.. given the magic of the seas.. you might luck out like me and find the animal in your room is your spouse.. *wink*

still crazy after 31 yrs

[the2ofus]

You will find ice sculptures at the entrance to the Dining Room on formal nights. There is also an ice sculpture demonstration poolside during an afternoon, usually a sea day.

[Linda&Vern]

Gizmo is right - the former midnight buffet is now called "Late Night Snack" and has been for some time. On the Westerdam it was held from 11pm until midnight. We had french, southwestern, american, asian & californian. I looked through the daily programs and didn't notice a dessert buffet.
Recent Maasdam Holiday Cruise was exactly as above - however one night was a beautiful dessert buffet. Each Daily Program listed the "theme" for the "Late Night Snack" in the Lido Restaurant.

[MBeamTX]

On the Vista class ships, you'll have the pizza and pasta station and the ice cream station open until 1 am every night, in addition to the late-night snack from 11 pm until midnight.

Most of the sailings I've been on in the past two years have held the dessert extravaganza in the afternoon in the dining room instead of as the late-night snack in the Lido, unfortunately. It's always much more crowded in the afternoon. And I would think it's more inconvenient for the staff, too, having to hurry to get ready for the earliest dinner seating. But you will see ice sculptures at the dessert extravaganza, as well as at the entrance to the dining room on formal nights.

Happy cruising,
Susan

[lindleyjulie]

On our Volendam cruise last october we had the chocolate dessert extravaganza yum yum, it was served at around 10 30pm I was green after that:eek: we also had pool games one affternoon on a sea day and yes we had a bomb competition utterly disstastefull :cool: but great fun, also some nights in the sports bar snacks were served around 10pm never saw any animals as we had a child with us I think if they could do them they would have.

Julie:)

[cactuslady]

No towel animals, BUT . . .
On many ships, the bar staff may surprise you with a present of beautiful paper origami animals or flowers. Something handmade you can take home and keep forever.