HAL first-timers in MDR

[lanord]

I have seen other posts that first-time HAL cruisers are not allowed in the MDR during lunch. Is this true? We were looking forward to eating in the MDR during sea days, when we have plenty of time. The last two cruises were to Hawaii, so we were always in port and not on the ship during lunch. Does this apply to breakfast also? Others in our group are repeat HAL cruisers. Can we piggyback on them? :)

Thx.

Leigh Ann

[CruiserBruce]

For lunch on the day you get onboard. At that time the MDR is reserved for Mariners, or repeat cruisers. All other days the MDR is open for lunch, it is open to everyone. As it only applies to that first lunch, it doesn't apply to breakfast.

[soccerpapi]

Can someone please confirm that both breakfast and lunch are served in the main dine room everyday except on embarkation day?

Thank you,

soccer

[1025cruise]

Breakfast is served everyday, lunch is not. It seemed to be every other day that it was served, at least on the Veendam.

[catl331]

Can someone please confirm that both breakfast and lunch are served in the main dine room everyday except on embarkation day?
Often the MDR and the PG are closed for lunch on port days ... but not always.

[lorekauf]

Often the MDR and the PG are closed for lunch on port days ... but not always.
I haven't found that to be the case. I've found if the MDR is closed the Pinnacle is open. I watch for it because I try to avoid the Lido like the plague.

[Nasmas]

We were on the Eurodam last October and the MDR was open on sea days only, and the hours were very limited. They weren't open at all on port days. You have to watch the hours for breakfast too, They are always open for breakfast but the hours changed and they too were pretty limited.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have seen other posts that first-time HAL cruisers are not allowed in the MDR during lunch. Is this true? We were looking forward to eating in the MDR during sea days, when we have plenty of time. The last two cruises were to Hawaii, so we were always in port and not on the ship during lunch. Does this apply to breakfast also? Others in our group are repeat HAL cruisers. Can we piggyback on them? :)

Thx.

Leigh Ann

The dining room is open to EVERYONE for breakfast and lunch (Lunch when it is open). There are no restrictions.

People traveling with other HAL Mariners can also dine in the dining room for lunch on Embarkation day.

[Ray in NH]

I haven't found that to be the case. I've found if the MDR is closed the Pinnacle is open. I watch for it because I try to avoid the Lido like the plague.

When we were on the Veendam in June, the PG Mgr. told us that Company policy now is that either PG or MDR will be open for lunch on port days -- did not always happen :confused: but was often the case. When neither option was available, we went to Lido and brought back salads/sandwiches to cabin to enjoy lunch on verandah.

Ray in NH

[lanord]

Thanks so much for your replies! I think I understand now how it works. We will just have to check the MDR times to see when it might suit our schedule.

Thanks again!

Leigh Ann

[LindaKE]

We just returned from our 1st HAL cruise and were invited to the MDR on embarkation day. I had a Mariner number, maybe because we had cruised Carnival and Princess? However we got the invitation, it was wonderful to not have to fight the crowds on the Lido deck.

[hawkeye3d]

I have the same thing happening to me. We cruised Princess last year and are on our first HAL cruise in late Oct. I saw on our reservations that we have Mariner numbers. Hopefully that will allow us lunch in the MDR on embarkation day but who knows for sure ??

[centuryguy]

We just returned from our 1st HAL cruise and were invited to the MDR on embarkation day. I had a Mariner number, maybe because we had cruised Carnival and Princess? However we got the invitation, it was wonderful to not have to fight the crowds on the Lido deck.

It's a funny coincidence that you mentioned this. I was wondering about lunch on embarkation day, so I read the fine print in the Mariner's Society section of the HAL website a couple of hours ago. A previous cruise on Princess, Costa and some other lines does indeed make you a Mariner on your first cruise with HAL.

[sheshe01]

I assumed everyone was assigned a mariner id number. I saw numbers for myself & my traveling companion. I cruised Carnival long ago & no previous for my friend. When do you receive this invitation for the lunch?

[Globaliser]

It's a funny coincidence that you mentioned this. I was wondering about lunch on embarkation day, so I read the fine print in the Mariner's Society section of the HAL website a couple of hours ago. A previous cruise on Princess, Costa and some other lines does indeed make you a Mariner on your first cruise with HAL.I assumed everyone was assigned a mariner id number. I saw numbers for myself & my traveling companion.As my companion is a HAL first-timer, I had a look on the HAL website too.

Everyone gets a Mariner number on their booking. It's like a customer ID number, and HAL isn't the only cruise line that does this even for first timers.

However, what the HAL website says is that if you have cruise one of the other lines before, you are a Star Mariner when you embark on your first HAL cruise. But you have to earn subsequent Star levels on HAL in the same way as everyone else.Terms and Conditions: (http://www.hollandamerica.com/marinerSociety/Main.action) ... To qualify as a member of the Program, you must have taken at least one eligible HAL cruise or have sailed aboard a “World’s Leading Cruise Lines” brand (Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line or Costa Cruises). Program level accrual is based on the number of eligible credits ("Cruise Day credits") earned per individual; Cruise Day credits are awarded for eligible cruise days or qualified onboard purchases (net of returns), and bonuses when available. Guests are eligible for Star Mariner membership after one qualifying cruise. Qualifying cruises for Star Mariner Status are defined as a cruise on any of the "World's Leading Cruise Lines" brand ships [Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, The Yachts of Seabourn or Costa Cruises]. These guests are automatically enrolled as a Star Mariner when they make their first booking with Holland America Line because of their affiliation with the World’s Leading Cruise Line. Subsequent Star levels are calculated on qualifying days and onboard spending on Holland America Line ships only. ...

[HeatherInFlorida]

..... I try to avoid the Lido like the plague.

Why?

Leigh Ann, as others have said, certainly on sea days the main dining room is open to all for lunch.:) So no worries! Have a wonderful cruise!

[3rdGenCunarder]

It's a funny coincidence that you mentioned this. I was wondering about lunch on embarkation day, so I read the fine print in the Mariner's Society section of the HAL website a couple of hours ago. A previous cruise on Princess, Costa and some other lines does indeed make you a Mariner on your first cruise with HAL.

And what you get for that varies.

According to the website, a one-star Mariner should be invited to the Embarkation lunch and the Mariner brunch. Last year, our friend on her first HAL cruise (but Platinum on Cunard) did not receive an invitation to the brunch, although she had been allowed into the embarkation lunch. So I went to the front desk to ask about this and was told you have to be a Mariner to go to the brunch. I told the woman that my friend WAS a one-star Mariner by virtue of having sailed on a sister line. The reply was "That doesn't count."

Getting into the Embarkation lunch varies, too. If there is a special group or there are lots of high-star Mariners onboard, one-star and two-star mariners may not make the cut.

Sometimes there are invitations given out at checkin, sometimes there aren't. If you are a Mariner and don't get an invitation to the embarkation lunch, go to the MDR and see if you can get in. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[1025cruise]

Not on all sea days.
On the Veendam, the last sea day the dining room was closed due to the Mariner's luncheon.

[jtl513]

I haven't found that to be the case. I've found if the MDR is closed the Pinnacle is open. Apparently this is another thing that varies. On last Dec 16th on the Ryndam in Grand Cayman both were closed. On last Sep 28 on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Piraeus Greece both were closed.

Hopefully that will allow us lunch in the MDR on embarkation day but who knows for sure ??On smaller ships with a high number of Mariners the embarkation brunch is sometimes limited to 3-star and 4-star.

When do you receive this invitation for the lunch?If they are being used they are with the stuff that you get at the check-in desk.

[VA07]

I called the Mariner Society number to check on my situation below (no previous HAL cruises but, prior Carnival cruises). They assured me that we are full one-star Mariners, we will be allowed in the luncheon for our Eurodam cruise and we qualify for all of the other one-star benefits as well. She told me that the invitation would be printed with our boarding documents.

[catl331]

I haven't found that to be the case. I've found if the MDR is closed the Pinnacle is open.
It has been 18 months since we've been to HMC, but unless it has changed since then the MDR and PG are both closed for lunch that day.

She told me that the invitation would be printed with our boarding documents.We haven't had that happen ... yet.