Zuiderdam Wine Tasting

[CamilleandNick]

Can someone please tell me when the wine tastings are held on the Zuiderdam? We set sail March 12th ( this Saturday). I want to work our spa appointments around the tastings so there are no conflicts.

Also, how WAS the wine tasting? cost?

[Italian Nancy]

Not sure if this is the still the case, we sailed on her in Sept 2003. The tasting was on one of the sea days, around 2 or 3 p.m. $7.50 per person. We were not impressed with the quality of wines they poured, but we have been accused of being wine snobs before ...lol. Lets just say when we sail with her this Sept, we won't be signing up for the tastings.

[CamilleandNick]

Thanks, Nancy. That helps.

[Tak8]

On Princess, we were offered a discount on a wine bottle purchase by attending the tasting. Does HAL offer a discount?

[dogsdogs]

I was on the Volendam on the 1/15/05 cruise. The wine tasting was listed on the activities schedule and it stated there was a nominal fee in parentheses. When I got there, they wanted $28 pp. I didn't stay. They claim the wines are better than when they charged $7.50. I just like to go to the wine tastings for fun, but I don't know enough about wine to know if the selection was better or not. They had two tasting sessions on that cruise.

[wwinfl91]

HAL does not provide a discount on the purchase of wine when attending a wine tasting like Princess does. The Princess deal is great because if both a husband and wife go and then you order at least two bottles of wine they will apply the costs of the wine tasting to the cost of the two bottles of wine.

When I mentioned it on a Maasdam cruise last spring they told me they had never heard about the Princess deal and that they did not offer anything other than the chance to taste the wine.

Have a great next cruise.

[jcrandle]

I was on the Volendam on the 1/15/05 cruise. The wine tasting was listed on the activities schedule and it stated there was a nominal fee in parentheses. When I got there, they wanted $28 pp. I didn't stay. They claim the wines are better than when they charged $7.50. I just like to go to the wine tastings for fun, but I don't know enough about wine to know if the selection was better or not. They had two tasting sessions on that cruise.Unfortunately, at many of the tastings I've attended, on many lines, many ships, the presenter drones on and on about what you should be tasting, rather than describing the wine briefly, and allowing you to make your own judgments. I really don't care to be patronized. One of the startling exceptions to this was on a RCI cruise, where the wine steward that led the tastings, suggested we try each wine with each of two side items (lemon, chocolate, bleu cheese, cheddar cheese). He pointed out (correctly) how a food can complement the wine, and vice versa, and completely change the way the wine tastes. It was done without being judgemental, and was a very enjoyable experience for us. Teaching is wonderful, but preaching can get old very quickly.

Unfortunately, I've forgotten which wines go well with veal picatta vs veal parmagiano, but I do remember that there is a difference (and most wine stewards will help with the choice).

[dakrewser]

Unfortunately, I've forgotten which wines go well with veal picatta vs veal parmagiano, but I do remember that there is a difference (and most wine stewards will help with the choice).

Veal Picatta would match well with a medium bodied not-quite-dry white (Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Soave, Pinot Grigio, etc.). The Veal Parmiggiana wants a light red - country-style Sangiovese, Grignolino, Carignane, Beaujolais, Cotes-du-Rhone, Valpolicella, et al).

But, adjust this to match your tastes...

Alla Salute!

-dave

[Italian Nancy]

Given the cover charge of $7.50 per person when we were on the Z, they could have served superb wines, instead they served mediocre ones, my husband left part way through and said "they are pouring crap"..