wine with dinner?

[klheckman]

I am going on my first cruise on the Oosterdam in July. I plan on bringing my own wine to drink in my cabin. I would like to pre-order a bottle of wine from the gift list before the cruise just to have with dinner. Can I do this? Is there a corkage fee, and will they let me use this bottle the next night, etc. if it isn't finished?

Klheckman

[sail7seas]

Yes, you can pre-order wine to be sent to your cabin. If you desire, you can have that wine served in the dining room. There would be no corkage fee as the wine was purchased aboard the ship.

If you do not finish your wine in one night, the wine steward will recork it and hold it for you to enjoy the next night. If it needs chilling, it will be re-chilled when brought back to your table the next night.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[klheckman]

Thank you sail7seas for the information!

Klheckman

[wcolucci]

look on the HAL web site find the Gift ordr form, under wine & bev you can order specific wines or do the items 199 & 399 Chard & Merlot. there was a great thread last week on this board about it, $14 per bottle, cabin or dining room

[F5Loar]

We did the preorder on 3 $14 bottles and last week we were able to order on the Maasdam what suited our taste. We asked for a sweeter wine and got 3 bottles of Zindfendal Blush that was wonderful and lasted the 2 of us all week. No further charges and he kept the old for the next night and would pop the next bottle as needed. Great service from the wine steward.
To me not bringing on glass bottles and paying corkage fee this is the best and certainly the cheapest way to go unless you are real picky about your favorite wine.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;07;19;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;3;7;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
until we sail on the Disney Wonder
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til we sail the ms Maasdam
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[klheckman]

F5loar,
Did you mark on the preorder form to have the wine delivered for the first night of the cruise at dinner? If I order two bottles, they will just bring one the first night and hold the others? I would also prefer a Zinfandel to the merlot. Would I ask to have the bottle exchanged before the first bottle is even opened, or just on my second bottle after I finish the first?

Klheckman

[sail7seas]

Don't have them open the Merlot at all if you prefer the Zin. Order and enjoy the wine you like. Why spend money on something you don't enjoy?

The wine steward will come to your table. Presumably if you have pre-ordered wine, it will be AT your table when you are seated. He/she will check with you BEFORE opening a bottle if this is what you ordered and "is it yours"?

At that time, discuss your desires with him/her.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[F5Loar]

I did check for dinner only but all 3 were in my room of brands I didn't want so I called room service and they picked up the 3 and corrected the mistake and the first bottle was brought to dinner. At that time I told him to switch to the Zinf. and he did with no problem.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;07;19;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;3;7;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
until we sail on the Disney Wonder
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2003;10;09;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
til we sail the ms Maasdam
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;05;29;11;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[suzieque]

Please clear up my confusion on this topic. In all my past cruises on Celebrity, Princess & RCCL there was an extensive wine list at the dinner table to choose from. Is this not the case with HAL? Is there a cost benefit to pre-ordering wines? If so, I will happily do so. Please respond soon, as my cruise is at the end of July.
Thanks!
Suzie

[jgooden1]

Suzieque, I have not yet sailed on HAL but discussions like this one peaked my interest so I called HALs ship services. They sell wine in packages of 4 or six for approx. $14.00 per bottle. Then when you arrive you are given a list of wines to choose from. She read the wines on the current list to me explaining that they may change between now and the time of my cruise but at least I would have some idea of the types of wine. Two were non-alcoholic wines, there was one white zin and the rest were standard Australian and Chilean selections. For the price I think these are good choices. If you are a big wine aficionado you might want to wait until you get on board. Of course then you will pay the standard restaurant type mark-up.

[jgooden1]

Suzieque,

I just want to make clear what I was talking about. The 4 or 6 bottle pre-order is one way to do it. With that there is a cost savings. The only drawback is a limited selection.

You can also download an extensive list off of HALs website and pre-order a very specific bottle. However, there is no cost saving by doing this so the only reason I can see to do it is if you really want a specifc wine that first night of the cruise.

[sail7seas]

There is a wine list in the dining room presented to anyone who is interested in seeing it. Like any fine restaurant, one reads the wine list and selects what they wish to order.

We've never bothered with any "pre-ordering" and have wine with dinner every evening of every cruise.

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[wilsonzoo]

Another way to expand your wine options... Just talked to HAL this afternoon to confirm that you may bring your own wine onboard and into the dining room and they will only charge you a $10 corkage to open and serve it to you. That way you can patronize your local wine shop and be sure to find something truly unique to bring for a special dinner. And a $10 corkage fee (anywhere) is always a steal.

[Charliesmom]

There have been complaints on this board that the corkage fee was increased to $15.00 plus a 15% gratuity. If I were in your shoes, I would check back with HAL on the amount that would be charged for a corkage fee, just to make sure. They might have changed their policy because so many people complained or you might have been given a wrong amount by an inexperienced person at HAL.

Roberta

[Orcrone]

Regarding jgooden's post. According to a previous thread you can preorder wine at $14.00 per bottle, regardless of the number of bottles. It does not have to be in a 4 or 6 bottle package.

There are packages of 4 or 6 bottles that are sold seperately from the $14.00 per bottle selection.

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[This message was edited by Orcrone on 06-10-04 at 08:00 AM.]

[wcolucci]

Good morning Orcone you is correct, I did it a few weeks ago I ended up w/ 5 btls ...but it could have been any number

[garydm]

There is a financial incentive to pre ordering wine on the ship. On all our cruises, we have received a 10% discount on individual bottles when pre ordered at the stand near the Lido Pool or at embarkation. That way, the wine is ready for you at the table. Brings a bottle of Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc down to about $29.

Gary

[melzateach]

we ordered 6 bottles for our trip on the Oosterdam next week for $14 each. I think this ia a great deal because after printng off and looking at the wine list there is nothing on the list less than about $25.

[FlorenceItaly]

melzateach - This is a great deal. I ordered 3 bottles for my trip next week, sure hope I ordered enough, LOL, but it's just me traveling.

I wanted to say hello as I lived in Sacramento 30 years. We left in 1993 but travel back often since we have family and friends there...my how it has changed!

Marie

HAL - MAASDAM - June 2004/Canada/New England
RCI - Mariner of the Seas,
Sept 2004(CC Group Cruise)
RCI - Rhapsody of the Seas
October 2004


RCI Majesty of the Seas - Spring Break, March 2005
Celebrity Mercury, April 2005
Caribbean Princess, Sept 2005
(CC Group Cruise)

[like2cruise]

The rate has increased to $15.00 per bottle, still a great deal!

Carnival Jubilee 6/95
Carnival Imagination 6/96
Carnival Destiny 11/98
RCI Grandeur 3/99
Disney Magic 11/99
Grand Princess 3/00
Carnival Celebration 2/01
Carnival Elation 3/01
Celebrity Century 3/02
NCL Star 6/02
RCI Navigator of the Seas 3/03
Carnival Paradise 11/03
Grand Princess 3/04
Holland Zaandam 07/04

[xpcdoojk]

I can't wait til next year when I do my 16 day cruise and I preorder about 25 bottles. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

jc

[FlorenceItaly]

xpcdoojk - You better do it quickly before they realize this good deal and eliminate it http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif.

Marie

HAL - MAASDAM - June 2004/Canada/New England
RCI - Mariner of the Seas,
Sept 2004(CC Group Cruise)
RCI - Rhapsody of the Seas
October 2004


RCI Majesty of the Seas - Spring Break, March 2005
Celebrity Mercury, April 2005
Caribbean Princess, Sept 2005
(CC Group Cruise)

[Orcrone]

How long before your cruise can you preorder? Mine is over 4 months away. Is it too soon?

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America
4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration
10/30/2004 - Maasdam

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0924ff&cdt=2004;10;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400
Till sailing on the Maasdam

[xpcdoojk]

My cruise is about 17 months away, I am betting they wouldn't take my order, but 4 months, I think they would gladly take it. However, what if you cancel your cruise? Would your insurance cover it? Doubt it. I would at least wait until final payment, but give it a shot and let us know.

Yes, Exalthim, I am betting by the time I get to it the program will have been dismantled, but even though us CC people are a vocal group we are still a quite small passenger minority. I would imagine that is really true on a cruiseline with HAL's demographics. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

jc

Upcoming cruise HAL Rotterdam VI 11/2005 South America
Legend of the Seas RCI 3/03 New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Adventure of the Seas RCI 2/02 Southern Caribbean, Radiance of the Seas RCI 10/01 Vancouver to Hawaii, Millennium Celebrity 10/00 Eastern Mediterranean, Galaxy Celebrity 12/99 Southern Caribbean, Sensation Carnival 4/98 Eastern Caribbean, Majesty of the Seas RCI 1/96 Western Caribbean

email me at xpcdoojk@yahoo.com

[papadave]

I went to the HAL web site today and there is a link to a wine order form
http://www.hollandamerica.com/pdfs/onboard/Wine_Order.pdf
which has fair prices, typically $20 per bottle over retail in my local wine store, which means that you save very little by paying a $15 corkage fee in the dining room.

[FoxyTerrier]

On our Baltic last summer we pre-ordered 10 bottles of wine and specified that I wanted one each night during dinner.

We when got to our stateroom there sat all 10 bottles. We didn't want to have to bring one bottle with us each night. Called for assistance in getting them transferred to the wine steward. After a few conversations explaining the situation someone finally came and moved them to the wine lockup. I was thinking we may never see the wine again, but we did and all was well.

The only hitch was the wine steward seemed to be overwhelmed - maybe too many tables and it took forever to get a bottled opened - this was the case each night. I don't blame the steward - he was so sweet and nice just too many tables.

[QuitMyDayJob]

We always pre-order four bottles of a favorite wine of ours, mainly because we're concerned that they may run out or not stock enough (it's one of the more expensive wines, and we want to be sure to get it.) On the order form we ask that two bottles be in the cabin at embarkation and then we pick two nights for the other bottles to be served (usually the second and fifth night--depending on when we're at sea, etc.) Sometimes we see something on the wine list at the table that we want to try too.

There's a champagne we like that they don't sell, so we bring a couple bottles of it in our carry on. And that about covers it.

Bottom line: in our experience, the wine stewards have always been very helpful.

[surmy555]

I just looked at HAL's web site. The "199" Chard and the "399" merlot are $18 on the gift order form (rather than the wine order form). I assume this is the $14/$15 bottles referred to earlier in this thread.

Do I understand that if I preorder these there is some choice as to the brand of wine or is it just a "house" wine and you get what they have available? I like all kinds of wine and I'm not real particular about the brand so this sound like a pretty economical way to go.

dave

[bballprncess]

Hello!

Where on the website can I pre-order? I"m usually pretty web saavy, but I think I'm lost on this one! Thanks for the help!

Lori

[dakrewser]

I just looked at HAL's web site. The "199" Chard and the "399" merlot are $18 on the gift order form (rather than the wine order form). I assume this is the $14/$15 bottles referred to earlier in this thread.

Do I understand that if I preorder these there is some choice as to the brand of wine or is it just a "house" wine and you get what they have available? I like all kinds of wine and I'm not real particular about the brand so this sound like a pretty economical way to go.

dave

It would be "sommelier's choice," but there's nothing really bad on the wine list as I remember.

bballprncess, download the gift order form (http://www.hollandamerica.com/pdfs/onboard/Gift_Order.pdf) and/or the wine order form (http://www.hollandamerica.com/pdfs/onboard/Wine_Order.pdf) and follow the instructions (both are PDF files). You could also call (1-800-541-1576 ) or email (http://www.hollandamerica.com/contacts/contacts.do?topicId=gifts) ships' services for details.