Ordering Off Of Dinner Menu/rm Serv ?

[JMKW]

I was under the impression that only Penthouse and Suite passengers
can order off the dinner menu and have it delivered by room service ?

I read a recent post and it said all cabins can order off of the dinner menu and have it delivered. Can someone clarify this information...thanks

[waterbug1]

Hi JMKW,
There was a big discussion about this yesterday. If you click on the thread entitled "Bistro" you should get all the information you need and a bit more too.:)

[JMKW]

Thanks waterbug1, could not read the threads yesterday had a long 12 hour flight....

[dakrewser]

Everyone can order off the DR menu for room service.

[NoNoNanette]

Everyone can order off the DR menu for room service.

That's a relief! My heart sank yesterday when I read that only Suite passengers were able to do that. Whew!:)

[sonocruiser]

yes you can get the dr menu delivered to your room but order within the first 30 minutes of dinning room service.

[JMKW]

We are in a SA suite, to my understanding your dinner menu is in your
cabin daily and can order anytime when dinner is being served. Is this
correct ? Thanks

[peaches from georgia]

We are in a SA suite, to my understanding your dinner menu is in your
cabin daily and can order anytime when dinner is being served. Is this
correct ? Thanks
Not exactly. You do get the dinner menu everyday in your suite, but everyone must order during the first 1/2 hour of the early seating- 5:45 to 6:15 or so. You can then have it delivered at anytime you prefer, but it has to be ordered early.

[JMKW]

Thank you Peaches...this is our first Hal cruise in a suite..you hear so
many different things..it makes your head spin. We are late eaters, like
9:00p, will there be a problem ?

[peaches from georgia]

Thank you Peaches...this is our first Hal cruise in a suite..you hear so
many different things..it makes your head spin. We are late eaters, like
9:00p, will there be a problem ?
Check with the concierge on all the details and any question you have. I don't think there will be a problem at all with 9 pm. That's what they're there for and you will love your concierge. Enjoy your suite! We do! :)

[MumsTheWord*]

I posted this on the Bistro thread, but thought it would be appropriate to post here as well.....

It's NO secret that one of our VERY favorite things about being on a cruise is Room Service!!! Remember, I'm a mother of 3 children, so it is a rarity to have a quiet meal with my sweet spouse. While we do enjoy many evenings and other meals in the dining room, we often take advantage of dining in our white fluffy HAL provided bathrobes in our stateroom. (especially on evenings when we've had a long excursion day and we're just too tired to get all fancy.)

On our March Noordam cruise, we had several evening meals served either on our balcony or just in our stateroom. We were not in the PH or in an S-Suite...Each evening that we wished to dine in our room, we simply went to entrance of the dining room (where they post the evening's menu) and make note of our selections. During the first 30 minutes of the first dining time (generally between 5:45-6:15), we called Room Service and let them know of our selection and what time we would like it delivered. The entire meal was brought at one time (covered and on hot plates) with the exception of dessert. If the dessert choice includes ice cream, it will be brought toward the end of the meal as not to melt):)

There is NO additional cost, but we tip the steward that brings the tray at the time he delivers.

For those of you that have not tried this form of dining- I say "Go For It"... It is the most wonderful Leisure Dining there is!

[FinelyRetired]

Thanks for your post, "mumstheword*"

We will be in a moderate priced VS suite(not deluxe) on Amersterdam. And, this cruise, we'd like to a do a room service dinner or two. We'll be mindful of the advice re: times and will plan accordingly.

I noticed on the floorplan that there is really no table either in the room or on the verandah that is suitable for dinner. They picture a coffee table in front of couch and a low side table between a chair and a chaise on the balcony. But, although we've never asked to before, I assume the steward can "reconfigure" the balcony for a dining table and 2 chairs. I'll plan to arrange for that the first afternoon.

We ordered very limited RS on our Princess cruise. Cheese & crackers, tea in afternoon. Tipped a few dollars each time. What would be an appropriate tip for dinner? Would one tip again if dessert is served later?

SC in RI

[grannynurse]

SunCatcher,
The "coffee" table in the cabin raises to dining height. The Veranda table is a small round non-adjustable table that will not hold very much but I'm sure that you could move the coffee table to the veranda. The VA cabins are good sized on Amsterdam tho long and narrow so not as convenient for in-room dining as the suites which are square shaped. You can make it work without too much difficulty. Enjoy!
GN

[gizmo]

Sorry, I don't want you to be disappointed but if you are picturing sitting at a table across from each other with all the food, drinks etc on the table it probably isn't going to work that way.

I don't know if the cabin steward could get a large enough table for the verandah. The deluxe suites have large tables that seat 4, but I doubt a table that size would fit on the verandah in a VA. The verandah table is a small table that is ok for cups of coffee and a plate but it is not the height that you would sit and have dinner for 2. There is ususually an adjustable small table in those cabins but this is really only for one.

It doesn't hurt to ask if this can be done. Good luck. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

I agree - the VA's on the Amsterdam have very small verandahs - has one regular chair, one lounge chair and a very tiny (low to the ground) cocktail table. You have to have all those removed inorder to get a regular table and 2 chairs set up there for dinner. Really don't know if that can be done.

[tickleddpink]

Thanks to this board, I knew about this great tip. My cousin and I ordered from the dining room service on the day the Oosterdam visited Juneau. And we ordered about 8 pm. (Yes, slap our hands). We were tired and want to crash in our SY suite. They sent us a dining room menu and we ordered away. I told them we were not picky about the time and since we were in port late, it was probably not super busy in the kitchen or dining room. And they were willing to do it that late into the dining room service. :D

Well this absolutely adorable guy from Bali delivered a 5 course meal to 2 demented females. The giant tray was stacked with dishes and dessert and soup. He was astounded that we would tip him so much -- $6, Nancy thought I gave him $2 not $4, so she gave him another $2!

He made sure to let us know that his name is Jagar and he would take care of us and please call him to pick up the trays.

After he left we completely dissolved in hysterical laughter over the giant tray of food. We started with the hot entree first. Her venison was great and so was my lamb shank. yum. It felt very decadent.

When he picked up the trays later, Jagar told us all about Bali and how we should visit and how beautiful it is.

Oh yes, I found the secret to getting Eggs Benedict for room service breakfast is to make sure you have it delivered during breakfast hours for the dining room.

So order away and enjoy fine dining in your cabin!

Jane

[bruce-r]

Now if someone would just be kind enough to post a dinner menu, we can all start drooling, I mean planning what to order.

[FinelyRetired]

Thanks, grannymouse:

The coffee table adjusts to dining height? Who knew? Great!

The Verandah does look small, but we'd trade that chaise for a regular chair in a heartbeat and would be moving that lovely, flex "coffee" table out there for dinner. Could care less about a chaise lounge and if all the food doesn't fit on the "coffee-turned dining" table, we'll just leave it on the tray on the "bed-turned buffet" and go replenish! Sounds divine.

For 15 yrs, we've spent every summer week-end on our 30' cabin cruiser and we've made and served and enjoyed some pretty "gourmet" meals on our little 2' x 3' table on our boat over the years. Eating out "on the water" is sublime.....space is attitutde. And I'm not cooking it! :)

I hope that someone responds to "bruce-r" with those dinner menus so we can start to really get excited.

SC in RI - Marty

[dakrewser]

You'll find lot's of menus as well as other useful info at Cruise Clues (http://cruiseclues.com/)...

[kryos]

It's NO secret that one of our VERY favorite things about being on a cruise is Room Service!!!
I am sure I will try this on my next cruise ... because I am sharing a suite (not S or Penthouse) with a friend ... something I've never done before. I realize you have the option of eating dinner in your cabin no matter what your accommodations are, but I can't imagine trying to eat a full course dinner in an inside cabin. Where would you put it all? There is only a small cocktail table like thing in the cabin, and usually my desk space is full with things like my camera, computer, papers, etc. I can't imagine being able to enjoy a meal in a space like that and would sooner run up to the Lido if I didn't wish to eat in the dining room that night.

Of course, though, I wonder how much room is available on the balcony in one of the more "standard" suites ... can you really enjoy a full course dinner out there, or would you be crowded?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[REXTER]

I have not posted alot on these boards, and have just signed up...however I have been reading them for the last year.

On the post's mentioned..all I can say on this one is...you pay for what you want. If you want a suite like we do..you pay the extra price for the
pampering, and extra perks.

Being in a suite does not downgrade anyone. It is just what you can afford and choose. Everyone has the option of ordering off of the menu
for dinner room service. However being in a suite, you can go to the Neptune lounge and inform the most helpful concierge and they will place your dinner menu for you, and help you with any questions and concerns.
That is why we choose a suite. Also we enjoying dining on our balcony when dinner is being served...a very calm feeling.

So everyone has the opportunity to explore the options that are offered
by Holland America.

[FinelyRetired]

I'm in a strange mood tonight. And, I'm looking at this thread and getting a pretty good laugh!

Listen to us!!??!!!

Here we are wondering where we're going to put all that food in our teeny, tiny cabins!

My Momma would be saying something about the folks in "China" right about now, IF she were alive! :)

My friends, they can bring that big dinner tray and we'll be eating "off the floor" so to speak if that's the only place for the RS tray, and we'll be grateful we're on a cruise to do it, I'm thinkin'?

We'll make it work.

SCinRI-Marty

[REXTER]

thank your Mama..that your not ....

[REXTER]

eating off the floor

[MumsTheWord*]

Hi Rita and others,
Thanks to the tutorial from LAFFNVEGAS and BoomerSexyK, I have been able to attach a picture of our balcony from our
SZ suite on the Noordam from our March cruise. This was NOT a Penthouse suite nor a Deluxe Suite (both of which have access to the Neptune Lounge). We were in the lowest of the suite categories and were very impressed with the size of both our room and our balcony.

As you can see, our balcony had a very nice size table with two chairs, two additional chairs w/ ottomans (you can not see them in this picture) and there was still room for the steamer chair! (I used our telephone concierge and requested that a lounge chair be brought to the balcony because the chair w/ ottoman sits very upright without reclining...)
To my DELIGHT, the steward brought an actual teak steamer and set it up (I was expecting one from the pool area.) Needless to say, he got a very nice tip and I spent many hours in that beloved spot!:p

As for having enough room for dinner in an inside cabin, I am not above plopping it all right in the middle of the bed, curling up 'crossed legged', wrapped up in the bathrobe, and enjoying every last morsel. I suppose where there's a will, there's a way.:)

Another thought: There's no dress code for Room Service...Jeans, bathrobes, tank tops, clothing optional:eek:....

Disclaimer: I have no knowledge of any HAL ship other than the Noordam so my statements may not apply across the entire HAL fleet.
ie. Amsterdam...

Isn't it a blessing that we have the good fortunate to even go on a cruise and be served at all.
I certainly feel very, very, very fortunate! and especially blessed!

[kryos]

Isn't it a blessing that we have the good fortunate to even go on a cruise and be served at all.
I certainly feel very, very, very fortunate! and especially blessed!
Absolutely! And I agree with you. Each time I step onboard a ship, I bow my head in a silent prayer and thank the good Lord for giving me the health and the means to enjoy such a wonderful experience.

Frankly, I wouldn't care if I had to eat dinner in one of the lifeboats. Just being on a HAL ship is all it takes to make my day!

Blue skies ...

--rita

[MumsTheWord*]

:)Amen, Amen, and Amen!:)

:):)
(And the choir breaks out into a chorus of God is so Good...
He's so good to me!)

[Odd Ball]

Can I have it served on Hyacinth's Royal Dalton china ?