What is the "Yum Yum Man" and how did he originate?

[Lois R]

:) Hi.....I have heard about this....and wondered if I could get an explanation from all you experienced HAL Cruisers.

Something about being handed mints on the way out of the dining room after dinner?
Sounds fun:D .........just what I need...more chocolate LOL

[elmorejj]

The Yum Yum man, dressed in his cute red and gold uniform, walks through the lounges ringing his chimes as a call to dinner. After dinner he passes out mints, dried fruits and candied ginger as you leave the DR. I have been on ships where we have been wonderfully entertained by the YYM doing card tricks, telling jokes etc. during dinner....jean

[Lois R]

:) Hi Jean...thanks for the reply!

[FlorenceItaly]

Lois - On my Maasdam cruise he became a very special friend to me. He knew I was traveling solo and was very sweet to me whenever he saw me anywhere on the ship.

Marie

[jhannah]

I'm dating myself here ... but the YYM wears a uniform that is most reminiscent of Johnny, the Phillip Morris pitchman during the earlier days of television. The mints are wonderful, but it's the ginger that's most helpful after a fine dinner. (Read that, "I ate too much!")

[Lois R]

:) sounds nice...kind of like a personal conceirge!;) Marie, its always nice when folks make that extra effort!

[sail7seas]

Where did the Yum Yum boy originate? Hmmmmmmm.....good question. He's just always been at his post outside the dining room doorway. I guess he "just comes with the ship" when it leaves the boatyard :)

I think his uniform and his position probably originated during the time when wires from the radio room were the only way to communicate when at sea. He may have been the runner who delivered messages to the guests as they were received.

His uniform probably has not changed for many, many years and I, for one, hope it never does. I think it great just the way it is and such a signature of HAL.

[debblue]

the yum yum man would also open the doors from the lido deck to the pool area but now with the automatic doores you rarely see him there, he's a sweetie on all the ships!!!!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) YUM YUM man

The first time I saw him, I immediately thought of the old cigaret commericals on TV for Phillip Morris.

Those aren't chocolate mints. A few years ago, on one of the ships we had the different flavored mints - not just one kind.

I, also, hope that HAL doesn't change their uniforms.

:)

[Lois R]

:) When I see him, I will tell him all my Cruise Critic friends think he is wonderful:D

[Bill S]

Hey vegasjim! Don't worry neighbor, you've got a LOT of company on this board who remember the same image that you have of the yum-yum boy. You probably recall the dancing cigarette pack as well-I think it was Camels-great legs! OH, back to topic, yes, my much-better half enjoys having her picture taken with the yum-yum man on each cruise, especially on evenings when he dresses in a differemt outfit.

[jhannah]

Yes, BillS ... those were the days when cig manufacturers even touted the health benefits of smoking. "Nine out of ten doctors smoke XXXX brand." My, how times change. But I agree with the others in that I hope HAL doesn't change the uniform or duties of the Yum-Yum Man. He IS one of HAL's signatures.

[lknick]

The uniform of the yum-yum man derives from the loader in a gun team of the Royal Artillery during the Napoleonic era. The flat round hat is so he can get out of the recoil way fast. Other military headgear was plumed or helmited.

The loader was also the gun teams runner, ie obtaining ammunition from the caissons which were parked behind the gun battery. Because of this, the uniform was adopted for messengers in military clubs and then in hotels where the messenger was called first a ‘caller’ for it was he who paged guests and then a bell-boy. The bell-boy role migrated to steam ships.

Phillip Morris adopted the bell-boy uniform as “Johnny” was a caller and said "c-a-ll fo-o-o-r Phil-lip mo-r-r-r-is".

To this day, those "cute little red and gold colors" are the colors of the Royal Artillery.

And now you know more than you ever did about yum-yum man.

[ger_77]

On our way out of the dining room on the Prinsendam recently, I turned to my husband and said, "We have to stop by the Yum Yum Man's table" - and at that moment Anom (the Yum Yum Man) said "Ah, madam, you've been on Holland America before." He introduced himself to us and from that evening on, whenever he saw us anywhere on board, he called us by name and after dinner always had a special little packet of mints and ginger ready for us. I have a precious photo of the two of us together on our last evening on board. Nice memories of a wonderful experience.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[Lois R]

:) Hi...well, thank you for all the information! I will have to find the Yum Yum Man...even though this will be my first time on HAL I will definitely stop by his table and maybe even give him a kiss on the cheek;) .

[SharonN]

Have to agree about the wonderful Yum Yum men. On the Veendam last March I noticed they were the same ones passing out trays in the Lido at Breakfast but not sure that's always the case. He was always "Peachy Keen" and had us all laughing each morning and again at night getting those wonderful mints.

[BuckeyeLady]

This past June was my first HAL cruise and the Yum-yum man quickly became one of my favorites--along with chocolates on my pillow! :p Not only was his candy delicious but great personality. We were three couples traveling together and we three females are named Jo Ann. He quickly remembered and whenever he saw us on ship and introduced us to everyone.

[Lois R]

;) Boy, this guy sounds like he is something special!

[deltableh]

I don't know about a Yum Yum Man, but I know about the Yum Yum Cart. Only problem is you have to raid the YYC, and it's a two person operation. One person to make sure the maid isn't watching, and the other to take those good mints they have in the cart :-D

[srpilo]

Lois..
To get your Chocolate fix after diner, head to the "Explorers Lounge" ..For the sweet music of the Champange Strings and a piece of Chocolate.. Ahhhh !
Srpilo

[gwilli]

We also loved to see the yum-yum man on our cruise. Hope you all remember to tip him! I'm not sure with the tipping situation now if he gets any of the pot - so please remember to slip him a few bucks! he deserves it!

Happy sailing........

[General Max]

This will be our first cruise and Mrs.Max is already calling the Yum Yum Man the "Treat, Treat Man".

General Max

[Lois R]

:) Hi Pete...and the Champagne Strings would be the band in the Explorers Lounge?
A String quartet?.......now I will have to hear them and go to the Piano Bar:D so many choices...so few days!

[obriendan]

We have had the same Yum Yum man, Raymond, on three of our six HAL cruises. Without a doubt, he is the most charming of all the wait staff we have encountered. On our second HAL cruise, he remembered both of our names! Whenever he would see me without my wife, he would say "Where's your honey?". On our recent QM2 cruise we were discussing the service staff of cruise lines with another couple. They mentioned the a Yum Yum man that they remembered and it was Raymond.

[Peggy Sue]

We loved Raymond! He was on the Zuiderdam last May. Such an engaging personality and very talented..he was the star of the crew show! He greeted us daily, always had a smile on his face and we always left his company with a smile on our faces. Anyone know what ship Raymond is on today?

the last evening, we gave Raymond a few pictures from the show he was in, as well as a couple in his formal uniform...along with a tip for a job well done.

Peggy Sue

[nealberk]

On our curise the Ym Yum man did double duty as our waiter's assistant. Actually he was SIGNIFICANTLY better than the waiter at making sure we had everything we wanted.

Since he did much of the work of the waiter, we flipped the tip amounts. He deserved far more than he would have as the assistant and since he was our waiter as far as we were concerned (our waiter was mediocre at best) we tipped accordingly.

Besides the mints, ginger, great table conversation, and wiater duties, he was kept running all night.

The Yum Yum man is a HAL signature item and hopefully will be around forever.

Lois, I have not heard of the string quartet you mentioned. We had the Rosario strings who were excelent. It really takes you back to the golden age of cruising when you hear the string quartet perform.

[RevNeal]

Here's a picture of a Yum - Yum - Man. He made sure everyone knew that he was the REAL Mohammad Ali. :)

http://www.revneal.org/masmall.jpg

He is (or was, as of last year) on the Volendam, and had been for 2 years. In 2003 he remembered me from 2002. He came right up to me and said "You're Reverend Neal, aren't you?" What a great guy!

[RevNeal]

...those were the days when cig manufacturers even touted the health benefits of smoking. "Nine out of ten doctors smoke XXXX brand."

Remember:

"LSMFT ... LSMFT"

and

"Get happy, go Lucky, get happy, go Lucky Strike; get happy, go Lucky, go Lucky Strike today!"

:D

"Oh Don .... Oh Don....."

[nealberk]

Here's a picture of a Yum - Yum - Man. He made sure everyone knew that he was the REAL Mohammad Ali. :)

http://www.revneal.org/masmall.jpg

He is (or was, as of last year) on the Volendam, and had been for 2 years. In 2003 he remembered me from 2002. He came right up to me and said "You're Reverend Neal, aren't you?" What a great guy!
Rev-

Here is our Yum Yum Man

http://home.comcast.net/%7Enab5/images/DSCN0217med.jpg

That is my wife on the left in case any of you guys get confused! :)

[F5Loar]

Ah yes, Raymond the YumYum man. What a treat it was for him to be on our floor on the zuiderdam. He came by our table every night (before it was time to pass out the mints) to see if we needed anything and he would go get it right then. He would cut my little daughters steak for her and show her tricks and games. Absolutely one of HAL's most postive signatures of super service.
Never could acquire a taste for that ginger after dinner. Maybe before but not after!

[obriendan]

Here is a picture of Raymond, the Yum Yum man on the Ryndam's Jan 4-21, 2002 South America-Antactica cruise. He is in his less formal attire. He was also with us on the Zuiderdam in May-June of 2003.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=931&stc=1

[obriendan]

Oops! I guess I attached the picture twice.