Wine Cards

[cruise101]

Does HAL allow you to use their wine cards which they pre-sell through their web site (gift registry) in the main dining room?

Also any comments on the quality of wine one can order using the wine cards would be much appreciated. Seems like a good deal at $41.40 for 10 glasses. The gift registry just says "House pouring wine card for 10 glasses"

Many thanks.

[CoconutFish]

You can use the wine cards anywhere on the ship except for room service.

The 20 glass card is a better deal.

These wines are adequate; there is no choice beyond red, white or blush. We found the white (Chardonnay) was vastly superior to the red (Cab?)on the Rotterdam recently, so you may want to try both to decide which suits you better. You can't be the fussy type if you want to purchase these cards.

The wine steward in the dining room was somewhat reluctant to sell the wine card because he said he would have to substitute different selections if they ran out of the originals. He seems to have run into complaints about this substituting in the past. Unfortunately they didn't run out of the red: a different one would have been nice.;)

[Tricia724]

A lot depends on the type of wines you normally drink. If you are used to drinking more expensive wines, you might not be satisfied with the house wines. I drink Chardonnay and was satisfied with the house wine, so I did buy a wine card and it was a good deal for me.

As a suggestion.....when you first get on the ship, try a glass of the house wine. If you don't like it, then you've only spent a few dollars and won't get stuck with 10 or 20 glasses of something you don't like. If it suits you, then ask your wine steward for a card. It's the same price onboard, so you're not losing any money by waiting and you will know exactly what you are getting.

[richkinkade]

Yes, you can use them in the dining room. Don't be surprised, however, to have the wine steward ignore you because he isn't generating a tip from selling you a bottle of wine. That was my experience on a recent cruise on the Veendam.

[cruise101]

I appreciate the feedback/responses.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had the wine card on our recent Maasdam cruises. Used it in the dining room. We were not ignored by our wine steward. We thought the white was the best.

[jtl513]

Yes, you can use them in the dining room. Don't be surprised, however, to have the wine steward ignore you because he isn't generating a tip from selling you a bottle of wine. That was my experience on a recent cruise on the Veendam.The price of the wine cards includes the 15% service charge anyway: $36 x 1.15 = $41.40, $67.50 x 1.15 = $77.63. That's how they came up with those apparently strange prices.

[Jemima]

I had the wine card on our recent Veendam cruise. The wine steward stopped at our table each evening even though I was only one ordering anything. There were some choices.

[Tricia724]

The price of the wine cards includes the 15% service charge anyway: $36 x 1.15 = $41.40, $67.50 x 1.15 = $77.63. That's how they came up with those apparently strange prices.

Yes, and if you do intend to use it mainly in the dining room, buy it from your wine steward in the dining room. He will get credit for the sale and the tip.

[lka1012]

I have already pre-purchased one for my December Amsterdam cruise, mainly so I can try different wines. I know little about wines, so I thought that would be a way to try some. I prepurchased because I am trying to pre-purchase most of my cruise so there will not a large "bill" at the end, instead, paying upfront a little at a time.

I will let folks know how it turns out for me.

[jtl513]

Yes, and if you do intend to use it mainly in the dining room, buy it from your wine steward in the dining room. He will get credit for the sale and the tip.I wonder who gets the 15% if it is pre-purchased through Seattle? Just "the pool"?

[rkacruiser]

While recently on the Amsterdam, I purchased the 20 servings wine card and was very satisfied with the wine quality. Pinot Grigio and Merlot were the two selections I normally drank. Buying the card was a nice savings. But, I did not feel that the service was particularly "elegant". I normally have two glasses per dinner and when the wine steward took my order for the evening, both glasses came at once. I feel sure that this kind of service happened because of the steward being so busy. One evening, he was very late in coming to the table, so late that I asked my Head Steward "where is Nestor?" The Head Steward, Anas, went and got him immediately and remained at the table while my order was taken. I appreciated Anas' concern!

[cruisingbooboo]

what is the wine card and how can I prepurchase it?Is it coded on your room key or you have to carry a seperate card?

[eldercruser]

It is a separate card. There will be plenty of opportunity to buy it the first day aboard. The wine stewards push them pretty hard.