recent deluxe suite guest on westerdam

[medfordgirl]

Hi, if you were a recent deluxe suite guest on eastern caribbean cruise on westerdam, can you tell me when the Suite luncheon was? I wanted to sign up for the culinary class but I don't want to miss the luncheon. I am hoping I don't have to choose, I want to do both. :o thank you

[yogi2929]

The culinary class was held in the morning in June.

[gizmo]

I cannot comment about the Westerdam but there was no suite lucheon on a recent Noordam cruise. They threw it in with the Mariner Lunch in the main dining room.

There were 4 sea days with 2 being at the end of the cruise, so I see no reason why they didn't have it.

[sail7seas]

I cannot comment about the Westerdam but there was no suite lucheon on a recent Noordam cruise. They threw it in with the Mariner Lunch in the main dining room.

There were 4 sea days with 2 being at the end of the cruise, so I see no reason why they didn't have it.


Did you ask? If so, what was the answer?

[twinkletoes4445]

For our 2007 7-day Zuiderdam cruise, the suite luncheon was held on Thursday (a sea day) in the Crow's Nest at 12:30 pm. On Friday we visited HMC, and Sat. we returned to FLL.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our Westerdam 7 day Alaskan cruise it was held on the first sea day since the Mariner lunch was held on the last sea day.

[medfordgirl]

The culinary class was held in the morning in June.

In the morning? don't you eat what you make? I hope the luncheon doesn't happen after that or I will be full. I suppose I could skip breakfast.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On the Westerdam the cooking classes were held in the Queen's Lounge which is also the Culinary Area.

On the majority of the cruises that we have been -- yes -- you sit down and eat what you have prepared.

Which means that it could run into the suite lunch if there is one.

Ask your concierge once you get on the ship -- he/she should have all that information.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I cannot comment about the Westerdam but there was no suite lucheon on a recent Noordam cruise. They threw it in with the Mariner Lunch in the main dining room.

There were 4 sea days with 2 being at the end of the cruise, so I see no reason why they didn't have it.

I am stunned that on a 10 day cruise there wasn't a suite lunch/buffet.

[medfordgirl]

On the Westerdam the cooking classes were held in the Queen's Lounge which is also the Culinary Area.

On the majority of the cruises that we have been -- yes -- you sit down and eat what you have prepared.

Which means that it could run into the suite lunch if there is one.

Ask your concierge once you get on the ship -- he/she should have all that information.

Now here is a dilemma, on another thread I was told to skip the concierge and go directly to the front desk to sign up for the class because the concierges might be too busy and wouldn't have the menus for the classes. However they would know when the luncheon was. The front desk will have all the menu's for the classes but won't know when the luncheon is. So which would you do? risk not getting in the class by going to the concierge first or get signed up for a class at the front desk and risk it running into the luncheon?

[funlovin'cruiser]

Now here is a dilemma, on another thread I was told to skip the concierge and go directly to the front desk to sign up for the class because the concierges might be too busy and wouldn't have the menus for the classes. However they would know when the luncheon was. The front desk will have all the menu's for the classes but won't know when the luncheon is. So which would you do? risk not getting in the class by going to the concierge first or get signed up for a class at the front desk and risk it running into the luncheon?

The Neptune Lounge concierge is a member of the Front Office staff (one of the better Guest Relations Attendants) and since the FO coordinates the Suite Luncheon and Mariner Luncheon, going directly to the FO to book your culinary class will also result in them telling you when the Suite and Mariner luncheons will be, therefore no conflicts. This schedule is set the cruise before - with all events and classes slotted it.

[gizmo]

I am stunned that on a 10 day cruise there wasn't a suite lunch/buffet.

The same thing happened last Oct. on a 10 day cruise on the Zaandam.

I was surprised because many times I have read that the suite luncheon was still being done.

I posted this information because Mefordgirl appears to be looking forward to it and there is a possiblity it could be combined with the Mariner's Lunch.

There was no reason given by the conceirge, just there is no separate suite luncheon and all suites guests are invited to the Mariner's Luncheon. I wasn't going to spend my last 2 days chasing down a Hotel Manager to more than likely get the same answer.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Now here is a dilemma, on another thread I was told to skip the concierge and go directly to the front desk to sign up for the class because the concierges might be too busy and wouldn't have the menus for the classes. However they would know when the luncheon was. The front desk will have all the menu's for the classes but won't know when the luncheon is. So which would you do? risk not getting in the class by going to the concierge first or get signed up for a class at the front desk and risk it running into the luncheon?

I would go to the front desk -- sign up for the class -- especially if there is a class of menus that you like. The front desk can tell when the class is, long it will be -- and if you will be actually eating what you make (things keep changing ship by ship faster than all of us can keep up with).

Then go to the concierge and ask when and if there is going to be a suite buffet/lunch.

If there is a conflict, then you have to decide which you want to do. You can always cancel the cooking class.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The same thing happened last Oct. on a 10 day cruise on the Zaandam.

I was surprised because many times I have read that the suite luncheon was still being done.

I posted this information because Mefordgirl appears to be looking forward to it and there is a possiblity it could be combined with the Mariner's Lunch.

There was no reason given by the conceirge, just there is no separate suite luncheon and all suites guests are invited to the Mariner's Luncheon. I wasn't going to spend my last 2 days chasing down a Hotel Manager to more than likely get the same answer.

It is terrible that the ships can't all stick with what all we read as suite perks. It seems that we are getting more ripped off as time goes by for the prices we pay.

[medfordgirl]

The same thing happened last Oct. on a 10 day cruise on the Zaandam.

I was surprised because many times I have read that the suite luncheon was still being done.

I posted this information because Mefordgirl appears to be looking forward to it and there is a possiblity it could be combined with the Mariner's Lunch.

There was no reason given by the conceirge, just there is no separate suite luncheon and all suites guests are invited to the Mariner's Luncheon. I wasn't going to spend my last 2 days chasing down a Hotel Manager to more than likely get the same answer.

If it ends up being combined with the mariners luncheon then I may skip that. What I liked about the suite lunch was that is was intimate. attended by the captain, his wife, the hotel manager and the ships doctor. The service and food was fantastic. If it is combined with the mariners lunch it will lose the intimacy. Of course this was on the veendam which is smaller than the westerdam but still, adding all the mariners to the lunch will just commercialize it, so to speak. I suppose the FO will be able to tell me if the luncheon is combined with the mariners lunch. If I do go to the front desk to reserve my spots for the class, couldn't they call the concierge to check on the luncheon time for me? there are two classes if I have been reading the threads correctly, so I will just sign up for the one that is on the other day.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On both of our Westerdam cruises last spring the Captain (wife not on board), HM -- did not attend the Mariner's or Suite Lunch. In fact we saw no officers anywhere. At the suite lunch they were there to greet us as we entered and then they left once everyone was seated at the tables.

If the front office has the time and aren't swmaped with people, yes they could call the concierges and ask those questions if they don't know it. They probably don't know about the suite lunch time but they definitely should know when the Mariner's lunch will be as that invloves the entire ship.

[Zyzygy]

One would think that in an era of high speed printers, etc., the cruise line would place a card in the suites at the beginning of the cruise to advise the suite occupants of when the special events will be during the cruise.

Instead of having to guess about whom to ask, wouldn't it make sense for there to be a card listing special events at the beginning? And if the cruise line wants to offer special events, wouldn't it make sense to publicize them, rather than keep them a secret?

Suites aren't cheap, and printing a special schedule card would be easy.

I know they didn't have any trouble leaving a printed receipt card in our cabin to confirm that we had received our bon voyage gift.

This sounds like something for CC'ers to start putting on their cruise evaluation forms.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I put a lot of things on my comment cards nothing changes -- there is no way they have time to read all of them -- figure they just throw out the majority of them.

On the first daily program that is in the cabin, the formal and smart casual nights are listed.

But -- I agree with you -- HAL could have a letter in all the cabins for when the Mariner's lunch would be -- but on many of our recent cruises there had to be 2 Mariner lunches because there were so many of us. So that could be a problem.

As for the suite lunch -- it seems that this is a hit and miss and many times a last minute decision. Some HM managers and captains want them -- others don't.

[gizmo]

As for the suite lunch -- it seems that this is a hit and miss and many times a last minute decision. Some HM managers and captains want them -- others don't.

KK, I agree with your statement.

From Hal's web site:
A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length

Hal should provide the suite guest luncheon since it is listed as a perk on their web site. It should NOT be hit or miss.

[timbo89]

We were on the Westerdam a couple of weeks ago in a deluxe suite, and they did have a suite luncheon.

The food was quite nice, but I recall there was a reception line at the entrance to PG of all the executive staff. The Captain et al did not stay for the lunch.

I am sorry I do not recall the exact day - it was a sea day towards the latter part of the cruise.

[kalliekae]

KK, I agree with your statement.

From Hal's web site:
A special Suite guest lunch event on cruises over 7 days in length

Hal should provide the suite guest luncheon since it is listed as a perk on their web site. It should NOT be hit or miss.


On our May Mediterranean cruise (Noordam), the suite luncheon was combined with the Mariner luncheon. Perhaps the port intensive itinerary was to blame.:confused:

[medfordgirl]

We were on the Westerdam a couple of weeks ago in a deluxe suite, and they did have a suite luncheon.

The food was quite nice, but I recall there was a reception line at the entrance to PG of all the executive staff. The Captain et al did not stay for the lunch.

I am sorry I do not recall the exact day - it was a sea day towards the latter part of the cruise.

a sea day towards the latter part of the cruise for us would be friday, since there are only 2 sea days and the first one is the day after we leave. So, hopefully the culinary class will be on Monday and all will be well, as long as it is in the AM because I am having the Dutch High Tea in my cabin at 3pm on Monday.

by the way, what did they serve at the luncheon?

[sail7seas]

Medford Girl........


I so hope you will write a review when you return. You have done such a wonderful job of planning, it will be fun to hear your comments after your cruise.

Hope everything is even better than you imagine.

[medfordgirl]

Medford Girl........


I so hope you will write a review when you return. You have done such a wonderful job of planning, it will be fun to hear your comments after your cruise.

Hope everything is even better than you imagine.



I will write a review on return. I have really tried hard to get everything just right for this cruise as I was the one who got my aunts, cousin and parents to go. I would feel just awful if they didn't have a good time. I need a vacation after planning this one:p And you don't know that half of what goes on here that I haven't shared. :eek: the packing lists, getting there, clothes etc...............I may spend the whole week in bed but at least the others will have a good time;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our May Mediterranean cruise (Noordam), the suite luncheon was combined with the Mariner luncheon. Perhaps the port intensive itinerary was to blame.:confused:

I can understand on port intensive itineraries where they may have but no choice to combine the 2 lunches.

But on Gizmo's cruise, they had 2 sea days at the beginning and 2 sea days at the end of the 10 day cruise.

[sail7seas]

I will write a review on return. I have really tried hard to get everything just right for this cruise as I was the one who got my aunts, cousin and parents to go. I would feel just awful if they didn't have a good time. I need a vacation after planning this one:p And you don't know that half of what goes on here that I haven't shared. :eek: the packing lists, getting there, clothes etc...............I may spend the whole week in bed but at least the others will have a good time;)


:) Keep in mind, it's a VACATION. Leave some things to whim and whimsy and not over schedule yourself and everyone. You could come home more stressed and tired than when you went. :eek:

Leave a few 'surprises' that can Wow you....... a little thing that can tickle your fancy or delight you no matter how tiny or simple.

Remember to have fun. :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

a sea day towards the latter part of the cruise for us would be friday, since there are only 2 sea days and the first one is the day after we leave. So, hopefully the culinary class will be on Monday and all will be well, as long as it is in the AM because I am having the Dutch High Tea in my cabin at 3pm on Monday.

by the way, what did they serve at the luncheon?


You mention that the last sea day is Friday -- that is usually when the Mariner's lunch is held. But at the rate the ship's keep changing their plans -- it's anyone guess when it will be.

For the Suite lunch -- everyone went into the Pinnacle and were directed to tables -- no particular order. After everyone was seated than one of the waitstaff came around and indicated that we could get in the buffet line.

They had raw shrimp, shrimp tempura, chicken satay (with sauces), spring rools, beef tenderloin, caviar and the trimmings, prosciutto melon, cheeses, deviled eggs, crudites, rolls, butter, chocolate mousse, assorted pastries, white and milk covered strawberries, a few other desserts.

[medfordgirl]

:) Keep in mind, it's a VACATION. Leave some things to whim and whimsy and not over schedule yourself and everyone. You could come home more stressed and tired than when you went. :eek: sounds like a good reason to book another cruise (with just DH)!

Leave a few 'surprises' that can Wow you....... a little thing that can tickle your fancy or delight you no matter how tiny or simple. we have only been on HAL once (3 years ago)which was the Veendam. I am guessing this (Westerdam) will be different so that will be a wow factor. Plus none of the rest of the group going (excluding DH) has ever been on HAL so I get to enjoy watching them ooh and ahh. mostly just having alot of my family members especially my parents with me (always been a very close family) to share something we love doing makes me so happy. Every cruise I went on, I always wished my parents were there to share the joy. SO glad we get to do this before it is too late. uh oh I feel a halmark moment coming on. :o

Remember to have fun. :D I promise:D