Mariners Brunch

We are 1 star, having sailed HAL twice before our upcoming cruise. We are sailing to Alaska Inside Passage.

Will we be invited to the Mariners' Brunch?

When would it take place - First day sailing northbound through the Inside Passage or last day sailing southbound toward Vancouver?

What is the format of the event?

Does it take place in the MDR or one of the lounges?

Thanks. Just want to look forward to it if we are eligible.:)

Ellen

Once you have sailed on a HAL ship you become a Mariner and are invited to the Mariner Brunch not matter how many stars you have. On my cruise in Alaska it was towards the end of the cruise (I don't remember the exact day). You are also eligble to have lunch in the MDR when you board the first day (so don't miss that one either).

It will be your last sea day sailing southward towards Vancouver.

You get an invitation in your mailbox on board the ship.

There are usually 2 Mariner Brunches as there are a lot of Mariners. One will be at 11 AM and the other one will be at 1 PM. There is no telling which one you will be invited to. Each ship does its own thing. The brunches are held in the lower level of the dining room.

It's in the MDR, and the format is just simply lunch with free wine. One glass if you're not lucky enough to get a refill. IIRC two choices of entree - quiche or small steak. The CD and Captain will say a few words, which usually include "Please come back". You can have a photo taken with them on the way in if the line isn't too long.

We go mainly to pick up our souvenir tiles, but you can get them delivered if you skip the lunch.

As stated, you are a Mariner and will be invited.

Sometimes if there are a great many Mariners on a given cruise, they have two brunches as they cannot seat everyone at one time.

If you hear someone has been invited to a brunch at a different time than you, that would be the reason.

And it might be lunch instead of brunch. That was our experience on the Noordam in November. Must have been many, many Mariners, as there was a brunch and a medallion celebration followed by the 1PM lunch to which we had been invited. Maybe they also had the medallion celebration before the brunch ... and, there may have been brunches on earlier days of the sailing. Don't know. Also, it was formal night in the MDR that evening for dinner and, with early seating, we skipped dinner that evening. Likely we missed surf and turf.

The Medallion Reception is held prior to the first (early) brunch when there is more than one. We always go first to a separate room (varies by ship) for a Medallion Presentation etc and then are escorted to the MDR.

There have been times when they divided the brunches into two days if they had so many Mariners and had enough sea days in the itinerary.

Depending on which brunch we are invited to -- and all our invitations have always said "brunch" -- there has been a short Medallion ceremony before the brunch.

Sometimes we are invited to the awards ceremony at 11:30 followed by brunch at 11. A couple of times we have been invited to the awards ceremony at 12:30 followed by the brunch at 1.

Rarely are we on a cruise where we have 2 sea days at the end of the cruise where the brunches can be held on 2 days.

There are not many choices for the brunch.

A choice of 2 appetizers, a choice of a fish, meat or a quiche for the entree. And there is only 1 dessert -- no choice.

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful replies.

I was actually hoping it would be our first day because we have in the past, on other lines, met people that we keep running into throughout the cruise.

Just wondering - How long has the Mariners Brunch/Lunch been going on? I ask because on our 2nd HAL cruise, we did not receive an invitation. That was 3-4 years ago.

Also, does a Costa cruise count toward 'points' for status?

They switched from Mariner's Cocktail party to Mariner's Brunch about 3-4 years ago. When we first started sailing HAL, they held a beautiful cocktail party in the show lounge on formal night. Then they switched to a day time gathering in Show Lounge on a sea day and cocktails/hors d'ouerves were served.

If memory serves me, the switched to Mariners Brunch on Sea Day when they began the Star Mariner Program and I would guess that was in the range of 3-4 years ago.

Your Costa days only would make you a Mariner had you not already sailed HAL, however, only days actually sailed on HAL will count toward your total count of days (except for Alaska land tour days.)

All the Carnival Family of Cruise Lines (Carnival, Costa, Princess, Cunard, HAL and Seabourn) have the same policy in that just the days actually sailed on that cruise line count for their repeater program.

Ah! That's why I don't remember the brunch.

Thanks.

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

I was actually hoping it would be our first day because we have in the past, on other lines, met people that we keep running into throughout the cruise.

 

Just wondering - How long has the Mariners Brunch/Lunch been going on? I ask because on our 2nd HAL cruise, we did not receive an invitation. That was 3-4 years ago.

 

Also, does a Costa cruise count toward 'points' for status?

Sorry you Costa cruise does not count towards any points. Only Hal cruise are counted.

And it might be lunch instead of brunch. That was our experience on the Noordam in November. Must have been many, many Mariners, as there was a brunch and a medallion celebration followed by the 1PM lunch to which we had been invited. Maybe they also had the medallion celebration before the brunch ... and, there may have been brunches on earlier days of the sailing. Don't know. Also, it was formal night in the MDR that evening for dinner and, with early seating, we skipped dinner that evening. Likely we missed surf and turf.

We were on the 11-day Noordam cruise in January 2012 and the Mariner Lunch was held on two consecutive days because of so many Mariners. We were traveling with friends and I assumed they forgot our invite so we went with them the first day. Later that day, we got the invite for the following day, but didn't attend that luncheon.

Yes, that is exactly what I was referencing.

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

I was actually hoping it would be our first day because we have in the past, on other lines, met people that we keep running into throughout the cruise.

 

Just wondering - How long has the Mariners Brunch/Lunch been going on? I ask because on our 2nd HAL cruise, we did not receive an invitation. That was 3-4 years ago.

 

Also, does a Costa cruise count toward 'points' for status?

The Mariner's brunch has been around for quite a while.

We were doing a Hawaiian cruise in March 2006 when we attended our first Mariner Brunch -- no choices back then.

And we have gone to quite a few since then.

If you cruised on HAL 3 or 4 years ago, there were Mariner's brunches then and you should have received an invitation since that was your 2nd cruise on HAL.

The menu and hours are limited. If the lunch is even held. There could be other events in the MDR.

The Lido is always open and has a wide variety to choose from.

The menu and hours are limited. If the lunch is even held. There could be other events in the MDR.

 

The Lido is always open and has a wide variety to choose from.

Two different Mariners events are being confused.

You are referencing Embarkation Mariners Lunch which is held (usually) from 12 noon - 1:30 P.M. It is lunch in MDR and most of the time, all Mariners can attend if they wish.

There is also the Mariners Brunch which is discussed in this thread. It, too, is for all Mariners and invitations are sent. This brunch is held on a sea day during the cruise. Your invitation will indicate time/date and sometimes, if there are many mariners on a given cruise, there will be more than one seating.

Again, all Mariners will be invited..... or should be. If you are not invited but know you are a mariner, inquire at the office when the brunch is being held.

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

I was actually hoping it would be our first day because we have in the past, on other lines, met people that we keep running into throughout the cruise.

 

Just wondering - How long has the Mariners Brunch/Lunch been going on? I ask because on our 2nd HAL cruise, we did not receive an invitation. That was 3-4 years ago.

 

Also, does a Costa cruise count toward 'points' for status?

If you want to meet people on the first day, why not try to get involved in a "meet and greet" through the roll calls? Then you'll get to know some of the CC posters you've been talking to in the months leading up to the cruise.

The menu and hours are limited. If the lunch is even held. There could be other events in the MDR.

 

The Lido is always open and has a wide variety to choose from.

You are referring to the Mariners LUNCH which is held on embarkation day -- and it is a limited menu.

The Mariner Brunch held near the end of the cruise is what OP is talking about and has even a more limited menu.

Just checked and our 2 cruises on Ryndam and Maasdam were in 2007 and 2008. Longer back than I had thought.

Yes, I usually get involved in the Roll Call of the sailing we are looking forward to. But, there is no M&G for it. Actually, hardly any Alaskan cruises except for a very slow one in July. I know, some of you are saying "Well, then, start one". I like attending and I will support and assist but don't want the hassle some can become.

No problem - We go on a cruise to enjoy the ship and itinerary and meeting other friendly people is a bonus.

Thanks All.

Ellen

we received our bronze medalions a few cruises back and were invited to the presentaions agin on our next 2 cruises and enjoyed the drinks and canapes. The last cruise we were just invited to the brunch on a 21 day collector cruise both legs. Is that because there were so amny medalion cruises?

Also isn't it about time to change the mmenu for the brunch?

Two different Mariners events are being confused.

 

You are referencing Embarkation Mariners Lunch which is held (usually) from 12 noon - 1:30 P.M. It is lunch in MDR and most of the time, all Mariners can attend if they wish.

 

There is also the Mariners Brunch which is discussed in this thread. It, too, is for all Mariners and invitations are sent. This brunch is held on a sea day during the cruise. Your invitation will indicate time/date and sometimes, if there are many mariners on a given cruise, there will be more than one seating.

 

Again, all Mariners will be invited..... or should be. If you are not invited but know you are a mariner, inquire at the office when the brunch is being held.

 

You are referring to the Mariners LUNCH which is held on embarkation day -- and it is a limited menu.

 

The Mariner Brunch held near the end of the cruise is what OP is talking about and has even a more limited menu.

Yes, there are at least two Mariners events each cruise. :) We had one cruise on Maasdam where there were three events.

*Mariners Embarkation LUNCH

*Mariners Brunch

*Mariners Medallion Holders really fun, very nice cocktail party. It was a terrific idea and we greatly enjoyed it.