Lakesregion

Every cruise line has gone into up-sell and a million other ways to relieve the guest of additional coin. Pretty soon it will be "up grade from our standard horse hair pillows to something better for only $2 a day and so on. Not a great look but as long as the sailing public plays into the game it will continue to get worse.

Those photos are rather misleading as they look terrific for one or two people. However, that offering is for an entire table of 8 people. Everyone gets one finger sandwich and one sweet unless you are fortunate to drag a passing waitstaff member over and ask for additional items. Very far from any decent land based tea room and not even on the same planet as the Cunard aftenoon tea.

That is an asumption but not always a reality. On a January Zaandam cruise I could not find anything of interest on the regular menu and asked about the alternative items and chose salmon. Only to be told after about ten minutes that they did not have salmon available. Turns out they offered salmon on the regular menu the next evening and when queried about the lack of it on the aleternitive menu, the Maitr'd said it was frozen and they did not wish to thaw an entire salmon one day before they would be featuring it just for a single request.

Do keep in mind that if you wish to dine with a non-Grill Passenge or two or more you will have to dine in their assigned dining room as the lower cabins are not allowed to dine above the salt.

Did 30 days on the Zaadam in January and no one smelled bad nor were embaressingly poorly dress (JC Penny level on the FL to CA leg and Macy quality on the return trip)but the ship has certainly sailed on any thought of a dressy evening. One tux on each of two segments and besides myself very very few jackets on any evening (I alwayswear a blazer and fine slacks and shirts when dining in a linen table cloth establishment as it, to my thought, shows respect for the establishment's attempt at offering something better than cafeteria chow.

This is just part of HAL's long (or short) term plan to pushas many people to the lido or the extra charge restaurants for all meals. Shortly in my opnion they will liminate assigned dinner times entirely and thus be able to colse the upper dining rooms on many ships. The lidocost way less to operate than a fine dining room and from the comments on thisthread is would appear that most people would not miss a fine free dining expeience.

I would imaagine that some of the wait staff might try to accomodate but the arrival of the cocktail might be well after tea has left the Queens Room. First the waiter would have to recweive permission from his supervisor to leave the room and ry to find the nearest bar that is open at 3 pm, then wait for the surprise request and find their way back to the Queen's room. Best skip it.

Sailed 30 days on the Zaadam and asked for a sharing table and was assigned to one for each segment but on one leg only a fine couple from Canada showed up on the other leg no one showed for the saaring table even though the Maitr'd assured me that I would have a full table of lively people. So I got a single for the second 15 days and enjoyed my own company. Terrific service I might add. My observation is that people are more and more traveling as couples that are loath to share with strangers or in gangs of 6 - 10 and do not care to incluse an outsider. Also many of the assigned large tables are reserved by groups tat use them only on Dressy night or for a special occasion the rest of theime they are off at the income generating outlets or the cafeteria. This leaves the dining rooms lacking in ambiance and vitality and is hard on the staff as they never really know who is coming and when. Yes to answer your other question, thee is one solo single meet and greet on sail away at 6:30 pm. After that you are your own. Ladies will have a better time of it than gentlemen.

Excellent idea, Holland can take 20% of the tables out of the lidos and dedicate them to games and other socializing. That will reduce the need to use the lido tables.

Only used it once but on time all items included in order appeared juice cold coffee hot - Lox cream cheese and bagel - Bagel stale/A whisper of cream cheese/ lox ok.

Given that the ship must file their paper work two hours early how does a 1:30 check in work for a 3 pm sail. When do they begin check in for the Zaandam in Ft Lauderdale? I will simply arrive at that time and see what happens. Do not have phone capability to use the App.

Inas much as this thread has resulted in much attention and many of us will not be on the Eurodam with you, one wonders if a preview photo for the rest of us might be in order?

Following along on a number of food items, I find it interesting that HAL seems to take popular items from the MDR menus and provide them in the Lido instead. Almost like they are encouraging more use of the buffet and less use of the MDR.

Wow. I thought the cruise lines had stopped polishing shoes when they did away with the night Hall Boys. Where and who does the polishing?

Love cake and would hope that in addition to the lido which they really seem to be pushing, HAL might put up a roving desseert cart with the cakes for the Main Dining room at dinner time.