Embarkation Lunch

[Gramagee]

I am a "Mariner" and I believe I may attend this lunch, however this is a first HAL cruise for my traveling companion. Will she be able to attend ?

Thanks ahead of time for your reponses.:)

[sail7seas]

Yes. It is not likely anyone would object to your travel companion lunching with you.

 

[kazu]

just make sure you get there in time. We were one minute late and 'too bad so sad'

 

have a great cruise :D

[fqtvguy]

On our last cruise, the queue for the Mariner's Lunch was sooo long that we gave up and ended up in the Lido. The queue stretched back to the midship elevators on the Oosterdam!

[rafinmd]

As I understand it, at least in theory, all Mariners are invited to the lunch but my vibes from this forum is that it is often restricted to 3 or 4-star Mariners. Is this correct. I'm wondering, as a lowly 1-star, if I have a ghost of a chance on the Prinsendam. My sense is that with the ships reputation and repeat popularity, that if all the Mariners took advantage of the Lunch the Lido would be close to a private dining room. Am I wrong?

 

Roy

[KirkNC]

We have never had to wait in lines that were all that long but we are also early birds. To the OP's question, it is not like you are checked getting in. In fact on our first HAL cruise we stumbled into the lunch thinking it was just a regular lunch and they sat us with no problem.

 

Kirk

[babygirl722]

We got to the Mariners lunch early when on the Veendam this summer. There were no lines and no one checked.

[arzz]

On the Amsterdam in December the embarkation lunch was limited to three and four star mariners. We were surprised. No lines, lunch was much more relaxing than the first day lido thing and by the time we were done, cabins were ready.

[Boatdrill]

As I understand it, at least in theory, all Mariners are invited to the lunch but my vibes from this forum is that it is often restricted to 3 or 4-star Mariners. /quote]

 

Depends on which ship.

For the Oosterdam, all Mariners (1 star and above) are invited.

On other ships, such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam, it's for 3 and 4 star.

 

But this is can change; you'll find out at the pier during check-in what the ship's policy is for that sailing.

 

There's still the mid-cruise luncheon if you don't make the Mariner embarkation lunch.:)

[erewhon]

At Canada Place, September 15th, when we checked in to board the Volendam we were handed an Invitation for lunch in the Rotterdam Dining Room.

When we arrived at the Dining Room we had to hand the Invitation to the Dining Room Manager who entered information into the computer,before showing us to a table.

[Berk987]

12/5/10 - our third annual Fall/Winter family cruise. Still 1 star. This was our first embarkation lunch after getting info on the CC board. It is supposed to be from noon - 1:30. Our hotel shuttle took forever to leave, one hr. We didn't get into the MDR until almost 1:30. I was surprised they let us in. The lower dining area was about 3/4 full. I'm sure at that time the early arrivals had eaten and gone. My sister and her family was there an hour before us and they just started their main course when we got our appetizers. They said service was really really slow. We didn't have to eat in the Lido so I didn't care about waiting and relaxing. Lunch was good, but can't remember what I actually ordered. It was American fare. The waiter actually mixed up our order and didn't bring what we wanted but we are not fussy and ate it anyway. Didn't want to wait longer to get the order put in again. When we walked to the MDR, no one asked if we were mariners or not. They just seated us in 2 seconds. 2 adults and 2 kids (age 6 and 4). We even had a great window seat. From what I've read so far, it is hit and miss on whether they check. Go and try it anyway. It is much nicer way to start off your vacation than in the Lido. Lido is fine if you like the stress of looking for a table, getting your food, drinks etc. MDR is so much nicer and slow paced.

Good luck and enjoy.

[ironin]

arzz: I'm confused - are you talking about the December cruise we both were on? I'm not a 3- or 4-star Mariner and it was my friend's first HAL cruise. IIRC, we were escorted to a table without any questions about our status or even our stateroom #.

[Koshlong]

I've just "turned 3 star", but I've gone to the embarkation lunch lots of times and it's never seemed very crowded. I think they operate it on the principle that only Mariners know about the dining room lunch, and anyone who knows enough to show up is admitted.

[CowPrincess]

On my Ryndam cruise in Sept I was given an invitation and told that it was for my travelling companion as well (her first cruise and not staying in the same cabin). We did have to show it at the MDR. The MDR (lower level, I think) was about 1/3 occupied, IIRC.

[Richie2pies]

The mariner lunch is no better than eating in the main dining room on any other line upon embarkation. I prefer to skip it and eat at the Lido. The Lido has a nice variety and to me, it's not worth the hassle of going to the Rembrandt dining room; it's usually too crowded anyway and usually a line to get seated. It also closes at 1:30 if you board later.

[arzz]

Ironin -- yes I am talking about the Dec 2 Sea of Cortez cruise. DH and I were given an invite, friends we were with did not get one as they were only one star cruisers and they were told the embarkation lunch was only for three and four star cruisers.

 

I guess they should have come with us to the dining room anyway! Live and learn!

[rafinmd]

Thanks, all. I guess I'll just see what happens when I board. It's a little annoying though that HAL clearly lists this as a benefit for all mariners on it's web site.

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Ryndam -- October -- no invitation -- we just showed up -- no one checked anything -- no lines -- some people left because they did not like the fact that there were no choices -- just the Indonesian lunch.

Nieuw Amsterdam -- Nov/Dec -- again no invitation -- we just showed up. No lines -- no checking of anything -- service was slow. Regular menu to choose from.

[woodworker&knitter]

August 2010, sailing out of Venice on the nieuw Amsterdam, by invitation only. No line ups, it was a limited menu to choose from.

[woody14h]

Ryndam -- October -- no invitation -- we just showed up -- no one checked anything -- no lines -- some people left because they did not like the fact that there were no choices -- just the Indonesian lunch.

Nieuw Amsterdam -- Nov/Dec -- again no invitation -- we just showed up. No lines -- no checking of anything -- service was slow. Regular menu to choose from.

 

To us, this specialty Indonesian lunch was a highlight. On occasion, we have been told 1.) no lunch today, 2.) mariner lunch later in week 3.) need invitation etc. even so we showed our 3* cards.

 

A clear case of right hand not knowing what the left is doing.

 

We were even seated once at a table in an area having some sort of charity event and asked to leave a $5 tip per person. DUH!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

To us, this specialty Indonesian lunch was a highlight. On occasion, we have been told 1.) no lunch today could be the dining room was closed on embarkation day due to a large group like TA's., 2.) mariner lunch later in week The Mariner's lunch is on Embarkation Day and the Mariner's BRUNCH is later in the cruise -- think the person who told you that was confused. 3.) need invitation etc. even so we showed our 3* cards. never got an invitation -- we are 4 star -- no one ever asked to see our cards.

 

A clear case of right hand not knowing what the left is doing.

 

We were even seated once at a table in an area having some sort of charity event and asked to leave a $5 tip per person. DUH!!

 

WOW - I would have asked to see the dining room manager.

[sevenseasnomad]

Zuiderdam December 13th sailing, we arrived at the pier early, were among the 1st 20 or so to board. We headed straight for the Vista, were stopped by one of the stewards, who said that lunch was being served in the Lido. We replied that we wanted to eat in the Vista, he smiled, apologized, and escorted us to our destination. (We were going in the correct direction anyway, but we thought it was a nice touch.) We arrived before they opened the MDR's doors, so we waited. Once someone noticed us standing there, they opened the doors and asked for our stateroom number, noted it in the computer, then seated us at precisely the table we requested.

 

We loved the lunch, being served instead of running around the Lido trying to collect our food and grab a table. Being pampered set the tone for this cruise. We ate every lunch but one (we were off the ship that day) in the MDR, which we've never done before. After our next cruise we'll have enough days to be 3 star; however, I didn't realize that some ships restrict access to this lunch. Thanks for the heads-up, everyone.

[slurpster03]

According to the HAL website,

 

The embarkation lunch is for all 1-star and above Mariners. I'd contest (and will probably on our next cruise), if they don't let us in. It's right there, brochure, website, everything!

 

Also, I read that everyone in the cabin gets the Mariners benefits of the highest-star member in the stateroom.

[Aussiemick]

On the Amsterdam in December the embarkation lunch was limited to three and four star mariners. We were surprised. No lines, lunch was much more relaxing than the first day lido thing and by the time we were done, cabins were ready.

 

We were on the same cruise. Unfortunately, not knowing the layout of the ship, we went to the wrong entrance of the dining room. No signs, no people, so we went up to the lido. No big deal, but typical of the benefits of being a mariner.

[kazu]

Ryndam -- October -- no invitation -- we just showed up -- no one checked anything -- no lines -- some people left because they did not like the fact that there were no choices -- just the Indonesian lunch.

 

Nieuw Amsterdam -- Nov/Dec -- again no invitation -- we just showed up. No lines -- no checking of anything -- service was slow. Regular menu to choose from.

 

We have NEVER received an invitation to the lunch. We are three star mariners (will be 4 stars after the next one) and the last three cruises have been in Deluxe Verandah Suites and the Penthouse (got a great upsell).

 

Go figure.