cruisen cracker Posted April 16, 2019 #1 Share Posted April 16, 2019 The transatlantic passage has been mostly smooth so far. The ship, music and staff have been great. I am very glad I booked this cruise. Two minor complaints that I wish HAL would address. The coffee tastes like warm dishwater with a little flavor (ok, so I've really never drank dishwater but it's what I think it would taste like). Army coffee was much better and it was nothing to brag about. I wish HAL had taken the money spent on the Ophra (Went on one and it was a joke) themed cruises and spent it on coffee instead. Other cruise lines have adopted name brand coffee and it has paid off. And don't try to find a real croissant for breakfast, they are at only one station and they are just like the little ones Sam's sells in a carton of two or three dozen for little or nothing, a week old and not flaky at all. Does HAL bake any bread onboard now? Celebrity is by far better in both of these areas, minor as they are but for some of us a good cup of coffee really starts our day right. End of rant! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZ2CY Posted April 16, 2019 #2 Share Posted April 16, 2019 cruisen cracker: Have you tried the Grand Dutch Cafe for coffee? It's not free but we found it quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted April 16, 2019 #3 Share Posted April 16, 2019 We noticed a significant slide in the quality of the croissants on the Rotterdam in February. They were more yeasty than flaky. The pastries were one of the things that made HA stand out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted April 16, 2019 #4 Share Posted April 16, 2019 On the K this winter, there was a lovely bread display near the cooking area in Club Orange. Those croissants were large and looked good. The pastry tray contained the little ones. Neptune Lounge had the "real" ones. OP, go to the bread station (Rise?) at the Lido and try the soft pretzel. That is baked right there, as are some other items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doone Posted April 16, 2019 #5 Share Posted April 16, 2019 2 hours ago, EZ2CY said: cruisen cracker: Have you tried the Grand Dutch Cafe for coffee? It's not free but we found it quite good. Loved the coffee in the Grand Dutch Cafe for sure.............yes you have to pay for it, but I enjoyed it enough to not mind paying........... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 16, 2019 #6 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Thank you for checking in. Sorry the coffee and pastries aren't to your liking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 16, 2019 #7 Share Posted April 16, 2019 I have never liked HAL’s coffee. It was better this time but still not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted April 16, 2019 #8 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Where are you getting your coffee? Ask for an Americano (not the one they pour from the pot) and you will get a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted April 17, 2019 #9 Share Posted April 17, 2019 I usually drink decaf and I find the coffee very good. I get it in the Lido. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LF23 Posted April 18, 2019 #10 Share Posted April 18, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 6:49 PM, *Miss G* said: Where are you getting your coffee? Ask for an Americano (not the one they pour from the pot) and you will get a good one. Miss G, which venue(s) do you ask for the Americano? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat04 Posted April 18, 2019 #11 Share Posted April 18, 2019 I generally find HAL coffee to be little better than warm brown water but was determined to try again last Feb. So this time I wrote "STRONG" next to coffee on the breakfast card and the coffee was excellent, good flavor and strong. We got a large pot delivered abt 7am every morning and enjoyed it on the balcony. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted April 19, 2019 #12 Share Posted April 19, 2019 3 hours ago, LF23 said: Miss G, which venue(s) do you ask for the Americano? Thanks. Usually I get it in the Explorations Cafe. Sometimes with an extra shot of espresso. When I was in Club Orange I asked one of the servers how to get a good cup of coffee instead of what they pour from the pot. She told me to ask for an Americano and from then on I had great coffee. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted April 19, 2019 #13 Share Posted April 19, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 6:02 AM, cruisen cracker said: ........... Does HAL bake any bread onboard now? ....... During the Konigsdam kitchen tour last December, we were told that every pastry, bread, cake, roll, etc. was baked in one of several bakeries on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted April 19, 2019 #14 Share Posted April 19, 2019 9 hours ago, Crew News said: During the Konigsdam kitchen tour last December, we were told that every pastry, bread, cake, roll, etc. was baked in one of several bakeries on the ship. Given the amount of air in baked goods, ingredients like flour and sugar take up less space in storage than finished products. And I haven't noticed a decline in freshness over the course of a week or longer cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 19, 2019 #15 Share Posted April 19, 2019 I agree -- we have always found all the pastries to be excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LF23 Posted April 19, 2019 #16 Share Posted April 19, 2019 13 hours ago, *Miss G* said: Usually I get it in the Explorations Cafe. Sometimes with an extra shot of espresso. When I was in Club Orange I asked one of the servers how to get a good cup of coffee instead of what they pour from the pot. She told me to ask for an Americano and from then on I had great coffee. Wonderful, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennysUncle Posted April 19, 2019 #17 Share Posted April 19, 2019 The HAL coffee is "name brand" - but from the Netherlands. Coffee varies a lot from brand to brand. When it's too weak, try adding a packet of Swiss Miss cocoa - different, but tasty. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted April 20, 2019 #18 Share Posted April 20, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 5:02 AM, cruisen cracker said: ............................ And don't try to find a real croissant for breakfast, they are at only one station and they are just like the little ones Sam's sells in a carton of two or three dozen for little or nothing, a week old and not flaky at all. Does HAL bake any bread onboard now? ......................... Each HAL ship has a chief baker and, depending on size of the ship, two to three asst. bakers and they are busy starting very early in the morning. Best place to walk by during that time to take in a whiff or two-nine, There are separate pasty chefs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted April 20, 2019 #19 Share Posted April 20, 2019 8 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said: Each HAL ship has a chief baker and, depending on size of the ship, two to three asst. bakers and they are busy starting very early in the morning. Best place to walk by during that time to take in a whiff or two-nine, There are separate pasty chefs I can verify that. Being married to a cooking show obsessed husband we take every class, every tour, every talk. Yes they bake all of the breads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judyrem Posted April 20, 2019 #20 Share Posted April 20, 2019 I really like excellent coffe. On 4/18/2019 at 6:49 PM, fatcat04 said: I generally find HAL coffee to be little better than warm brown water but was determined to try again last Feb. So this time I wrote "STRONG" next to coffee on the breakfast card and the coffee was excellent, good flavor and strong. We got a large pot delivered abt 7am every morning and enjoyed it on the balcony. Thanks for the tip! I really don't like weak coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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