Do you still eat on Debarkation Day?

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, atexsix said:

Never again.

 

We had room service disembarkation morning when we were in a Neptune and I wish I still had the picture, we asked for extra bacon, and they gave us like a pound of it, I'm not kidding, there must have been 20 pieces on the plate, we didn't know if it was a galley mishap, a joke, or what. 

 

Then while dressing after "breakfast" the crew began cleaning the verandah's and here they were walking around out there while I was coming out of the shower stark naked.   

 

We've learned our lesson and disembark asap, we don't linger.  

I really like the way Celebrity handles disembarkation for suites guests. We go to the Retreat Suites Lounge where they have a nice continental breakfast, drinks and coffee or espresso. When your group is called to depart they escort the guests through a private door right to the head of the line of departing passengers. On our last cruise it took less than 5 minutes to get off the ship and go through customs. You have to be out of your cabins by 8:30am.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 hours ago, atexsix said:

Never again.

 

We had room service disembarkation morning when we were in a Neptune and I wish I still had the picture, we asked for extra bacon, and they gave us like a pound of it, I'm not kidding, there must have been 20 pieces on the plate, we didn't know if it was a galley mishap, a joke, or what. 

 

Then while dressing after "breakfast" the crew began cleaning the verandah's and here they were walking around out there while I was coming out of the shower stark naked.   

 

We've learned our lesson and disembark asap, we don't linger.  

20 pieces of bacon?  That sounds like winning the lottery 😛😉.  You are making me laugh about washing down the balconies.  I got a note on the ship to keep my drapes closed while they wash the balconies.  I thought what an odd request.  Maybe they see more than they want to 🤪.

[RuthC]

5 hours ago, atexsix said:

we asked for extra bacon, and they gave us like a pound of it, I'm not kidding, there must have been 20 pieces on the plate, we didn't know if it was a galley mishap, a joke, or what. 

I'm not seeing the problem. 

[atexsix]

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

20 pieces of bacon?  That sounds like winning the lottery 😛😉.  You are making me laugh about washing down the balconies.  I got a note on the ship to keep my drapes closed while they wash the balconies.  I thought what an odd request.  Maybe they see more than they want to 🤪.

I didn't think they'd start the cleaning that early, it wasn't even 8:00, I couldn't have been the only one "putting on a show".

 

39 minutes ago, RuthC said:

I'm not seeing the problem. 

Well, I suppose, but this plate of bacon was gross, some of the pieces were undercooked, it was all a big lumpy pile (not presented), swimming in grease and that was it, no garnish or nothing.  This was the Zaandam btw, and everything else was perfection, it was back in the day before cruise lines began cutting left and right, so this breakfast was an odd thing entirely that we mostly laughed about. 

[rkacruiser]

29 minutes ago, atexsix said:

I couldn't have been the only one "putting on a show".

 

What might the crew have seen that they had not seen before?  😀

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’d like to think they’d bring back the many things that are disappearing at an alarming rate but I don’t think they will.

 

I am more optimistic.  When--and if--the cruising industry returns to the "normality" that existed during the First Quarter of 2020 and before, the onboard service experience competition among the brands will re-start.  It's probably going to take time, but, consider the small differences that has made HAL distinct from other cruise lines.  Full Room Service Breakfast on the morning of disembarkation was one of them.  

 

My expectation is that such differences of the cruise product offered will  be an important marketing/sales factor for Holland America Line cruises.  

[atexsix]

43 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

What might the crew have seen that they had not seen before?  😀

Nothing.  LoL.  And they were guys.  

[leerathje]

Lido EVERY disembarkation morning.

 

L.

[kevingastreich]

On 4/15/2022 at 5:25 PM, mr. godfredo said:

On our last HAL cruise in March there was no option for room service on the debarkation day. 

Wow, too bad on that one.  We used it every time in the past.

[Hobbit]

On 4/16/2022 at 4:33 AM, bobpell said:

Just off Rotterdam April 10

No in room breakfast on debarkation day in signature suite. No notification either??!!

Lido opened at 6am

Bob

Thanks for posting this info. We are in a signature suite and we’re wondering if we could room service on debarkation day. ☹️

[syesmar]

On the Pinnacle class ships, is the Grand Dutch Cafe open on the morning of debarkation?

Edited April 27, 2023 by syesmar

[Banditswife]

On 4/17/2022 at 5:41 PM, atexsix said:

Nothing.  LoL.  And they were guys.  

Your story reminded me of my mishap on the NS in April.  NS has glass shower doors that swing in... I slipped slightly in the shower, hitting the door, making it go out past the frame.  It would not swing back in for anything, nor swing out far enough for me to get out.  Luckily hubby was in the cabin to call for maintenance & hand me a bath robe over the top of the shower door.  As it turned out, our room steward had to remove the trim around the shower door to allow it to swing back in.  It was fun seeing him every day...

As far as room service breakfast on disembark day- none available on NS in April.

[Hlitner]

On 4/18/2022 at 1:05 AM, terrydtx said:

I really like the way Celebrity handles disembarkation for suites guests. We go to the Retreat Suites Lounge where they have a nice continental breakfast, drinks and coffee or espresso. When your group is called to depart they escort the guests through a private door right to the head of the line of departing passengers. On our last cruise it took less than 5 minutes to get off the ship and go through customs. You have to be out of your cabins by 8:30am.

It is similar in MSCs Yacht Club.  After a normal breakfast (room service, YC restaurant or YC pool deck buffet, folks just jhang out in the expansive YC Lounge.  When it is time for you to get off, one of the butlers escorts you down an elevator and to the gangway.

 

Hank

[Ipeeinthepools]

I hate it when I get sucked into old threads.  

[Mary229]

I don’t sail in suites  and Perhaps it is faulty memory but I never recall debarkation day room service breakfast. 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Mary229

[terrydtx]

7 hours ago, Hobbit said:

Thanks for posting this info. We are in a signature suite and we’re wondering if we could room service on debarkation day. ☹️

We usually sail in a Signature Suite with HAL and room service for all class of cabins is not available on the morning of debarkation. I am sure you know a Signature "Suite" is only a bigger cabin with no amenities. We also sail in true suites on Celebrity and they have the same policy.

[albingirl]

On 4/16/2022 at 9:25 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

Every industry was hurt by the pandemic.  Not every industry is cutting out things in the name of the pandemic.  Cruising has been back for about 10 months.  Maybe they should cut out all the free cruises they are handing out like candy if they are hurting so bad.  Cruise lines made money hand over fist for years and years.  I’ll be shocked if any of the cuts come back.  By the way it wasn’t two years so don’t exaggerate.  It was March 2020 to July 2021.  That is one year and 4 months.  Not anywhere near 2 years.

Agree with much of this except that, while every industry didn't cut back in the name of the pandemic, many of them raised prices significantly. And the pandemic seemed to go on forever. 

[BetsyS.]

Last year on August 27 my stepfather and I were on the Niew Statendam. It was our last day. We were the first to arrive in the Lido at 6 am. It was still dark. We had window seats and watched the sun rise over Boston Harbor. Very scenic. We had a nice leisurely breakfast. 

[tuolumne couple]

On 4/15/2022 at 4:24 PM, CruiserBruce said:

You have to be off no later than 9:30, so no lunch option.

Yup, correct, unless you are on a back to back. In that case you can expect lunch in the MDR at 12pm, after your in-transit walk. The MDR was open 6:30 - 8:30am, for breakfast and Lido 6-9am on our recent March and April cruises. Explorations cafe was also good to go at 6:30am. I think turn around days must be a challenge as they will sometimes even cut off in-room dining the last day, depending upon the cruise.

[Iamthesea]

On 4/17/2022 at 5:27 PM, atexsix said:

I didn't think they'd start the cleaning that early, it wasn't even 8:00, I couldn't have been the only one "putting on a show".

 

 

This story reminds me of the time we were on a River Cruise.  I opened up the curtains one evening after dark to step out onto our balcony.  There, practically right in front of my nose, was an older couple standing in the window of their stateroom.  The older gentleman was helping his wife take off her shirt. Saw more than I wanted to in those 5 shocking seconds!!!   If you are familiar with River cruise ships, they berth right next to each other.  I didn't realize that since it was our first cruise of that type.  Apparently, the cute little couple was also clueless. 

 

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I don’t sail in suites  and Perhaps it is faulty memory but I never recall debarkation day room service breakfast. 

 

We don't either.  On other cruiselines, there is no last morning room service.  I don't even remember it being offered in a suite.

[Ipeeinthepools]

5 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I don’t sail in suites  and Perhaps it is faulty memory but I never recall debarkation day room service breakfast. 

 

As far as my DW is concerned, debarkation day is no different than any other day.  She has her personal butler bring her breakfast.

[Nodakboiler]

I'm much happier having the cabins available as soon as boarding is allowed which probably isn't possible if room service is available on disembarkation day!

[mikebsxm]

My last cruise was pre-Covid in mid-2019 on the Eurodam.  On that cruise, and dozens more prior, all on various HAL ships, mostly in Veranda cabins, not suites, I always got room service breakfast on debark day.  We were allowed to stay in our cabins and wait for our luggage tag color to be called to disembark.   Maybe now, with a smaller staff, they want people out of their cabins, so they can start cleaning earlier ??  I'm on the Oosterdam in June, and I will miss that last breakfast on my balcony. 

[JeffElizabeth]

On 4/16/2022 at 5:58 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’d like to think they’d bring back the many things that are disappearing at an alarming rate but I don’t think they will.  Death by a thousand cuts.

We are booked on Voyage of the Vikings this July and August,  this might just be our last cruise with HA. Don't want to cruise on a discount line. Will we get paper napkins in the MDR next? 

[Tampa Girl]

On 4/16/2022 at 9:25 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

Every industry was hurt by the pandemic.  Not every industry is cutting out things in the name of the pandemic.  Cruising has been back for about 10 months.  Maybe they should cut out all the free cruises they are handing out like candy if they are hurting so bad.  Cruise lines made money hand over fist for years and years.  I’ll be shocked if any of the cuts come back.  By the way it wasn’t two years so don’t exaggerate.  It was March 2020 to July 2021.  That is one year and 4 months.  Not anywhere near 2 years.

Re-employing, training and re-training, obtaining the necessary visas in order to staff the ship as in pre-pandemic takes considerably longer than one year and four months.  Resuming cruising is considerably different from restocking a restaurant or re-aligning civilian employees.