Dessert Extravaganza - Lido in the evening or Dining room in the afternoon?

[European_CruiseGirl]

Just wondering...

 

On our first HAL cruise with DH on the Zuiderdam (March -05) the Dessert Extravaganza was held at the main dining room (upper level) during one afternoon.

 

On our second HAL cruise on the Veendam (March -06) the Dessert Extravaganza was held at the Lido restaurant and the timing was late at night.

 

Now which one of these is the usual thing to expect on HAL?

 

We really enjoyed the first one that was held in the main dining room - more space, nicer ambiance etc. and the timing (afternoon) was better for us. The second one held in the Lido restaurant seemed overcrowded and somehow the Lido just didn't provide the right setting for the occasion in our opinion.

 

Now I know that some of you might think that I'm just mixing up the Royal Dutch High Tea and Dessert Extravaganza but no - we did have both the High Tea and the Dessert Extravaganza in the main dining room on the Zuiderdam and the timing was afternoon (of course on different days... :rolleyes: ).

[Grumpy1]

This will vary and may be related to the number of sea days. We've seen the dessert extravaganza in the afternoon when there are lots of sea days and late at night on port intensive cruises. It's likely a matter of when it can be worked into the schedule.

[cruisequeen10]

On our Zuiderdam Alaska July 8-15, the desert extravaganza was held on the lido deck around the pool at 10:30 p.m. Too late for my tastes, but stayed up for it. It was the best. I videotaped it and I wish that my camera had smellavision. The smell of the chocolate was very overpowering. From the chocolate waterfall, fruit dipped in chocolate to the crepes suzettes. Oh my. I could go for that everyday.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Basically the Desert Extravaganza can be either but strangely our very first HAL cruise in April 2003 on the Zuirderdam it was held in the afternoon in the lower level of the Vista Dining Room. The next 7 HAL cruises have all been at night at the Lido Pool area or in the Lido. I wish more would do the afternoon one, it was just more elegant and far more people seemed to attend. Unfortunately we were not on the Veendam long enough a few weeks ago to see when they would have held theirs.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On all of our cruises on HAL, only once was the dessert extravaganza held in the day time (and it wasn't on the Zuiderdam in 2005) -- and that was several years ago. They have all been held late at night.

[kryos]

On our first HAL cruise with DH on the Zuiderdam (March -05) the Dessert Extravaganza was held at the main dining room (upper level) during one afternoon.

 

On our second HAL cruise on the Veendam (March -06) the Dessert Extravaganza was held at the Lido restaurant and the timing was late at night.

 

Now which one of these is the usual thing to expect on HAL?

And on my cruise this past January, we had ours on the Lido Deck (outdoors) by the main pool. It took place later in the evening.

 

Yet, on the Zuiderdam in 2004, it was held in the afternoon in the main dining room.

 

I think it all depends on the head chef and where he wants to hold it. Whether it is in the daytime or evening I would imagine depends upon the ship's individual itinerary for that cruise and where the event can be best slotted in.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita