Thread: Brunches

I am confuse over the brunches, on my last Hal cruise they were doing the brunches on different days for different levels. 25 days and less were on the first day and my level 50 days were a few days later and the other levels on a different day. is there going to be a brunch on the first day for everyone and anorther brunch later on for the different levels.

According to HAL's new "Perks" -- there will be an Embarkation Brunch on the day you get on the ship. Times have not been posted -- but it has to be around 11:30 or Noon and as to how long it will last -- don't know that yet.

We have seen the HM do the Mariner's brunch so many different days. On some ships, the port side went one day and the starboard side went another day. Then we also went by dinner times -- early fixed with some AYWD dinners one day and Main fixed with other AYWD on another day. And then on another ship we were broken down into categories -- anyone under 100 days went to one brunch and everyone else went another day.

The worst was in 2008 on the Westerdam when they had the suite lunch at the same time as the Mariner brunch.

I just hope some people come back with reports before we leave so that we all will know what is going on.

We will have 30 days -- all from our first HAL cruise -- when we next sail. So we've never been to one of these brunches.

• Why would we want to attend one? What makes them special? Food or people?
• How would you learn about an embarkation brunch before getting your cabin where I assume the invitation would be?

You need to read this thread -- HAL has started a new Mariner's Program (you are now a 1 star Mariner):

(HAL's NEW Mariner Program) HAL's NEW Mariner Program

Originally Posted by Cruise Novice

We will have 30 days -- all from our first HAL cruise -- when we next sail. So we've never been to one of these brunches.

• Why would we want to attend one? What makes them special? Food or people? Many people like to attend them -- just to see who gets what medallion -- don't know for certain if this will continue. We have gotten tired of the same menu -- I will post that later.
• How would you learn about an embarkation brunch before getting your cabin where I assume the invitation would be? This is something new -- after one cruise on HAL -- all people qualify for this brunch. None of us have any details about what is offered or the times. There is no invitation. You just show up at the main dining room -- show your ID card which will have your 1 star on it.

Lots of reading for you.

To date the Mariner's brunch has consisted of:

Choice of Appetizer:
Seafood cocktail
or
Caesar salad


Choice of entree:
Poached Salmon
Sirloin steak
Quiche


Dessert -- varies by ship.

Don't know if this menu will change or not.

Also in the past they offered champagne, white wine, red wine, Bloody Mary's.

Now it just says -- Mariner's champagne brunch.

We don't like HAL's cheap champagne -- and now it sounds like that is all that will be offered.

Doubt if we will attend any more brunches.

I find that they have too early the brunches, last time they had it a noon
on the Maasdam . we usually have breakfast around 9:30 am. we thoughtr it would of been better if it was later in the afternoon around 3:00pm. but thats just our opinion.

We are early birds -- eat by 7 or 7:30.

All of our brunches have been at 11:30.

3 would never work for us as we have dinner at 5:45.

I've been on a dozen Hal cruises and have been to only one brunch. That was on a gloomy, rainy day where there was nothing else going on at the time. There are normally too many other things that I enjoy doing more.

Thanks yet again for a most complete answer. Since we're not 'real' cruisers in the way most of the posters appear to be, there's not a chance we'd know anyone receiving any medallions. HAL sure has loyal fans. Fickle we arewith cruise lines and still dabbling in long land travels.

But it would be nice to escape the chaos of boardiing for a 'quiet' brunch. However our next HAL cruise is a grand family celebration to Alaska and we'd be the only ones able to attend.