What can we expect for buffet food and when?

[Lady Jag]

We're first time HAL cruisers and have no idea what to expect as far as food on our upcoming Zuiderdam cruise. What is HAL's typical buffet like? What hours does it normally run? Can we get a quick bite in between meals? What is HAL's room service menu like? Is it available 24/7?

Thanks for the help!

 

[sail7seas]

Room service available 24/7. I know you will be in an "S", LadyJag, and you can have full hot breakfast for room service. (eggs, french toast, omeletes, bacon etc)

Embarkation Buffet opens about 1:30 which is when embarkation usually begins. They always have a nice display including hot soup, various salads, minute steaks, various potato offerings, often spaghetti bolognese, carved turkey, veal roast or something like it carved to order. The hamburger/hot dog bar at Lido as well as the Taco Bar in the same location.

The ZU has a cafe called ??Windsurf Cafe?? (I think--without going to get my deck plan I'm not sure) and supposedly it will have light fare and desserts, coffee etc something like 20 hours a day. I think it will only close several hours in the middle of the night.

 

[Lady Jag]

Okay, great! I was just hoping they'd have a massive breakfast buffet more than anything. It's the other half's favorite meal of the day and if there's a good breakfast buffet, he's a happy camper!

Thanks once again for your help!

 

[AnneS]

I would EXPLORE thoroughly before starting thru the line- Because HAL has several "stations" within the Lido area! at one end is usually a "Continental" breakfast and in the same area for lunch is the "salad bar" -all for light eaters. At the OPPOSITE end is the beginning of BOTH major Lido buffet lines -which serve the SAME thing! BUT at the middle/end of THAT is where the two side differ. One side has a sandwich bar- the other EITHER a pasta or satay bar -and one side has ice cream bar -the opposite side the dessert area [ even if you DON'T have dessert- just go LOOK at the BEAUTY of what is available!!!! For breakfast where the Pasta/Satay bar is -you can order Omelets specially made and they are WONDERFUL! !!!!! On our recent Volendam cruise I wanted to KIDNAP the pastry Chef- the Danish was the BEST I've EVER EVER had!
Anneusa:CO

 

['Vegas Jim]

On the Zuiderdam, it will be slightly different. There will be a variety of food stations, versus one long buffet line. This is being done so you can go to the station you're interested in and not have to stand in as long a line to get what you want.

We've found HAL's Lido to have a good selection and quantity of food. Breakfast features most anything you'd want. I don't think you'll be lacking in this area.

 

[sail7seas]

IMO...HAL has the VERY best breakfast and lunch buffets. Afterall, they introduced the whole Lido concept many years ago.

Lady....I think DH will be VERY happy at the breakfast buffet. Made to order eggs any way you want them; omelettes made to order; sausage; ham; bacon; hash browns; bagels/cream cheese/smoked salmon; toast; english muffins; danish; muffins; fresh fruit; fresh squeezed orange juice; every cereal known to man; oatmeal; french toast; pancakes etc etc

 

[AnneS]

Funny story on our recent Volendam cruise. Some other cruisers were chatting at breakfast - and we overheard them complaining "Yes, its a GOOD buffet for breakfast -but its always the same!!" I always wondered what this woman HAD on her first day of her cruise; and I thought 'surely; there is NO WAY she could have eaten or even TASTED everything!" .....and My second thought was "I wonder what she serves at HOME!" Anneusa:CO

 

[Lindy]

fresh squeezed oj on all the Hal ships, do they still make the french toast on the grill at the lido, fresh not out of a serving pan.

 

[cruzman]

Lady Jag, on our recent cruise on the Zaandam, one could order for delivery to one's cabin, anything that was currently being served in the main dining room. One evening my sister in law had lobster tails delivered by room service to her cabin.

 

[Lady Jag]

Cruzman - Now that's service!! :thumb

Sounds great to me!

 

[SueSeaQ]

Lady Jag,
I was on the 12/14 sailing. Let me give you the meal times for a typical day:
6:30 - 10:00 Continental breakfast
7:00 - 9:30 Buffet breakfast
8:00 - 9:30 Dining room breakfast
11:30 - 2:00 Buffet lunch
12:00 - 1:00 Dining room lunch
11:30 - 2:30 Taco bar (Terrace Grill)
11:30 - 5:00 Hamburgers, hot dogs (Terrace Grill)
6:00 Main Seating dinner
8:15 Late Seating dinner
6:30 - 8:00 Casual dinner buffet
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. Ice Cream Parlor
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. Pizza & Pasta
24 hr. room service

 

[Lady Jag]

Thanks SO much, Sue! I've printed out your post and will save it for future reference. Thanks again! :thumb

 

[SueSeaQ]

You're very welcome! Unfortunately I can't really recall the room service menu - I'm thinking mostly sandwiches (ham, roast beef, tuna, etc.), salad, soup. This would have been late night. I know we got some nice cheese plates to go with our red wine in the afternoon. As for the lunch buffet, it was just fantastic! The seperate stations made it easy to get want you wanted without the huge lines. There was one for salads, deli sandwiches, Asian, pizza & pasta, dessert and of course, hot entrees. Plus the Terrace Grill outside. It was really the best!
Enjoy your cruise!

Sue