Dinner party in the suite?

[sage]

I have heard that you may have dinner served in your suite, but if you would like to have a dinner party in your suite, will they provide the staff to say serve drinks as well as dinner? This is our first PH sailing, and we would like to celebrate.

 

[MARKandROGER]

Good question Sage,
I was wondering the same thing.

If they don't supply staff to do the serving as you have asked,
I wonder if we can "hire" their services to be a "private" server?

Anyone know

Mark

 

[SacSailor]

The Hotel Manager will be happy to arrange this for you. That's why the PH has a seperate panrty. But, please don't forget to tip your servers ans assistants.

 

[sage]

SacSailor,

Thank you for the reply. I know that the table will seat eight, but do they provide the utensils for that many, and if you need more glasses, say for a cocktail party, will those also be provided? I can hardly wait, and I can tell now that I may have to plan more than one little get together. Oh, I just thought of the best part; this time I won't have to do the washing up after the party.

 

[MARKandROGER]

SacSailor

You mentioned not to forget to tip the servers and assistants if doing a dinner party in the Penthouse Suite.

Does this infer that HAL will provide more than 1 (one) person to serve etc.. for a dinner party in the Penthouse Suite? Or for a cocktail party?

Would that server(s) be there exclusively for that time period or step in and out of the suite as the courses require?


Mark

 

[sage]

Good morning Mark,

Excellent question. I too would be interested to know that answer. That would make things so much easier wouldn't it? Does anyone know if they have a CD collection on hand, or is it best to bring your own. The right music would really accent a party.

 

[thulewx]

I had a cocktail pary while in the Zuiderdam PH suite - they provided hot & cold horse doovers (free), caviar & shrimp cocktails (extra charge), a bar cart with whichever liquors/wines/beers you request (you pay by the drink), glassware, and a bartender who also stays and cleans up after. As to dinner parties, I would imagine it's the same setup, however, note that on the Zuiderdam, the dining table only seats 6 (unless your guests don't mind sitting on the sofa, or out at the verandah table which seats 5-6.

 

[wendyandbarry]

Sage:
Yes, they will bring eveything.
If you do not have enough in you buffet in the dining room they will bring more.
Mark:
Three people to start, two to serve. and one to clean up.

Barry

 

[MARKandROGER]

Thanks Barry for the info.

Do they charge for these servers that you mentioned.

I assume that three to start, two to serve and one to clean up is for a dinner party for 8. correct? Or?

What happens if your dinner party is for less people (like 6) , any ideas.


Mark

 

[sage]

Thank you so much for all the great information. I am really looking forward to the cruise even more, if that is possible. Does anyone know how much notice in advance that you would need to ask for? I believe it was mentioned that the Hotel Director would handle the arrangements; would the Concierge also be able to do this as well?

 

[ShipMaven]

Having hosted a number of private dinners (up to 18 people) and private cocktail parties in HAL's penthouse suites, your best bet is to (1) advise your travel agent ahead of time what you want to plan so that he/she can get the ball rolling with Holland America, and (2), once on board, you make an appointment with the Maitre d'Hotel and the Food & Beverage Manager to discuss your plans. Do this early on.

Holland America will provide whatever is needed for your requirements - stewards, decorations, tableware, etc., etc. They are masters at this.

And, as has already been noted, please DO NOT forget to hand out gratuities to those who have served you.

Those @ddicts who are friends of mine and have sailed with me can attest to the type of dinner parties and cocktail parties I've hosted in the PH.

 

[jerzigal]

Those @ddicts who are friends of mine and have sailed with me can attest to the type of dinner parties and cocktail parties I've hosted in the PH

The absolute BEST afloat! We've had Indonesian dinners, complete with beautiful, authentic decorations. We've had two surprise Birthday parties. We've had sailaway cocktail parties. We've had "let's get together for a drink" cocktail parties.

HAL is top notch when it comes to this type of thing! :thumb :thumb :thumb


11 May 2003, Rotterdam VI, Southern Caribbean, Round Trip New York, 12 days
3 July 2003, Carnival Victory, Halifax, Round Trip New York, 4 days
17 October 2003, Rotterdam VI, Canada/New England, Montreal to New York, 10 days
31 January 2004 Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand, 15 days

 

[sage]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful advice. I am so excited with all the possibilities available. Now if the cruise wasn't so far away, but I will be awaiting your review Mark, and that should keep me going as well.

 

[MARKandROGER]

SAGE
Will be my pleasure to report the ins and outs.
You and I are both so excited with anticipation!

It sounds like we are going to be in good hands.
It appears that the service staff is complimentary by HAL for the PH
and I heard loud and clear that we need to TIP the service staff that helps us in the PH.

SHIPMAVEN
how much do we tip ????
What is customary?


SHIPMAVEN
What happens if you are not so well prepared and don't know when you want to use the PH dining facitilies? Can we still do all the arranging on board the ship during the cruise ???


Mark



Post Edited (03-21-03 12:07)

 

[sail7seas]

I am not "Maven"....but your answer is yes.

You can arrange dinner parties/cocktail parties/high tea...whatever you wish in your PH (or for that matter "S") while you are aboard.

See the Concierge...or Maitre D'

 

[ShipMaven]

Mark and Sage,

If you'll hop over to the "Community Message Board" in a little while, I'll post some photos of the dining room in my PH aboard Statendam that was prepared for a dinner for 18.

Mark - tipping is very personal, and it depends upon the complexity of the dinner (or party) you're hosting, how many personnel are there, for what length of time, etc. Usually, if I host an Indonesian Rijsttaffel preceded by cocktails, HAL will send for the duration of the party: Bar manager and one or two servers (who'll also attend to the wines during dinner); Maitre d'Hotel, F&B Manager, 2 or 3 table servers, chef. They all are dressed in formal garb or native garb, as the case may be. I will easily dispense with several hundred dollars in tips (given to each person individually). Don't even try to ask HAL for a tipping guideline - they won't give it. The best you'll do is to ask the Maitre d' for a list of names and who did what.

If you don't have definite plans, then as Sail suggested, speak with the Maitre d', Concierge or Food & Beverage Manager. The Concierge on Rotterdam will be happy to help (not all HAL ships have Concierges as yet).

 

[MARKandROGER]

Thank you everyone. ShipMaven, sail7seas, jerzigal, wendyandbarry, and thulewx.

The information and comments is always well received, and I know that I appreciate your viewpoints and I am sure Sage does too. We are lapping it up!.

The photos were excellent, I would never have thought of that many people for dinner in the Penthouse.

I don't know if we would have that many people visiting us in the PH, but I am sure that a nice quaint dinner for 8 would be wonderful (and pushy)!.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...

Mark

 

[jerzigal]

Mark,

When are you cruising? We'll be on Rotterdam May 11th thru the 23rd, and we would be DELIGHTED to dine again in the Penthouse Suite! :thumb :thumb

 

[MARKandROGER]

Hi jerzigal,

Roger and I are leaving on May 23rd, New York to Montreal, on the Rotterdam. Our first cruise with HAL.

After all this talk about crusing and high living, I looked into doing a back to back cruise with your cruise on May 11th, but the Penthouses are all sold out. .

All this excitement, got me considering a back to back cruise and living the life of a King for almost three + weeks, but alas, too many people on your cruise and "our" suite is taken (too many people have too much money - I wonder if Greenspan knows this and considers it in his economic speechs)?

Mark