When it comes to cruise dining, I consider myself a bit of an authority. A “Professor of Cruising” with a concentration in “Eating” if you will. Mind you, I have no formal degree to display, but as evidence of my credentials, I’m currently at the midway point of a 16-night cruise to New Zealand on the Noordam and I’m already clocking in 6 pounds heavier than when I boarded.
And while gaining weight on a cruise is easier than jumping over a toothpick (I bring you that analogy after tripping over one earlier today after a particularly hearty lunch), I offer up these Holland America dining tips and tricks to maximize your enjoyment and help you reach that 10-15 pound goal even faster (because who doesn’t want to gain weight on a cruise – isn’t that the whole point?).
Many of these “secrets” will only be surprising to new HAL cruisers. However, my old dogs might learn a new trick or two…too. And please feel free to share anything I missed to the comments. I learn as much from my readers as I share, which is one of the reasons I continue to enjoy writing this blog. So here are my…
While I actually toggle back and forth between loving and hating this, it’s something that, pre-Covid, was unique to Holland America (it’s like they saw Covid coming years ago and decided to be ready).
I’m something like a pig at a trough at a buffet. If I didn’t fear a lifetime ban, I’d stick my whole face in a vat of mac and cheese, coming up only for air and dessert. Maybe that’s what prompted Holland America to have crew serve most items at the buffet. And while I acknowledge the wisdom in trying to limit the spread of germs and cut down on food waste, sometimes this leads to longer waits and smaller portions than I’ve come to expect at a buffet: “another six scoops please, so I don’t have to wait in this line again for seconds and thirds and….”
This will also cause anxiety to those among us (me) who like a 3 inch perimeter of clean plate between each food item. It’s not uncommon for crew serving at the buffet to slap some fruit salad right on top of some pasta with some Jello thrown in there just to insure it topples all over you before you can abandon it on an empty table to start over with clearer instructions, “think of my food items like a couple of buddies sharing a hotel room who forgot to ask for separate beds…do whatever it takes to ensure nothing touches! Heck, place a pillow between my mashed potatoes and mac ‘n cheese if necessary!”
On a wholly positive note, I love the drink service in the buffets on Holland. Instead of having to get your own drinks – leading to extra trips, and an unintended wet t-shirt contest when two guests wielding water and lemonade collide – servers will come around to your table and offer you a variety of complimentary beverages (or bar service) and will refill your glass as necessary.
Unlike on some other lines, on Holland America many of the dinner items available each night in the main dining room will also be available on the buffet. They will be plated differently, but will otherwise be identical. This is great for several reasons. First, if you get back late from an excursion, don’t want to miss a show that conflicts with your assigned dining time, or are too tired for a long meal, you can hit the buffet without worrying about missing an item that sounded good on the MDR menu. Second, if you aren’t hungry enough for dessert after your appetizer and entree courses in the MDR, you can hit the buffet later for the exact same high quality desserts. And finally, if you love something in the main dining room, but are too embarrassed to order three more portions, you can head up to the buffet and casually pretend like it’s your first dinner, “oh, I suppose I’ll try nine slices of the prime rib. I haven’t eaten all day!” For comparison purposes, here’s a main dining room menu and a buffet menu from the same night on my current HAL cruise:
You don’t need to collect it yourself while trying to balance a drink and four plates of dessert!
Just ask at the dessert stations in the buffet. Some of the flavors offered on our sailing have included blackberry, mango, toffee crunch, mint chocolate chip, rocky road, and cookie dough. The ice cream on HAL is of high quality and there are also a bunch of sauces and toppings to choose from!
It’s a Holland America specialty and a must try! Just be sure to pick out the giant raisins first (unless you like them, in which case we can’t be friends).
Just ask!
And it’s really, really good! Both soft flour tortillas (usually covered by a napkin – be sure to look around if you don’t see them right away) and hard shells are available in addition to homemade chips.
You can find these options at all dining rooms, the coffee shop, and the buffet (just ask at the buffet).
Here’s the menu:
Just pull up the dining room menu on the Navigator App and call room service to place your order.
Just hang it on your door by 2am.
Just go to “Experiences” then “Order Now.” It will tell you on the app when your order is ready. So easy a retired college professor can do it! And convenient too!
Here’s the Dive-In Menu:
Stop by the dining room after you board to see them and inquire about how to order (on some sailings I’ve had to order off the vegan menu in advance). Here’s the vegan/vegetarian menu:
Be sure to ask – servers usually forget to mention them. Today one of the specials was cinnamon roll french toast!
Do you like to order secret “off menu” items? Well you can do that on HAL. Order a cheese plate, fruit plate, or crème brulée at dinner in the main dining room and confuse those sitting near you – you’ll see them keep checking their menu and then glancing back over at you, like “where did they see that?!?!”
Fact: You’ll find more walkers than strollers on Holland America. Which is to say that the crowd trends older and there’s more demand for early dining times. So if you wish to dine before 7:00pm, make reservations for specialty restaurants early (via the website or app prior to embarkation or by calling or visiting the reservations desk as soon as you board).
Unlike on certain lines, *cough* CARNIVAL, movie popcorn is free on Holland America. Remember to bring a beverage with you if you plan to partake!
My favorite drink to order at the coffee shop is a decaf soy mocha with a double shot of amaretto. Baileys is another popular addition. And the best part? All specialty coffees (spiked or not) are included in the beverage packages (I wish that were the case on NCL, another line I sail on frequently).
Grab a chocolate donut to go with that mocha and don’t even think about hitting the gym later!
Remember, cruise ship calories don’t count! There’s even a shirt that says so:
I love the signature blue and white Delft china on Holland America almost as much as the food served on it. No I don’t. Still though, it’s beautiful and available for purchase onboard.
If you’re lucky enough to be cruising over any major holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years), you’ll be treated to special dining room menus and items at the buffet. You can see HAL’s special Christmas Eve menu HERE and the Christmas brunch and dinner menus HERE.
Bar snacks, usually peanuts, are available at most bars. Just ask!
And with that…
Class Dismissed!
Homework (10 points): Share to the comments any additional Holland America dining secrets I missed. Let’s learn from each other! In the meantime, see you at the buffet (for a second dinner after my first one at the MDR, of course)!
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