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Author

Topic: The Best Cruise Ship Bar

Terry
First Class Passenger
Member # 448

posted 06-03-2000 03:00 PM

Which cruiseship has the best bar? My favorite, now sadly no more, was the Century Bar on the CANBERRA.

What's your favorite?

Terry

Posts: 391 | From: Brandon, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

wendymike_uk
First Class Passenger
Member # 1302

posted 06-03-2000 04:45 PM

We are with you Terry the Centuary Bar on Canberra was perfect and we have found nothing to replace it. It was the ideal place for pre dinner drinks. Another good thing about it was that it was so well hidden .. only the old hands found it.

Posts: 21 | From: England | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 06-03-2000 07:53 PM

We really enjoyed the Ocean Bar on HAL's Rotterdam V. It was a great place to meet before dinner and the staff knew your preferences after one visit. Lot's of fun tricks by the bartenders as well.

Joe at Travelpage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-03-2000 08:21 PM

I think all HAL'S Ocean Bars are great and so are the hot goodies they give you. It is a super place to meet your friends before dinner for a drink. Joe is right, those bartenders have more tricks up their sleeve and they get you all the time. I don't think anyone has ever figured the answer to the tricks - have you Joe?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 06-04-2000 12:01 AM

I like QE2's Crystal Bar & Chartroom Bar.

Although Im not allowed to drink alcohol (yet) , they are very nice bars and have great views of the sea, and there is a great supply of Coke

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-04-2000 08:48 AM

Beer and Pubs are a British institution. I believe we have more 'Real Ales' which are home brewed by natural fermentation methods, (without gas being added) than any other county in the world.

These fine ales are severed from the barrel - 'draught', rather than in from tins or bottles. We have a vast range of Bitters (dark beers), Largers and of course Guinness (O.K. Paddy, I know that it is Irish).

The QE2 has a so called 'Traditional English Pub' onboard, called the Golden Lion. I'm not sure I agree about the 'traditional' bit, but it is possible to get a proper pint of draught beer, from a pub rather than a bar, at sea.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 06-04-2000 03:30 PM

My vote goes to the Ocean Bar for pre-dinner drinks - Explorers Lounge for after dinner coffee and cognac.

Plan to check out QE2's Crystal Bar & Chartroom Bar later this year.

[This message has been edited by Green (edited 06-04-2000).]

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Bernard
First Class Passenger
Member # 1038

posted 06-04-2000 05:06 PM

I like the crow's nest bar on the newer ships of Holland America except the one on the Statendam. The ocean bar is perfect for pre-dinner drinks.

Bernard, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Posts: 94 | From: The Netherlands | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

tg_lindo
First Class Passenger
Member # 806

posted 06-05-2000 01:58 AM

Let me be the first to suggest Club Internationale, on SS Norway.

After a day at sea,
in my formal night dark suit,

having a dry martini (with 15% added) in this classic space was an experience somewhere between sublime and heavenly,
and a memory I'll cherish into the grave.

Posts: 349 | From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-05-2000 05:34 AM

I would have to say that we enjoyed the Chartroom and the Crystal bar on the QE2. The piano from the Queen Mary "lives" in the Chartroom.

For just a minute let your imagination run. Your dressed for dinner, sitting in the Chartroom enjoying a predinner drink; the pianist playing one of the haunting songs from the past on the grand piano which once delighted the many passengers on the Queen Mary. You can feel the gentle movement of the ship and you look out into the darkness of the sea - is it 2000 or is it 1950? Who knows? Who cares? It is the moment that is important.

I cannot wait till January to experience this once again.

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-05-2000 12:33 PM

As hard as I try I cannot narrow down to one
bar.....there are too many good ones: the
Ocean Bar on Rotterdam V and the Tropic Bar
after dinner also on Rotterdam V, the old
Mid-Ships Bar on QE2....now the Chart Room
Bar, QM's Observation Bar, Cristoforo
Colombo's Belvedere Lounge, Crow's Nest on
Rotterdam VI, Sky Room Bar on Rotterdam V
during a rough sea-day.....there are more
but these hold a special place.....

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 06-05-2000 02:39 PM

Viking Crown Lounge on any RCL ship has the best view. We like any bar with a band and a dance floor.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 06-08-2000 03:28 PM

Does anyone remember the Princess Grill Bar on QE2?

I'm not sure if is used anymore but it was inside (no windows) on One Deck directly below the Grill. To get to the Princess Grill you walked up a circular stairway. It was small and the decor was not overly impressive but it was a fun place to meet people before dinner.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-08-2000 04:28 PM

Joe......

I remember well the Princess Grill bar....
one deck below the grill.....very cozy. For'a short time there was a One Deck Bar on QE2.
It has long since been removed. I think it
was a computer center for a while and the
last time I remember it was a shop. The very
first time I was on QE2 there was no Queen's
Grill.....only the Princess Grill. There was
also a coffee shop high up perhaps where the
Queen's Grill is now....and also an open
sports deck.....long gone. There was also
a rather nice tourist class observation
lounge overlooking the bow.....gone too. I
think that area is all kitchens now for the
various restaurants. The QE2 is so different
these days.....most of the changes in decor
have been for the better.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

hma109
First Class Passenger
Member # 593

posted 06-18-2000 10:54 AM

It's a toss up between the pool bar on the Legend of the Seas and the Horizon Lounge on the Royal Princess (which I just got back from). What really made both of these was the awesome crew of bar stewards and bartenders particularly Paulo (Legend, now on Vision) and Edwin (Royal)

Posts: 28 | From: Sinking Spring, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 99 | IP: Logged

Justine
First Class Passenger
Member # 1335

posted 06-18-2000 11:13 AM

The Explorers Lounge on the Westerdam. Then the other EL's on other HAL ships. Except they are open to a public walk through space and that ruins the string music when hordes of people walk through and talk. Following that I would say the Ocean Bars.

Posts: 126 | From: Northern Ontario | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 06-18-2000 01:22 PM

My vote goes to the Stella Polaris on Seabourn Sun--harp music and the best bartender: Boris--and thye view can't be better.

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-18-2000 10:49 PM

Winner.......
I have to disagree.....I love the Stella
Polaris Room......at least as RV Sun. I have
not seen it yet since Seabourn took over. I
disagree about the view......it's not poss-
ible to sea the bow.....there is a deck-like
projection that prevents seeing it which I
feel is a disaster in design......otherwise,
it is a pleasant room. The same rooms on the
RV Star, Sea, and Sky were of a much better
design as far as a bow's view.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

PK
Just Boarded
Member # 1379

posted 06-23-2000 11:51 PM

I agree that the Ocean bars on HAL ships are great (the pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres & excellent service help!)...but I also remember good times at "Spiro's" Bar aboard Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odssey...
PK

Posts: 6 | From: Tarzana, CA (Los Angeles) | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 06-24-2000 02:33 PM

NAL--I'll keep you posted; we'll be on the renovated Sun in October and will definitely check out Stella Polaris (the view I liked was of Water and sky)

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

bonny
First Class Passenger
Member # 1347

posted 06-24-2000 09:55 PM

I enjoyed the pool bar on the Crown Princess. Where else can you be served a drink without getting out of the water?

Posts: 44 | From: Chicago | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 06-25-2000 09:53 AM

Elizabeth - It looks like you and I have the same tastes of what a good bar looks like - what's the drinks like ?

Malcolm, how close is QE2's GL Pub to a real English pub ?? I like the symbol, the golden Cunard Lion!!

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-25-2000 02:39 PM

Winner.....
I hope your cruise in October is terrific. I
have a couple of friends who have been on
the Sun since Seabourn took over and they
were pleased. The last time I was aboard
RV Sun I thought things had slipped greatly
from previous trips. With all the renovations
and a new attitude aboard, things should be
much improved.
Please let us know when you return. What is
your intinerary????? Happy sailing!!!!!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 06-25-2000 06:13 PM

NAL--We are sailing Sydney-Sydney (sadly after the Olympics) for 14 days; stops also in Auckland, Russel, Isle of Pines, Noumea, Suva (!), and Brisbane. Hope Suva is peaceful by then or I'm sure we'll detour elsewhere.
We've been on the Sun under Royal Viking and under Cunard; this will be our 1st under Seabourn. Hope it as wonderful as it was as a Royal Viking and maybe as wonderful as other Seabourn ships. Will let you know!

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 05-12-2001 07:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Terry:
Which cruiseship has the best bar? My favorite, now sadly no more, was the Century Bar on the CANBERRA.
What's your favorite?
Terry

I remember the Century bar as a child, it was stunning to the eyes of a 13yo.

The Rembrandt Ambassador Lounge is my favorite. I was ready to move into that room.

I thoroughly enjoy the observation bar on the Queen Mary. Every night they have different Jazz musicians. The woods and brass have an unusual aroma. The mural over the bar is gorgeous.:cool

I would have a night cap there b4 going to bed when I visit LA.

The Regal Empress Commodore lounge is undisturbed from the Olympia days.

Enjoyed the Serenade piano bar on the SeaBreeze when she was afloat. It has wood lattice walls with mirror behind.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

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This topic is comprised of pages: 1 2

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