Day 7 on Rotterdam and we’ve officially hit the first of two back-to-back sea days as we make our way toward our final stop of this 9-day ABC (well… CBA) cruise, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
Sea days are usually when I like to focus on ship stuff since there’s no port to explore, and today kicked off with one of Holland America’s more unique events… the Mariner Society Recognition Event.
If you’re not familiar with the Mariner Society, that’s Holland America’s loyalty program, and I went into full detail on how it works back in the Day 4 report from the last segment of this cruise. If you’re curious about perks, status levels, and how quickly you can move up the ranks, definitely go check that out.
This event is where Holland America brings together a group of invited guests to recognize milestone achievements… and yes, we’re talking about some serious cruise days here.
They award medallions based on the number of days you’ve sailed with the line:
- Bronze at 100 days
- Silver at 300 days
- Gold at 500 days
- Platinum at 700+ days
And just to be clear, these are actual days at sea. None of the bonus credits from suites or onboard spending count toward this. You’ve got to physically be on the ship.
I hit my Bronze Medallion back in November 2025, so I’ve already got mine, but there were several guests on this sailing picking up their Silver Medallions, which is no small feat.
Then there was a couple in attendance were recognized as members of the President’s Club, which is Holland America’s invite-only tier reserved for guests who have sailed 1,400+ days. These two? 2,236 cruise days.
Let that sink in for a second.
Yes, they were (quite) a bit on the seasoned (old) side, but still…
The event itself is a smaller, more intimate gathering with passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails… because what’s a sea day without starting things off with a drink before noon?
Each guest receiving a medallion gets called up, recognized, and has a photo taken with the captain, which is a nice touch. The whole thing runs about 30 to 45 minutes depending on how many awards are being handed out.
It’s one of those things Holland America does really well. They know their audience, and they do a great job recognizing loyalty in a way that actually feels meaningful.
So if you’re walking around the ship one day and see someone wearing what looks like an Olympic medal around their neck… now you know.
Premium Wine Tasting
The second event of the day was something I’ve quickly come to enjoy on these longer sailings… another wine tasting.
As I mentioned back in the Day 2 report, Holland America offers a regional wine tasting, which is complimentary for 4+ Star Mariners or runs $35 + 18% if you’re paying out of pocket. That one is a nice introduction.
Today, though, was the upgraded version… the Premium Wine Tasting, which comes in at $49 + 18% per person.
And yes, it’s worth the extra few bucks.
This one is held in a smaller, more intimate setting over in the Club Orange restaurant instead of the main dining room.
Leading the event once again was Cellar Master Rod, who does a great job keeping things informative without turning it into a lecture.
The lineup for today included:
- One champagne
- Two white wines
- Two red wines
The exact selections change depending on availability, so it’s not always the same lineup from cruise to cruise.
Each wine is paired with small bites… cheese, seafood, fruit, meats, and even a bit of chocolate to finish things off. It’s not a full meal, but it’s more than just a sip-and-go situation.
Rod walks you through each pour, giving a bit of background, tasting notes, and suggestions on what to pair it with from the plate in front of you. It’s paced well, not rushed, and gives you time to actually enjoy what you’re drinking.
And let’s be honest… it’s a lot of wine.
By the time you get through all five pours, you’re feeling it just enough to make the rest of the afternoon very relaxed.
All in, it runs about an hour, and it’s a great way to spend part of a sea day doing something a little different than just baking in the sun, fighting for a pool chair, or sitting through another round of bingo.
If you enjoy wine even a little bit, this is one of those events that’s worth checking out at least once during the cruise.
After all that wine… yeah, it was time for a nap.
Before getting into where I headed for dinner, here’s a look at tonight’s menus for the Lido Market and the main dining room. Since it was the second “Dressy Night” of the cruise, a plussed-up Gala Menu was being served in the MDR.
Dinner at Rudi’s Sel de Mer on Holland America Line
Tonight’s plan was Rudi’s Sel de Mer, which is Holland America’s most expensive specialty restaurant onboard. It runs $55 per person plus 18%, which puts it just above Pinnacle Grill, and the loyalty discount here is only 25% instead of the usual 50% for 4+ Star Mariners. I’m guessing Rudi wants his cut.
Hi Rudi!
If you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate dining experience onboard, this is it. The restaurant is small, only a handful of tables, and usually pretty calm (usually, hang on for a minute…) with very attentive service.
I didn’t have a reservation, but walked up around 8:30 and was seated without an issue.
🖼️ Menu Images
Now, when I was here earlier in the cruise, I had the tableside Dover sole and it was excellent. I was seriously considering going that route again… but then I remembered something important.
The 14oz bone-in strip steak here is actually better than what you get at the steakhouse.
So that pretty much settled it.
And because making good decisions isn’t really my thing on a cruise, I decided to add a lobster tail. You can do a 5oz tail for $12, or a 12oz tail for $19. So for seven bucks more, you’re getting more than double the lobster.
The math made sense. My server made sure of that.
Dinner decision finalized.
I started off with the tartare and then went all in on the steak and lobster. Both were excellent and easily one of the better meals I’ve had onboard.
For dessert, I went with the salted caramel St. Honoré, which looked incredible… and I managed about three bites before admitting defeat. But those three bites were worth it.
Rudi’s once again delivered across the board. Food, service, atmosphere… all exactly what you expect when you’re paying a bit of a premium. If you’ve been on the fence about trying it, just go. It’s worth it.
Now… remember that quiet, intimate atmosphere I mentioned?
Yeah… not tonight.
Two women who were also at the earlier wine tasting clearly decided the event didn’t end when the last glass was poured. They were loud, very loud, and very clearly over-served. One of them disappeared shortly after her food hit the table, while the other stayed behind doing her best to remain upright while providing dinner entertainment for the rest of the room.
And here’s the thing… this is not something you see often on Holland America. It’s usually a pretty mellow crowd. But based on what I heard from others, these two have been making the rounds all cruise long, bringing the (drunken) party with them wherever they go.
After dinner, it was one last stop at Half Moon Bar for a nightcap, and then off to bed after a long, exhausting day of doing absolutely nothing.
Another sea day tomorrow before we hit Half Moon Cay.
More then, and as always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Walk a Mile | Atrium 3 |
| 8:00 AM | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Catholic Prayer | Hudson Room 1 |
| 8:00 AM | Pickleball Instruction: Serving | Sport Court 11 |
| 8:30 AM | Stretch & Release | Fitness Center 9 |
| 9:00 AM | Pickleball Open Play | Sport Court 11 |
| 9:00 AM | Interdenominational Service | Hudson Room 1 |
| 9:00 AM | Coffee with Nick featuring Hotel General Manager | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 9:30 AM | Origami Folding: Jumping Frog | Game Room 12 |
| 9:30 AM | Walking in Comfort | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 10:00 AM | Learn to Line Dance | Game Room 12 |
| 10:00 AM | Ping Pong Tournament | Lido Balcony 10 |
| 10:00 AM | Knitter’s Meetup | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 10:00 AM | The Art of Thomas Kinkade | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 10:30 AM | Creating Doodle Designs | Game Room 12 |
| 10:30 AM | Liquid Facelift with Your Medical Physician | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 11:00 AM | Learn to Play Sjoelen | Game Room 12 |
| 11:00 AM | Port Talk: Curaçao, Bonaire & Aruba | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 11:00 AM | Shop Like a Local: George Town | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 11:30 AM | Secrets to a Flatter Stomach | Fitness Center 9 |
| 12:00 PM | Complimentary Massage Sampler | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 12:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Class: Cha Cha | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 12:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 12:30 PM | Fragrance Finds from $39.99 | The Shops 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Team Trivia Challenge | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 1:30 PM | Personalized Lipstick Blending Experience | The Shops 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Regional Wine Tasting $35 | Dining Room 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Watercoloring: Sunset | Game Room 12 |
| 2:00 PM | Let’s Play Cornhole | Sport Court 11 |
| 2:00 PM | Over $1500 Jackpot Bingo Ticket Sales | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Caribbean Tea Time with Vivace Strings | Dining Room 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Beer Tasting $15 | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 3:00 PM | 10% Off Fine Spirits | The Shops 3 |
| 3:30 PM | Relieving Back Pain | Fitness Center 9 |
| 3:30 PM | Coloring for Adults | Game Room 12 |
| 3:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 4:00 PM | Over $450,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 4:00 PM | HISTORY Trivia | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 4:00 PM | Shuffleboard Lucky Shot | Sport Court 11 |
| 4:30 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of Alexandrite | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 4:30 PM | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Atrium 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Cocktails with Nick featuring Lina & George | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Stretch | Fitness Center 9 |
| 5:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 5:30 PM | PRIDE Meetup | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Music Trivia: 80s | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 7:30 PM | On World Stage: Comedian Steven Scott | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 8:00 PM | Game Night: Motion Picture Password | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 8:00 PM | Uno Tournament for Teens | Kids Club 10 |
| 8:00 PM | Movies by the Pool: Bride Hard | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 PM | Rock Legends | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 8:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 8:45 PM | The 1970s | Billboard Onboard |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Comedian Steven Scott | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:30 PM | Rock the 80s | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 10:15 PM | All Requests | Billboard Onboard |
| 10:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 11:00 PM | New Wave | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 12:00 AM | Stay and Play Slots All Night | Casino 3 |