What is the BEST specialty dining on NA?

Which restaurant, in your opinion, offers the best specialty dining experience on Nieuw Amsterdam? is HAL still a flat cover charge for specialty dining? On a 4 day cruise is it worth bypassing the MDR one night to try specialty, or save the money and stick to MDR (never cruised HAL to MDR would be new for me there too). Do they ever offer onboard discounts or promotions?

Tamarind, IMO. Yes, make a reservation and go!

Only discounts I have seen are for Mariners--3 star and above.

I also believe that the Tamarind is the best specialty restaurant on the NA or Eurodam!

I agree with Tamarind. It's our favourite on HAL. Pinnacle Grill is good too if you really like steaks.

Tamarind is a great choice if you have to pick just one. Both are flat rate. I'd do PG and Tamarind, as I think both are great values. Or you can do lunch in the PG on a sea day, if there are any on a 4-day cruise (not being snarky). Obviously it's not the dinner menu, but a superb lunch with service to match.

Whats the cost? 20? Link to menu?

I agree with those suggesting the Tamarind. It would be our first choice. Second choice is the Canaletto, despite it being in the lido. Since the menu changes in the Pinnacle Grill I find this choice not as appealing.

 

 

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Whats the cost? 20? Link to menu?

Go to HAL website and click "Onboard" in top banner. You'll find all kinds of useful stuff. Here's a dining link:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Resp.action?requestPage=Innovations_Dining&showHeader=true&showFooter=true

It seems to be pretty well unanimous. The Tamarind is our favorite, too. In fact, we almost didn't book our next cruise because its on the Veendam, which doesn't have a Tamarind. I appreciate the various restaurants, especially on long cruises.

1. Tamarind $25 pp

2. Pinnacle Grill $35 pp

3. Canaletto $15 pp

 

Menus: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-specialty-restaurant-menus/

There are also some older menus on http://halfacts.com/general-info/

Edited July 16, 2017 by catl331

We prefer the Pinnacle. There's nothing wrong with Tamarind, but if we had to pick one, we'd go with the Pinnacle.

I too, prefer the Pinnacle (slightly), but my bride loves the Tamarind. It's kind of an apples and oranges thing, though - Asian fusion versus a steak house. I look forward to either, as they are both exceptional. My DW also enjoys the PG, but she "has more choices" at Tamarind as she seldom eats red meat.

How difficult is it to make reservations once on board?

 

 

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How difficult is it to make reservations once on board?

 

 

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If the majority of the passengers have free promo dinners, it gets tough. I always make reservations well in advance of boarding to assure our desired time and night. If I have a free dinner, I go as soon as I board and have them put the freebie in my prepaid time slot and they credit the cost to my on board account. I don't think it's as critical on longer cruises.

On the Nieuw Amsterdam we love the Tamarind.

Second choice is the Pinnacle.

We alternate between the two.

We do not care for the Canaletto.

We gave up the MDR several years ago.

And I always pre-book all specialty restaurants.

Some times it is hard to get a reservation for the Pinnacle because many people get the Explore4 promotion and many people they get a free Pinnacle dinner.

We pre-book every night in the PG. Not big fans of loud crowded restaurants- prefer quiet leisurely dinners.

We always stop at the PG after we board to verify our reservations and request our favorite table.

We are sailing on the Zuiderdam in November. How far in advance do you make reservations for the specialty restaurants?

Which restaurant, in your opinion, offers the best specialty dining experience on Nieuw Amsterdam?

 

I recommend Tamarind.

 

Pinnacle isn't bad but if you've eaten steakhouses on other lines, it won't be too impressive. I would actually rate it in the middle when comparing other lines' steakhouses.

Which restaurant, in your opinion, offers the best specialty dining experience on Nieuw Amsterdam? is HAL still a flat cover charge for specialty dining? On a 4 day cruise is it worth bypassing the MDR one night to try specialty, or save the money and stick to MDR (never cruised HAL to MDR would be new for me there too). Do they ever offer onboard discounts or promotions?

 

I would try all the specialties. But, then, we rarely dine in the MDR. We think the MDR on all the cruise lines are too loud and too crowded. It doesn't matter whether it's HAL or Princess, we prefer the specialties.

Pinnacle hands down.

Another vote for the Tamarind on the NADM. Second would be Canaletto.

Hi everyone,

 

for PG lunch you can only reserve once onboard, right? Is there a set time for lunch?

We are sailing on the Zuiderdam in November. How far in advance do you make reservations for the specialty restaurants?

As soon as we know which night we want.

 

for PG lunch you can only reserve once onboard, right? Is there a set time for lunch?

Yes, and time is typically 12:00 to 13:00.

You can go to a PG on any HAL ship, but only 3 currently offer the Tamarind. Go while you've got the chance! :)

All things (price, menu, ambiance, service) considered, Tamarind is our hands down favorite!!!

Smooth sailing (y) (y) (y)