Questions about Canaleto

[Rudolph38]

Our fifth cruise with HAL is coming up in February. We have never been on a ship that had the Canaleto option. I have several questions about it.

 

1) Where is it located?

 

2) Am I correct that there is no extra charge involved?

 

3) How soon in advance do you have to book for dinner?

 

4) Is it full waiter service or partial buffet as in the Lido for dinner?

 

5) On our last cruise, we enjoyed not taking extra clothes along and had dinner in the Lido on formal nights. If one books Canaleto on a formal night, is formal wear expected?

 

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

Rudy

[jtl513]

Our fifth cruise with HAL is coming up in February. We have never been on a ship that had the Canaleto option. I have several questions about it.

 

1) Where is it located?

 

2) Am I correct that there is no extra charge involved?

 

3) How soon in advance do you have to book for dinner?

 

4) Is it full waiter service or partial buffet as in the Lido for dinner?

 

5) On our last cruise, we enjoyed not taking extra clothes along and had dinner in the Lido on formal nights. If one books Canaleto on a formal night, is formal wear expected?

 

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

Rudy

1) Forward end of the Lido - port on some ships, starboard on others. Just aft of the glass elevators. It shows on the deck plans for some ships, but I think not all that have it.

 

2) Correct

 

3) I don't know what the minimum is, but we booked 2 days in advance on the Noordam. While we were there, several tables remained empty the entire time (6:00p to 7-something) so I imagine if you went early you might be able to walk-in.

 

4) Full service - and very good service!

 

5) We were there on a casual night, and about half the men had jackets, but most had no tie. I would guess on a formal night you would see a mix of formal and casual.

[Jemima]

You can dress as you would for dinner in the lido. I didn't see any formal dress there during our cruise.

While reservations aren't required, they are often needed. I'd suggest making them at the beginning of the cruise even if it will be several days ahead. We ate there early in our cruise and tried to get another reservation later in the cruise, but they were full.

Some of the entrees are spicy. We were later told that they'll tone down then down if requested. I liked mine, but J jr. thought it was too spicy

[Krazy Kruizers]

What ship will you be on?

 

Not all the ships have the Caneleto yet.

[Rudolph38]

We'll be on the Noordam in late February.

 

Rudy

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Noordam had the Canaleto added to her in May of 2009.

It is located forward in the Lido area on the starboard side.

[imae39]

What type of food is served? Does anyone have a menu to post?

Love the Noordam. Sailed on her Nov. 2008 and March 2009.

[trophy_23]

I would highly recommend the Penne Alla Vodka.... once you try that you may not try anything else!!!

[sail7seas]

What type of food is served? Does anyone have a menu to post?

Love the Noordam. Sailed on her Nov. 2008 and March 2009.

 

They serve Italian food and stewards are dressed like Venetian gonoliers.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Canaletto Menu

 

 

 

ANTIPASTI e ZUPE:

Our chef’s selection of antipasti, cucumber and olives

 

Insalata Canaletto – Seasonal greens and tomato, cucumber and olives

 

Minestrone – A flavorful tomato broth consisting of white beans, pasta shells, fresh vegetables and thyme

 

Zuppe Di Pesce – Assorted seafood simmered with vegetables, tomatoes, flat parsley and saffron

 

PASTA, CARNE, PESCE e POLLO

Penne Alla Vodka – A deliciously light combination of our Pomodoro sauce, cream and vodka

 

Linguini Frutti Di Mare – Linguini pasta and clams, mussels, shrimps and scallops tossed in garlic, onions and cherry tomatoes

 

Baked Meat Lasagna Pomodoro – Baked with meat and tomato sauce and gratinated with four cheese sauce.

 

Veal Milanese – Breaded veal scaloppini with porcini mushrooms, spaghetti and vegetables

 

Chicken Marsala Scaloppini – Tender Scallops of chicken breast glazed with Marsala wine. Served with linguini pasta tossed with tomato and roasted garlic

 

Cod Putanesca – Marinated in lemon, oregano and olive oil, quickly sautéed and coated with a flavorful herbed tomato concassee with kalamata olives, capers and chopped parsley, served with grilled cheese polenta and balsamic glace

 

Spaghetti with Meatballs – The classic way to eat spaghetti; home made meatballs braised in a tomato and meat sauce served over olive oil tossed spaghetti

 

DOLCI

Trio of Tiramisu – Italy’s most famous dessert: presented in three flavored variations, espresso, lemon and Amaretto

 

Limoncello Crème – Refreshing crème topped with Tuscan lemon liqueur

 

Mille-Feuille of Madagascar Chocolate – With walnut praline and ice-cream

 

Gelato – A refreshing and full-flavored selection: strawberry, mango, vanilla and lemon

[sail7seas]

We'll be on Eurodam two cruises and we need to remember to book at least a dinner or two in Canaletto.

Pinnacle, Tamarind, Canaletto and dinner ashore both our visits to San Juan..... added to the wonderful Dining Room on Eurodam and we better increase the number of laps we walk the deck each day. :eek: It's great to have all these choices. We don't go to dinner in Lido but it's good that is another choice.

[imae39]

Our next HAL cruise is in March on Ryndam after her drydock?

 

Wonder if it will have the Canaletto seeing it is a smaller ship.

[wldflr]

Just got off the Eurodam and we enjoyed the Canaletto...it was in a special section of the Lido buffet. We actually went there on the night it was the 2nd formal night for our cruise. Nothing on the MDR menu sounded good to us so we made reservations that afternoon for the Canaletto and got in, no problem!

 

Wonderful food, and husband said he had the best soup ever there and we loved the cotton candy served afterwards - yes, cotton candy.

 

My only issue was the overpowering smell of garlic that was coming from the chef only a few feet away sauteing massive amounts of the stuff while I was trying to enjoy my dessert. My eyes were watering, it was that strong.

 

But do book a meal in there...it was lovely.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our next HAL cruise is in March on Ryndam after her drydock?

 

Wonder if it will have the Canaletto seeing it is a smaller ship.

 

Yes -- the Canaletto will be on the port side -- front of the Lido Restaurant.

[Parrot57]

We were on a HAL christmas cruise and ate at Caneletto one night. On any future cruises, I will skip it. Since it was right off the Lido you got all the noise from the buffet area. The service was good but the food was, IMHO only so-so. Nothing special.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we were on the Eurodam in 2008 we walked near the Canaletto -- it was very noisy!!

So far nothing about it has attracked us to try it.

[mek]

How is tipping handled here. Do most tip extra?

[localady]

How is tipping handled here. Do most tip extra?

 

Good question...

 

Do folks tip in Caneletto?

I hope to get a chance to eat there at least once on our upcoming cruise and would be inclined to bring something to tip with.

[NMLady]

Is there one on Amsterdam?

And if so can you ask for a shared table? Part of hubby's purpose in cruising is to meet other people so he always prefers a shared table.

[PegIra]

I think I read that they are adding a Caneletto to the Zuiderdam when it is in dry dockin March. Can anyone confirm that?

 

Peg

[pattigay]

Yes, it was there on my last cruise on the Amsterdam in September. I also ate there on the Zaandam in November. The service was excellent on both ships but IMHO the food is not memorable. If you are used to authenic Italian restaurants at home you may be disappointed although it is a nice change from the MDR. The limoncello dessert was wonderful!!! I didn't see any random group seating on either ship. It seemed that if you made a reservation for two, you sat at a table for two.

[Rustynail]

How is tipping handled here. Do most tip extra?

 

Great question. How do you deal with a tip in Canaletto?

[NMLady]

Yes, it was there on my last cruise on the Amsterdam in September. I also ate there on the Zaandam in November. The service was excellent on both ships but IMHO the food is not memorable. If you are used to authenic Italian restaurants at home you may be disappointed although it is a nice change from the MDR. The limoncello dessert was wonderful!!! I didn't see any random group seating on either ship. It seemed that if you made a reservation for two, you sat at a table for two.

 

We live in the southwest desert so although our restaurants have authentic Mexican food there is no such thing as an Italian restaurant within I don't know how far. So it would be a nice break for us to have any kind of Italian food.

 

On some ships the free specialty restaurants have a 'sharing' option when you make reservations so hubby was hoping that was the case with the Canaletto. But personally I'd prefer a table for 2 since it would be nice to have a few meals with just the 2 of us, although we do often breakfast together in our cabin.

 

Thanks for answering.

[Jemima]

Great question. How do you deal with a tip in Canaletto?

 

You don't.

[trophy_23]

We had the same waiter for all 4 dinners on our Eurodam trip and he was wonderful. On the last night at our last dinner I gave him one tip for the 2-weeks. Did I have to, no, did he deserve it... surely.