Reijo Posted February 14, 2016 #1 Share Posted February 14, 2016 My good friend went on a cruise on the Westerdam about three weeks ago. She was telling me that they missed eating in the main dining room because there was a charge to eat there. Is this so???? Surely not!!!! As a result, they ate at the buffet nightly. I would love an answer before considering further booking a Panama Cruise through Holland America! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mllewis48 Posted February 14, 2016 #2 Share Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) False, no charge to eat in the MDR, speciality restaurants yes! Book it you'll love the MDR atmosphere. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited February 14, 2016 by mllewis48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabinluvn Posted February 14, 2016 #3 Share Posted February 14, 2016 The only dining that costs extra is the Pinnacle and the Canaletto. Never in the MDR Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted February 14, 2016 #4 Share Posted February 14, 2016 (edited) My good friend went on a cruise on the Westerdam about three weeks ago. She was telling me that they missed eating in the main dining room because there was a charge to eat there. Is this so???? Surely not!!!! As a result, they ate at the buffet nightly. I would love an answer before considering further booking a Panama Cruise through Holland America! No charge for the Main Dining Room, Dive-In, Taco Bar, Explorations snacks (coffee/tea has a charge), Room Service, or Pizza Stations on any HAL ship. Edited February 14, 2016 by Crew News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneJohnson Posted February 14, 2016 #5 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I've had my first Panama Canal booked, paid and counting down days about 28/29 left to March 12th a 21 day on Westerdam and HAL so all three will be firsts. Real happy about the no charge MDR thats how it is every where I've read... maybe not enough. Getting excited. Book it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reijo Posted February 14, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Thanks for your responses!!! I couldn't believe that the Main Dining Room would have a charge. Totally understand the Specialty Restaurants. I have no clue WHY they misunderstood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted February 15, 2016 #7 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Thanks for your responses!!! I couldn't believe that the Main Dining Room would have a charge. Totally understand the Specialty Restaurants. I have no clue WHY they misunderstood! I have heard other stories of people who thought the only free dining was the buffet. I would like to believe that those stories are only 'urban legends' but I have read at least one poster who told of meeting people who were confused and didn't understand the difference between the MDR and specialty restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted February 15, 2016 #8 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Your friend is badly mistaken and too bad they missed all those lovely evenings. There is no charge to dine in MDR though there is a charge for wine/liquor/espresso. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 15, 2016 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I have no clue WHY they misunderstood! Please ask! :D I've heard of this happening once before, and I'm very curious where these people get this idea! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted February 15, 2016 #10 Share Posted February 15, 2016 You can learn so much from Cruise Critic whether you have been on a number of cruises or you are going on your first. Too bad the OP's friends were not on CC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted February 15, 2016 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2016 If HAL would start to charge for people to eat in the main dining room, you can bet that HAL will lose a lot of cruisers. And if people have to eat in the Lido buffet, there goes what little dress code HAL has now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted February 15, 2016 #12 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Please ask! :D I've heard of this happening once before, and I'm very curious where these people get this idea! ;) It could happen like that party game where a sequence of people tell the next person something and the meaning is scrambled as it progress person to person. Possibly something like this. Someone tells someone that there are specialty restaurants on board that cost extra. Someone repeats that to someone else but the "specialty" gets dropped and it becomes all the restaurants on board cost extra. This could happen if information is being passed through a number of people who have not cruised before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 15, 2016 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Possibly something like this. Someone tells someone that there are specialty restaurants on board that cost extra. Someone repeats that to someone else but the "specialty" gets dropped and it becomes all the restaurants on board cost extra. This could happen if information is being passed through a number of people who have not cruised before. I see your point, but "all the restaurants on board cost extra" would include the buffet, not just the MDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted February 15, 2016 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2016 It could happen like that party game where a sequence of people tell the next person something and the meaning is scrambled as it progress person to person. Possibly something like this. Someone tells someone that there are specialty restaurants on board that cost extra. Someone repeats that to someone else but the "specialty" gets dropped and it becomes all the restaurants on board cost extra. This could happen if information is being passed through a number of people who have not cruised before. Or they could have thought that specialty means special. And the MDR is special when compared to Lido Buffet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 15, 2016 #15 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Or they could have thought that specialty means special. And the MDR is special when compared to Lido Buffet. I'll buy that! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted February 15, 2016 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I see your point, but "all the restaurants on board cost extra" would include the buffet, not just the MDR. The question was how could anyone believe this? Just think about that party game where the initial statement is passed from person to person and winds up something entirely different at the end. There is no logic, it just happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reijo Posted February 16, 2016 Author #17 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I have heard other stories of people who thought the only free dining was the buffet. I would like to believe that those stories are only 'urban legends' but I have read at least one poster who told of meeting people who were confused and didn't understand the difference between the MDR and specialty restaurants. This couple was older and had only cruised once or twice before. I believe they just got confused. I hate it because I'm afraid it left a "sour taste" in their mouth for HAL. I'll probably NEVER be able to convince them otherwise. I wanted to check it out through those of you who know before talking with them. I never cruised HAL but would never rule it out......unless they charged for the main dining room!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneJohnson Posted February 16, 2016 #18 Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) I recall my first Sapphire Princess cruise and I knew there were 2 "paying" restaurants... but I did not dine at 3 or 4 others that looked fancier... I did not want to look funny or do something wrong. We found plenty to eat... I made up for it the year after. So now I assume the other restaurants on HAL will be similar and have good food. Edited February 16, 2016 by GoneJohnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 17, 2016 #19 Share Posted February 17, 2016 The question was how could anyone believe this? No, my question was "curious where these people get this idea!" because I was wondering if some ignoramus TA told them this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draftxhorselover Posted September 20, 2016 #20 Share Posted September 20, 2016 I see your point, but "all the restaurants on board cost extra" would include the buffet, not just the MDR. Yeah, but if the rumor was "all the FANCY restaurants (with dress codes) cost extra" that would perpetuate the falsehood.. tsk tsk.. why not ASK instead of driving around lost for 7 days???:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted September 20, 2016 #21 Share Posted September 20, 2016 I have seen a couple of reviews where people reported this which is totally incorrect. Not sure where people are getting this idea from? It seems to have manifested somehow on several cruises. Very strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betterthanwork Posted September 20, 2016 #22 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Here's what I think happened: This couple wandered to The Pinnacle Grill rather than the MDR by mistake. Upon attempting to enter they were told that there was a fee to dine there. They then found the Lido buffet where they were assured that there was no fee so they returned each night. Possible that someone could confuse the PG for the MDR? I think so, especially someone with little cruising experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoneJohnson Posted September 21, 2016 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2016 (edited) All I'll say is I was on the Westerdam 21 days this March and only the PG and Canaletto restruant had a charge. I tried both and everything else from the MDR, Lido Restaurant, room service and more was included in the price... Edited September 21, 2016 by GoneJohnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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