Specialty dining-Noordam

[Ladyaruba]

As part of our trip package, we were given two nights at the specialty restaurants.

Will we be assigned a day and time or can we pick our own?

What would be the best days and times in your opinion?

[OlsSalt]

As part of our trip package, we were given two nights at the specialty restaurants.

Will we be assigned a day and time or can we pick our own?

What would be the best days and times in your opinion?

 

It could be either - we have gotten an assigned time in the past, or we have made our own reservations for our "free" specialty restaurant night -assuming you mean the Pinnacle restaurant. Depends on which ship as other larger ships have other specialty restaurants and not just the more "meat" oriented Pinnacle. Though a vegetarian can do very nicely at the Pinnacle too.

 

It the ship is not overly impacted or you like a less popular dining time (like later) you may be able to juggle any pre-reserved time around after you board. Be sure to check in with the Maitre D who will be available in the Explorer's Lounge (on most ships) on embarkation day if you learn you have been assigned a fixed time that does not work for you. Otherwise drop by the dining room later to see what else you can arrange.

 

Some prefer speciality dining on either the first or last night- ourselves, it really does not matter except we don't like to do if if we planned on eating in the port stop as one needs an emptier stomach to fully enjoy this dining option. Others like to do it on "gala night" because they don't like the Gala Night menu.

 

I would not worry too much about any particular day myself. We often wait until close to the end to celebrate the entire cruise and even dress up fully for the occasion, Gala Night or not, if it has been a particularly long and spectacular one.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and enjoy your special dinner what ever night it falls on.

[Crew News]

As part of our trip package, we were given two nights at the specialty restaurants.

Will we be assigned a day and time or can we pick our own?

What would be the best days and times in your opinion?

 

Your date and time will be assigned but you can try for changes when you first come on board the ship. The last evening is the most difficult to obtain a reservation in he Pinnacle Grill. Everyone has a time for dining that they prefer and if you purchase a reservation, you can choose your date and time.

[Ladyaruba]

Your date and time will be assigned but you can try for changes when you first come on board the ship. The last evening is the most difficult to obtain a reservation in he Pinnacle Grill. Everyone has a time for dining that they prefer and if you purchase a reservation, you can choose your date and time.

 

Thanks! Will see if we are assigned to a day where we will be out on tours. May want to change if so.

We never do any fine dining the last night of any vacation. We like to get everything packed and then go somewhere quick and easy.

[Ladyaruba]

It could be either - we have gotten an assigned time in the past, or we have made our own reservations for our "free" specialty restaurant night -assuming you mean the Pinnacle restaurant. Depends on which ship as other larger ships have other specialty restaurants and not just the more "meat" oriented Pinnacle. Though a vegetarian can do very nicely at the Pinnacle too.

 

It the ship is not overly impacted or you like a less popular dining time (like later) you may be able to juggle any pre-reserved time around after you board. Be sure to check in with the Maitre D who will be available in the Explorer's Lounge (on most ships) on embarkation day if you learn you have been assigned a fixed time that does not work for you. Otherwise drop by the dining room later to see what else you can arrange.

 

Some prefer speciality dining on either the first or last night- ourselves, it really does not matter except we don't like to do if if we planned on eating in the port stop as one needs an emptier stomach to fully enjoy this dining option. Others like to do it on "gala night" because they don't like the Gala Night menu.

 

I would not worry too much about any particular day myself. We often wait until close to the end to celebrate the entire cruise and even dress up fully for the occasion, Gala Night or not, if it has been a particularly long and spectacular one.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and enjoy your special dinner what ever night it falls on.

 

 

Thank you. We will be on the Noordam and have The Pinnacle and Caneletto as extras. We also have open dining so no regular times set.

It will just depend on our moods!

Probably won't do gala night so that might be good! Do you know the menus before you go to these Gala nights?

[OlsSalt]

Thank you. We will be on the Noordam and have The Pinnacle and Caneletto as extras. We also have open dining so no regular times set.

It will just depend on our moods!

Probably won't do gala night so that might be good! Do you know the menus before you go to these Gala nights?

 

Unfortunately, the Gala Night menu has not changed in years so yes, we knew what would be on the menu. They are starting to add new items so hopefully the choices will have perked up. That might make it one of the more impacted evenings to get specialty dining reservations in that case, but less so now that they have greatly relaxed the gala night dress guidelines.

 

So don't stay away from the main dining room, if you don't want to dress up that night. In fact it is fun to go and see how special some passengers still like to make those gala evenings - a bit of the old glamour of more traditional sea travel. Even if you want to be just an observer.

 

Menus for the evening dinner I believe are posted outside the main dining room by noon and I believe also somewhere in the Lido too, so you can take a look and see if that is that night's menu is the one you want to not go to the main dining room and chose the Pinnacle instead. But in truth a 7 day cruise will probably go by so fast none of this level of detail and choice will matter all that much. Pick any night or get one picked for you and raise a glass in celebration of a great cruise.

[OhioLair]

We sail Friday the13th (I know, I know) on the Noordam (my favorite ship), and booked the Pinnacle, Cannaletto and Sel De Mer ahead of time in order to get the times and dates we wanted. Gala nights in the main dining room are always fun, regardless of the menu, so we book on other "special" nights for the specialty dining. Crossing the Equator and the International Date Line are two on this cruise, and Sel de Mer pop up was only offered two nights. When ever you go, specialty dining is always fun. As as for Gala nights, if you're not going to dress up, why leave home? ;o)