dcl1710 Posted July 9, 2018 #1 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Is it necessary to book prior to cruise? And, if for some reason you have to cancel the reservation do you get a credit on your ship account? Thanks for any insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceanmom Posted July 9, 2018 #2 Share Posted July 9, 2018 If you want a specific date or time, it is helpful to prebook rather than wait and hope you get the date and time you want. If you cancel before boarding, the credit card you booked the dinner with is credited. If you wait to cancel onboard, your ship account is credited. If you are a 3* or more mariner with the mariner discount, your discount will show up in your ship account as you pay the full price for the dinner if prebooking before boarding. If you cancel the cruise after prebooking and prepaying for the dinner, it will be automatically cancelled and your credit card credited. I'm picky about dates and times so we always prebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 9, 2018 #3 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Oceanmom explained it very well. You can certainly cancel on board as long as you give enough notice (24 hours I believe - at least that has always worked for me) and get the credit by way of on board/ship board credit. It seems to depend on the ship, but specialty dining can sell out quickly for prime times (and many others) especially if it is a good specialty dining room. On our last cruise by the second day there were NO reservations available other than 9 pm on the 1st segment. (Prinsendam, small ship, smaller PG but in proportion to the # of passengers). Like oceanmom, we prebook too. For us, the time we want and also, since it's in U.S. $ and we are Cdn, if the rate seems more favourable or the future doesn't look good, I prefer to pay at what I think/hope will be a better exchange rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted July 9, 2018 #4 Share Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) We always reserve in advance. Many times we have heard people complain that no reservations are available on board due to Explore 4 promo dinners. One cruise the Manager said they had over 900 Explore 4 dinners to fulfill. Unless you want to take the chance of eating at 4:45 or 9 pm reserve ahead Edited July 9, 2018 by frankc98376 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennaja Posted July 9, 2018 #5 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Does lunch in the Pinnacle Grill book up quickly? Is it offered every day, or only on sea days? Is the experience worth the cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceanmom Posted July 9, 2018 #6 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Only offered on sea days, prebooking not available, never seen it very full, and yes it was worth the $10 pp in my estimation even if just for the peace and quiet. But our last cruise was on the Nieuw Amsterdam and it felt like the Lido was a madhouse at lunchtime--which I've never felt on any other HAL ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 9, 2018 #7 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Does lunch in the Pinnacle Grill book up quickly? Is it offered every day, or only on sea days? Is the experience worth the cost? Generally it is only open on sea days, but on our last cruise (7 day Caribbean out of Tampa) it was open on a couple of port days I seem to recall. It is well worth the money IMO, especially if you qualify for the discounts from being 3,4 or 5 Star Mariners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcl1710 Posted July 9, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Thanks for the replies! I am more concerned that there will be a lot of high starred Mariners using the wonderful perk. I am going to reserve right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 9, 2018 #9 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Thanks for the replies! I am more concerned that there will be a lot of high starred Mariners using the wonderful perk. I am going to reserve right now. No harm in booking ahead of time (for the dinner). As mentioned, the lunch can only be booked onboard.book We usually book our Pinnacle dinner right after boarding and normally this works, but on some cruises, where alot of people were given free dinners, it can be difficult to find a time that works for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 9, 2018 #10 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Once many years ago, I forgot to pre book the Pinnacle Grill. When we got on the ship -- no reservations available at any time. Now I make certain to pre book as soon as the reservations open up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcl1710 Posted July 9, 2018 Author #11 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Ok - going on the Koningsdam. Which restaurant should we pick first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 9, 2018 #12 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Ok - going on the Koningsdam. Which restaurant should we pick first? Our favourite by far is Tamarind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G&G Posted July 9, 2018 #13 Share Posted July 9, 2018 I find pre booking restaurants is totally dependent on length of cruise. I never pre book on cruises longer than 14 days; and I can assure you that if you are on the VoV cruise (35 days), the PG will not be sold out when you board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsxgray1 Posted July 9, 2018 #14 Share Posted July 9, 2018 I am new to Holland America-when are reservations for the speciality restaurants available online to book? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlipoo Posted July 9, 2018 #15 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Once many years ago, I forgot to pre book the Pinnacle Grill. When we got on the ship -- no reservations available at any time. Now I make certain to pre book as soon as the reservations open up. My TA told me last week that HAL has changed its policy on special restaurant booking. We are getting one night free in pinnacle restaurant and she said when we board ship a card will be in our cabin with night and time of our reservation. If we want to change it we can. She said so many people got on board and could not get Day and time they wanted it created a problem. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellieanne Posted July 9, 2018 #16 Share Posted July 9, 2018 My TA told me last week that HAL has changed its policy on special restaurant booking. We are getting one night free in pinnacle restaurant and she said when we board ship a card will be in our cabin with night and time of our reservation. If we want to change it we can. She said so many people got on board and could not get Day and time they wanted it created a problem. Sent from my iPad using Forums Make sure you take the print-out showing you have the free Pinnacle Grill dinner. We had one as part of the Explore 4 package and there was no card in our room upon check-in so we booked reservations at our convenience. We ended up getting charged the full amount for the dinner. It too several visits to the Front Desk and discussions with the Pinnacle Grill manager to get it credited and I think the tipping factor was that I had the paperwork showing it was a perk of our package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 9, 2018 #17 Share Posted July 9, 2018 My TA told me last week that HAL has changed its policy on special restaurant booking. We are getting one night free in pinnacle restaurant and she said when we board ship a card will be in our cabin with night and time of our reservation. If we want to change it we can. She said so many people got on board and could not get Day and time they wanted it created a problem. Thats the way it has always been. Be advised, just because your TA said you can change it does not make it so. The Pinnacle Grill has a very limited amount of seating, so once it is full, thats it. I have experienced times when even as a Neptune suite passenger with priority I could not get the date and time we wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boze9999 Posted July 10, 2018 #18 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I agree with posters who recommend pre-booking to ensure your preferred days and/or times - especially Gala nights (commonly sea days)! Another reason we love pre-booking - our final bill is not so large since we pre-paid prior to boarding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
showerdancer55 Posted July 22, 2018 #19 Share Posted July 22, 2018 I am (still) unable to access the HAL website...how else can I prebook Pinnacle Grill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted July 22, 2018 #20 Share Posted July 22, 2018 If you can't access the link below, here is a screenshot of the contact information: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/contact-us.html Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
showerdancer55 Posted July 23, 2018 #21 Share Posted July 23, 2018 If you can't access the link below, here is a screenshot of the contact information: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/contact-us.html Sent from my iPad using Forums Thank you very much Miss G, I was able to book the 3 specialty restaraunts we have chosen by phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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