Specialty Dining - Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto w/ Have It All promo

[CaptJerry51]

I am booked on the Zaandam for Panama Canal transit 1/5 - 1/21/23 and chose the "Have It All" promo which includes 2 nights Specialty Dining.

 

On the booking confirmation it shows:

1 night Pinnacle Grill dinner

1 night Canaletto dinner

 

I have sent an email to my Personal Cruise Consultant asking if I can skip Canaletto and do another Pinnacle Grill dinner or even just a Pinnacle Grill lunch.  I was less than impressed with Canaletto on my previous one-time dining there and just don't want to do Italian on this cruise.  No response after 3 days.

 

Has anyone found HAL to be flexible on this?  Do you just deal with the issue on board at the front desk or at the Pinnacle Grill reservations desk?

[Slush]

I doubt the will modify the package. Just go to Canaletto and get a New York Strip Loin and enjoy. 

[CruiserBruce]

When did you last go to Canaletto? The menu has changed a fair amount in the last few years.

[Seasick Sailor]

2 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

When did you last go to Canaletto? The menu has changed a fair amount in the last few years.

 

Agree. Osso Bucco on Monday and Veal Liver on Wednesday.. delicious! We ate 6 times there in 34 days. (Dec/Jan)

[albingirl]

We really like Canaletto, actually better than Pinnacle Grill.  However, there is a price difference between the two which might make your swap difficult in your dining package.  Loved their salad, so good.

[CaptJerry51]

It has been 4 years since we went to Canaletto on the Veendam.  I thought an area of the Lido cordoned off as "Specialty Dining" was not very special.  Also, we didn't think the quality of the food was very special.  I would have preferred the main dining room.

Edited May 13, 2022 by MNJerry

[LuvsACruise]

We have also asked about replacing a Pinnacle dinner with aTamarind dinner (which is cheaper!) because we are traveling with vegans who do not find much in the steakhouse but do in the asian restaurant.

We have not gotten any response either. I thought I might plead my case on the ship, with the restaurant reservations person, or guest services.... hoping not to get the dreaded 😉 'I'll have to ask Seattle'!!

[Nodakboiler]

We tried to substitute last fall and weren't allowed.

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

You are not going to get an aswer prior to the cruise and if you do it will not be favorable. I actually have two Canaletto for per person for our upcoming cruise and yes we did Canaletto last September and was not impressed. DH refuses to go, I might go just because friends are also going but there is not a whole lot on the menu I will order and what I had last time was not that great. But I know from asking previously the answer on board will also be NO. which is quite unfortunate. But it is what it is.... Knowing in advance it is not worth getting upset and trying to work this out with HAL. 

[rkacruiser]

Canaletto has "upped" their game in recent years.  My most recent dinners have been much better than when this concept was introduced.  

 

5 hours ago, Slush said:

I doubt the will modify the package. Just go to Canaletto and get a New York Strip Loin and enjoy. 

 

I doubt that the package will be modified, although, no harm in asking for that.  The New York Strip Sirloin that I ordered was an excellent cut of meat and properly prepared.  I was pleasantly surprised.  

[albingirl]

1 minute ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

You are not going to get an aswer prior to the cruise and if you do it will not be favorable. I actually have two Canaletto for per person for our upcoming cruise and yes we did Canaletto last September and was not impressed. DH refuses to go, I might go just because friends are also going but there is not a whole lot on the menu I will order and what I had last time was not that great. But I know from asking previously the answer on board will also be NO. which is quite unfortunate. But it is what it is.... Knowing in advance it is not worth getting upset and trying to work this out with HAL. 

First, love your reviews on NCL.  We've been pleased with them, too.  Now, relative to Canaletto, there is no consistency really between the ships.  Loved it on NS, not so much on other ships.  I liked it on NS since they have a dedicated dining room, unlike some other ships.  Staffing has alot to do with it, too. They were magnificent on Statendam, and we loved going back for more.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Just now, albingirl said:

First, love your reviews on NCL.  We've been pleased with them, too.  Now, relative to Canaletto, there is no consistency really between the ships.  Loved it on NS, not so much on other ships.  I liked it on NS since they have a dedicated dining room, unlike some other ships.  Staffing has alot to do with it, too. They were magnificent on Statendam, and we loved going back for more.

Thanks 🙂  Hmmm we will be on the Rotterdam in July but their Canaletto appears to be in the Lido like the rest. I may try it but DH says he has tried 3 times over the past years and won't do it again. But I do agree if HAL is anything it is to not be consistant especially when it comes to dining/food 😉

[albingirl]

4 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Thanks 🙂  Hmmm we will be on the Rotterdam in July but their Canaletto appears to be in the Lido like the rest. I may try it but DH says he has tried 3 times over the past years and won't do it again. But I do agree if HAL is anything it is to not be consistant especially when it comes to dining/food 😉

My personal favorite for lunch is the Dutch Cafe.  Can't beat that.  Wish they'd revamp all the ships to include that.  Winner, winner, hands down.

[CruiseMGM]

I don't think HAL will modify your comped dinners, but I suppose it never hurts to ask. We actually love Canaletto (the salad is divine!). You'll find me there every Saturday I'm onboard, for their Grilled Jumbo Shrimp night, YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!! Last time we were there, my brother ordered the lasagna and it was unbelievably good, so now I have a big decision.....lasagna? Or grilled shrimp? Hmmmm!

 

For what it's worth, our first visit to the Canaletto was on a Souther Caribbean cruise on the Zuiderdam long, long ago. They were testing the concept and there was no fee for eating there. We ate there 3 times on that trip. On the first visit, we walked up to the maitre d' after a long, hot, dusty day in one port or other, and I asked (in a very small and tired voice) "are we dressed ok for here?" The wonderful man smiled at me and said "you look MARVELOUS" and escorted us to a table. I was sold, for sure! That was before they started doing the daily specials, slightly different concept then, but we enjoyed the food and the casual-yet-apart food and venue.

 

Best wishes and good luck with your request!

[rkacruiser]

16 minutes ago, albingirl said:

Staffing has alot to do with it, too.

 

Satisfaction with the cuisine served depends on who is in the Canaletto Galley and who is the ship's Executive Chef.  Satisfaction with the service depends on the venue's Maitre d', the person that overseas all of the dining venues (the Culinary Operations Manager, I think), and the ship's Hotel Director.  

 

That is why our dining experiences may vary from ship to ship at times.  

 

Food quality concerns, if one has any, are the result of corporate decisions. 

[Florida_gal_50]

4 hours ago, MNJerry said:

It has been 4 years since we went to Canaletto on the Veendam.  I thought an area of the Lido cordoned off as "Specialty Dining" was not very special.  Also, we didn't think the quality of the food was very special.  I would have preferred the main dining room.

That part isn’t special.  It is nicer on the pinnacle class ships.  I can tell you no one hated Canaletto more than I did a few years ago.  Now I really love it, definitely more than the pinnacle.

[blueridgemama]

We have the 2 specialty restaurant offer on Eurodam Panama Canal Cruise in March.

Do we not get to choose the 2 restaurants and the date and time for the reservation?

There is no availability to reserve anything yet on their website.

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, blueridgemama said:

We have the 2 specialty restaurant offer on Eurodam Panama Canal Cruise in March.

Do we not get to choose the 2 restaurants and the date and time for the reservation?

There is no availability to reserve anything yet on their website.

Too soon. Look at about 6 months ahead.

[Seasick Sailor]

Our reservations on Rotterdam from Dec 11th thru the 31st are available now. Our reservations from Jan 1st thru the 14th will be available in September time frame. 

[Seasick Sailor]

2 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

We have the 2 specialty restaurant offer on Eurodam Panama Canal Cruise in March.

Do we not get to choose the 2 restaurants and the date and time for the reservation?

There is no availability to reserve anything yet on their website.

 

On Rotterdam this past Dec/Jan we were able to choose. This coming year we were given Pinnacle and Tamarind. Hang in there, you should be able to book something in the fall.

Edited May 17, 2022 by Seasick Sailor
.

[Caribbean Chris]

On 5/13/2022 at 5:35 PM, CruiseMGM said:

 

For what it's worth, our first visit to the Canaletto was on a Souther Caribbean cruise on the Zuiderdam long, long ago. They were testing the concept and there was no fee for eating there. We ate there 3 times on that trip. On the first visit, we walked up to the maitre d' after a long, hot, dusty day in one port or other, and I asked (in a very small and tired voice) "are we dressed ok for here?" The wonderful man smiled at me and said "you look MARVELOUS" and escorted us to a table. 

My favorite memory from those freebie days when Canaletto was being introduced: our Indonesian waiters wore name tags that read “Giovanni,” “Mario” etc. on their red-striped shirts, I guess in an effort to create some Italian atmosphere for a Lido buffet corner. Still makes me smile.

[Kamfish642]

We sailed on the Niew Amsterdam several years ago and were very disappointed with the Canaletto; nothing special nor worth the extra price.  However, in December (2021) we sailed on the Eurodam and were very impressed with upgrades to the dining area and menu.  As such, we returned for a 2nd time.

[Cruise Suzy]

4 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

We have the 2 specialty restaurant offer on Eurodam Panama Canal Cruise in March.

Do we not get to choose the 2 restaurants and the date and time for the reservation?

There is no availability to reserve anything yet on their website.

 

You will be able to reserve one Pinnacle Grill and one Tamarind per person. (No Canaletto, no Rudi's pop-up) Once the Specialty Dining is available online or in Navigator app, you can choose your nights and times. If you don't choose, then nights/times will be assigned. However, assigned times can be changed once onboard, subject to availability.

[MTAK]

On 5/13/2022 at 3:35 PM, CruiseMGM said:

Last time we were there, my brother ordered the lasagna and it was unbelievably good, so now I have a big decision.....lasagna? Or grilled shrimp? Hmmmm!

We ate in Canaletto for the first time on our April Rotterdam cruise.  I thought the venue was nicer than the Signature ships, and the lasagna was one of the best restaurant lasagna I've had.  However the exact same lasagna was offered in the MDR the next night...had I known that I would've ordered something else.

 

Based on our experience I now prefer Canaletto over Pinnacle and will be sure to dine there on future voyages.

[CaptJerry51]

Just to wrap it all up and let you know what HAL's response was - I finally got an email response from my Personal Cruise Consultant that she was forwarding my question/request to Ship Services.  Their response was:

 

Good day,

 

The amenities included in the promotion cannot be substituted or changed.

 

 

Thank you & Kind Regards,

 

SHIP SERVICES