When did Pinnacle Grill start charging for appetizer?

[Florida_gal_50]

3 minutes ago, richstowe said:

My Nieuw Amsterdam cruise has it at $46 which is 62 with exchange rate fee put in. No thanks .

 

Pinnacle Grill Dining Experience

• $46.00 - Dinner

Thanks.  I thought my guess sounded low.  I say no thanks too.

[CafeBruno]

13 minutes ago, richstowe said:

My Nieuw Amsterdam cruise has it at $46 which is 62 with exchange rate fee put in. No thanks .

 

Pinnacle Grill Dining Experience

• $46.00 - Dinner

 

I believe the cost fleetwide is $39, plus the 18% gratuity, which equals $46.02. I guess they are just showing the total cost of $46 on the website now. 

[Wakepatrol]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I used to use a pcc but after my last fiasco of a cruise I switched to a ta.  My ta got told that was the last reduction I’d be getting because I’d had one.  Excuse me? I guess they forgot I could cancel the whole thing and rebook.  I know it wasn’t the ta that came up with this story.  I was mystified because it was total garbage.  I think they think people are dumb and they can get away with it.  When it come to stuff like this I will put up a fight.  

This is the strangest business model. Tie up 2,000 phone lines and operators to cater to every Chronic who wants a refund, ship credit, a pinnacle dinner, a free massage , dinner with the captain , or a bottle of Ripple. Why not just price the cruise and leave it at that?

[Wakepatrol]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I used to use a pcc but after my last fiasco of a cruise I switched to a ta.  My ta got told that was the last reduction I’d be getting because I’d had one.  Excuse me? I guess they forgot I could cancel the whole thing and rebook.  I know it wasn’t the ta that came up with this story.  I was mystified because it was total garbage.  I think they think people are dumb and they can get away with it.  When it come to stuff like this I will put up a fight.  

This is the strangest business model. Tie up 2,000 phone lines and operators to cater to every Chronic who wants a refund, ship credit, a pinnacle dinner, a free massage , dinner with the captain , or a bottle of Ripple. Why not just price the cruise and leave it at that?

[Crew News]

No mention of a surcharge for additional appetizers on my Rotterdam PG menu for December or for Volendam next May.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Crew News

[Wakepatrol]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I used to use a pcc but after my last fiasco of a cruise I switched to a ta.  My ta got told that was the last reduction I’d be getting because I’d had one.  Excuse me? I guess they forgot I could cancel the whole thing and rebook.  I know it wasn’t the ta that came up with this story.  I was mystified because it was total garbage.  I think they think people are dumb and they can get away with it.  When it come to stuff like this I will put up a fight.  

This is the strangest business model. Tie up 2,000 phone lines and operators to cater to every Chronic who wants a refund, ship credit, a pinnacle dinner, a free massage , dinner with the captain , or a bottle of Ripple. Why not just price the cruise and leave it at that?

[Navybikermom]

I’ll be eating in the Pinnacle next week on the Zaandam so I will check the fine print. It irks me that their sides are for two people. What about those of us who travel solo and don’t want a pound of asparagus or a giant potato with their meal? I’m only eating there because I ended up with the HIA deal and have two free dinners. I really want to try the clothesline bacon! I guess they gave me the HIA because the cruise was rescheduled a few times due to Covid. Their way of apologizing? 🤷‍♀️

[Crew News]

10 hours ago, TotallyCruzin said:

We just ate at the Pinnacle Grill on the Westerdam last night and are now charged $7 for any additional appetizer.  If you order lobster bisque, crab cakes and a Caesar salad you'll pay and additional $14. Ps... Also getting tired of all the up selling. Lobster for $20, prime ribeye $20 add a 5 oz lobster tail for $15.

Was the surcharge printed on the menu?  Did you report your displeasure via the "Let us know" tab on Navigator?

[LocoLoco1]

9 hours ago, BigMattT said:

 

Yikes!

 

The upcharges are getting downright stupid.

 

I don't particularly mind them when a premium experience is delivered... but our Pinnacle dinner experience last week on Eurodam was really terrible. We paid upcharges for caviar and the Delmonico steaks... the former was the most bizarre/clumsy caviar presentation we've ever seen, and the latter was atrocious quality for having paid extra (tell-tale signs of freezer burn).

 

Every restaurant has its off nights, but for having paid the upcharge for the restaurant plus upcharges for premium items, our expectations were higher.

 

Even the included items in Pinnacle were lousy compared to our prior experiences. Lobster bisque had zero lobster flavor, and I left my baked Alaska uneaten... whoever made the merengue didn't warm it enough so that the sugar dissolved... it was totally grainy to bite into, and even looked like a melting mess on the plate. Now... I've only eaten at the Pinnacle Grill on ships 4 times... and I could tell something was wrong with the Baked Alaska from across the room. How anyone working there could let it leave the kitchen is beyond me.

 

Not sure what's going on there, but adding an additional charges isn't the answer.

I think ‘what’s going on here’ is they’re broke. Flat busted…

[TiogaCruiser]

26 minutes ago, Navybikermom said:

I’ll be eating in the Pinnacle next week on the Zaandam so I will check the fine print. It irks me that their sides are for two people. What about those of us who travel solo and don’t want a pound of asparagus or a giant potato with their meal? I’m only eating there because I ended up with the HIA deal and have two free dinners. I really want to try the clothesline bacon! I guess they gave me the HIA because the cruise was rescheduled a few times due to Covid. Their way of apologizing? 🤷‍♀️

One time only, I was successful is getting a single serving of asparagus and mushrooms. Only once.

[Florida_gal_50]

37 minutes ago, Wakepatrol said:

This is the strangest business model. Tie up 2,000 phone lines and operators to cater to every Chronic who wants a refund, ship credit, a pinnacle dinner, a free massage , dinner with the captain , or a bottle of Ripple. Why not just price the cruise and leave it at that?

Wth? Be my guest.  Instead of going after me question those that get free cruises.  You are more than welcome to keep the price you booked at.  I don’t live in Florida where I can pick up any cheap cruise.  I’m still working and I work hard for it.  I didn’t come from money nor am I a person that works a half year for giggles.  When a cruise goes down $1000 in the few months since I booked you’d be a moron not to refare.  I’m not talking $20.  Maybe pick on someone else on the board.  There are enough people that email each other to do this already.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[Florida_gal_50]

19 minutes ago, LocoLoco1 said:

I think ‘what’s going on here’ is they’re broke. Flat busted…

Well then stop giving away cruises.  That will bring in money if you have paying customers.

[TotallyCruzin]

[canadarocks]

@TotallyCruzin is this from the Westerdam or a different ship?

[richstowe]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I can hardly wait to get one of these cheap cruises.  It never happens to me.  I'm paying at ton more than I did 20 years ago.  Maybe for inside or outside room because they are not as in demand.

I've got one . A November cruise for 982 Cdn or $747 US for a balcony on a good deck with included gratuities booked directly with HAL . Certainly a good deal and I recognize this is an off-season deal but not a fire-sale price. Also booked my air with them .

 

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by richstowe

[Wakepatrol]

24 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Wth? Be my guest.  Instead of going after me question those that get free cruises.  You are more than welcome to keep the price you booked at.  I don’t live in Florida where I can pick up any cheap cruise.  I’m still working and I work hard for it.  I didn’t come from money nor am I a person that works a half year for giggles.  When a cruise goes down $1000 in the few months since I booked you’d be a moron not to refare.  I’m not talking $20.  Maybe pick on someone else on the board.  There are enough people that email each other to do this already.

No- Not picking on you. Asking why the cruise line just doesn’t make a price and stick with it. All this wasted manpower. The same goes for the tips, crew appreciation whatever. Have the passenger sign a simple sheet at the pier . You agree to pay the x amount per day blah blah blah

no sign= no sail 

They stopped the wine schleppers, and they made everybody get vaccinated and tested. Come on HAL you can do it. 

[iflyrc5]

The Navigator app for our Nieuw Amsterdam cruises in Nov does not show anything extra for multiple appetizers. 

[Hlitner]

46 minutes ago, Wakepatrol said:

No- Not picking on you. Asking why the cruise line just doesn’t make a price and stick with it. All this wasted manpower. The same goes for the tips, crew appreciation whatever. Have the passenger sign a simple sheet at the pier . You agree to pay the x amount per day blah blah blah

no sign= no sail 

They stopped the wine schleppers, and they made everybody get vaccinated and tested. Come on HAL you can do it. 

It is called "yield management."  An empty berth (on any cruise) is what is called (in economics) "opportunity lost revenue."  The idea of yield management is to fill as many berths as possible at the highest average price per berth.   One way to sell those unused berths is to lower prices, have a quiet sale, toss in extra amenities, etc.   Following your reasoning they would simply sale with more empty berths, lose more money, and may not be sailing and cruises in the future!

 

As for what HAL calls "crew appreciation" (what a ridiculous label) they could just follow the model used by many luxury lines (such as Seabourn) and price the cruises so as to have a no-tipping policy.  Cruise lines leave themselves open to hassles with their tipping schemes which are simply a smoke and mirrors game to fool potential cruisers into thinking they are paying a lower price for the cruise.

 

Hank

[cruisemom42]

9 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

When did soup and salad become an appetizer?  A starter, yes. But an appetizer?

 

And in an upscale restaurant, I would expect appetizer, soup, salad, then the dessert. And I would expect small portions of each. 
 

 

 

I agree. Not so long ago each of those items would've been in a separate category -- back when meals had 6-7 courses. It's bad enough that they condensed those offerings in an effort to discourage folks from ordering the full set of courses. But to charge extra, well....  it doesn't seem like a smart move.  Especially when many consider this a special occasion. 

 

HAL, your competitors are not doing it, and some of them have specialty dining that's better than what many HAL ships offer.  (Not speaking about the newer ships.). Be careful. Dilute the experience too much and you may find even your loyalists looking elsewhere.

[Laminator]

Here is a menu from a true "upscale" steakhouse. Granted I live an hour from Chicago so I have many choices. This steakhouse has very reasonable prices for the area. It puts the Pinnacle to shame. 98% of upscale steakhouses in the area put the Pinnacle to shame. As you can see they charge additional for soup, salad add-ons and dessert.

I would rather have HAL charge $79 or $99 per person and give me the upscale experience.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Laminator

[Wakepatrol]

6 hours ago, Hlitner said:

 

 

As for what HAL calls "crew appreciation" (what a ridiculous label) they could just follow the model used by many luxury lines (such as Seabourn) and price the cruises so as to have a no-tipping policy.  Cruise lines leave themselves open to hassles with their tipping schemes which are simply a smoke and mirrors game to fool potential cruisers into thinking they are paying a lower price for the cruise.

 

Hank

Following your reasoning they would simply sale with more empty berths, lose more money, and may not be sailing and cruises in the future

Edited September 2, 2022 by Wakepatrol

[sofietucker]

4 hours ago, Laminator said:

Here is a menu from a true "upscale" steakhouse. Granted I live an hour from Chicago so I have many choices. This steakhouse has very reasonable prices for the area. It puts the Pinnacle to shame. 98% of upscale steakhouses in the area put the Pinnacle to shame. As you can see they charge additional for soup, salad add-ons and dessert.

I would rather have HAL charge $79 or $99 per person and give me the upscale experience.

Looks like Ruth's Chris. I actually prefer this model  instead of an entrance fee.

[Florida_gal_50]

5 hours ago, Laminator said:

Bring in money? As i stated earlier Carnival Casino Division pays HAL for these "free" cabins. Many of us with the free cabins wind up upgrading and we pay for those upgrades. I get an NS guaranty but I want an aft wrap so I pay an additional $800 or so for the cabin I want. I can assure you the casino is a huge moneymaker for HAL. These pax get these casino discounts because they have earned them. Just like 5* mariners have earned their discounts. Any time you want to compare your total cruise costs to mine let me know. Hopefully then the whining will stop.

 

$800 for a Neptune.  Most people would pay that for an inside.  As far as having an a la carte menu for the pinnacle it would be interesting to see how much business it would get.  Maybe just people that pay $800 for Neptune suites.

[Laminator]

39 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

$800 for a Neptune.  Most people would pay that for an inside.  As far as having an a la carte menu for the pinnacle it would be interesting to see how much business it would get.  Maybe just people that pay $800 for Neptune suites.

What's even better is that $800 is USD. And like I stated earlier I will be more than happy to compare end of cruise statements any time to see who spent more money on the cruise.

 

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, Laminator said:

What's even better is that $800 is USD. And like I stated earlier I will be more than happy to compare end of cruise statements any time to see who spent more money on the cruise.

 

What you put into a slot machine is not a cruise cost.  That’s all optional.  My cruise fare is not optional. You can say whatever you want about how the price of the cruise is covered by someone else.  Doesn’t make it true.  I won’t be commenting any further about this because this isn’t the subject of this thread.