Pinnacle Dining - Extra Charges for Appetizers and Entrees - Isn't the upscale the reason you purchased the Pinnacle Dining?

[Laminator]

I really don't think the issue is the $7. If the dining experience was the upscale experience it should be I am not sure there would be so many issues. However when the experience is comparable to Outback or Longhorn there is alot left to be desired. 

[Nachosdelux]

6 hours ago, Laminator said:

I really don't think the issue is the $7. If the dining experience was the upscale experience it should be I am not sure there would be so many issues. However when the experience is comparable to Outback or Longhorn there is alot left to be desired. 

 

+1.  it is the degradation of the experience,

[BobbiSox]

I never eat in the main didning room or the 'specialty' venues any more. Even when they are free. I never found anything appealing enough to tolerate the hour-and-a-half it takes do complete the dinner, and most of it spent waiting for the next course. Thirty cruises with HAL spent watching the service and quality of the specialty dining go downhill. The buffet is my prefernce. Eat as much as you like, as fast or slow as you like. I'm a very picky eater and I want it MY way. 

[ChinaShrek]

12 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I simply don’t understand the supply chain issue.  It’s an easy out.  I live in fairly large city.  I would say for the first six months there was supply problems.  After that hardly anything except for Lysol wipes.  Surely carnival corporation must have more pull than grocery store.  I’m not buying the supply chain issue.  Cruise lines had no tougher go than any other industry.  In Canada we had restaurants and theatres close for a long time (especially theatres) and you don’t hear them complain like hal does.  It an easy excuse that some are quick to lap up.  All the better for hal.

There are still many supply chain issues going on all over the world. There is a vegetable shortage in the UK right. At my local Panera Bread, they are often out of butter and Romaine lettuce because the truck didn't deliver it. This happens monthly. At a nearby casino, they put swordfish on the menu and it is often unavailable due to supply issues. People are calling in sick more. People are quiet quitting their jobs or simply quitting if they are treated poorly. Life is different from before Covid. We need to accept that.

[MikeD4134]

19 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Yes, when I enlarge the photo I see that, but there's no need to be rude.

Not rude, just a friendly suggestion.

[Florida_gal_50]

29 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

There are still many supply chain issues going on all over the world. There is a vegetable shortage in the UK right. At my local Panera Bread, they are often out of butter and Romaine lettuce because the truck didn't deliver it. This happens monthly. At a nearby casino, they put swordfish on the menu and it is often unavailable due to supply issues. People are calling in sick more. People are quiet quitting their jobs or simply quitting if they are treated poorly. Life is different from before Covid. We need to accept that.

How does quiet quitting relate to supply chains?  Somehow I’m not surprised how things have changed in the workplace but I doubt that has anything to do with Covid.  It’s a different world.  I’m not saying there wouldn’t be a problem getting carrots or pineapple, but I’m having a hard times believing everything is short.

[3rdGenCunarder]

28 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How does quiet quitting relate to supply chains?  Somehow I’m not surprised how things have changed in the workplace but I doubt that has anything to do with Covid.  It’s a different world.  I’m not saying there wouldn’t be a problem getting carrots or pineapple, but I’m having a hard times believing everything is short.

 

Not everything, but it seems random. The veg shortage in the UK is from weather issues, not covid or supply chains. But other shortages could be anything--no butter one week and then more butter than anyone needs the next. 

Edited March 4, 2023 by 3rdGenCunarder

[Laminator]

Tonight I will be going to a premium steakhouse in the Chicagoland area. The menu, like most premium steakhouse's is ala carte. My choices will be:

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake  - $24

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - $19

French Onion Soup - $12

No salad

Bone-In 24oz Ribeye - $68

Baked Potato - $9

Dessert of the day (Sugar Free) - $12

I am diabetic so Coke Zero will be the beverage of choice. My wife will order the crab cakes, french onion soup and the petit filet along with the grilled asparagus, dessert and a few cocktails. If she adds the crab legs for mkt price I may be declaring bankruptcy on Monday. This will be a wonderful dining experience. The final bill will be in the $300 area not including the tip. My point being you get what you pay for. If I were to get up and go to the sister restaurant to save $7 on a salad I would be in divorce court on Monday as my wife would be mortified. 

Maybe the Pinnacle should charge $79 per person and start delivering the wonderful dining experience. 

[ChinaShrek]

24 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How does quiet quitting relate to supply chains?  Somehow I’m not surprised how things have changed in the workplace but I doubt that has anything to do with Covid.  It’s a different world.  I’m not saying there wouldn’t be a problem getting carrots or pineapple, but I’m having a hard times believing everything is short.

Simply put, businesses are not as productive as they used to be. I believe people are working less hard because they aren't happy with their jobs or don't think life is worth it anymore. This helps to explain the lack of certain products on a ship. Then there is climate change...

[Florida_gal_50]

13 minutes ago, Laminator said:

Tonight I will be going to a premium steakhouse in the Chicagoland area. The menu, like most premium steakhouse's is ala carte. My choices will be:

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake  - $24

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - $19

French Onion Soup - $12

No salad

Bone-In 24oz Ribeye - $68

Baked Potato - $9

Dessert of the day (Sugar Free) - $12

I am diabetic so Coke Zero will be the beverage of choice. My wife will order the crab cakes, french onion soup and the petit filet along with the grilled asparagus, dessert and a few cocktails. If she adds the crab legs for mkt price I may be declaring bankruptcy on Monday. This will be a wonderful dining experience. The final bill will be in the $300 area not including the tip. My point being you get what you pay for. If I were to get up and go to the sister restaurant to save $7 on a salad I would be in divorce court on Monday as my wife would be mortified. 

Maybe the Pinnacle should charge $79 per person and start delivering the wonderful dining experience. 

No, because there would be another reason for the upcharge.  I’m talking apps not caviar and Delmonico steaks.  

[Laminator]

5 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

No, because there would be another reason for the upcharge.  I’m talking apps not caviar and Delmonico steaks.  

I am ordering 2 apps tonight. I will have to pay for both of them. 

[iceman93]

22 minutes ago, Laminator said:

Maybe the Pinnacle should charge $79 per person and start delivering the wonderful dining experience. 

The Rudi's Sel de Mer restaurant on the NS did have a higher surcharge, and it was worth every penny.  The food and service quality matched the price point.

 

Interestingly, the same thing has happened on Disney.  Their original upcharge restaurant, Palo, has gone downhill and no longer seems to get the rave reviews it did in years gone by.  But their uber-upcharge restaurant, Remy's (the highest surcharge at sea, or at least it used to be) is considered a sublime experience.

 

Yet I remember back in the days before any upcharge restaurants when the complimentary main dining rooms offered consistently good food and much better service than they do now.  I guess cruise lines are conditioning us to need to pay more above and beyond our cruise fare in order to get "good" dining experiences.

[Laminator]

2 minutes ago, iceman93 said:

The Rudi's Sel de Mer restaurant on the NS did have a higher surcharge, and it was worth every penny.  The food and service quality matched the price point.

 

Interestingly, the same thing has happened on Disney.  Their original upcharge restaurant, Palo, has gone downhill and no longer seems to get the rave reviews it did in years gone by.  But their uber-upcharge restaurant, Remy's (the highest surcharge at sea, or at least it used to be) is considered a sublime experience.

 

Yet I remember back in the days before any upcharge restaurants when the complimentary main dining rooms offered consistently good food and much better service than they do now.  I guess cruise lines are conditioning us to need to pay more above and beyond our cruise fare in order to get "good" dining experiences.

That seems to be the case. My point is, and i think we agree, is that charge more, like Rudi's, and provide a memorable experience.

[Florida_gal_50]

6 minutes ago, Laminator said:

I am ordering 2 apps tonight. I will have to pay for both of them. 

Obviously.  Did you already pay for your meal ahead of time like you do on the ship (mdr)?  When I go out the a restaurant where I live I only order the main because it’s a decent size (5 or 6 ounces) of chicken for instance.  I may have a salad.  I don’t drink because I’m driving a lot of the time and I never get dessert.

[mcrcruiser]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How does quiet quitting relate to supply chains?  Somehow I’m not surprised how things have changed in the workplace but I doubt that has anything to do with Covid.  It’s a different world.  I’m not saying there wouldn’t be a problem getting carrots or pineapple, but I’m having a hard times believing everything is short.

 This word supply chain & shortages is used for control just like what has been associated with covid .In reality there is no supply chain shortages just man made . The truth is hidden from the mass populations .Thus ,there really is no supply chain shortages for cruise lines either.  imvho

[mcrcruiser]

If people accept the changes like in Pinnacle Rest ,the management will come up with some additional wacky things that turn more profits their way .Funny things happen when people balk & turn away 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

How does quiet quitting relate to supply chains?  Somehow I’m not surprised how things have changed in the workplace but I doubt that has anything to do with Covid.  It’s a different world.  I’m not saying there wouldn’t be a problem getting carrots or pineapple, but I’m having a hard times believing everything is short.

I agree, there might be a few items but... in the last 4 months I have cruised Princess and and two NCL cruises. There was not supply issue of items, while Yes, Princess is pulling the same stuff as HAL with smaller dishes but at least they are not nickel and diming as badly as HAL is. HAL has been using the excuse of Supply Chain from the begining. It has been a convient excuse for them that in my opinion is most likely not accurate.On our two most recent NCL cruises their specialty dining is night and day different. Almost all restaurants are a la carte unless you have the Dining Package. The Dining package if you purchase it averages $49.00 pp plus 20% gratuity the more nights you buy the cheaper it is. But with the dining package, you get an Appetizer, soup or salad, entree, two sides and dessert. In many cases it is almost too much food. They also allow you to split between two people one dining package because their items are not skimpy. Living in Las Vegas we are exposed to some great restaurants and we do dine out frequently. I will say some of the best dining I have had recently was on the NCL Ships. They cannot compare to HAL or Princess. But with that being said and NCL cruises is considerably more money than HAL. I came home a few weeks ago from the NCL Encore, was so thrilled I placed the same ship on hold for Alaska. Then thought to take a look at HAL, For a Neptune Suite comparing to NCL Haven Suite HAL was just over $4000 less. Knowing what I was changing to and what to expect from HAL I took the cheaper cruise with HAL. I guess the moral is You Get What you Pay for.  

[Iamthesea]

10 hours ago, Laminator said:

I really don't think the issue is the $7. If the dining experience was the upscale experience it should be I am not sure there would be so many issues. However when the experience is comparable to Outback or Longhorn there is alot left to be desired. 

DH and I both had a wonderful Farm Fresh Field Greens salad topped with Grilled Salmon at Longhorn the other night.  Too much to finish!  I cook a mean salmon at home, and DH and I both agreed that this salmon was right up there with mine!  $15.  I could not have purchased all of the ingredients at the grocery at that price. We were also served a loaf of fresh whole wheat bread to boot, and the waiter said that we could order an extra to take home.  We declined.  The service was excellent!!!  Young man in college.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Iamthesea

[OlsSalt]

Does not NCL make most of its money off gambling, really high stakes and even private casino action? That was its reputation at one time. Which means it can afford to offer more in the front of the house. Just like Las Vegas resorts bring them in with great restaurants, but the real action is the gaming.

[Hlitner]

I have previously suggested that folks stop at the Lido (before going to dinner in the Pinnacle) and get themselves a nice salad and perhaps another starter which they can then bring into the Pinnacle to add to their "upscale" dinner.

 

Hank

[LAFFNVEGAS]

4 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Does not NCL make most of its money off gambling, really high stakes and even private casino action? That was its reputation at one time. Which means it can afford to offer more in the front of the house. Just like Las Vegas resorts bring them in with great restaurants, but the real action is the gaming.

Yes NCL does have a lot of Casino players but with that being said their price for cruise and specialty restaurants is considerably higher than HAL but they are definitely worth it. When I cruise NCL we do not gamble but I purchase the specialty dining packages even though we always stay in The haven and have that as a Specilaty restaurant as well but we usually only dine ther one night maybe two. It is way more elegant than Pinnacle even for breakfast. Plus they allow for just asking for extras. For example the Breakfast menu has a NY Strip Steak and Eggs, myhusband has had a standing order for a filet instead every morning.No problem,  No extra charge. They will actually get you anything you want within reason. One comes into the restaurant even in the morning and if I have black shorts on, they bring me a black cloth napkin instead of the white one on the table.  Everything they do is just several steps above what HAL offers.

[Florida_gal_50]

33 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I agree, there might be a few items but... in the last 4 months I have cruised Princess and and two NCL cruises. There was not supply issue of items, while Yes, Princess is pulling the same stuff as HAL with smaller dishes but at least they are not nickel and diming as badly as HAL is. HAL has been using the excuse of Supply Chain from the begining. It has been a convient excuse for them that in my opinion is most likely not accurate.On our two most recent NCL cruises their specialty dining is night and day different. Almost all restaurants are a la carte unless you have the Dining Package. The Dining package if you purchase it averages $49.00 pp plus 20% gratuity the more nights you buy the cheaper it is. But with the dining package, you get an Appetizer, soup or salad, entree, two sides and dessert. In many cases it is almost too much food. They also allow you to split between two people one dining package because their items are not skimpy. Living in Las Vegas we are exposed to some great restaurants and we do dine out frequently. I will say some of the best dining I have had recently was on the NCL Ships. They cannot compare to HAL or Princess. But with that being said and NCL cruises is considerably more money than HAL. I came home a few weeks ago from the NCL Encore, was so thrilled I placed the same ship on hold for Alaska. Then thought to take a look at HAL, For a Neptune Suite comparing to NCL Haven Suite HAL was just over $4000 less. Knowing what I was changing to and what to expect from HAL I took the cheaper cruise with HAL. I guess the moral is You Get What you Pay for.  

Thank you for sharing your perspective.  I rarely get a good deal on hal so it’s hard to believe things could be much more on other lines.  I’m getting some good pricing emails from Princess.  I got one the other day showing a balcony on Princess for Panama for 1/2 the price hal is charging for April.  Unfortunately the dates don’t work for me at all.

[Florida_gal_50]

5 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

I have previously suggested that folks stop at the Lido (before going to dinner in the Pinnacle) and get themselves a nice salad and perhaps another starter which they can then bring into the Pinnacle to add to their "upscale" dinner.

 

Hank

I remember and I love the idea.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, Laminator said:

Tonight I will be going to a premium steakhouse in the Chicagoland area. The menu, like most premium steakhouse's is ala carte. My choices will be:

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake  - $24

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - $19

French Onion Soup - $12

No salad

Bone-In 24oz Ribeye - $68

Baked Potato - $9

Dessert of the day (Sugar Free) - $12

I am diabetic so Coke Zero will be the beverage of choice. My wife will order the crab cakes, french onion soup and the petit filet along with the grilled asparagus, dessert and a few cocktails. If she adds the crab legs for mkt price I may be declaring bankruptcy on Monday. This will be a wonderful dining experience. The final bill will be in the $300 area not including the tip. My point being you get what you pay for. If I were to get up and go to the sister restaurant to save $7 on a salad I would be in divorce court on Monday as my wife would be mortified. 

Maybe the Pinnacle should charge $79 per person and start delivering the wonderful dining experience. 

 

I fail to see the relevance of comparing a specialty dining restaurant on a cruise ship with a land-based restaurant. The proper comparison is with other specialty dining restaurants on comparable cruise lines -- and I am not aware of ANY of them that charge a set fee per meal that limit one's choice of appetizers/soups/salads to ONE per meal.

 

HAL is not competing with your local steakhouse for my vacation dollars....

[Laminator]

34 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I fail to see the relevance of comparing a specialty dining restaurant on a cruise ship with a land-based restaurant. The proper comparison is with other specialty dining restaurants on comparable cruise lines -- and I am not aware of ANY of them that charge a set fee per meal that limit one's choice of appetizers/soups/salads to ONE per meal.

 

HAL is not competing with your local steakhouse for my vacation dollars....

I never realized a quality dinner was different whether at sea or at home. I guess I should substantially lower my expectations when I am on a ship. My whole point here is charge whatever you need to give me a fine dining experience.