Live from Nieuw Statendam 4/8/23 TA

[L454S]

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That’s too bad.  I’ve found it to be very good but I order a few things only.  The tomato seafood soup is hot and delicious.  For mains I’ve ordered the osso bucco or veggie tomato risotto.  Both really, really good.  I’m not Italian though, so not comparing it to my moms home cooking.  It’s easily better than the tamarind or pinnacle to me.

 

 

 

 

No osso bucco, that is a Monday only dish. Wish it would have been on the menu, DW likes that.

 

I'm not Italian either, just like Italian food. The osso bucco is on the menu every day in Giovanni's, as well as filet mignon, etc., but as stated, it does cost more.

 

Arrived in Ponta Delgada, Azores today at 12 noon. Will be here till 11 pm. Pretty sunshine day with clouds in the mountains.

[Florida_gal_50]

54 minutes ago, L454S said:

 

No osso bucco, that is a Monday only dish. Wish it would have been on the menu, DW likes that.

 

I'm not Italian either, just like Italian food. The osso bucco is on the menu every day in Giovanni's, as well as filet mignon, etc., but as stated, it does cost more.

 

Arrived in Ponta Delgada, Azores today at 12 noon. Will be here till 11 pm. Pretty sunshine day with clouds in the mountains.

If you are so inclined I've heard if you ask for the osso bucco the day before they will make it for you. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't go back. That's the way I feel about the pinnacle. 

 

Pretty picture.  Enjoy your day.

[L454S]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

If you are so inclined I've heard if you ask for the osso bucco the day before they will make it for you. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't go back. That's the way I feel about the pinnacle. 

 

Pretty picture.  Enjoy your day.

 

I get what your saying, we went to the Pinnacle Grill on night 2. DW had a filet that she enjoyed it, I had the rib eye and it was tough. I ended up cutting it into small pieces to make it a bit better.

 

A little story about the Pinnacle Grill. We had heard about the powers that be wanting to charge you for more than one appetizer. Sure enough, what they did was group the apps and the salads together. You can only get an app or a salad and only one or there will be an additional $7 charge.

 

I saw this on the menu and when we ordered I called this out to the waiter. I told him if I couldn't get an app and salad that we were going to leave. He bent over and said "order what you want, I will bring it."

 

I'm not bragging, just what I had decided to do if these rules were in place and call out the BS.

[cruising sister]

I have three specialty dining options with my cruise in May on NS. I find specialty dining on the different cruise lines hit or miss. I booked the three and I will see if I like them. The one I am most worried about is Tamarind as I am shellfish allergic. 

[Banditswife]

We just got off NS on April 8th.  For coffee I would usually head to Gr Dutch cafe in the mornings & have a pastry or yogurt parfait with my latte.  Loved the Gr Dutch cafe.  For splenda or Sweet n low, if I remember correctly, it is by the hot tea selections.  I liked the set up they had there.

We ate in Tamarind 1 night & enjoyed it very much, great service & food.

I agree with you on Canneletto, we tried it once last week & found the service good, but the food below par.  The lasagna was the same as what is served in the MDR.  There were 4 of us & none of us really liked what we ordered.

We had tried Pinnacle on a previous cruise & thought it was just so- so & not worth the extra cost.  I thought it was silly that I could order as many sides as I wished, but an extra app cost $7.

 

Enjoy your cruise

Edited April 15, 2023 by Banditswife

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, L454S said:

 

I get what your saying, we went to the Pinnacle Grill on night 2. DW had a filet that she enjoyed it, I had the rib eye and it was tough. I ended up cutting it into small pieces to make it a bit better.

 

A little story about the Pinnacle Grill. We had heard about the powers that be wanting to charge you for more than one appetizer. Sure enough, what they did was group the apps and the salads together. You can only get an app or a salad and only one or there will be an additional $7 charge.

 

I saw this on the menu and when we ordered I called this out to the waiter. I told him if I couldn't get an app and salad that we were going to leave. He bent over and said "order what you want, I will bring it."

 

I'm not bragging, just what I had decided to do if these rules were in place and call out the BS.

While I can't remember when I've ordered 2 apps there this annoys me to no end.  I love that you did this. One person has suggested bringing a salad or whatever from the Lido.  They deserve this for making such an idiotic rule.  Everyone should do this so thank you.

[Riversedge]

17 hours ago, L454S said:

Had dinner in Canaletto last night. I'm sorry to say that I can't recommend it .

 

 

 

The food was very hit/miss. Appetizers: The antipasti plate was good, but tiny. The calamari was TOUGH. The veal meatballs were very good.

 

We had tough calamari in the dining room for lunch. Disappointing.  They don’t seem to know how to make it on this ship.  But overall we were pleased with the food.  

[L454S]

11 hours ago, cruising sister said:

I have three specialty dining options with my cruise in May on NS. I find specialty dining on the different cruise lines hit or miss. I booked the three and I will see if I like them. The one I am most worried about is Tamarind as I am shellfish allergic. 

 

We are going to Tamarind in a couple days, have read some good and some bad. We wanted to give them all a try with the HIA booking.

[L454S]

9 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

While I can't remember when I've ordered 2 apps there this annoys me to no end.  I love that you did this. One person has suggested bringing a salad or whatever from the Lido.  They deserve this for making such an idiotic rule.  Everyone should do this so thank you.

 

Agree with you 100%. These upcharge places are not cheap!

 

They used to list salads apart from apps, now group together and allow you one. Absurd.

 

We have dealt with other lines(RCI) cutbacks too. Seems they are trying to find the pain threshold. As long as bookings stay up, they will keep doing these things unfortunately. Business 101 I guess.

Edited April 16, 2023 by L454S

[L454S]

Wanted to add a point I forgot while talking about Pinnacle Grill.

 

We had been seated at about 5:45 and there were only about 2 other couples there. Figured by the time we left, it would be rocking and rolling.

 

We left about 7:10 and there were still only a couple people there. .......Make of that what you will. This was day 2.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

2 hours ago, L454S said:

 

We are going to Tamarind in a couple days, have read some good and some bad. We wanted to give them all a try with the HIA booking.

It is our favorite. Please make a reservation for us August 2. 6:30  room 1111

[cruising sister]

Yikes, I have done specialty dining only one other time and that was on Celebrity edge and that too was a perk. I would say it was hit or miss.  I hope my experience will be better but who knows. I am ok with trying as it was included in the perks. Thanks for taking us along. I appreciate the information. 

[L454S]

1 hour ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

It is our favorite. Please make a reservation for us August 2. 6:30  room 1111

 

I'll try.................................................

 

It would be OK with me if it became one of my favorites too.

[zuzka61]

Can you please tell me if the ship has escargot at any of the restaurants?

[L454S]

1 hour ago, zuzka61 said:

Can you please tell me if the ship has escargot at any of the restaurants?

 

So far I think it has been offered on 2 evenings in the Main Dining Room. This is day 9 of this 14 day sailing. Yes, we got it and it was pretty good.

 

It comes on a white multi hole ramekin as opposed to the stainless ones on other cruise lines.  Sorry, I didn't take any pics. Found this pic online.

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by L454S

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

3 hours ago, L454S said:

 

I'll try.................................................

 

It would be OK with me if it became one of my favorites too.

I like the Red Curry chicken and Gail love's the steak. And the Mango desert 

[washiotter]

On 4/15/2023 at 2:27 PM, L454S said:

 

A little story about the Pinnacle Grill. We had heard about the powers that be wanting to charge you for more than one appetizer. Sure enough, what they did was group the apps and the salads together. You can only get an app or a salad and only one or there will be an additional $7 charge.

 

I saw this on the menu and when we ordered I called this out to the waiter. I told him if I couldn't get an app and salad that we were going to leave. He bent over and said "order what you want, I will bring it."

 

I'm not bragging, just what I had decided to do if these rules were in place and call out the BS.

Yikes!

[L454S]

We tried the lunch at the Pinnacle Grill. For $15 it sounded good with the menu posted.

 

I would recommend it. We had a crab cakes app and the Pinnacle Burger(I do love a GOOD burger). I think the kitchen sink was on there somewhere. Surprised to see that many people in there, it was full.

 

We pulled into Cadiz, Spain this morning. Have been before, one of the things we like to do is walk into town and find a sidewalk cafe serving a big pitcher of Sangria and tapas.

 

 

[L454S]

 

They will start bringing out different apps as you finish them. No the peanuts don't count.

Edited April 18, 2023 by L454S

[Beejay4016]

I am so enjoying reading your posts, so thanks for taking the time - it's really appreciated. I am weighing up the pros and cons of two different crossings next year, one on the NS and one on the Zuiderdam. We like the size of the Zuiderdam but the modern look of the NS, and particularly the joy of having an actual walk-in shower as opposed to a shower over a bathtub. We've never been on one of the larger vessels, the Oosterdam being the largest we've been on, so it may be nice to try a different class of vessel. Your posts might just be enough to sway me that way.

[L454S]

You're welcome BJ4016, I have been on the Zuiderdam, but it was 18 years ago. By the deck plans it looks like they have tried to implement some version of the music venues.

 

Have seen these for a few days now in the Dutch Cafe. They come out about 11 AM. They are called Boussche Bols. A monster chocolate cream puff.....OMG. Yes, they are free.

Edited April 18, 2023 by L454S

[oakridger]

On the Rotterdam I got one of those Bossche bol cream puffs with the intention of having half of it.....well that didn't happen!  Ate every bit of it!!!

 

Thanks for posting all about your trip!

 

~Nancy

[L454S]

Woke up to the rock of Gibraltar this morning along with a cruise ship with sails. Probably just walk into town at the outdoor market and have a fish and chips at Roy's in the square. We've toured the rock previously.

 

By the way, avoid the fish and chips or fried cod onboard, mostly breading and oily.

[ExpatBride]

Is there a "yum-yum man" on this ship? I'm sailing her in late July and I credit the Zuiderdam man's post-dinner ginger for keeping me from getting seasick for the first time ever!

[00649]

Do you have a guest lecturer on board. Would it happen to be Jim