Pinnacle Dining Solo?

[casamariposa]

How welcoming is the Pinnacle towards passengers traveling alone? Do they seat singles?
Do they ask if you want to share a table?

[jtl513]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

I've never tried to dine solo in the PG, but my bet is that they would be happy to give you a single table. I doubt that they would ask you share a table.

Another option might be to join the Roll Call for your sailing, go to the Meet & Greet, and ask if there's anyone else there who you could join for a night.

Go here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86 and then find your ship and date. If there is none for your ship and date yet, you can either start one or wait a while for someone else to.

[RuthC]

Yes, they seat singles. And no, they would not ask you to share a table. Dining at the Pinnacle is more like going to a land restaurant, where each party (including a party of one) is independent of other parties.

[RevNeal]

How welcoming is the Pinnacle towards passengers traveling alone? Do they seat singles?
Do they ask if you want to share a table?

I've cruised solo many times; often I cruise with friends, even though I'm in my cabin by myself. However, there have been a few cruises where I've not known a soul aboard ship (before boarding). On two of those cruises I decided I wanted to eat in the Pinnacle Grill: once for lunch, once for dinner. On both occasions I made my reservation without difficulty, was seated promptly upon arrival, the service was impeccable and swift, and I enjoyed my meal greatly.

Yes, most people eat in the Pinnacle with others. However, they can and do seat people who are eating alone.

[airlink diva]

Good evening!!
By all means go to Pinnacle for a wonderful dining experience Casamariposa!
I've dine on the Oosterdam and Maasdam Pinnacle dining room and had a nice time.
Since I book the table for one, never ask to join others when seated.
I normally bring a book and enjoy a nice glass of wine and steak dinner. I love sitting by the windows esp at sunset!
Best bet is to book on the first day on the ship to get the date and time you want!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have seen quite a few people eating solo in the Pinnacle Grill. There are lots of tables for 2 which they can place you at.

[Parrot57]

People always seem to assume that a person who is travelling solo wants to meet people and share tables, etc. with them. Some of us, like myself, are loners and like it that way.

[RevNeal]

People always seem to assume that a person who is travelling solo wants to meet people and share tables, etc. with them. Some of us, like myself, are loners and like it that way.

I understand entirely; I often enjoy cruising solo and meeting new people, etc. However, there are times when I would rather sit alone, read or listen to a book, and simply enjoy a quiet meal. I eat alone much of the time in my real life, so I often say I don't want to eat like that aboard ship. And, that's true ... for the most part. However, I have discovered that there are times when I DO want to just go have a quiet meal by myself. And, on such occasions, the Pinnacle is an excellent place for doing that.

[Roz]

On my last cruise, my TA gave me a complimentary Pinnacle Grill lunch. I made a reservation and dined by myself. I would not have wanted to eat with a stranger if that option had been offered, which it wasn't.

On another cruise, my TA gave me a complimentary PG dinner. When I went to make the reservation on the first day, the young man at the wait stand winked at me and suggested I wait to make a reservation because I may meet someone who I wished to dine with. You're not going to believe this, but I met a nice gentleman at the Singles and Solos lunch and I invited him to have dinner with me.

Roz

[RevNeal]

On another cruise, my TA gave me a complimentary PG dinner. When I went to make the reservation on the first day, the young man at the wait stand winked at me and suggested I wait to make a reservation because I may meet someone who I wished to dine with. You're not going to believe this, but I met a nice gentleman at the Singles and Solos lunch and I invited him to have dinner with me.

Hey, Roz ... yes ... it does happen, from time to time! :D ;)

[Roz]

Greg,

I guess because I go with no expectations of meeting anyone, it can happen. I've sometimes met women who obviously watched one too many episodes of The Love Boat, and were disappointed when no dashing single man or officer swept them off their feet.

Roz

[RevNeal]

I guess because I go with no expectations of meeting anyone, it can happen. I've sometimes met women who obviously watched one too many episodes of The Love Boat, and were disappointed when no dashing single man or officer swept them off their feet.

I agree ... that does appear to be both the proper expectation and the reality. Nevertheless, I've heard several stories of "romances" that have begun aboard HAL ships, so I know it does occasionally happen. AND, sometimes it's not "romance" one is looking for, but simple friendship. If THAT is one's objective, there are sometimes a lot of friends to be made at such gatherings. :D

[GeriatricNurse]

How welcoming is the Pinnacle towards passengers traveling alone? Do they seat singles?
Do they ask if you want to share a table?


I have dined solo in the PG. The servers appeared to be quite "welcoming" of me as a "single" diner! Yes, they seat singles! Why wouldn't they??? Yes, I was seated by myself and no, I was not asked (NOR would I expect to be asked) to "share a table"!:)

P.S. Apparantly, the menu for the PG is no longer posted outside the PG, as it once was! Also, the "domed" wheeled cart containing the various cuts of meat is no longer brought to the tables by the servers in order to describe the various cuts of meat like it once was!:mad:

[TiogaCruiser]

Since I book the table for one, never ask to join others when seated.
I normally bring a book and enjoy a nice glass of wine and steak dinner. I love sitting by the windows esp at sunset!!!

which ships have windows in the PG? Lack of windows was the only thing I didn't like about the one we went to.

[jtl513]

which ships have windows in the PG? Lack of windows was the only thing I didn't like about the one we went to.Vistas, Eurodam, and Statendam PGs have windows for sure, and I would bet that the other three S-class ships do too. We didn't eat in the PG of the Amsterdam, which is the same class as the Volendam, so I don't know about there.

[Roz]

As I recall, the Noordam PG has windows. Someone please correct me if I'm hallucinating. :D

Roz

[catl331]

Also, the "domed" wheeled cart containing the various cuts of meat is no longer brought to the tables by the servers in order to describe the various cuts of meat like it once was!:mad:I think we had one on the Noordam last Dec, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. The PGs are so much the same from ship to ship that the memories blur together. :)

[airlink diva]

which ships have windows in the PG? Lack of windows was the only thing I didn't like about the one we went to.

I was on the Maasdam and was seated by the windows. I can't recall on the Oosterdam, I want to say I was seated near the front.

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[rkacruiser]

Agree with others that it is not a problem in dining solo in the Pinnacle. Like some others, having a quiet dinner away from my usual tablemates is a "vacation" unto itself sometimes.

I had an interesting experience when sailing on Queen Mary 2. I planned to make reservations for her Todd English Restaurant(QM2's Pinnacle). The first morning at breakfast, I was seated with a couple. During our conversation, it became known that they too were planning on dining at Todd English. We "hit it off" during that first conversation and decided we would dine together. Leaving the Brittania Restaurant, we went to Todd English made made our reservations for dinner together later in the cruise. It did make the dining experience even more enjoyable.

[elycelynne]

Agree with others that it is not a problem in dining solo in the Pinnacle. Like some others, having a quiet dinner away from my usual tablemates is a "vacation" unto itself sometimes.

I had an interesting experience when sailing on Queen Mary 2. I planned to make reservations for her Todd English Restaurant(QM2's Pinnacle). The first morning at breakfast, I was seated with a couple. During our conversation, it became known that they too were planning on dining at Todd English. We "hit it off" during that first conversation and decided we would dine together. Leaving the Brittania Restaurant, we went to Todd English made made our reservations for dinner together later in the cruise. It did make the dining experience even more enjoyable.

I had a similar experience on the Westerdam this past December. I had a 6:00 solo Pinnacle reservation for the second night. During dinner on the first night (open seating) I met a very friendly couple who happened to have a reservation for that exact day and time, so they invited me to join them. They ended up kind of adopting me for the cruise -- I was on their trivia team and I also joined them for the Master Chef's dinner.

[casamariposa]

Thank you all so much for your prompt replies. I have traveled with friends, family and, many times, solo. Now that I've reached that stage in life where I can enjoy much longer cruises, I know that occasionally I will want to "get away from it all" and enjoy a lovely, quiet lunch or dinner in the Pinacle. You are all great. I enjoy the board so much.

[sail7seas]

Vistas, Eurodam, and Statendam PGs have windows for sure, and I would bet that the other three S-class ships do too. We didn't eat in the PG of the Amsterdam, which is the same class as the Volendam, so I don't know about there.

The only ships that have a windowless Pinnacle are ships that were built with either a Marco Polo Restaurant or Odyssey.

Amsterdam and Rotterdam had Odyssey and
Volendam and Zaandam had Marco Polo Restaurants. Their location made them windowless.
These were converted to Pinnacle Grills after Zuiderdam joined the fleet and was the first to have a Pinnacle. All the other ships ultimately got Pinnacle Restaurants.

[tcook052]

I too appreciate the replies as I'm cruising solo on Eurodam in late Jan. and will dine PG alone.

BTW is Tamarind as single-friendly?

[SwissMyst]

How welcoming is the Pinnacle towards passengers traveling alone? Do they seat singles?
Do they ask if you want to share a table?

Talk to the cruise director to see if a small solo group or dining partner can be arranged if you don't want to dine alone. I bet there would be others travelling solo who would also want to try this but are feeling a bit reluctant too to do it alone. It is such a small dining area that it less easy to get lost in the crowd.

But they also have window side tables often so booking one in the back corner may work out well unless you like dining alone in the center of the room. I always like kind of sitting on the perimeter to people watch myself when I dine alone. So I would check for table location too if you do make a reservation if this matters to you.

I once did a Michelin One Star Restuarant tour in Switzerland dining solo, arriving at mid day without reservations at 6 restaurants. And it was interesting how each handled the solo woman diner differently, but mostly all courteously and professionally. It was a grand adventure but for me I think it always more fun to share a meal than dine alone. But darn it, sometimes one is in the situation and one should not pass up a great dining opportunity even if it means dining solo.

One big drawback from our only sole experience with the Pinnacle were the exceptionally long waits from being seated, to getting the menu to time between courses. That would be even more cumbersome I would think if you were solo. The old fall back of bringing a book might be the best suggestion if you face the same long service delays, which others have also reported.

Maybe lunch with a shorter menu would be a better choice?

[SwissMyst]

which ships have windows in the PG? Lack of windows was the only thing I didn't like about the one we went to.

Zuiderdam PG had windows. (And not much else. :p Okay, I am done.)