Zaandam Marco Polo Restaurant

[DJP]

Has anyone tried the Marco Polo restaurant on the Zaandam recently? I noticed it on the deck configuration and assume it's the small restaurant that costs $20 per person extra....correct? The Zaandam the week of Thanksgiving will be our first HAL cruise, 8th cruise since 1994, and we have tried these types of restaurants on NCL. Enjoyed them as a change of pace, but found them to be very small and crowded and you end up almost in your neighbor's lap. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you!

[doone]

I ate at the Pinnacle Grill on the Rotterdam. I would HIGHLY recommend that restaurant. I had the steak, it was scrumptous, mom had the salmon, loved it and ooohhh that chocolate volcano cake, YOU GOTTA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check your documents when you get them, it may offer you to make reservations ahead of time to eat there the first night onboard for only $10 per person. Its worth every penny no matter what you pay, I think you would enjoy it.

Its a smaller restaurant, but we didn't feel crowded at all.

[jstducky]

i ate at the marco polo, or odyssey or pinnacle grill (i don't know what name it goes by now on the zaandam) last year on my cruise to alaska. it is kind of small (at least compared to the one they have on the zuiderdam), but it is certainly not like the description you had of the NCL ships. the alternate restaurant is a reservation restaurant and if you want a private table just tell them that you want a table by yourselves away from everyone else. when i was on the zaandam last year the restaurant was never bustling with people, it was a very relaxed, quiet and romantic atmosphere. the food is spectacular and worth every penny of the $20 they charge. not only is the food good, the service is wonderful. the restuarant is located across from the wajang theater by the java cafe, just down the hall from the front desk. i definitely recommend that you give it a try!

[like2cruise]

We just got back from our cruise and land vacation on the Zaandam yesterday. We ate at the Pinnacle on the night of Juneau. On our sailing they offered $10.00 per person rates on the first night, also on the night of Skagway which would be the first night for those boarding the Zaandam in Skagway and also from 5:30-7:30 on the night of Juneau. We had reservations at 9pm and our rate was $20.00 per person. We had made our reservations prior to our cruise and pre-paid the required fee. We were charged again that night. So we did have to make a visit to the Purser's desk to have the charge removed. I would take copy of payment with you if you pre-pay as I did have to wait for them to verify with the manager. The service was excellent. One table in the dining room was VERY loud which we would of enjoyed a little quieter dinner in such a small restaurant. The food was good. We also had a bottle of wine sent to our cabin from the captain and we took it with us to the dining room and they chilled and served it to us without any problems. I am a chocolate fanatic, but actually enjoyed the bite or two of my hubby's baked alaska more than the volcano cake. Any specific questions, I would be happy to answer.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

When the Zaandam first cruised, she had an alternative restaurant called the Marco Polo which offered Itialian food at no extra cost. Then in the winter/spring of 2003, any alternative restaurant that was already on a HAL ship and those soon to be added had aname change. The new name became the Pinnacle Grill. Since some ships already had the Odyssey or Marco Polo restaurants on them, their names were changed to read: The Pinnacle Grill at the Marco Polo" or "The Pinnacle Grille at the Odyssey". Even on the new Vista ships you will see the alternative restaurants being referred to one of the above names. That is because as you enter the restaurants, in either gold or silver lettering embossed on the marble floor is the name "Marco Polo" or Odyssey". It would be too expensive for HAL to have the flooring changed.

We have eaten at many of the new Pinnacle Grills and love them. It is well worth the $20.

:)

[Minybear]

When we were on the DCL at "Palo" which is like the Marco Polo restaurant we paid the $20 pp but we had to tip whom ever waited on us. Do we also tip for this restaurant? and how much did you tip? Need suggestions:).

[DJP]

Thank you all for your responses.....looks like we will certainly try it in November. If we are able to get reservations for the first night for $10pp, what about dress code? What if our luggage hasn't arrived in our cabin yet? We wear shorts on travel days and I know that's inappropriate in the restaurants. I suppose we could bring something dressy in a carryon bag. What do the rest of you do? This is our first HAL cruise, so I'm not sure when the luggage arrives in the cabins......it's been our experience on our 7 other cruises that it varies greatly from a few hours to late evening.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

The first night in the Pinnacle you can dress casually - but no shorts.

Very few people have had trouble getting their luggage before they have dinner. So hopefully you should have yours in time to change for dinner. But if you are worried, just tuck a pair of nice slacks into your carry-on.

Yes, we do tip when we eat in the Pinnacle. Tipping a really a personnel choice. We tip according to what we feel a comparable meal woud cost on land as well as how good the service is.

:)