Pinnacle reservations

[R&CCruisers]

Is it possible to make dinner reservations in the Pinnacle before boarding ship?
We will be on the Veendam in January and want to celebrate our anniversary with a special Pinnacle dinner.

Thank you in advance.

[Crusing Bob]

all you have to do is go online on HAL's website and go to Ordering Gifts and you can book there.

[BaumD]

You will need to pay the $60 (for two people) when you make the reservation. You cannot put it on your shipboard account.

[hammybee]

Are we certain that one can make an actual reservation before the cruise as opposed to paying for the PG dinner, independent of the cruise?

[dakrewser]

AFAIK the actual reservation has to be done aboard ship. You can "pre-purchase" the cover charge, but would need to call the maitre d' once on board.

[Crusing Bob]

you can actually make the rez, payment and time online

[Jade13]

Is it possible to make dinner reservations in the Pinnacle before boarding ship?
We will be on the Veendam in January and want to celebrate our anniversary with a special Pinnacle dinner.

Thank you in advance.

Yes! Call Guest Services. They will charge your credit card. Make sure you have them e-mail a confirmation. Let them know it is your anniversary. We never said anything but the staff at the Pinnacle on the Veendam asked us if we were celebrating anything. We told them our anniversay was in a couple of months. We ended up with a big chocolate mousse cake. We had too much food so they delivered it our cabin, and we had it for breakfast. If you are not in a suite with a refrigerator (maybe they all have them now?) also request this from Guest Services. It was an extra $2.00 per day last year for the mini fridge.

Also, make sure you find the card in your stateroom showing you already paid for the dinner.

[caviargal]

you can actually make the rez, payment and time online

except that this info does not make it to the ship as we learned last cruise in May. We had reservations prepaid and a written confirmation for the first night at 7:30 and arrived to find it completely taken over by a private party. They did not honor the reservation. Since we had several others, we reconfirmed with the PG manager who explained that the actual times and dates are not confirmed til boarding, except for very large parties.

[Jade13]

AFAIK the actual reservation has to be done aboard ship. You can "pre-purchase" the cover charge, but would need to call the maitre d' once on board.

That was not our experiance. We called the Veendam Coordinator (last year was Will Chase - he is great), and had a specific time confirmed. He asked us what day and time we wanted. Once onboard we did walk by just to make sure they had the reservation (and they did). This was easy to do as the Pinnacle on the Veendam is right next to the upper lever of the main dining room.

[Jade13]

except that this info does not make it to the ship as we learned last cruise in May. We had reservations prepaid and a written confirmation for the first night at 7:30 and arrived to find it completely taken over by a private party. They did not honor the reservation. Since we had several others, we reconfirmed with the PG manager who explained that the actual times and dates are not confirmed til boarding, except for very large parties.

HAL definately has some Seattle to Ship communication problems. That is why I suggested the OP call Guest Services and ask for that ships coordinator. They are in direct e-mail contact with the ship.

[caviargal]

I confirmed through the ships coordinator as I am in direct communication with these folks regularly (I take large groups on HAL and these are the ladies I work with on every detail). It did not make a difference.

[Oceanwench]

We had a table for 8 reserved in the PG for my mother's 80th birthday party.
We did it pre-cruise and it was charged to our Am Ex.

The good news: They had our table ready and waiting for us on the appointed night.
The bad news: They neglected to give us the birthday cake we had specially ordered -- the one we were charged about $30 for, at the same time we were charged for the reservation.

DH had confirmed, reconfirmed, re-reconfirmed, etc. the reservation and the cake.

We were disappointed that the party we hosted lacked a special birthday cake. They did provide us with one of their small free cakes, which was a poor substitute on such a big occasion.

DH later took it up with Seattle ...
They apologized and credited our Am Ex account for the $30.

[Jade13]

I confirmed through the ships coordinator as I am in direct communication with these folks regularly (I take large groups on HAL and these are the ladies I work with on every detail). It did not make a difference.

Which ship?

There is definately a Seattle to Ship communication issue that needs work. However, I have to say any communication issues with HAL are small compared to the pre-cruise lack of service I have dealt with on Celebrity :)

[Jim Avery]

We have pre booked PG for next August from the HAL site. Have a HAL confirmation for date and time. Will do as others have said and re confirm prior to sailing.
Jim.

[crystal808]

Just another side story:

Prior to my Volendam cruise this November, I went online and (dutifully) went through the reservation process for 3 separate reservations (different dates) for myself (as a solo). Email confirmation, etc. all in order.

Upon boarding, I had a confirmation note in the cabin for a party of 3, for one evening(!). :eek: :D Of course, I went to the Pinnacle on that first day to "spread out" my single reservations....!!

Just be sure to check once on board!!

Paul

[advocado]

The only thing consistent about making advance reservations for the Pinnacle is the inconsistency with which HAL reacts. On the Noordam a few months ago I pre-paid and got a specific date and time confirmed. When I boarded the ship and reviewed my several cards in the cabin, they had the reservation but for the wrong evening. Pays to double check those cards as soon as you board.

[Jade13]

The only thing consistent about making advance reservations for the Pinnacle is the inconsistency with which HAL reacts. On the Noordam a few months ago I pre-paid and got a specific date and time confirmed. When I boarded the ship and reviewed my several cards in the cabin, they had the reservation but for the wrong evening. Pays to double check those cards as soon as you board.

It is also good for those who read this board to know that they need to bring those cards. I wasn't given this info on my first HAL cruise. The Pinnacle had my reservation, but they were so polite they kept asking "Is this a gift from your TA"? The were trying to ask me for the card showing it was pre-paid. Then they said not to bother but I dropped it off the next night. It was all classy the way it was handled.

So, to the OP and others, find that card in your stateroom.

[diana60]

We found the Concierge on the RCI Jewel of the Seas to be fantastic. Approx 5 days before boarding the ship we had a EMail from her asking if she could make any reservations for us. She made two hair appointments for me and made reservations for Chops for our Wedding Anniversary.

[mamaofami]

Sounds like the best bet is to go directly to The Pinnacle on boarding and make your reservation then. If it's not for that night, you can still tell them it's your anniversary or brithday and will get a cake. Too many people have reported slip ups where their credit cards were charged but the ship had no record.