What was Fincantieri thinking?

[billroddy]

They build great HAL ships, but why did they give the Zaandam and Volendam inside Pinnacle Grills? Your only view is a wall.
Are these the only two that are inside?
Bill
Ancient Mariner

[HALFans]

They build great HAL ships, but why did they give the Zaandam and Volendam inside Pinnacle Grills? Your only view is a wall.
Are these the only two that are inside?
Bill
Ancient Mariner

Bill,

The Pinnacle was added to these ships after launch, so Fincantieri didn't really have anything to do with them when the ship was built.

As part of the 'refining' process, Pinnacles are now built into the ships (yes, by Fincantieri :) ) with the nice view you now come to expect. :D

[RetiredMustang]

I suspect it was not a Fincantieri design problem. I have sailed some "S" class ships prior to the Pinnacle Grill concept, and I don't think it was part of the orignial design. I just looked at the floor plan for Volendam and saw that the Pinnacle Grill is across from the Wajang Theater, a space I have seen used on "S" class ships for various other things in the past, including the Java Cafe.

I could of course be wrong, but I think what probably happened is that, after the ship had been designed, built and delivered to HAL specifications, HAL decided to retrofit the ship to accommodate the new concept of a separate restaurant, and that was the location that HAL picked. Since the lifeboats and boatfall equipment are just outboard of the location, putting in new windows during the refit was probably not a good idea.

On Maasdam and Veendam, the PG is next to the Explorers Lounge. I'm not sure of the other "S" class ships. The PG was incorporated into the Vista class designs from the beginning, and the Eurodam design added another alternative restaurant and bar up top. I think Fincantieri would happily build whatever HAL contracted with them to build.

Dave

[gizmo]

All the R class ships were designed with the alternate restaurant. They had different names, for example it was the Marco Polo on the Volendam and the Odessy on (I think...) the Amsterdam. The all served the same menu which was Italian. They were renamed to Pinnacle at some point after the Excellence campaign.

The S class ships had the Pinnacle added after the concept of the Pinnacle. The area used was either the King or Queen room.

[GmaPajama]

Although I do prefer the Oceanview in most Pinnacle's, I have to say I didn't really mind the interior locations on the Zaandam and the Volendam. Both of those Pinnacles are lovely, with glass walls to the interior of the ships. We didn't feel at all shut-in.

[aliaschief]

In June 07 the Pinnacle staff on the MS Volendam used what I think was the Hudson room to serve breakfast. Reason the natural light through the windows. Not sure if they still are serving breakfast there.

[Atomica]

Also, the placement of that restaraunt would have been the responsibility of the interior design team - Fincantieri is just the shipyard that physically builds the ship, according to detailed plans. Both the naval architect & interior design firms aren't necessarily employed by them.

[Copper10-8]

They build great HAL ships, but why did they give the Zaandam and Volendam inside Pinnacle Grills? Your only view is a wall.
Are these the only two that are inside?
Bill
Ancient Mariner

It goes something like this: HAL first came out with an alternative restaurant called the 'Odyssey' (pretty soon changed to 'Marco Polo') - Rotterdam had the first one, followed by Volendam and Zaandam (Never been on Amsterdam - someone who has, can no doubt fill us in);) They were (and still are as PG) located on Promenade Deck and didn't have any windows to the outside (sea views) They do have windows with a nice view of the interior coridor;). Having lunch and dinner there was at no extra charge, at the time.

When Zuiderdam, the first of the Vista's, came out in 2004, she had an alternative restaurant with 'window seats' located on portside LP Deck that was soon called the Pinnacle Grill. The PG was a succesfull concept for HAL. So all three remaining Vista's plus the Eurodam have the PG in the same location (with outside views). About 2003 or so, (could have been late 2002) they started converting the existing Marco Polo's to Pinnacle Grill's.

On the ships that did not have an alternative restuarant, the entire 'S' class for instance, they took out/gutted an existing small private dining room called the Kings Room as well as a (very) small 'Video Arcade' located on UP Deck, starboard side in between the main dining room and the Explorers Lounge and converted that space to PG restaurants with 'sea views' But on the existing 'Marco Polo' equipped ships, they converted those into PG's in the same location so without sea views.

[RevNeal]

Duplicate ... pulled.
Copper is faster than I.
:D

[RuthC]

All the R class ships were designed with the alternate restaurant. They had different names, for example it was the Marco Polo on the Volendam and the Odessy on (I think...) the Amsterdam. The all served the same menu which was Italian.
That's correct. Placement of the restaurants is reminiscent of the days when the ship's dining room(s) was low and mid-ship. This was for stability of both the passengers and food service.

There were no windows and outside views in those days. The idea was that dinner conversation was so stimulating and your companions so delightful that no one would want to turn away for even one moment.

[Copper10-8]

............... The idea was that dinner conversation was so stimulating and your companions so delightful that no one would want to turn away for even one moment.

Except of course, to throw a glance and perhaps some accompanying flamming daggers at those rascals that did not abide by the evening's dress code!;) Sorry, couldn't help myself!:o

[RevNeal]

Except of course ... <Snip unnecessary non-contextual reference to the Dress Code> ... Sorry, couldn't help myself!:o

It sounds like tomorrow can't get here fast enough for you ... can it, John? ;) :D

[Copper10-8]

It sounds like tomorrow can't get here fast enough for you ... can it, John? ;) :D

I've got something in store for those rascals, Rev - to the plank!

[RevNeal]

I've got something in store for those rascals, Rev - to the plank!

Is planking SOP these days?

[Copper10-8]

Is planking SOP these days?

Yeah, the wash rack and the comfy pillow proved ineffective

[u4ea]

I've got something in store for those rascals

Careful, they sleep on fat mattresses and wear golden underwear!;)
Have a great cruise copper dude.:cool:
Mark...

[Cruzin is me]

Except of course, to throw a glance and perhaps some accompanying flamming daggers at those rascals that did not abide by the evening's dress code!;) Sorry, couldn't help myself!:o

My 2 cents --- I think those were the days where one wouldn't EVER EVEN THINK of not abiding by the dress code!!!

And Ruth, the low ceilings --- ouch.

[RevNeal]

Yeah, the wash rack and the comfy pillow proved ineffective


Perhaps if we lobbeth the Holy Hand-Grenade of Antioch at them on the count of 3??

[HALFans]

Man eating rabbit???

[RuthC]

My 2 cents --- I think those were the days where one wouldn't EVER EVEN THINK of not abiding by the dress code!!!
A 7-day cruise was 2 formal nights, and 5 informal. One always dressed for dinner---even the first and last nights. No one thought a thing of it.
And we all looked good. :)
And Ruth, the low ceilings --- ouch.
I'm short, so they were no problem. :D

[jtl513]

... an alternative restaurant called the 'Odyssey' (pretty soon changed to 'Marco Polo') - Rotterdam had the first one, followed by Volendam and Zaandam (Never been on Amsterdam - someone who has, can no doubt fill us in) I'm pretty sure the Amsterdam's was called the Marco Polo when we were first on her in 2002.

I've been in Pinnacle Grills with windows where all of the curtains were closed tightly, so they might as well not have had windows. (We are relatively early diners ... around 6:00 to 6:30, so they were probably blocking the sun.)

BTW the Amsterdam PG has no windows.

[Cruzin is me]

A 7-day cruise was 2 formal nights, and 5 informal. One always dressed for dinner---even the first and last nights. No one thought a thing of it.
And we all looked good. :)

I'm short, so they were no problem. :D

Wasn't it 2 formal, 2 "semi-formal," 3 "informal"?????

Never could adequately define semi-formal!

[gizmo]

I'm pretty sure the Amsterdam's was called the Marco Polo when we were first on her in 2002.

I've been in Pinnacle Grills with windows where all of the curtains were closed tightly, so they might as well not have had windows. (We are relatively early diners ... around 6:00 to 6:30, so they were probably blocking the sun.)

BTW the Amsterdam PG has no windows.

I looked it up. :)

The Rotterdam and Amsterdam had the Odessy.

The Volendam and Zaandam had the Marco Polo.