Pinnacle Grill Price Increase

[duckman715]

Sailing Maasdam in January 07 and called to make reservations for Pinnacle Grill yesterday. I was told the price increased to $30 effective 10/01/06. Not a big deal but have read mixed reviews of the Pinnacle and just looking for a few opinions regarding if it is worth $60 per couple.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[fann1sh]

Since the "big sell" is sterling silver beef - and I'm allergic to beef - and there are no "first night " discounts - and there are *3* in our party - well, I'll miss the creme caramel, but won't pay $90 for a favorite dessert.....

[Brad1185]

My thought is it is not worth it with the current menu. I did see some menu items changing, and I could not tell if the new ltems listed were daily specials or the new menu. People should stay away and maybe the price will come back down. With $60 I would not be adding any tips.

[garydm]

No, it is not worth it. We got off the Statendam yesterday and they had increased the prices on September 29th. I checked the menu after that and noted no change in the items.

 

Gary

[Krazy Kruizers]

Gary

 

I am so surprise to hear that they increased the price of the Pinnacle before Oct 1 on the Statement -- was any reason given for the change so early??

 

Did they have any specials??

[Krazy Kruizers]

Begining Oct 1, the Pinnacle is supposed to have a nightly special -- they were posted on another thread. Still don't know if they are worth it.

[newmexicoNita]

you know, I am so happy we reserved prior to the break off. I am now wondering if I even want to pay $20 per person. We actually are paying for 4 because our friends booked the cruise thru me so I am taking them to dinner. We have always loved the specialty dining on both NCL and Celebrity although we think Celebrity is too expensive as well. Let's hope the nightly specials make it worth the money. I have seen the menu for PG and couldn't even find Escargot, but I probably just overlooked it. NMnita

[garydm]

Kraz-We had an "in transit" briefing with the hotel manager on the 28th and he announced the price increase effective the next day when about 1100 people were boarding. We stayed on the ship. They also increased the internet fee for 100 minutes from $40 to $55 that day. The connections were so slow it was a joke.

 

Gary

[grannynurse]

After the experience we just had in the Pinnacle on the Westerdam, where everything else was way above average, we would not ever go back to a Pinnacle on any ship until when and if they make some major changes.

Food was barely edible, bernaise sauce was "off", baked potatoes undercooked, filet not hot or cooked to request, DH's au gratin, cold and the size of a postage stamp, AND worst of all, servers, especially one woman, had condescending attitudes.

No thanks! the food and service in the DR was far too good to pay to be ignored and served unpalatable food. Not worth it!!!!

GN

[Mack704]

DW and I and two of our friends were on the Carnival Valor this past March. The specialty restaurant there was $30.00 pp then. We thought it was worth it for the food (far superior than the dining room), the ambiance, and the service, UNTIL - they said it would be a two hour experience and after two hours it took another hour to get our dessert. Kinda took the wind out of our sails.

 

But, thinking about it now, I guess it was inevitable HAL would go up to 30. Daddy CCL probably made them.

 

Harvey

[kirkc]

We just got off a long weekend cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco on the Zuiderdam. We ate two out of the 3 nights in the Pinnacle. It was just OK...nothing that special. It was better then the dining room. Service was so bad and the food so poor there that we left before coffee ( an hour and 45 minutes after sitting down) on this first night.

 

There were 5 of us traveling together and we (partner and I) have almost 400 days on HAL over 16 years. We were going to New Zeeland next yrear on the Statendam, but will prpobably cancel now because overall the service and quality of the ship was terrible.

 

It was a nice ride while it lasted

[sail7seas]

...... I have seen the menu for PG and couldn't even find Escargot, but I probably just overlooked it. NMnita

 

 

The Pinnacle Grill is not a French Restaurant and has never served Escargot ....probably never will. ;)

 

That is served in the main dining room on one of the formal nights.

[Frogger22]

DH and I are just off the Volendam RT Vancouver-Vancouver and dined at the Pinnacle twice -- first time was a gift from Travel agent and second time we paid $20 each and felt it was worth it. First, our service at a table for two in the main dining room was non-exisitent. Our waiters didn't even say hi or introduce themselves. Our wine steward was much nicer.

 

The food in the main dining room, was fine, but not like that experienced on Crystal, Silver Seas or original Crown Princess (not that I expected that), but the Pinnacle food was more like that on Crystal or Silver Seas. The wait staff was much better. The filet was cooked perfectly and I liked the mushrooms and cream spinach sides. I loved the lamb too.

 

Ultimatley it's up to each couple/individual, but for us, the Pinnacle was definitely worth it and we would have paid for two or three dinners. At $30 each maybe only two!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

When we boarded the Veendam on September 24th all the pricing for the Pinnacle reflected the new $30.00 There was several times I checked to see if there was any change in the menu or any daily specials and there was not any that I saw.

[jtl513]

just looking for a few opinions regarding if it is worth $60 per couple.

 

DW and I didn't think it was worth even $20 pp on the Westerdam. Food not much better than the dining room (she had prime rib, same as being served in d.r., and I don't even recall what I had) and the servers were 'stuffy'. We enjoyed our regular waiter in the d.r. much more.

 

However, a sea-day lunch at $10 pp on the Noordam we thought was worth it. Does anyone know if the sea-day lunches have gone up too? I would guess yes. :p

[jtl513]

AND worst of all, servers, especially one woman, had condescending attitudes.

 

I think I remember her as being one of the servers that we disliked too!! Short dark hair? :D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

However, a sea-day lunch at $10 pp on the Noordam we thought was worth it. Does anyone know if the sea-day lunches have gone up too? I would guess yes. :p

 

No, The lunch prices have remained at $10.00 and I agree that it really is a great bargain. When we were on the Veendam last week we enjoyed lunch there our first sea day (a week ago today):( We both had the steak and it was wonderful. I truly think it is a bargain at $10.00. DH never misses to have at least 1 lunch in the Pinnacle usually several, while I spend the day at the spa:D I have also had the halibut sandwich and it too is very tasty:)

[kryos]

My thought is it is not worth it with the current menu. I did see some menu items changing, and I could not tell if the new ltems listed were daily specials or the new menu. People should stay away and maybe the price will come back down. With $60 I would not be adding any tips.

It's really difficult to say if it would be worth it ... depends upon the individual and how important the dining experience is to them. There is no question, at least in my mind, that the Pinnacle is a very nice dining experience. But is it worth $30 plus tip (if you choose to tip) to have that experience? My money says no ... at least no for multiple visits to the Pinnacle, as I've done on past cruises.

 

I honestly don't think the price will come back down, though. Too many people will be more than willing to pay it, so the $30 is here to stay. As for going, but not tipping, I don't know if I like that idea either. Since we can't get a straight answer from HAL as to whether tips are included in the Pinnacle service charge, I'd be hesitant to make a hardworking waiter suffer because HAL raised the price. He had nothing to do with that.

 

I'd simply prefer to enjoy most of my meals in the dining room on future cruises and let others have the Pinnacle at $30 a pop. Oh, I'll do it once or twice ... depending upon the length of the cruise, and whether or not I have a "freebie" from my TA for one visit ... but other than that, I'll be looking to the Lido for dinner in the future when I want a bit of deviation from the dining room. I won't be seeking it as often in the Pinnacle.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

They also increased the internet fee for 100 minutes from $40 to $55 that day. The connections were so slow it was a joke.

I sometimes wonder if the slow internet speeds are almost deliberate ... a way for that "Digital Seas" outfit to make more money off the passengers by keeping them online longer.

 

That's why I've started greatly cutting back on my internet usage while onboard ship. While it is nice to post a bit from the ship, I don't do it anywhere near as much as on my first couple of cruises ... because the speeds have deteriorated so badly since that time. So now, I buy a very small internet package, and mostly use it to check emails, with maybe one or two posts to CC if I can get online. I figure I spend so much time on CC when I am not cruising ... especially when I am at work and logged in all night ... that I am probably doing folks a favor not posting from the ship. Gives them a little "vacation" ... from me ... too. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[catl331]

No, The lunch prices have remained at $10.00 and I agree that it really is a great bargain. When we were on the Veendam last week we enjoyed lunch there our first sea day (a week ago today):( We both had the steak and it was wonderful.

 

But "last week" was Sept, before the Oct 1 increase in dinners to $30. Are you sure lunches stayed at $10 after that?

 

We're planning a lunch day on the Veendam in Dec, and I might just try that "wonderful steak"!! :D :D

[Brad1185]

We did the $10 lunch last year. I did feel it was worth it.

[Copper10-8]

We like the Pinnacle and have never had a bad experience in there! (food, wine/cocktail, service, cost - love the Thai chicken soup:) ) We will be in there again on Oosterdam for New Year's. $30pp is still worth it to us especially if the new "specials" pan out. On the other hand, we are not crazy about the lunches in there. Liked them a lot better when the PG was still the Marco Polo!

[gizmo]

I thought $20.00 was pushing it, but $30.00 is entirely too much for what you get.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

But "last week" was Sept, before the Oct 1 increase in dinners to $30. Are you sure lunches stayed at $10 after that?

 

We're planning a lunch day on the Veendam in Dec, and I might just try that "wonderful steak"!! :D :D

 

Yes, Last week was September but the Veendam had also increased the price on the Pinnacle to the $30.00 PP. We have also been told that the lunch price will remain at $10.00 PP

[jhannah]

IMO while the Pinnacle experience is nice, it will not be worth $30 each. We thoroughly enjoy the main dining room, so there's no compelling reason for us to dine in the Pinnacle Grill.