Pinnacle Grill Brunch?

I have never seen a brunch offered in the Pinnacle Grill on sea days. I think this is one area that HAL could really stand out and create an additional revenue stream on select sea days.

Disney has a brunch in their specialty restaurant Palo on select sea days that is very well patronized ($20 pp) and is outstanding. A few photos below:

If the Pinnacle Grill offered a nice brunch on select sea days at a cost of $20 - $25pp, would you patronize it?

Pinnacle serves breakfast to guests in Neptune and Pinnacle Suites each morning. There is not additional charge.

Every cruise line cannot be all things that all other cruise lines are.

It is for us, IMO, to choose the cruise line that provides the most of what we personally want/need.

That brunch would be hugely unappealing to me. Not very much there I would spend the calories on. Way more food than I want and I don't even want to 'sightsee' at it. It is beautifully displayed and the photos are wonderful to look at. Thanks for sharing the photos. :)

JMO.....

On the other hand, DH and I greatly enjoy the quiet, lovely setting of our breakfast each morning in Pinnacle. :)

Pinnacle offers lunch from Noon until 1 PM on some sea days and some port days -- $10 per person.

In the mornings they have breakfast for people staying in the Pinnacle Suites and Neptune Suites. On Sea days it is usuallt from 8 - 9:30 and on port days from 7:30 - 9.

There are some sea days -- depending on the itinerary -- the Pinnacle is closed for lunch due to the Pinnacle Suites and Neptune Suites having a special lunch.

I have never seen a brunch offered in the Pinnacle Grill on sea days. I think this is one area that HAL could really stand out and create an additional revenue stream on select sea days.

 

Disney has a brunch in their specialty restaurant Palo on select sea days that is very well patronized ($20 pp) and is outstanding. A few photos below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Pinnacle Grill offered a nice brunch on select sea days at a cost of $20 - $25pp, would you patronize it?

Everything looks great there -- but we are not big eaters for lunch and would not spend that kind of money knowing we would eat very little.

Do people really still eat like that? :eek:

I thought that was yesterday......

I didn't think many still even wanted that sort of display but I see lots of folks seated and eating in those photos so I must be wrong.

If you're suggesting a real "Sunday Brunch" type of offering, with a huge assortment of breakfast and dinner foods, running from maybe 11:00-2:00, I might get interested. But only once on a long, over 20-days, cruise.

This is something that seems like overkill, since there is so much food available on the ship anyway.

Do people really still eat like that? :eek:

 

I thought that was yesterday......

I didn't think many still even wanted that sort of display but I see lots of folks seated and eating in those photos so I must be wrong.

 

Palo on Disney offers many choices - it's of course up to you to decide what and how much you wish to eat. Having more quality choices means almost everyone including very picky eaters will go away satisfied.

It is a very well attended brunch and difficult to get reservations for, especially after the cruise has begun. If Disney has enough demand, I would think that HAL would as well, unless HAL cruisers are less willing to part with the cash than Disney cruisers are for something like this. Keep in mind this would be on on select sea days, not every sea day.

My comments have nothing to do with money.

Where did a reference to cost have any influence? :confused:

My comments have nothing to do with money.

Where did a reference to cost have any influence? :confused:

 

No offence intended. My point was if the demand is there for another cruise line, it may very well be there for HAL cruisers. Trying to offer why there potentially could not be demand from HAL cruisers, not you specifically.

Celebrity does this exact type of thing in their MDR. It's free and open to all passengers. It was offered once on our X cruise last year.

That being said, if you didn't get there when the MDR opened it turned into one hot mess. The marauding horde of diners made a mess of the food in a short period of time, taking it from a delicious display of culinary delights to total yuck.

I'd pass on paying extra for something like that, but perhaps if one pays for the brunch, one might have better manners and not treat it like the last meal that will be served on the ship.

IMO HAL's Lido Buffet does an excellent job with its breakfast offerings unlike other cruiselines who don't come close to the variety and freshness that HAL does. Because of this I'm not convinced that an extra fee brunch would be very popular on HAL.

Might be something for Hal to try maybe once a cruise. Though a lot of us older folks don't eat like that anymore, younger passengers still do.

Celebrity does this exact type of thing in their MDR. It's free and open to all passengers. It was offered once on our X cruise last year.

 

That being said, if you didn't get there when the MDR opened it turned into one hot mess. The marauding horde of diners made a mess of the food in a short period of time, taking it from a delicious display of culinary delights to total yuck.

 

I'd pass on paying extra for something like that, but perhaps if one pays for the brunch, one might have better manners and not treat it like the last meal that will be served on the ship.

 

IMO HAL's Lido Buffet does an excellent job with its breakfast offerings unlike other cruiselines who don't come close to the variety and freshness that HAL does. Because of this I'm not convinced that an extra fee brunch would be very popular on HAL.

On longer cruises HAL does/used to do a Show Brunch in the MDR for everyone, and just about everyone showed up everytime! As to the numbers of pax who attend, sort of like the the Royal Dutch High Tea at times, long lines, no where to sit...

I would pay for a Brunch in the Pinnacle once per cruise as a nice alternative to lunch. That said, the logistics would be insane since the Pinnacle, even on the Vista and Signature ships would not be large enough to hold the tables for the food and pax. Not unless it was really limited to a few, like 25!

I was reading an excellent review on Celebrity Solstice last night and pictures showed the brunch done in their MDR. Looks very, very nice and appeared to be well attended. As mentioned above, it is free.

But, if I have a sea day, I don't know that we would be interested in getting ready to go to the MDR and then eat all that food. I usually prefer sleeping late, a light breakfast on the verandah, and laying by the pool. Quite often formal nights are on sea days so that would be a lot of food and calories to take in for 1 day.

Although I have to say the displays are really nice. Just couldn't see it done in an intimate place like Pinnacle.

Celebrity does this exact type of thing in their MDR. It's free and open to all passengers. It was offered once on our X cruise last year.

 

<snip>

 

 

I was reading an excellent review on Celebrity Solstice last night and pictures showed the brunch done in their MDR. Looks very, very nice and appeared to be well attended. As mentioned above, it is free.

 

 

 

<snip>.

My oft repeated Mantra.....

There is nothing free on a cruise ship.

You either pay for it in the fare or at the time of consumption but we pay for everything......

obviously. :D

Each time I read 'it's free', I smile.

Everyone certainly is free to comment what they would like.

My preference would be to skip such extreme over consumption and huge display and have them spend the money on maintaining a decent level of quality on all the offerings in the MDR. Some of us think quality may have slipped and would prefer instead of adding such a brunch, they use the food budget to keep all our meals at a reasonable quality.

JMO

My oft repeated Mantra.....

 

There is nothing free on a cruise ship.

You either pay for it in the fare or at the time of consumption but we pay for everything......

 

obviously. :D

Each time I read 'it's free', I smile.

 

Of course, but I do think you understand that these posters are referencing the idea of "free", meaning not with an extra charge, but included in your fare.

There is a difference, as one has the choice with the extra charge, but not with what is included in the fare.

The photos are amazing and your idea is a good one.

I am not one of those to say, "HAL has never done this, so ..."

HAL is experimenting. Look at Dancing with the Stars!

Just because I may not eat a lot at lunch, I wouldn't put down the idea of the brunch. I don't eat a lot of sweets, but I don't begrudge others their Dessert Extravaganza!

As far as "free," it's a term used loosely. For example, when someone asks about suite amenities, they are often told "free laundry." I don't recall anyone getting taken to task over that! :o

People also talk about Tamarind being free at lunchtime, cappuccino no longer being free in the MDR, etc.

All it means is, included in the price of the cruise vs. being an extra charge.

Tough crowd.

A fine breakfast is served every morning in the main dining room. Not sure what you think is lacking.

No, I would not pay extra for a brunch. I can't see getting way ahead on my food intake quota so early in the day. A sea day is worse as there is little opportunity to work the calories off.

igraf

I have never seen a brunch offered in the Pinnacle Grill on sea days. I think this is one area that HAL could really stand out and create an additional revenue stream on select sea days.

 

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If the Pinnacle Grill offered a nice brunch on select sea days at a cost of $20 - $25pp, would you patronize it?

I really prefer to eat my largest meal of the day mid-day so the idea of a brunch is very appealing to me. While my husband and I enjoyed our dinners in Pinnacle Grill very much we both agreed it was just too much food to eat in the evening and we would probably not go again. But we would interested in a brunch offering.

On longer cruises HAL does/used to do a Show Brunch in the MDR for everyone, and just about everyone showed up everytime! As to the numbers of pax who attend, sort of like the the Royal Dutch High Tea at times, long lines, no where to sit...

 

I would pay for a Brunch in the Pinnacle once per cruise as a nice alternative to lunch. That said, the logistics would be insane since the Pinnacle, even on the Vista and Signature ships would not be large enough to hold the tables for the food and pax. Not unless it was really limited to a few, like 25!

The way Disney handles it is to require reservations for specific times. brunch runs from 10am to 2pm. Reservations can be made for 30 minute increments, ie: 10am, 10:30am, 11:00am, etc., with last seating at 1pm. Each time has a limited number of guests, hence they can avoid overcrowding and lines.

You are seated at your table by the maitre d' and the then the waiter comes by, explains how the brunch works, what items you can order from him/her to have the kitchen prepare, and then you escorted to the brunch buffet area where the different menu items are described to you.

The whole process is very smooth, without overcrowding or a rushed feel. When well managed it really is an upscale experience and a delightful way to enjoy your mid-day at sea.

They do host suite luncheons in the Pinnacle Grill sometimes, and there are far more suite pax than 25 -- plus officers attend as well! Of course the offerings were not as bountiful as what your Disney photos showed.

The photos are amazing and your idea is a good one.

I am not one of those to say, "HAL has never done this, so ..."

 

HAL is experimenting. Look at Dancing with the Stars!

 

Just because I may not eat a lot at lunch, I wouldn't put down the idea of the brunch. I don't eat a lot of sweets, but I don't begrudge others their Dessert Extravaganza!

 

As far as "free," it's a term used loosely. For example, when someone asks about suite amenities, they are often told "free laundry." I don't recall anyone getting taken to task over that! :o

 

People also talk about Tamarind being free at lunchtime, cappuccino no longer being free in the MDR, etc.

All it means is, included in the price of the cruise vs. being an extra charge.

 

Tough crowd.

Palo offers way more than sweets, as I would assume the Pinnacle Grill could as well. The previous pictures only showed part of the options. Here a re a few others:

Would patronize it in a heart beat. Those photos are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Which ship/cruise itinerary was that on out of curiosity? :)

Would patronize it in a heart beat. Those photos are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Which ship/cruise itinerary was that on out of curiosity? :)

Each of the four Disney ships has a Northern Italian specialty restaurant called Palo. They offer brunch on 4 day and longer cruises, usually on a sea day. On a 7 day cruise it is usually offered twice, and on a longer voyage 3 to 4 times.

The demand is high enough that you can usually only reserve brunch one time during your cruise.

If the economics would work for HAL, I think the setting of the Pinnacle Grill would be perfect.

Oysterdam. you misinterpreted what I said.

I was saying that just because I tend not to eat a large lunch, I would not begrudge anyone the type of brunch you are suggesting.

Then, in a second statement, I said I do not eat a lot of sweets, but do not begrudge anyone the Dessert Extravaganza -- an event that usually takes place aboard HAL ships.

I in no way implied that Disney serves only desserts at its brunch.

I was trying to illustrate the fact that we all have different tastes -- and our individual preferences should not be an obstacle to anyone's enjoyment.

Sigh.

I think offering a brunch once a 7 day cruise and several times on a longer cruise would be a great idea. HAL needs to branch out with some new and unique ideas to keep their cruises fresh and interesting. Pinnacle has been pretty much the same for how many years now?

We love to go to Sunday brunch once a month or so at our country club and probably eat less combining breakfast and lunch than we do every morning with 2 separate meals on a cruise. Coffee in the morning and then a special brunch late morning-early afternoon would be terrific on a cruise.