Extra charge in Pinnacle for 2nd appetizer - Eurodam starts 10-30-22

[HollDoll]

In both the Tamarind and the Pinnacle I sometimes enjoy a couple appetizers and don’t have an entrée.  That would be ridiculous being charged when I’m not having the more expensive portion of the meal. I will be very mad if I am unable to do that because sometimes the whole meal is just too much food. And I really enjoy many of the appetizers.

[Wakepatrol]

Future threads will consist of

”Can I Bring Crab Cakes Aboard”?

 

Answer—“ Absolutely, Just Slap A Luggage Tag On Them. We Did it Last Week”

 

 

Edited October 31, 2022 by Wakepatrol

[Mary229]

As more and more people take part in specialty dining through HIA and people consider it free there probably has been a great deal of impact on the profit.  Faced with decreasing quality or portions or increasing prices they have chosen to increase prices.   We have been discussing for sometime how the lines were going to structure themselves out of their financial duress well here it is.  The trend seems to be stable fare prices with increased costs to goods and services.  

[rkacruiser]

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

The trend seems to be stable fare prices with increased costs to goods and services.  

 

Are the days of ala carte dining with dollar signs next to the menu items on the horizon?  

[Mary229]

3 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Are the days of ala carte dining with dollar signs next to the menu items on the horizon?  

Yes I think so.  More and more people are now eating in the buffet as if by choice.  You and I are becoming obsolete in our dining preferences and we may be forced to pay for that.  We will see trends change.  We pay so much and we will not be getting more for those dollars but what we get might not align with our personal preferences 

[FOPMan]

But it’s ongoing fine diming!  (Look closely). 🙂

[rkacruiser]

4 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

 We pay so much and we will not be getting more for those dollars but what we get might not align with our personal preferences 

 

The logical response would be for those of us who experience this to be to use our dollars for whatever our personal preferences might be for those discretionary dollars.

 

If cruising does reach this level, the entire marketing of the cruise vacation concept will need to be re-imagined, marketed, and sold.  Full employment for many thousands of those in those fields?  

 

 

[AncientWanderer]

On our recent NA cruise, we found happy hour was a mob scene, MDR really full, and on each of our three dinners in PG, many tables available.  So maybe not too many are signing on to HIA??

 

In any case, it was a great cruise. Times are tough and there were little cutbacks and some upcharges throughout the ship.  Kind of to be expected.  I guess if it gets intolerable, we'll quit booking.  That hasn't happened yet.

 

[Florida_gal_50]

28 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

As more and more people take part in specialty dining through HIA and people consider it free there probably has been a great deal of impact on the profit.  Faced with decreasing quality or portions or increasing prices they have chosen to increase prices.   We have been discussing for sometime how the lines were going to structure themselves out of their financial duress well here it is.  The trend seems to be stable fare prices with increased costs to goods and services.  

Well cut the restaurant portion out of it.  I don't care.  Have drinks and crew incentive in it.  Are there other cruise lines doing this?  These brain surgeons pulled this crap in the  mdr charging for an extra entree.  I've never had an extra entree but it irritated me just the same. That went down in flames so now they are trying this garbage in the pinnacle.

[Mary229]

7 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

The logical response would be for those of us who experience this to be to use our dollars for whatever our personal preferences might be for those discretionary dollars.

 

If cruising does reach this level, the entire marketing of the cruise vacation concept will need to be re-imagined, marketed, and sold.  Full employment for many thousands of those in those fields?  

 

 

Actually I would not mind having the specialty dining options presented in the MDR for a fee.  I have been steadfast in my thought that specialty dining venues have reduced the quality of service in the MDR.  We now have the same number of restaurant staff spread around the ship in various venues 

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Well cut the restaurant portion out of it.  I don't care.  Have drinks and crew incentive in it.  Are there other cruise lines doing this?  These brain surgeons pulled this crap in the  mdr charging for an extra entree.  I've never had an extra entree but it irritated me just the same. That went down in flames so now they are trying this garbage in the pinnacle.

I think the current HIA package is losing its luster and probably will have an overhaul soon

[Florida_gal_50]

Just now, Mary229 said:

I think the current HIA package is losing its luster and probably will have an overhaul soon

I'd like to see that. I bought mine for something like $50 a day.  That was worth it to me.  If I would have booked it outright it would have been more than $100 a day. No way is that worth it. I have maybe 4 drinks a day including coffee and perrier so they are winning.

[rkacruiser]

13 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

 I have been steadfast in my thought that specialty dining venues have reduced the quality of service in the MDR.  

 

I had not thought about this.  

 

Many posts about some other cruise lines that the abundance of specialty restaurants seems to have diminished the cuisine and the service of the MDR's service and cuisine.  

 

Choice in dining venues is good.  But, how does this impact the guest's overall dining experience.

 

It's interesting that it is not just a main stream cruise line, such as HAL has become, that these dining concerns are being discussed on the message boards of the cruise lines that are considered to be "luxury cruise lines".  

[albingirl]

3 hours ago, Sea42 said:

I've read, many times, that HAL is reimbursed a percentage of the "free" cruise by CCL's casino division.

I know in my case I wouldn't have considered a Caribbean cruise if I hadn't been offered a "free" cruise. My mom enjoys them so we went. We purchased Club Orange to be able to select our cabin. We purchased a wine package. Mom went on 2 excursions and had a massage.. We ate in the specialty restaurants. This is all money HAL would not have had if not for the "free" cruise they offered. I'm pretty confident HAL has run the numbers and found that these cruise bring in enough revenue to justify offering them. Perhaps you have information to share with HAL that would help them see where this is a mistake on their part.

Honestly, ridiculous to even complain with your free cruise. What is up with all these free cruises. You would like Hal to see this is a mistake on their part? 

[LMaxwell]

Chintzy. As is all the other upcharges on that menu. And the hawking of it right at the MDR entrance. I still can't believe Lobster and even lobster mac and cheese is an upcharge there.  No reason to eat there and spend $ 

[iflyrc5]

I hope we get some more posts from guests currently sailing to see what the policy is on all the different ships.  We are boarding the NA on Nov 6 and will be dining in the Pinnacle and Tamarind with our 5 star "free" meals so will come back after we dine and let you all know what is happening.

[Florida_gal_50]

I liked the idea that @Hlitnercame up with.  Tell the pinnacle that you are going up to the lido to get your salad (or whatever your app choice may be) and get the other “freebie” from the pinnacle.  Stupid is as stupid does 😛.

[albingirl]

17 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I liked the idea that @Hlitnercame up with.  Tell the pinnacle that you are going up to the lido to get your salad (or whatever your app choice may be) and get the other “freebie” from the pinnacle.  Stupid is as stupid does 😛.

Yes, it's getting chinzy. I might have to start a diet to shrink my stomach before I cruise. So I  don't starve to death. What happened to all you can eat stuff your face cruises? All gone. It was entertaining for a long time lol 😆 

[Crew News]

Just confirmed thats the $7 for extra PG appetizers is now applied on my December cruise PG menu.   PG Menu 2022/2023

 

Other PG menu changes:

reduced caviar supplement to $50 from $70

added Panko fried mushroom caps

deleted the petite filet

reduced the size of steaks

raised Delmonico steak supplement from $15 to $20

deleted short ribs

deleted crab legs

reduced lobster tail supplement from $20 to $15

retained Tomahawk rib eye $75

added lobster mac & cheese $10 supplement

added Beyond Meat Kofta

 

Updated Canaletto Menu:  Canaletto 2022/2023 Menu

 

Edited October 31, 2022 by Crew News

[bozemanman]

47 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Just confirmed thats the $7 for extra PG appetizers is now applied on my December cruise PG menu.   PG Menu 2022/2023

 

Other PG menu changes:

reduced caviar supplement to $50 from $70

added Panko fried mushroom caps

deleted the petite filet

reduced the size of steaks

raised Delmonico steak supplement from $15 to $20

deleted short ribs

deleted crab legs

reduced lobster tail supplement from $20 to $15

retained Tomahawk rib eye $75

added lobster mac & cheese $10 supplement

added Beyond Meat Kofta

 

Updated Canaletto Menu:  Canaletto 2022/2023 Menu

 

You’re right on it as always…thank you!

[Crew News]

Just now, bozemanman said:

You’re right on it as always…thank you!

FWIW no changes in Tamarind but Rudi's swapped crab bisque for French onion soup.

[oakridger]

I boarded Rotterdam today. No extra charge for additional appetizers in Pinnacle Grill listed on the menu.   What is Rudy’s doing?  You can get French onion soup every day at the MDR??!!

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, oakridger said:

I boarded Rotterdam today. No extra charge for additional appetizers in Pinnacle Grill listed on the menu.   What is Rudy’s doing?  You can get French onion soup every day at the MDR??!!

Sorry for the confusion.  French onion soup dropped and replaced with crab bisque.

[oakridger]

@Crew News That’s more like it!!  Thanks for the clarification. 😁.  ~Nancy 

[canadarocks]

8 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Sorry for the confusion.  French onion soup dropped and replaced with crab bisque.

Wasn't Crab Bisque always on Rudi's Sel du Mer menu?