Bill B Posted December 12, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Are reservations absolutely necessary for Specialty Dining venues? Or, can you 'take a chance', show up and perhaps be seated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendswithdave Posted December 12, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 12, 2023 You can take a chance. Some restaurants are busier than others. I would say Rudi's should almost always be available for a walk-in. Canelleto maybe, Tamarind and Pinnacle less likely. Depends on many factors including night of the week / cruise and how full the ship is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill B Posted December 12, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare QuattroRomeo Posted December 12, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Yes you can ask, no problem. Best chances are on port days. A couple of times on our current cruise, a waiter from Canaletto was asking people seated near Dive-in during the afternoon if we wanted to book that evening! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted December 12, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 12, 2023 10 minutes ago, friendswithdave said: You can take a chance. Some restaurants are busier than others. I would say Rudi's should almost always be available for a walk-in. Canelleto maybe, Tamarind and Pinnacle less likely. Depends on many factors including night of the week / cruise and how full the ship is. One should expect the ship to always be full...or so close you can't tell the difference. On the other hand, a more likely issue is with HIA, the number of meals being served at the specialty restaurants are are covered by HIA is up considerably. Thus potentially less availability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Haljo1935 Posted December 12, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Hey @BillB just off NS Sun - we had a couple PG reservations we wanted to change last minute, same day - all were accommodated. Coupled with the empty tables we saw each time we were there, I would say chances were good for walk-ins. As @friendswithdavesaid, experience will vary based on cruise, but overall chances are good. Especially if you're flexible w/the time. Enjoy!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santee92071 Posted December 12, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Does anyone know if a rumour I heard that Rudy’s will not be on Holland America Koningsdam in 2024, is true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted December 12, 2023 #8 Share Posted December 12, 2023 You can take a chance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted December 12, 2023 #9 Share Posted December 12, 2023 26 minutes ago, Santee92071 said: Does anyone know if a rumour I heard that Rudy’s will not be on Holland America Koningsdam in 2024, is true? The topic is discussed elsewhere. Not clear when it will depart, but it is scheduled to be removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sciencewonk Posted December 12, 2023 #10 Share Posted December 12, 2023 I've never seen the Pinnacle Grill full except on pop-up nights on Vista-class ships. The Canelleto seems more full but frequently has an empty table or two, although those could have been waiting for a reservation to arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YourWorldWithBill Posted December 12, 2023 #11 Share Posted December 12, 2023 The best day to get in might be the first day! By the way, sometimes even when they don't look full, they might consider the restaurant full, as it might depend on number of staff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChinaShrek Posted December 12, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 12, 2023 4 minutes ago, sciencewonk said: I've never seen the Pinnacle Grill full except on pop-up nights on Vista-class ships. The Canelleto seems more full but frequently has an empty table or two, although those could have been waiting for a reservation to arrive. Pinnacle Grill was completely sold out on the Koningsdam and Rotterdam for lunch about 36 hours into my cruises. I would book as soon as you are on the ship if you desire lunch, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sciencewonk Posted December 12, 2023 #13 Share Posted December 12, 2023 9 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said: The best day to get in might be the first day! By the way, sometimes even when they don't look full, they might consider the restaurant full, as it might depend on number of staff. Excellent point. On my last cruise I ate at the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and only one other table had passengers eating at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ottahand7 Posted December 12, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Shorter the cruise less chance because infrequent cruisers try to pack as much in as they can. 74 day GSA if we didn't like MDR menu or if we missed Gala designation we could get in with a same day reservation. Even though the PG looks empty it is the wait staff that determines how many can be booked in an evening. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted December 12, 2023 #15 Share Posted December 12, 2023 The 2nd to the last night is very busy .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted December 13, 2023 #16 Share Posted December 13, 2023 3 hours ago, Santee92071 said: Does anyone know if a rumour I heard that Rudy’s will not be on Holland America Koningsdam in 2024, is true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted December 13, 2023 #17 Share Posted December 13, 2023 1 hour ago, ottahand7 said: Even though the PG looks empty it is the wait staff that determines how many can be booked in an evening. Agreed. The wait staff and galley availability determines whether or not the Pinnacle is 'full' more than the number of occupied tables does. If they have ability to handle six more passengers at a given time, that could be one table for six, or a table for two plus a table for four, or three tables for two. In any case, there are six people, and some empty tables, yet the restaurant is 'full'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boze9999 Posted December 13, 2023 #18 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Due to Have It All and the ability to book your specialty restaurants on line, @Bill B many preferred days and times are sold out before you even get on the ship. If you choose to wait until you're on board, you may only have options from 8pm on. If that's what you prefer, you're in luck! If you want to book ahead of time, do so online or as soon as you get on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sambamama Posted December 13, 2023 #19 Share Posted December 13, 2023 It also depends on what the ports are. If you have a port call where the ship does not leave until 9pm and many people are going to a destination not close, it is much more likely to have openings. For example, if your ship is docked and people are going to see Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam, it is more likely. The first and the last day are the most likely days to have openings. It is also more likely to have openings at 8pm and later and right when they open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNSJ Posted December 14, 2023 #20 Share Posted December 14, 2023 Unless you don't want to have funds tied up, I suggest you book what you want well in advance. Itinerary drives a great deal, for example sea days tend to fill up quickly in Speciality Restaraunts. This way you can experience the restaurants you want and not have to dine at 8 PM. No offense to those who prefer to dine at 8. You can always cancel prepaid bookings, and you then have refundable credit. If you are 4 or 5 Star you will get the discount applied (where applicable) and a credit issued. Again these are refundable credits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted December 14, 2023 #21 Share Posted December 14, 2023 On 12/12/2023 at 3:53 PM, sciencewonk said: Excellent point. On my last cruise I ate at the Pinnacle Grill on the first night and only one other table had passengers eating at it. First night is seldom booked I have found, in Pinnacle and Tamarind. Great time to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toofarfromthesea Posted December 14, 2023 #22 Share Posted December 14, 2023 (edited) I don't want to start a new thread so I'll ask this here. On a 15 day Circle Hawaii cruise does the PG tend to fill up on the many sea days or is it relatively easy to get in. How about if I'm a late eater and go there around 2:30? Edited December 14, 2023 by Toofarfromthesea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 0106 Posted December 14, 2023 #23 Share Posted December 14, 2023 32 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said: How about if I'm a late eater and go there around 2:30? Are you asking about lunch in the Pinnacle on sea days? I believe the latest lunch reservation was 1 or maybe 1:30. You can't make lunch reservations until you are on the ship. Make your reservations as soon as you board. If you are talking about dinner, times at 8 or later are usually easier to reserve. I make my specialty dinner reservations prior to boarding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted December 14, 2023 #24 Share Posted December 14, 2023 51 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said: I don't want to start a new thread so I'll ask this here. On a 15 day Circle Hawaii cruise does the PG tend to fill up on the many sea days or is it relatively easy to get in. How about if I'm a late eater and go there around 2:30? 14 minutes ago, 0106 said: Are you asking about lunch in the Pinnacle on sea days? I believe the latest lunch reservation was 1 or maybe 1:30. You can't make lunch reservations until you are on the ship. Make your reservations as soon as you board. If you are talking about dinner, times at 8 or later are usually easier to reserve. I make my specialty dinner reservations prior to boarding. Pinnacle Grill is usually only open on sea days for lunch from 12 - 1 PM. Reservations are normally for 12 noon or 12:30 PM. I can’t recall if there was a 12:15 time. I don’t believe they will do a reservation at 1 PM but I am going by memory. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Haljo1935 Posted December 15, 2023 #25 Share Posted December 15, 2023 16 hours ago, kazu said: Pinnacle Grill is usually only open on sea days for lunch from 12 - 1 PM. Reservations are normally for 12 noon or 12:30 PM. I can’t recall if there was a 12:15 time. I don’t believe they will do a reservation at 1 PM but I am going by memory. Just off NS a couple days ago. Our last PG lunch was 12:45 - the latest according to the person taking our reservation. We were scheduled for noon, but changed it when we learned the Cake Me Away event in the Lido started at 1130. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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