The new Pinnacle Grill will debut this October on the sister ships ms Statendam and ms Ryndam. The 66-seat Pinnacle Grill will be installed during the regularly
scheduled dry-docks of the Statendam in Seattle from Sept. 23-Oct. 2 and on the Ryndam in Seattle Sept. 27-Oct. 5. The new 1,800-square-foot restaurant will be constructed in space formerly occupied by a portion of the Explorers Lounge and the Kings Room private dining area adjacent to the Rotterdam Dining Room on Upper Promenade Deck.

"The Pinnacle Grill represents the best -- literally, the pinnacle -- of Pacific Northwest cuisine and style, in its seafood and steak menu, the high-quality ingredients, fine wines and elegant presentation," said
David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "We are excited about this new addition to our S-class ships. The new concept will offer our guests even more options in Holland America's premium cruise experience."

The décor of the Pinnacle Grills will feature rich warm fabrics in reds and golds, complemented by fine wood accents, representing the ambiance of the great Northwest. There will be many window tables for two, which will create a memorable and romantic dining experience afloat. A cozy Pinnacle Wine Bar, located within the restaurant, will offer carefully selected wines at its granite-topped bar from renowned pacific Northwest vineyards such as
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Canoe Ridge, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Tualatin Estates. In addition, guests may sample specially created drinks such as a
Northwest Apple Martini.

"The Pinnacle Grill will offer a special dining venue with a contemporary design, while remaining true to the classic style of service," said Giersdorf. "Whenever possible, Northwest items will be used in preparation and noted on the menu, with all fruits and vegetables selected based on the season."

Guests will be greeted by a host, who will guide them to their table, where a waiter, wearing a crisp starched white Pinnacle logo jacket and tie, will seat them. At each setting will be a large Bvlgari "show
plate." Other select china patterns have been chosen from Rosenthal in various shapes and sizes, with some representative of the Pacific Rim region. Additional tableware includes quality glassware from Reidel, tasteful white Frette linen, and an iron breadbasket, specially designed by Seattle artist Mary Gioia. A signature orchid in bud vase is centered on each table.

To commence the culinary experience, guests will immediately be served a sampling hors d'oeuvre - possibly a pastry puff of Salmon Caviar and Crème Fraiche or a spoonful of Black Sesame Tuna Tartare with Soy-Ginger - presented in an Asian porcelain spoon.

A typical evening's menu provides a wide selection of choices. For starters, guests may choose from dishes that may include an array of Cold Smoked Northwest Seafood and Cranberry Marmalade, Dungeness Crab Cakes in Brown Butter with Haystack-Fried Onions, Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon or Venison Carpaccio.

Two signature soups will be offered, one a tomato-based Smoked Salmon Chowder and the other a Washington Baked Potato Soup with Applewood
Smoked Bacon.

The salad course features a Pinnacle Salad of mesclun greens, candied pecans and roasted Washington apples in an Oregon bleu cheese
vinaigrette that is tossed at tableside.

Before the entrée is served, guests will be offered a
palette-refreshing Northwest Wild Berry Sorbet.
The entrees may include Sesame Crusted Halibut with Ginger Miso, Roasted Salmon with three sauces, Peking Duck Breast with Blackberry Sauce,
a special Northwest Cioppino, or Northwest Rack of Lamb, in addition to premium "Sterling Silver" hand-selected cuts of beef, including bone-in Delmonico rib-eye steak, center-cut T-bone steak and two sizes of filet mignon.

Side dishes will feature such choices as Washington Spuds au Gratin, Grilled Asparagus, Sauteed Button Mushrooms or a Honey Maple Three-Bean Stew.
Delectable desserts, featuring Pacific Northwest ingredients, will e offered, such as Washington-grown Bing Cherry Fritters with anilla-Ginger Ice Cream, a Warm Rhubarb Flan, and Not-so-Classic Baked Aaska. In addition, an array of cheeses will be presented tableside, with choices including Oregon bleu cheese, local chevres, Washington aged cheddar
and traditional French cheeses, with Ports and Northwest Rieslings suggested as accompaniments.

To conclude their memorable evening at the Pinnacle Grill, guest will be presented with an assortment of mini-cookies.

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Originally posted by jake14:
I don't like this it may be the start of cruise lines charging for food.

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Other cruise lines have been doing it for years and years... And even the old ocean liners had pay-for-dining options above and beyond the first class restaurants....

If they had the space available on the Statendam and Ryndam (Massdam and Veendam to follow, I presume) why didn`t they set up a no extra charge Odyssey/Marco Polo alternative restaurant as they have on their newer class ships. And are they going to extend the concept to the new vessels. In the later cases that will mean that the Odyssey/Marco Polo will be free (for how long?) and the Pinnacle will be extra charge ($15 US or $23 Canadian).

Assuming the high quality of the dining room remains, I don't see why anyone would object to this new "option". No one needs to dine there if they don't wish to experience it. All HAL is doing, IMO, is adding a "choice" that other cruise lines have offered for a long time.

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Originally posted by Jkm7:
I'm looking forward to the chance to try Pinnacle. While we are not currently planning to cruise on Ryndam or Statendam, one would think all of the "sisters" will be getting a Pinnacle at their next dry dock.

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And the new ships (Zuiderdam on) will be delivered with it.

Zuiderdam will have the dining room, Lido, Odyssey, and Pinnacle.

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Originally posted by Brian TF:
Where is the Pinnacle going to be located on the Zuiderdam? I don`t see it on the deck plans as yet.

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Personally I find it rather confusing that they are trying to get all their ships with alternative restaurants, but included ones on some ships, extra-cost ones on others, etc.

It would make more sense if they would adopt a universal alternative dining policy - either start charging for the Odyssey and Marco Polo restaurants, or don't charge for Pinnacle.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pinnacle is a sort of pilot program, and they will do one of the two things above depending on its success.

As for location - Explorers wouldn't be a very good choice as connecting it to the galley would entail blocking off the entrance to the dining room.

My guess would be on the port side of the atrium on Promenade Deck - directly corresponding with Odyssey's location on Lower Promenade Deck and offering direct access to the main galley.

[ 09-30-2002: Message edited by: Cruiseny ]

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Originally posted by sympatico:

Brian - I just looked at the layout in the brochure and there is no Pinnacle restaurant on the Zuiderdam, only the La Fontaine and the Odyssey. I think the Pinnacle is only being installed on the "S" ships, which don't have an alternate restaurant (so far only the Ryndam and Statendam).

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I've been informed by one of my HAL sources that it has not been decided if the dedicated space on ZUIDERDAM will be Odyssey (no charge) or Pinnacle (extra charge). I have heard there will not be both restaurants, and the final decision has not been made on which one yet.

Ernie Roller,
Atlanta

[ 09-30-2002: Message edited by: eroller ]