Onboard Dining & Cuisine

How better to enhance your onboard cruise vacation experience than to provide incomparable cuisine in a variety of wonderful ways. Bountiful buffets and dress-up dinners, hors d'oeuvres on your verandah, or a picnic on the beach are just a few of the dining options awaiting you aboard a Holland America Line premium cruise vacation.

With more than 500 different food items on a typical 7-day cruise vacation, Holland America Line offers the most extensive menus at sea. Enjoy modern Continental cuisine, regional specialties appropriate to each cruising area and traditional favorites. All chefs are members of the prestigious Confrerie de la Chaîne des Rotisseurs gourmet society.

Yes, your mouth will water at the aroma of so many delicious options. But your other senses will delight as well--fine dining has always been the tradition on Holland America's premium cruise ships, with signature touches like elegant china, starched linens, silver and fresh flowers to enhance your meals. With so many tastes to tempt you and venues to enjoy, you're sure to experience the many pleasures world-class dining can offer.

Main Dining Room

Guests who have chosen flexible, open seating may make reservations daily during a cruise or simply walk up anytime during dining hours.

Guests who have chosen a classic fixed time to dine may choose from convenient sittings. Start your evening early and watch the sunset - or dine a little later, lingering on deck or hosting a pre-dinner party in your stateroom while the ship sails for its next fascinating port of call.

In the Main Dining Room, you can expect:

• Elegant five-course meals featuring signature dishes
• Menu design under the direction of Master Chef Rudi Sodamin
• Executive chefs who have been inducted into the prestigious Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international food and wine society
• Fine Rosenthal China and sparkling stemware on crisp white table linens
• Two expert servers per table, selected for their proven abilities to remember guest preferences
• Knowledgeable wine stewards adept at pairing wine with food Surrounding panoramic ocean views, as well as fine art and antiques

Pinnacle Grill

Creative and innovative menus, drawing from regional ingredients of the highest quality, will delight the palate and ignite the senses.

Choose your own cut of aged Sterling Silver Beef from the display tray. Guests of the Pinnacle Grill can expect:

• Aged Sterling Silver Beef Porterhouse and Bone-in Ribeye steaks, known for superior marbling, taste, and tenderness
• Fresh seafood dishes such as Cedar-planked Halibut with Alaskan King Crab Hollandaise or Dungeness Crab Cakes
• An extensive wine list featuring many selections rated "Excellent" by Wine Spectator
• Luxurious appointments including Bvlgari® china, Riedel® stemware and Frette® linens
• Intimate, reservations-only dining

The Lido Restaruant

With its pool and terrace on one side and the ocean all around - is the hallmark of every Holland America ship. In fact, the Lido Restaurant was the first of its kind in the cruise industry, and although many have imitated the concept, there is no match for the extensive menu. Bountiful breakfasts feature fresh-squeezed orange juice, cooked-to-order omelets, pancakes, fresh fruits, natural cereals and yogurts. For lunch, enjoy cuisine from around the world, including Asian stir-fry, traditional dishes, Sushi, pizza, pasta, gourmet sandwiches and an extensive salad bar. And as always, impeccable service provided by the attentive, yet unobtrusive staff, is never far away. Enjoy made-to-order dinner entrées and tableside waiter service for dinner.  Dine indoors in the air-conditioned comfort or enjoy the fresh air on deck.

The Terrace Grill

If you're cruising the tropics, it's sunny and warm up on deck. Cooler destinations have the added insulation of the sliding glass roof. Enjoy grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings or the festive Taco Bar, where you can assemble your own creation. Beverages are available from the Terrace Bar. Swimsuits are suitable attire.

In addition to breakfast, lunch and five-course evening meals, you can enjoy: afternoon tea; a stir-fry or pasta buffet; an ice cream bar; hot hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hours; an evening espresso or cappuccino; and the traditional late-night snack (one of which will be the Dutch Chocolate Extravaganza). And, of course, complimentary room service is available 24 hours a day.

Holland America Line cruise ships offer open seating for breakfast and lunch. There are four sittings for dinner. Dinner times are 5:45 pm (First Upper), 6:15 pm (First Lower), 8:00 pm (Main Upper) and 8:30 pm (Main Lower). For all Alaska cruises, dinner times are 5:30 pm (Early Upper), 6:00 pm (Early Lower), 7:45 pm (Main Upper) and 8:15 pm (Main Lower).*

You may request any sitting time, table size and with whom you wish to sit; please make any such requests with us well in advance of sailing. Requests will be confirmed or waitlisted at the time of booking. Table numbers and table size are on request only and will be assigned by the Maître d' on board.

*The ms Prinsendam has two sittings; 6:00 pm (First) and 8:15 pm (Main).

The status of your seating request is listed on your Cruise Contract. A confirmation card with seating assignment and table numbers will be waiting for you in your stateroom upon boarding. If for some reason your dining request was not submitted before your cruise date, the Maître d' will assign you to the sitting that is available.

Special diets and meals, such as Kosher**, Passover Seder dinner, gluten-free, salt-free, fat-free, baby food, diabetic and other special dietary needs can be accommodated only if the cruise line is notified in advance. To arrange special diets, please contact the Ship Services Department at 800-541-1576 at least 60 days prior to departure. While Holland America will do their utmost to fulfill all requests, it may not always be feasible. Holland America Line reserves the right to substitute products when specified brands are not available. An additional charge, including shipping and handling, may be applied. Reconfirm any special requests with the Maître d' after you board.

**Kosher meals are prepared off the ship in a Kosher kitchen, frozen and brought to the table sealed in their original containers. There is neither a Kosher kitchen on board nor Kosher dishes, utensils, or pots and pans.