BySherry Laskin News

Holland America Adds Another Dimension to Dining

Holland America Line is definitely creative when it comes to spicing up culinary options in their main dining room. Now, in addition to a totally new and separate menu with twenty-two vegetarian and vegan options, they have just introduced the new Master Chef’s International Dinner, also in the main dining room.

Main dining room aboard Holland America Eurodam Once during every cruise in the main dining room, an international menu featuring cuisine from six continents will be offered to guests. Created by renowned Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, in collaboration with several of Holland America’s skilled chefs, guests can choose their international three or four course meal from a selection that includes a wide range of cultures.

The exclusive 20-dish menu includes appetizers, entrees and desserts from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as wine pairings from each region. Guests also can choose Chef Rudi’s Tour Around the World, a pre-selected three-course meal by the master chef.

“The Master Chef’s International Dinner is a special culinary celebration of cultures around the world,” saidRichard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Each dish captures the essence of the region’s cuisine with each course complementing the next, making for a truly exquisite dining experience for our guests.”

The international menu includes Scandinavian-style Seafood and Potato Chowder, Lebanese Lamb Shank, Argentinean Guiso Soup, Bourbon Glazed Beef with Grilled Portabella Mushrooms and Tofu and Vegetable Korma. Desserts include New York-style Cheesecake, Viennese Mohr im Hemd and Kiwi and Passion Fruit Pavlova, a traditional New Zealand meringue-based dessert.

Pinnacle Grill transformed into Le Cirque The new international dinner adds another distinctive culinary feature to Holland America Line’s already-extensive dining offerings. Additional initiatives include award-winning alternative restaurants Tamarind, the Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto.

At a time when so many cruise lines are adding dozens of specialty restaurants with varying price tags, Holland America is keeping alive the long-standing tradition of dinner in the main dining room. By enhancing and creating exciting and varied menus, from standard fare (grilled salmon, steaks and chicken breast) offered every night, the extraordinary culinary feat with the new six continent International Dinners and a separate twenty-two item vegetarian menu, Holland America offers guests a modern yet quite traditional culinary and dining experience.

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7 Comments

  1. Hi Jeff,
    Sorry for my late reply. I’ve tried to find an answer to your question and had the same negative result. It is possible that you have to have a deposit on the sailing in order to make a Chef’s Table reservation. Please keep calling Holland America reservations or work with a travel agent until you get a definite answer. I’m sure it will all work out but from what I’ve heard from others, it is a very nice experience. Thank you again for your question and I’m sorry I could not confirm a solution for you.

  2. Hi Sherry, We are headed on the Rotterdam in Feb ’23 and would like to go to the Chef’s table. But I can’t find out how to sign-up for it in advance. Do you know? The HAL customer service rep didn’t know either and I don’t see this listed on their website. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks Jeff

  3. Dear Teve,

    Thank you for reading my article. The information that I used about the Pavlova dessert came from Holland America. I have corrected it in the article and I thank you very much for bringing this to my attention.

    Happy cruising!

    Sherry
    Cruise Maven

  4. Looking forward to trying the new menu when we sail in November. One correction to the information, the Pavlova desert was invented in New Zealand in honor of her visit, not a Russian dessert.

  5. Hi Mary,

    Thanks for your upbeat review of the Holland America Amsterdam. That is one of their newer ships so it’s good to hear that the food was excellent. I appreciate your taking the time to write about your experience.

    Happy cruising!

    Sherry

  6. I was on the Amsterdam cruise June 29-July 13. The food in MDR was outstanding.
    I loved the Labanese lamb shank ohhhhh my was it outstanding. I am a picky eater but the meals in the MDR will be something I look forward to on my next cruise.. OHH the chilled soups were to die for. But that lamb shank wa just sooooo good. The rest of the food was excellent.
    Thank you
    Mary

  7. Hi Shanna,
    Thank you for reading the article and taking the time to write. Yes, I totally agreed with you about improving and diversifying the offerings in the main dining rooms instead of always adding pay-as-you-go specialty restaurants.
    Enjoy the Ryndam. I was aboard in February. Service, food, everything was top-notch. Bon Voyage!

    Regards,
    Sherry (Cruise Maven)

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