New Flexible Dining Option for Holland America

Holland America has just announced the addition of a new dining option called
As You Wish dining that allows guests to choose from the traditional pre -set early or main dining or a more flexible time that suits them.

This was the announcement from Holland America.

As You Wish™ dining — the latest addition to Holland America’s Signature of Excellence initiative — makes onboard dining more inviting with options to suit every taste. Soon guests will be able to choose a traditional pre-set seating and dining time or a flexible, open seating schedule. While already implemented on the ms Noordam, the program will roll out to the rest of our fleet beginning this fall.

As You Wish™ dining presents a menu of options:

When your clients book, they can choose either flexible/open dining or traditional pre-set dining time (early or main). If they choose the flexible/open seating program, they may make reservations daily up to 4 p.m. — or simply walk up during dining hours.
Guests may also choose to dine in the reservation-only Pinnacle Grill featuring Pacific Northwest steak and seafood specialties, or casual Lido dining.
Complimentary in-room dining is available 24 hours a day.


This new program will be implemented over the course of the next 12 months on the following schedule:
Operational Now ms Noordam
10/11/07 ms Ryndam
11/13/07 ms Volendam
12/18/07 ms Statendam
1/5/08 ms Oosterdam
1/27/08 ms Rotterdam
2/3/08 ms Zaandam
2/24/08 ms Westerdam
3/15/08 ms Zuiderdam
4/6/08 ms Veendam
4/24/08 ms Maasdam
5/16/08 ms Amsterdam
5/23/08 ms Prinsendam
7/5/08 ms Eurodam (upon delivery)

Many of the deluxe and luxury cruise lines already offer the open seating dining (just as the new Azamara line has implemented on the Journey). NCL was the first to start with FreeStyle Dining. Princess followed with Personal Choice dining. Now Holland America is offering it. It will be interesting to see if Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival join the others.

I'll keep you posted!