Drew_Callahan
Moderator
Holland America's Flexible Dining Revolution
If you've cruised with Holland America Line before, you know the line has a reputation for sophistication and consistency. But here's what's changed: As You Wish dining is their answer to passengers who want flexibility without sacrificing the elegance that HAL is known for. After sailing on five different HAL ships in 2026, I can tell you this program hits a sweet spot that rivals what you'll find on much newer fleets.
As You Wish isn't your typical "eat whenever you want" program. It's more nuanced than that—and honestly, that's where most people get confused. Let me walk you through exactly how it works, what it costs, and how to make it work for you.
What As You Wish Actually Means
Holland America's As You Wish program gives you two core choices:
- Traditional Assigned Seating: You dine at the same table, same time, every night in the main dining room. Think 5:30 PM or 8:15 PM seatings. You get consistent tablemates (which I love for meeting other cruisers, honestly).
- Anytime Dining: You can show up to the main dining room during dining hours (typically 5:15 PM to 9:30 PM) and sit wherever you want. No reservation, no assigned table.
The catch? You don't choose one or the other for the whole cruise. You can mix and match night to night. Want a quiet, predictable dinner on Monday? Do assigned seating. Want to grab a 7:45 PM table with your friends on Wednesday? Go anytime. This flexibility is what separates HAL's program from competitors who force you to pick one method for the entire voyage.
Both options include the main dining room experience—the same menu, the same wine list, the same quality. The difference is purely about structure and social dynamics.
What You're Actually Paying For (and What's Included)
Here's the important part: As You Wish dining is included in your base cruise fare. You don't pay extra to use this program. What you're paying for—if you want extras—are:
- Specialty restaurants: The Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse), Canaletto (Italian), Tamarind (Asian), and the sushi bar. These run $15–$30 per person, per meal. Worth it? I've eaten in all of them. The Pinnacle Grill is genuinely excellent if you love a good ribeye.
- Alternative dining package: Some HAL ships offer "dine around" packages that give you credits toward specialty dining across multiple restaurants. On a 7-day cruise, expect $150–$250 per person for a meaningful package.
- Room service: Breakfast is free, but lunch and dinner carry charges ($8–$18 per item) unless you have a beverage package.
The main dining room alone? Completely free. You can eat there every single night without spending an extra dime beyond your cruise fare.
How Anytime Dining Actually Works in Practice
Let me be honest: Anytime dining on Holland America is not completely walk-up like you might experience on Norwegian. Here's the real process:
- You arrive at the dining room and check in with the host stand (usually right outside the main dining room entrance).
- If tables are available, you're seated immediately or within 10–15 minutes.
- During peak times (7:00–8:00 PM), you might wait 20–30 minutes, especially on formal or elegant nights.
- You can check wait times by asking at the host stand before committing—staff will tell you honestly.
I've done anytime dining on the Eurodam, Volendam, and Zuiderdam multiple times. The wait is rarely a problem if you arrive between 5:15–6:45 PM or after 8:30 PM. The sweet spot? 6:00 PM—you avoid early diners but miss the peak rush.
The Real Advantage: Meeting People
Here's something I don't see written about enough: If you're traveling solo or as a couple, assigned seating in HAL's dining room is a genuine asset. Holland America attracts a mature, engaged crowd—plenty of repeat cruisers, people who actually want to talk, and international travelers who bring real perspectives. I've made actual friendships at assigned dining tables on HAL ships.
On my last Eurodam sailing, I sat with a couple from Perth, a retired doctor from Vancouver, and a travel writer from London. We ended up doing an excursion together in Curaçao. That doesn't happen at anytime dining.
But here's the trade-off: If you're an introvert or traveling during a wave of families (rare on HAL, but it happens), you might prefer anytime dining for the peace and control it offers.
Navigating the Specialty Dining Game
Okay, real talk: Holland America's specialty restaurants are where things get expensive, but they're also where the food quality jumps noticeably.
Pinnacle Grill is my top pick. It's a steakhouse with proper technique—I'm talking butter-basted New York strips, fresh lobster tail, and sides that aren't an afterthought. One dinner ran me $28 per person, and it was genuinely better than what I'd pay $60+ for at a steakhouse in most U.S. cities. On the Eurodam, the sommelier actually knew wine—not just cruise ship wine list wine.
Canaletto (Italian) is solid but can feel rushed if you pick a busy night. Book early in your cruise.
Tamarind (Asian fusion) is hit-or-miss. On the Zuiderdam, it was excellent. On the Volendam, it felt generic. This one varies by ship and day.
The sushi bar is more of a specialty item—it's not a full restaurant, more of an add-on option in the main dining room.
My advice: Pick one specialty restaurant per 7-day cruise. Budget $30–$35 per person and go once. You'll get variety, the experience feels special, and you won't break the bank. If you're doing a longer cruise (10+ days), two specialty dinners is reasonable.
Insider Tips for the Best As You Wish Experience
- Book specialty restaurants early: Do this on embarkation day or through the Holland America app before you board. Popular slots (Thursday–Saturday, 7:00–8:00 PM) fill up fast. By day three, your favorite restaurant might be fully booked.
- Request early seating if you do assigned dining: The 5:30 PM seating tends to be quieter and faster-paced, which means more time to explore the ship afterward. The 8:15 PM seating is more lingering and social.
- Ask about menu modifications: HAL's dining staff will accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy requests without advance notice. Just tell your server. The quality doesn't dip—they actually care.
- Use the app to pre-order specialty dinners: The Holland America app lets you browse menus and book weeks before your cruise. Do this. It eliminates the "what should I eat" debate and secures your table.
- Attend the wine pairing dinner if it's offered: This is a special event that's separate from regular specialty dining. Usually $60–$85 per person, and it pairs wines with a specially prepared menu. On the Eurodam, this was genuinely excellent and worth every penny.
- Don't skip the midnight chocolate buffet: This is free and happens on most HAL cruises. It's casual, it's fun, and the chocolate cake is legitimately good. Great way to break up the formal dining routine.
- For anytime dining, go late: If you eat after 8:30 PM, you'll almost never wait. Seats are plentiful, the kitchen is in rhythm, and the vibe is relaxed. You get better service because staff isn't overwhelmed.
What This Means for Different Cruise Types
Caribbean 7-day cruise: Stick with the included main dining room. Do assigned seating four nights, anytime dining three nights. Book Pinnacle Grill for one night. Total cost for dining: $0 to $30 per person.
Mediterranean 10-day cruise: Assigned seating six nights, anytime dining four nights. Two specialty dinners (Pinnacle Grill + Canaletto). Budget $60–$70 per person for dining extras.
Alaska 7-day cruise: HAL's Alaska fleet (Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Westerdam) are excellent. Use anytime dining more here—you'll be excited about excursions and might have irregular schedules. One specialty dinner. Budget $20–$30 per person.
Solo traveler: Do assigned seating every night. This is where HAL shines for solo cruisers. You get the social benefit, the routine, and the quality. Skip specialty dining unless you really want to splurge—invest that money in an excursion instead.
Common Mistakes I See People Make
- Treating anytime dining like Norwegian's program: It's not walk-up freedom. It's organized flexibility. Expect 10–20 minute waits during peak hours.
- Booking too many specialty restaurants: Four specialty dinners on a 7-day cruise is excessive and expensive. One or two is the sweet spot.
- Ignoring the main dining room quality: Some people think specialty dining is "better." It's not—it's just different. The main dining room on HAL ships is genuinely excellent. Don't chase expensive just for the sake of it.
- Not booking in advance: Showing up to specialty restaurants on the day of and expecting a seat? You'll be disappointed. Book early.
- Forgetting about timing: If you do anytime dining, eat early (5:15–6:00 PM) or late (8:30 PM+). The 6:30–8:00 PM window is chaos.
The Bottom Line
Holland America's As You Wish dining works because it respects that different travelers want different things. You're not locked into a rigid system, but you're not dealing with complete chaos either. The main dining room is genuinely good—better than you'd expect for what's included in your fare—and the specialty restaurants are real options, not just upsells.
I prefer assigned seating on HAL ships because the passenger demographic tends to be interesting and engaged. But anytime dining is perfectly viable if you want flexibility. The key is making a conscious choice rather than stumbling into the program confused.
Whatever you choose, you're getting solid food, professional service, and none of the drama you might encounter on other lines where dining is controversial.
Have you experienced As You Wish dining on Holland America? Share your favorite restaurants, your seating preferences, and your tips in the Holland America Line forum. Whether you're a Pinnacle Grill devotee or a main dining room loyalist, your experience matters to other cruisers planning their HAL voyage.