by Jason Leppert
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Wed December 21, 2016
When I last sailed on Holland America Line, the Westerdam served some form of room service 24 hours a day-some complimentary and some with a surcharge. The question, of course, is whether or not it is ever worth paying extra for food items, some of which you can get for free if you retrieve them yourself.
To start, Holland America presents a nicely paperbound welcome booklet in the cabin that details everything from cabin phone services to the line's Mariner Society loyalty program; therein is the breakdown of in-room dining as well.
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To be sure, there are plenty of complimentary options to be had from breakfast until dinner, but the total menu, taking into account the premium items, is pretty extensive. Free breakfasts are served from 6:00am to 11:00am including pastries to omelets, which we enjoyed onboard very much.
There are also three up-charge options: Smoked Salmon Benedict (pictured above) for $7.50, Steak and Eggs for $9.50 and a Kick Start smoothie for $4.95. Guests in Pinnacle and Neptune suites are not charged for the bonus items. Either way, the Benedict dish as I tried one morning is very tasty and similar to something you could also get made-to-order at the lido buffet above for free but without the hassle of queues in the cabin.
Beyond morning hours, all-day selections are available from 11:00am to 11:00pm and late-night options from 11:00pm to 6:00am, all of which are free. I particularly enjoyed the Quesadilla, Caprese Panini and New York Cheesecake one evening.
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Additionally, Dive-In Burgers and Pinnacle Grill steakhouse items are also available in the staterooms, the former 24 hours a day and the latter from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Hamburger and hot dog grill items are available for $4.95 each and include choice of fries, while steaks are $15 per order and lobsters $20 per order. A $10 supplement will also make a Filet Mignon surf-and-turf with a 5-ounce tail added.
Of course, whether or not any of these extra costs are worth it to you is a subjective choice. After all, like an Eggs Benedict, Dive-in burgers are complimentary from the pool deck. However, they are not always available. Should you crave one outside regular grilling hours, the room-service option is far more enticing. Also, whether you pay for a Pinnacle Grill dinner at the restaurant or in your room may be determined by how you would like to enjoy a romantic evening, either inside or perhaps uniquely al fresco on the verandah.
The point is, as long as there are plenty of free options available for room service, the chance to buy premium items as well is a welcome one for those times when you'd just rather not get out of bed or prefer a change of pace to public dining.
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