Canaletto, a specialty restaurant on Holland America, now offers an updated three-course Italian menu at an affordable price.
Listen to this articleAt Canaletto, you’ll discover a cozy ambiance, elevated service, and a menu that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Italy. Whether you’re a fan of traditional pasta dishes or crave succulent seafood, Canaletto offers a varied selection to satisfy every palate.
Depending on the ship, you’ll find the venue either adjacent to or right inside the Lido Market Buffet. Each evening the area transforms into a family-style Italian restaurant where cruisers can dine on soups, salads, fresh homemade pasta, meats, and delectable desserts.
Holland America offers Canaletto on all of their current ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Westerdam, Zaandam, and Zuiderdam.
I’ll explore Canaletto’s new menu (updated for 2023!) to help you decide if this specialty dining restaurant is a must for your next Holland America cruise.
In June 2023, Holland America Line announced a complete menu refresh for Canaletto, featuring fresh pasta, Italian desserts, and new cocktails.
The updated menu includes several new selections—along with some old favorites—but several classic Canaletto choices have been retired. (More on that later in the post!)
Read more: Holland America Debuts Refreshed Menu at Canaletto
Canaletto’s new menu is a little smaller than it used to be, with a focus on fresh pastas and updated Italian dishes.
Guests can choose a small plate to start, a main course, and a dessert. Main courses are listed in the Housemade Pastas & Entrées section, as well as in the Special of the Day which rotates.
Your entire meal is included in the restaurant’s cover charge, with the exception of the Broiled Lobster Tails entrée which has a $15 upcharge. If you’d like to order a second main course, it’ll cost you an extra $10.
Alcoholic drinks, sodas, and specialty coffees are an extra charge, although solo espresso and cappuccino can be ordered for free from the dessert menu.
The new menu includes icons showing which items are vegetarian and/or gluten-friendly. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, be sure to let your server know before you order.
Small plates
Guests start with a choice of small plates as a starter. Small plates include:
- Antipasti Plate – with prosciutto di Parma, Finocchiona salami, truffle salami, Terre Ducali coppa, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Sicilian olives
- Canaletto Salad – with mixed lettuce, roasted beets, candied walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese, and a balsamic reduction
- Burrata – Burrata cheese with plum tomato salad, pistachio garlic gremolata, and extra-virgin olive oil
- Grilled Tiger Shrimp – with salsa verde, fennel, and lemon-herb grattato
- Veal and Sage Meatballs – with glazed cipollini onions and a rustic tomato sauce
Special of the Day
Canaletto’s Special of the Day offerings have been revamped, notably removing Ossobuco from the rotating menu and adding it to the always-available main courses.
As the menu is new, I don’t have a complete list of the daily special options (or which day they’ll be offered). So far, the specials I’ve found are both seafood choices:
- Seared Scallops
- Escalope of Fresh Fish
If you’ve dined at Canaletto since the new menu change, let me know in the comments what your Special of the Day choice was, and what you thought about it!
Housemade Pastas & Entrées
Main courses at Canaletto include meat and veggie options, with several incorporating the restaurant’s homemade pastas.
- Spaghetti with Shrimp and Clams – with chili and garlic
- Casarecce Pesto Genovese – short pasta with roasted almonds, semi-dried cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese
- Italian Sausage Paccheri – with tomato, chili, black olives, and pecorino Romano cheese
- Mussel, Scallop, and Calamari Trenette – in a seafood tomato reduction with lemon and anchovy-herb crumb
- Ossobuco – veal with Mascarpone cheese, saffron arborio risotto, asparagus, and roasted carrots
- Broiled Lobster Tails – with asparagus and warm crab mayonnaise, served over spaghetti with garlic and olive oil ($15 supplement applies)
- Herb & Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast – with haricots verts, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil roasted potatoes, and crispy zucchini
- Chianti-Braised Beef Short Rib – with shallots, onion, roasted butternut squash, and vincotto (wine reduction)
- Grilled Scampi – with almond cream, baby spinach, and roasted bell peppers
- Seared Mediterranean Sea Bass – with fava bean purée, fresh ricotta cheese, roasted vegetables, and romesco sauce
Desserts
The new dessert menu at Canaletto is a little smaller than it was in the past, but there are still plenty of sweet treats, including three flavors of gelato (freshly-made on board!)
Sadly, the restaurant’s Italian Cheese Plate looks to be a thing of the past, a trend that I’m also seeing on other cruise lines (I’m looking at you, Royal Caribbean!)
There also isn’t a reduced-sugar dessert or fruit plate option, but a solo cappuccino or espresso could be a nice lighter after-dinner option.
- Tiramisù – with mascarpone, espresso, and chocolate
- Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake – with mixed berries, Galliano syrup, and whipped cream
- Chocolate Hazelnut Tart – with Nutella and chocolate sauce
- Affogato – Málaga gelato with espresso and lemon zest
- Gelato – choice of Málaga, pistachio, or bacio
- Coffee – solo espresso or cappucino
Cocktails and Wine at Canaletto
In addition to the new food options, a highlight of Canaletto’s refreshed menu is the new cocktail selection. Guests can try an Aperol Spritz, Spumoni (made with Holland America’s own De Lijn Gin), Tuscan Lemon Drop, or a Canaletto Bellini with a selection of fruit purées.
The menu also includes a selection of sparkling, white, and red wines, as well as beer and digestifs. Alcohol is an additional charge, but it’s included at Canaletto for guests who have the Signature or Elite Beverage Package.
Comparing Canaletto’s prior menu with the updated version, I noticed that the new menu is more streamlined. There are also a few classic choices that are no longer available at the restaurant, including:
- Beef Carpaccio
- Minestrone Soup
- Bufala Mozzarella
- Grilled Calamari
- Lasagna Bolognese
- Grilled Lamb Chops
- Grilled NY Strip Loin
- Orange Blossom Ricotta Tart
- Sicilian Marzipan Cassata Torte
- Selection of Italian Cheeses
Holland America seems to be focusing on a more modern and upscale version of Italian cuisine at Canaletto, removing some old standards and menu options that don’t fit the new vision.
Is Canaletto worth it?
Dinner at Canaletto costs $25 per adult for three courses. The cover charge is half-price for kids aged 12 or under. Guests with the Have it All package can enjoy included dining at Canaletto.
Tip: Kids twelve and under can eat for free at Canaletto when dining with an adult, as long as they order from the kids’ menu!
Of course, you can enjoy all of your meals and snacks on any Holland America ship without any extra fees—there are lots of dining venues that are included in your cruise fare.
However, if you’d like to splurge a little and enjoy an evening of elevated food and service, the cover charge at Canaletto is fairly reasonable.
Compared with the cover charges for Italian specialty restaurants on other mainstream cruise lines, Canaletto’s $25 fee falls near the bottom of the price range.
FAQ about Canaletto on Holland America
Holland America offers Canaletto on all of their current ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Westerdam, Zaandam, and Zuiderdam.
Dinner at Canaletto costs $25 per adult for three courses. The cover charge is $12.50 for kids 12 or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu. Guests with the Have it All package can enjoy included dining at Canaletto.
One pasta course or entrée is included with the cover charge. For each additional main course, a charge of $10 will be added.
More resources for your Holland America cruise
- Holland America Fitness Classes (With Menu and Prices)
- Holland America Spa and Salon Services (With Menu and Prices)
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Have you dined at Canaletto on a Holland America cruise? Are you excited about Canaletto’s new menu, or do you prefer the old choices? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Annette Damante
Friday 9th of June 2023
I’m glad I saw this post! My husband is picky with food and he loved the Canaletto restaurant on Holland America. Not so sure he’ll like it now with the new menu. He likes the basics like minestrone soup and lasagna. I’m not as picky! Do you know if you can still order it even f it’s not on the menu?? Please help because he won’t go to the buffet and he doesn’t like the regular dining room.
Carrie Ann
Saturday 10th of June 2023
Hi Annette, thanks for the question! I haven't had the chance to try Canaletto since the new menu debuted, so I'm not 100% sure about what off-menu choices (if any) they'll offer. I doubt that they'd be able to do a specific soup or something time-consuming like lasagna, though. Items like that are usually prepped well before meal time. I think his best bet would be to study the new menu and look for things he'd like, perhaps with an ingredient or two omitted. If he's truly picky, it might be a good idea to meet with the maître d' soon after you board to discuss meal options. Hope this helps!