What if we all stopped going to "Specialty" Dinning?

I've only been to La Cucina once because my TA threw it in for free. I was in no way wowed, so there is no way I would pay for food since it's already included in the fare. That being said, I couldn't care less about the pay restaurants. If people want to fight for reservations and pay more for them, that is their choice.

I'm fine with the MDR and buffet. If it's free, it's for me!

 

 

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that is the right attitude and how we should all feel. Do it the way you want. For some the extra $$ are worth it for a slightly more upscale experience. For others, they really are satisfied to live with what is included. I will add, though we do enjoy La Cucina, that is the less impressive of all the specialty dining rooms. It also depends on which ship you are on.

I refuse to pay extra to dine on a ship .On my last NCI cruise I had free specialty dining and did not find the food to be any different than the MDR .In addition ,the wait staff in the MDR was much nicer.

Just got off the Breakaway -our 21 NCL cruise, 5th time on Breakaway and the best food this time was in the MDR . My steak and service in the MDR was better than at Cagney's -to our surprise. We have always enjoyed our latitude perks with the meals and now one bottle of wine, but with so many having a meal plan, the speciality restaurants were over booked and the staff very stressed. MDR food was perfect this trip and we would of been very upset if we had "paid" for the speciality dining.

Safe sailing

The " few things" NCL took away from me has cost them more than they gained.

The bottle of wine that I can buy in a store for under five dollars has cost NCL the revenue from several cruises. The other "takeaways" NCL has done make other cruise lines more attractive to me.

The other lines don't charge for "free stuff".

For many that was a big deal; for us, the only problem we have had is, we like a bottle of wine in our cabin and by taking away that second bottle we no longer have it, plus we used to take our bubbly bottle to a bar and exchange it for a bottle of wine in the cabin. That is the biggy for me, but they have added features to the plat level that we like such as discounts on excursions and internet service plus last time we cruised we had free phone service even back to the USA. So I see it as a wash. I haven't seen any other line that offers anything more for frequent guest than NCL. At least princess doesn't have a better program or as good for that matter. Of course I am not a Princess lover, just have cruised them many times because of special pricing from time to time or itineraries. I still, regardless of the line, cruise based on itineray first, then price and 3rd previous experience with the line. Now that age is catching up with us and our cruising days are less, we stick with NCL.

For many that was a big deal; for us, the only problem we have had is, we like a bottle of wine in our cabin and by taking away that second bottle we no longer have it, plus we used to take our bubbly bottle to a bar and exchange it for a bottle of wine in the cabin. That is the biggy for me, but they have added features to the plat level that we like such as discounts on excursions and internet service plus last time we cruised we had free phone service even back to the USA. So I see it as a wash. I haven't seen any other line that offers anything more for frequent guest than NCL. At least princess doesn't have a better program or as good for that matter. Of course I am not a Princess lover, just have cruised them many times because of special pricing from time to time or itineraries. I still, regardless of the line, cruise based on itineray first, then price and 3rd previous experience with the line. Now that age is catching up with us and our cruising days are less, we stick with NCL.

I find the Princess benefits more suitable for me because they allow me to bring a bottle of wine without penalty I get free Internet and a bar setup. The OBC is not restricted as ir is on NCL. It can be used for service charges and casino.

Princess also serves lobster in the buffet on some nights and they allow me to bring sodas and water onboard!!!!!.

Carnival stock pays dividends .

Bottom line for me is much better on Carnival owned lines.

 

Bottom line for me is much better on Carnival owned lines.

Bottom line or not, the fact is that you are still here, on the NCL board....not on the Carnival board. That says a lot.

Bottom line or not, the fact is that you are still here, on the NCL board....not on the Carnival board. That says a lot.

Had to use my last cruise deposit!!!

And I may cruise NCL again if if if ???

BTW I get my deposit back on Princess if not used. FDR and company keep it. ...

Yes I love that so many people buy so much alcohol which is a HUGE profit center and helps defray the cost of the cruise for non-drinkers.

Likewise, I like the fact that non drinkers book cabins too. Making the cruise available for me. See, we all benefit in some way. You could say the same with folks that book inside cabins vs balcony's etc...it cuts both ways. Not sure why someone always thinks they are winning...we are all winning in our own way on a cruise.

We stopped going a couple cruises ago. We prefer not to be tied down to reservations. Any time we dined at a specialty, we felt we were missing out on something we'd have preferred in the MDR. Now we just eat in the MDR. I'll take the ambience of a Manhattan Room with live music and dancing over the boring and tightly packed Le Bistro any day, that's for sure.

This is why choice is a good thing! The live music annoys the crap out of me. It's distracting, it drowns out any hope of conversation, and I (it's weird, I know) feel obligated to watch the dance show and I'd rather be eating. If I want to see a show, there are others on the ship.

This is why choice is a good thing! The live music annoys the crap out of me. It's distracting, it drowns out any hope of conversation, and I (it's weird, I know) feel obligated to watch the dance show and I'd rather be eating. If I want to see a show, there are others on the ship.

When I read this it occurred to me that I didn't see live music at dinner on the Dawn. We only had dinner in the mdr once and it was aqua. I had the memory of a 95 year old women on the breakaway doing a jig with her walker and the host taking her hand for a dance. Im sure it made her trip and I remember the family smiling and laughing. I am not judging just sharing.

I have no idea what your post is even saying. How does a non-drinker booking a cruise make it available for you? Whether someone drinks or not has no impact on if a cruise is available for you. NCL does not have a mandatory drinker to non-drinker ratio for its cruises! I do not recall ever mention winning and not winning, that is your thing not mine.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, it seems on both parties.. You mentioned that selling of booze makes it cheaper for you to cruise. And that's a good thing. I mentioned that I was glad they sold cabins to non drinkers, which makes it cheaper for me to cruise. We are all happy. That's all I meant.

Sometimes things don't come across in print the way I/you want them to. Again, my apologies.

Someone on one of my groups on “the site that shall not be named” posted this today.

 

Just left a Travel Show - NCL was there and was giving out the current alcohol list for the UBP. Also confirmed that Moderno will be closing on most ships due to low “interest”. One of the servers did mention this when we were on the Escape two weeks ago and I didn’t know if I should believe them or not....[emoji53]

 

I don’t know if the information is correct or not, but personally I won’t miss Moderno. If this is true, the question becomes what will take its place? Maybe the new specialty restaurant Q that will be on Bliss, or maybe Los Lobos?

That would be great. Moderno is terrible. Probably the worst restaurant on the ship.

BEFORE "specialty" dining came to be, the food in the MDR was wonderful....beautifully presented, tasty and varied. Once they saw that folks could be enticed to spend more for the same food in a different venue, they moved the best dishes out of the MDR into the "specialty" venues.....and the decline in the included options continues.

I never thought that the MDR food was that good. To me it was cafeteria food on a fancy plate. While not all of the specialty restaurants serve great food, I do think that the better items are much better than the best items in the MDR's.

Its an interesting thread because a first time cruiser will book a cruise because of stories they hear about the way it used to be. Long time cruisers like to say you are lucky to be able to cruise but in fact a cruise has become the cheapest vacation. So we take the cheapest vacation then complain about the low quality. I don't exclude myself, i was under the impression that by booking a balcony or suite I turned the motel 8 into the ritz carlton. I forgot that its the same employees at the motel 8 as the ritz

No butler at motel 6

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That would be great. Moderno is terrible. Probably the worst restaurant on the ship.

 

 

I never thought that the MDR food was that good. To me it was cafeteria food on a fancy plate.

 

Well don't knock cafeteria food. my grandfather owned one on the best restaurants in FT Worth, TX in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. It was a cafeteria, and I now in my 60's have fond memories of it. His cooks were the best.

That would be great. Moderno is terrible. Probably the worst restaurant on the ship.

 

 

I never thought that the MDR food was that good. To me it was cafeteria food on a fancy plate.

 

Well don't knock cafeteria food. my grandfather owned one on the best restaurants in FT Worth, TX in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. It was a cafeteria, and I now in my 60's have fond memories of it. His cooks were the best.

Meant school cafeteria food

 

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I find the Princess benefits more suitable for me because they allow me to bring a bottle of wine without penalty I get free Internet and a bar setup. The OBC is not restricted as ir is on NCL. It can be used for service charges and casino.

 

Princess also serves lobster in the buffet on some nights and they allow me to bring sodas and water onboard!!!!!.

Carnival stock pays dividends .

 

Bottom line for me is much better on Carnival owned lines.

We always use our OBC in the casino on NCL> Service charges NO, but we have started paying them as a perk when it is offered which it was on the cruise we are taking in a few weeks. I think it is safe to say, every mass marketed line is going to have promos that are pleasing to some but not to others, and each line is going to find a way to make a profit. It is up to everyone to decide what works best for them.

So what? I know what I paid for my first cruise in 1986 and prices are not much more. At the same time food costs in our daily lives? Skyrocketed.

 

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Precisely. I am currently planning a solo 11 day cruise in a balcony for less than I spent on sharing an oceanview (in the days of windows not much larger than portholes) in the early 90s on the Seaward.

The cruise industry found the price point beyond which (most) people will not pay to cruise. To deliver that things needed to be cut and people allowed to select where they wanted to put their discretionary vacation spending.

I did enjoy the food and multiple courses full of great choices back in the day... and if I want that experience I can pay $8 grand for it on another line.

That would be great. Moderno is terrible. Probably the worst restaurant on the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

I never thought that the MDR food was that good. To me it was cafeteria food on a fancy plate.

 

 

 

Well don't knock cafeteria food. my grandfather owned one on the best restaurants in FT Worth, TX in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. It was a cafeteria, and I now in my 60's have fond memories of it. His cooks were the best.

 

 

 

LOL. We have some excellent Brazillian steakhouses in Dallas. I am a carnavore but I love the salad bar most of all. Don't think I have ever seen sushi on a single one of them, but sure did at Moderno on the Epic!!! That's just WRONG!

 

 

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I am a carnavore but I love the salad bar most of all.

That would make you an omnivore. ;p

i don't pay for it. if it ain't included, then it ain't for me.

Stories of the way cruising used to be is what kept me from cruising for 47 years. Getting dressed up to eat with strangers at a pre-set time.....not for me. Along comes free-style cruising with the added benefit of specialty dining if I want and I am hooked. I do agree though Moderno was just blah, and I wouldn't go back there. But having choices in how one takes their vacations is what keeps most of us happy. So count me out on the OP's proposed protest.

This is why choice is a good thing! The live music annoys the crap out of me. It's distracting, it drowns out any hope of conversation, and I (it's weird, I know) feel obligated to watch the dance show and I'd rather be eating. If I want to see a show, there are others on the ship.

and I absolutely love the Manhattan room. I wish the smaller ships would have something similar. For us it was one of the best features of the mega ships and the service was outstanding.

When I read this it occurred to me that I didn't see live music at dinner on the Dawn. We only had dinner in the mdr once and it was aqua. I had the memory of a 95 year old women on the breakaway doing a jig with her walker and the host taking her hand for a dance. Im sure it made her trip and I remember the family smiling and laughing. I am not judging just sharing.

It is only on the mega ships

 

 

 

LOL. We have some excellent Brazillian steakhouses in Dallas. I am a carnavore but I love the salad bar most of all. Don't think I have ever seen sushi on a single one of them, but sure did at Moderno on the Epic!!! That's just WRONG!

 

 

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Have eaten at a couple in the DFW area and agree they are outstanding but so are the prices for them. Modernos isn't the quality I agree, still one of our favorites on all NCL ships.

Being Platinum Plus we are content to eat our two complementary meals in the specialty restaurants and then settle for the buffet other times. We like to cruise to do something different, we eat every day when we are not cruising, so we think little about it.

We were on the Jewel in May, and had the SDP for 3 nights. Went to Moderno's, Tappanyaki, and Cagney's. The only disappointment was Moderno's. The service was awful, and the food not much better. Never again.