ultimate breakfast or dinner?

[fanofseas]

I have heard a little about this being offered. But have found very little being said about it. Is it worth it? I hear something about $50 for a breakfast and $100 for the dinner. Is it fleet wide? Any input would be nice.

[LARGIN]

This was posted on another thread by Kruizer..

Just off of the Grand Saturday. Ultimate Balcony Dinner was awesome and well worth the $100. we paid for it. I don't know what you would spend for a very nice dinner in your area, but $100 was very reasonable for what we were served. They started with our choice of cocktail and canapes which were delivered shortly after they set up our balcony with champagne and flowers on the table. We had crab cakes of sort with a wonderful sauce, salad with pears and walnuts, lobster tail and a filet mignon, chocolate and vanilla mousse, a varity of cookies and creampuffs, and a half dozen very large chocolate dipped strawberries. The photographer also came to the balcony and took pictures. Two servers were outside our door checking on us occasionally for any of our needs. Cocktails, hors d'ouvers, appetizer, salad, surf and turf, 3 desserts, champagne, photograph and personalized service - What would you spend??

[pcumberl]

Largin,

 

Did you tip on top of the $100? If so, how much?

 

~Paul

[LARGIN]

Largin,

 

Did you tip on top of the $100? If so, how much?

 

~Paul

 

I did not do it, Kruizer did... I presume that she tipped. I will do the dinner on my Hawaii cruise next month. I plan to tip the same as I do in a fine restaurant. If there are two servers, I would tip each the same..

[pcumberl]

I did not do it, Kruizer did...

Whoops, sorry, my bad.

 

Will do the same if we choose to do it - I assume 15-20%.

 

~Paul

[GottoCruise]

I can't for the llfe of me understand why it is necessary to spend $100 (plus extra tips??) for Dinner when an excellent dinner every night is included in the cruise?

 

Same for the "alternate" dining venues and/or breakfast??

 

We take a table for 2 and enjoy our "Special" dinner every night...(As long as I'm not shopping, cooking and cleaning up - it is "Special").

 

Drinks ? we order from the bar, "Special order? we arrange with the Maitre 'D (24 hrs. before - never have been refused anything, a gratuity at the beginning of the cruise assures this courtesy) Hor Duerves etc.? too much to eat at one sitting anyway!!! (delivered to our room at times because of Elite status...they mostly go to waste...we ask that they not be brought to us)

 

We have at times tried the "alternative for fee" venues and have not been impressed - too much food! We are careful and health conscious about what we eat, that is limiting in our choices..

 

All this extra "hype" & extra charging has appeared in the last few years as a way of pumping up the ending cruise account bill. I can understand that the cruiselines want to make more revenue, after all their rates have come down in the last few years - (I think Now on the rise again??). BUT,

I'm very happy with my $$ worth with just all the cruise basic standards.... I will save the extra $$ for when I'm home to make an ordinary day special!

 

We try to book a mini-suite, so we have the comforts of space, (I think that is well worth the extra $$) and we are Elite so extra services are welcome!

 

Our ending account is tips, occasional specialty coffee, (I really resent having to spend for that since the coffee is SO bad lately - we have taken to tea!!)) and modest bar bill - We try to arrange Shorex privately so that expense is our own.

 

I guess I'm very spoiled - we live in Florida - we can eat outside on our (large) Patio surrounded by foliage and flowers, anytime - we do not, I prefer eating inside, but friends do, and also have a "water view" every day - just need to serve ourselves - well, some things can't be helped!! LOL!

 

Whew! - Enough of my soapbox!!!:o

 

Please don't flame me - just my opinion after all! :D

 

Hope you all enjoy all the good things life has to offeron Sea and on Land!

 

GotToCruise (aka Renee)

[pcumberl]

I can't for the llfe of me understand why it is necessary to spend $100 (plus extra tips??) for Dinner when an excellent dinner every night is included in the cruise?

Not a flame here, but thought I'd offer a relatively good reason to try the Ultimate Balcony Dinner.

 

It's not something my GF will know about, so it should be a nice surprise for her. The romantic nature alone of having a multi-course meal on one's own balcony with no one else around along with having flowers, private photos and such, is to me a great reason. The meal too is one you can't quite get in the main dining rooms. A 2nd night of lobster too is another reason.

 

You have very good points as well. Who knows what we'll end up doing, but the option of having this available is enticing, to say the least.

 

~Paul

[fanofseas]

You make some good points pcumberl. If I can put a smile on my DW face and at the same time earn me some major brownie points it will be worth every penny.LOL

[Lillykat]

Is there a set menu or can you make changes - as I think I saw that the dinner included items such as crab and goat cheese. Dh is highly allergic to crab and I am allergic to goat's milk - so we would be unable to eat these items - will they make changes?

[LARGIN]

pcumberl ... 1 gottocruise ... 0 :D :D :D

[Kruizer]

Please don't flame me - just my opinion after all! :D

 

 

No flame intended! We are all entitled to our opinions that is why we hang out on these boards, isn't it?

 

My opinion of the UBD is that some of us just like the romance of it all. It was quite special evening for both of us. Since you are Elite that means you have many more cruises than my Platinum level. This just happened to be the best rememberance that I have had in my 14 cruises!

 

It's not something my GF will know about, so it should be a nice surprise for her. The romantic nature alone of having a multi-course meal on one's own balcony with no one else around along with having flowers, private photos and such, is to me a great reason.It's not something my GF will know about, so it should be a nice surprise for her. The romantic nature alone of having a multi-course meal on one's own balcony with no one else around along with having flowers, private photos and such, is to me a great reason.

 

Go for it! It will be perfect!

 

Kruizer :D

Sun Princess February 16, 2006

[libbydic]

I agree I think the Ultimate Balconey Dinner is worth more than the $100 that you pay and yes we did tip in cash each watier I believe there were 3 in total.

 

And Gottocruise more power to you if you can keep your cruise bill low ours was over 800 and we didn't do any excursions!!!

[RvrCrzr]

I've got to admit...I'm a romantic.

 

My only worry about the ULTIMATE balcony thing is...

 

Other people on their balconies RUINING the experience! (children screaming, cigarette smoke, loud people, etc)

 

I don't mind paying a little extra...for a little extra...fun. (afterall, I paid H&R block $450 for an hours work)

[Linda the Book Lover]

I am hinting to my DH about the ultimate balcony dinner for my birthday cruise in 2006. It could be the beginning of quite a wonderful romantic night ;)

[elliair]

I have heard a little about this being offered. But have found very little being said about it. Is it worth it? I hear something about $50 for a breakfast and $100 for the dinner. Is it fleet wide? Any input would be nice.

 

I clicked on your thread and have not read anything beyond your post. There's NO ULTIMATE BREAKFAST. If there was/is, it was never presented to us. Maybe there's a "Secret Elite" club that will get this. :confused: Don't know where you're reading this stuff, but...Diamond Princess buffet meal/round is on the par with Hometown Buffet.

 

$50.00 for a breakfast and $100.00 for dinner......surely you jest.:rolleyes: You don't wanna know what I expect out of a $50.00 breakfast. Ain't gonna happen. :cool:

[MommyInSC]

I clicked on your thread and have not read anything beyond your post. There's NO ULTIMATE BREAKFAST. If there was/is, it was never presented to us. Maybe there's a "Secret Elite" club that will get this. :confused: Don't know where you're reading this stuff, but...Diamond Princess buffet meal/round is on the par with Hometown Buffet.

 

$50.00 for a breakfast and $100.00 for dinner......surely you jest.:rolleyes: You don't wanna know what I expect out of a $50.00 breakfast. Ain't gonna happen. :cool:

 

We are getting the Ultimate Breakfast when we go on the Carribean Princess for the week of April 2-9. Of course this came with our renewal package.

My 30th birthday is during the cruise as well. We plan on the Ultimate Balcony Dinner that night. When I get back, I will post a review of both of them =)

[GottoCruise]

LIBBYDIC - Last cruise Princess owed me money - I had to take it out of the Casino by charging chips and cashing them in (cost 3%) - and I even bought "stuff" at the boutique bargain sales!! We cruise 5 or more times per year...all those "extras" buys us another cruise!!! :D

 

GotToCruise (aka Renee)

[Coral]

Princess does an ultimate/champaigne breakfast in Alaska the day you are at the glaciers.

[fanofseas]

I knew that I read about it somewhere! I also found a little about it in the 05-06 princess brochure.Thanks mommyinsc and coral for your input. Now maybe we can get some people to check the facts before flaming somebody else.

[mii]

I happen to have a 2005 Alaska brochure right in front of me and Coral is right. They do have a Champagne breakfast on your balcony. It says that it is on the Island, coral, Diamond and Sapphire. It does not say the cost but maybe you can contact Princess about that. Now I am not sure if they have this breakfast anywhere else that Princess sails. Hope this helps.

 

Marilyn

[cruiserforlife]

Just to clarify,I had the UBB on the Sun and it was $25/couple,not $50 and was well worth it.Very delicious and alot of food.

[Coral]

I was thinking they had the Champaigne Breakfast on the Dawn Princess last summer in Alaska but couldn't remember exactly. It appears that the brochure leaves a few ships off. Because the balconies are smaller on the Sun/Dawn - I wonder if it wasn't a part of the original plan.

[fanofseas]

can you order them any day or is it sea days only? And what is the difference between the two?

[Dreamer333]

I can't find any information about the balcony dinner on the Princess Web site...

Does anyone have this link?

 

Thanks!!

[mii]

I know I look all over on the web site but found my information in one of the princess booklets for Alaska. That is why I suggested she call Princess.

 

Marilyn