Specialty Restaurants- Cost Excessive or Not?

[riandei]

 

On the otherhand... the Connoisseur Dinner (Chef's Dinner with Wine Pairings) is very very expensive... but it is a GREAT EVENT evidently if one is a Food & Wine Lover.

 

*

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

What is this ...where is this ...how much is this??

 

Thanks

[librarylady19]

I book in advance as I want certain times on certain nights of a cruise. For example, I learned from others on CC that you definitely want to eat early in Qsine (thanks Lois!) so prebooked a 7pm on a non formal night. (we like to enjoy Blu on formal nights). Would not want a 3 hour meal starting at 9:00 pm!!!

I know there are often discounts offered on board but I prefer to have things planned in advance DSTDF!

[Sloop-JohnB]

As well, are the gratuities included with the 'service charge' for dinner in 'Tuscan Grill'? :confused:

 

HI GERIATRIC NURSE,

 

Yes in all cases the Specialty Restaurants charge a "service fee / cover charge"... and Gratuities are included.

 

BUT that isn't to say that something EXTRA isn't welcome or appreciated.

 

The Bill when it comes for you to sign says right on the bottom... ADDITIONAL TIP and a place to add in an amount... or you can leave something in Cash in the billfold, just as you would do in a land-based Restaurant.

 

Additional Tipping on Celebrity isn't expected... but it is appreciated.

 

The "blurb" on the bottom of all their chits now says...

 

A 15% Gratuity is included in your bill, however, please use the "Additional Tip" line to recognize outstanding service.

 

Hope this is helpful,

 

Cheers!

[Jenna109]

Has anyone been in the speciality restaurant on the Summit? It will be our wedding anniversary whilst we are on the cruise and we thought it would be nice to celebrate with an 'extra special' meal

[librarylady19]

I'd love to know where the respondents who think $ 40.00 extra PP for extra charge dining is a deal live. :confused:

 

$ 80.00 pre drink/wine/tip a couple on top of the "prepaid meal" costs (what ever you atribute to that) will take you to a VERY nice restaurant in Montreal...:p

 

I guess if you live in Toadspit Arkansas you may need to take the opportunity when it presents itself, but most cruise passengers likely can dine at a nice place near home can't they?

Save your $$$ and extend your cruise experience by spending it when you get home.

 

Unless you have money coming out the wazooo that is.:p

 

 

I dont think most people who choose to eat in the specialties are deprived of fine dining opportunities at home, quite the contrary.

You are missing the point. Yes, I can dine out in hundreds of restaurants in Chicago - one of the worlds great food cities btw - But it would cost me more in time, gas and food/drinks than any specialty restaurant on board. It is my choice to spend my vacation budget on these dining experiences, isn't it great that we have that choice!

[GeriatricNurse]

HI GERIATRIC NURSE,

 

Yes in all cases the Specialty Restaurants charge a "service fee / cover charge"... and Gratuities are included.

 

BUT that isn't to say that something EXTRA isn't welcome or appreciated.

 

The Bill when it comes for you to sign says right on the bottom... ADDITIONAL TIP and a place to add in an amount... or you can leave something in Cash in the billfold, just as you would do in a land-based Restaurant.

 

Additional Tipping on Celebrity isn't expected... but it is appreciated.

 

The "blurb" on the bottom of all their chits now says...

 

A 15% Gratuity is included in your bill, however, please use the "Additional Tip" line to recognize outstanding service.

 

Hope this is helpful,

 

Cheers!

 

Well, it seems to me that the (included) 15% gratuity should be sufficient! ;) What would one do, double it to ?30% :confused: I have never experienced service that "outstanding" anywhere, including onboard cruise ships!

[A Sixth?]

I dont think most people who choose to eat in the specialties are deprived of fine dining opportunities at home, quite the contrary.

You are missing the point. Yes, I can dine out in hundreds of restaurants in Chicago - one of the worlds great food cities btw - But it would cost me more in time, gas and food/drinks than any specialty restaurant on board. It is my choice to spend my vacation budget on these dining experiences, isn't it great that we have that choice!

 

Hey, I can't agree more. Spend it where you want... how about the casino? The art auction? (Wait.. they got rid of that on "X") :p

 

The OP asked:

Specialty Restaurants- Cost Excessive or Not?...

 

Now for the specialty restaurants, we add $40 per person which puts the total cost of dinner for two with wine and tip at a little over $200. For $200, they should be matching high end restaurants in our best cities. I have no issue with the cost, just expect a top shelf meal and service and I'm not sure many of the pay restaurants meet that criteria.

 

I personally think they are of great quality, but NOT usually worth the extra cost,,,

 

My opinion.

 

BTW I always get a kick out of having to show my "I.D." when ordering beer or wine in Chicago... LOL!!! :p

[A Sixth?]

Well, it seems to me that the (included) 15% gratuity should be sufficient! ;) What would one do, double it to ?30% :confused: I have never experienced service that "outstanding" anywhere, including onboard cruise ships!

 

South Beach feels 22% is the minimum. :eek:

[YOW]

$ 80.00 pre drink/wine/tip a couple on top of the "prepaid meal" costs (what ever you atribute to that) will take you to a VERY nice restaurant in Montreal...:p

 

Or a few meals at Schwartz's... though we usually hit Abie's for take-out on the way home, along with one of the bagel places. :)

[GeriatricNurse]

South Beach feels 22% is the minimum. :eek:

 

 

Well, 15% is the best that I'll do! ;) Perhaps the wages should be increased! :)

[janelouiseb]

On equinox last year, we had a token delivered to our cabin (which was sent to everyone in Select Dining) for 20% off a speciality restaurant plus a glass of sparkling wine, on a specified night. All of the speciality restaurants were quiet that night so worth looking out for offers on board, as others have said

Jane

[Bridge Maven]

It is interesting that when the specialty restaurant was only $25 per person there were no special deals, but now that it is a lot more expensive there are. Maybe they charge so much now to compensate for all the special deals.

[FrankinPA]

What is this ...where is this ...how much is this??

 

Thanks

 

On the Millennium, it was in the Olympic (the only speciality restaurant on that ship) and it was a five course meal paired with wines for each course picked by the Chef and Sommelier to complement the food. It was $89 per person. You have to be hungry, for sure, as that was a lot of food and wine.

[A Sixth?]

Or a few meals at Schwartz's... though we usually hit Abie's for take-out on the way home, along with one of the bagel places. :)

 

I won $ 50.00 of smoked meat from Abie's when they first opened on CJAD radio and have been "hooked" ever since.

 

First ones free kid. :p

[A Sixth?]

On the Millennium, it was in the Olympic (the only speciality restaurant on that ship) and it was a five course meal paired with wines for each course picked by the Chef and Sommelier to complement the food. It was $89 per person. You have to be hungry, for sure, as that was a lot of food and wine.

 

So to the OP's question... Specialty Restaurants- Cost Excessive or Not?

 

All things being equal is $ 200+ extra (plus you already have paid for a fine meal in the MDR or a nice choice at the buffet) a good deal?

 

Not in my book.... but I don't have money coming out of the wazoooo :p

[FrankinPA]

So to the OP's question... Specialty Restaurants- Cost Excessive or Not?

 

All things being equal is $ 200+ extra (plus you already have paid for a fine meal in the MDR or a nice choice at the buffet) a good deal?

 

Not in my book.... but I don't have money coming out of the wazoooo :p

 

It's like everything else in life. Some people can afford to toss around thousands as if they were pennies and others need to count every penny to get by. I would think that most people taking cruises are somewhere in the middle of those extremes but each person has to answer the "worth it" question for themselves. For me, the xtra $40 per person was worth it. For others, it will not be. I think everyone should try a speciality restaurant one time before giving their opinion. Else it would be like someone critiquing a food they have never tasted.

[A Sixth?]

It's like everything else in life. Some people can afford to toss around thousands as if they were pennies and others need to count every penny to get by. I would think that most people taking cruises are somewhere in the middle of those extremes but each person has to answer the "worth it" question for themselves. For me, the xtra $40 per person was worth it. For others, it will not be. I think everyone should try a speciality restaurant one time before giving their opinion. Else it would be like someone critiquing a food they have never tasted.

 

Trust me :p

 

After 40 + cruises we've paid for, taken friends to and have been compt'd in many "specialty" dining venues over the years....

 

I'd rather cruise more and on better cruise lines like Princess and celebrity where I don't feel driven away from the MDR

 

But again, I cruise 3-4 times a year, and have 4 months off a year.... I guess if you have only two or three weeks off,,, go for it.

[TRadle]

For us we have this OBC that is a pretty good size. It came down to do you want to use it on drink packages or a dining package. We’ve done the drink packages and didn’t come anywhere near breaking even, so this time we are going for the dinning package.

Now we could choose to not spend the OBC and let it get credited back to our CC, but this is vacation and we’ve paid for everything already so we will enjoy the dinning package. :D

[teltrainer]

I have the perfect solution. Let those who want to pay and enjoy...enjoy (that's us!). Let those who don't, don't pay and enjoy the included in cruise price meals and don't tell the extra payers why we shouldn't do it :-)

[hcat]

Solution for us is to sign up for AQ and enjoy BLU every night--the extra cruise cost is worth it for that perk alone...

 

We also take a night off for light dining ( to give our tummies a break) and one night at a specialty restaurant. This time it'll be the Lawn Club grill.... if they had Silk Harvest we'd do that too but no interest in Q sine..

 

To OP: If you think it's worth it to pay the extra cost to go specialty every night then do it--its what works best for you...but we have been very pleased with BLU so far!.

[TLCOhio]

It is interesting that when the specialty restaurant was only $25 per person there were no special deals, but now that it is a lot more expensive there are. Maybe they charge so much now to compensate for all the special deals.

 

Good point here and with many others made on this thread. Much is personal taste, interest, wallet size, value desired, etc.!!

 

Part of it could be to up the "base" price and then offer more "discounts". Welcome to "Marketing 101" in the Twenty-First Century. Lots of cruise lines double the sticker price and then give you either 50% off or two-for-one pricing. Such a deal??? Consumers want to think and hope they got a "DEAL" and with computer projection models getting better (or worse), the cruise lines are constantly "adjusting" their offerings and gimmicks hoping to catch people's eye and fancy. Sometimes you get lucky while at other times it's "business as usual".

 

Those prices and offerings go up and down, constantly. Consumers today having more information and options, plus lack the "loyalty" to stay always with the same brand over and over. That's just the way it is in today's competitive and fast-changing economy.

 

For us last June, it was a $79 a person to do each of the three speciality places. It worked very well. That package pricing is probably higher now. Each dining place was different and we really liked that variety over our 12-day cruise.

 

Speciality Dining Photos/Tips:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1434523&page=2

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 67,001 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[George C]

We were on the Solstice about 3 years ago and did not think much of the MDR ( didn’t help that we had a brand new waiter that brought main entrée about 10pm) , but we loved the specialty restaurants especially the Tuscan Grill, everything about that was top notch ( only problem was they serve a huge amount of food ), I do not mind spending extra on a great meal, we always do the specialty restaurants at least twice on all cruises , we are on vacation.

[nicebbern]

If you like fine food- don't miss Murano. If you have a large group and 4 hours for a campy fun meal- try QSine. IMHO they are well worth the surcharge.

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions about booking large groups... Is Qsine a large restaurant? Which ship did you experience Qsine on?

Qsine is a restaurant we are definitely considering on the Summit this summer.

[Gonzo70]

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions about booking large groups... Is Qsine a large restaurant? Which ship did you experience Qsine on?

Qsine is a restaurant we are definitely considering on the Summit this summer.

 

You need not book Qsine as a group. It seems that people who recommend this seem to think that one has to try all (or most) of the menu items (and to do this a group is necessary). I (and many others) view Qsine as a tapas style restaurant where one would never expect to try most of the menu. Since it is small plates, you already can sample more dishes than you would at a non tapas style restaurant even with a party of two. If you ask the waiter to bring you smaller than normal portions you can then try even more dishes if you so desire. While Qsine definitely can be fun in a group, it can be just as fun when done as a couple.

[FrankinPA]

I have the perfect solution. Let those who want to pay and enjoy...enjoy (that's us!). Let those who don't, don't pay and enjoy the included in cruise price meals and don't tell the extra payers why we shouldn't do it :-)

 

Well said.