Service on Pride of America?

[Ruth]

How is the Service on Pride of America....I have heard stories about the Freestyle Dining....Seem everyone goes to Dinner at the same time each night....So when you show for Dinner there is a long wait to be sitted....How has it been on Pride of America? Who can tell all of us who have trips planned on Pride of America what it is like going to dinner when there is a long line...Should we make dinner reservations at the special restaurants on certain nights...If so which nights....This is for the Hawaiian trip.....Who can help us....

[newmexicoNita]

How is the Service on Pride of America....I have heard stories about the Freestyle Dining....Seem everyone goes to Dinner at the same time each night....So when you show for Dinner there is a long wait to be sitted....How has it been on Pride of America? Who can tell all of us who have trips planned on Pride of America what it is like going to dinner when there is a long line...Should we make dinner reservations at the special restaurants on certain nights...If so which nights....This is for the Hawaiian trip.....Who can help us....

I have not been on POA, but as for everyone going to dinner at the same time, all I have to say is Bull, yes, like any of your home restaurants if you want to eat from about 6:45pm to 7:30 pm you may have a slight wait and if you are a group of 8 or so, same thing, but we have done 4 freestyle cruises and never waited more than a minute or two; we have eaten as early as 5:45pm and as late as 7pm. I know some, if not all of the NCL ships now have pagers like our restaurants that will buzz when your table is ready. This gives you a chance to have a before dinner drink, visit the casino, just watch the sunset, whatever you want to do. When freestyle was new the wait was a bit different. Like everything else glitches had to be ironed out. this is not saying free style is for everyone, but don't let the fear of waiting to eat stop you from booking a cruise. What a way to see Hawaii in a short period of time. NMNita

[treschicas]

I have been on Carnival with assigned seating times and have been on POAM, and no question, freestyle is better. You are not stuck with a time that you cannot make because of excursions and you are never late for dinner. I would advise making reservations for the specialty restaurants when you board because they will fill up fast. You can always change your mind. They are well worth the upcharge! ($10-$15) If you don't show for a reservation, you will be charged a fee. As for waiting for the main restaurants, the wait is only a few minutes, even with larger groups. Plus, you will meet different people that you may want to meet up with for dinner and you have that flexibility.:D

[KeystoneCruiser]

I have to agree that Freestyle is better dining choices and that is one reason why I don't sail other lines. (I also don't like the idea of dressing up)

 

My family always went to dinner early (5:30, no later than 6:15) on the Pride of Aloha last year. (during its problem period of slow service) The most we waited for a table was 15 minutes and that is when we didn't go unitl 6:15.

 

In addition, you can make reservations in the specialty restaurants (and not all have a surcharge). Freestyle dining is about choices. You can also choose to dine with just your family or ask to be seated with others. As the week progresses and you meet new friends on board, Freestyle gives you the opportunity to possibly dine with them.

[stargazers]

Hi Ruth, we just got off the Pride of America. The service was spotty, sometimes great, and sometimes slow. For the most part the food was good, the filet mignon was excellent! It is hard for me to give much advice for your Hawaii trip because ours was so different. We did not have a full ship, only had about 1600 passengers, and was not in port during the dinner hour. We did not have trouble getting reservations, and the times we went to the Liberty or Skyline for dinner we had only a few minutes wait while they checked for a table to seat us at. I do recommend getting reservations for the specialty resturants as your trip will be fuller than ours. Have fun, she is a beautiful ship!

 

Kristy :)