Does anyone else love the specialty restaurants?

[tarajean1962]

We have always been fine with the MDR. We've met some of the best people at dinner, some of whom we still keep in touch with. That being said................

 

Since cruising on the Allure in 2012, we are addicted to the specialty restaurants!:D We live in the Philly area and you simply can't get a meal of the quality offered on board in any land based restaurants close to us for the prices offered!

 

We don't splurge on a lot of extras on a cruise but feel that the dining packages are well worth the money spent. We will be doing the Chef's Table package for the third consecutive time in January and have yet to be disappointed! We loved the package on the Radiance as well as it included 5 restaurants!!

 

Anyway!! Just curious to know if anyone else enjoys the packages!

 

Tara

[premier cruiser]

My 2 daughters & I cruised on the Oasis in September 2013. We went to all of the speciality restaurants except 150 Central Park. We absolutely loved the dining in these restaurants. We did not like the food in the MDR. We were very disappointed, both in quality and taste. We are going on the Allure in October 2014 & very much looking forward to the speciality restaurant dining. Does anyone have favorites on the Allure?

[tarajean1962]

My 2 daughters & I cruised on the Oasis in September 2013. We went to all of the speciality restaurants except 150 Central Park. We absolutely loved the dining in these restaurants. We did not like the food in the MDR. We were very disappointed, both in quality and taste. We are going on the Allure in October 2014 & very much looking forward to the speciality restaurant dining. Does anyone have favorites on the Allure?

 

Yes!

 

You need to try 150 Central Park, especially the Cucumber Martini!!:D We also loved the Chef's Table and Izumi!

 

Tara

[DJZS]

Yes!

 

You need to try 150 Central Park, especially the Cucumber Martini!!:D

 

Tara

 

Not anymore....

[CaribbeanCrush]

We've eaten at Chops and Portofino on the Liberty and Freedom. They have always been great!

[cruzsnooze]

No, I've never tried tried the specialty restaurants on RCL. Chef table sounds ridiculously priced so never will try that.

[Pumbaamd]

We've been sailing on EN lately. Have 14 nights lined up for the holidays. Their Chops is outstanding, especially with the BOGO on the first night. Will be at EN's Chops a few times. Have Rhapsody and Freedom coming up after EN. Will give their special restaurants a try, even though we think we've done one on Freedom. Have to research that.

Rick and Deirdra

[Morecruisesplz]

The Grandeur Thanksgiving cruise had some amazing specials on specialty restaurants that allowed us to try Giovanni's Table for almost nothing. It was so good that we went back a second time (when they passed out a BOGO coupon in the centrum on the final day). The specialty restaurant manager on that ship is awesome. She was super ready to work out a special package that would work for anyone so we ended up at Chops twice and Giovanni's Table twice.

 

But the larger picture, IMHO, is that the new, new MDR menus almost force you into the specialty restaurants more! I've never experienced so many nights where there was absolutely nothing on the MDR menu for an entree that I wanted to eat. My wife and I shared the Chops steak in MDR one night and another night I only had a salad then went up to the Windjammer for an entree later.

[Pumbaamd]

No, I've never tried tried the specialty restaurants on RCL. Chef table sounds ridiculously priced so never will try that.

What ship is your next RCL cruise? Chop's or Portofino is not all that expensive, and even better if you have a coupon. Give it a try, you might just have a good time and like it.

Rick and Deirdra

[Virtopia]

I really enjoyed Chops and Portofino's on my Jewel cruise; I wish the Explorer had Chops, but I will still go to a specialty restaurant while onboard.

[LPut714]

What ship is your next RCL cruise? Chop's or Portofino is not all that expensive, and even better if you have a coupon. Give it a try, you might just have a good time and like it.

Rick and Deirdra

 

We are on the Allure in Feb-what coupons are you talking about?

[Pumbaamd]

Buy one, get one free coupons are sometimes available for the first night. Check it out at Chop's when you board.

R&D

[Clarea]

We are on the Allure in Feb-what coupons are you talking about?

If you have cruised a bunch on Royal, you get coupons on each cruise, one of which is a 2 for 1 specially restaurant.

[exercisemama]

We've only cruised on RC once, will that qualify us for the coupons?

[Clarea]

We've only cruised on RC once, will that qualify us for the coupons?

You are the level they call Gold, and you do get a set of coupons, but not the one for the restaurant. Here are the Gold coupons:

 

 

• Beverage Discount (purchase any wine, beer or soda by the glass and get a second one free).
  
• Glass of Wine, Beer or Soda Discount - receive a 10% Discount.
  
• Premium Brand Coffee - 25% discount on any coffee beverage.
  
• Johnny Rockets - 2 for 1 milkshake
  
• Photo Discount - Buy 1 photo and receive a 50% discount on a second photo.
  
• Internet Discount - $5.00 USD credit or 10% off any internet package purchase (whichever amount is greater).
  
• 1 Free Casino "Spin to Win" Coupon
  
• Bingo Credit - Purchase any bingo package and receive one free Single Jackpot Bingo Card.
  
• Gift Shop Discount - Spend $25.00 USD or more on RCI logo and receive a 10% discount.
  
• Art Auctions - 10% off Custom Framing on any Art on Royal Purchase
  
• Fine Jewelry Discount - Spend $1000 USD on Fine Jewelry and receive a 10% discount.
  
• Airbrushed Temporary Tattoos - purchase any size temporary airbrush tattoo and receive a free gold color upgrade.....a $2.00 USD Savings.
  
• Pets At Sea Discount - 10% off your Pets at Sea Package which includes a pet and outfit.
  
• RCI Cookbook Discount - 25% off the purchase of RCI Savor Cookbook.
  
• SPA Credit - 10% off any one spa or salon service.
  
• Britto Collectible - 10% off a Britto Tubed Poster
  
• C&A Members enjoy 15% off C&A Bedding Collection Purchase ( Visit www.RoyalCaribbeanBeddingCollection.com PROMO CODE: SOCIETY)
  

[luvscruising2007]

I really enjoyed Chops and Portofino's on my Jewel cruise; I wish the Explorer had Chops, but I will still go to a specialty restaurant while onboard.

 

We enjoyed Chops when we sailed on Jewel. I agree, I wish there were a Chops on Explorer. Portofinos is not as appealing to me, but I think on our next cruise we will give it a try. What stood out with your Portofinos experience?

Edited December 7, 2013 by luvscruising2007

[jonbgd]

WOW I didn't know the restaurants were of such low quality in Philly

 

While I enjoy the Specialty restaurants onboard they don't compare to land based in San Francisco.

[tarajean1962]

WOW I didn't know the restaurants were of such low quality in Philly

 

While I enjoy the Specialty restaurants onboard they don't compare to land based in San Francisco.

 

Oh no, they are certainly not low quality! They are just very expensive for an equivalent meal.:)

 

Tara

[tarajean1962]

Not anymore....

 

:eek: the Cucumber Martini is gone?! I even got the recipe for that to make it at home!

 

Tara

[jonbgd]

Oh no, they are certainly not low quality! They are just very expensive for an equivalent meal.:)

 

Tara

Oh Ok I misread your post:o

But you do have airfare and cruise fare that has to be figured into the price of the specialty restaurant;)

[Paulxyz2004]

I´m not a fan of the specialty Restaurants. The few times I went were ok, but frankly I don´t think they are worth the extra Money to me.

 

It just Shows how subjective Food is. I also like the new menus.

 

The one thing that´s surprising to me is how everybody on CC raves about the Restaurants and how - Quote from this thread: one is almost forced to the Restaurants by the Food in the MDR. The once onboard I Keep getting Advertising in the cabin about the specialty Restaurants and how they run specialy etc. In Addition every time I walk by those places they seem empty. The few times I´ve been in there for dinner they seemed to be mostly empty and some of the occupied tables obviously were ships staff.

 

I guess what I want to say here I don´t see the popularity on the ships as much as I see it on CC.

[bouhunter]

But the larger picture, IMHO, is that the new, new MDR menus almost force you into the specialty restaurants more! I've never experienced so many nights where there was absolutely nothing on the MDR menu for an entree that I wanted to eat. .

 

That sums up our opinion:) Well, not "forced", but yes we see few entree's in MDR we'd want to order. 3-4 years ago (even before the new menu's)we got tired of the pasta, chicken and pork offerings that were just glorified banquet food. And though an "elegant" décor, the MDR atmosphere got old for us - hectic, busy and loud. We decided we were willing to spend more for cooked to order good steaks and seafood. To each their own, neither is right or wrong. That's why it's nice they have both MDR and specialty dining:)

Edited December 7, 2013 by bouhunter

[cruzsnooze]

What ship is your next RCL cruise? Chop's or Portofino is not all that expensive, and even better if you have a coupon. Give it a try, you might just have a good time and like it.

Rick and Deirdra

My next 2 cruises are with Princess then Celebrity and we get complimentary specialty restaurant first night for a full suite on Princess. I have 2 RCL cruises also booked. If I get a Bogo I will try one.

[macruisefan]

But you do have airfare and cruise fare that has to be figured into the price of the specialty restaurant;)

 

That's kind of ridiculous. Why should I have to consider airfare and cruisefare when considering the price of a specialty restaurant? That's like saying if I fly to San Francisco for a weeks vacation, I should expect the fancy restaurants to be cheaper than here in Boston because, hey, I did have to fly there and pay for a hotel room!:confused:

[dacsmom]

We've only cruised on RC once, will that qualify us for the coupons?

 

Make sure you join the C&A, then you will get the coupon book in your stateroom (they are going paperless and putting the coupons directly on your Seapass, but you still get a list of what is available in your stateroom)