Still not convinced about Specialty Restaurants...

[NavyCruiser]

Our family have 2 upcoming cruises for the summer, one on RCCL & other on Carnival.

Our 2 kids (now 21 & 18) have cruised with us for most of their lives.

So far, We've been very happy with the food & service in the assigned Main Dining Room.

We've dined in a specialty restaurant once on Princess, without the kids. Great experience.

 

Now that the kids are older, we've always wondered how/why would we want to pay $35 upcharge per person ($140 for family of 4) for bypassing one dinner evening in the MDR for a Specialty restaurant experience.

So let's use Chops Grill, for example.

Wondering if the better ambiance, service, & higher quality of beef justifies the upcharge. Further upgrade to dry aged beef or lobster is another $20.

 

Could see we maybe go if just us 2. But want to spend quality time with kids also, so still wondering if upgraded Specialty restaurants worth it for our family?

[goodycruising]

It is a very personal thing how much something is worth. Some people like to drink more, some like to spend in the Casino. We have some onboard credit on upcoming cruises so we will probably go on a shore excursion that previously we may have been hesitant about. I have purchased a couple of jackets onboard that I wear to death, but some never go near the logo shops.....

 

It is not if you can or can't afford it, but if you think the value is good. We like the MDR food, but the ambience is nice in the specialty places, so we intend to do a couple more, but if we had to pay for 4 people, I am not sure. They might really enjoy the special night out with you too though? I am sure they will enjoy the whole experience anyhow. :)

[Grannycb]

Given the choice, I'd go with David's Steakhouse every time. There isn't an extra charge for lobster, the beef is very good, and the service impeccable. The meal size is HUGE. The meal comes with a free bottle of wine if you go on the first night. We weren't impressed enough with Chops to go back a second time. But, there is nothing wrong with the MDR. That's where we would go unless there is a very special occasion.

[KirkNC]

That's really only a decision you can make. The way you ask the question implies to me that you would be happier in the MDR.

[jndsilver31]

Our family have 2 upcoming cruises for the summer, one on RCCL & other on Carnival.

Our 2 kids (now 21 & 18) have cruised with us for most of their lives.

So far, We've been very happy with the food & service in the assigned Main Dining Room.

We've dined in a specialty restaurant once on Princess, without the kids. Great experience.

 

Now that the kids are older, we've always wondered how/why would we want to pay $35 upcharge per person ($140 for family of 4) for bypassing one dinner evening in the MDR for a Specialty restaurant experience.

So let's use Chops Grill, for example.

Wondering if the better ambiance, service, & higher quality of beef justifies the upcharge. Further upgrade to dry aged beef or lobster is another $20.

 

Could see we maybe go if just us 2. But want to spend quality time with kids also, so still wondering if upgraded Specialty restaurants worth it for our family?

 

The way my wife and I view specialty restaurants is that how much would we spend if we went to a steak restaurant or some other upscale chain restaurant. We would spend close to $70 so we say yes and go, but as someone pointed out it is a personal preference.

[EbayCruiser]

We very rarely go to the specialty restaurants. We tried Chops on the Enchantment and did not care for it and we have tried the ones on the HAL ships and it's just not worth the extra price to us and there are only 2 of us.

[kymbakitty]

This upcharge was a new concept for everyone when it started and I still remember thinking how silly it was to pay extra for meals when you've already paid for them.

 

Fast forward about 10 years already (wow....where does time to?). And the truth of the matter is that we seldom go to MDR on cruises anymore.

 

Like someone else pointed out, everyone spends their money differently. The very same couple that would never spend $140 on dinner may just have "donated" that to the casino, or the shops, or spa, or their bar tab ends up more than the cruise itself (it's really funny when the latter pokes fun at the ones that pay more for specialty dining--tee hee).

 

Are you going to be spending money on tours? Or is it a cruise that doesn't require that (few do, IMHO)?

 

Can you budget and save for this added expense so it's just a part of the cost of the cruise, like anything else you may anticipate?

 

I just know we don't use the MDR anymore and just do MTD so all the tips are already disbursed for us AND there isn't a table that has been assigned for us (yes, people still do that so they don't have to tip, but those are few and far between).

 

I think it's wise to think about this now and consider whether it will be a part of the cruise or maybe a one time experience. You won't spend a second on the ship thinking about.

 

Imagine this being the only cruise you take with your adult children for YEARS! Kids go to college, get married, have their own babies, go into military and move thousands of miles away. If that was a consideration, would it change your view? If not, maybe the MDR is perfectly fine for the whole cruise.

 

Have fun deciding!

[marci22]

When we go with our 3 kids we usually do it once for fun because they like it. We haven't been to Chops so we have usually paid $20-$25 for Portofinos or Giovanni plus we get a bogo from C&A. Otherwise we stick to MDR or WJ.

 

I don't think it's worth it even if it's just the two of us. It's a slower pace and a lot of food. I can't do that more than once or twice, at most, per cruise.

 

I just read a review by someone who ate in specialty every night and would not do it again. I think I would feel the same way if I tried it.

[kymbakitty]

When we go with our 3 kids we usually do it once for fun because they like it. We haven't been to Chops so we have usually paid $20-$25 for Portofinos or Giovanni plus we get a bogo from C&A. Otherwise we stick to MDR or WJ.

 

I don't think it's worth it even if it's just the two of us. It's a slower pace and a lot of food. I can't do that more than once or twice, at most, per cruise.

 

I just read a review by someone who ate in specialty every night and would not do it again. I think I would feel the same way if I tried it.

 

Yeah, I agree. We wouldn't even want to eat in specialty restaurant every night. Ugh....I can't even image doing that if it were free--seriously.

 

There are so many other places to eat though, besides the MDR and specialty restaurants. And like a lot of people, we don't usually eat 3 meals a day on vacation. And if you are in suite, you can get full access to menu and have romantic dinner on balcony. Sometimes we would order two big salads and that was plenty. So much food....so little time.

 

:)

[dln929]

Just because something's there doesn't mean you have to use it/try it! We go on lots of cruises without venturing into the specialty restaurants on every single one. We like them, sure, but it's never a "We HAVE to eat there" kind of thing. If we feel like it we go, if not, we don't.

[Aquahound]

Now that the kids are older, we've always wondered how/why would we want to pay $35 upcharge per person ($140 for family of 4) for bypassing one dinner evening in the MDR for a Specialty restaurant experience.

So let's use Chops Grill, for example.

Wondering if the better ambiance, service, & higher quality of beef justifies the upcharge. Further upgrade to dry aged beef or lobster is another $20.

 

Here's what I would suggest for you. Don't pre-book any specialty restaurants and go to the MDR. If the MDR is great, stay with it. If it's chaotic or food/service is a miss, then book a restaurant on board. Yes, the food is better, but what I love most about specialty restaurants is the ambiance and getting away from the MDR chaos.

[sparky-elpaso]

My thought is where could I ever get a filet mignon dinner for $35. DH and I usually eat in the steakhouse at least once on a cruise. On our next cruise we'll be celebrating our anniversary and his birthday so will probably do the steakhouse for those.

[impatientlywaiting]

Our family have 2 upcoming cruises for the summer, one on RCCL & other on Carnival.

Our 2 kids (now 21 & 18) have cruised with us for most of their lives.

So far, We've been very happy with the food & service in the assigned Main Dining Room.

We've dined in a specialty restaurant once on Princess, without the kids. Great experience.

 

Now that the kids are older, we've always wondered how/why would we want to pay $35 upcharge per person ($140 for family of 4) for bypassing one dinner evening in the MDR for a Specialty restaurant experience.

So let's use Chops Grill, for example.

Wondering if the better ambiance, service, & higher quality of beef justifies the upcharge. Further upgrade to dry aged beef or lobster is another $20.

 

Could see we maybe go if just us 2. But want to spend quality time with kids also, so still wondering if upgraded Specialty restaurants worth it for our family?

 

IMO, they're not worth it at all. We don't eat out when we're home, so why should we start when we're on a cruise where we've already paid for our meals no matter where we eat on the ship.

[bigque]

We do the specialty restaurants usually Chops One Night and Portifino one night just for something different to do and not because it is something to die for or anything like that.. We are on Enchantment on our next cruise but will not eat there on a 3 night cruise as the MDR will suffice for those 3 nights. Like some have said it's all about what you want to spend YOUR money on. We don't gamble so we don't spend money there. Everything we spend while on the cruise (Excursions, specialties, shopping, etc.) we have saved for just that purpose....to spend on the cruise and already know the cost of what we are going to spend on the Specialty restaurants. People on here say use that money for something else, but what is good for you is good for you, it's your decision! :cool:

[debbs0723]

We have enjoyed a couple of specialty restaurants without the kids. Palo on Disney and Portofino on Royal. When it comes to paying for all 4 of us, I'm not interested. Our kids will be 10 and 13 on our upcoming cruise. If there is something they want to do in the kids clubs rather than dinner, we might go into one of the restaurants and just see if they have an opening, but otherwise we will not. It adds up to too much with kids who don't really appreciate it.

 

Debbie

[LMaxwell]

I've enjoyed chops twice and izumi once. They are a pretty fair value compared to similar land based restaurants, but I wouldn't say they are absolute must do's. If it is not there I don't mind; it truly is something I do NOT care if is on the ship or not. I happen to really like the MDR food.

[George C]

We always do specialty resturants at least 2 out of 7 nights and many times more. But its just the 2 of us and we like the better food and service, we do this on all the lines

[DonnaK]

We are frugal cruisers and don't buy into specialty restaurants. Like the OP, we travel as a family of 4 (two young adult "kids"). There is plenty of complementary food available, and we like the MDR experience. I simply can't justify spending more money on food.

[hgmizzou]

We were just on Allure a little over a month ago and went to Chops and Giovanni's (2 times). We truly enjoy the ambience and the food in the specialty restaurants. On this past trip, there were four of us (we took my parents) and had a wonderfully relaxed time each evening.

 

My DH and I are not big MDR people (MTD is great for us - due to a very bad experience on our first cruise with regular seating).

 

Specialty dining is just as subjective as anything else on a cruise (some people would never cruise without a balcony/some only want an inside). You have to make the choices based on what the four of you want to do. Why don't you ask your kids what they would like to do. Maybe early in the cruise, give one of the restaurants a try and see what you think.

 

Either way - enjoy this special week with your kids!!

[leaveitallbehind]

Very much a personal decision, and "worth it" subjective to each individual.

 

IMO there is a significant difference in overall quality, food preparation, choices, and service style with the specialty restaurants apart from the MDR - but that comes at a premium. That being said I also think the MDR overall is very good as an inclusive offering.

 

Again, it's a personal choice and one that is only right or wrong for each individual based on their dining preferences and how they wish to allocate their on board budget.

Edited June 4, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[setsail]

You should make up your own mind, its your vacation and $'s.

[londongal796]

The way my wife and I view specialty restaurants is that how much would we spend if we went to a steak restaurant or some other upscale chain restaurant. We would spend close to $70 so we say yes and go, but as someone pointed out it is a personal preference.

 

That's how I feel as well. If I were to get a Fillet steak at a proper restaurant, it would probably be £35 (close to $60) EACH. And that's just for the steak! Plus sides, drinks, dessert, etc -- so for me, personally, 'upscaling' my meal by $35 a person isn't too bad to go to Chops.

 

However, if I were paying for 4, it would be a harder choice, but you could certainly sample some of the slightly more affordable onboard restaurants, such as Giovanni's Table, and see if you enjoy the atmosphere better.

 

We generally ask to sit with a random party in the MDR so we spend most of the cruise mingling with others. Having a Specialty Dining meal is much more intimate, there are usually candles lit and lights down low, and you have a lovely view of the sea from your seats -- it is just a different experience from what we would normally experience.

 

I will say that on our last cruise, we ended up being a party of 3 (my dad came along as well) at a table for 10, no one else sat with us all week, and our table was RIGHT next to the huuuuge windows. So we ended up NOT needing to eat elsewhere that week, as we had such a great experience all to ourselves!!

[ksuds]

We typically would eat at the specialty reteraunts almost every night during the cruise. I remember when they started at 20.00 per person. They have since increased several times. Their meals are very good, but not great, IMO. Now we go and use the coupon we are given, or go to one of the other resteraunts if they are offering a promo. Otherwise we stick with the MDS.

 

I do enjoy the experience of the specialty resteraunts. However, we've become cheap and do them a little less.

[NavyCruiser]

Thanks for the great responses so far.

 

Maybe we'll try one of the specialty restaurants with the kids one day.

Maybe if they come out with a truly "Special" restaurant; thinking that since we're already out at sea, why not a Specialty Seafood or Sushi restaurant?

 

Reason we haven't tried Chops steakhouse so far, is that there's lots of great steakhouses in the metro Houston TX area, & we love the steakhouses in Chicago & NYC when we travel.

Trying to justify the $55 upgrade per person (x4 for us) for dry-aged steak may not be worth it, but maybe for the special ambiance...

[leaveitallbehind]

Maybe we'll try one of the specialty restaurants with the kids one day.

Maybe if they come out with a truly "Special" restaurant; thinking that since we're already out at sea, why not a Specialty Seafood or Sushi restaurant?

 

Izumi's would be the closest to this. It is billed as Japanese cuisine with sushi rolls, sashimi, ishy-yaki (hot rock plates), etc. Actually a very good venue. It has a $15 dinner cover and then everything is a la carte,

Edited June 4, 2014 by leaveitallbehind