Freestyle reservations

[blyle]

I am reading some trip reviews and they keep talking about making reservations before you cruise. I understand that you need them for Le Bistro but can someone enlighten me as to whether or not I need to make reservations at all the other restaurants. Is there something here I am not understanding regarding freestyle? I thought you just went to the restaurant of your choice and waited for a table except for Le bistro. Please fill me in so I can be prepared.

 

Thanks!

[Shore Girl]

Reservations are REQUIRED for all specialty restaurants, not only Le Bistro (# of specialty restaurants depends which ship you are on). Reservations are not required for the main dining rooms, however you can make them if you choose. I believe some posters here have given the advice to do so in order to avoid a wait in case you happen to show up during the busy times (usually 6:30-7:30)

[KeystoneCruiser]

blyle: What ship are you sailing on. The number of specialty restaurants varies by ship and most specialty restaurants have a cover charge (usually $15-$25 per person) while a few do not. But all specialty restaurants generally require reservations.

 

Let me use the Star as an example since that was the ship I was just on:

Main Restaurants are the Versailles and Aqua. Traditional cruise fare and reservations are only accepted for a few certain groups. (I will explain shortly)

 

Blue Lagoon is a short order diner like restaurant on Deck 7 meant for quick meals like hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. No reservations and no cover charge.

There is also the Market Cafe, which is the ships buffet, open for all meals with no charge and no reservations.

 

Specialty Restaurants: (all require reservations)

LaTrattatoria: Italian, No cover charge

Endless Summer: Tex-Mex, No cover charge

Cover Charge Restaurants:

LeBistro, Soho, Ginza, Tepanyaki, Cagney's Steakhouse.

 

Now to correct something that Shoregirl mentioned. On both the Star and the Aloha, the only people allowed to make reservations in the main restaurants were groups of 8 or more or those with Suites who had Coincergre service. For the average cruiser in catagory B or below, we could not make reservations for the main restaurants at any time. (unless we were in a large group and those large groups on our last cruise were limited to 5:30, 6:00, 8:00 or 8:30 reservation times. (I know because I did it)

 

Generally if you arrive at the main restaurants by 6:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m., there is no wait for a table.

 

I would suggest making reservations at the specialty restaurants the day you board at the reception desk so that you can get the times you want. We made reservations for LaTrattatoria and Endless Summer the afternoon that we boarded for later in the week. When we went back to make additional reservations for later in the week, all of the specialty restaurants were filled for the week.

[KeystoneCruiser]

Here are some other things to help you better understand the Freestyle concept. (I wrote these for another thread but they may be of help to you too.)

 

1.) No set dining times. You decide when you want to go and who you want to sit with. The dining rooms are open from 5:30 - 10 p.m. each night. In the main restaurants, which offer traditional cruise dinners, you just walk up to the maitre'd when you arrive and tell him how many are with you and you are taken to a table like in a restaurant. If you want to meet others, tell the maitre'd that and he/she will find others who want the same and seat you together.

 

2.) You can also choose from a variety of specialty restaurants which require reservations and in most cases, a cover charge of $15-25 per person. These include italian, a steakhouse, tex-mex, japanese, etc.. You can make reservations for a specific time and day for the whole week your first day on board at a special desk. The main restaurants do not take reservations except for large groups of 8 or more. There is also a free buffet that is open for all meals and late night snacks. (of course there is also room service)

 

3.) You can dress as you like within limits. The dress code on the ship for dinner is "resort casual" which only means no shorts, t-shirts, cut-offs or jeans in the dining rooms after 5:00 p.m. Polo shirts and kahki pants or sundresses are fine. You do not have to dress up!! (my favorite part). There is an optional formal night during the cruise, but you will find it 50-50 between those who do dress up and those who don't.

 

4.) Tipping is automatic for room stewards and waiters. You are charged $10 per person per day on your bill and this handles the gratuity for these people. A 15% service charge is added to all bar & spa bills. No need to individually tip these people, but you can tip additionally if they provide exceptional service and you are so inclined.

 

5.) You can wait in your room for disembarkation until you are called. No need to crowd into public lounges like other cruise lines.

 

These are the "perks" of Freestyle Cruising which is why I like NCL so much. (only Princess offers something similar)

[blyle]

We are sailing on the Wind 11 day Hawaii. It has la trattoria and Le Bistro. Thanks so much for helping us. SInce we port almost everyday I really just have to worry about the sea days when we go to Fanning Is.

 

Again let me say thank you so much for being so forthcoming. We have cruised extensively in the Caribbean but Hawaii is brand new to us. I appreciate all of you taking the time to help a veteran cruiser going to a new destination on a new cruiseline.

 

The Wind is older with less restaurants but I think I have a better idea of what to do on day 1.

 

Thanks so much

[KeystoneCruiser]

Bumping this thread up due to duplicate threads.

[blyle]

Thanks I am not sure h ow that happened but have been having computer probs.

[newmexicoNita]

We are sailing on the Wind 11 day Hawaii. It has la trattoria and Le Bistro. Thanks so much for helping us. SInce we port almost everyday I really just have to worry about the sea days when we go to Fanning Is.

 

Again let me say thank you so much for being so forthcoming. We have cruised extensively in the Caribbean but Hawaii is brand new to us. I appreciate all of you taking the time to help a veteran cruiser going to a new destination on a new cruiseline.

 

The Wind is older with less restaurants but I think I have a better idea of what to do on day 1.

 

Thanks so much

/Actually we have always made reservations while on the ship. The first day there will be a ship information fair (for lack of a better discription) I don't know where it will be held as most of the time they are in the casino. Anyway you will get to learn about the specialty restaurants, excursions, spa services, etc. That is where you can ask questions and sign up for varies things including eateries.

 

NMNita

[blyle]

Thanks so much! I appreciate all your help!

[GinaJ]

Dear Keystone Cruiser,

 

Since you were just on the Star, Can you tell me which restaurants have 6 tops available or at the very least 4 tops of Cagneys, Le Bistro, Endless Summer, La Tratorria, and the teppanyaki place. We have a group going in January and from what everyone has been telling me, they really want to try to eat together most of the nights.

 

We will go to Versailles a few nights with big tables but we all want to try the ones listed above as well.

 

Which ones would you recommend or not recommend?

 

As far as the formal night- was it just one of the main dining rooms that offered it or did some of the specialty restaurants participate in formal night.

 

I am assuming that the dress codes in the specialty restaurants are the same as the main dining room on other nights or do they require a jacket and tie like the Carnival "pay" restaurant.

 

Lastly, how big is the disco? Is it a fun place for 35-55 year olds or is mostly for the 20 somethings?

 

Thanks for all your help.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gina

[KeystoneCruiser]

Since you were just on the Star, Can you tell me which restaurants have 6 tops available or at the very least 4 tops of Cagneys, Le Bistro, Endless Summer, La Tratorria, and the teppanyaki place. We have a group going in January and from what everyone has been telling me, they really want to try to eat together most of the nights.

 

First of all, I refuse to go to the pay restaurants so I can't help you much with them, although I did peek in them when I was touring the ship. We had a group of 16 who ate together every night.

LaTratorria: My FAVORITE! It is a specialty restuarant without a cover charge but requires reservations. We ate here twice. Best service we got the whole week. They take the port side of the Market Cafe and close it off from the Starboard side and cover the buffet lines with Italian curtains. They then cover the tables and chairs with cloth and it looks nice and has large windows looking out. This probably had the most larger tables. Actually, the market cafe is mostly eight tops and what they do at night is just seperate them to make 2 four tops.

For large groups, they just push them together. We had to split up, but we sat at a 10 top and and adjacent 6 top.

Endless Summer: Also a specialty restaurant without a cover, but reservations needed. This restaurant is on deck 8 and surrounds the Grand Atrium below on Deck 7 and for that reason, the noise from the Atrium filters up. It also has large windows looking out. Great Meatloaf here and my wife raved about the enchilada's. We had two adjacent 8 tops at this restaurant. This is a smaller restaurant and I only saw larger tables around the outer edge.

All other Specialty restaurants require a Cover charge of between $15-$25 per person. Cagney's was $20 but many of the top items (Filet Mignon, etc)

were priced at $24 PER ENTREE, ala carte. I did not see many large tables in Cagneys or Soho. LeBistro ($25 cover I believe) had some six and eight tops. I did not go into Ginza or Tepperyaki, but when I went back later in the week to attempt to make a third reservation for LaTrattatoria, I was told that all restaurants were booked solid for the rest of the week EXCEPT for Ginza and Tepperayaki.

 

I strongly urge you to go to the Reservation Desk, located next to the Reception Desk on Deck 7, Grand Atrium on your first afternoon on board and make your specialty reservations for the entire week to get the times you want and for your group to eat together.

 

We will go to Versailles a few nights with big tables but we all want to try the ones listed above as well.

 

Both Versailles and Aqua, the main restaurants, serve the same menu each night. With a large group of over 8, they will let you make reservations. Just go to the restaurant the night before OR during lunch and speak to the Maitre'd. You can also call the restaurants phone number, but I found this hit and miss at off hours. They will only take large group reservations in the main restaurants for 5:30, 6:00, 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. (not during the peak times of 6:15-7:45). Versailles has one 12 top table in the middle, if you want that one, you will need to take a 5:30 or 8:00 reservation I found. We had the 12 top one day (along with a four top adjacent) but we had two 8 tops the other times. In Aqua, their largest table is an 8 top.

 

My only suggestion is that if you are in a hurry, split your party up into smaller groups. For the 12 top, we were there from 5:30 to 7:45 for dinner. One night when we split up into three sixes, we were out by 7:15 p.m. You will find that service is quicker in the specialty restaurants.

 

Which ones would you recommend or not recommend?

I loved LaTrattatoria...great. Endless Summer was ok, but I am not a fan of Tex-mex so I can't reccommend it.

 

If you want something quick or a late night snack, I strongly suggest Blue Lagoon, the diner like area on Deck 7 behind the Reception Desk. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, soups, Mac and Cheese, Potatoe skins, etc. Served quick and VERY HOT!! (had to let the Mac and Cheese cool several minutes!) Late night snacks are also available to the rear of Market Cafe after 9:30 p.m. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pizza, Chicken Dinousaur Nuggets and desserts.

 

As far as the formal night- was it just one of the main dining rooms that offered it or did some of the specialty restaurants participate in formal night.

 

Formal night is OPTIONAL in all dining rooms. You can either dress up or stay with resort casual. I never put on a suit, tie or sport coat all week. In the main dining rooms, I found that on the formal night (Monday on our Alaska cruise), it was about 50-50 between those who were in formal and those who were in resort casual (polo shirts, kahkis, etc.). There were always a few people dressed up on the other nights as well even though it wasn't formal night. In the specialty restaurants, it was about the same ratio.

 

HINT: If you are having a formal portrait taken, do it on a night other than formal night. The line was incredibly long on formal night. We waited until Thursday for our large group portrait and were first in line at 5:00 p.m. when they started in the Grand Atrium. It was quick and easy. I will say the photographer did a great job. He did not rush through to get to others in line, but took his time to get our large group (and smaller groups within) some good pics. He kept checking after each shot to see how it came out.

 

I am assuming that the dress codes in the specialty restaurants are the same as the main dining room on other nights or do they require a jacket and tie like the Carnival "pay" restaurant.

 

All restaurants abide by the resort casual label. No need to dress up! (the Market Cafe (buffet) and Blue Lagoon (diner), do not abide by the resort casual code, you can go there in t-shirts and shorts even for dinner.)

 

Lastly, how big is the disco? Is it a fun place for 35-55 year olds or is mostly for the 20 somethings?

Gina

 

I was on the ship in 2002 and they had a huge disco called Dazzles. But the ship was in Hawaii then and could not have a casino. When they renovated her last year, they took Dazzles out and put the Casino in there. Now the largest disco is the Circus Bar on Deck 7 and Spinakers Lounge on Deck 12 forward. I never saw them overly crowded. There are a lot of bars/lounges on the ship and people spread themselves out more. They use the Spinaker Lounge for the "games" like Newlywed Game, Liar's Club, etc and their parties. (they had a 50's dance, a New Year's Eve Dance in July, etc.) The Circus Bar was more for Kareoke and dancing. Other bars include the Red Lion Pub, Star Bar, Bier Garten and Gatsby's. We aren't big dancers, but enjoyed the shows in the Theater and in the Spinnaker Lounge.

 

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[GinaJ]

Dear Keystone Cruiser,

 

Thanks for all the info! It is a tremendous help.

 

I appreciate your offer to answer any more questions. I am sure that I will have more.

 

Thanks again,

 

Gina

[johnql]

Which ones would you recommend or not recommend?

KeystoneCruiser did a great job answering most of your questions. I just wanted to add a few comments about the surcharge restaurants:

 

On the Star, I dined at four of the surcharge restaurants: Le Bistro, Cagney's, Teppanyaki, and Soho. Of the four, from soup to nuts, Le Bistro was probably best (excellent filet mignon, mushroom soup, scrumptious chocolate fondue); Cagney's offered delicious steaks; Teppanyaki is a Benihana-like restaurant with a fun food-preparation show by the chef - it seats only 15 or so per seating, so book early - the entrees were delicious (I had the combination striploin steak and jumbo shrimp) but I found the side dishes only so-so, altho most of the other diners seemed to like them more than me; Soho was just okay (I thought the food there was no better than the main dining rooms).