Cagneys/Le Bistro: HUGE price increases!

[LUVINMYHUBS]

Good to know!

[davy jones]

13 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Did they limit you to one starter, one entree and one dessert?    Or can you have a couple of starters on the SDP?

Thanks for updating for us and enjoy your cruise😎

 

 

Last week on the Breakaway, La Cucina limited you to one starter, one pasta or pizza, one entree and one dessert.  You could get two starters if you skipped the pasta or pizza.  The menu is structured so you can not get soup and salad.  The server did bring out a complementary cheese pizza for the table to share.

 

We were able to get a salad and soup at LeBistro.

[davy jones]

There is an excellent Hibachi restaurant near me.  I can now get the same meal that Teppanyani serves for five to ten dollars less than the new NCL charge.  When you take into account that onboard dining is included in the cruise fare, it looks even more expensive.

[BEAV]

On 6/29/2019 at 10:43 AM, fstuff1 said:

i just boarded the Dawn for the July 4th cruise.

 

here are the prices (around +$10 more for each dish!):

 

Ribeye $32 

no more surcharge for shrimp at cagneys?

 

and limit upped to $35 for platinum dinners:

 

but it doesnt cover the Dover Sole ($39) at Le Bistro! 😮

 

 

Dined in LeBistro on Bliss last night on our Platinum certificate. I overheard the Hostess mention a $35 entree limit to one of the waiters. But at our table the waiter just said one starter, entree and dessert with no mention of price cap. I ordered the $39 Dover Sole without incident. 

 

IMO people will have different experiences on different ships. There’s obviously some degree of leeway. And I wouldn’t expect to have the same experience twice. I find that on other mass market lines as well. We just go with the flow! 

[drvmywifecrzy]

On 6/29/2019 at 3:15 PM, ColeThornton said:

 

 

No one likes price increases but do grocery stores warn you when prices go up?  Gas station?  Airlines?   Hotels?   Cable company?

 

Gas stations yes cause I use gas buddy.  Airlines yes cause I use Kayak

[KeithJenner]

1 hour ago, BEAV said:

 

Dined in LeBistro on Bliss last night on our Platinum certificate. I overheard the Hostess mention a $35 entree limit to one of the waiters. But at our table the waiter just said one starter, entree and dessert with no mention of price cap. I ordered the $39 Dover Sole without incident. 

 

IMO people will have different experiences on different ships. There’s obviously some degree of leeway. And I wouldn’t expect to have the same experience twice. I find that on other mass market lines as well. We just go with the flow! 

Yes, that has always been the case.

 

I have exceeded the limit with the platinum voucher a few ones. Once I got a bill for $1 but the other times it has been fine. Same with ordering escargot and soup at Le Bistro. Was charged once, but nothing the other times.

 

It depends on various factors. I just order what I want, hope I won’t be charged, but know that I may be.

[fstuff1]

4 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

 

Airlines yes cause I use Kayak

kayak better than flights.google.com?

[newmexicoNita]

17 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

Yes, that has always been the case.

 

I have exceeded the limit with the platinum voucher a few ones. Once I got a bill for $1 but the other times it has been fine. Same with ordering escargot and soup at Le Bistro. Was charged once, but nothing the other times.

 

It depends on various factors. I just order what I want, hope I won’t be charged, but know that I may be.

I remember asking the waiter when using our platinum voucher if I could exchange my dessert option for 2 starters. He said sure, but when it came time or order dessert he was willing to throw it in as well.I didn't take him up on his offer because I was too full. On another cruise, different ship I was charged extra $2 for surf and turf in Cagney's and the waiter wasn't even pleasant about it> I think it does vary from ship to ship. 

[liverpoollad]

My wife & I have" free on board" speciality dining in Gagneys & La Bistro,  how does this work?

What is your choice?

Thank you.

[PhillyTravelBug]

On 7/12/2019 at 7:02 AM, 4774Papa said:

We are looking at NCL in the rear view mirror and moving more toward Royal Caribbean.  We love the Diamond Happy Hour and the entertainment is great.

Definitely considering giving another line an opportunity after my cruise on bliss. 

[graphicguy]

 Used the Platinum Latitude vouches on my Escape cruise a few weeks ago.  They never limited me.  I ordered whatever I wanted (including the most expensive items on the Cagney’s and LeBistro items).  Matter of fact, I don’t remember even getting a “zero dollar” tab at the end, either.

 

I do believe it’s a discretionary thing depending on the manager and/or waitstaff you have.

 

Never hurts to ask their policy up front, though.

 

Scoping JOY and BLISS sailings now.  My son said I’m a little “off” for looking at another cruise so soon after I just disembarked after my recent one.  He’s probably right.

Edited July 13, 2019 by graphicguy

[CruisingIsBest]

On 7/4/2019 at 2:03 PM, UFMOM said:

I bought the 3 day dining pkg for our Encore NYE cruise right after reading this thread. Now, 3 days later, my $94.50 pkg is listed as 118.80.  Glad I jumped on it when I did.  Also saved 50.00 when someone posted about a sale on the dining pkg on our RCL Symphony Cruise. It pays to read CC. 

   

 

Mary Ann

Same here @$94.80. Even at that price ($31/meal) for the 3 meal package is a lot. Now at $39/per it's absurd. They will keep pushing it until the places start dropping in numbers and only have people that got the free packages. Then they'll start doing fire sales onboard to put butts in the seats. Paying $80 for two is nuts... the food isn't that special... LaCuccina is no better than Olive Garden and you'll pay less for two there... and get more food. Considering food is included in the cruise fare, the new prices are ridiculous. I have no problem with an up-charge for the specialty options, but raising it another $10pp AND still limiting you to one entry? I won't be buying another specialty package. 

[tap_out]

I think the main thing people are forgetting is that your meals are worked into your cruise fair. I can remember when I started cruising 16 years ago on RC prices for the specialty restaurants were a $20/25 up charge. I think Carnival still floats close to those prices. But at that price point you felt like you were getting something special for a value. When you are spending more at the specialty restaurants then you would at a land base restaurant after you meals were already figured into the cruise price it just doesn't make since. My wife and I were ready to buy a dining package but after the price increase and lack luster reviews I think we will stick to the MDR 

[CruiseMH]

The only way to keep all cruise lines from risign the prices is to avoid all up-charge dining options.

If noone eats at these restaurants the cruise lines will think about it and change it.

Whenever a new ship is built or an older ship is renovated all the changes in the public areas they do are based on their experiences in the past.If an attraction is not popular enough it will be removed during renovation and will not be built onto the new ships.

 

[Jasonmom]

Got the 3 meals dining perk with this trip, but sinse there are 3 of us we will have to get another 3 meal deal to take advantage of it. Should have done it as soon as booked because price went up now. Going on Breakaway and not sure what 3 to pick.  Think we want the seafood one (ocean8?) and Le Bistro, but other than that I'm not sure.  And now with people reporting only being allowed 1 appetizer and dessert I'm really questioning going.  I don't think we ever order more than one entree,  but I will sometimes order 3 appetizers or mom might order 2 desserts in the main dining room. 

 

Any advice appreciated 

 

 

 

[CruisingIsBest]

22 minutes ago, Jasonmom said:

Got the 3 meals dining perk with this trip, but sinse there are 3 of us we will have to get another 3 meal deal to take advantage of it. Should have done it as soon as booked because price went up now. Going on Breakaway and not sure what 3 to pick.  Think we want the seafood one (ocean8?) and Le Bistro, but other than that I'm not sure.  And now with people reporting only being allowed 1 appetizer and dessert I'm really questioning going.  I don't think we ever order more than one entree,  but I will sometimes order 3 appetizers or mom might order 2 desserts in the main dining room. 

 

Any advice appreciated 

 

Ocean Blue was very good but that used to cost even more... there is (or used to be) an additional surcharge for that option. Reading the specialty FAQ's now, it no longer shows Ocean Blue with an upcharge. Who knows?? Did they take the extra charge away with the price increases?

LeBistro has always been very good too. Cagney's is good most of the time. LaCucina is typical Italian comfort food... it's been great each time if you like that type of food. I don't use it at Teppanyaki either since I have plenty of that at home. I also don't go running around looking for Lobster...living in New England we get it often ... the REAL lobster not that crappy Carribean stuff they pass off instead, so I myself would not spend extra for it on a cruise ship. Moderno is hit or miss. Did it once on Getaway and it was "ok".

 

 

Edited July 13, 2019 by CruisingIsBest

[Jasonmom]

Can we use 2 of our perk nights to go to same restaurant? (Such as going twice to LeBistro)

[Sand and Seas]

26 minutes ago, Jasonmom said:

Got the 3 meals dining perk with this trip, but sinse there are 3 of us we will have to get another 3 meal deal to take advantage of it. Should have done it as soon as booked because price went up now. Going on Breakaway and not sure what 3 to pick.  Think we want the seafood one (ocean8?) and Le Bistro, but other than that I'm not sure.  And now with people reporting only being allowed 1 appetizer and dessert I'm really questioning going.  I don't think we ever order more than one entree,  but I will sometimes order 3 appetizers or mom might order 2 desserts in the main dining room. 

 

Any advice appreciated 

 

 

 

Ocean Blue is now sounding like the best 'deal' to use the SDP on.   No longer an upcharge.

 

  We are hearing different things from different ships, but generally on the SDP they have allowed you a couple of starters without a problem.  The waiters might get it confused with the Platinum dinners as they specifically say 'one starter, one entree & one dessert'.

[Sand and Seas]

4 minutes ago, Jasonmom said:

Can we use 2 of our perk nights to go to same restaurant? (Such as going twice to LeBistro)

Yes, you can.   

We usually go twice to Cagney's as we like the variety of starters better.   Now we might use two on Ocean Blue as latest reports are no more upcharge.   (Thank heavens the upcharge for shrimp cocktail was short-lived!)

[PortFees45]

I used to think the dumbest people on the ship were the ones buying bottled water.

 

Now I think the dumbest people on the ship are the ones paying a la carte prices for specialty dining. 

[Sand and Seas]

3 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

I used to think the dumbest people on the ship were the ones buying bottled water.

 

Now I think the dumbest people on the ship are the ones paying a la carte prices for specialty dining. 

If it wasn't for the booking promo dining and my Platinum meals, we could be VERY happy in the MDR.    This latest round of increased prices in the specialty dining room is crazy, but we will adjust to what works for us.    I can''t imagine actually paying 'out of pocket' those listed prices for a dinner on the ship.  

 

We don't have to look at sailaway pricing as we get our cabins through CAS.  We take it as a bonus that they still give us the booking promos.   We used to choose the UBP promo for fun, but now the increased 20% fee no longer makes it work for us as we don't drink enough to make that a good choice.  We now get a couple of 'free drinks' in the casino and are happy with that.   We can still pay the 20% fee on the SDP package and enjoy it for now.....until they make another crazy change and then we will have to re-evaluate.🤔