Rare insidecabin Posted February 21, 2020 #26 Share Posted February 21, 2020 We do ocean Blue at night Food Republic as a lunch. If buying the SDP add some lunch meals to one persons and share the 4 dishes with a top up paid for if not enough. The $15/$10 for each extra meal is a bargain for 4 items at Food Republic that are around $10 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomservo Posted February 21, 2020 #27 Share Posted February 21, 2020 1 hour ago, insidecabin said: We do ocean Blue at night Food Republic as a lunch. I was going to say the same thing - do both, but hit up Food Republic for lunch. I bought extra SDP credits so I can spend one or 2 at FR for lunch. That being said, it is a little seafood heavy so it probably won't be worth spending an SDP credit on it if you don't like seafood, but you could certainly try one or 2 things ala carte. Enjoy the Bliss, I'll be on in March for the first time. Super excited!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 21, 2020 #28 Share Posted February 21, 2020 2 hours ago, tomservo said: I was going to say the same thing - do both, but hit up Food Republic for lunch. I bought extra SDP credits so I can spend one or 2 at FR for lunch. That being said, it is a little seafood heavy so it probably won't be worth spending an SDP credit on it if you don't like seafood, but you could certainly try one or 2 things ala carte. Enjoy the Bliss, I'll be on in March for the first time. Super excited!! Cheapest thing in FR is $5 plenty of meat options, at $10 for the extra SDP ala carte is more even if you don't get all 4 items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenL Posted February 23, 2020 #29 Share Posted February 23, 2020 How did you add lunch to your specialty dining package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 23, 2020 #30 Share Posted February 23, 2020 They(SDP) all can be used for lunch or dinner and you can use as many as you like on any day. You do hit the purchase limit(length of cruise) but with free at sea and platinum, you can get enough I only bought extra for one of us as there is plenty of food for lunch in FR with the 4 items FR is designed to share so they should not moan if your dining companion does not use a package. 2 of our FR visits --------- Spicy Tuna Roll Tuna Stack Lamb Pork belly --------- Rock shrimp roll Calamari Pho(beef) Peruvian beef Also consider adding another SDP $10 goes a long way at the American diner as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melobstah55 Posted February 23, 2020 #31 Share Posted February 23, 2020 We dined at Ocean Blue on Encore in January and it was amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstuff1 Posted February 23, 2020 #32 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) On 2/12/2020 at 5:30 PM, Greenpea2 said: I will be on the Bliss in 11 days (yay). I have all my dining sorted out and reservations made (not something I ever thought I'd do--circa the true Freestyle Dining years--but whatever, things change). The only one I am having second thoughts about is Ocean Blue. I am wondering if maybe I should switch that one for Food Republic. I'd be interested in opinions from those who have been to one or the other (or ideally, both). I have heard good things about Ocean Blue ... but I also have heard negative things and some "meh" things. I have not hear one bad thing about Food Republic. Hence my second thoughts. Opinions please (and yes, I understand that food is subjective). Besides opinions on the food, I am also very interested in knowing if there is any down side to using the Specialty Restaurant package for Food Republic. How would that work? Doesn't seem like the menu is geared towards appetizer/entree/sides/dessert. Any input would be greatly appreciated. im the on the Joy. on this ship, we're allowed to substitute FR with our La Cuchina Platinum voucher. and instead of 4 item limit, we're allowed $35 worth of food ($70 per couple since each voucher is for 2.) items in FR range from $4 to a couple of items that are $12. so if you eat just the $12 items, then the dining plan is better. if you want to sample alot of stuff on the menu, then using the Platinum voucher is better. i will be eating in FR this week for the 1st time and will be using my Platinum voucher. i've eaten at ocean blue many times. (Love the food.) i'll let you know the comparison next week. Edited February 23, 2020 by fstuff1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstuff1 Posted February 23, 2020 #33 Share Posted February 23, 2020 7 hours ago, insidecabin said: They(SDP) all can be used for lunch or dinner and you can use as many as you like on any day. You do hit the purchase limit(length of cruise) but with free at sea and platinum, you can get enough I only bought extra for one of us as there is plenty of food for lunch in FR with the 4 items FR is designed to share so they should not moan if your dining companion does not use a package. 2 of our FR visits --------- Spicy Tuna Roll Tuna Stack Lamb Pork belly --------- Rock shrimp roll Calamari Pho(beef) Peruvian beef Also consider adding another SDP $10 goes a long way at the American diner as well. ncl now allows you to just top off your current sdp package and just add more days?? instead of making you buy another package? (ie: 3meal for $99) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geegee1 Posted February 23, 2020 #34 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Just got off Bliss this morning. Loved Food Republic so much that we went twice, both times after we already used up our dining packages. Out favorite restaurant on the ship. We've been to Ocean Blue a couple of times in the past, and had no desire to go again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 23, 2020 #35 Share Posted February 23, 2020 2 hours ago, fstuff1 said: ncl now allows you to just top off your current sdp package and just add more days?? instead of making you buy another package? (ie: 3meal for $99) Even better at $10($12 with tips) a meal it's a no brainer to max it out. Did not see that option on our Oct or Nov cruise last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 23, 2020 #36 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, fstuff1 said: im the on the Joy. on this ship, we're allowed to substitute FR with our La Cuchina Platinum voucher. and instead of 4 item limit, we're allowed $35 worth of food ($70 per couple since each voucher is for 2.) items in FR range from $4 to a couple of items that are $12. so if you eat just the $12 items, then the dining plan is better. if you want to sample alot of stuff on the menu, then using the Platinum voucher is better. i will be eating in FR this week for the 1st time and will be using my Platinum voucher. i've eaten at ocean blue many times. (Love the food.) i'll let you know the comparison next week. That seems a lot cheaper than it was on Encore TA. Cheapest was $5 yogurt most $10-$16. Edited February 23, 2020 by insidecabin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstuff1 Posted February 23, 2020 #37 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, insidecabin said: Even better at $10($12 with tips) a meal it's a no brainer to max it out. Did not see that option on our Oct or Nov cruise last year. What option? To top off your dining package? Ie: if you got 5 meal sdp because of perk, you can just add more to it instead of buying a new package? (Ie: 3sdp for $99) Edited February 23, 2020 by fstuff1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sand and Seas Posted February 24, 2020 #38 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Can you add another meal to your SDP once you are onboard? (Then I could use my OBC) How do you do this? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincicruisers Posted February 24, 2020 #39 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Great info! Heading out on the Escape next week. We are going to try them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 24, 2020 #40 Share Posted February 24, 2020 13 hours ago, fstuff1 said: What option? To top off your dining package? Ie: if you got 5 meal sdp because of perk, you can just add more to it instead of buying a new package? (Ie: 3sdp for $99) yep never saw that option in Oct/Nov any link for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstuff1 Posted February 24, 2020 #41 Share Posted February 24, 2020 (edited) On 2/23/2020 at 12:25 PM, insidecabin said: That seems a lot cheaper than it was on Encore TA. Cheapest was $5 yogurt most $10-$16. you're right. google gave me the old menu before the Del Rio ridiculous price increases in all specialty restaurants late last year. im looking at the Joy menu now (im on the Joy) and the most expensive is now $16 (bbq pork belly and shrimp pad thai). heck, a California roll is $11?!?! 😞 so it looks like burning a dining meal for 4 items is better than using a Platinum voucher @$35/person. :mad: Edited February 24, 2020 by fstuff1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESCARGO Posted February 24, 2020 #42 Share Posted February 24, 2020 On 2/23/2020 at 9:29 AM, fstuff1 said: im the on the Joy. on this ship, we're allowed to substitute FR with our La Cuchina Platinum voucher. and instead of 4 item limit, we're allowed $35 worth of food ($70 per couple since each voucher is for 2.) items in FR range from $4 to a couple of items that are $12. so if you eat just the $12 items, then the dining plan is better. if you want to sample alot of stuff on the menu, then using the Platinum voucher is better. i will be eating in FR this week for the 1st time and will be using my Platinum voucher. i've eaten at ocean blue many times. (Love the food.) i'll let you know the comparison next week. Thanks David! Enjoy the rest of your cruise! Ted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted February 24, 2020 #43 Share Posted February 24, 2020 I should add that maxing out on pay meals does mean a lot of food over a cruise, we overdid it on the Encore 9 night(all sea days) even sticking with very light breakfasts. Future NCL trips we will be looking to have days off away from meals like we do on other lines, NCL options are too tempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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