Changes to main dining room menu

[Yinster]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-prima-dining-changes/

 

Basically the menu will not rotate so it will stay the same each night like speciality dining and the Haven

[brookie848]

Reading the article, I think I like this idea. We stay in the Haven, but try to eat in the MDR at least once a cruise (more if we are on a smaller ship with no Haven restaurant). Timing our meals in the MDR has always been a challenge.

 

I also like the idea of a make your own pasta, since that is always a solid go-to if nothing else really appeals.

[ray985]

15 minutes ago, Yinster said:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-prima-dining-changes/

 

Basically the menu will not rotate so it will stay the same each night like speciality dining and the Haven

Not sure how I feel about that. Feels like another way they're trying to get you to spend more money to go to specialty restaurants. I'm on a 10-day sailing of the Viva, and I know I'd get bored of seeing the same stuff for dinner every night in the main dining room; and my "free at sea" package only came with one meal. 

[Yinster]

2 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

Reading the article, I think I like this idea. We stay in the Haven, but try to eat in the MDR at least once a cruise (more if we are on a smaller ship with no Haven restaurant). Timing our meals in the MDR has always been a challenge.

We asked our butler if it was possible to get a copy of the main dining room menus for the cruise on day 1. It was possible.

[vswan]

For us, a large part of the cruise experience is to try new things on the menu. Granted, not all are hits, but having new things every night is part of the fun. We are not big on the specialty restaurants. Have eaten in several, but overall was not impressed enough to spend the high prices they want to charge once we have finished with our "free" meals. Since we are not tied to any one cruise line, this would be a mark against an NCL cruise.

[moosecrouse]

Read an article that said the MDR will offer a "special" every night from one of the Speciality restraunts menus. 

[brookie848]

46 minutes ago, Yinster said:

We asked our butler if it was possible to get a copy of the main dining room menus for the cruise on day 1. It was possible.

Of course it's simple to get the menus on board. You don't even have to ask a butler. You just need to go to guest services/dining reservations and ask. But with the way NCL cruises normally run, I like to make my plans for the week (dinner & shows) before we leave.

[ziggyuk]

I hope that stays on the Prima and does not filter down, I look forward to a new menu each day and with the specialist dining slashed I'm going to be tied to the MDR more than ever.

[karmamule]

2 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

I hope that stays on the Prima and does not filter down, I look forward to a new menu each day and with the specialist dining slashed I'm going to be tied to the MDR more than ever.

 

Currently they are planning to adopt it fleet-wide unless there's lots of backlash. Their reasons given for doing this are probably valid too, but I'm sure cost savings is a big one as well.

 

We do love the specialty restaurants on NCL more than their main competitors', and will do 3 to 4 dinners in them on a 7 day cruise. For us this will probably be fine, but I can understand why plenty of people who use the MDR more consistently would feel leery of this change. 

[ColeThornton]

People usually tend to overreact to change.   I'll wait in judgement until I see how innovative it is and what the choices will be.  I've never once went hungry on a cruise and I don't expect that to change.  🙂

[Karaboudjan]

The article also says there will be some selections from the specialty dining restaurants.  I'm getting the feeling that this is going to be a fairly big menu, maybe more like 2-3 regular MDR menus.

[gmbhardy]

2 hours ago, Yinster said:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/norwegian-cruise-line-prima-dining-changes/

 

Basically the menu will not rotate so it will stay the same each night like speciality dining and the Haven

I’ve eaten in Taste many times but never at Sabor. We’ll have to try it on our next cruise.

[kayjaypea42]

There will be two MDRs. Could it be interepreted that each will have its own fixed menu, or do you think they'll use the same fixed menu in both MDRs?  (Also, I am referring to this article, too: https://www.ncl.com/newsroom/norwegian-cruise-line-serves-up-elevated-epicurean-experiences-with-new-prima-class/?fbclid=IwAR0wmPamiuTp6fBJB7-YRhlUiFuCcwbtMaWCpym9MthZaLWa4jzamk0DgTw)

[Markanddonna]

This really concerns only the majority of NCL cruisers, not the Haven folks. I just told my husband that I'm going to set up my six best meals and just rotate them. Same thing, but somehow I doubt that their opinion of "the best way to cook chicken, fish, or beef" would be my choice. Also, if they offer one  selection each day from their specialty restaurants, who would pay extra to go to them? Makes no sense.  Just another way to cut back and then spin the news.

[Double Jack]

NCL continuing their policy of giving customers less product for more money.

 

[cc-riderslc]

Seems like they tried this about 10 - 12 years ago.  It wasn't accepted very well.  A few years later they changed back to rotating the menus.  I didn't like it then (I quit NCL after that experience) and I don't imagine I will like it now.  I hope it doesn't start up until after June.

[luckyinpa]

I wish ncl would pay rcl a fee to buy that obviously super expensive top secret software that allows rcl to post mdr menus on an app. I won't even expect then to be loaded 3 months out like royal. Just day of would be fine

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, brookie848 said:

I also like the idea of a make your own pasta, since that is always a solid go-to if nothing else really appeals.

Yes, we could be happy with this 'make your own pasta' choice on one or two nights a cruise too.   

With the MDR, the various choices in the Food Hall, I like what I am reading about the changes.😊

Edited March 8, 2022 by Sand and Seas

[MrsTocko]

When I told my DH about this, his reaction was about the same as mine..."this stinks".  We do not do the specialty dining as a rule. We would rather spend our money elsewhere.  Many say that the specialty dining has much better food.  We are pretty happy with what MDR offers, honestly.  We are not "fancy" people or food eaters.  So those specialty places just don't appeal.  Combined with food allergies and reactions, we lose half the options.

 

As others stated, I hope it stays on the newer ships.

 

Will it prevent us from cruising on NCL?  Not sure yet.  Will let you know after our POA cruise in 2024!

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, gmbhardy said:

I’ve eaten in Taste many times but never at Sabor. We’ll have to try it on our next cruise.

All three MDRs have the same menus each day and night. The only thing different is the Dining Room decour.

 

[Oxo]

56 minutes ago, Double Jack said:

NCL continuing their policy of giving customers less product for more money.

 

Which Cruise Line is not doing this? How much money did they loose during C19 and now? I don't agree with it, but that is business. You must satisfy the stock holders.

[curlstravel]

I like the idea of a set menu. Having the pasta choices will add to it. We go to our favorite restaurant at home quite often and like other restaurants we go to they have set menu’s.  I’m sure there will be alot of great options!

[MrsTocko]

55 minutes ago, cc-riderslc said:

Seems like they tried this about 10 - 12 years ago.  It wasn't accepted very well.  A few years later they changed back to rotating the menus.  I didn't like it then (I quit NCL after that experience) and I don't imagine I will like it now.  I hope it doesn't start up until after June.

When they tried this before, were there as many specialty dining options as there are now?

 

We started cruising with NCL in 2016, so I dont have the knowledge/first hand experience as some of you have

[Zippeedee]

After five NCL cruises I have only been in a main dining room twice, on the first cruise. That was enough. I buy extra specialty meals and enjoy the relatively quiet dinner buffet when I need a break from long multi-course meals. The Local is a nice change too.

[Mara Suung]

My satisfaction will depend entirely on how the quality and variety of the MDR offering. Obviously steering passengers toward additional charge dining.