ajtraveler66 Posted January 10 #1 Share Posted January 10 Don't miss this wonderful complimentary Chinese/Asian restaurant. We were on "The Star" back in April and dined there four times on our 15-day Mediterranan cruise. Sadly, it's only on "The Star". I can't understand why "Ginza" is not offered on other ships. It's a small restauarant, but it's definitely worth a wait if you cannot get right in right away. We're going to be on "The Bliss" later this month. And if "Ginza" were on 'The Bliss', I can assure you that we'd definitely be going several times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asawi Posted January 10 #2 Share Posted January 10 If for nothing else, go there for dessert! Those chestnut and red bean triangles... YUMMY! I thought most ships have somethinh similar to Ginza nut under different names, but I can't find anything on Bliss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazycatlady82 Posted January 10 #3 Share Posted January 10 Yes, we really enjoyed that restaurant on the Star! There is something similar (same menu but might be different name) on the Epic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tak8 Posted January 10 #4 Share Posted January 10 Was Ginza open for lunch and dinner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted January 10 #5 Share Posted January 10 We haven't been on the Star since 2008, but on similar ship class including the Jewel, Gem and our all time favorite,the Dawn ... they all have that Asian themed restaurant with a sushi bar and small Teppanyaki connected. In the old days, just named different - look up the ship's deck plan, it's nearly always on Deck 7 Mid, below is usually LeBistro, bar & lounge, and the casino nearby. The menu used to be much better with broader selections, including a few with a nominal upcharge - those are gone. I can't recall any of them being open for lunch, even on those long sea days (maybe, if the ship is sold out and near lifeboat capacity ... check the Dailies and/or ask) The bigger *away/+ class ships do not have them - there is a Shanghai Noodles Bar with smaller seating capacity, 1/3 to 1/2 of the seating are counter/diner style on high stools, some facing the stainless steel open kitchen ... sit, wait & watch the junior chef prepare your food-to-order. The newer Bliss & Encore, I believe, do not have them. The Epic, we're on her TA last April, has a Shanghai Noodles & Restaurants, that's quite spacious with additional seating inside - like the other "Noodles" bar, next to and near the ship's casino - again, open for dinner only and they do NOT accept or take reservations. Epic's restaurant's dining menu is similar to the other, older, Asian restaurant by different names - used pretty much fleetwide. Portions are small and petite, the spring rolls are good, pan fried dumplings (pot stickers) are better than the boiled ones (it's the same) and the best part ... dessert options. Noodles soup too, are good, especially on a chilly evening. We consider them to be reasonably good comfort food, something we can find in most local Asian/Chinese takeout/eat-in casual restaurants. Happy meals ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted January 10 #6 Share Posted January 10 Right on. We've enjoyed them on Star, Dawn, and Gem. Miss it on other ships and lines. One thing I don't like and never seen is corn in the egg drop soup. Of all things consistent across the fleet, corn in the soup is one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted January 10 #7 Share Posted January 10 @dexddd Haha, do you remember the lobster and steamed (??) fish option in those days, with a nominal upcharge and no 15% or 20% add-on. I found this & scanned it - from Bamboo (2008-2009, maybe a bit earlier ... could've been 2005) what varieties we had then - Old days ... 😁 That so-called chicken egg drop soup with corn is just poorly done & taste waterly ... all they need is a thicker soup stock, generous use of corn starch or alike. The master chef should spend a day learning how to in a regular Asian kitchen gallery (some of them that once worked at one of the large land-based hotel should've learned & trained) Whatever ... I'm not a good food critic, LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dexddd Posted January 11 #8 Share Posted January 11 I don't recall that menu and we were sailing at the time. Quite extensive. I don't have any pics from then but also not the curator of The Smithsonian East. I do recall when Specialties were like $10 cover, half for kids, never busy. 'To Stimulate Your Palate' apparently has been replaced with 'To Fleece Your Wallet'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesea777 Posted January 11 #9 Share Posted January 11 On 1/10/2024 at 8:54 AM, ajtraveler66 said: Don't miss this wonderful complimentary Chinese/Asian restaurant. We were on "The Star" back in April and dined there four times on our 15-day Mediterranan cruise. Sadly, it's only on "The Star". I can't understand why "Ginza" is not offered on other ships. It's a small restauarant, but it's definitely worth a wait if you cannot get right in right away. We're going to be on "The Bliss" later this month. And if "Ginza" were on 'The Bliss', I can assure you that we'd definitely be going several times. The Asian restaurants are on some of the NCL ships, but not all: Spirit - Silk Dawn - Bamboo Star - Ginza Jewel - Chin Chin Jade - Jasmine Garden Pearl - Lotus Garden Gem - Orchid Garden Epic - Shanghai's Pride of America - East Meets West 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpyNor Posted January 11 #10 Share Posted January 11 We have always enjoyed the Asian complimentary restaurants on NCL ships - BUT unfortunately the menu they offer now is much smaller than it used to be just a few years ago.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroitlions Posted January 11 #11 Share Posted January 11 18 minutes ago, bluesea777 said: The Asian restaurants are on some of the NCL ships, but not all: Spirit - Silk Dawn - Bamboo Star - Ginza Jewel - Chin Chin Jade - Jasmine Garden Pearl - Lotus Garden Gem - Orchid Garden Epic - Shanghai's Pride of America - East Meets West We loved the one on the Dawn and Star. Even though the spirit class is my least favorite ships. The Getaway has a great noodle bar with similar options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiseny4life Posted January 11 #12 Share Posted January 11 1 hour ago, bluesea777 said: The Asian restaurants are on some of the NCL ships, but not all: Spirit - Silk Dawn - Bamboo Star - Ginza Jewel - Chin Chin Jade - Jasmine Garden Pearl - Lotus Garden Gem - Orchid Garden Epic - Shanghai's Pride of America - East Meets West Breakaway and Getaway have Shanghai also 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted January 11 #13 Share Posted January 11 1 hour ago, TrumpyNor said: We have always enjoyed the Asian complimentary restaurants on NCL ships - BUT unfortunately the menu they offer now is much smaller than it used to be just a few years ago.... A few years meaning 15 or so years 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesea777 Posted January 11 #14 Share Posted January 11 21 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said: Breakaway and Getaway have Shanghai also Yes, but they are Noodles bar, not Asian restaurant. The Epic's Shanghai is both the Asian restaurant and noodles bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpyNor Posted January 11 #15 Share Posted January 11 29 minutes ago, zqvol said: A few years meaning 15 or so years According to photos I have of us enjoying the food at the Asian restaurants on board both the Spirit and the Jade in 2017 and 2018, it was more choices offered on the menu at that time than it is now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v3cruiser Posted January 12 #16 Share Posted January 12 The Asian complimentary restaurants have never disappointed for sure! Love the green tea ice cream. The Ginza on the star and Chin Chin on Jewel were excellent with the same menu items. Noodles on Getaway was also good and has a different menu. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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