Asian Restaurants Going to Specialty With Cover Charge & Gratuities

[itsnotjustme]

I just noticed on my next cruises the Asian restaurants will no longer be complementary.  It is unclear if it will be a la carte pricing.... the menu shown has no prices by the items that were free in the past.

 

Edited Friday at 12:28 AM by itsnotjustme
Technical correction.

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

I looked at the "normal" Specialty Restaurants on our next cruise and I am sure the prices quoted there at the old prices at the moment but with the extras to be added.

 

But notice the following, NZD

[cruiserbear55]

13 minutes ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

I looked at the "normal" Specialty Restaurants on our next cruise and I am sure the prices quoted there at the old prices at the moment but with the extras to be added.

 

But notice the following, NZD

 

    I can only assume NCL is going to add 20% gratuity to the advertised price of $120.00 NZ. That is $144.00 NZ, which equates, at today's exchange rate of $1.00 US to $0.63 NZ, to $89.52 US. There is no way I would pay just under $90.00 to eat at Moderno. Actually, if it wasn't included in the FAS package, we would never eat there, as the food quality has always been hit or miss, depending on the ship.

    

[hallux]

There are two threads already regarding ALL specialty dining going to 'cover charge'...

 

[laudergayle]

Unfortunately it looks to be true.  For our February ‘25 sailing on the Getaway this is what now shows for Shanghai’s.  I’ll reserve judgement until I see what the BIG announcement that NCL has planned. 
 

 

[KeithJenner]

1 hour ago, hallux said:

There are two threads already regarding ALL specialty dining going to 'cover charge'...

 

This is a different issue though, which could easily get hidden there.

 

The way they charge for speciality restaurants may impact people, although the extent will depend on what they do with dining packages.

 

However, this is a currently complementary restaurant where they are going to start charging.

[luv2kroooz]

These prices are off the cuff crazy. Who in their right mind would pay for these very average, watered-down experiences. My local Ruths Chris and Morton runs circles around Cagney's and whatever they are calling their seafood restaurants these days. They can't raise the daily service charges any higher since they already lead the cruise industry in that category. I guess the next step is to soak everyone with dining surcharges. What a silly business model!! NCL always talks about how it is working tirelessly to deliver exceptional vacation experiences.....and this is evidently what they come up with.

Edited Friday at 03:03 PM by luv2kroooz

[ChiefMateJRK]

14 hours ago, cruiserbear55 said:

Actually, if it wasn't included in the FAS package, we would never eat there, as the food quality has always been hit or miss, depending on the ship.

I believe that you've just spoken for the vast majority of NCL cruisers (not just for Moderno).  

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, luv2kroooz said:

Who in their right mind would pay for these very average, watered-down experiences.

Pretty much nobody.  It's mostly marketing.  If they give you "free" specialty dining and the retail price is $80 per meal, then you are supposed to think that you're getting great value (when it is maybe a $30 meal).

[luv2kroooz]

Just now, ChiefMateJRK said:

Pretty much nobody.  It's mostly marketing.  If they give you "free" specialty dining and the retail price is $80 per meal, then you are supposed to think that you're getting great value (when it is maybe a $30 meal).

Ahh, got it. Sounds like smoke in mirrors for the educated consumer. Everyone gets free at sea, so  nothing really special or exclusive to this. I am moving on, then.

[Asawi]

16 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Pretty much nobody.  It's mostly marketing.  If they give you "free" specialty dining and the retail price is $80 per meal, then you are supposed to think that you're getting great value (when it is maybe a $30 meal).

Bingo! I actually discussed this with my daughter yesterday after I had a very mediocre meal at Cagney's yesterday. The file mignon was a perfect medium/rare. The iceberg wedge was nice. And the rest was "meh" or worse. The meal would have been $101 according to the menu. Ridiculous! 

[dbrown84]

4 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Unfortunately it looks to be true.  For our February ‘25 sailing on the Getaway this is what now shows for Shanghai’s.  I’ll reserve judgement until I see what the BIG announcement that NCL has planned. 
 

 

This sucks.  I love Shanghai's, but not sure I would pay for it

[UKstages]

an increase in charges to the true specialty restaurants might be able to be justified. it's unwise, and a money grab, but it could possibly be justified.

 

but the asian restaurants?

 

they're fine for a quick bite, but the food is most often quite sub-par. and the dining experience takes all of a half hour. there's nothing special about the experience that would qualify it as a specialty restaurant. 

[DCGuy64]

We've always enjoyed the complimentary Asian restaurants on board, but that being said, they can sometimes be overwhelmed by guests. On our last NCL cruise (November 2023) there were wait times of close to 2 hours. Maybe requiring payment will water down the crowds and make it easier to find a spot.

[schmoopie17]

Out of our 14 dinners on the Jade a few months ago, we ate in Jasmine four times. The food and service were both consistently excellent.

 

Would we go if it were to be considered on a par with a specialty restaurant price-wise? Without a doubt. Of course, we can't get any decent Asian food in our neck of the words, so it probably appeals more to us than those with a "sophisticated" Asian palate.

[Sand and Seas]

We love the complimentary asian restaurants too.  Whatever changes they are making, I hope they open it for lunch like we have occasionally seen on prior cruises.

 

Interesting that they changed American Diner to a complimentary last year.  Just checked my app and it's not showing any wording about charges or fees after January 1st.   

[cruiseny4life]

7 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Unfortunately it looks to be true.  For our February ‘25 sailing on the Getaway this is what now shows for Shanghai’s.  I’ll reserve judgement until I see what the BIG announcement that NCL has planned. 
 

 

Ugggggggggh! I'm going full Karen here and saying I'll cancel my cruise for this one (probably not, though)!

 

The best perk of the Haven has been the butler bringing us dim sum from Shanghai, so we didn't have to wait in that line!

[PATRLR]

17 hours ago, cruiserbear55 said:

That is $144.00 NZ, which equates, at today's exchange rate of $1.00 US to $0.63 NZ, to $89.52 US. There is no way I would pay just under $90.00 to eat at Moderno.

Unbelievable.  That price is more than what Fogo de Chão is charging and Moderno is nowhere near as good as a Fogo.  I have to be honest, if their plan is to just charge us the 20% tip (~$18 in this case), I'm not sure that amount is worth it for Moderno, either.
 

3 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I believe that you've just spoken for the vast majority of NCL cruisers (not just for Moderno).

Agreed.

[itsnotjustme]

14 hours ago, hallux said:

There are two threads already regarding ALL specialty dining going to 'cover charge'

I know that, but this is different.  But Silk/Ginza/Shanghai's not currently specialty restaurants - they are complimentary. 

[TrumpyNor]

On our last cruise with NCL (Dawn last August), the Asian restaurant was still complimentary BUT only available when PRE-BOOKED. No walk-ins allowed. This came as a surprise for all passengers and seemingly also for the hostess at the restaurant entrance.

[Asawi]

I am on Star right now and tonight I will have my third meal on Ginza, the Asian complimentary restaurant on this ship. 

While I do (obviously) like the food the restaurant as a whole is not on par with other speciality restaurants. IF it is to become a "pay for" restaurant I hope changes will be made. For example more proper sit down tables even for parties of one or two. Not just the "propped up on bar stools by the sushi carousel" (unless of course you're actually there for that).

Menu, although not bad, would also need a bit of looking over for it to be worth spending a dinner credit there. Having said that, the way menus have  declined in other speciality restaurants that's probably being over optimistic.

Side note: on this cruise it has been"reservations required" for Ginza. That was not  the case on the cruises I did on Star last year.

[Sand and Seas]

12 hours ago, itsnotjustme said:

I know that, but this is different.  But Silk/Ginza/Shanghai's not currently specialty restaurants - they are complimentary. 

I've read a post on another forum from a NCL employee.  He posts a lot of information & pictures from different ships.  He says that they will be revamping/upgrading the Asian menus with this change.   

 

As Shanghai's has limited seating, I would hope they would somehow find a way to improve and add additional seating.

[UKstages]

shanghai is located adjacent to the casino, if memory serves, at least on the breakaway and getaway, and I just don't see them taking over revenue-producing real estate from the casino to expand the restaurant's footprint.

 

the fact that the getaway has reportedly  gone non-smoking in the casino (except for the new enclosed smoking room)... and presumably the breakaway will do the same after dry dock... that helps in the conversion of shanghai to a pay for play restaurant, nobody (including most smokers) wants to dine in a smoke-filled restaurant.

[Sand and Seas]

12 minutes ago, UKstages said:

shanghai is located adjacent to the casino, if memory serves, at least on the breakaway and getaway, and I just don't see them taking over revenue-producing real estate from the casino to expand the restaurant's footprint.

 

the fact that the getaway has reportedly  gone non-smoking in the casino (except for the new enclosed smoking room)... and presumably the breakaway will do the same after dry dock... that helps in the conversion of shanghai to a pay for play restaurant, nobody (including most smokers) wants to dine in a smoke-filled restaurant.

Yes, while I haven't seen photos, it's reported that they have enclosed the Getaway smoking casino with a wall adjacent to the Shanghai's area.   Wishful thinking on my part that they may have taken that opportunity to add a few feet to Shanghai's area.  

[CruiseMH]

They have made the american diner complimentary and now make the asian restaurant a speciality restaurant ?

to me that doesn`t make sense. If they want to squeeze more and more dollars out of their guests then the asian restaurant move makes sense but the amircan diner move doesn`t make sense.