what if NCL offered traditional dinning also ?

[Bigdog49]

Interesting thread. I would hate to see NCL add traditional dining as well. I don't want to go through the pain again.

 

The other lines trying to add anytime dining are feeling it now. To do it right you have to completely redo you galley an all your past preparation menthods. It take far more kitchen staff with more food cooked to order. All the data on how many of each item will roll out at 6pm and 8:30 is worthless.

 

NCL struggled in the beginning to make freestyle work. The new ships with the galley and staff set up for freestyle dining has allowed it to reach it's potenial. Trying to jury rig those galleys and re-invent a traditional process while still doing freestyle from the same shared galley would be a mess in my view.

 

My position if I want traditional dining I will book a line that focuses on it. If I want anytime and lots of options I will book the only line that specializes in it, NCL

[Bennett'sCruise]

As others have mentioned, the other lines have taken steps towards the middle on this issue. Why can't NCL?

 

The other lines are coming over to the *middle of the issue* because of the success on NCL. NCL's ships are built for Freestyle ... the others are not. It would be giant leap backwards for NCL to go to the *middle of issue*.

In fact ... NCL has introduced all kinds of innovative cruising ideas that the other lines are now incorperating. :)

~d

[Retired not Expired]

If you read my review of the Spirit, or some of my posts, you would see that I was happy with my cruise, and very pleased with the 2.0 announcement.

 

As to "Its your vacation, do it your way" - if there were enough PAX to fill one seating in one of the dining rooms for a Traditional cruise meal, why not do it their way?

 

As others have mentioned, the other lines have taken steps towards the middle on this issue. Why can't NCL?

Because those others are trying to please everyone where NCL drew a line in the sand and said structure stops here. It’s their niche.

 

Besides, if you did get traditional, then you would be hollering, hey we got traditional, we need formal nights. Get formal nights for traditional, then it would be, hey, those anytime diners are ruining our formal atmosphere and you’d be hollering, everyone should be formal or (And here it comes) GO EAT IN THE BUFFET.

 

I have and will again go on a traditional cruise and have and will enjoy it when I do. But when I come home to NCL, truthfully, I don’t want to have to sail with the GO EAT IN THE BUFFET crowd.

 

That’s the one thing I do not like about NCLA. They own Hawaii without long sailing with many sea days. Therefore, time and again, I see someone from the GO EAT IN THE BUFFET crowd book it and immediately start in on how bad it will be because it has freestyle. Sure enough, with that attitude, they will have a bad time. Open up a traditional dining room on NCL and those attitudes will come as NCL does have some wonderful cruises at decent prices starting from places others don’t have.

[Bennett'sCruise]

If you read my review of the Spirit, or some of my posts, you would see that I was happy with my cruise, and very pleased with the 2.0 announcement.

 

Ooops, sorry .. I must have missed your positive posts. I apologize. :o

[nealstuber]

The other lines are coming over to the *middle of the issue* because of the success on NCL. NCL's ships are built for Freestyle ... the others are not. It would be giant leap backwards for NCL to go to the *middle of issue*.

 

In fact ... NCL has introduced all kinds of innovative cruising ideas that the other lines are now incorperating. :)

 

~d

 

NCL has been an innovator on many fronts, particuarly specialty dining and letting our charge your tips to the stateroom.

 

Other lines copied or improved on their concepts and NCL has borrowed some things from the other lines. (Don't look for "most original" for the rock wall or waterslide).

 

The other lines did not do away with traditional dining because they were hoping to accomodate all of their customers. It would not kill NCL to make a course correction here to do the same.

[Bigdog49]

. It would not kill NCL to make a course correction here to do the same.

 

It might not kill NCL but it could kill freestyle. Keep in mind NCL can get more passengers through the main dining rooms (even one) with freestyle. Seating passengers from 5:30 until 10:00 not just two seatings.

 

With only two main dining rooms on most of the freestyle ships locking one up for tradtional will cripple main dining for those onboard for NCL's main draw freestyle.

 

If anyone wants a traditional like experence that can create it themselves with reservations every night in the same place or with the same wait staff at 6 pm or 8:30.

 

Going back is like buying a Corvette to turn it into an SUV. Better to just purchase the SUV in the first place.

[Flick]

As a diabetic I NEED to eat my meals at the same time if at all possible. I create my own "traditional" by going at 5:50-6:00. Hopefully, I can get the same table and wait staff because after 13 nights of telling my life story to new dining partners I get real bored with myself! With traditional dining I at least can talk about something else and or hear something else for 12 nights.

On the other hand I do like some of the other dining venues so I'm glad there is freestyle dining. Come se, come sa.........

[nealstuber]

It might not kill NCL but it could kill freestyle. Keep in mind NCL can get more passengers through the main dining rooms (even one) with freestyle. Seating passengers from 5:30 until 10:00 not just two seatings.

 

With only two main dining rooms on most of the freestyle ships locking one up for tradtional will cripple main dining for those onboard for NCL's main draw freestyle.

 

If anyone wants a traditional like experence that can create it themselves with reservations every night in the same place or with the same wait staff at 6 pm or 8:30.

 

Going back is like buying a Corvette to turn it into an SUV. Better to just purchase the SUV in the first place.

 

I spend too much money on cruising to afford a vett or an SUV. I see the mainstream lines as sedans from different manufacturers. The Ford has more cup holders. I'm at the Toyota dealer (in NOLA) and I'm telling him, while I like the nifty new navigation system, it wasn't what I was looking for when I dropped in to the nearest dealer. Then I tell him the Toyota models don't have enough cup holders. I'll probably still buy the Toyota because its easier for me to get a cup holder than drive to Galveston or POC. But I'm hoping my feedback on cup holders is heard sooner or later. They can keep improving the navigation system, but it will probably never be a selling point for me.

[Retired not Expired]

It might not kill NCL but it could kill freestyle. Keep in mind NCL can get more passengers through the main dining rooms (even one) with freestyle. Seating passengers from 5:30 until 10:00 not just two seatings.

 

With only two main dining rooms on most of the freestyle ships locking one up for tradtional will cripple main dining for those onboard for NCL's main draw freestyle.

 

If anyone wants a traditional like experence that can create it themselves with reservations every night in the same place or with the same wait staff at 6 pm or 8:30.

 

Going back is like buying a Corvette to turn it into an SUV. Better to just purchase the SUV in the first place.

I’m not so sure that it wouldn’t hurt NCL big time to try to open up a traditional dining room. Their clients are made up almost entirely of people who don’t want structure and want a lot of dining options. Take away a dining option, one restaurant now closed to them, would be a big risk IMO.

 

One other thing those who want tradition may not have looked at, is the restrictions they would have placed on them. When Princess first started Anytime, they had a big problem. They didn’t card people as they entered the dining rooms. Those who demanded traditional were using it on sea days and formal nights. Port days, many of them showed up at the Anytime. This was leaving many empty seats in traditional with waiters having nothing to do and the Anytime dining room was overwhelmed. They then started carding and would not let the traditional diners into Anytime but this made many of the Traditional diners mad. They wanted it all and didn’t care if it caused the Anytime diners long waits. The cruise lines just now starting Anytime will have to be careful to card and force the traditional diners to stay in the traditional dining room. Some will get angry but this is the only way to make it work without overwhelming the anytime dining room.

 

This would be even a bigger problem on NCL. With so many specialty restaurants for people to choose from, how many nights will you have empty seats and waiters standing around in the traditional dining room? Not a good use of your waiters when you never know how many diners will show up. Plus, for every traditional diner who gets a reservation in a specialty restaurant, that is one anytime diner that does not. Since the anytime can’t go to the traditional dining room, you may have as many as 20 % or more of the seats empty in the traditional room and that must be made up in the now one anytime dining room.

 

I know you have some who doesn’t like freestyle who are quick to say freestyle does not work, but if you want to see something that really would not work, changing a freestyle dining room to a traditional one on NCL really, really, really would not work. Waiters being shuffled at the last minute. That is if they are available to shuffle. If they have two tables in traditional and one diner shows up, they have to serve just that one. Anytime being overwhelmed. A true nightmare.

 

I don’t care what you say. Once you got on an NCL ship with all the options, you would want to use those options, traditional or not. And most likely, you would not be a happy camper if you could not use all of the options. And remember, only one or two percent of the total cruisers use this site. Most of the other using NCL for the first time and choosing traditional would not even know that it would limit them until they got on board. More unhappy campers. And printing more literature won’t help. People don’t read what they get now.

[Bennett'sCruise]

Other lines copied or improved on their concepts and NCL has borrowed some things from the other lines. (Don't look for "most original" for the rock wall or waterslide).

 

I've been around a long time, nealstuber, and know exactly who started what. But thanks for the advice ...

~d

[melika091900]

You did not sail the Star during busy seasons, can't understand why you had a problem:confused: What time do you dine?

 

 

Whenever we boarded the ship, i called reservations to make our reservations for the whole trip for teppenyaki, trattoria , and cagneys

they said the only times they had avail were 9p on most night and then 5p when we were docked in acapulco, so that didnt work at all since we were going to be off the ship,

the other times i tried to get into endless summer, there was an hour + wait , as far as the aqua and versallies we went there and there was also a wait,

so we ended up eating at the buffet , or blue lagoon,

it was crazy

 

I just hate trying to figure out where and when , i would rather have everything planned out for me,

 

if it were just me and my husband on the cruise I think it would have been easier,

thats just my opinion though ,

[JWestShuh]

To me, I think that NCL has found its niche - as said in a previous post. Most people who sail with NCL either prefer freestyle or are trying it out for the first time to see if they like it. If you wanted traditional there are more than a handful of other lines to cruise on. You have a choice to either accept what they have to offer or go with the original. I don't think they are planning on changing anytime soon.

[mbisson]

I just hate trying to figure out where and when , i would rather have everything planned out for me,

,

 

 

This isn't meant as a put down or an insult at all, so please don't take it that way but freestyle doesn't work for everyone-your family may do best on one of the other mainstream lines.

[melika091900]

This isn't meant as a put down or an insult at all, so please don't take it that way but freestyle doesn't work for everyone-your family may do best on one of the other mainstream lines.

 

 

oh i totally agree,, its just sad , because all of that set aside we liked NCL , the entertainment, casino, rooms, etc..

but we also do go on different lines, I usually go by the itenerary,

im kinda more bummed since NCL sun will be sailing out of SF next year and i really wanted to take a cruise from our home port, but the whole freestyle thing has got me bummed about it, so we are considering princess. but we will see ,

Im glad everyone is into this topic,

and i hope no one takes it as a negative one,

l

Happy Holidays everyone

Melissa

[Ms belp]

OP, take your mom on another cruise line, please. You aren't happy and apparently, neither is she. Give us a break here. I've heard HAL caters to older cruise passangers. Perhaps you'd be happier on their cruise line?:confused:

[CanadianTwosome]

oh i totally agree,, its just sad , because all of that set aside we liked NCL , the entertainment, casino, rooms, etc..

 

but we also do go on different lines, I usually go by the itenerary,

im kinda more bummed since NCL sun will be sailing out of SF next year and i really wanted to take a cruise from our home port, but the whole freestyle thing has got me bummed about it, so we are considering princess. but we will see ,

Im glad everyone is into this topic,

and i hope no one takes it as a negative one,

l

 

Happy Holidays everyone

Melissa

 

The reservation system is different now, because of just the problem you encountered. You cannot make reservations for all nights when you board, you have to do it that day or the day before. It can still be tricky, since there is limited seating, but many more people are able to get reservations now than before.

 

As I have suggested, if having a set dining time works for you, set yourself one and stick to it. Make sure that it's a time that is pretty close to regular 'traditional' times - those tend not to be busy times at freestyle venues. You can make it work if you want. Just set your own schedule and pretend it's the ship's!

[JWestShuh]

OP, take your mom on another cruise line, please. You aren't happy and apparently, neither is she. Give us a break here. I've heard HAL caters to older cruise passangers. Perhaps you'd be happier on their cruise line?:confused:

Give the OP a break-she was just asking a question, and never said anything in an offensive way.

[awatt]

oh i totally agree,, its just sad , because all of that set aside we liked NCL , the entertainment, casino, rooms, etc..

but we also do go on different lines, I usually go by the itenerary,

im kinda more bummed since NCL sun will be sailing out of SF next year and i really wanted to take a cruise from our home port, but the whole freestyle thing has got me bummed about it, so we are considering princess. but we will see ,

Im glad everyone is into this topic,

and i hope no one takes it as a negative one,

l

Happy Holidays everyone

Melissa

 

 

 

But you can have the traditional dining experience on NCL if you want it. See the maitre d' the first day and arrange a table for 6Pm nightly with the same waiter.This is what we do because we find it works best for our family/extended family. You hav eto dine early or late to do this, but it is doable. So don't rule our NCL because of this.

[Ms belp]

Look at your post at 5:32 and your latest. :eek:

[BiggyCruise]

Look at your post at 5:32 and your latest. :eek:

 

 

You went out of your way to be offensive. JWest did not.

[CanadianTwosome]

But you can have the traditional dining experience on NCL if you want it. See the maitre d' the first day and arrange a table for 6Pm nightly with the same waiter.This is what we do because we find it works best for our family/extended family. You hav eto dine early or late to do this, but it is doable. So don't rule our NCL because of this.

 

THANK YOU!!!!! I can type 'til I'm blue in the fingers about creating your own traditional dining experience if you want it, but it can't compare to having someone with REAL EXPERIENCE stating that not only is it possible, you've done it!!! :)

[Down-Unders]

Would you like it if NCL offered traditional and freestyle dining ? I would love it ,,

we love NCL and have had 2 great cruises on ncl star, but the freestyle dinning was a pain in the butt, everything was booked all the time,

so we had to eat at the buffet alot which is sooo hard with my mom in a wheelchair, we had to make her plate, our daughters plus our own,

it was just a nightmare,

 

i would love if they offered both, at set times every night for the traditional

they would still be freestyle, but a choice for traditional

 

maybe one day....

 

We met up with a person in a wheelchair on the Dawn, the family had contacted head office to iron out any problems they might have. We met up with them in one of the main dining rooms and they were very happy the way NCL had looked after them, I believe they would let the people in a particular dining room know what time they would be dining and they were given VIP treatment.

[Cosmopolitan]

We met up with a person in a wheelchair on the Dawn, the family had contacted head office to iron out any problems they might have. We met up with them in one of the main dining rooms and they were very happy the way NCL had looked after them, I believe they would let the people in a particular dining room know what time they would be dining and they were given VIP treatment.

 

We sailed the Dawn with DH in a WC. Unexpected broken foot w/surgery.

 

NCL handled ALL of our concerns very well.

Above and beyond:)

[beachchick]

Just as a reasonable facisimile of traditional dining can be accomplished on a freestyle ship, a reasonable substitue for freestyle can be had on a traditional ship - particularly if its a ship with an alternative resturaunt or two.

 

I don't find the NCL's commercials that spend most of there time talking about what other lines do annoying. I preffer the CCL, RCCL and X commercials that convey what it is that each line does well (fun, adventure, and escape) without having to put down other lines to do it. Isn't NCL's product good enough to stand on its own merits, without the "relative measure" of other cruiselines? In this hotly contested election year, a commerical that went something like this might work...

I'm voting Republican because I think I can do a better job spending my money and insuring my family than the government can. I'm crusing NCL because I think I can do a better job planning my cruise experience than the cruiseline can.

 

OK so it needs some work. But honestly, I think they really "missed the boat" with NCLA. They have the only ships crewed by Americans, going to beautiful American ports. How do you not spend you advertising dollars emphasising this instead of "what the other cruiselines do.".

 

I disagree unless (and this is not available on the "traditional" dining cruises we've taken) the alternative restaurants do not have an upcharge. If they do, then it's hardly a reasonable alternative because pax have to pay additional fees for it. As well, the whole "eat in the buffet" concept doesn't address what people are asking for. The buffet, even on RCI where they "doll" up the Windjammer at night, is still a buffet and almost never has all of the same options as in the dining room. It is not the same thing as going into the dining room and having a meal served there. Until the alternatives do not cost extra and mimic the dining room experience, it is not a reasonable substitute, IMO. (Retired not Expired: Right on!):p

 

As for the commercials, I do think that NCL insults other cruise lines to get the point across. I think they could have done it with "here's why we're good" and skipped the "that's why they're not" part. However, I find the RCI and Celebrity commercials annoying too. They fail to point out that the all the fun things like jetskis and so forth cost extra and that butlers who know "exactly how I took my tea" only come with the highest level suites. Sure, I know it's advertising, but it bugs me.

 

beachchick

[beachchick]

OP, take your mom on another cruise line, please. You aren't happy and apparently, neither is she. Give us a break here. I've heard HAL caters to older cruise passangers. Perhaps you'd be happier on their cruise line?:confused:

 

I don't think age really enters into the dining issue. You've got just as many 20 and 30 somethings voting for traditional as you have some of us oldsters voting for freestyle.

 

beachchick