Disappointed with extra charge for almost ALL restuarants

[Catnip]

Please get real. You've paid for a meal in the main dining room. Just as you did for twenty years before mass-market cruise ships added extra-charge dining rooms. Now they offer variety, and superb cuts of meat in the extra-charge dining rooms. If you want those additional main course choices, you pay an additional fee for them. Filet costs more than pot roast in every restaurant I've dined in. You haven't "paid twice." I wish people would stop writing silliness like this. If you don't like to pay the surcharge, don't go to the venue. It will be just like cruising ten years ago. The incessant whining about the surcharges grows tiresome.

 

The incessant denial also grows tiresome. :rolleyes: You paid for your meals in your cruise fare. If you choose to eat in a specialty restaurant, you are paying twice (ie: in addition to the fare you've already paid). Simple to understand.

It boils down to personal preference.........those who don't want to pay extra and those that don't mind doing it.

Plain and simple and easy to understand.

 

No one is going to change anyone else's minds about this. There are 2 trains of thought. And we will all continue on doing as he have in the past, either supporting the "pay extra" venues, or not. But, imho, they are here to stay.

[CruisnGram]

Look, a vacation is what you make of it. I don't care if you're on a cruise, or backpacking in the Catskills.

 

A cruise is nice, but, to be honest, there are times when I've received better service at McDonalds. And, I've met nicer people at local retail establishments or as neighbors while at a campground than many of the stuck-up egomaniac cruisers I've met.

 

 

 

That's the only way YOU can make a fair comparison.

 

Howard

 

Gee Howard, didn't mean to upset you so much. I happen to love camping. We take our boat, jet ski & scooters camping all summer and into the fall. I in no way am trying to put down camping. But you cannot try to tell anyone that a camping trip is the same as a cruise. They are totally different types of vacations.

 

My point was simply to compare similar type vacations to cruises and what you get for you dollar. And I still maintain that for less the $100 per day, a cruise is the best deal OF IT'S TYPE that you are going to find.

 

Again, sorry I upset you.

 

CG

[CruisnGram]

About average? Nonsense! If it's "about average" what are you shopping around to find some category on a sailing for that price? You are agreeing with me that is at the very low end. I just checked NCL.com and you can get an inside cabin on a 7 day cruise FROM $629 on a particular sailing - and that is before any fees and taxes.

 

Howard

 

Not to upset you yet again but I'm gonna I think. :o

 

I normally don't post pricing but I just booked a 7 day Caribbean cruise on the Pearl, for January 2010, for 4 people in a mini-suite for under $550 per person. Including taxes and port charges. And a $200 OBC for the room. I could have gotten an inside for much, much less then that.

 

Granted, there are sales going on now and I'm a very, very careful shopper, but that's the deal I got. And btw, I'd never, ever book through ncl.com. Those prices are way over the top.

 

CG

[MadBrewer]

what are they charging for that other lines do not??

 

 

Nita

 

I didn't make my point at all well, sorry. As I have only cruised NCL I can't speak for the others. However the actual quantity of chargable restaurants seems to have increased from that of 3 years ago? i.e. I seem to remember there being less that were cover-chargable when we first did the Jewel in 2006. This 'seems' to have increased now from 'please book' to 'please book and pay a cover charge' in some restaurants. Our cruises (All NCL) 2006,2007 & 2008 had Zero costs for all 'shows'. I have read (but not experienced yet) that some guests have been charged for one of the 'shows'. I have seen the video mentioning the Uber bar being chargable in the F3/Nowegian Epic (not the drinks, but just entrance too it). So although I actually don't object to paying the 'odd' cover charge (for the more elite restaurants) and I do even pay and enjoy those meals (as a treat). The Trend seems to be in danger of becomming 'give less things free & charge for more/what was free once'. This dissappoints me. Depending on how bad I actually view this when I do the cruise, I may/ may not decide to give to give a competitor a chance. If I do and end up really enjoying it enough to switch to other vendors, then that would seem to be a bit of an 'own goal' scored by NCL for the sake of trying to extract maybe an extra $50 per person!

 

The reason I haven't tired others up to now - is because I honestly couldn't 'see' anyone else doing better than we experienced on our first two cruises. If I feel 'fleeced' that view may change?

[SueSea]

Call me crazy, but I like things to be included, with airlines and cruise ships.

 

Exactly. And when you think about it, we ALL pay for things we don't use on a cruise. Does that mean they should all be ala carte? Think of all the things that are currently included in your fare. Do you always use the gym, participate in poolside activities, see all the shows and all the lounge entertainers, use the hot tubs or pools, see the movies, go to the lectures, play basketball or shuffleboard, etc?

 

So why not charge everyone for the price of the specialty restaurants? If they were included in the price of everyone's cruise, the additional fee would be minimal. And you wouldn't be hearing about specialty restaurants not being used (as I've read in many reviews) with the cruise line getting no revenue from them.

[newmexicoNita]

I didn't make my point at all well, sorry. As I have only cruised NCL I can't speak for the others. However the actual quantity of chargable restaurants seems to have increased from that of 3 years ago? i.e. I seem to remember there being less that were cover-chargable when we first did the Jewel in 2006. This 'seems' to have increased now from 'please book' to 'please book and pay a cover charge' in some restaurants. Our cruises (All NCL) 2006,2007 & 2008 had Zero costs for all 'shows'. I have read (but not experienced yet) that some guests have been charged for one of the 'shows'. I have seen the video mentioning the Uber bar being chargable in the F3/Nowegian Epic (not the drinks, but just entrance too it). So although I actually don't object to paying the 'odd' cover charge (for the more elite restaurants) and I do even pay and enjoy those meals (as a treat). The Trend seems to be in danger of becomming 'give less things free & charge for more/what was free once'. This dissappoints me. Depending on how bad I actually view this when I do the cruise, I may/ may not decide to give to give a competitor a chance. If I do and end up really enjoying it enough to switch to other vendors, then that would seem to be a bit of an 'own goal' scored by NCL for the sake of trying to extract maybe an extra $50 per person!

 

The reason I haven't tired others up to now - is because I honestly couldn't 'see' anyone else doing better than we experienced on our first two cruises. If I feel 'fleeced' that view may change?

 

ok, now I understand. As for charging for a show, well, that is a new one to me. Several years ago (probably about 4 or 5) NCL tried once, to have a top name star and charge $10 for the show. It flopped and that was the end. Yes, you are right about the sur charge dining rooms becoming more and more a part of cruising, but this is true on all lines. RCI is now charging for room service after a certain time at night, and charging for some steaks in the main dining room, some lines are charging a fee if you get money from the casino and put in on your cabin account, many lines charge for cappachino. Every line is attempting to keep cruise prices down and adding extra charges when you are on the ship. Some do not like this, others like the idea of deciding what they want to pay for.

 

As for F-3 we really don't know much about how the ship will operate at this time, I do think they are targeting a totally different crowd than the typical NCL cruiser of today.

 

Nita

[mbisson]

ok, now I understand. As for charging for a show, well, that is a new one to me. Several years ago (probably about 4 or 5) NCL tried once, to have a top name star and charge $10 for the show. It flopped and that was the end.

Nita

 

I was also reminded of this when I saw the post. I wonder if it was an old review from that time?

 

Or possibly from Tony & Tina's Wedding???

 

For me, even if the F3's have the more 'upscale' target & nightclub charges-I'm OK with it (until I see them junking all the other ships to replace the fleet with F3 ;)).

[Ginny, not Hermione]

I guess I had been reading alot of old reviews and was expected to have some "free" or including dining choices on the Dawn...besides the main dining room. Seems like some of the dining options aren't really worth it. For my family of four to spend $40 for Mexican...when a free dinner of same quality of food is available, doesn't make sense. The food variety is one of the reason we c hoose Norwegian...maybe it was a mistagek :(

I was on the GEM. They have the nicest Blue Lagoon (24 hour) freebie I've seen on any cruise.

 

Every night on my cruise there was a 1/2 price offer to the Italian, Chinese and Mexican restaurant during certain hours. I didn't go to any of them, why not? I can get Chinese food at home for less then $10 per person, ditto Mexican and Italian. My feeling is the food in the main dinning rooms is included, why pay anything for food I eat on a regular basis for less?

 

I did go to the Japanese, and Le Bistro twice. These are more "out of the ordinary" for me and worth the money.

 

Every night the main dinning rooms seemed to have a "theme" undertone, one night they had several Indian dishes on the menu, another night there were some Chinese inspired meals. I find that the meals in the main dining rooms are very good, I have never felt the NEED to pay an additional charge for a meal, and if I was not traveling with others I would have eaten every meal in one of the "Free" restaurants. The secret is not to feel deprived if you just eat at the freebies (heck feel gifted because your meal was included and some poor sucker is actually passing up a great meal to PAY for his supper:))

[fin]

"You paid for your meals in your cruise fare"

 

Yes, and you are CHOOSING to pass it up and go somewhere else.

If it bothers you, go to the main dining room and eat, and THEN go to the specialty restaurant. Perhaps you would feel better then.

[CanadianTwosome]

The incessant denial also grows tiresome. :rolleyes: You paid for your meals in your cruise fare. If you choose to eat in a specialty restaurant, you are paying twice (ie: in addition to the fare you've already paid). Simple to understand.

It boils down to personal preference.........those who don't want to pay extra and those that don't mind doing it.

Plain and simple and easy to understand.

 

No one is going to change anyone else's minds about this. There are 2 trains of thought. And we will all continue on doing as he have in the past, either supporting the "pay extra" venues, or not. But, imho, they are here to stay.

 

First off, I'd just like to say that I LOVE your avatar!! :)

 

As for the 'denial' thing, I think you're suffering from a bit of it yourself. You simply cannot accept the explanation that it is not 'paying twice' so much as 'paying more', which is NOT the same thing. Did you happen to notice my extremely wordy post on the last page? Perhaps you skipped over it due to length, and I really don't blame you. My main point was that the meal I had at Cagney's (the example I used) was worth at least $20 more than what might have come out of my daily paid amount. (in my example, I alotted $20 for an evening meal, and considered $40 extremely reasonable for the meal I had in Cagney's)

 

If you insist on saying that people who eat at the specialty restaurants are 'paying twice', is the same true for passengers who choose balcony staterooms or suites? Haven't they already paid for their accommodations? Why should they have to pay more for a balcony - or more space - or concierge service? Could it be that they value the things that set those cabins apart from the insides? Could it be that they actually have the intellectual capacity to decide for themselves whether it's worth the extra money? Or are they just dupes who are 'paying twice' for their beds? Personally, I always book insides. I can afford a higher category, but the 'extras' are not of interest to me, so I don't book them. I certainly would never suggest that for those that do book them they're 'paying twice', being 'lemmings', or any of the other things I've seen people write about those of us who choose to dine at the specialties. They CHOOSE to spend their money on those extra amenities; I CHOOSE to spend mine on specialty dining. :)

[Mooder]

Now "lobster night", which the staff makes such a big deal out of is a lobster "dish".

 

Howard, this is not a response to your post but your comment reminded me of something. So many posts refer to lobster night and you say that staff makes a big deal out of it, but in all my NCl cruises I have not once been aware of it. I feel like I pay close attention to the Dailies but we do not check the DR menus if we have already made a reservation in the Specialty so I guess that's why. But we certainly dine in the main dining rooms. I must be oblivious. :)

[Mooder]

I DO wish we could "unsticky" the current FAQ and start another one. So much has changed with the implementation of 2.0 that the current FAQ is obsolete.

 

Yes, I hate to see that inaccurate/out of date information is leading to confusion.

[Mooder]

If you don't like it, the waiters will be happy to bring you something else

 

One of my top 10 favorite things about cruising. I get to try new things without worrying about the cost if I don't like it. I agree that Traveller should not be mislead by the Continental label on the dining rooms. While it is supposed to mean French or European, it has come to describe most any elegant dining establishment. There is plenty for the unadventurous.

 

Hey, Mbisson, when did you get so Goofy? ;)

[Traveller20074]

One of my top 10 favorite things about cruising. I get to try new things without worrying about the cost if I don't like it. I agree that Traveller should not be mislead by the Continental label on the dining rooms. While it is supposed to mean French or European, it has come to describe most any elegant dining establishment. There is plenty for the unadventurous.

 

Hey, Mbisson, when did you get so Goofy? ;)

 

Good, cause I'm used to just plain ole American food. I don't even know what French food is, other than crepes...which I didn't like when I tried them :p ;)

[imsmpls]

First off, I'd just like to say that I LOVE your avatar!! :)

 

As for the 'denial' thing, I think you're suffering from a bit of it yourself. You simply cannot accept the explanation that it is not 'paying twice' so much as 'paying more', which is NOT the same thing. Did you happen to notice my extremely wordy post on the last page? Perhaps you skipped over it due to length, and I really don't blame you. My main point was that the meal I had at Cagney's (the example I used) was worth at least $20 more than what might have come out of my daily paid amount. (in my example, I alotted $20 for an evening meal, and considered $40 extremely reasonable for the meal I had in Cagney's)

 

If you insist on saying that people who eat at the specialty restaurants are 'paying twice', is the same true for passengers who choose balcony staterooms or suites? Haven't they already paid for their accommodations? Why should they have to pay more for a balcony - or more space - or concierge service? Could it be that they value the things that set those cabins apart from the insides? Could it be that they actually have the intellectual capacity to decide for themselves whether it's worth the extra money? Or are they just dupes who are 'paying twice' for their beds? Personally, I always book insides. I can afford a higher category, but the 'extras' are not of interest to me, so I don't book them. I certainly would never suggest that for those that do book them they're 'paying twice', being 'lemmings', or any of the other things I've seen people write about those of us who choose to dine at the specialties. They CHOOSE to spend their money on those extra amenities; I CHOOSE to spend mine on specialty dining. :)

 

Perfect analogy! It's so illogical to me why anybody cares what others pay for.

 

When we started cruising, there was just the "free dining rooms" and specialty coffees and ice cream for purchase (besides soda and alcohol). We bought coffee and ice cream. Sorry, if that offended anybody and, hopefully, we didn't start the cruise lines on this snowball of charging for things!

[mbisson]

Hey, Mbisson, when did you get so Goofy? ;)

 

 

20 yrs ago when we had our kids (sometimes I try to hide it though). ;)

[mbisson]

I still have visions of our RCL cruise a few years ago, when "lobster night" didn't get one whole lobster per person in my family, not even the second was good enough for our waiter - but he attempted to bring us each a third! Now "lobster night", which the staff makes such a big deal out of is a lobster "dish". On NCL, that amounted to half of the small lobster tail with a bunch of fillers.

 

Howard

 

Hummm-on my last cruise (4 months ago) the waiter brought me my meal and since I knew they are small I had ordered another small tail on the side. That was plenty enough for me although he asked if I wanted more. Those fillers were pretty good also :D

 

A few nights later, I enjoyed the 'seafood medly' as well

[terrymtex01]

If there are still cruise lines which offer all-inclusive fares, it is also as simple as patronising them and leaving the a la carte lines to those who cannot afford more, or who budget their money in other directions.

 

To me, of every one.. you hit the nail on the head. That is what blows my mind about those who are posting on here about paying for surcharge restaruants or having to pay al a cart. You want every thing included, there are options out there for you. Why complain about people who like al a cart cruising.

 

And to those who keep saying you have paid for a meal on top of the $10 or $20 extra you pay for Cagneys, Italian, etc.. who cares? Again I ask what business is it of yours how anyone spends their money or how they justify spending it. Who are you?

 

Those who are on this thread and complaining about the specialty restaurants, it's very simple...cruise a line that doesn't offer them. Of course, on those lines.. you are paying for every one to be able to have every thing included..so you might not find them as affordable as the mass market lines that are now offering choices.

[sottovoce]

I didn't make my point at all well, sorry. As I have only cruised NCL I can't speak for the others. However the actual quantity of chargable restaurants seems to have increased from that of 3 years ago?

So would you be happy if they just closed all those extra charge restaurants? If they did that, then you would eat every night in the main dining rooms, just like you did ten or fifteen years ago--something that Catnip can't seem to understand, although it's really not a difficult concept.

 

Would you be happier if there were only one extra charge restaurant? Or two? Or is it only none? Seems to me that giving you the choice of six or seven is pretty special. If you don't want to pay for having ten times the choice of main courses, don't. You must understand that it costs more to inventory and prepare 50 different main courses than it does five or six. So you're paying for choice. If you don't want that choice, it's simple: Don't pay. Or cruise a line that offers only a main dining room. I really don't understand your--or Catnip's--problem.

[Catnip]

 

And to those who keep saying you have paid for a meal on top of the $10 or $20 extra you pay for Cagneys, Italian, etc.. who cares? Again I ask what business is it of yours how anyone spends their money or how they justify spending it. Who are you?

 

 

 

Hey, hold on there a second! I don't CARE what you do with your money.....I really and truly couldn't care less. Go throw it overboard for all I care. :eek: And I doubt that others on this thread that are against the concept of the pay extra dining venue's really give a patooty what you do with your money. Most of us are against the concept of the pay extra restaurants, not necessarily the people that like to dine there.

And are we not free to state our opinion against them, just like you are free to state your opinion in favor of them?

Just because we disagree with the concept doesn't mean we give a rat's butt what you do with your money. :rolleyes:

[Catnip]

So would you be happy if they just closed all those extra charge restaurants? If they did that, then you would eat every night in the main dining rooms, just like you did ten or fifteen years ago--something that Catnip can't seem to understand, although it's really not a difficult concept.

I really don't understand your--or Catnip's--problem.

 

As I don't understand yours. ;) And I really don't care! :rolleyes:

And you might be surprised to know that I DO remember when there was only 1 dining venue.

[Catnip]

First off, I'd just like to say that I LOVE your avatar!! :)

 

As for the 'denial' thing, I think you're suffering from a bit of it yourself. You simply cannot accept the explanation that it is not 'paying twice' so much as 'paying more', which is NOT the same thing.

Did you happen to notice my extremely wordy post on the last page? Perhaps you skipped over it due to length,

 

If you insist on saying that people who eat at the specialty restaurants are 'paying twice', is the same true for passengers who choose balcony staterooms or suites? Haven't they already paid for their accommodations? Why should they have to pay more for a balcony - or more space - or concierge service?

They CHOOSE to spend their money on those extra amenities; I CHOOSE to spend mine on specialty dining. :)

 

 

A few thoughts about your post:

1) Sorry to say, but yes, I did skip over your last post. If a post goes over 1 long paragraph, I normally skip over it....

2) I don't know if it's paying twice, or just paying extra, because I don't know how much the cruise lines allots for each passengers meal. But just to be on the safe side and give them the benefit of the doubt, I'll try to remember to say pay "extra" instead of pay "twice". :)

3) And no, I don't consider a passenger paying twice for a balcony cabin. You have not paid twice, you have paid once. Although you probably paid a higher price for that balcony cabin or suite than I might have for an inside cabin, you have only paid one time for that cabin.

 

Once again, this is a topic that there are 2 thoughts.....for it, or against it. It doesn't make either side right or wrong....just a personal preference. Everyone needs to spend their hard-earned money on what they like to, whether it's a steak in a specialty restaurant, a new diamond necklace or a Margarita.

[terrymtex01]

Hey, hold on there a second! I don't CARE what you do with your money.....I really and truly couldn't care less. Go throw it overboard for all I care. :eek: And I doubt that others on this thread that are against the concept of the pay extra dining venue's really give a patooty what you do with your money. Most of us are against the concept of the pay extra restaurants, not necessarily the people that like to dine there.

And are we not free to state our opinion against them, just like you are free to state your opinion in favor of them?

Just because we disagree with the concept doesn't mean we give a rat's butt what you do with your money. :rolleyes:

 

Exactly.. Just like I had the right to say who are you to question anything we do with our money, even if it is paying for something we have already paid for.

 

With that said, my post was not directed at you, but at someone who was "amused" at how people who dine in Cagney's "justified" paying for something they already had paid for.

 

I do with those of you who are "against the concept of the pay extra dining venue's" would explain why you care if folks take advantage of them. Since you are not forced to use them or pay for them, why do you care at all .. care enough to even have an opinion? That would be like me having an opinion of someone paying to use the spa onboard. I could care less if they did or didn't. Not saying at all that you don't have a right to an opinion, but just saying why you care since you aren't forced to use them. I don't care what "may happen" or "what service they are going to start charging for next". Thats a lame excuse to me. The answer is so simple as I said in my other postings. If you don't like them or like the fact they have the surcharge restaurants available, cruise lines that don't offer them.

[Eeyoregon]

Thats whats great about NCL. It's your choice to spend the extra or eat in the included dining choices. They have two main dining rooms, a buffet, Blue Lagoon and a grill or two that is included plus room service, all included.

 

Exactly! I saved over $900 for the same category of cabin by going with NCL vs. RCCL or Princess for our itinerary. With that $900 savings I can choose to dine in the extra fee venues if I wish. But I don't have to and can enjoy plenty of yummy free food.

 

Every cruise line charges for their specialty venues. Disney charges if you want a kid-free dining experience. RCCL charges if you want a burger and rings at Johnny Rockets or hard scoop ice cream. BUT they ALL offer FREE food.

[G'ma]

This thread is almost as much fun as one on smoking...or tipping.....

 

Keep it going!!:D