Disappointed with extra charge for almost ALL restuarants

[mbisson]

I'll try one last time, pal. At one time, there was no Italian restaurant; no Bistro; no Cagney's; no Tex-Mex; no Teppanyaki. There was a main dining room and a buffet. And you could eat in both free. You can STILL eat in both free. That's the way things were once upon a time. Nothing has changed except you now have extra charge options you didn't have before. Again, one more time, no one is forcing you to go to these. You can dine as was done before there were optional extra-charge restaurants: main dining rooms and buffet.

 

Now I'm out of here. You don't want to understand. All you want to do is complain and cry "woe is me." My sympathies for that.

 

I think he's trying to say "but I didn't cruise back in those days. When I started cruising only Cagneys, Le Bistro and Teppanyaki charged, so that's how it should be now" (I could be wrong with how I interpret him though).

 

And if I'm correct all I can say is "things change-when I started cruising they even had free soda and lemonade in the dining rooms. I wish they still did, but that's the breaks"

[terrymtex01]

A good friend of mine, who was cruising way before I ever started, told me on my first cruise (2002 and w/Celebrity who was home to a fee based coffee stop) "People shouldn't start paying extra for food, desserts etc, once they do the cruise lines will just start adding more and more to the "what you pay extra for"....she was right...the more people will pay extra for, the more cruise lines will add to that list. We've contributed to this by saying, "it's only $5 extra" then "it's only $10 extra" til we will eventually hit "it's only $50 extra". Like the fuel surcharges (by all cruise lines) once they got it, it was hard for them to give it up.

 

Hey..if I had a business that had the purpose of making money, I would too.

[sottovoce]

I think he's trying to say "but I didn't cruise back in those days. When I started cruising only Cagneys, Le Bistro and Teppanyaki charged, so that's how it should be now" (I could be wrong with how I interpret him though).

 

And if I'm correct all I can say is "things change-when I started cruising they even had free soda and lemonade in the dining rooms. I wish they still did, but that's the breaks"

I know what he's trying to say: That once you get something free you should have it that way forever. How naive is that? What happened to free maps at gas stations? The world evolves. You can't whine about it like a spoiled child forever.

 

You get better mattresses and linens now than in 2006. You get a glass of champagne when you board and free dessert samples. You get lobster every night. If you're in a suite you get Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. I think I read somewhere that balcony pax get a different dining room for breakfast, too, but I may remember that wrong. Why doesn't MadBrewer mention any of that? Why do we only get to hear the half-empty stuff from people like this? Me me me me. More more more more. Wah wah wah wah.

[CeeJayRocker]

NCL still gives you two nice dining rooms to dine in for lunch and dinner. If you want causal fare then head up to the lido. For something a little more special, try one of dining rooms that charges much less than the competitive cruise lines in one of their specialty dining rooms.

 

To the OP, at least it's better than what you find on that floating garbage barge called Carnival Cruise Lines. You know, the lines where it supposed to be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::rolleyes::p

 

Although I wouldn't exactly call it a garbage barge, I have to agree that the Carnival food was much more limited and less exciting than the Norwegian food. With Carnival, if you didn't eat the buffet or want 24 hour pizza, you were pretty much stuck with your assigned dining time for free food. Norwegian food was free in more locations and with more variety than Carnival. I guess if you want your every meal available 24-7 and served by a dude in a tux with a towel over his arm, you'll be disappointed. Other than that, I always try to remember that the ship is serving 2,000 people, 1,900 of those having limited and special diets, and I thank my lucky stars for a place where I can eat breakfast four times in different locations for free (buffet, room service, blue lagoon, main dining room) before 10:00. Really - what could be better. . . . . :cool:

[veggie59]

Okay....what are the dessert samples all about? Havent heard of that one before. Arent desserts included at dinner or in the buffet?

[DMH15]

When I started driving I actually pulled into a gas station and somebody filled the tank. Things change. I like the pay options. I don't get it... Except if some want that variety without a fee? We're gonna pay one way or another - as a fee or in base fare. Better to just those who choose the option, I believe.

[Traveller20074]

I like this post!

 

 

Although I wouldn't exactly call it a garbage barge, I have to agree that the Carnival food was much more limited and less exciting than the Norwegian food. With Carnival, if you didn't eat the buffet or want 24 hour pizza, you were pretty much stuck with your assigned dining time for free food. Norwegian food was free in more locations and with more variety than Carnival. I guess if you want your every meal available 24-7 and served by a dude in a tux with a towel over his arm, you'll be disappointed. Other than that, I always try to remember that the ship is serving 2,000 people, 1,900 of those having limited and special diets, and I thank my lucky stars for a place where I can eat breakfast four times in different locations for free (buffet, room service, blue lagoon, main dining room) before 10:00. Really - what could be better. . . . . :cool:

[sunedaze]

I love NCL. The many options for dining is what I like, also not having a set time to eat is great. I don't understand why so many people complain about the surcharge restaurants. Before we started cruising we took many land vacations and the cost of a good hotel or condo was always around the cost of our cruise fares, and then we always had to pay for our meals. With no free options to even have a choice to chose. Also to go clubbing and have drinks, yep you pay for those also. So to me cruising is a better deal and I do not complain about the surcharges. If I don't want to pay the charge I just eat in the main diningroom.

[coaster]

Freestyle is not for all. I was ok with it, but the wife really didn't like it at all. She likes the attention to detail that only a dedicated server staff can offer like we experienced on NCL before freestyle and what the other cruise lines still offer. Our 4 night Majesty freestyle cruise was a big difference from the norm. I am working on her to 'allow' me to cruise on NCL again as we speak.

 

Looking right now at a 10 night cruise to New England in the fall. Keep telling her the price can't be beat with a $99 rate for each of our children. I am flexible when it comes to a good deal. I can only hope it will work out so I will get to sail NCL again. The lack of desire to spend extra in alternative restaurants is mutual though.

[Don Haynes]

No one is forcing you to dine in a surcharged speciality restaurant. You can dine in either of the main dining rooms, the lido deck buffet, the blue lagoon fast food, or the bbq grills on the lido deck by the pool, and via room service.

 

And if you can't understand which restaurants are surcharge or not, READ YOUR FREESTYLE DAILY, daily. It lists the restaurants, whether they are free or not, and when they open and close.

 

Or have passengers decided they no longer have to read when on a cruise?

[veggie59]

I am getting conflicting info on which places charge and which do not. The NCL website is horrible and does not offer much info. I read more info on another site....but I think it may be inaccurate. It had the tex-mex and Italian place at no charge. Hubby was on another site which had higher charges than what I saw. Does anyone know where I can find an accurate list and info for each restaurant?

[coaster]

NCL's website does not list the alternative restaurant charges based on my research. The only place I have seen the charges is the helpful postings from past guests here. It amazes me that the charges are so secretive. Why hide them from folks who like to budget ahead of time? I can only think that NCL believes they might turnoff prospective passengers.

[MadBrewer]

.....

You get better mattresses and linens now than in 2006. You get a glass of champagne when you board ......I think I read somewhere that balcony pax get a different dining room for breakfast, too, but I may remember that wrong. Why doesn't MadBrewer mention any of that?

 

Because the post was entitled "Disappointed with the extra charge for almost ALL restuarants".

[falken]

NCL's website does not list the alternative restaurant charges based on my research. The only place I have seen the charges is the helpful postings from past guests here. It amazes me that the charges are so secretive. Why hide them from folks who like to budget ahead of time? I can only think that NCL believes they might turnoff prospective passengers.

 

To be fair, they don't list the prices of anything you purchase onboard: alcohol, soda, water, photos, etc.

My guess is they don't want to tell you the prices on the website for when you book and a year later when you take the cruise complain because all the prices are higher (ex: when I booked my cruise it said soda was $2... why are you charging me $2.50?).

[beachchick]

I am really sorry if the examples I give are THAT confusing to people? All I meant was "The Amount included in the fare is less now than it was in 2006 & 2007!" I fear that things like "Tony & Tina's Wedding" (i.e. an increase in chargable entertainment) and further increases in chargable dining is detracting from the cruise experience. I want NCL as it was when I first started cruising when I considered the package to be so good that trying a competitor (RCCL) was a bad idea, as there was no way I would have been willing to accept that anyone could have done it better! (I kid you not). So the concept of having a couple of chargable restaurants IMO is fine. What dissapppoints now is the fact that last summer I was already paying for ones I previously only had to book (and not pay for), which is, in my opinion a downgrade to the cruise over all.

 

Berlitz Cruise guide 2007 actually says somthing like 'You would never be expected to pay for the shows on a cruise' Yet I have read that some on NCL have had to recently (Tom/Tina's wedding??) The number of chargable restaurants has increased. The price of some of them has increased. There are instances where a bigger cut is also another on-cost. All these seem to have come in since my 2006 & 2007 cruises that were out of this world.

 

If the trend continues at the current rate .. maybe 10 years from now NCL would be charging for each show and for each dining room & that would be a ferry service. I would never spend 5 days or more on a Ferry.

 

Likewise sottovoce if you want to pay for everything on top to keep the bruchure price down that's up to you but I don't think I'd like that holiday as much!

 

Fair enough. I don’t think we’d like a cruise with high fares in order to include everything very much. We’d rather have the cruise fare lower and pay for extras we want. We like that the spa, casino, bingo, excursions, and so on are extra. If we don’t use them, we don’t pay for them. We like that alcohol is not included (yes, you read that right) because my DH doesn’t drink and I don’t want him to subsidize anyone’s alcohol but mine. We’re fine with the surcharge restaurants. If we want to dine at one (or more; definitely more on NCL), we budget for that. No one else is paying for it if I want Maine lobster at Cagney’s every night or if my DH wants filet and lobster at Teppanyaki three times per cruise.

However, if it ever happens that the main dining rooms (or equivalent), buffets, and grill are not included, we won’t cruise. If the general onboard activities are no longer included, we won’t cruise. If the basic nightly entertainment is no longer included, we won’t cruise. Even though we don’t prefer buffets or swim in the pools (although we do enjoy lounging in the shade away from the hustle and bustle) or go to all the shows, we feel those things are basics that must be included in today’s cruises.

OTOH, when we were on Hurtigruten several years ago, most meals were not included. We did not buy the meal plan. When we ate at the breakfast buffet each morning, we were charged on our onboard account. The two nights we ate at the main (and only) dining room, we were charged on our onboard account. The rest of the time, we ate at the “casual” cafeteria-style secondary venue. The food was, well, cafeteria quality, and pay-as-you-go. We were allowed to bring various beverages onboard. We didn’t complain that most food wasn’t included in the price of the fare.

 

<snip>

 

And, if you don't think the Tex-Mex food is up to what you'd get in the best Tex-Mex places in the southwest, simply don't go to the Tex-Mex restaurant. Anyone who expects Le Bistro to be Taillevent will be disappointed, Mama's will not rival the best in Bologna or Milan, and Cagney's will not equal an $80 filet in a New York or Chicago steakhouse. I'm sure you can get better tapas in Barcelona (but just try to get it on Celebrity or HAL). Anyone with such expectations is simply smoking funny stuff.

 

Actually, we probably wouldn't eat at the Tex-Mex restaurants now that they have a fee unless the quality truly has improved to at least a decent level. Many have mentioned that the quality improved when the surcharge was added to the Tex-Mex restaurants. Ditto for the Italian. I suppose we will probably give each a try and then decide if we want to spend additional money there in the future. We sure as heck never expect top-of-the-line dining on any mass market line, whether it's included or at a surcharge venue. I think terrymtex01 was simply noting that it would be nice if the quality has improved because of experiences before the surcharges.

 

I love NCL. The many options for dining is what I like, also not having a set time to eat is great. I don't understand why so many people complain about the surcharge restaurants. Before we started cruising we took many land vacations and the cost of a good hotel or condo was always around the cost of our cruise fares, and then we always had to pay for our meals. With no free options to even have a choice to chose. Also to go clubbing and have drinks, yep you pay for those also. So to me cruising is a better deal and I do not complain about the surcharges. If I don't want to pay the charge I just eat in the main diningroom.

 

 

Nice post.:)

 

beachchick

[MadBrewer]

..... we feel those things are basics that must be included in today’s cruises.

 

Nice post and thanks for understanding both view points so eloquently.

 

MB

[CruisnGram]

Okay....what are the dessert samples all about? Havent heard of that one before. Arent desserts included at dinner or in the buffet?

 

Sorry that you are confused. There's lots of different postings on this thread right now, so no wonder that you are! LOL

 

That post was referring to when you board. You get champaign and all of the specialty restaurants have samples of their desserts for you to try. You just need to roam around the ship to find their location.

 

To make this as clear as possible:

 

Included in cruise fare: 2 main dining rooms, a diner type place (both with sit down waiter service) a grill of some sort up on the pool deck, a buffet, and room service. They are all open at various times so just check the schedule in the Freestyle daily for hours. At all of them, you can have unlimited food, including dessert. There's no extra charge for anything.

 

Extra: All NCL ships have at least 1 specialty (surcharge) restaurant. Most have 3 or more (the newer ships). You pay a cover charge ($10 to $25) per person to dine there. Once inside, you may have unlimited appetizers, salads, soups, desserts and 1 entree . There are a few select items on the menu that are an additional charge on top of the cover charge; ie; crab legs or surf and turf in Cagneys.

 

Hope this helps.

 

CG

[Traveller20074]

Check out the Freestyle Dining section...it tells the price. Not sure if they will raise it, but this gives you a good idea...there are other pages as well. there is a "magnifying glass" on the right hand side that you can see it larger, and there are other pages :)

 

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/bakerintn/NCLPearlFreestyleDailies#5296048717608865938

 

 

I am getting conflicting info on which places charge and which do not. The NCL website is horrible and does not offer much info. I read more info on another site....but I think it may be inaccurate. It had the tex-mex and Italian place at no charge. Hubby was on another site which had higher charges than what I saw. Does anyone know where I can find an accurate list and info for each restaurant?

[Jewelfine]

I love NCL. The many options for dining is what I like, also not having a set time to eat is great. I don't understand why so many people complain about the surcharge restaurants. Before we started cruising we took many land vacations and the cost of a good hotel or condo was always around the cost of our cruise fares, and then we always had to pay for our meals. With no free options to even have a choice to chose. Also to go clubbing and have drinks, yep you pay for those also. So to me cruising is a better deal and I do not complain about the surcharges. If I don't want to pay the charge I just eat in the main diningroom.

 

Here here! That is why we cruise - it is good value compared to a similar land based vacation - we figure that we would have to pay for hotels in each spot - plus transport - PLus food - I don't mind paying for the restaurants - they would be much more on land.

[*Wink*]

I have a few questions regarding food, my first, er.. second love. I read in a previous post that lobster is served in Cagney's. What kind of lobster? Can you get lobster in Le Bistro? I'd love to have live Maine lobster somewhere.. not just the little tails they serve on lobster night. BTW, I'll be sailing on Majesty, so the dining options are limited. Thanks!

[newmexicoNita]

Freestyle is not for all. I was ok with it, but the wife really didn't like it at all. She likes the attention to detail that only a dedicated server staff can offer like we experienced on NCL before freestyle and what the other cruise lines still offer. Our 4 night Majesty freestyle cruise was a big difference from the norm. I am working on her to 'allow' me to cruise on NCL again as we speak.

 

Looking right now at a 10 night cruise to New England in the fall. Keep telling her the price can't be beat with a $99 rate for each of our children. I am flexible when it comes to a good deal. I can only hope it will work out so I will get to sail NCL again. The lack of desire to spend extra in alternative restaurants is mutual though.

A four night cruise on the Majesty is not the same as cruising on a truely "freestlye" ship. Now as for liking the attention one gets from traditional dining, you are right, some do prefer this. For us, giving up that personal touch is easy when we think of all the pros freetyle offers.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

I am getting conflicting info on which places charge and which do not. The NCL website is horrible and does not offer much info. I read more info on another site....but I think it may be inaccurate. It had the tex-mex and Italian place at no charge. Hubby was on another site which had higher charges than what I saw. Does anyone know where I can find an accurate list and info for each restaurant?

 

Both the Tex-Mex and Italian dining rooms now charge. They didn't until about 6 months ago. As for the web site it is pretty sad, but does tell you which charge. It doesn't give you the price, but if you bring up the restaurant it will say "worth the money" if there is a charge.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

I have a few questions regarding food, my first, er.. second love. I read in a previous post that lobster is served in Cagney's. What kind of lobster? Can you get lobster in Le Bistro? I'd love to have live Maine lobster somewhere.. not just the little tails they serve on lobster night. BTW, I'll be sailing on Majesty, so the dining options are limited. Thanks!

 

Full Lobster in CAgneys, is it actually from Maine, that I do not know.

 

Nita

[CruisinEurope]

I am getting conflicting info on which places charge and which do not. The NCL website is horrible and does not offer much info. I read more info on another site....but I think it may be inaccurate. It had the tex-mex and Italian place at no charge. Hubby was on another site which had higher charges than what I saw. Does anyone know where I can find an accurate list and info for each restaurant?

 

 

Depends on what SHIP you want as they all have slightly different set ups.

 

Here is the CURRENT list for the Jade

(opening times & prices if applicable)

 

Breakfast:

Garden Cafe 5:30 - 10:30

Grand Pacific 7:30 - 9:30 (do NOT have to be in dress attire for bfast)

Great Outdoor 7:30 - 11:30 (weather permitting)

 

Lunch:

Garden Cafe 11:30 - 3:00

Grand Pacific 12:00 - 1:30

Sushi Bar ($15) 12:00 - 1:30

Great Outdoor 12:30 - 5:30 (weather permitting)

BBQ Poolside 12:00 - 2:00 (weather permitting)

 

Dinner:

Garden Cafe 5:30 - 9:30

Grand Pacific 5:30 - 10:00 (no jeans after 5pm)

Alizar 6:00 - 10:30

Paniolo Tapas & Salsa ($10) 5:30 - 10:30 (ps - LOVED IT!)

Cagney's ($20) 5:30 - 10:30

Le Bistro ($15) 5:30 - 10:30

Papa's Italian ($10) 5:30 - 10:30

Jasmine Garden ($15) 5:30 - 10:30

Sushi Bar ($15) 5:30 - 10:30

Shabu-Shabu ($15) 5:30 - 10:30

Teppanyaki ($25) MUST make reservations for this. They have seatings hourly from 5:30 t0 9:30.

 

24/7

Blue Lagoon (sit down service, not self service)

 

Late Night:

Garden Cafe 10:30 - 12:00

 

 

and yes, if you book a SUITE or above (minis don't count) then you get breakfast and lunch at Cagney's at no additional cost.

[suzyed]

Both the Tex-Mex and Italian dining rooms now charge. They didn't until about 6 months ago. As for the web site it is pretty sad, but does tell you which charge. It doesn't give you the price, but if you bring up the restaurant it will say "worth the money" if there is a charge.

 

Nita

There was a $10 charge for the Italian restaurant on the Star last May.

 

I did see a dailey from last Nov. that had a list of the restaurant charges..I will see if I can find it and post here.

Of course I don't know if the prices have gone up since then.