Specialty restaurants, I don't get it

sailingrose · July 26, 2005

Don't want to pay for a meal on a cruise either. I did eat in Portofino's once with my daughter for lunch. It was $10 per person and I had promised her we'd go as a special treat. It was wonderful and great for us 2 as we love Italian and the men in the family don't but wouldn't pay to eat on the ship again.

I dislike the pay restaurants aboard ships as I feel they have taken the quality of the dinning room food down to entice you to eat in them.

Bodger · July 26, 2005

Mrs. Bodger had similar problems last cruise on Princess. Initially there were a couple of vegetarian offerings, but as the cruise progressed she was pretty much down to pasta as well.

She has faired better on HAL and Celebrity where they brought a vegetarian menu around the day before so that she could pre-order for the following evening.

Bodger

jbond · July 26, 2005

To each his own, I guess. We all have different ways of spending our money. We enjoy dining in the specialty restaurants. We have found the food to be significantly better in those restaurants than in the dining rooms on both Princess and RCI. I would much prefer to spend $50 in the restaurant than donate it in the casino, but then gambling is something I've never done or understood.

As long as you let your tablemates know beforehand, I don't see how it can be impolite.

cruisinmama · July 26, 2005

jbond....have you eaten at both kinds of restaurants? Are there more than 2?? chops and portofino? I saw 1 menu are they quite diff??

Thanks :smiley:

sailinglisa · July 26, 2005

Chops is more of a grille - steaks, chops, etc.

Portofino's is true Italian. Very different menus for both.

Johnny Rockets is also a pay for restaurant.

I have dined in a few of speciality restraunts on board: The Bayou Cafe on the Island Princess for lunch, Sterling's on the Dawn and Island Princesses and the Normandie on the Summit. I did so for special occasions and would do so again in a heartbeat. With my work schedule at home, I do not get to go out to eat in nice restaurants for dinner. I enjoy the food in the specialty restaurants - it is better than what is in the dining room and that takes a lot because the regular dining room food is very very good. I love the atmosphere and I like being extra pampered.

To each their own........that is what makes the world go around! :)

Dan · July 26, 2005

I also don't understand how it could be impolite to your tablemates if you choose to eat somewhere else. They put different restaurants on ships so people can try them. It's not a "snub" to these strangers that you choose to try that variety. It's nice if you know in advance that you won't be at dinner, to tell somebody else at the table so they won't wait for you.

DaCruzNut · July 26, 2005

The only time I have paid to eat in an alternative dining room was when I used to sail on NCL, and they had a LeBistro on each of thier ships. They didn't charge anything extra for the dinner, but "suggested" a $5.00, p.p, gratuity.

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The money went to the wait staff, and not the cruise line.

I figure that I have already paid for my meals, and I'm not going to pay for them a second time!

schatje · July 26, 2005

I will never pay extra for the specialty meals. For us the meals during traditional dining are great. Hey if I don't have to cook, anything would taste good. Not to say that I don't know how to cook, I just don't like too.

We enjoy the lido deck food as well. This is making me hungry ....where is the food :grin:

JoeyandDavid · July 26, 2005

Ann I cant speak for Carnival but I do know other cruise lines like airlines if you request a special diet they will accommidate with advanced notice.

jbond · July 26, 2005

Sailinglisa probably answered your question. For us, we've dined at Portofinos and Chops on RCI and Sabatinis and Sterlings Steakhouse on Princess. Our favourite is Portofinos.