blog post

Just returned from a one week Caribbean cruise.  In the elevator during the early part of the trip, I overhead two middle-aged ladies chatting about dining on board.  The gist of the conversation was about the alternative restaurant options on board.  One comment that struck me was “You should not have to pay for your meals on a ship”.   But thinking about this conversation, it became apparent that the comment was not really correct.  You don’t HAVE to pay for dining on any ship as each cruise line offers included dining in the main dining rooms, buffets and snack venues. On the other hand, optional restaurants have limited seating, upgraded menus and more interesting venues.  The cost, usually presented as a “cover charge”, runs from about $10 to $25.

   If you are celebrating a special event while on board or just want an excellent dining experience once or twice while cruising, then consider alternative dining for just what it is “alternative and optional”.  Or you can blissfully dine 3 to 6 times per day at the free restaurants.  But if you have not sampled an alternative restaurant, be careful, you might get hooked!  It must be a popular feature because the cruise lines that used to offer only “traditional” first and second seating dining are adding flexible dining options as well as more extensive alternative restaurants to new and existing ships. 

 Some of my most memorable dining experiences EVER have been at the specialty restaurants on cruise ships.  Last year my husband Mark and I had the most wonderful, romantic and "blissful" dining experience (it's way more than a meal, it really is an experience) at the Normandie Restaurant on the Norwegian Sky. Just a few weeks ago my daughter Sami and I loved the Teppanyaki, Japanese steakhouse and hibachi on the Norwegian Epic. My 21 year old was transformed into a young girl when the waitstaff made her an origami animal menagerie.  And the Le Bistro French restaurant was a 2 and 1/2 hour delicious theatrical experience that pleased all the senses  The service was unbelievable -- we kept meeting the servers throughout the cruise and they were so friendly -- like seeing good, old friends.  It really is a special experience and worth it.

I want to hear from you -- what have your Specialty Dining experiences been like?