Freestyle Dining

[AndyPanda]

So...how does it work?

Can we (4) go any time?

Do we need (can we make)reservations?

Are there any dress suggestions..any "formal nites"...how many (11 nite cruise)...how formal?

Its been a long time since we cruised NCL.

Thanks, Andy

[Cubechick]

You can go at any time. But be mindful, just like on land, if you want to eat at prime time, you may have a wait. You can get reservations in specialty restaurants.

 

No real formal night. You should have 2 "dress up or not" nights. You can pretty much wear whatever you like.

[greenpepperburger]

At the MDRs, if there is a wait you will be given a buzzer (sort of like the ones at an Outback Steakhouse) and a 20% discount on house cocktails at the bar while you wait.

[Zeno]

So...how does it work?

Can we (4) go any time?

Do we need (can we make)reservations?

Are there any dress suggestions..any "formal nites"...how many (11 nite cruise)...how formal?

Its been a long time since we cruised NCL.

Thanks, Andy

 

Basically just like a regular restaurant.

Main Dining rooms - there are 2 on every ship - NO reservations -You can go any time that they are open.

Opening times are posted in the Freestyle Daily. Usually one opens at 5:30 PM and the other at 6PM . They are open until approximately 10Pm.

 

I don't recommend joining the herd waiting to get in EXACTLY at opening time. In my experience if you want to dine early, it's actually better to arrive about 15-30 minutes AFTER the Dining Room has opened.

As others have pointed out - if you want to dine at "Prime Time" - between about 6:30-7:30

you may have to wait a bit to be seated.

Specialty restaurants (pay extra) - reservations are recommended BUT in our experience if you are flexible (willing to check out more than one restaurant or wait a while to be seated) you can often get into one without a reservation

There really are NO formal nights. Resort casual is ALWAYS appropriate. They usually have one "dress up or not" night BUT dressing up really is totally optional and most people don't.

[sparks1093]

All four of you can eat at different times if you want to and you can also go back later to "top off". My middle son enjoyed getting his late snack in the MDR, usually one of the appetizers and a desert.

[calimn]

A few years ago there was still some limitations on dress. No jeans and no shorts at dinner in main dining room. Is that still the case? Also if you showed up at 9:30 could you still get a full meal, appetizer, main and dessert without them really frowning at it?

[newmexicoNita]

So...how does it work?

Can we (4) go any time?

Do we need (can we make)reservations?

Are there any dress suggestions..any "formal nites"...how many (11 nite cruise)...how formal?

Its been a long time since we cruised NCL.

Thanks, Andy

 

you can go anytime and with 4 of you there should be very little wait, if at all. The busiest time is 7 to 8pm. Yes, you can make reservations. As for formal, the longer the cruise, the older the clientele so the more formal probably, but never will you find NCL anything like most of the other lines. If you want to go formal (suit or sport jacket for hubby, nice dress for ladies) you will not be out of place, if you want to continue with the casual that will work as well. We usually take one 1/2 way dressy outfit. Hubby might not even take the sport jacket but he will take a couple of dress shirts and I will take one skirt and 2 somewhat dressy tops. That is as far as we go and we are always comforable.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

A few years ago there was still some limitations on dress. No jeans and no shorts at dinner in main dining room. Is that still the case? Also if you showed up at 9:30 could you still get a full meal, appetizer, main and dessert without them really frowning at it?

 

I think dinner is served until 10pm and you can wear jeans. The shorts is a ?, depending. I would stick with capris, long pants or maybe jeans.

 

Nita

[STARFISH*4]

you can wear jeans in all the dining venues and shorts are allowed in one of the MDRs and in all dining venues but LeBistro.

on our B2B a few weeks ago on the SUN we noticed less and less are "DRESSING UP"-dont even remember see "that" announced in the Freestyle like it use to be.--("Dress Up or Not" nites)