Can we get by w/o specialty restaurants?

[flip270]

Booked on Breakaway in Aug. Already a fortune! With a family of 4, are the MDR and buffets just as grandiose and diverse as eating and paying at the specialties?:confused: is it really value added?

[sfgnts324]

Booked on Breakaway in Aug. Already a fortune! With a family of 4, are the MDR and buffets just as grandiose and diverse as eating and paying at the specialties?:confused: is it really value added?

 

Stick to the MDR's. Specialty dining should be considered a treat.

[fabnfortysomething]

we've done 4 NCL cruises and have yet to eat in a speciality restaurant

 

ok we're not "foodies" but have always found something to our tastes in the "free" restuarants and MDR is nice enough for us

[rjm11]

You can certainly get by without them... I've cruised where I used them a lot, and cruised where I used them never- both enjoyable. The main advantage is a little more "intimate" of an experience- you are in a restaurant that seats 50-100 instead of 800, so the experience is going to be different in that regard. That being said, with only a couple exceptions, I've always thought that the service in the main dining rooms was perfectly fine- just a little more rushed (which some people like- the pace of the specialty restaurants is more leisurely). The food in both is very good- but there may be more "special" options in some of the specialty restaurants- if you want lobster tail for example, it's only offered one night in MDR, but every night in specialty restaurant. You can get filet mignon in specailty, but "only" strip steak in MDR... that sort of thing. Take a look at menus and decide if you think it's worth it. You will experience good to excellent food (depending on choices) either way.

[Diller12]

Done NCL 6 times, and have never been to one and never will unless it's given to me.!!

[Oldgoat61]

You can easily get by without having to pay for a meal. To be honest, I really enjoy the buffet (lots of variety), and the MDR.

Dont' sweat it, enjoy your cruise!!, on a brand new ship!!

[Staci0615]

I have been on 4 NCL cruises- Also booked the Breakaway for Aug- We might treat ourselves to one Specialty( tried Le Bistro- last cruise and liked it) but the MDR is fine for us.

[fergusonvt]

Yes, you certainly can!

[sdmike]

I agree with the rest!! We ate at Moderno on my last two cruises, but that's only because we don't have anything like those near us. Otherwise we found the MDR's and buffets (and other dining options) just great.

[flcruiser1969]

Can absolutely get away with only no charge dining. I will eat at the "fee" options on occassion but my last cruise I didnt and didnt miss anything. There are usually plenty of options.

[mom2tcdx2]

I would think you would be able to, depending on whether you find things you like in the MDR to eat. I have done Carnival, Disney and Princess without dining in their specialty restaurants, and I have also tried some of the specialty ones.

 

Though on the Star and Pearl I kind of got the impression that NCL tries to really get you to go to the specialty restaurants. I found the MDR food to be a little lacking in variety. For my trip on the Breakaway I budgeted in doing 3 of the specialty restaurants for my family of 4 during our week sailing. Though we could just as easily skip them too.

[SliceOfLife]

Don't forget you have O'Sheehan's to choose from too! We ate a lot of our meals there on the Epic. You'll be fine sticking to the free options. Half of the menu's at the MDR change each night so there is plenty of variety.

[jpg1747]

I suppose you could, but one of the reasons I'm trying NCL again after all these years is to sample the different dining venues. I can drop $25 in the casino in minutes and $15 in the bar just as fast. At least this way I get a nice experience and a good meal for my money.

[jaja]

In my opinion...yes..you can...!

We have always found the MDR and buffet..just fine....

We keep the option open for every cruise..IF we want to have a special treat....and have yet to do so....;)

[jdvmd]

You will not starve! Definitely doable to not eat in a specialty restaurant. Plenty of great, and free, food elsewhere.

[Rhea58]

I think one can do very well w/o adding to their expenses. I was pleasantly surprised to see such variety at the buffet on the Gem

last week...the 3 pizzas for kids were quite good, salads always

changing, even a mufalletta on focaccia that was excellent.

[YankeeFan4Ever]

Absolutely you can! We don't eat at the specialty restaurants on board and we've never gone hungry! ;)

[ben55124]

Remember hearing about the Carnival Triumph last week about specialty restaurants closing and all they could eat is onion sandwiches? ...oh wait I think there was more to it. You should be ok.

[mizLORInj]

Aside from the MDR the night the little lobster tail is served, I prefer the buffet. I find it a great variety of very good food.

We've tried ~4 of the upcharge venues, but usually don't see the need.

[Warm Breezes]

Booked on Breakaway in Aug. Already a fortune! With a family of 4, are the MDR and buffets just as grandiose and diverse as eating and paying at the specialties?:confused: is it really value added?

 

Yes on our last Epic cruise we only did Cirque Dreams and that was to see the show more than for the meal. We could have easily done with out it. Otherwise it was the MDR, O'Sheehans, the grill and the buffet for us.

[Junebug27]

Yes! We usually do a specialty restaurant a few times but enjoy the days we don't just as much, I would be fine eating in the MDR when they have something I really want and hit the buffet other nights.

Personally if I want pasta I would rather go to the pasta station at the buffet, I think it better then most of the pasta dishes at Mama's.

[johnsak123]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the MDR. I think the food is delsicious and you have a nice selection

Unfortunately you might have to wait for a table but they have beepers similar to Cheesecake factory and you can wander until your beeped. they usually give you a free drink voucher at the bar too.

Enjoy

[hladygirl]

We have been on three cruises and all with ncl. A 7,15 and 11 night cruises. Went to teppokinaki on the 7 day. It was okay. Did cagneys on 15 night cruise. It was good. Did lebistro on 11 night. It was great. Our next cruise is a 14 night and we plan on going to lebistro and cagneys. The main dining rooms are very good. Blue lagoon is nice for snacking. The Buffett is pretty good but gets old fast. Never had a bad food experience on ncl.

[GORDONCHICK]

Buffet and MDR as "grandiose" specialty restaurants? No.

However, specialty restaurants are absolutely not necessary for good food. We've done 3 NCL cruises, and have only eaten is a specialty restaurant once out of 21 nights.

[Suitcasefull]

Never missed the pay restaurants. Tried LeBistro last time just because wanted escargot but was disappointed in them. Nothing wrong with the food in the "free" venues.