Is it worth paying for dining package on escape?

[Spornny]

We usually pay for a dining package but unless I'm missing something, on the Escape there are only 2 restaurants Moderno and Teppanyaki that are currently listed as having a cover charge so we obviously wouldn't have to pay for those 2. Even if we pay for a dining package we would still have to pay in the A La Carte restaurants, this doesn't seem right?

[KeithJenner]

The package also includes Cagneys, Le Bistro and La Cucina. They don't have a cover charge listed as they are a la carte, but I think this is more reason to get the SDP as you won't need to worry about the cost of what you order.

[Spornny]

Yes but we would still have to pay the menu prices in the A La Carte restaurants the same as someone who hasn't got a UDP.. On the Epic for example all the speciality dining restaurants have a cover charge which your UDP covers. The Escape only appears to have 2 with a cover charge.

[KeithJenner]

Yes but we would still have to pay the menu prices in the A La Carte restaurants the same as someone who hasn't got a UDP..

 

 

No you don't. As I said, Cagneys, Le Bistro and La Cucina are covered by the package.

[Spornny]

Ok great! Thanks... I must have misread the info.

[Demonyte]

Also mentioned three restaurants will change to a la carte on all ships, not just on Escape.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Demonyte

[Theroxykitten]

Also mentioned three restaurants will change to a la carte on all ships, not just on Escape.

 

 

When are the changes coming in?

 

 

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[Demonyte]

When are the changes coming in?

 

 

On Escape immediately from the launch, fleetwide on Jan 1st.

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_071415

[gkny]

I wish that a la carte was included in the price.

[peg013]

I wish that a la carte was included in the price.

 

Did you read the press release from the link posted above? This is from it.....

 

"Guests who purchase a Norwegian Specialty Dining Package have the freedom to indulge as they wish, as Specialty Dining Packages will allow guests to enjoy La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse at no additional charge. Guests with a Specialty Dining Package can dine in Bayamo by Jose Garces for an additional fee of $15."

[Nola26]

On Escape immediately from the launch, fleetwide on Jan 1st.

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_071415

 

I'm not a fan of Specialty dining, but this is helpful information to have. Thank you for sharing. I've printed into my OneNote NCL book for future reference.

 

We just got off the Getaway and we were really impressed with the quality, variety and dining experience in the buffet. Most dinners were in the MDRs with Tropicana being our favorite due to a combination of the ambiance, entertainment, service and food. I also grabbed a light early meal at Shanghai's which was great for taking the edge off.

[punkincc]

Hope I'm not hijacking with this question, but since we're on the subject of Dining Packages, maybe someone can help answer this UDP vs SDP question.

 

One of our party booked on the Escape purchased a UDP back before the SDPs were offered. I have been struggling with how to advise them re whether or not they would be better off to cancel the UDP and book SDP instead.

 

My concern with UDP is the wording in T&Cs which "excludes a la carte" where apparently a 25% discount applies. I am thinking they may be better off getting an SDP and paying some upcharges for Supper Club, Bayamo etc. rather than pay a la carte prices with a 25% discount.

 

Any opinions?

[SeaWatcher65]

I emailed NCL about the UDP (Wave Promo from back in Jan-Feb 2015) and got a call back. The UDP gives 25% off a la carte (Pincho Tapas Bar), 25% off the Supper Club.

 

For Bayamo, the UDP terms include it as an a la carte with 25% off but NCL told me that Bayamo will be a $15 surcharge on top of UDP. For the Getaway Ship, they said Ocean Blue will also be $15 surcharge after October 3 (which is when the a la carte pricing starts). I think Bayamo and Ocean Blue will have some a la carte lunch and dinner options that are NOT in the sit down area of the restaurant -- maybe that's what will be 25% discount.

 

For Supper Club, 25% should be less than paying for the SDP. Depending on how many meals purchased with SDP, it will be $20-23 per meal PLUS the $15 charge.

 

The big advantage of the older UDP is the ability to go to more than 1 specialty on the same evening where the SDP covers a specific number of meals. I know few people will eat 2 dinners in one evening... but we did have an early dinner and return to a different specialty restaurant later for dessert/appetizer/coffee -- especially to sit outside.

 

 

 

Hope I'm not hijacking with this question, but since we're on the subject of Dining Packages, maybe someone can help answer this UDP vs SDP question.

 

One of our party booked on the Escape purchased a UDP back before the SDPs were offered. I have been struggling with how to advise them re whether or not they would be better off to cancel the UDP and book SDP instead.

 

My concern with UDP is the wording in T&Cs which "excludes a la carte" where apparently a 25% discount applies. I am thinking they may be better off getting an SDP and paying some upcharges for Supper Club, Bayamo etc. rather than pay a la carte prices with a 25% discount.

 

I think the $15 surcharge with UDP is much better than 25% off.

 

Any opinions?

Edited September 12, 2015 by SeaWatcher65

[2ManyCruises]

 

We just got off the Getaway and we were really impressed with the quality, variety and dining experience in the buffet. Most dinners were in the MDRs with Tropicana being our favorite due to a combination of the ambiance, entertainment, service and food. I also grabbed a light early meal at Shanghai's which was great for taking the edge off.

 

Our thoughts exactly. That's why we're not going to purchase the SDP on The Escape.

[punkincc]

I emailed NCL about the UDP (Wave Promo from back in Jan-Feb 2015) and got a call back. The UDP gives 25% off a la carte (Pincho Tapas Bar), 25% off the Supper Club.

 

For Bayamo, the UDP terms include it as an a la carte with 25% off but NCL told me that Bayamo will be a $15 surcharge on top of UDP. For the Getaway Ship, they said Ocean Blue will also be $15 surcharge after October 3 (which is when the a la carte pricing starts). I think Bayamo and Ocean Blue will have some a la carte lunch and dinner options that are NOT in the sit down area of the restaurant -- maybe that's what will be 25% discount.

 

For Supper Club, 25% should be less than paying for the SDP. Depending on how many meals purchased with SDP, it will be $20-23 per meal PLUS the $15 charge.

 

The big advantage of the older UDP is the ability to go to more than 1 specialty on the same evening where the SDP covers a specific number of meals. I know few people will eat 2 dinners in one evening... but we did have an early dinner and return to a different specialty restaurant later for dessert/appetizer/coffee -- especially to sit outside.

 

I think someone at NCL was a little confused re the $15 up charge for Bayamo under the UDP. The $15 upcharge for Bayamo applies to the SDP, not the UDP. 25% discount applies to the UDP. My concern is that several venues will go a la carte beginning in October, including Cagneys and Le Bistro. Of course, they were not a la carte, and would have been included in the UDP when the package was purchased. But the terms do say that a la carte is excluded and 25% applies.

 

Guess I will just call NCL and inquire how they will handle the packages sold prior to the change to a la carte. But changing from "included" to 25% off a la carte venues really does devalue the package, IMO unless they will honor it for the venues it would have covered on the day it was purchased.

[abe3]

I think someone at NCL was a little confused re the $15 up charge for Bayamo under the UDP. The $15 upcharge for Bayamo applies to the SDP, not the UDP. 25% discount applies to the UDP. My concern is that several venues will go a la carte beginning in October, including Cagneys and Le Bistro. Of course, they were not a la carte, and would have been included in the UDP when the package was purchased. But the terms do say that a la carte is excluded and 25% applies.

 

 

 

Guess I will just call NCL and inquire how they will handle the packages sold prior to the change to a la carte. But changing from "included" to 25% off a la carte venues really does devalue the package, IMO unless they will honor it for the venues it would have covered on the day it was purchased.

 

 

Do you honor your original booking price or do you call if the price goes down and demand something for it?

[punkincc]

Do you honor your original booking price or do you call if the price goes down and demand something for it?

 

That comment is argumentative and way off topic here. The discussion here is dining packages, not price drops.

Edited September 12, 2015 by punkincc

[Theroxykitten]

I think someone at NCL was a little confused re the $15 up charge for Bayamo under the UDP. The $15 upcharge for Bayamo applies to the SDP, not the UDP. 25% discount applies to the UDP. My concern is that several venues will go a la carte beginning in October, including Cagneys and Le Bistro. Of course, they were not a la carte, and would have been included in the UDP when the package was purchased. But the terms do say that a la carte is excluded and 25% applies.

 

 

 

Guess I will just call NCL and inquire how they will handle the packages sold prior to the change to a la carte. But changing from "included" to 25% off a la carte venues really does devalue the package, IMO unless they will honor it for the venues it would have covered on the day it was purchased.

 

 

Thought it was just escape going a le carte in October. THe other ships are jan 2016 are they not?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[abe3]

That comment is argumentative and way off topic here. The discussion here is dining packages, not price drops.

 

 

Disagree you are talking about NCL honoring what you originally booked. So in turn do you honor what you originally booked?

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

I'm confused. We received the UDP as a promo given when we booked for our upcoming cruise in Nov. (we could have gotten UBP or Mins or tours etc)

We chose the UDP.

 

But now I'm trying to figure out Which restaurants are actually Free, with the UDP?

 

Think I would still expect to pay something extra with the "Chef" restaurants, although not famililar which one, or two, are on Escape......

[KeithJenner]

Restaurants included at no extra charge with the drinks packages are Le Bistro, Cagneys, Moderno, La Cucina and Teppenyaki.

 

You also get discounts in some other places (including the dinner shows), but those discounts do seem to vary depending on exactly what package you have (I'm not sure on this bit as I haven't any plans to use the package for them).

[punkincc]

I'm confused. We received the UDP as a promo given when we booked for our upcoming cruise in Nov. (we could have gotten UBP or Mins or tours etc)

We chose the UDP.

 

But now I'm trying to figure out Which restaurants are actually Free, with the UDP?

 

Think I would still expect to pay something extra with the "Chef" restaurants, although not famililar which one, or two, are on Escape......

 

If you are referring to the Chef's Dinner, that is a one time event per cruise and not included in any packages.

 

Have you read the a terms & conditions for the UDP? If not, find them and print a copy. At the time they were written, Cagneys, Le Bistro and La Cucina were still with cover charge and included in the package at no additional charge.

 

When the Escape launches, these venues will become a la carte. The package terms state that a la carte venues will have a 25% discount under the UDP. So the question is how NCL will handle those packages sold or given as promos before the changes to a la carte occurred.

 

We don't sail the Escape until January 2016, well after the change to a la carte. At the time we bought the package, the only a la carte venues to which a 25% discount would apply were Entertainment Based Dining ( the dinner shows ), Bayamo, the sushi places and some of the new venues on the Escape. We had no idea that the three previously cover charge venues ( Cagneys, etc ) would be going a la carte.

 

Would just like some assurance from NCL that they will honor the terms ( and the venues included ) as they were on the date we purchased.

[KeithJenner]

NCL have specifically stated that Le Bistro, Cagneys and La Cucina are covered under the dining packages.

 

From the press release when the a la carte was announced:

 

"Guests who purchase a Norwegian Speciality Dining Package have the freedom to indulge as they wish, as Speciality Dining Packages will allow guests to enjoy La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse at no additional charge."

Edited September 20, 2015 by KeithJenner

[punkincc]

NCL have specifically stated that Le Bistro, Cagneys and La Cucina are covered under the dining packages.

 

From the press release when the a la carte was announced:

 

"Guests who purchase a Norwegian Speciality Dining Package have the freedom to indulge as they wish, as Speciality Dining Packages will allow guests to enjoy La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse at no additional charge."

 

 

Yes, but if you will note, the press release refers to the SDP packages as including the 3 venues, and in fact, the T&Cs for the SDP state that they are included an also spell out which ones have an upcharge. BUT, there was NO mention in the press release of the UDP.

 

The T&Cs of the UDP states a la carte venues are excluded and receive a 25% discount.

[KeithJenner]

I know there is some nervousness about NCL changing things, but seeing as those venues are specifically included in the packages they are currently selling, and they were included at the time you got the package, it is pretty well certain they will be included for you.