mollydogsmom Posted November 29, 2015 #351 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Does the Escape have the poolside BBQ's like they have on the other ships? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveyHowell Posted November 29, 2015 #352 Share Posted November 29, 2015 It's already been said they can't add more wait staff if they don't have more quarters to put the staff in. If you're talking about taking weight stuff from other restaurants which one do you take from? Immediately decreasing the wait time is a good thing, I can't speak for you but I didn't go on a cruise to stand in line all day lol. You're on social media complaining about $7 burgers though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J18ktleo Posted November 29, 2015 #353 Share Posted November 29, 2015 So I'm looking at this as a Cruise fan, not necessarily an NCL loyalist. One option that I haven't seen siggested, if it is merely an issue of lesse.knv ghe wait time, why not require reservations? It works on all the mega - ships I've been on and this would easily be implemented. Or grandfather in those that booked before this change, even if only for one visit. I was on Quantum a few months ago transitioning to the Chinese market during our cruise when we all booked Mama Mia was onboard but by the time we board it was pulled....people were similarly up in arms....WE BOOKED FOR SPECIFIC REASONS AND NOW....:eek: understanding the cruise lines will change things up...not happy but I believe they also monitor the boards and take into acct the tesponses....have seen these issues backed down on before. BUT, there's no reason to be mean or distespectful....I can afford to pay the up charges but don't want to if they're unexpected. And I've been on the all inclusive, higher priced lines and it's interesting how the ' lower end lines' do nickel and dime....a flat charge would be more palatable and they might reconsider after watching the comments. But I live in Vegas and have visited the Margaritaville on the strip as well as other locations and just won't pay the prices. ...but one of the great expectations of cruising is that you pay one main price and the extras are drinks but now it's getting to look like just another land based experience. IMHO! But I would pay $5-10 AND make reservations if that would help. I've never seen 2 hour lones....not even on Oasis /Allure and they have a larger passenger load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveyHowell Posted November 29, 2015 #354 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Does the Escape have the poolside BBQ's like they have on the other ships? No. They re-branded that grill as Margaritaville, then heavily advertised it as a reason to book compared to other ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DachshundsRule Posted November 29, 2015 #355 Share Posted November 29, 2015 I haven't cruised much but on Royal and Celebrity there was always a complimentary burger-by-the-pool option. So fast forward to a time when the free promotions go away and you basically have a floating hotel, with a free buffet, dining room and pub. That's the only thing that resembles the old-school cruising model. Otherwise it resembles a Disney World vacation where you can purchase a dining package (and in slow off season times they give them away) or just pay for your food as you go. That seems to be the model they are changing to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[g]cruiserke Posted November 29, 2015 #356 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Just noticed that the FAQ for the specialty dining package has been updated on the ncl.com site at https://www.ncl.com/specialty-dining-package/faq and now it explicitly inludes Margaritaville as being covered by the dinging packages: IN WHICH VENUES WILL MY SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGE BE HONORED? Specialty dining packages are honored in Cagney's Steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria, Teppanyaki and our French and Italian restaurants across the fleet, as well as Margaritaville on board Norwegian Escape. That's the update on the FAQ for the SDP page, there's no update on the UDP page but presumably that is covered as well - there's no explicit listing of included restaurants for the UDP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollydogsmom Posted November 29, 2015 #357 Share Posted November 29, 2015 No. They re-branded that grill as Margaritaville, then heavily advertised it as a reason to book compared to other ships. So I see a thread about all the people in swim suit in the Garden Cafe in the not to distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motleyfan Posted November 29, 2015 #358 Share Posted November 29, 2015 So I see a thread about all the people in swim suit in the Garden Cafe in the not to distant future. No heterosexual male would mind seeing a bunch of women in swimsuits lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveyHowell Posted November 29, 2015 #359 Share Posted November 29, 2015 So I see a thread about all the people in swim suit in the Garden Cafe in the not to distant future. With a cover up that has always been OK. If you're not soaking wet, it's not going to be an issue. I think what some may not realize about lines on a ship is that if you decrease a line in one place, you increase the lines everywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DachshundsRule Posted November 29, 2015 #360 Share Posted November 29, 2015 If you use your SDP will it count as one of your meals? So I give up a fancy dinner for a burger lunch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily815 Posted November 29, 2015 #361 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Does the Escape have the poolside BBQ's like they have on the other ships? None of the large ships (Epic, the 'Aways, and the Escape) have poolside BBQs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveyHowell Posted November 29, 2015 #362 Share Posted November 29, 2015 If you use your SDP will it count as one of your meals? Yes, that is correct. Margaritaville would count as one of your SDP meals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteCruiser Posted November 29, 2015 #363 Share Posted November 29, 2015 If you use your SDP will it count as one of your meals? So I give up a fancy dinner for a burger lunch? Yes, as reported by someone onboard: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2284279 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motleyfan Posted November 29, 2015 #364 Share Posted November 29, 2015 You're on social media complaining about $7 burgers though Are you stalking me? No I complained in my local Facebook group in clearly said if it was a nice big burger I wouldn't mind paying the $7. If you're going to quote me please quote me correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveyHowell Posted November 29, 2015 #365 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Are you stalking me? No I complained in my local Facebook group in clearly said if it was a nice big burger I wouldn't mind paying the $7. If you're going to quote me please quote me correctly. For 4 months a year we are neighbors (we are snowbirds) and we are on the same page. I think Hubs has responded to you, but I have not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[g]cruiserke Posted November 29, 2015 #366 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) If you use your SDP will it count as one of your meals? So I give up a fancy dinner for a burger lunch? Yes, it does count as one of your meals, according to reports from people onboard right now. And if you add up the à la carte cost of a full meal, with an appetiser, entree with sides and dessert, you're at about $25 cost per person, which isn't too far from the cover charge which used to be in place at the lower end specialty restaurants so it makes using an SDP credit worth it - if not from a culinary point of view, then at least from a monetary one. Perhaps that's the plan, to entice people to buy more dining packages. But if Margaritaville remains available only at lunch time, then this part of the conditions of the SDP doesn't make a lot of sense: IS THERE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MEALS I CAN PURCHASE? Yes, the number of meals purchased cannot exceed the length of the cruise. Say you're on a 7 day cruise on which you plan to spend every night in a specialty restaurant, and you'd also like to go to Margaritaville a couple of times, you won't be able to cover all your meals with an SDP as you'd be limited to a maximum 7 meal SDP. They could extend the hours of Margaritaville so you can go there for dinner as well, that will not only spread the crowds better but make it an easier decision to use an SDP credit. Edited November 29, 2015 by [g]cruiserke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngrund Posted November 29, 2015 #367 Share Posted November 29, 2015 It should be noted that Jimmy no longer owns the restaurant chain http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-04-24/business/os-margaritaville-sold-expanding-20140424_1_olive-gardens-red-lobsters-restaurants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aubreyc1988 Posted November 29, 2015 #368 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) It should be noted that Jimmy no longer owns the restaurant chain http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-04-24/business/os-margaritaville-sold-expanding-20140424_1_olive-gardens-red-lobsters-restaurants so the same company that owns olive garden is managing Margaritaville - wow, yeah, not gonna expect good food from Margaritaville - Olive Garden, in my opinion, serves TERRIBLE food. In fact, just saw a John Oliver Last Week Tonight episode on Olive Garden, hilarious by the way Edited November 29, 2015 by aubreyc1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perditax Posted November 29, 2015 #369 Share Posted November 29, 2015 so the same company that owns olive garden is managing Margaritaville - wow, yeah, not gonna expect good food from Margaritaville - Olive Garden, in my opinion, serves TERRIBLE food. In fact, just saw a John Oliver Last Week Tonight episode on Olive Garden, hilarious by the way This whole situation is comedy gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aubreyc1988 Posted November 29, 2015 #370 Share Posted November 29, 2015 (edited) This whole situation is comedy gold. I know haha! For the record, apparently, Olive Garden doesn't salt their pasta while it boils because when they do not salt the water, it extends the warranty they have on their pots. So who knows what they are doing in Margaritaville lol. So maybe we all aren't really missing out :eek: But I will not waste one of my SDP dinners on Margaritaville - no thank you, I'll go to Cagney's for a hopefully quality steak Edited November 29, 2015 by aubreyc1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugtech Posted November 29, 2015 #371 Share Posted November 29, 2015 This whole situation is comedy gold. Yep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertaAnnie Posted November 29, 2015 #372 Share Posted November 29, 2015 cruiserke;48399512']Yes' date=' it does count as one of your meals, according to reports from people onboard right now. And if you add up the à la carte cost of a full meal, with an appetiser, entree with sides and dessert, you're at about $25 cost per person, which isn't too far from the cover charge which used to be in place at the lower end specialty restaurants so it makes using an SDP credit worth it - if not from a culinary point of view, then at least from a monetary one. Perhaps that's the plan, to entice people to buy more dining packages. But if Margaritaville remains available only at lunch time, then this part of the conditions of the SDP doesn't make a lot of sense: Say you're on a 7 day cruise on which you plan to spend every night in a specialty restaurant, and you'd also like to go to Margaritaville a couple of times, you won't be able to cover all your meals with an SDP as you'd be limited to a maximum 7 meal SDP. They could extend the hours of Margaritaville so you can go there for dinner as well, that will not only spread the crowds better but make it an easier decision to use an SDP credit.[/quote'] I am just curious if the UDP includes the 18% gratuity? Does this mean that your will be paying extra on top of the UDP to dining? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted November 29, 2015 #373 Share Posted November 29, 2015 I am just curious if the UDP includes the 18% gratuity? Does this mean that your will be paying extra on top of the UDP to dining? With the UDP, gratuity is always covered prior to sailing. Either it is paid at the time the UDP was purchased, or it was included as part of a promo, or it was paid as part of final payment when received as a promo. One of those 3 things will have happened, so no gratuity will be owed on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngrund Posted November 30, 2015 #374 Share Posted November 30, 2015 so the same company that owns olive garden is managing Margaritaville - wow, yeah, not gonna expect good food from Margaritaville - Olive Garden, in my opinion, serves TERRIBLE food. In fact, just saw a John Oliver Last Week Tonight episode on Olive Garden, hilarious by the way not exactly, this is not the "parent" company of Olive Garden, they just also own several Olive Garden franchises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiotAct Posted November 30, 2015 #375 Share Posted November 30, 2015 Absurd. I certainly won't be paying for this. Trust me I can afford the $15 but at this point it's the principal. I'll pass For some people, it's the interest ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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