Share and Salty Dog are a bust!

[srpilo]

I'll repeat what I posted when I got off the Ruby from Hawaii last January..

 

After seeing the dismal attendance in SHARE for 15 nights, and in contrast a waiting list for the Crab Shack on the 10 sea days...

 

So as I posted last January I predict that the Crab Shack will replace SHARE in it's current space onboard with in a year, at least as a trial run or temporary replacement until a new concept restaurant can be developed to move in to the SHARE -nee- Sabatini's space. In it's current form the Crab Shack requires part of the unused HC space, and with that limited space some nights has to turn away requests for reservations. The SHARE space would easily accommodate all who request a Crab Shack reservation on a nightly bases.

 

Additionally the Crab Shack is a proven onboard money generating concept and the Emerald and Ruby could make the SHARE replacement to the Crab Shack temporarily with just a few motif changes, and new signage in a relatively short time without requiring a dry-dock or any significant restaurant down time

 

YMMV

Srpilo

[memoak]

I have enjoyed the Salty Dog for dinner twice and still have not tried the burger - too many other interesting things to eat

[shredie]

 

Additionally the Crab Shack is a proven onboard money generating concept and the Emerald and Ruby could make the SHARE replacement to the Crab Shack temporarily with just a few motif changes, and new signage in a relatively short time without requiring a dry-dock or any significant restaurant down time

 

That is not a bad idea.

[cruzsnooze]

It really costs more then just the cover charge because you've already paid for your dinner with it's tip (in the auto tip) for the main dining room. So essentially you are paying for two dinners and two tips. I think $39 is high for the menu I read online.

[AZ Ocean Lover]

I hope to try Share on a future cruise but if it isn't working I hope Princess tries something new and does not try to resurrect Sabitini's. It was time for a change. There's always going to be a need for a steakhouse in some fashion but there isn't any thing wrong with trying different cuisines or at least mixing the menus up a bit.

[srpilo]

That is not a bad idea.

 

Remember you heard it first here :):D:)

 

Srpilo

[Hlitner]

Have to smile at some of the posts. So lets clear something up about longer cruises. Yes, the folks on longer cruises are generally older. However, they are also generally well traveled, have lots of cruise experience, and are not prone to spend money for alternative restaurants unless they deliver a good value for the money. We like to see the various cruise lines (we have cruised on 14 lines) trying new ideas and food venues. But if its not a good value...experienced cruisers will simply ignore the venue. On the other hand, if its something special or very good, we will come. On Celebrity folks fight to get reservations in Murano...which is $49 per person. And their Qsine concept (also expensive) is quite unique and draws a crowd. Although we like Princess (Elite for many years) we have always been underwhelmed by their alternative restaurants.

 

When Princess started their Chef's Table concept we were fast to sign-up and loved the experience. I think it was around $50 per person in those days...and we thought a very good value. Now, it is simply overpriced...give that passengers have already paid for their meals in the cruise fare.

 

Hank

[BILL-WI]

I do not like to beat a dead horse, but I will...

 

This is a post I made on another social media site, while I was on Ruby Princess last week; after we ate in Share...

 

"Let me start by saying we are having a fabulous cruise on the Ruby Princess. However, many people have asked about the Curtis Stone restaurant, Share. My wife and I ate there last night and found the food and presentation were spectacular. However, the service and portion sizes were far from adequate. I asked for an additional portion of the lobster entrée and I was told I would have to pay an additional fee. The portion size was SMALL and I left the restaurant feeling hungry. For a $39 cover charge per person, I did not feel it was worth it. I would not recommend this restaurant. Although other people eating in the specialty restaurant may have a opinions different from mine, what I have expressed is my experience. I eat in specialty restaurants every night on a cruise and this is one of the very few times, that I have left feeling extremely disappointed.":(

 

As a side note...I have NEVER had to ask for an extra piece of Lobster in the Crown Grill, because they bring you 3 or 4 tails as an order. In Share we were given 1 SMALL tail...no more, no way!:mad:

 

BILL

[IECalCruiser]

We have not sailed on a ship with the Salty Dog or SHARE but hope to next year with both the Ruby and Emerald on the West Coast just to try out the concepts. The pricing for SHARE turns me off because there is a charge for additional items, unlike Sabatini's or the various steakhouses or the MDR. I don't like that change. Once will be enough but I want to check them out.

 

I am not a fan of the new OR old Sabatini's. I don't really care for the current entrees and have had mediocre food at best. I didn't know what was the attraction of the old menu, a bunch of mediocre small bites about the same as those served at the Captain's Circle party, then some pizza and an entree. Half of the time we had less than stellar service.

 

Regarding another post about having to eat at the cocktail table to accommodate a person in a wheelchair for the Salty Dog, that is what is done for the Pub Lunch and people don't seem to have an issue. From the description, you were much more comfortable than in the high chairs.

 

 

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[Cruiser411]

And let me add my vote for Salty Dog. My meal was great, the hamburger was tremendous. I also had the crab cakes and the lobster mac and cheese. All of it was very tasty. The appetizers were also good as was the dessert. A good value for the $19. I look forward to my next cruise on a ship that has the Salty Dog so that I can try some of the other items on the menu.

[dtb55]

Thanks for saying so. I agree about Share. That was my experience on the Ruby last March' date=' too. Not to worry: some Share enthusiasts will soon chime in on how great it is.

 

 

 

Thanks again for your honest thoughts.[/quote']

 

 

 

I've never been to SHARE, but it's good to know that I'm only allowed an opinion if I hate it.

 

 

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[jeanandjim]

We were on the Emerald this past Spring on a 4 day getaway. We ate in various venues each night as we were not in our normal traditional late seating. Our view of the new venues is mixed.

 

First SHARE; We decided to try this venue after attending a tempting introduction during the day at an open house. We tried to get a reservation time that would fit our evening schedule, but were informed that that time would not work. We were directed to a time that they thought would be best for us.

 

We dutifully showed up 5 minutes early and were escorted to a table with what I can doll-house sized chairs ( We are not doll-housed sized people). We got them to move us to an acceptable table and began our evening as the only two people in the restaurant. Introductions were made and the menu shared with us. We decided on certain items and wines and started our meals. I remember that we had some extremely wonderful first courses, but when overly encouraged to share with each other it became very clear to me that what was once delicious became unappetizing when another bite started to counteract the flavours that I had thoght were so good.

 

Looking around the restaurant at this point, I noticed that there was one other couple in the room (a time that corresponded to the time that we had originally requested ). I guess that they cannot handle more than one table per time-frame.

 

Main courses were served, and again were delicious and by themselves were some of the better meals we had aboard the Emerald. But however, SHARE reared its ugly head. The wine I had chosen, that perfectly complemented the meal that I had ordered, became offensive when I tried some of my DW meal. This share thing seams not to be well thought out.

 

By now the place was getting crowded as a third couple had invaded our space. The servers seemed like they would still be able to handle the situation so we proceeded to dessert. As I remember there were no issues and I think we enjoyed dessert, but we were so taken aback by the emptiness and the starkness of the environment, that we just finished and left, vowing to never return.

 

Salty Dog; As I said we are not doll-house furniture people, and were a bit concerned about the high seating in Salty Dog, but we found the chairs very substantial and not a negative to our evening. We enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere of the Salty Dog. We thought the food to be of high quality, excellent quantity, and would return if ever on a ship in the future where it was offered. As an aside----we used the big tables during the day to play cards at.

 

We will indeed be on the Emerald next October for a 28 day Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti cruise. We will enjoy Salty Dog probably twice, Crown Grill probably twice, and look at Share from our seats in Adagio, wondering why people are still trying that venue.

[Lucky TGO]

To all thank you for sharing with me all of your experiences.

Tony

Edited October 22, 2016 by Lucky TGO

[Skai]

'Share' sucked. (Beyond the Au Gratin - which was tasty)Small, served-cold portions(in a nearly empty dining venue). In no way did it seem special when compared to the (included in the fare)MDR.

 

Server seemed to feel the need to continue to tell us how fortunate we were to be experiencing such a meal. We won't return.

 

'Salty Dog' was a good experience. '$19pp cover charge' good? I can see how some might scoff at that price point for eclectic gastro-pub style food.

 

There's more to the 'Salty Dog' menu than just the tasty burger FWIW. We also enjoyed the other food that we ordered. Service was top-notch and we would consider going again for something alternative -- when not wanting to spend a longer dinner in the MDR or not interested in the HC's fare.

 

We also eat at CG (where we've had consistently good meals) at least once a sailing, and have usually enjoyed Sabatinis as well.

Edited October 22, 2016 by Skai

[shredie]

I've never been to SHARE, but it's good to know that I'm only allowed an opinion if I hate it.

 

Huh? :confused:

[Woobstr112G]

I'm glad to hear it. :D

 

Maybe they abandon Share & bring back Sabatini's the way it was a few years ago when everyone really liked it.

 

I never ate at the Salty Dog but it did look good. I'm not one to pay extra for lunch when there's other options available for free.

 

We can only hope.....:):):)

 

Bob

[CallistaSkye]

Don't worry. Anything that doesn't turn a profit will not last.

 

What amazes me is people will pay to go to any specialty restaurant. However, I haven't been on a Princess cruise since 2011. Has the 'included' food and service at the MDR and other venues deteriorated so much people are willing to pay twice for dinner?

 

 

It was funny because on our first cruise we felt like we HAD to try the pay for ones. and while they were good, our best meal was actually the one that was in the regular dining room! So now we are just going to eat in there unless something looks really really temping in the pay for ones.

[Geoffa30]

We did both SHARE and the Salty Dog on our Emerald cruise in August.

 

SHARE was okay. Menu was limited and the food too rich / fatty. Not really worth $39. Despite being told when we booked that it would be busy, there were four or five tables occupied. We actually liked the decor but the chairs were uncomfortable. We decided we wouldn't go again.

 

Salty Dog was much better and so much more than the burger. Definitely worth $19 but the setting isn't great. The high tops are not gastro pub in any way and it felt like sitting in a corridor. The decor in SHARE is more gastro pub. It was generally busier than SHARE and sometimes packed. Was popular with crew. We would go again.

 

We have done Crown Grill a couple of times. Never really been that impressed. For me, who doesn't like seafood, the appetisers are limited. We wouldn't go again. Not worth $29.

 

The speciality restaurants on Celebrity are much better. Murano especially which is as good as some Michelin starred London restaurants.

 

Perhaps Princess might roll out the new French and Cantonese concepts that are to be on the Majestic Princess. We are really looking forward to trying them next April. :)

[brian1]

Hi,it seems Princess have already got the message.Just debarked the Coral and Sabatinis is still there although the deck plans earlier this year clearly showed Share installed by this time.In the MDR the OH tried the chicken pie,ok,she tried the pork belly,like a piece of rubber,not cooked correctly,cheers,Brian.

[seafish]

Onboard checked out Share & Salty Dog - JMO but did not like offerings/ambience. 3 upcoming cruises booked - definitely no Share or Salty Dog for us. Hopefully Princess will make changes.

[critterchick]

EXACTLY! Longer cruises indicate older travelers, and if you're on a cruise for more than 2 weeks you probably won't go to a specialty restaurant more than twice, right? We enjoyed SHARE while on the Ruby in Feb. and there were at least 3-4 other tables occupied besides ours. It's a brand new restaurant and lots of people are afraid to even try it...which I think is silly. There is something very special about SHARE,and the concept of the restaurant on a cruise ship is unique.Share doesn't actually have a lot of tables on purpose, it's not supposed to be crowded and noisy bustling with people and activity. It was so lovely to have a 2 hour dinner that was quiet and rather intimate. Our server was lovely and because she didn't have 10 other tables to wait on, she got to know us !

The price isn't crazy at all...and we left feeling so full...but sad the dinner was over.

 

Before you say how horrible it is, I highly recommend you try it :)

 

We went to Share on our first night on Ruby in February to use our complimentary suite dinner. For a free meal, it was just ok - although it was interesting fare, it wasn't better than what we could get in the MDR, so not worth paying $39ppp. I wouldn't pay for it, and if we are fortunate enough to sail in a suite again, we'll go to Crown Grill instead. We have almost always found the food and service there to be excellent, on every ship we've been on.

 

And even on a 7-night cruise, it wasn't busy. We spent a lot of time in Adagio and seldom saw more than a couple of occupied tables as we went back and forth.

[floridalover5623]

It really costs more then just the cover charge because you've already paid for your dinner with it's tip (in the auto tip) for the main dining room. So essentially you are paying for two dinners and two tips. I think $39 is high for the menu I read online.

 

People never seem to take that fact into consideration.

 

I do not like to beat a dead horse, but I will...

 

This is a post I made on another social media site, while I was on Ruby Princess last week; after we ate in Share...

 

"Let me start by saying we are having a fabulous cruise on the Ruby Princess. However, many people have asked about the Curtis Stone restaurant, Share. My wife and I ate there last night and found the food and presentation were spectacular. However, the service and portion sizes were far from adequate. I asked for an additional portion of the lobster entrée and I was told I would have to pay an additional fee. The portion size was SMALL and I left the restaurant feeling hungry. For a $39 cover charge per person, I did not feel it was worth it. I would not recommend this restaurant. Although other people eating in the specialty restaurant may have a opinions different from mine, what I have expressed is my experience. I eat in specialty restaurants every night on a cruise and this is one of the very few times, that I have left feeling extremely disappointed.":(

 

As a side note...I have NEVER had to ask for an extra piece of Lobster in the Crown Grill, because they bring you 3 or 4 tails as an order. In Share we were given 1 SMALL tail...no more, no way!:mad:

 

BILL

 

There's only so long they can fool the public with that sort of attitude. Considering the size of portions plus the price will doom the restaurant shortly.

[dtb55]

Huh? :confused:

 

 

 

His/her comments were very dismissive of people who like SHARE.

 

 

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[SwissDave]

As someone who has eaten at SHARE 3 times and had 3 incredibly good meals there, and left feeling completely full 3 times, I hope my next cruise will have a SHARE restaurant.

 

Also, as someone who has eaten at Salty Dog twice and had 2 excellent meals there and left both times feeling very full I look forward to my next Salty Dog experience.

 

I see there are still comments about 'who wants to pay for a burger' or 'I dont want burger for dinner' it is quite obvious they haven't even looked at the menu properly as the burger is only one item out of many to choose from.

 

I don't go to Crown Grill anymore, old boring menu, dark and dingy seating and service in there nothing like what is was a couple of years ago. Wont be going back. Did Sabatinis twice, loved it the first time, hated it the second time with the new menu. Won't be going back.

[floridalover5623]

As someone who has eaten at SHARE 3 times and had 3 incredibly good meals there, and left feeling completely full 3 times, I hope my next cruise will have a SHARE restaurant.

 

Also, as someone who has eaten at Salty Dog twice and had 2 excellent meals there and left both times feeling very full I look forward to my next Salty Dog experience.

 

I see there are still comments about 'who wants to pay for a burger' or 'I dont want burger for dinner' it is quite obvious they haven't even looked at the menu properly as the burger is only one item out of many to choose from.

 

I don't go to Crown Grill anymore, old boring menu, dark and dingy seating and service in there nothing like what is was a couple of years ago. Wont be going back. Did Sabatinis twice, loved it the first time, hated it the second time with the new menu. Won't be going back.

 

Although I haven't eaten there other than the burger the other items look like appetizers only and not much more. At dinner I enjoy a full meal & not just a snack to tie me over.