Escape-specialty dining opinions

[cookie*]

Trying to decide if specialty dining pkg will be "worth it" for us. We love the Food Republic (not part of plan) menu options and plan to eat here maybe 3times? We also have Teppanyaki booked for our family of 4.

 

*given above, excursion pkg has us coming out ahead but only by about $50ish, but maybe we would enjoy 2 more specialty restaurants? I am at the point of over-thinking things so would love opinions, although even writing this up has helped me tremendously; maybe it will help someone else?

 

1)we could switch to dining pkg and add 2 specialty restaurants. My concern with this is a) we would have to book onboard because times left don't work for us so this means going straight to booking when we get on the ship b) having 2 extra meals booked takes away some spontaneity c)if the kids were fed dinner at the kids club this would be a much easier decision but we will have to take them to eat before our dinner and it seems silly to sit with them and not eat. Sitting at dinner with the kids and then sitting at dinner just the two of us seems like a lot of sitting at dinner LOL. If we bring the kids to the specialty restaurant we run into the problem that our son will want to order off the adult menu and that brings up the cost.

 

2) we could apply that $50ish savings to a lobster dinner in the MDR or additional trips to Food Republic or a night at Bayamo and keep our spontaneity.

 

3) we end up liking the MDRs well enough and apply the $50ish to something we will be spending already such as meals off ship or gratuities and stick to our plan of 3x to Food Republic and 1 night at Teppanyaki.

[cookie*]

*UPDATE*

We have decided to go with specialty dining 3 dinner plan. To quote JW "The ship is the destination" and we want to experience all that we can. We are already booked at Teppanyaki. Which 2 others should we select?

 

I am thinking another one for the four of us-maybe sit outside during sail away from a port? Cagney's? Our 9yo loves steak (well we all do.) It would be OK to share our appetizers with the kids and then we can order our 9yo a 5oz fillet a la carte? 5yo will be happy with children's menu or nibbling our food.

 

For the other we are thinking date night. Le Bistro? Or Bayamo? Is it worth the up-charge? Something else we should consider?

[BirdTravels]

Book on embarkation day. Use any of the touch screen kiosks in public areas. Lots of tables available at all times if you book quickly.

 

Cagneys and Teppanyaki are the most popular and will sell out during prime time.

 

SDP could also be used for lunch at Pinchos Tapas Bar (we did that) or Margaritaville.

[Loonbeam]

We did LaCucina outside during sailaway from Miami (we are not loud party people) and it was awesome. Quiet, great uncrowded views, excellent service and very good food!

 

Cagney's would be another good choice for that.

 

Romantic..Hmmm...Cagney's for that as well would be my first thought (LeBistro is nice but there are smoke issues from the casino at times on the plaza tables.

[asubaru]

I was going to suggest the dining pkg :-) I am a Food Republic fan, too. My favorite drink on the ship is there, called Toro, Toro. It is really, really spicy but in a good way.

 

You should be fine sharing sides and such at Cagney's

 

Bayamo has a very limited menu, IMO. It almost kept me from trying, but I am glad I did. I had a fabulous piece of cod there and I tried my friend's wagyu sirloin. Her steak looked and tasted better than any Cagney's steak I have had or tasted; I was really impressed with the taste and texture.

 

IME, Le Bistro has been the most consistent specialty restaurant as far as quality and service over the years/several cruises. I am not fond of the new menu but, hey, it'll probably change in a month or two!

 

Love their seafood medley app. I would have had 2 (one for app and one for entree) if I hadn't been using my Platinum coupon.

 

Hope you have wonderful experiences whatever you choose.

 

*UPDATE*

We have decided to go with specialty dining 3 dinner plan. To quote JW "The ship is the destination" and we want to experience all that we can. We are already booked at Teppanyaki. Which 2 others should we select?

 

I am thinking another one for the four of us-maybe sit outside during sail away from a port? Cagney's? Our 9yo loves steak (well we all do.) It would be OK to share our appetizers with the kids and then we can order our 9yo a 5oz fillet a la carte? 5yo will be happy with children's menu or nibbling our food.

 

For the other we are thinking date night. Le Bistro? Or Bayamo? Is it worth the up-charge? Something else we should consider?

[cookie*]

Thanks for these tips everyone! Are the kiosks at the Miami port while we wait to get on the ship? Will the iconcierge app work on my phone as we wait to board too or is it better to use a kiosk?

[Kfamilycruise]

Make sure you have iconcierge downloaded before you get to the port. Once you are in the terminal, you can connect to iconcierge through ship's wifi and sign in.