swanmark Posted March 19, 2017 #1 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Hi Guys, going on the Epic on the 14th May, as this is our first cruise I have millions of questions in my head, I have read that most of the meal portions on board are quite small, which I don't like as I am quite a large eater. Can you order more than one entrée if that's the case, can you order more than one starter or dessert, and what if you come away from the restaurant still feeling peckish, can you go to another restaurant later. Sorry if these questions sound daft, but it is our first cruise. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted March 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Yes, yes, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellanor Posted March 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Hoo boy, can you. Man, I'm loving all these threads about food! You can pretty much order as many of each as you want, and they can go as replacements for others. Want an appetizer and two desserts? Absolutely. Want three appetizers and three different wines to go with all three? Can do. Want three entrees? Right this way. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeyetlse Posted March 19, 2017 #4 Share Posted March 19, 2017 You can order as much as you want in the complimentary venues (main dining rooms, O'Sheehan's, Shanghai/Noodle Bar, and obviously at the buffet). Or go for a second meal somewhere else during the same meal service, no problem. Don't forget about the snack menu at Spice H2O (if they're still doing that)! And the late night snacks in the casino. I don't find the restaurant portions to be particularly small, but most entrées I guess I could imagine eating two of them without too much trouble. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColeThornton Posted March 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Depends on if you are talking about complimentary venues or specialty restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowmeboy Posted March 19, 2017 #6 Share Posted March 19, 2017 You will be limited to one entree if you have the dining promo in the specialty restaurants. In the MDR or other inclusive restaurants, order away. I find something I was unsure about looks good, and just have to try it. Or I see two things I love on the same day's MDR menu, I will order both! Enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted March 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Some people "pre-drink" to save money. Maybe you should consider "pre-eating" - go to O'Sheehans for an app beforehand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted March 19, 2017 #8 Share Posted March 19, 2017 In the complimentary venues you can order as much as you like. In the specialty dining with the SDP, there is an upcharge for multiple entrees but you can have as much of everything else as you like. I think you may have been mislead on the portion sizes though. Compared to a regular US restaurant dish where you can order just that and still take half home, they are small. But usually you are ordering multiple courses. I enjoy a soup or salad plus an app (or a soup and a salad without an app) plus an entree and dessert and that is plenty of food. No need to stuff yourself; don't forget that the buffet is open for a mid afternoon or late night snack as well. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteTraveler Posted March 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted March 19, 2017 The portions are NOT small at all! I would describe them as on the large size. I can hardly finish my entree if I get an appetizer, too, much less eat a dessert. I generally have to pace myself and eat only half of my appetizer and half of my entree if I have any hope of eating any of the dessert. That said you can go to more than one dining venue or the buffet if you feel that you need more - there is so much food onboard it is quite overwhelming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$hip$hape Posted March 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Some people "pre-drink" to save money. Maybe you should consider "pre-eating" - go to O'Sheehans for an app beforehand. OP be advised... I know, in advance, it's hard to imagine but, Consider you may tire of eating.:eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuXfbvBS26o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poona1 Posted March 20, 2017 #11 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Gosh..that anime is making me fat just thinking about food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted March 20, 2017 #12 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Sampling of entree sizes in MDR. Pretty full plates. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandCruisin Posted March 20, 2017 #13 Share Posted March 20, 2017 No limit to any dining options in MDR, O'Sheehans, Buffet or other free options. They might also have snacks available from 3-5pm. And offer late night snacks from 930-1130p usually. Eat Away and enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted March 20, 2017 #14 Share Posted March 20, 2017 You can order as much as you want in the complimentary venues (main dining rooms, O'Sheehan's, Shanghai/Noodle Bar, and obviously at the buffet). Or go for a second meal somewhere else during the same meal service, no problem. Don't forget about the snack menu at Spice H2O (if they're still doing that)! And the late night snacks in the casino. I don't find the restaurant portions to be particularly small, but most entrées I guess I could imagine eating two of them without too much trouble. :) That is what cruising is all about for the most part! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellanor Posted March 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Gosh..that anime is making me fat just thinking about food. You beat me to it! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dacsmom Posted March 20, 2017 #16 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Everyday lunch or second lunch at O'Sheehans - double order of Thai Chili wings and fries. Oh, don't forget the Rebellious Fish to wash it all down. They are open 24 hours. That was my go to place if I wanted a snack. It gets really crowded certain times of the day, but I avoided the rush by going a little earlier or later. Have a great time on your first cruise. Loved the Epic, just got off two weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunny2runner Posted March 20, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 20, 2017 We were well fed on the Epic! Most nights we weren't even that hungry to go to main dining. We went to MDR 2 times on our 7 night cruise and had to force ourselves to eat our meals. Maybe we just ate lunch too late but their are so many yummy options on NCL ships that eating yummy food and having enough it is not a problem at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted March 20, 2017 #18 Share Posted March 20, 2017 As others have said, the portions are NOT small. Personally, I've never ordered a second entree nor have I ever seen someone get a second (not that I pay that much attention to the other diners). Between the appetizer, entree, and dessert, I've never, ever been able to finish it all. I can't imagine ordering multiples, though if you listen to the reports here, many will tell you everyone orders multiples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark290 Posted March 20, 2017 #19 Share Posted March 20, 2017 As others have said, the portions are NOT small. Personally, I've never ordered a second entree nor have I ever seen someone get a second (not that I pay that much attention to the other diners). Between the appetizer, entree, and dessert, I've never, ever been able to finish it all. I can't imagine ordering multiples, though if you listen to the reports here, many will tell you everyone orders multiples. You are not eating to survive. If you were just trying hit hit your calories to make it to the next day then you could skip the appetizer, desert and probably half your entree. You just said you can't finish it all so why order it all ? Maybe because you are on vacation, dining out and want to try different dishes. Same reason people order multiple entrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted March 21, 2017 #20 Share Posted March 21, 2017 You are not eating to survive. If you were just trying hit hit your calories to make it to the next day then you could skip the appetizer, desert and probably half your entree. You just said you can't finish it all so why order it all ? Maybe because you are on vacation, dining out and want to try different dishes. Same reason people order multiple entrees. Okay.... Not sure where you're coming from. I didn't say people don't; I simply said I've never seen anyone do that. I don't care if others order multiples. I don't do it as I could never even come close to eating that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelorteach Posted March 21, 2017 #21 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Personally I do find many portions small, especially appetizers. I will often order 2 appetizers, as the soup is frequently tea-cup size. Once in awhile I will order 2 entrees-usually because they both sound so good and I can't decide! When I do, I will ask for both to be put on the same plate with only 1 side (veg/pasta etc). If you are thinking about trying an entree and deciding whether to order another afterwards, I would not suggest it. Due to the timing of the dinner service it would be better to order both at once. Bon appetit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark290 Posted March 21, 2017 #22 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Okay.... Not sure where you're coming from. I didn't say people don't; I simply said I've never seen anyone do that. I don't care if others order multiples. I don't do it as I could never even come close to eating that much. Where I coming from is you don't come close to eating the appetizer, entree and dessert you do order so how is that different than ordering two entrees that you won't come close to finishing ? I don't care what you or anyone orders but your reasoning didn't make sense to me. To each his or her own. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perditax Posted March 21, 2017 #23 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Where I coming from is you don't come close to eating the appetizer, entree and dessert you do order so how is that different than ordering two entrees that you won't come close to finishing ? I don't care what you or anyone orders but your reasoning didn't make sense to me. To each his or her own. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Because an appetizer is an appetizer, a main is a main, and dessert is dessert? It's like a story with a beginning, middle and end, and together it makes up a total "dining experience" for some people. It's not the equivalent of ordering two entrees. I read the person you're quoting's original post and she came across as speaking only for herself, not casting judgement on anyone else's choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted March 21, 2017 #24 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Where I coming from is you don't come close to eating the appetizer, entree and dessert you do order so how is that different than ordering two entrees that you won't come close to finishing ? I don't care what you or anyone orders but your reasoning didn't make sense to me. To each his or her own. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I was commenting on the size of the servings and saying they aren't small. My point of reference is that I can't eat an app, entree, and dessert. I wasn't comparing it to ordering two entrees and not finishing them. I didn't say anything about that. The OP said that he's read the servings are "quite small." I was pointing out that the IMO the servings aren't small just as some others have also said. Because an appetizer is an appetizer, a main is a main, and dessert is dessert? It's like a story with a beginning, middle and end, and together it makes up a total "dining experience" for some people. It's not the equivalent of ordering two entrees. I read the person you're quoting's original post and she came across as speaking only for herself, not casting judgement on anyone else's choices. Thank you. I was, indeed, speaking only for myself and not judging others. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted March 21, 2017 #25 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I wouldn't call the portions small, but I wouldn't call them large, either. It's not like you're being served heaping piles of food like you would at some chain roadhouses and such. I think they are simply average sized entrees, which are adequate to satisfy most. Well, except that cornish hen. That thing was ginormous. It looked like an uncarved Thanksgiving turkey sitting on my son's plate. At age 13, he devoured 2 of them. I wish I could find a photo of the aftermath. Although I've tried to block it from memory, I still have flashbacks of the carcasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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