Margaritaville: 14.99$ cover on Breakaway only?

[untailored bostonian]

[..]

Other BA cruisers have confirmed this on FB. I'm assuming that right now it's only a trial on the BA, and hasn't carried over to GA or Escape at this time.

 

This is what I assume since there have been no announcements from NCl. I assume they will test this for a few cruises to see how it affects "sales" at that venue. I do not think it will be received well and the venue will be mostly unused.

[alreadypacked]

You actually need to order a starter, sandwich and dessert to get to break even.

 

At a land based Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, (I used the one in the Margaritaville hotel in Hollywood, FL) Volcano Nachos are $15.99 + 6% sales tax = $16.95. They're big enough for two people to split, which was the OP's point. On the ship it would be $14.99 X 2 + 18% service charge = $35.38. Even if you tipped $5 on land (>30%) you'd still be ahead.

 

The great thing about Freestyle is it's appeal to the math impaired. ;)

 

Seriously, though - A cover charge of $14.99 pulls it out of the running unless you really want a lot of bar food.

 

Exactly! Couldn't agree more.

 

I live in your neck of the woods and have been to the Hollywood Margaritaville a few times too.

[alreadypacked]

The specialty in quotes was to just signify that is it a specialty solely because there is a cover. And possibly just slightly better than some free options. I have never eaten there but I am not offended by a $14.95 charge as if I were to go there and let's say order nachos and a burger than it pays for itself. I understand other people's points about well if 2 people go and want to share etc than it's not worth it. And that's why I was saying what is good about freestyle. You have choices and can choose to go or not if you don't think it is worth it. In the end NCL will settle on a method that both makes them money and is agreeable to most passengers.

 

 

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I can't speak for anyone else, but my main problem with the $14.95 cover charge is that Margaritaville is a lunchtime venue with generous portion sizes. My sister and I ate at the one on Getaway last September (for free when they first opened; staff was still in training). She had the Cobb Salad and I had the Club Sandwich--both were pretty big.

 

I could never order their nachos (have you seen the size of Margaritaville's nachos?) AND a burger--way too much food.

 

At the specialty dinner restaurants, the portion sizes of each course (salad, soup, appetizer, entree etc.) are much smaller, so it's easier to consume several courses of food. And the offerings tend to be higher quality fare, rather than "bar food".

[oncruisecontrol]

It's really odd how NCL has handled this. The old place prior to Margaritaville on the Breakaway was great and free. I would have rather had that with no cover or a la carte fee.

 

BTW, Carnival has Guy's Burger Joint and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse on their ships. Both are free for everyone. I haven't tried them yet.

I can't speak to "Guys Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse", but don't bother with "Guy's Burger Joint". Been on 2 Carnival ships with them, and to me, it was no good. They cook the burgers on a flat-top grill and they cook so many burgers at once that as I waited by the grill, there was so much grease and smoke and moisture in the air, it was utterly disgusting. On second thought, perhaps I shouldn't tell you not to try it, it just didn't appeal to me.

[bob brown]

I can not comment on the exact cost but can say that it was empty all of last week. We just got off of the breakaway this morning and it was empty. They do have a small buffet breakfast set up in the mornings for free and that we even empty.

Good...I hope that when they end their contract with Jimmy Buffet, they convert the venue back into the wonderful (and free), "Uptown Grill"....

I noticed that they have ended their relationship with Buddy "The Cake Boss" Velastro...they dropped "Carlo's" from the bakery name...although they still charge for pastries from there...

And didn't they also end their relationship with Geoff Zakarian with the Ocean Blue restaurant?

[alreadypacked]

Have to say I wasn't a fan of Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival either (thought I would be, but WAY too greasy) and also wasn't a fan of Guy's BBQ Joint at a Bally's Casino (realize it's fast food, but it was cold and meat was dry, and not what i'd call cheap).

 

We live in Southeast Florida. DH and I (twice) tried a restaurant here featured on his TV show (not owned by Guy, once for breakfast, once at lunch)--even purchased a "Linzer" cookie from them to take home (not authentic Linzer--don't think there was a single ground nut in the thing) some years ago and were unimpressed.

[LrgPizza]

This information was previously discussed in another thread. I pointed out that at the a la carte prices, one could have 2 sandwiches and an appetizer for the price of the new cover charge. It is pretty ridiculous.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Is it still free for Haven passengers on day 1?

[Laszlo]

Per the info still on the NCL web site....

 

 

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea

 

Take a bite out of paradise with signature items like Cheeseburger in Paradise. Sip on a Who's to Blame Margarita. Or sit back and groove along to island-inspired live music at this dining venue. $5.00 cover charge applies.

[LrgPizza]

Per the info still on the NCL web site....

 

 

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea

 

Take a bite out of paradise with signature items like Cheeseburger in Paradise. Sip on a Who's to Blame Margarita. Or sit back and groove along to island-inspired live music at this dining venue. $5.00 cover charge applies.

That's crazy! I'd often said that a $5 cover charge would be perfect, but there has never been a $5 cover charge. It went from being a free venue to a la carte. Once again, the website with wrong into.

[Two Wheels Only]

Once again, the website with wrong into.

It also has -" Price Per Person: À la carte"

[tel2]

OK, this might be a stupid question, but I do not see it addressed here. Does anyone know if the "cover charge" applies only if you order food? We would sometimes go in there to get their specialty margaritas. Frequently, we just got a drink and left. Other times, we sit and enjoy our drink, but almost never ordered any food. We usually have the UBP so there was no charge. So, if we go in and order cocktails, does that subject us to the cover charge?

[Cap'n Ron]

Looks like there is a new sticky added on the first page, and it confirms NCL is testing a $14.99 per person cover charge on the Breakaway only. I hope this test fails, as we definitely will be skipping this venue on the Getaway and Bliss next year if they roll it out across the other ships. Too bad, as we really enjoyed Margaritaville on the Escape last year.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7961

[oncruisecontrol]

Looks like there is a new sticky added on the first page' date=' and it confirms NCL is testing a $14.99 per person cover charge on the Breakaway only. I hope this test fails, as we definitely will be skipping this venue on the Getaway and Bliss next year if they roll it out across the other ships. Too bad, as we really enjoyed Margaritaville on the Escape last year.

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7961[/quote']

I hope the test proves to NCL, beyond a shadow of doubt, that a $14.99 cover charge for Margaritaville is a VERY BAD idea. Because it is indeed a very bad idea. We are planning on having a few meals there on our upcoming Escape cruise.......but we will not go there if they expand this cover charge "test" to the Escape.

[alreadypacked]

OK, this might be a stupid question, but I do not see it addressed here. Does anyone know if the "cover charge" applies only if you order food? We would sometimes go in there to get their specialty margaritas. Frequently, we just got a drink and left. Other times, we sit and enjoy our drink, but almost never ordered any food. We usually have the UBP so there was no charge. So, if we go in and order cocktails, does that subject us to the cover charge?

 

Excellent question!

 

Hoping someone (who actually had only a drink in Margaritaville via UBP) will provide us with an answer.

[oncruisecontrol]

I read/skimmed through this entire thread, so not sure if this issue was addressed: How does Margaritaville on Breakaway handle patrons who have the UBP? Do they still charge them the $14.99 cover charge even if they only want to order drinks? Kinda undermines the UBP. What if it was a group of 4 who all had the UBP and only wanted drinks and to share one order of nachos? This $14.99 cover charge sounds like a great way to turn away patrons.

[Sand and Seas]

We would just walk up to the bar to order drinks in Margaritaville. No need for the hostess to seat you. Hopefully, that will still be OK. We won't be eating there on our Escape cruise if this trial moves to the other ships.

[Linny13]

Does anyone know if Margaritaville is free for Haven guests on the first day (lunch)?

[LrgPizza]

We would just walk up to the bar to order drinks in Margaritaville. No need for the hostess to seat you. Hopefully, that will still be OK. We won't be eating there on our Escape cruise if this trial moves to the other ships.

 

 

 

Of course that would still be okay! Just like you can walk up to or sit at any bar outside any specialty restaurant. [emoji849]

[Karmary]

Yes, of course. On the Escape also. Curious if the cover charge applies on Escape and Getaway too.

 

 

 

I got off the Escape 7/15. It was still ala carte pricing.

 

 

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[Karmary]

menu from 7/14 Escape. Only ala carte but we did use left over meal credits (yes it was a wate of money but some of our meals got comped and it would have been a bigger waste to not use for nachos, burgers , key lime pie) and the ubp works at the bar and restaurant.

 

 

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[SailBreakaway]

That's all I have to say about this....[emoji26]

 

 

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[jpc763]

One possible improvement - change Margaritaville to Food Republic on Breakaway & Getaway

[Sand and Seas]

Of course that would still be okay! Just like you can walk up to or sit at any bar outside any specialty restaurant. [emoji849]

 

Yes, I know! I was just answering a question from above. Try and read it all through first.

[Moby0215]

I hope the test proves to NCL, beyond a shadow of doubt, that a $14.99 cover charge for Margaritaville is a VERY BAD idea. Because it is indeed a very bad idea. We are planning on having a few meals there on our upcoming Escape cruise.......but we will not go there if they expand this cover charge "test" to the Escape.

 

 

 

It's only a bad idea if people do not go there and NCL does not make money. They would not be trying it if their stats did not suggest that they could possibly make money. Only time will tell. If a land based margaritaville tried a one price cover charge of $14.99 I am sure it would be wildly successful but would almost certainly lose money.

 

 

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