Jingerwoppy Posted May 2, 2019 #1 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Just got back from a cruise on Liberty on which were inundated with upselling for the specialty restaurants. As soon as we sat down in the waiting area, we were approached with an upsell and then a few more times before we were able to board the ship (there was a delay in boarding). And every time we were in the Windjammer we were approached at least once and a few times on the promenade. Are the specialty restaurants being ignored or is this simply a new approach to try and generate more revenue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkr2 Posted May 2, 2019 #2 Share Posted May 2, 2019 It seems like when sales are low, they pitch. I was pitched the drinks package quite a bit on Freedom on a very port intensive cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelplus Posted May 2, 2019 #3 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I just purchase the BOGO Specialty Dining for two nights and tel the server that we booked a package before the cruise. All it takes is a polite no thank youl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam0610 Posted May 2, 2019 #4 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Was on the Liberty last week. Same thoughts are shared by me. Everyday there was a consistent "upsell" starting with each meal, at the pool decks, in bars, or shopping on board stores. I have to think Specialty Dining is simply not being used by guests. Pricing? Meals in the Main Dining Room compare and are included, at no cost. As I stated in another post, wife and I wanted to try Sabor, but the smoke smell from the Casino was overpowering. Vintages was empty the entire cruise. Same problem, wine offerings are way overpriced. RCL will have to rethink pricing to fill these extra spots. Working in the Wine Business for 40 years even I was put off by pricing. Typical mark up is 100%. RCL seems to be pushing 125% to 150%. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted May 2, 2019 #5 Share Posted May 2, 2019 7 hours ago, Jingerwoppy said: Just got back from a cruise on Liberty on which were inundated with upselling for the specialty restaurants. As soon as we sat down in the waiting area, we were approached with an upsell and then a few more times before we were able to board the ship (there was a delay in boarding). And every time we were in the Windjammer we were approached at least once and a few times on the promenade. Are the specialty restaurants being ignored or is this simply a new approach to try and generate more revenue? I believe in turning this into a positive as I have got some big discounts and free drinks included when I have been approached. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukee Eight Posted May 2, 2019 #6 Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, grapau27 said: I believe in turning this into a positive as I have got some big discounts and free drinks included when I have been approached. Agreed They will negotiate prices on occasion. We try to get at least 40% off or BOGO (50%). We don’t have any problem saying “no thanks”. Edited May 2, 2019 by Milwaukee Eight 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho_proudfoot Posted May 2, 2019 #7 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I agree that sometimes the "listed price" is so offputting that the speciality restaurants are virtually deserted. On Brilliance last year, we were offered Chops (for that night) for $1. Other guests reported similar discounted prices for Giovanni's and Izumi. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wordell1 Posted May 2, 2019 #8 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I hope they stay empty at the prices that they are charging. When they are selling you, it is a good opportunity to give the reasons you are not booking. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruisegirl6 Posted May 2, 2019 #9 Share Posted May 2, 2019 That sure can be annoying...we generally get the ultimate dining package and just tell them we have it and keep walking, but we are so tired of the same menu's and find all the restaurants to us are not as good any longer (150 is our favorite), I guess I just tell them we do not like the food in those restaurants, surprise them, you be sure they leave us alone and go to somebody else. LOL. Honestly, if the quality kept up we would be dining each night there but it isn't worth it any longer to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Babe Posted May 2, 2019 #10 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I am not a big fan of the way they aggressively sell on the ship, but I have gotten some great deals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgmn Posted May 2, 2019 #11 Share Posted May 2, 2019 2 hours ago, grapau27 said: I believe in turning this into a positive as I have got some big discounts and free drinks included when I have been approached. We got 50%discount on the dinner theatre at Giovanni's on Jewel in February 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted May 2, 2019 #12 Share Posted May 2, 2019 1 hour ago, sgmn said: We got 50%discount on the dinner theatre at Giovanni's on Jewel in February That's fantastic, thanks for sharing and proof that rather than be annoyed with speciallity restaurant upselling,for some of us who like speciality restaurants they are doing is a big favour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamcruzin Posted May 2, 2019 #13 Share Posted May 2, 2019 5 hours ago, grapau27 said: I believe in turning this into a positive as I have got some big discounts and free drinks included when I have been approached. That's what I am hoping for on my sailing. The prices are way to high and the menus aren't all that special. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted May 2, 2019 #14 Share Posted May 2, 2019 4 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said: That's what I am hoping for on my sailing. The prices are way to high and the menus aren't all that special Hope you have a great cruise and that you get offered speciality restaurants so you can negotiate an excellent price. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dex08 Posted May 2, 2019 #15 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Currently on Harmony and it’s been a huge push for the specialty restaurants. On the way into the main dining room the first night I felt like I was nearly being stalked and pounced on by the peddlers selling the dining packages. In the main dining room the Head Waiters came to us on the first two nights offering us deals in them. One evening we were offered $20 off Izumi (only for the hibachi and not the a la carte sushi). We have politely declined each time. It’s a bit annoying how frequently this is occurring. We are on Day 5 of a 7 nighter and I’m hoping they give up soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBE4 Posted May 2, 2019 #16 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Specialty restaurants are not really that special anymore. I remember when they were packed each night, now often times they seem to be at 50-70% capacity. As others have said, increasing the price and decreasing the size on the menu and quality of food is a triple whammy. I always said I would do Chops at $25/pp (the price when I first tried it) but would not touch it at $42/pp (the price it was on my Nov 2018 cruise). Now I'm not sure I would even do it for anything above $20/pp. Hopefully those that are being hounded by upsells can use that to their advantage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBE4 Posted May 2, 2019 #17 Share Posted May 2, 2019 5 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said: Agreed They will negotiate prices on occasion. We try to get at least 40% off or BOGO (50%). We don’t have any problem saying “no thanks”. Agreed. When people say they are being hounded for upsells, I always picture the beaches of Jamaica where someone always wants to braid your hair or sell you pot. I've never found the upsells on Royal to be pushy and always polite. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted May 2, 2019 #18 Share Posted May 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, HBE4 said: Agreed. When people say they are being hounded for upsells, I always picture the beaches of Jamaica where someone always wants to braid your hair or sell you pot. I've never found the upsells on Royal to be pushy and always polite. Compared to some of the timeshare touts we have encountered over the years in the Canary Islands the pushing of extras on RC is child's play. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mousefan73 Posted May 2, 2019 #19 Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) Now I don’t feel so cheap by not booking specialty dining on our next cruise. We are also a family of four so specialty dining is simply out of our budget. And for me personally doesn’t make sense if we are on a cruise to spend that much money on dining when there are other options included. I told my kids either we’re on a cruise or we go out to dinner every night fir a week but not both. We are relatively new to cruising and it is just simply insane And what one can spend on port excursions and specialty drinking and dining packages. Makes the cruise fare look like a cover charge. But thank God cruise line are not at the point yet where one has to do book extra. we choose not to and I’m pretty sure we will still have a great time. If we are asked we simply say no. Unless the deal is too good to be true. Edited May 2, 2019 by mousefan73 Typo 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueridgemama Posted May 2, 2019 #20 Share Posted May 2, 2019 We rarely go to a specialty restaurant on a ship. The MDR menus have more than enough choices for us and I just don't see the need to spend another $25 or more per person for a specialty restaurant. When you add in all the extras you can purchase on a cruise it can be more than the cost of the cruise itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artemus Posted May 2, 2019 #21 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Recently on Enchantment a crew member started talking to us out of nowhere complimenting my wife and so forth being really nice and we were thinking Oh he is really nice and then he started talking about the specialty restaurants. We just politely moved on but it fell a bit disingenuous and gave us a feeling of negativity about the whole thing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 2, 2019 #22 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Specialty dining has no value for me. Considering I've already paid for a meal in the MDR, specialty should be $10-15 per person tops. Instead they charge more for a meal that is lesser quality than I can get at home in a restaurant that has a much more diverse menu. Absurd. Glad to see they have priced themselves out of the market and guests are avoiding specialty dining. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_G Posted May 2, 2019 #23 Share Posted May 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Colorado Babe said: I am not a big fan of the way they aggressively sell on the ship, but I have gotten some great deals. We've never been annoyed by it and have scored some good deals. They're usually very responsive to no thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelblu Posted May 2, 2019 #24 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Depending on the time and ship. On our upcoming Anthem sail in late August, the SR pricing show no sign of discounting pre-boarding. As a matter of fact, the BOGO 1st 2 nights which was selling for $49.99 has been replaced with "Chops +1" at $75 pp. Rather use my D+ coupon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamcruzin Posted May 2, 2019 #25 Share Posted May 2, 2019 8 minutes ago, nelblu said: Depending on the time and ship. On our upcoming Anthem sail in late August, the SR pricing show no sign of discounting pre-boarding. As a matter of fact, the BOGO 1st 2 nights which was selling for $49.99 has been replaced with "Chops +1" at $75 pp. Rather use my D+ coupon. I'm sailing on Anthem in June I have not seen one drop in price for the restaurants. I have only seen the sale for dining packages which I'm not interested in. I guess if they don't sell enough packages they will discount on the ship to fill seats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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