DKNE Posted June 13, 2019 #1 Share Posted June 13, 2019 I will be cruising on the NCL "Star" next month. This is my first time on NCL (but will be my 13th cruise). I am reading that people have to make dining reservations. Is that for specialty restaurants? I thought this cruise line was free style dining. Can you guide me how it works? Also as a newbie NCL person, do you have any tips or anything for me. Going to Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, and Greece. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplybcause Posted June 13, 2019 #2 Share Posted June 13, 2019 You don't need them for the MDR - works just like any restaurant on land that takes reservations & walkins. If you're wanting to eat at a specific time with no leeway - you are better off making a reservation. If you like to eat at the prime dining times you might have a wait. I've only sailed on their megaships, but I've never had a long wait. I think the longest I waited was just enough time to get a drink from the bar. You should make reservations for specialty dining though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKNE Posted June 13, 2019 Author #3 Share Posted June 13, 2019 ok thank you! We probably will not do specialty dining. Only MDR. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snirpville Posted June 13, 2019 #4 Share Posted June 13, 2019 I was on the Star last year and only ate at the MDR. No wait any time we showed up and we tended to arrive around 6pm in order to make it to the 7:30pm show. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted June 13, 2019 #5 Share Posted June 13, 2019 It is unlikely you could make a reservation for 2 in an MDR. Reservations there tend to be for "large" parties. There is usually no wait before 6pm which is the start of prime time for dining to get to the early show. There often seems to be people waiting when we leave about 7.15 and seems to get worse as 8pm approaches, again the prime time for dining before the second show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaja Posted June 13, 2019 #6 Share Posted June 13, 2019 In my experience...I have never been able to make reservations for MDR..either as a solo or when I sail with my DH. Was always told ..no... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amelia3171 Posted June 14, 2019 #7 Share Posted June 14, 2019 My experience is that you can make MDR reservation for 2 people online before the cruise but not when you are on the ship. But after our first cruise (when we did make MDR reservations) we never have felt the need for reservations, never having waited more than 2 minutes for a table for 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted June 14, 2019 #8 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Keep in mind that there are TWO -2- MDRs on the STAR - the aft one is more Ritzy with cruise casual dress code the mid-ship is almost anything goes. The Specialty Restaurants for prime time seating - most definitely Reservations - Very early evening 5-5:30 may work with a walk-up and again very late 9 ish. Teppanyaki has fixed non-negotiable times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted June 14, 2019 #9 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Keep in mind that there are TWO -2- MDRs on the STAR - the aft one is more Ritzy with cruise casual dress code the mid-ship is almost anything goes. The real difference is that Versailles, the aft MDR, requires men to wear longs when there for DINNER. That is the MDR open for breakfast and lunch and then "almost anything goes" too. Aqua, the midships MDR, is only open for dinner and there it is "almost anything goes". Le Bistro is like Versailles while the other specialties are like Aqua. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snirpville Posted June 14, 2019 #10 Share Posted June 14, 2019 I didn’t care for Aqua as I found the tables very close to each other. Versailles was very nice. But yes, long pants for the men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted June 14, 2019 #11 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Personally we did like Aqua not only so I didn't have to wear shorts but also you could share without having to share!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snirpville Posted June 14, 2019 #12 Share Posted June 14, 2019 8 minutes ago, casofilia said: Personally we did like Aqua not only so I didn't have to wear shorts but also you could share without having to share!! Haha! True! It was just a tad too close to the other diners for us. And my father refuses to go to dinner in shorts no matter what so Versailles worked for us. Either way, the food and service was great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingofcool1947 Posted June 14, 2019 #13 Share Posted June 14, 2019 50 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said: Keep in mind that there are TWO -2- MDRs on the STAR - the aft one is more Ritzy with cruise casual dress code the mid-ship is almost anything goes. The Specialty Restaurants for prime time seating - most definitely Reservations - Very early evening 5-5:30 may work with a walk-up and again very late 9 ish. Teppanyaki has fixed non-negotiable times. I have not sailed on NCL, but considering trying it out. I’ve sailed on Oceania, Celebrity, and Princess. Each with different levels of dress code. Thinking of a Med cruise Italy, Greece, Spain When you say the aft MDR is more Ritzy with cruise casual dress code, compared to the mid-ship is almost anything goes, what do men and women PAXs typically wear at either for evening dinner? Examples? Dress code for dining in Specialty restaurants? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted June 14, 2019 #14 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Here are the words from NCL Cruise Casual: the Freedom of Freestyle Cruising Dress cruise casual anytime during the day, in the buffet and in most specialty restaurants. For women, it includes summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, shorts, jeans and tops. Khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts are fine for men. Swimwear is acceptable at the buffet and outdoor restaurant, but a shirt or a cover-up and footwear are required. Be sure to pack a sweater - the air conditioning can be chilly. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear nice shorts in all our restaurants. Please Note: We want you to be comfortable, but tank tops for men, thongs, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips are not permitted in main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. All Decked-out: Smart Casual Dress smart casual in our more formal dining room or in our more upscale specialty restaurants. For women, it includes slacks or jeans, dresses, skirts and tops. For men, it's jeans or slacks with a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear nice shorts in all our restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted June 14, 2019 #15 Share Posted June 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, casofilia said: Please Note: We want you to be comfortable, but tank tops for men, thongs, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips are not permitted in main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. I've never seen/noticed thongs mentioned before. I'm guessing that NCL means "uncovered" or "exposed" thongs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted June 14, 2019 #16 Share Posted June 14, 2019 @Two Wheels Only I've never seen/noticed thongs mentioned before. I'm guessing that NCL means "uncovered" or "exposed" thongs? The word has two meanings, for us in the Southern Hemisphere is is footwear!! I presume they refer to the American usage!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Von & John Posted June 15, 2019 #17 Share Posted June 15, 2019 Funny -- I took it to mean footwear. We have a similar challenge in the workplace - sandals are acceptable, but not flip-flops/thongs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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