Local/O'Sheehan's Wings...

[mshaines]

I know I'm treading into controversy here, but I thought I saw something that suggested NCL reversed course on the baked wings.  (And, yes, I searched the board to no avail.)  Anyhow, recent cruisers, how were the wings?  We had some on the Getaway in March and my husband thought they were disgusting.  Fwiw, I thought they were fine, but nowhere as good as our previous NCL cruise (pre-pandemic).  They almost seemed like they had been made in an instant pot, texture-wise.  Apologies if I've missed recent posts I should have seen.  TIA!  

[vacation44]

That would be wonderful news if they went back to the old way of cooking them.  

[laudergayle]

The wings we had in 2021 were amazing..crispy even with sauce.  The wings in 2022 and 2023 have been soft.  Tasty but not crispy.  Someone on here said they ask for plain wings extra crispy with sauce in the side.  Haven’t tried it yet but sounds good.

[leithbones]

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice.....

(or three times, or four >>> when do I cease being an idiot hoping NCL learns how to do wings?).

....shame on me.

[mshaines]

29 minutes ago, leithbones said:

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice.....

(or three times, or four >>> when do I cease being an idiot hoping NCL learns how to do wings?).

....shame on me.

😭😭😆

[mshaines]

37 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

The wings we had in 2021 were amazing..crispy even with sauce.  The wings in 2022 and 2023 have been soft.  Tasty but not crispy.  Someone on here said they ask for plain wings extra crispy with sauce in the side.  Haven’t tried it yet but sounds good.

Good to know!  Thank you!

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, mshaines said:

I know I'm treading into controversy here, but I thought I saw something that suggested NCL reversed course on the baked wings.  (And, yes, I searched the board to no avail.)  Anyhow, recent cruisers, how were the wings?  We had some on the Getaway in March and my husband thought they were disgusting.  Fwiw, I thought they were fine, but nowhere as good as our previous NCL cruise (pre-pandemic).  They almost seemed like they had been made in an instant pot, texture-wise.  Apologies if I've missed recent posts I should have seen.  TIA!  

We had the baked wings on our May 2023 cruise and they were wonderful. They are in direct response to the contemporary cruiser who is looking for healthier choices. Everything on a ship does not have to be fried to be "good". 

 

[podgeandrodge]

I had wings in O'Sheehan's on the Breakaway last month. Nowhere near as good as previous years, dunno how they were cooked.

[mshaines]

17 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

We had the baked wings on our May 2023 cruise and they were wonderful. They are in direct response to the contemporary cruiser who is looking for healthier choices. Everything on a ship does not have to be fried to be "good". 

 

Understood and agreed, conceptually.  Obviously, per my post, my husband and I did not think the "healthier" wings (I'm pretty sure that's an oxymoron, though I guess everything can be comparative) were as good as fried.  I also disagree with the suggestion that this change to a WILDLY popular option was a result of "health" concerns so much as one of the MANY changes for NCL's bottom line as of late.  Do you have any evidence of this statement?  Not to be rude, but what exactly did you think this comment added?  It's not at all responsive to the question I asked which stated a personal preference.  

[mshaines]

14 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

I had wings in O'Sheehan's on the Breakaway last month. Nowhere near as good as previous years, dunno how they were cooked.

Well, this comports with our experience.  Thanks for the update!  Not like we won't have a good time anyhow!  Oh well! 

[omahabob]

21 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

...Everything on a ship does not have to be fried to be "good". 

 

 

Some of the guests are more entertaining when they're fried, though.

[mshaines]

Just now, omahabob said:

 

Some of the guests are more entertaining when they're fried, though.

😆 🖐️

[DominicAUS]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

We had the baked wings on our May 2023 cruise and they were wonderful. They are in direct response to the contemporary cruiser who is looking for healthier choices. Everything on a ship does not have to be fried to be "good". 

 

Hahaha, in direct response to the contemporary cruiser?? So you work for NCL and review all the customers feedback and suggest to change to healthier wings…….please! Unless working with NCL we can only offer what we think the reason they’ve changed them. Let’s not throw statements out like “it’s in direct response” when you can’t substantiate your information. 
 

I’m response to the OP. I normally ask for sauce of the side and extra crispy. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re not. Shame it’s so hit and miss. I did enjoy the wings 

[LoungerOnBalcony55]

I love the idea that someone drunkeating wings at 1am is supposedly concerned about making more healthy choices. 

 

They did it to save money on cooking oil. 

[dbrown84]

I really miss the pre-pandemic wings.  They were my goto late night snack after the club and casino closed.  I also think they are awful now.  The burger is now my goto.  With pastrami and bacon on top

[mking8288]

This April batch were the better looking ones onboard the Epic, and even DW wasn't impressed and said we are not going to eat any more of these ... she's the one that usually tell me stop being critical.  

 

I dunno, are they using solar-powered (just kidding) air fryers these days as it surely will drastically cut their carbon footprints ... well, maybe not.  But, fewer discarded cooking oil to be haul away & recycled or disposed of.  

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by mking8288

[BirdTravels]

5 hours ago, mshaines said:

 It's not at all responsive to the question I asked 

You asked if NCL had reversed courses and I offered that in May, they were still serving the most wonderful baked wings that are far superior to the fried-to-death, tough as leather wings that they used to serve. 

[fastpitchdad]

They can make them crispy, just brush with Olive Oil and bake at a temp higher than 410. 

[chillyw]

8 hours ago, mshaines said:

I know I'm treading into controversy here, but I thought I saw something that suggested NCL reversed course on the baked wings.  (And, yes, I searched the board to no avail.)  Anyhow, recent cruisers, how were the wings?  We had some on the Getaway in March and my husband thought they were disgusting.  Fwiw, I thought they were fine, but nowhere as good as our previous NCL cruise (pre-pandemic).  They almost seemed like they had been made in an instant pot, texture-wise.  Apologies if I've missed recent posts I should have seen.  TIA!  

 

I'm on the Encore right now and they are God awful.

[boltnut55]

We were on Joy in December, excited to try the wings, and were disappointed.  Good to know that perhaps things have changed for whatever reason because I had read they were really good and found them to be skinny and hard.  Unlike leithbones, we didn't try again, but we're going on the Jewel in a couple of weeks... and will order at O'Sheehan's like he/she said, "hoping NCL learns how to do wings." 😁

[LadyBerard]

The best wings on NCL that we ever had was years ago on NCL Spirit when it was doing the Boston to Bermuda cruises.  Haven't been nearly as good since then.

[Raleigh Traveler]

We were on the Joy for 15 days this Jan-Feb. How wings are cooked is pretty low on our list of why we cruise. We did have the wings at the Local and they were just a good as what we get a most restaurants in our area. Give them a try and either repeat or move on. What did not impress at the Local was the hot dogs. What was really good are the pretzel bites and the Lechon Asado (Cuban roast pork with plantains, rice and beans).

[CaptainBazz]

15 minutes ago, Raleigh Traveler said:

What did not impress at the Local was the hot dogs.

We were on the Spirit in March and the Coney Island hot dog was excellent...and the wings were great as well...and the Reuben sandwich...and the fish and chips...and the carrot cake...mmm I love cruising 😎

[LatinaInTexas]

On the Getaway in May they were basically inedible. Taste, texture, appearance not good. Me and husband who eats anything left them on our plates. No I didn't order them again in case it was a one off. Actually had not very good food three times out of the four times we tried it.

This was my first time sailing NCL so had no past experience eating there.

Loved the food everywhere else I ate which was most meals in the MDR. Only had one dish I didn't care for there.

[insidecabin]

On the dawn thinking the wings not as good, I like crispy skin, if we have them again will ask.

 

Not sure about saving oil they could just filter it, throw a few ltr in with the bunker, those big engines would love it.