Restaurants on the Jewel

[schack74]

I have never sailed on NCL and need info on the dining options for this ship which we're considering. I've read that there are 10 restaurants on this ship. I've been on Princess several times and have done their freestyle where you come to the dining room whenever you want within the specified hours and there are specialty restaurants with additional charges. How does it work on this ship? How many restaurants require additional charges and which ones do not. Thanks!

[flvol77]

I have never sailed on NCL and need info on the dining options for this ship which we're considering. I've read that there are 10 restaurants on this ship. I've been on Princess several times and have done their freestyle where you come to the dining room whenever you want within the specified hours and there are specialty restaurants with additional charges. How does it work on this ship? How many restaurants require additional charges and which ones do not. Thanks!

 

I have done princess three times and love it, but I wanted to try something different...here is the info that I have gathered so far about the resturants on the jewel...honestly I think we we may try one or two of the pay resturants, but I think I am going to try the dining room food and see what it is like. I can't find anyone that has menus from the eastern caribbean from the jewel, so IMO its going to be hard to plan out where I want to eat every day. JMO it defeats the purpose of "anytime" or "freestyle dining"

 

here is the info

 

Tsar's Palace Main Restaurant- No Cover- One of two main Dining Rooms.

Azura Main Restaurant – No Cover – One of two main Dining Rooms.

Le Bistro French Restaurant- Specialty restaurant w/ cover charge.- $15.00 pp

Chin Chin Asian Restaurant- Specialty restaurant w/ cover charge. $10.00 pp

Cagney's Steakhouse-Specialty restaurant w/cover charge-$15.00pp unless having lobster- additional charge of $10.00pp

Tango's Tapas & Latin Restaurant- No Cover- Included in cruise fare.

The Great Outdoors- Included in cruise fare

Garden Café / Kid's Café- Buffet – Included in cruise fare

Mama's Italian Kitchen- No Cover- Included in cruise fare- Very Popular- Make Reservations!

Blue Lagoon- Included in cruise fare-Open 24 Hours

Sushi Bar- Cover-all you can eat sushi -$5.00 pp

Teppanyaki- Sushi & Teppanyaki - All you can eat sushi - $5 per person, there is also a la carte pricing on the menu

[schack74]

Thank you so much for your quick and very detailed response! It's exactly what I wanted. I wasn't sure how many of the dining options would cost extra and you've answered everything! thanks again.

[Cosmopolitan]

Watch your dailies for 1/2 price discounts in speciality restaurants for early seatings;)

[KeystoneCruiser]

Here is a quick synopsis of Freestyle Dining:

 

I love Freestyle and that is why I only cruise on NCL.

 

Freestyle is all about your choice. Freestyle gives you the choice to eat WHEN you want, with WHO you want, WHERE you want, and HOW you want.

 

1.) You do not have assigned dining times. You can go the main restaurants anytime that they are open (5:30-9:30) and simply tell them how many of you there are and they will seat you, just like a shoreside restaurant. Unless you are a large group, you cannot make reservations in the main dining rooms. Sometimes this can cause you to wait a few minutes (usually less than 20) for a table if you dine during the peak hours of 6:30-8:00.

 

2.) You do have to make reservations for the Specialty Restaurants and most of them have a cover charge of $10-20 per person. (but that is only for the entree, you can have as many apetizers, salads, sides and desserts that you want.). You can make these for the entire week when you board. Not all specialty restaurants have a cover charge (LaTrattatoria for example) but all require reservations. There is an Italian one, a steakhouse, a tex-mex, and an asian one, just to name a few.

 

3.) You do not have assigned tablemates. You can dine with just your family or perhaps the friends you met that day. They have tables from 2 people to 10 people. You can also request to be seated with new people if you like. You usually do not have the same waiters each night, but you can request them!

 

4.) You can dress as you like. (within limits) All formal nights on all NCL ships are OPTIONAL in all dining venues. You do not have to dress up and can still eat anywhere. On formal night, only about 40% of the passengers will dress up and that will range from tuxes to shirt/tie. The other 60% will be in resort casual. (the 40% drops to about 30% dressed up on the Hawaiin cruises since Hawaiian attire is also an acceptable dress.)

 

With that said, you do have to dress in at least Resort Casual every night to dine in the restaurants. Resort casual simply means no shorts, jeans or t-shirts. Polo shirts, sun dresses, kahkis, and sneakers are all perfectly acceptable! I have never worn any more than a polo shirt, kahkis and sneakers to any meal on five NCL cruises! You will not feel out of place! The best part...the chance to dress as you feel comfortable.

 

(btw: if you have to wear jeans or shorts, you can then choose to dine in the Blue Lagoon (diner) or the buffet for dinner!)