Food on Spirit 1 nighter...Am i crazy???

[sjmoss]

After reading these boards it seems that so many people complain about the quality of the food, portion size, service, etc., that I was expecting the worst.

 

My wife and I boarded at noon and paid for a mini suite, but got an uspell offer for $25 pp for an owners suite, which we took. This was great because we were able to board first and go right to lunch. One note on the suite, which was cabin 9708 in the aft section. The room is simply great, but at night it is impossible to sleep due to a ton of noise and vibration because I assume that it is right over the engine. For one night I could care less, but for a 7 night cruise I would think twice and try to book the front or mid ship. I know many love the aft and not having wind on the balcony is great, but I would need some sleep over a longer cruise.

 

Now back to the food. When we boarded they were directing everyone to raffles buffet, but after reading these boards, I knew a restaurant would be open. We went to Windows restaurant which was empty. My wife had an assorted fruit appetizer and I had buffalo wings, both were very good. For entrees she had Moussaka, sounded gross to me, but it was great. I had the fish and chips with mushy peas, and they were as good as I had in England. For dessert she had the apple crisp and I had the pineapple upside down cake. Both were excellent.

 

For dinner we went to Le Bistro and the food here was as good as I have had in some of NYC's finest. We got the tasting menu and started with a foie gras terrine. On the Dawn this was a real terrine (like a pate, and I did not care for it). On the Spirit, it was seared on toast points with figs and was out of this world. We both added on the goat cheese tart and it is simply one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Next came the onion soup which was the only letdown. It was way too salty and did not have much flavor. For the entree we got the Chateaubriand and the meat was tender and flavorful and the bernaise and bordelaise sauces on the side were great. For dessert we both got the chocolate souffle and it was divine. After this type of meal we needed to be rolled out. One note on the wine list, it is very good and the prices for some of the better bottles were less than I would pay in my local discount store. I should also mention that our waiter was excellent even though it seemed as if he was serving every table in the restaurant.

 

We went to the casino after dinner, won some money, and then tried to go to sleep at 2:00 am, but as I said the vibration and noise kept us up until we docked back in NYC. We went to Windows again for breakfast and had eggs, bacon, french toast, etc, and all was terrific. The only disappointment with breakfast was that room service was not available. When we took a Dawn 1 nighter we loved having breakfast delivered to our suite and eating it on our balcony. Other than that, it was an awesome night away and the food was great and the portions were large. I cannot imagine that anyone goes away hungry.

 

Next up is a 2 nighter on the Dawn in the garden villa in April and a 7 nighter on the Gem in December of 2008. I can't wait and look forward to dining on the so called horrible food once again!

[Maryfrei]

Me too, can't wait to get some more of that awful food:D!

[garycarla]

... One note on the wine list, it is very good and the prices for some of the better bottles were less than I would pay in my local discount store. ...

 

Glad you had such a great trip, but the comment about wine seemed strange. Are you saying that the wine at dinner cost less than the local liquor store? How can that be?

 

On our last 2 NCL cruises,the cheapest bottle on the menu was around $30. ???

[sjmoss]

Glad you had such a great trip, but the comment about wine seemed strange. Are you saying that the wine at dinner cost less than the local liquor store? How can that be?

 

On our last 2 NCL cruises,the cheapest bottle on the menu was around $30. ???

 

I was referring to the higher priced selections. For the bottles $50 and less, I agree there was a markup. But for numerous bottles priced $80 and up it was less than I pay at the local store for the same bottle. I am guessing that NCL does not pay liquor tariffs and that makes up the difference.

[newmexicoNita]

After reading these boards it seems that so many people complain about the quality of the food, portion size, service, etc., that I was expecting the worst.

 

My wife and I boarded at noon and paid for a mini suite, but got an uspell offer for $25 pp for an owners suite, which we took. This was great because we were able to board first and go right to lunch. One note on the suite, which was cabin 9708 in the aft section. The room is simply great, but at night it is impossible to sleep due to a ton of noise and vibration because I assume that it is right over the engine. For one night I could care less, but for a 7 night cruise I would think twice and try to book the front or mid ship. I know many love the aft and not having wind on the balcony is great, but I would need some sleep over a longer cruise.

 

Now back to the food. When we boarded they were directing everyone to raffles buffet, but after reading these boards, I knew a restaurant would be open. We went to Windows restaurant which was empty. My wife had an assorted fruit appetizer and I had buffalo wings, both were very good. For entrees she had Moussaka, sounded gross to me, but it was great. I had the fish and chips with mushy peas, and they were as good as I had in England. For dessert she had the apple crisp and I had the pineapple upside down cake. Both were excellent.

 

For dinner we went to Le Bistro and the food here was as good as I have had in some of NYC's finest. We got the tasting menu and started with a foie gras terrine. On the Dawn this was a real terrine (like a pate, and I did not care for it). On the Spirit, it was seared on toast points with figs and was out of this world. We both added on the goat cheese tart and it is simply one of the best appetizers I have ever had. Next came the onion soup which was the only letdown. It was way too salty and did not have much flavor. For the entree we got the Chateaubriand and the meat was tender and flavorful and the bernaise and bordelaise sauces on the side were great. For dessert we both got the chocolate souffle and it was divine. After this type of meal we needed to be rolled out. One note on the wine list, it is very good and the prices for some of the better bottles were less than I would pay in my local discount store. I should also mention that our waiter was excellent even though it seemed as if he was serving every table in the restaurant.

 

We went to the casino after dinner, won some money, and then tried to go to sleep at 2:00 am, but as I said the vibration and noise kept us up until we docked back in NYC. We went to Windows again for breakfast and had eggs, bacon, french toast, etc, and all was terrific. The only disappointment with breakfast was that room service was not available. When we took a Dawn 1 nighter we loved having breakfast delivered to our suite and eating it on our balcony. Other than that, it was an awesome night away and the food was great and the portions were large. I cannot imagine that anyone goes away hungry.

 

Next up is a 2 nighter on the Dawn in the garden villa in April and a 7 nighter on the Gem in December of 2008. I can't wait and look forward to dining on the so called horrible food once again!

Sounds like overall the cruise was a success...

 

Nita

[briangl]

I was referring to the higher priced selections. For the bottles $50 and less, I agree there was a markup. But for numerous bottles priced $80 and up it was less than I pay at the local store for the same bottle. I am guessing that NCL does not pay liquor tariffs and that makes up the difference.

 

I did notice that the more expensive bottles were far cheaper than they would be in resturants.

[Mooder]

I agree the food was wonderful overall, and I can't wait to over-indulge again on my next cruise.