How will NCL Court Traditional Cruisers to Return to NCL?

[negc]

I agree with you and with Terry, leave everything alone..For those who want traditional dining, choose a line that offers it, many who cruise NCL do it because of freesyle dining...

 

Nita

 

oh and negc, I spend time on the Princess boards as well, there are some who complain about not getting tradtional dining but not daily do people claim the waitlist is in the 100s. Don't you think that might be an exageration???

 

Nita

 

I actually said "almost daily" and perhaps the word "frequently" would have been more accurate but as you yourself seem to admit, it is not uncommon to read such complaints. Interesting that when traditionalists on other lines said to those lobbying for the introduction of flexible dining that they should choose a line that offered it, they were ridiculed for not being willing to allow people to have choices. Do I see a bit of a double standard in your response that those who prefer traditional dining should cruise on those ships offering it? :rolleyes:

 

However the original topic of this thread was intended to discuss the new CEO's stated intention to court the return of 'traditional' cruisers to NCL, not to argue over who has the best flexible dining system. It might not even mean that dining options would have to change but it does seem to indicate the new regime's apparent desire to undo much of what occurred under Colin Veitch's oversight. Perhaps under Mr. Sheehan, NCL will settle on one course and stick to it for good or for bad.:)

[NoPiratesPlease]

I don't think it should be. You paid for a suite and you got it. What else do you want? Free airfare? Free bingo? Free wine and booze? Get serious. Sounds really selfish to me. Try Celebrity. See what they give you.

 

No. I didn't just pay for the suite. I paid for the SERVICE! I paid for no headaches, no lines, limo service to (or from) the ship, butler service, concierge service, priority seating at the shows, no penny-wise-pound-foolish nickel-and-dime charges. And I paid a lot for it.

 

Do you KNOW how many economy inside cabins you can take for what the Garden Villa costs for just one cruise? Look it up and you'll see that ALL those things you say in your w-a post SHOULD be included...OK, maybe not airfare...but all the rest. NCL's profit margin on the Villas, especially the GV is their highest by far on the ship. Yeah, they should give you everything for that--they give it to the high-rollers in the Casino. Oh--and the prices on the GVs have DOUBLED over the last 5 years.

 

Plus, to get to the Platinum level you have to take 15 cruises on NCL. We've taken 21--and 20 of them were butler/concierge level. For that we get a dinner on each cruise. BFD!

 

We've been on Celebrity, and Carnival, and Royal Carib--only once each. Why? Because we don't want that. If NCL is going there, we're going elsewhere.

[smeyer418]

No. I didn't just pay for the suite. I paid for the SERVICE! I paid for no headaches, no lines, limo service to (or from) the ship, butler service, concierge service, priority seating at the shows, no penny-wise-pound-foolish nickel-and-dime charges. And I paid a lot for it.

 

Do you KNOW how many economy inside cabins you can take for what the Garden Villa costs for just one cruise? Look it up and you'll see that ALL those things you say in your w-a post SHOULD be included...OK, maybe not airfare...but all the rest. NCL's profit margin on the Villas, especially the GV is their highest by far on the ship. Yeah, they should give you everything for that--they give it to the high-rollers in the Casino. Oh--and the prices on the GVs have DOUBLED over the last 5 years.

 

Plus, to get to the Platinum level you have to take 15 cruises on NCL. We've taken 21--and 20 of them were butler/concierge level. For that we get a dinner on each cruise. BFD!

 

We've been on Celebrity, and Carnival, and Royal Carib--only once each. Why? Because we don't want that. If NCL is going there, we're going elsewhere.

I agree with you. I don't understand why NCL is treating some of its loyal long term people so badly.

 

I've been in everything from an owners suite to a port hole...but if I booked a GV every time I would expect a sedan chair...

[terrymtex01]

No. I didn't just pay for the suite. I paid for the SERVICE! I paid for no headaches, no lines, limo service to (or from) the ship, butler service, concierge service, priority seating at the shows, no penny-wise-pound-foolish nickel-and-dime charges. And I paid a lot for it.

 

Do you KNOW how many economy inside cabins you can take for what the Garden Villa costs for just one cruise? Look it up and you'll see that ALL those things you say in your w-a post SHOULD be included...OK, maybe not airfare...but all the rest. NCL's profit margin on the Villas, especially the GV is their highest by far on the ship. Yeah, they should give you everything for that--they give it to the high-rollers in the Casino. Oh--and the prices on the GVs have DOUBLED over the last 5 years.

 

Plus, to get to the Platinum level you have to take 15 cruises on NCL. We've taken 21--and 20 of them were butler/concierge level. For that we get a dinner on each cruise. BFD!

 

We've been on Celebrity, and Carnival, and Royal Carib--only once each. Why? Because we don't want that. If NCL is going there, we're going elsewhere.

 

I'm confused now.. I thought earlier that what you were upset with that the high rollers got free drinks in the casino, but you did not get free drinks in the casino as a GV guest. Since I am no where near a high roller.. what perks do they get that you do not get as a GV guest.

[Brad1185]

To woo traditional cruisers back, they need to show some pictures/commercials of diners in formal wear - there are a few on every cruise in a selected dining room - sitting around a table just looking at each other as they have nothing to talk about, all ordering the staff around like they are superior with their little white envelopes in hand on the last night of the cruise. Okay, just kidding.

 

To keep traditional cruisers away, they should show an angry mob outside a NCL restaurant entrance all holding buzzers, staring at the buzzers, shaking the buzzers, pleading to the buzzers to buzz so they can get in and eat. Show the people waiting and waiting and waiting, show some going up to the person in the front of the restaurant asking how much longer, pleading with him or her to get in.

 

Once inside they could show the slow, slow indifferent service, show people looking at the terriable food that they finally get served, shaking their heads.

[flashdog_1]

To keep traditional cruisers away, they should show an angry mob outside a NCL restaurant entrance all holding buzzers, staring at the buzzers, shaking the buzzers, pleading to the buzzers to buzz so they can get in and eat. Show the people waiting and waiting and waiting, show some going up to the person in the front of the restaurant asking how much longer, pleading with him or her to get in.

 

Once inside they could show the slow, slow indifferent service, show people looking at the terriable food that they finally get served, shaking their heads.

 

I love it!

[terrymtex01]

To keep traditional cruisers away, they should show an angry mob outside a NCL restaurant entrance all holding buzzers, staring at the buzzers, shaking the buzzers, pleading to the buzzers to buzz so they can get in and eat. Show the people waiting and waiting and waiting, show some going up to the person in the front of the restaurant asking how much longer, pleading with him or her to get in.

 

Once inside they could show the slow, slow indifferent service, show people looking at the terriable food that they finally get served, shaking their heads.

 

That is too funny..

 

I think they have done a good enough job keeping TD's away by showing them as robots on their commercials.

[iheartbda]

However the original topic of this thread was intended to discuss the new CEO's stated intention to court the return of 'traditional' cruisers to NCL, not to argue over who has the best flexible dining system. It might not even mean that dining options would have to change but it does seem to indicate the new regime's apparent desire to undo much of what occurred under Colin Veitch's oversight. Perhaps under Mr. Sheehan, NCL will settle on one course and stick to it for good or for bad.

It doesn't seem in the realm of possibilites that freestyle dining is going to be changed in any way that will affect the pax who love it. If the majority want freestyle dining, would it be difficult to offer traditional dining on a small level? The powers that be may want to show that there are other things that may interest traditional cruises enough that they may want to try NCL.

 

Saying those who want traditional dining, for instance, should just cruise another line is almost like saying, that's all NCL has to offer. There are those who might like a certain itinerary that no one else offers. They could have heard good things about some of the ships and would like to try them but with a few of the commercials making fun of traditional cruizers, NCL didn't score any points with them.

 

Their advertising needs to tone down some of the "put down" of other lines, afterall, people don't all stand up at the same time and march in formation to dinner. ;) It may have been done "tongue in cheek" but it wasn't necessary. Concentrate on marketing the good things they have to offer. An easy way with the freestyle dining is just to say, you are not locked into one of just two dining times don't go over the edge and mock.

 

We have already booked our 4th straight cruise with NCL a year in advance. Our preference is traditional dining for reasons I won't go into...even though it's freezing here, I don't need any flames.:p However, we do just fine with freestyle.

 

Who knows how long this down turn in the economy will last. Any person, even traditionalists, can be considered a potential pax to bring on money. Last time I checked, freestyers and traditionalists all spent the same kind,:D

Since we prefer traditional dining, does that mean we should't be sailing on NCL.;):p:D

[islandgirlejfan]

There are so many things I hated about traditional cruising....just the extra expenses for us...tuxedo rental or a new suit for the hubby....trying to find a formal dress on an off season that I could deal with price on and didn't look like an outfit someone's grandmother would wear to a wedding!:eek: I won't get into what I needed to bring as far as my luggage. Is there really any reason that NCL can't pull off both traditional and freestyle dining on the same boat? It would be interesting to know just how many people are still looking for the experience of traditional dining.

 

I for one love freestyle cruising...one of the reasons I wish NCL had more Panama Canal cruises. We will be trying Princess within the next few years unless there happens to be a change with NCL regarding the itineraries.

[LOWTYD]

Is there really any reason that NCL can't pull off both traditional and freestyle dining on the same boat? It would be interesting to know just how many people are still looking for the experience of traditional dining..

 

 

Maybe they can ask when you book would you like traditional or freesytle dining then lock you into that all week. This way they will know how to split the dining room. Then the TD's will have to show up at 5:30 or 8 and eat with whoever they stick them with. The Freestyler's can continue on the way they do know.

(Ok, that may be far flung but it's a possibility. Hey, if we can put a man on the moon......:rolleyes:)

 

PS--Damn it's cold out!

Sandy

[AFT_LOVER]

Amazing how folks all want late seating, as I was told is 55% of cruisers, and they do not want to wait in line.

 

Eat at 5:30-6PM and no wait, great service including cappucino and it is refilled throughout dinner, no formalwear needed & with the airline costs of luggage we do carryon. Love not having to go to the buffet on port days as you do with RCCL, Celebrity since everything is closed. Aft balcony is a suite to us and NCL upgrades us to a Mini which is still a balcony, and some cruises an OV is great with all the room. Befriend your steward & be rewarded by him/her for being special to them. Sheehan will keep NCL the cheapest fare and we shall stay with them. We have enjoyed every cruise, love the BOGO specialty restaurants on sea days. I keep checking Princess where we are Platinum members, but fare more fare with them.

 

Love the promos NCL has that you need to book with them, and then can transfer to your TA to get more perks from her/him. Great service once again. I read how folks hate them and have never had a problem with anyone in reservations, Latitudes and the Casino at Sea discount was less than the DMLAT 50% off 2nd person offer & others we have used. $20 is what we play with each night at the casino if nothing else to do that night. If we make -0-, then they get -0- back. Many times we win $20 slot play, so we get a free night. Even with the CAS card we never got free booze, but we had our liter in the room.

 

So if you love the dressing up with tuxes & gowns, then stay with RCCL, Celebrity and anyone else that makes you dress up to eat dinner & see a show. NOT US! We did that for 20 cruises and are so happy to have 2 less pieces of luggage and $750 in formalwear purchases. I love FREESTYLE, just to remember slacks for dinner so no embarrasing time, but specialty wants nicely dressed folks which we understand, so slacks & a polo for husband & shiny top for me. Shame the laundryrooms were closed to make an inside cabin ( the smallest known to us ) but steamers freshen clothes to wear again.

 

So if you dislike NCL, then bye bye so we have room for another deal for a cruise since retirees have a fixed income and want to cruise, so I am always looking for a great deal as is my TA. An we have 1 every other month. No insides for us either.

 

 

To keep traditional cruisers away, they should show an angry mob outside a NCL restaurant entrance all holding buzzers, staring at the buzzers, shaking the buzzers, pleading to the buzzers to buzz so they can get in and eat. Show the people waiting and waiting and waiting, show some going up to the person in the front of the restaurant asking how much longer, pleading with him or her to get in.

 

Once inside they could show the slow, slow indifferent service, show people looking at the terriable food that they finally get served, shaking their heads.

[dznymom]

I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

[newmexicoNita]

I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

 

love it, good for you. For those who really want the closeness of a bunch of strangers at a table and love the wait staff calling them by name, stick with traditional. That is fine, but obviously freestyle is working so please, new Pres and CEO, leave it alone. You can do other things maybe but don't play with our dining.

 

Nita

[terrymtex01]

We have already booked our 4th straight cruise with NCL a year in advance. Our preference is traditional dining for reasons I won't go into...even though it's freezing here, I don't need any flames.:p However, we do just fine with freestyle.

 

I think some of us, like the poster above, dznymom, have a fun time with our jokes, etc.. (I thought her posting was very funny).. but I would never flame someone for liking TD. Some of us may tease about TD dining, but if anyone really flames you for it, well.. that is their bad, not yours. Every one has a right to what they like. You are no better or worse for liking TD than someone who likes Freestyle. To me it is simply a matter of preference.

 

When we were on our last cruise, the Pearl this past Oct, we spent the night before the cruise in Ft. Lauderdale. That night after dinner we were waitng for a water taxi and we saw this rather odd couple waiting for the water taxi as well. Now if you have read my postings very much, you know I am the type that loves to meet new people, etc. But when I saw them I kept saying under my breath.. "please don't let them come over and start chatting... please don't let them come over and start chatting.. ".. Well.. LOL.. they came over and started chatting. They were just back from a Princess or a RCCL cruise and were spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale before flying back home. They loved traditional dining... loved every thing about it.. meeting the new people at their table, having the same waiter.. knowing every night when they were going to have dinner,etc. I hated these people and they made my skin crawl. Because they liked traditional dining?? God no.. because these two where the type that tried to be something they are not. (If you had met them you would know exactly what I mean by that). Nothing turns me off more than someone trying to be something they aren't. And these people were very much like that. So see... I had nothing against them liking TD. hehehehhee.

 

I have to admit there were aspects of TD that I enjoyed. I actually liked sitting with people I didn't know and getting to know them. Only had one bad experiece with that and it wasn't enough to put me off of TD. Also I liked our server getting to know our likes and dislikes. How could someone not enjoy being pampered like that. However the benefits of Freestyle just are better for us than TD.

[Surfgirl]

The Freestyle pendulum has swung WAY TO FAR the wrong way, and I doubt that NCL can ever swing it back even to center, or near center for that matter. NCL in no way vaguely resembles traditional cruising. It is what it is and you can either appreciate it for that or go with someone who still has a little bit of grip on traditional cruising.

 

I cruise NCL because I like the price and the dining options but it comes with a high personal price for me. I think of NCL as lowest common denominator cruising.

 

I honestly don't think they can do anything to bring back traditional cruisers other than start a new line with completely different rules.

 

Bingo.

 

I used to sail NCL, but found it getting further and further away from the experience I enjoy when cruising. While I like the freestyle dining approach (which you can also get on more upscale cruise lines like Windstar), I don't like the growing informality on NCL.

 

So, it's time for me to go elsewhere. That's why I am now cruising Windstar, and will probably next cruise Seabourne and Crystal.

 

I realize and appreciate that many cruisers don't like to dress for dinner and enjoy the belly flop and hairy chest contests, but that's not what I'm seeking when I cruise.

 

I do think NCL has excellent service, wonderful shows, and fabulous food. But it's lost the "traditional cruising ambiance" or "luxury feel" that I seek. That's not important on everyone's list. Some prefer to go on vacation to get out of business suits, dress down, and let loose. I understand that, and I'm not criticizing anyone for wanting that. It's personal preference. So, no, I most likely won't be back.

[*Wink*]

Well said, Surf Girl. I love the casualness of NCL, but I would certainly agree, those who like ultra-traditional, more formal cruising would probably not enjoy their cruise experience on one of their ships.

[newmexicoNita]

Bingo.

 

I used to sail NCL, but found it getting further and further away from the experience I enjoy when cruising. While I like the freestyle dining approach (which you can also get on more upscale cruise lines like Windstar), I don't like the growing informality on NCL.

 

So, it's time for me to go elsewhere. That's why I am now cruising Windstar, and will probably next cruise Seabourne and Crystal.

 

I realize and appreciate that many cruisers don't like to dress for dinner and enjoy the belly flop and hairy chest contests, but that's not what I'm seeking when I cruise.

 

I do think NCL has excellent service, wonderful shows, and fabulous food. But it's lost the "traditional cruising ambiance" or "luxury feel" that I seek. That's not important on everyone's list. Some prefer to go on vacation to get out of business suits, dress down, and let loose. I understand that, and I'm not criticizing anyone for wanting that. It's personal preference. So, no, I most likely won't be back.

 

Surfgirl,

 

I think you mentioned about the same yesterday, the big difference: price, many of us can not or choose not to spend the money for luxury cruising. For those who want to and can, more power to them, of course it is a totally different experience. I might suggest you consider SesDream, that is total luxury on small ships..At least check them out..

 

Nita

[SueSea]

I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

 

I loved your joys of traditional dining. With tongue firmly in check, I'll add the joys of freestyle!

 

1. Getting to the dining room at the time of your choosing to find 800 other folks waiting for a table for the exact number in their party to open so they won't have to be bothered with talking to strangers. Realizing that you are spending more time sitting with strangers waiting for a table than you would have if you ate with them! But at least you are waiting in your comfortable shoes.

 

2. Having nothing entertaining to watch while you wait for a server to notice you have been starting at your empty place setting for 20 minutes.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find it was never brought. Trying to remember who your waiter is to flag them down to ask for it again.

 

4. Realizing that dinner ran late and you missed the first half hour of the show you wanted to see. Spending time better spent relaxing each day for the remainder of the cruise backwards engineering your schedule for the evening. (Okay, if I want to see the 9:00 show, I have to sit down to dinner by 7:30, so I have to show up at 7:00. But if I want that massage before dinner, . . .)

 

5. Missing 3 hours on that perfect island because you couldn't get off the ship until you finally got through to book your specialty dining for that night. Then when you got through, you found they were already full. Realizing that if only you could get your high maintenance family to learn how to dress formally in less than 3 hours, you could have picked traditional dining!

 

But I guess eating whenever and wherever I want, kind of, is worth the trade off! ;)

[michigan tim]

Bingo.

 

I used to sail NCL, but found it getting further and further away from the experience I enjoy when cruising. While I like the freestyle dining approach (which you can also get on more upscale cruise lines like Windstar), I don't like the growing informality on NCL.

 

So, it's time for me to go elsewhere. That's why I am now cruising Windstar, and will probably next cruise Seabourne and Crystal.

 

I realize and appreciate that many cruisers don't like to dress for dinner and enjoy the belly flop and hairy chest contests, but that's not what I'm seeking when I cruise.

 

I do think NCL has excellent service, wonderful shows, and fabulous food. But it's lost the "traditional cruising ambiance" or "luxury feel" that I seek. That's not important on everyone's list. Some prefer to go on vacation to get out of business suits, dress down, and let loose. I understand that, and I'm not criticizing anyone for wanting that. It's personal preference. So, no, I most likely won't be back.

 

Everything being equal who would not prefer Windstar, Seabourne or Crystal and the level of service offered by these upscale lines? These lines target a different market and you really can't compare them to NCL.

[AFT_LOVER]

I am still laughing at the honest statement made about traditional dining. WELL STATED Dznymom.....

 

Mow we can enjoy a cruise & ports without racing back for dinner, getting makeup, jewelry, gown, heels & hair done by dinnertime or first night learning that our table for 2 is a table for 10 and that reservation was made over 18 months in advance on RCCL. NO MORE WORRY ON NCL!!! YEAH! And the specialty restaurants also accomodate us for a fabulous meal with the matre D as entertainment.

 

We are Freestyle Folks and welcome all to enjoy it with us. If traditional is for you, then goto Celebrity as they are #1 with that. Make more room for us to enjoy Freestyle. The dress up if you want to night on NCL is a joke to us and we see none on our cruises. So why both doing it. NCL is Freestyle & folks sail with them to enjoy the freedom.

dznymom;17722885]I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

[dfishner]

To keep traditional cruisers away, they should show an angry mob outside a NCL restaurant entrance all holding buzzers, staring at the buzzers, shaking the buzzers, pleading to the buzzers to buzz so they can get in and eat. Show the people waiting and waiting and waiting, show some going up to the person in the front of the restaurant asking how much longer, pleading with him or her to get in.

 

Once inside they could show the slow, slow indifferent service, show people looking at the terriable food that they finally get served, shaking their heads.

 

Brad way to funny you crack me up.

[dfishner]

I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

 

That is a tad extreme there, I can honestly say in my experiences with tradional dining what you wrote has never happened to me. So lets not make it worse. What we decided after many years of tradional cruising is that we did not like 6PM dining to early and 8:30 was to late. We tried MY Time Dining on our last cruise and thought it was great especially dining at 7-7:30 which is our prefer time we like. I am sure Freestyle dining has its own set of problems as well.

 

We are going on our first freestyle cruise in December and what we like are the dining options that are offered, I am not going to chance that if I want to go to Le Bistro or Cagneys one night that I am going to show up at the door and be seated at 7 PM without reservations. I will treat NCL specialty restaurants like I do with the specialty restaurants on other cruise lines.

[negc]

I am still laughing at the honest statement made about traditional dining. WELL STATED Dznymom.....

 

Mow we can enjoy a cruise & ports without racing back for dinner, getting makeup, jewelry, gown, heels & hair done by dinnertime or first night learning that our table for 2 is a table for 10 and that reservation was made over 18 months in advance on RCCL. NO MORE WORRY ON NCL!!! YEAH! And the specialty restaurants also accomodate us for a fabulous meal with the matre D as entertainment.

 

We are Freestyle Folks and welcome all to enjoy it with us. If traditional is for you, then goto Celebrity as they are #1 with that. Make more room for us to enjoy Freestyle. The dress up if you want to night on NCL is a joke to us and we see none on our cruises. So why both doing it. NCL is Freestyle & folks sail with them to enjoy the freedom.

dznymom;17722885]I was going to suggest a gentle reminder of the joys of traditional dining, but these are the things that came to mind.

 

1. Getting to the dining room at your appointed time with 1200 other folks, only to find that things are running late, so you and your 1199 new best friends can stand shoulder to shoulder, bumping & jostling until they open that door. Then "CHARGE" to your assigned seat in your 3" heels and cocktail dress to make small talk with those nice folks you have absolutely nothing in common with.

 

2. Stopping everything while your food gets cold to watch a rousing rendition of HOT HOT HOT for 10 minutes. Watch your plate though, because you never know what is going to be flung thru the air when those 1199 best friends start twirling their napkins and banging into your table as they conga line thru the dining room.

 

3. Reaching for your coffee only to find that it has been snatched away because the dining staff is in a panic thanks to the 1200 new people banging on the doors ready to get in for their traditional experience!

 

4. Realizing your nap ran late and you missed your appointed dining time, so you have to decide between pizza or the buffet. Oops, too late, the buffet just closed.

 

5. Missing the last 3 hours on that perfect island because you have to allow enough time to get the family all ready for formal night.

 

But I guess having my server know that I don't like ice in my water is worth the trade off. ;)

 

Wow that is really quite a scene. Not exactly what we have experienced when we have had traditional dining but is certainly in keeping with the those creative ad makers who so wildly exaggerate the kind of passengers to whom traditional dining appeals. I guess when all rational arguments fail the last resort is to ridicule anyone who happens to hold an opposing view. :rolleyes:

On some lines, both traditional dining and flexible dining seem to coexist reasonably well and I didn't notice that any of the proponents of either style wore horns or were otherwise out of the ordinary. In fact, unless they told me I doubt that I could guess which style of dining they were observing.:rolleyes:

But it is so reassuring and comforting to be critical of things and people that are different from that to which we are accustomed.:(

[DAGVBSB]

Bingo.

 

I used to sail NCL, but found it getting further and further away from the experience I enjoy when cruising. While I like the freestyle dining approach (which you can also get on more upscale cruise lines like Windstar), I don't like the growing informality on NCL.

 

So, it's time for me to go elsewhere. That's why I am now cruising Windstar, and will probably next cruise Seabourne and Crystal.

 

I realize and appreciate that many cruisers don't like to dress for dinner and enjoy the belly flop and hairy chest contests, but that's not what I'm seeking when I cruise.

 

I do think NCL has excellent service, wonderful shows, and fabulous food. But it's lost the "traditional cruising ambiance" or "luxury feel" that I seek. That's not important on everyone's list. Some prefer to go on vacation to get out of business suits, dress down, and let loose. I understand that, and I'm not criticizing anyone for wanting that. It's personal preference. So, no, I most likely won't be back.

 

Ok, everyone who knows me on on here please make sure you are seated for my next comment.... (especially you Surfgirl..) For once I agree 100% with Surfgirl and applaud her comments!

 

She has it exactly RIGHT! NCL is a specialized cruise line. Freestyle was a very unique system when it was introduced. (and has now been copied by many of the other major maintstream lines.) It is not for everybody... just like Windstar, Seabourne, Crystal and even Cunard are not everybody. Like Surfgirl, you have to seek out what you like and discover the cruise line that most to your liking.

 

 

What I have always had a hard time understanding in debates like this are why people have to attack Freestyle?? Why attack Freestyle?? If you don't like the concept, then that is your right... simply cruise one of the lines that have traditional dining.

 

Instead of trying to lure the traditionalists back to NCL, what the new President should do is make it so irrisistable for returning customers and those looking for suites, that choosing a line other than NCL would not make sense. Take care of the people who have taken care of you. Loyal customers will be far more helpful to growing your business than trying to "switch" people's opnions on your own. A happy loyal customer will be far more likely to speak up for your line and encourage others to try your line. Word of mouth reccommendations by friends and acquaintances will bring you more business than common advertising.

[DAGVBSB]

I guess when all rational arguments fail the last resort is to ridicule anyone who happens to hold an opposing view. :rolleyes:

 

But it is so reassuring and comforting to be critical of things and people that are different from that to which we are accustomed.:(

 

It's funny... when Freestyle is attacked, it's ok and those who defend it are considered rude or childish.

 

BUT when traditional dining is attacked it is considered ridicule due to an opposing view.

 

I do believe on this thread that a supporter of traditional dining attacked Freestyle first.... so it is that supporter of Traditional Dining that you are rolling your eyes at.......

 

 

(btw, the scene explained on traditional cruises was pretty close to what I experienced on the Explorer of the Seas in July. Very much like a cattle call when the doors opened and all those fat cows in their stupid looking dresses rushed the dining rooms. Oh and let's not forget the waiter parades.... reminded my of the elementary school parades my daughter had been a part of!! The Passengers on RCCL were the rudest bunch of people I have ever met in my life. My travel agent agrees with me on that one btw!)