Specialty restaurants...why pay extra?

[Smokeyham]

Many people believe the quality of MDR food has gone downhill since the inception of Specialty Restaurants on cruiseships. There are those that believe that ALL food should be included in the price of the cruise. Some think that if passengers refuse to dine in these Specialty Restaurants, they will disappear and the MDR food will again improve...what do you think?

 

I've found the quality of the food in the Main Dining Rooms to be fine, but like to have the choice to go to a different restaurant if I want and don't mind paying a bit extra for the special ambiance or different cuisine available in the speciality restaurants. I appreciate having the different options.

[Cruise Junky]

We usually hit the specialty restaurants once or twice on a cruise. It's not that we think the MDR is bad, it's just a change of atmosphere, it's like comparing eating at a wedding reception vs. dinner for two in a decent restaurant.

[fann1sh]

I am the OP and NOT an official pollster as suggested. I asked a simple question, hoping to get simple answers from fellow CCr's. I thank those of you who simply gave your answer as asked for. For all of the others, I have to wonder why you feel the need to complain and whine that "there wasn't a choice there for me"? If you didnt feel you could answer the question, why not simply move on? It seems to be the same people over and over again throughout these threads. Geesh...get over yourselves.

In the words of Dale Carnegie "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. "

 

Virtually every poll on CC has one choice after the list of others, reading "something else, which I'll post below".

 

So...you wanted people only to click on your posted choices? And not have any other reasons to book specialty restaurants? And not to waste your time by posting their reasons?

 

All-righty, then.

 

Buh-bye.

[RetireeWannabee]

Virtually every poll on CC has one choice after the list of others, reading "something else, which I'll post below".

 

So...you wanted people only to click on your posted choices? And not have any other reasons to book specialty restaurants? And not to waste your time by posting their reasons?

 

All-righty, then.

 

Buh-bye.

Yeah, I also took offense. good luck with your data collection.

[CC Help Michell]

I am the OP and NOT an official pollster as suggested. I asked a simple question, hoping to get simple answers from fellow CCr's. I thank those of you who simply gave your answer as asked for. For all of the others, I have to wonder why you feel the need to complain and whine that "there wasn't a choice there for me"? If you didnt feel you could answer the question, why not simply move on? It seems to be the same people over and over again throughout these threads. Geesh...get over yourselves.

In the words of Dale Carnegie "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. "

 

So those of us who either posted to explain in lieu of voting, or didn't vote since we didn't see a choice which reflected our view (that would be me) are "fools?" :rolleyes:

 

I'm sorry anybody took time from their lives to post on this thread and try to give you information/perspective about their viewpoints on specialty restaurants; it's obvious it wasn't a sincere question in the first place, based on your quoted post. In fact, I "have to wonder" why you posted a poll on a public message board about this subject if you didn't want to hear "opinions" from other cruisers?

[Leafpeeper]

I have no problem with RCI or Carnival's specialty dining. I have a problem with NCI that they have so many restaurant that they charge for.

 

We love specialty restaurants on all cruiselines. However, I didn't care for the menu at Sabatini's on Princess because I assumed an Italian restaurant would include some dishes with marinara sauce--like veal parm.

 

We enjoy NCL because there are so many different types of restaurants. There are usually 2 main dining rooms that do not charge fees. Our last cruise offered reduced fees of only $5 for early diners at the Italian, French, and Asian restaurant most nights. The regular fee is only $10-$15 compared to $20-$30 on other cruiselines. Since DH loses that much in one hand in the casino, I enjoy spending my money dining somewhere special.

 

The number one reason I prefer specialty restaurants is the noise. Large dining rooms are just not my favorite place to eat. I prefer soft lighting in a quiet venue. Sometimes I just order room service and dine on my balcony to get away from the noise and crowds.

 

I guess we all like different things. Choices is what it's all about.

[watermelon5]

Virtually every poll on CC has one choice after the list of others, reading "something else, which I'll post below".

 

So...you wanted people only to click on your posted choices? And not have any other reasons to book specialty restaurants? And not to waste your time by posting their reasons?

 

All-righty, then.

 

Buh-bye.

 

Buh-bye.

[moniquet]

Aren't the cruise lines sort of contradicting themselves by offering special dining. They already advertise their ordinary dining as being superb, gourmet etc. By charging extra for a "special experience":rolleyes: they are rubbishing their own image. To me it says well our food is average crap but for only $20 you can get good food.

[noobcruiser]

Originally Posted by watermelon5

In the words of Dale Carnegie "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do. "

Sorry for the threadjack (because it is an interesting topic), but your quote is incorrect.

 

Dale Carnegie said "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.”

 

Your quote (as it is written) was originally said by Benjamin Franklin.

 

/end threadjack

[SirDomino]

I personally think that the cruise lines purposely have allowed the quality of the food and service deteriorate in the "Inclusive" Main dining areas as a way to literally "force" passengers to consider the specialty restaurants.

 

I know my wife and I were extremely disappointed on our last cruise with the food quality. I was expecting it to be at least like a fast food restaurant, or a cheap buffet (Golden Corral, Ryans, Barnehills, etc). Or for the breakfast to be at least like Cracker Barrel, Sonics, McDonalds, or Burger King. Ironically, those land-based dining restaurants seem like 5-star establishments when compared to cruise ship food quality. The food was usually at least a little better than hospital food. While the service was nothing stellar.

 

My opinion is that the cruise lines give you "tolerable" food just to keep you alive enough to spend more money during the cruise. I also don't understand with them using the "economy" as an excuse to do this. The ships seem to be selling out consistently at decent rates, gas prices have decreased, etc.

 

Another issue that really irked me on our last cruise is that previously juices were inclusive and available at all times. On our last cruise juices were only available for breakfast and cost $1.50 per tiny glass during other times. Talk about nickel and dime to death. I just find it ridiculous that we are purposely getting low quality food as a way for the cruise lines to save money and encourage passengers to pay extra for the food we should have gotten in the first place.

 

Overall, we did not look forward to dining during the cruise, and could not afford the additional cost of the specialty restaurants on a consistent basis. Now that we know, I suppose we will have to wait a little longer to go on our next cruise to ensure that the cost of food is budgeted in. Cruising, personally, has lost a lot of it's value with the advent of specialty restaurants and the lower quality food forced onto passengers as part of the price of the cruise.