new to cruisin - food advice

[skihike1]

We have my time dining. Should we avoid the main dining room during the early and late dining times? What is so special about the specialty restaurants that would result in people paying for food when they can get it free? I understand the Mystery Dinner and paying for the show, but other than that I don't get it. Any advice would be appreciated. We feel like we are sorely lacking in the cruise-savvy department and the information we gotten here so far has been great! Thanks!

[Hobiecat01]

Originally Posted by skihike1

We have my time dining. Should we avoid the main dining room during the early and late dining times? What is so special about the specialty restaurants that would result in people paying for food when they can get it free? I understand the Mystery Dinner and paying for the show, but other than that I don't get it. Any advice would be appreciated. We feel like we are sorely lacking in the cruise-savvy department and the information we gotten here so far has been great! Thanks!

I do not think you need to avoid the MDR during those times. With MTD you should be able to call ahead and get seated immedately when you get to the dining room or just go down and wait just a few minutes while they ready your table. You can ask for a table for two or you may be seated at a table with others. We always sit with others just to meet new people.

As for the specialties, the MDR is very good but not spectacular. The specialty restaurants are smaller, much quieter, much more intimate and the service is vastly better (not that the MDR is bad by any means). But there is a rather large difference in eating a meal with 4 or 5 hundred of your cruisemates and the intimacy of 30 to 40 in the specialties. The wine list is also vastly better.

Chops is excellent and frankly well worth the extra charge IMHO. The steaks are very good and rate with higer end steak reataurants on land (Ruth Chris', etc. IMHO). Remember the charge is essentially the tip for the wait staff, since they only work the specialty restaurants and do not get tips like the MDR staff do. That is also why when you sign up for MTD, you have to prepay your tips, since you most likely will not have the same servers from night to night.

Portofino (renamed Giovanni's Table) on the Oasis, is fabulous. This is my DW's favorite cruise treat. We have known cruisemates that only ate in Portofino or Chops all week.

One thing to note... dinner in the specialties generally takes well over two hours. Everything is wonderfully paced, so if you need to eat and run Chops or Portofino are not for you.

Hope this helps... more questions??? Just ask away, someone here will gladly answer them for you!
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Sea ya!
Ron and Lee
Canton, Ga
Proud RCCL Platinum Member
"In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria." – Ben Franklin

We are proud Oasis Camel Cruiser – April 17, 2010
The Oasis Camels Website

Previous Cruises – 59 Days at Sea!
Carnival Mardis Gras - 3 Day Bahamas - April 1982
Carnival Destiny - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 1998
Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - April 1999
Princess Sea Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2000
Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2002
RCCL Navigator of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2003
RCCL Mariner of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 2005
RCCL Freedom of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - 6/18 - 6/25/2006
RCCL Liberty of the Seas - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - 7/19 - 7/26/08
Planned Cruises
RCCL Oasis of the Seas – Our Friends Cruise - April 17, 2010
RCCL Allure of the Seas – Our Neighborhood Cruise - 2011
The BIG One - Southeast Asia 14 day – 2012?
Princess Cruises - The Med – 14 day – 2013?