Royal Caribbean Copies Freestyle

Have you all seen that Royal Caribbean have copied NCL's 'Freestyle' for their new ships 'Quantum' and 'Anthem'?

They call it 'Dynamic Dining'.

Details here: http://wp.me/pfRKD-2tF

So does this now tempt you to cruise with RCL INSTEAD of NCL?

Have you all seen that Royal Caribbean have copied NCL's 'Freestyle' for their new ships 'Quantum' and 'Anthem'?

 

They call it 'Dynamic Dining'.

 

Details here: http://wp.me/pfRKD-2tF

 

So does this now tempt you to cruise with RCL INSTEAD of NCL?

I'm booked on Anthem next year to check this out, a few days before joining the Escape Inaugural crossing.

Have you all seen that Royal Caribbean have copied NCL's 'Freestyle' for their new ships 'Quantum' and 'Anthem'?

 

They call it 'Dynamic Dining'.

Yes, there are at least two recent threads about it here.

 

So does this now tempt you to cruise with RCL INSTEAD of NCL?

Nope, not in the least.

Not instead, but we will continue to cruise with both.

Nice companies.

Yes, there are at least two recent threads about it here.

Oh, OK.

Links pls.:)

Freestyle on NCL is about a dang sight more than dining. RCCL has a mighty long way to go to catch up to REAL freestyle. That said, I sort of like what they're doing, but it'd take a lot for me to sail again on RCCL.

Have you all seen that Royal Caribbean have copied NCL's 'Freestyle' for their new ships 'Quantum' and 'Anthem'?

 

They call it 'Dynamic Dining'.

 

Details here: http://wp.me/pfRKD-2tF

 

So does this now tempt you to cruise with RCL INSTEAD of NCL?

No...it would not tempt me.

Why settle for a copy when I can have the real thing?

Besides, I prefer substance over style.

If they gave me a free cruise then I might consider it. RCCL was our first and was very close to our last cruise. Thank goodness for NCL and REAL freestyle! We now have our 6th and 7th NCL cruises booked. I am glad RCCL is trying to keep up as hopefully it will keep NCL on their toes to keep doing the great job they have been doing for many years now. :D

I must say the customer service to book the cruise through the NCL website leaves A LOT to be desired! I will never book directly with them again. You can easily get much more value booking through reputable third party sites.

Both RCCL and Carnival have been offering anytime/my time dining as an option for a while now, as that is what many customers want. Dress has also been much less formal than it used to be. I carried and wore no formal or even semi-formal wear my last 2 cruises with them. To be honest, I don't see that much difference between the lines as far as freestyle goes except NCL has NO traditional dining offerings. In fact, Breakaway is even less freestyle than what I experienced on RCCL with having to book entertainment, etc. They all have their pros and cons from my experiences. And of course, everyone's personal tastes will differ.

I probably will book the new RCCL ship Escape simply because I have had stellar experiences on Voyager and Freedom. One thing RCCl does do well is mega ships! Enough crew, enough public spaces, more pool space and doesn't feel crowded. And if you have not seen the ice skaters on the ice at sea, you're missing a real treat! And it is free.....phenomenal if you like that sort of thing, and even if you don't, you have to appreciate what they do on a moving ship! :)

deb

Freestyle on NCL is about a dang sight more than dining. .

What else is there besides dining?

Have you all seen that Royal Caribbean have copied NCL's 'Freestyle' for their new ships 'Quantum' and 'Anthem'?

 

They call it 'Dynamic Dining'.

 

Details here: http://wp.me/pfRKD-2tF

 

So does this now tempt you to cruise with RCL INSTEAD of NCL?

Dynamic Dining is so far beyond Freestyle. 5 included restaurants each with a unique concept and menu that rotates daily is an incredible innovation. On NCL freestyle means only eat when you want, but the included places to eat offer the same menu and even that menu doesn't change much. This could become a game changer for RCCL, as lack of variety in the included restaurants is one of the biggest complaints about NCL. To say this is copying NCL when they have nothing like it is a bit silly. I hope NCL copies this program, as Dynamic dining on a boat with NCL's superior service/staff would be amazing.

6&8

Both of these cruise lines are more or less similar as far as dining the only difference with freestyle is no formal nights. More choices is just a trend that can be seen on cruise ships and around America. Those new Royal Caribbean ships seem to take that to a new level though.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dynamic Dining is so far beyond Freestyle. 5 included restaurants each with a unique concept and menu that rotates daily is an incredible innovation. On NCL freestyle means only eat when you want, but the included places to eat offer the same menu and even that menu doesn't change much. This could become a game changer for RCCL, as lack of variety in the included restaurants is one of the biggest complaints about NCL. To say this is copying NCL when they have nothing like it is a bit silly. I hope NCL copies this program, as Dynamic dining on a boat with NCL's superior service/staff would be amazing.

 

 

 

6&8

Q: Will menus stay the same in each restaurant every night?

A: Each restaurant has its own distinctive menu and ambiance that remains consistent throughout the

sailing. However, guests can certainly experience different selections off the menu each night.

This certainly doesn't suggest a menu that rotates daily to me. In fact, it looks more fixed than NCL where about half the menu changes. From the RCI wording above it looks very fixed to me.

The menus for the venues are here http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2016233

Q: Will menus stay the same in each restaurant every night?

A: Each restaurant has its own distinctive menu and ambiance that remains consistent throughout the

sailing. However, guests can certainly experience different selections off the menu each night.

 

This certainly doesn't suggest a menu that rotates daily to me. In fact, it looks more fixed than NCL where about half the menu changes. From the RCI wording above it looks very fixed to me.

Fixed as in a $30 restaurant on NCL has a fixed menu. Except its free on RCI.

I hope NCL copies this program, as Dynamic dining on a boat with NCL's superior service/staff would be amazing.

We sailed AOS in the summer and Spirit in the winter this year.

Service/staff on AOS was lightyears more superior than Spirit.

Well, Royal Caribbean obviously couldn't hack it competing with Carnival so onto Norwegian.

Fixed as in a $30 restaurant on NCL has a fixed menu. Except its free on RCI.

My post was nothing to do with the pay restaurants. The post I quoted stated that the free restaurants on RCI will have a menu that rotates daily. The RCI FAQs don't seem to support that.

Royal and Carnival are not really competitors. ;) Royal offers superior product.

My post was nothing to do with the pay restaurants. The post I quoted stated that the free restaurants on RCI will have a menu that rotates daily. The RCI FAQs don't seem to support that.

I know that. I was pointing out that these "speciality" restaurants, with fixed menus, on RCI are similar to those on NCL, except that on RCI they are inclusive in the cruise fare.

I know that. I was pointing out that these "speciality" restaurants, with fixed menus, on RCI are similar to those on NCL, except that on RCI they are inclusive in the cruise fare.

Then, please show us the menus, from RCI's new dining option, that are comparable to Cagney's, Moderno, Ginza, La Cucina, Teppayaki or LeBistro.

Plus, if RCI is so superior to to NCL, why do they feel the need to emulate them on one of the largest components of cruising. Maybe they should try and emulate things like entertainment.

I think on the dining, RCI MTD was already ahead of NCL Freestyle.

MTD today gives "turn up whenever" as with Freestyle, but also the opportunity to book a time if you want to e.g. so you can make a show. Plus whether or not you book or turn up, they aim to place you with the same waiter/table all week. Those waiters work bloody hard to make your dining experience the best they can, as your end of week survey gets linked to them. With NCL freestyle dining, the wait staff are often dis-interested at best in providing you service.

RCI appears to have pulled even further ahead with this announcement.

And entertainment......I have lost count of the number of times I've seen Elements and "the show where they sing a selection of Broadway songs" on NCL.

I know that. I was pointing out that these "speciality" restaurants, with fixed menus, on RCI are similar to those on NCL, except that on RCI they are inclusive in the cruise fare.

So, when you say they are "inclusive in the cruise fare" does that mean that I'm paying for the specialty restaurant whether I eat there or not?

All cruise lines are competitors in that they are fighting for cruise vacations dollars but saying RCI is copying NCL is misleading. I just think overall cruising is trying to appeal to the broad based current generation by providing a lot of action and flexibility and these dining concepts are part of it, especially with the proliferation of "foodies" where you want to give everyone the sense that you are eating something different every night.

Just FYI, RCI has fully listed the menus for all restaurants on the Quantum and the 4 main complimentary restaurants seem to have fixed menus but as each has its own theme and cuisine style it is different than the traditional MDR with rotating menu.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/quantumoftheseas/dining/restaurants/

Among the major lines, I would say that Carnival/MSC/Costa (like Hilton garden nn or holiday inn) compete on price, than you have RCI/Princess being more geared towards multi generational and upscale (say Westin or Hyatt) and Holland/Celebrity for more upscale and generally "older"especially regarding food (say st Regis or four seasons). Disney is unique geared towards younger families (no casino and probably strictest smoking rules). I find NCL in an interesting spot in that it does compete in price but the features/service/food of their ships closer to RCI than the Carnival grouping.

Just my many cents worth.