NCL freestyle dining vs. traditional dining?

[che5904]

If I wanted my dining experience to be "the same as land", I would stay on the land first of all. I do not go on a cruise to experience "the norm in everyday life" as you put it, I want it to be special. I am not looking forward to figuring what time the restaurants will be handing out beepers because they are busy either. At home I know which restaurants are busy on what nights, and generally make a reservation unless I am prepared to wait. I am going into this with an open mind, and like I said it may be just the thing with extended family joining us. I hope I am pleasantly surprised by the concept and will not compare apples to oranges....

 

I think you missed my point to that post. I already said "I get it" that you may not want the same experience as land. I can fully accept and respect that. What my question actually was, was that why you needed to try a freestyle dining experience when it mirrors land, then you already know whether you like it or not unless you never went to dinner on land.

 

I would fully understand if you said you wanted to try NCL, I would also totally understand if you stated that you wanted to see if NCL did freestyle dining well. And truthfully I am not picking on your wording as I have seen this time and again on these boards. As I said I am question the try this concept of dining when it is something people should already have a complete knowledge of.

 

On a side note. If you prefer to be able to make reservations in your dining experiences on land for restaurants you are not familiar with their busy times, to be assured of an actual time. I would recommend the specialty restaurants. My personal experience is I have been given a beeper once in 12 MDR dinners and I never got my butt even on the chair in the pub before our beeper went off. But depending on the time you choose to eat, I have read where some have said they had to wait. Yes the same as home.

 

Something to keep in mind. The 2 MDRs are 1/3 capacity of the passengers. The chance of the other 2/3 passengers wanting to eat in the MDRs at the same time as you would be pretty slim. Since there are so many other dining options to choose from.

[omc329]

For us, part of the cruising experience is the socializing. We love meeting new folks and making new friends. We like freestyle dining both because we like to eat when it is convenient and when we are hungry, but because we can ask to be seated with others and meet new people every night if we wish, and if we want an evening to ourselves, we can do that too.

 

What I don't like about freestyle is when everyone wants to eat at the same time, attempting to eat before the first show, and the lines can be bad. I don't like lines. I don't like waiting. I don't like choosing between the early show OR an early meal. It was never a problem in the Mediterranean where a lot of folks eat late, but in the Carribean on the Star it was a major issue. Given those lines or a fixed early seating, I would take the fixed early seating. The problem with that though, is there is never a guarantee I'll get that early seating and if we don't like our tablemates, (which can happen), instead of one meal, we have a whole week with them.

 

By the by, I wouldn't mind a local restaurant that offered the opportunity to meet others if desired. We are transplants and having another avenue in which to meet locals and make friends would be fine with me. I guess I'm one of those strange folks! *shrug* Different strokes for different folks.

[che5904]

Your age and who you are booked with is pretty much what I meant about demographics. It really does usually work out.

 

I don't think it's the freestyle cruising that many do not like, I think it's the fact that many feel that the food is not on par with other traditional lines in the main dining room and they feel they are being pushed to the specialty restaurants. I'm pretty easy to please, and again love NCL but thought the food in the main dining rooms was not very tasty at all. The quality is probably on par with other main streem lines. People also read too much into the reviews they see here - 5 people on the same cruise will have 5 completely different views of the cruise! I have not sailed that much, but have tried RCCL, CCL and NCL and am booked again on NCL and looking forward to it. I would book CCL and RCCL again in a heartbeat as well.

 

OK thanks, I can't say as my age would necessarily be a "match". ;)

 

Your second point is a valid one. There are lots of tastes out there. I personally liked everything I ate in the MDRs. But again to each there own. And that can be a legitimate reason for not liking NCL, but has absolutely nothing to do with understanding, liking or not liking or not being confused by "freestyle" dining.

[halos]

I get it if you are by yourself and you want to meet people but wouldn't it be better to meet people wherever you have common interests like, bingo or the disco or casino or art auctions or wine tastings then invite people to join you for dinner?

 

 

It is better!!

But for those that have only sailed with Traditional dining, the change just is a little intimidating at first.

If they would try it, they'd possibly see it's kinda awesome. A lot of people don't like to step out of their comfort zone...sad, but true.

[che5904]

It is better!!

A lot of people don't like to step out of their comfort zone...sad, but true.

 

You got that totally right. One of the many reasons I am not interested other cruiseline and in traditional cruise ship dining. I'm comfortable with the norm land options. I don't wish to step out of my comfort zone to eat with strangers and have a cruiseship tell me when I should be hungry. I did that years and years ago at a resort. I never chose a resort again that had that.

[jakenashleysmom]

I think you missed my point to that post. I already said "I get it" that you may not want the same experience as land. I can fully accept and respect that. What my question actually was, was that why you needed to try a freestyle dining experience when it mirrors land, then you already know whether you like it or not unless you never went to dinner on land.

 

I would fully understand if you said you wanted to try NCL, I would also totally understand if you stated that you wanted to see if NCL did freestyle dining well. And truthfully I am not picking on your wording as I have seen this time and again on these boards. As I said I am question the try this concept of dining when it is something people should already have a complete knowledge of.

 

On a side note. If you prefer to be able to make reservations in your dining experiences on land for restaurants you are not familiar with their busy times, to be assured of an actual time. I would recommend the specialty restaurants. My personal experience is I have been given a beeper once in 12 MDR dinners and I never got my butt even on the chair in the pub before our beeper went off. But depending on the time you choose to eat, I have read where some have said they had to wait. Yes the same as home.

 

Something to keep in mind. The 2 MDRs are 1/3 capacity of the passengers. The chance of the other 2/3 passengers wanting to eat in the MDRs at the same time as you would be pretty slim. Since there are so many other dining options to choose from.

 

Good information, thank you. I guess I meant to say I am giving a "try" to freestyle dining "while cruising". I hope I enjoy it as much as you. For every person who loves the experience "while cruising", there is one who doesn't and I will have to judge it myself. :)

[jakenashleysmom]

One more point before I go to work.....:p as I said, you do not need to be seated with anyone but yourselves anymore. A quick e-mail to the diningroom supervisor pre-cruise to request a table for 2-4 or what have you is all you need to do. Also, if you are going in to the main dining room for breakfast or lunch, you can also request a table for just your party. Of course I am only talking RC because that is my experience, but I think we can take the dining with strangers out of the equation.

[che5904]

Good information, thank you. I guess I meant to say I am giving a "try" to freestyle dining "while cruising". I hope I enjoy it as much as you. For every person who loves the experience "while cruising", there is one who doesn't and I will have to judge it myself. :)

 

Of course only you can be a judge of what fits you best. I have a long list of reasons that I will not at this time try the other lines. But I have just as long a list as to why I won't at this time try NCL's Epic. It doesn't mean I never will, but I would have to cut my list down tremendously first. NCL is the perfect fit for us, it doesn't mean it is for all.

 

I wish you luck and hope you have a wonderful experience on NCL. And I'm sure if the NCL's freestyle dining is not your thing. The rest of your cruise is very much like every other cruise you have probably been on, so I'm sure you will find positive things to enjoy your vacation.

[cruzinaway]

First let's make it clear that I am a huge Freestyle Fan (now I am anyway)

 

Let me explain why someone would like Traditional dining...and also why you shouldn't 'feel sorry' for anyone (how snarky is that anyway???????:rolleyes:)

 

Getting to know your waiters...That's not really what happens. The waiters get to know you is what it actually means. After the first night, they know your name, what roll you are likely to choose from the bread basket, if you like iced tea or need the sommelier to come to the table. They figure out what your tastes are and make recommendations based on YOUR likes and not what they liked on the menu that evening.

 

 

Some people are very social....some people actually enjoy sitting with strangers. Strangers are friends you just haven't met yet.

Not everyone is antisocial.

Everyone is different...I'm surprised you don't 'get' this...

 

As for your guess that most people have issues with assigned dining times, that is FAR from accurate. I would think an adult would know better than to make a statement like that when they have never tried something. If someone claims to hate Freestyle before trying it, that is equally as bad.

 

 

having said all that, my first experience with Freestyle after Traditional Dining was a little weird for me...I soon grew to love it. That doesn't mean EVERYONE should also embrace it.

 

personally I don't want everyone to love NCL/Freestyle......If everyone did, the ships would be far more crowded and the prices would be astronomical to cruise NCL.

 

I like that it's different strokes for different folks.

 

Very well said! My Mom loves traditional dining...we always need to sail on a ship that offers the elegant, traditional dining experience whenever we cruise together. She loves getting dressed up and she's the type of person who truly enjoys getting to know those people at her table. She actually exchanges Christmas cards with just about everyone she ever had a meal with on board a cruise ship! Traditional dining isn't my first choice, but it is an elegant, lovely experience that can be quite enjoyable if you have the right table mates.

 

On the other hand, sailing with my DH is an entirely different story. When we cruise together, we do not care for the traditional dining routine. We cruise to reconnect with EACH OTHER, not for the social scene. I don't need a 5 course dinner every night, my waiter to know what type of roll I like, or to get dressed up just because it's formal night. I just want to go to a good restaurant, get a table for two, have a lovely meal and relax! We do usually get dressed up one night and go to Le Bistro - but we still sit alone and we eat at a time that's convenient for us. I really like that.

 

Go with what makes you happy! Cruising is wonderful, no matter what dining style you prefer!

[emcelh]

If I wanted my dining experience to be "the same as land", I would stay on the land first of all. I do not go on a cruise to experience "the norm in everyday life" as you put it, I want it to be special. I am not looking forward to figuring what time the restaurants will be handing out beepers because they are busy either. At home I know which restaurants are busy on what nights, and generally make a reservation unless I am prepared to wait. I am going into this with an open mind, and like I said it may be just the thing with extended family joining us. I hope I am pleasantly surprised by the concept and will not compare apples to oranges....

I hope you enjoy your NCL experience. On 6 NCL cruises we've been handed a beeper only once and it was a very short wait. We generally go to dinner early, but not as soon as the dining room opens because you will find a line while everyone is being seated. You mentioned being with extended family. If you'll have a larger group you might want to make a reservation.

[laxlove6]

I believe traditional seating will be the thing of the past in the years to as more cruises add more surcharge restaurants.

 

People seem to confuse the main dining with elegance when the real elegance is the high end pay restaurants.

 

Its time to move towards for future not the past.

[libertyschool]

I'm a fan of freestyle dining. I avoid random people at all costs. Maybe I'm antisocial. I don't get people's obsessions with a set dining time. And sitting with random people? People choosing cruises because it has traditional dining? Do you sit with the same people at a restaurant on land? The only reasons cruise ships originally had dining like this was so that they could serve all the guests in the main dining rooms. Now with all the other options for dining, traditional seating seems very archaic.

 

Why do you want to get to know the waiters? Let's be realistic, you will probably never see them again and the oh so important "they remember my name" disappears as soon as the cruise is over.

 

I'm willing to bet that more people on traditional cruise lines have more trouble with the set dining time and table then people who actually enjoy it. Its a nightmare, sitting with random people with nothing in common. If they actually paired people with similar interests then that might be more interesting.

 

If freestyle cruising is the reason you don't try NCL, then I feel sorry for you.

 

I cruised with Carnival in 2009, but my family of 5 were seated alone, therefore I did not have to sit with "random people" as you call it. I also saw many tables of 2 and 4. You do have the choice not to be seated with "random people" when you set up your dining preferences. I did not have a problem with the fixed dining time, and still had the option of 2 evening show times to choose from. I enjoyed my cruise so much, it was amazing. I am booked on NCL Gem this coming May and can't wait. I personally don't think it will make a difference to me that I can choose when to eat diner, I usually eat around the same time every night anyway give or take an hour or two, so no biggie.

 

If I ever cruise a traditional line again (which I'm sure I will) with a smaller party, I don't think I would have a problem sitting and making conversation with other vacationers. I would actually hope that they have different interests than me, maybe I would learn something new. Unless they were rude and ill mannered, I would be just fine with it and I think it may even enrich the cruise experience as I have heard so many times.

 

Bottom line - YOU feel sorry for people who will never try NCL because of freestyle. I feel sorry for people who will never try other cruise lines because of traditional dining. There is a lot of good to be missed on both sides. I will never avoid a cruise for either reason. That's just MY opinion.

[libertyschool]

I totally understand why some people enjoy it. What I can never understand is why NCL freestyle dining is so confusing, hated or even appears to be so difficult a concept to understand.

 

As I stated above it mirrors real life. Seriously do people not go out to dinner at home? Are there really a lot of restaurants in people's home towns that set them with strangers?

 

 

Traditional dining also mirrors real life, if you've ever been to a wedding, Christmas party or any other formal event with assigned seating.

 

There is as much mis-information and confusion out there about traditonal dining as there is about freestyle. Nobody is "forced" to eat with strangers. You can choose your table to be only for your party. Like I've said before, I saw many tables of 2, 3 and 4 on my cruise. The set time does seem to be the only difference. That can be a pro or con, it means never having to wait, but it also means that you may not be ready to eat. I've read that the service and MDR food is sub-par on NCL. Luckily I don't believe everything I read, I will judge for myself on my upcoming NCL cruise and can't wait :). I have no doubt that I will enjoy it as much. What's not to love on a cruise?

 

Some people find what they like and stick with it. Don't fix what ain't broke. As for me, I like to try new things. Again, to each his own.

[che5904]

Traditional dining also mirrors real life, if you've ever been to a wedding, Christmas party or any other formal event with assigned seating.

 

.

 

 

I will not dispute you when you say that you do not have to eat with strangers since I have never been on any other line to dispute it. Although those who have been on other lines have been quoted to saying "they didn't like that they had to sit with other people they didn't know."

 

As for the paragraph I have quoted. Of course I have been to weddings and Christmas parties in real life. The only difference was I knew those other people. Not sure who's weddings you go to that you are not seated with those you know. And the only Christmas parties I have attended have been through work and I see those people on a daily basis, of course I know them. We do not crash a strangers wedding. And I've only been to one other event with assigned seating and hated it. So I've never been to another and don't intend to.

[halos]

Traditional dining also mirrors real life, if you've ever been to a wedding, Christmas party or any other formal event with assigned seating.

 

There is as much mis-information and confusion out there about traditonal dining as there is about freestyle. Nobody is "forced" to eat with strangers. You can choose your table to be only for your party. Like I've said before, I saw many tables of 2, 3 and 4 on my cruise. The set time does seem to be the only difference. That can be a pro or con, it means never having to wait, but it also means that you may not be ready to eat. I've read that the service and MDR food is sub-par on NCL. Luckily I don't believe everything I read, I will judge for myself on my upcoming NCL cruise and can't wait :). I have no doubt that I will enjoy it as much. What's not to love on a cruise?

 

Some people find what they like and stick with it. Don't fix what ain't broke. As for me, I like to try new things. Again, to each his own.

Great post...I agree 100% with all of it.

[halos]

I will not dispute you when you say that you do not have to eat with strangers since I have never been on any other line to dispute it. Although those who have been on other lines have been quoted to saying "they didn't like that they had to sit with other people they didn't know."

 

As for the paragraph I have quoted. Of course I have been to weddings and Christmas parties in real life. The only difference was I knew those other people. Not sure who's weddings you go to that you are not seated with those you know. And the only Christmas parties I have attended have been through work and I see those people on a daily basis, of course I know them. We do not crash a strangers wedding. And I've only been to one other event with assigned seating and hated it. So I've never been to another and don't intend to.

 

I've been to many functions where I was seated with people I didn't know.

I just got back from a wedding shower. At a table for 8, I knew one person. (Loved meeting everyone else!)

I have had this many times at weddings....you don't have to crash a wedding to be seated with people you don't know....

LOL...silly. ;)

Unless every wedding you're invited to is the wedding of a family member, chances are there will be a lot of people you don't know at the function.

 

My daughter is getting married in May...I don't know ANY of her future in laws (met her MIL/SIL briefly for 2 minutes at her and her fiance's college graduation years ago) as well as a small portion of her newest friends. We are all scattered around the country.

[che5904]

I've been to many functions where I was seated with people I didn't know.

I just got back from a wedding shower. At a table for 8, I knew one person.

have had this many times at weddings....you don't have to crash a wedding to be seated with people you don't know....

 

Perhaps but I do not attend functions like that. And as I said freestyle only mirrors real life if you go to land restaurants. So traditional dining only mirrors real life if you choose to go to functions that you will be seated with a bunch of strangers.

 

And I'm just taking a stab in the dark here, that the average people go to restaurants far more often than attend functions to sit with those they don't know.

 

Now besides all the above arguments. That was not my point at all my point was "why does the freestyle dining concept" confuse people that probably do it a couple of times a month. I don't have issues with anyone who loves sitting with strangers (or new made friends).

[halos]

Perhaps but I do not attend functions like that. .

 

You never have had the opportunity or you would refuse an invitation to a function where you may be seated with strangers??

I'm not sure what you mean. :confused:

[libertyschool]

I will not dispute you when you say that you do not have to eat with strangers since I have never been on any other line to dispute it. Although those who have been on other lines have been quoted to saying "they didn't like that they had to sit with other people they didn't know."

 

As for the paragraph I have quoted. Of course I have been to weddings and Christmas parties in real life. The only difference was I knew those other people. Not sure who's weddings you go to that you are not seated with those you know. And the only Christmas parties I have attended have been through work and I see those people on a daily basis, of course I know them. We do not crash a strangers wedding. And I've only been to one other event with assigned seating and hated it. So I've never been to another and don't intend to.

 

 

Well, I only have 1 experience to draw from, but the table behind us was a table of 3, the table directly to the right of us was a table for 2, and there were many more. That was with Carnival. Someone else in this thread also said the same thing about RCCL. I can't say for the others.

 

I've actually been to several weddings where I was seated with strangers. Obviously not close family members weddings. I've also been to dinner/theatre events and sat with strangers. So I guess what is the norm for me, is not the norm for you. My apologies.

[mickeysgal]

I've been to many functions where I was seated with people I didn't know.

I just got back from a wedding shower. At a table for 8, I knew one person. (Loved meeting everyone else!)

I have had this many times at weddings....you don't have to crash a wedding to be seated with people you don't know....

LOL...silly. ;)

Unless every wedding you're invited to is the wedding of a family member, chances are there will be a lot of people you don't know at the function.

 

My daughter is getting married in May...I don't know ANY of her future in laws (met her MIL/SIL briefly for 2 minutes at her and her fiance's college graduation years ago) as well as a small portion of her newest friends. We are all scattered around the country.

 

Sitting with someone for the span of a few hours during a function such as a wedding or shower is one thing. Even the worst of seat mates can be tolerated for a short time and often times you aren't in conversation with them...you're up dancing, mingling, watching the gift opening, etc. Sitting with them for dinner each and every day for the course of an entire cruise is another. And, yes, I know that you can request a change in tables if your assigned table is unbearable. It can be awkward though if you do have to pass by the table enroute to the new table or if the dining room simply doesn't have the space to accomodate your request.

 

I guess my bottom line is that I'd like to meet others via my roll call, excursions, etc and then share a dinner or two with them rather than having people assigned to me. A good mix of dinner alone and dinner with those that I click is more enjoyable to us.

[che5904]

You never have had the opportunity or you would refuse an invitation to a function where you may be seated with strangers??

I'm not sure what you mean. :confused:

 

Both. Any weddings dinners I have attended in over 50 years of life have been family or close friends, where I know at least 60% of the room and have been seated at tables I knew people. Any other wedding celebrations we have not attended the meal. Work related Christmas parties and such, were as I said ,I worked with these people daily and knew everyone in the room. I have had to do this 3 times in over 30 years of marriage in functions that we were invited to, and absolutely dispised it. Those invitations were from places like VIP events held at casinos and I now do not attend, so yes I refuse.

 

Everyone has their own comfort level, this is not mine. I am not an antisocial person. I don't have a problem at all meeting someone at a trivia function in the afternoon, finding we have something in common and then joining them for dinner. I just don't want to be forced to sit with someone I haven't even met yet or know if we have anything in common.

 

I am very well aware that some extroverted personalities will not understand this at all.

 

 

So I guess what is the norm for me, is not the norm for you. My apologies.

 

Nope it's not, but no problem.

[jonbgd]

I do like the traditional dining experience. I like having the same table and waiters every night. I like the Bar service to bring my cocktail to the table before I order my dinner. I like the report you build over the length of the cruise. It is part of cruising for us.

Ive never had bad tablemates and since I have been on a cruise ship before there is always a conversation starter.

We always eat early seating on a cruise ship so we can go to the show afterwards. Even when we do MTD or Anytime dining we eat early and when it is just the 2 of us try to get the same table and waiters. We do get to pre-reserve our time to eat as well.

 

Our 1 experience on The POA. I didnt like the way they do the MDR. I didnt like they wouldnt take reservations and having to wait up to a half hour for a table. I thought some of the service is the worst ever in 25+ cruises. From what I have read on CC is that is mostly just on the POA and not Indicitive of the rest of the fleet.

 

So I look forward to the Epic and I go in knowing that the MDR isnt going to be what Im used too but also It wont ruin my cruise. We will probably eat early so we can do the shows.

Also will probably explore a few more dining options than we normally would have.

[SuiteCruiser]

Traditional dining also mirrors real life, if you've ever been to a wedding, Christmas party or any other formal event with assigned seating.

 

There is as much mis-information and confusion out there about traditonal dining as there is about freestyle. Nobody is "forced" to eat with strangers. You can choose your table to be only for your party. Like I've said before, I saw many tables of 2, 3 and 4 on my cruise. The set time does seem to be the only difference. That can be a pro or con, it means never having to wait, but it also means that you may not be ready to eat. I've read that the service and MDR food is sub-par on NCL. Luckily I don't believe everything I read, I will judge for myself on my upcoming NCL cruise and can't wait :). I have no doubt that I will enjoy it as much. What's not to love on a cruise?

 

Some people find what they like and stick with it. Don't fix what ain't broke. As for me, I like to try new things. Again, to each his own.

 

I had to fight for a table with myself and my two kids on my last Carnival cruise 2 years ago. Asked for it when booking, called to confirm, but arrived to a table for eight. Finally managed to get the table but not before a lot of frustration and almost leaving thinking we needed to eat in the buffet every night. My son is high-functioning autistic, and sitting with a bunch of strangers would have ruined his trip and therefore mine as well.

 

I've had pleasant experiences in the past with really good tablemates, and had one really bad one that scared me off.

 

I had another horrible one on Carnival at lunch where they fill up big tables with strangers and we ended up with a family of 5 and a woman that kept spitting her food out onto her plate because she didn't like it.

 

My kids and I had another horrible breakfast where we were placed with a group of 4 at a long 8-top. The person sitting beside my son leaned out across the table on her elbow to separate us. My kids were 8 at the time.

 

I don't like having to deal with rude people and to have to explain to my kids why people are allowed to act that way when they are not.

 

NCL it is.

[Mooder]

The only traditional dining experience I have had was on my first cruise on NCL before Freestyle. I didn't enjoy it. I am sure it was an anomaly, but I didn't like our waiter. It was something that wouldn't have bothered me for one night, but by the end of the week, he was driving me nuts. To make it worse, he was teasing me about my preferences so instead of it being a pleasure to have him learn them, it was a pain.

 

I don't even remember our table mates which I suppose was part of the problem. We were cordial to one another but didn't really hit it off so it made dinner quiet and a little awkward. With Freestyle, I have met many fellow cruisers with whom we really hit it off and then we are able to choose to eat together. That's a true joy!

 

My primary objection is that I want dinner at different times depending on what I am doing on any given day. A sea day is very different for me than a port day, for instance.

 

Having said that, I can see why it appeals to some people. That's why choice is a wonderful thing! :)

[Vyhanek]

The reasons I like traditional dining are:

 

* I want to know when it is that I am going to be eating. The whole concept of showing up in the dining room before 6pm and getting handed a pager so I can now wait on a table isn't what I want to do on vacation. Having a set dining time is like having a reservation. They know you are coming and they are ready and waiting on you. Standing around with 200 other people holding pagers isn't fun. Even for 10 minutes I find that unacceptable. I would think for the enormous amount of anti-social cruisers this would be even less fun.

 

I like a relaxed dinner but not a 2.5 hour dinner. If NCL could manage the dining process in such a way that it flows smoothly without long, long waits in-between the courses I might think differently.

 

About the waiters.....it's not about making a new waiter friend! It's about someone ready and waiting for you, as if they are expecting you and waiting to help you have a great meal. You sit down and someone knows your name. You sit down and someone knows that you like to start your meal with ice tea and sweet-n-low instead of Splenda, it's having someone with a smile ready for YOU. It's personalized attention. That's what we like about assigned dining times... some minimal level of personalized attention.

 

I like to see the shows in the evening. If my dinner takes 2.5 hours and I'm in the dining room at 5:45 pm I think it's reasonable to think I could make the 8pm show in plenty of time to get a seat. Not on NCL, you can't expect to eat dinner and then make the early show. You might be able to just eek in at 8pm but too bad, by then all the seats in the theater are taken.

 

I can't stand that my family orders dinner all together but my children's entire meal comes out before I have even finished my appetizer....much less my salad or soup or entree. My meal takes forever to serve but my kids have their food within 6 minutes of sitting down. Even if you say..."hey, please bring my kids food out when mine comes we like to eat together"...is that such a big request?....apparently it is because they can't do it! You eat in traditional dining and everyone's entree comes at the same time.... a darn miracle!

 

I don't care if I'm seated with strangers. I'm not anti-social. And this doesn't even have anything to do with freestyle. Even at the buffet occasionally it gets so over busy in there, the seating becomes an issue. Most NCL cruisers are very anti social and would be offended if someone asked to sit in the empty seats at their table, because on NCL with Freestyle you don't have to sit with strangers?!?. Not me. I'm not anti social. I like people, I like meeting people. I could care less if I eat dinner with a new couple or new family. Sometimes I run out of things to talk about with my husband. Sometimes chit chat and small talk is fun. On vacation I like it!

 

Mainly I don't ever want to be handed a pager and have to wait for a table. Even for 10 minutes, that's unacceptable to me when I know it can run better. I want the table waiting on ME, not me waiting on the table. And also a 2.5 hour meal is too long....especially when there are 200 people waiting outside the dining room holding pagers!!

 

NCL Freestyle has been around a good long time now. Its beyond time that they should have worked out these basic kinks. Nope. These kinks must be accepted as a big part of the Freestyle experience. I want a better run dining experience.