Specialty Dining - Is it worth the price?

[farmerslou]

Is the food that much better than the MDR? In my view, no. I told the Tuscan folks that I've had better risotto in the MDR. I've tried Tuscan three times and will never go back, even if it's included with my room. Qsine is fun with a group, not sure it's worth a huge upcharge. The atmosphere in the specialty restaurants is definitely better than the MDR--they are smaller venues. Whether that's worth $45-50/pp is up to you. I'd rather save my money for a good meal on shore. All the food on the ship has been previously frozen, they don't do fresh fish, vegetables, etc.

We tried the specialty restaurants for the first time when we were on the Summit last year. We absolutely loved Tuscan Grill and Qsine. When we were in Qsine, there were only 2 of us, but that didn't stop us from getting the full experience that people have said you only get with more people at your table. Tuscan Grill steaks were all very good as well, as well as the fish dishes we tried. Pasta was made fresh, we saw it hanging after it had just been made. As far as the MDR, we went there once. I ordered salmon and when it arrived, I took one bite and left the MDR. We went to Tuscan Grill instead.

 

Food, like everything, is a very subjective thing. For us, we like the smaller dining venues of the specialty restaurants. We also tend to stay to ourselves, and prefer not to have to engage with strangers at dinner. Again though, that is us. I think that because our day to day lives find us interacting with the public, we try to use our cruise as a way for us to reconnect in a way that we generally do not have the opportunity to do. I know that sounds odd on a ship with thousands, but it has worked for us for over 30 years.

 

Just on a curious note. I have often wondered if people who criticize specialty restaurants are doing so simply because of the up charge? I am not implying that people are cheap (or they wouldn't be on board in the first place). What I mean is that the marketing of modern luxury brings a certain level of expectation that people have. If I were paying full price for specialty restaurants AND full price for drinks for example, I might have a different view of dining in them.

 

In any case, I think Celebrity has lots to please everyone. Happy cruising!

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

[Doctor G]

I have eaten in Tuscan Grill twice (steaks both times) and did not like the food at all. Also, the last time I was there I thought the waiter was patronizing, and I did not appreciate the service at all. I did pay for that experience, and it was definitely not worth it. Since so many people like Tuscan, I wonder if the food there is very different on different ships.

 

Carolyn

[san diego spartan]

The OP mentioned Oceania - which I sailed last year and truly enjoyed all of our specialty dining meals - though they are included in your cruise fare - so no extra charge. They got better each one we tried -with Red Ginger being the best.

 

Now we do not usually do the specialty dining options on Celebrity for the reason that there is such a huge upcharge. I can see $20-$25 but $50 - that is $100 per couple and I haven't been convinced that it is worth it. Qsine - well for some people I guess this is novel, but not for us. I do think Murano has the best option and I guess I would do a dining package if I'm on a 25 day cruise so you get a better deal.

 

Guess we'd rather spend the $100 elsewhere -spa? casino? on shore? Usually we find the MDR to be good. Now I am interested in the Sushi specialty dining option - as you can do ala carte which is nice.

[BEAV]

Thank you all for your sharing your experiences. It has definitely been enlightening. As it stands right now we have an early seating table for 2 reserved in the MDR for all 25 days.

 

Some folks have mentioned getting various discounts up to 35% at different specialty restaurants. Do you periodically get these delivered to your room or do you have to request them? Also, it sounds like purchasing a specialty dining package might be the best way to go if we decide to try a few. Is it better to order this package before we leave or wait until we get on the ship? Since we're at the Select level, I know we got a discount when we ordered an Internet package beforehand. Does it work the same way for dining packages?

 

If you pre-pay a dining package before you leave, you will have to select either the first or second night of the cruise as the first night of your dining package. Then, once you board the ship, you make arrangements to reserve the balance of the nights on your package. Or, if you wish, just wait until you board to buy the package. Celebrity, unlike any of the other lines we've been on that have specialty restaurants, engage in the barter system! Since you'll be aboard for 25 days (are you on a B2B?), the onboard food & beverage management will be anxious to sell tables in the specialty restaurants in order to meet sales quotas, etc. Don't be afraid to go to any of the restaurants and inquire about dining discounts outside of the dining package. Celebrity also often extends a 30% discount on the first night of a voyage, a night typically light in the alternatives. We've also found good discounts in the specialty restaurants on formal nights that are popular in the MDR due to their serving lobster, etc. Have some flexibility and have fun with the barter system. I was intimidated with it initially, but after reading the countless stories here I got over my shyness! Remember, you're doing THEM a favor by patronizing their establishments.

[Ken the cruiser]

If you pre-pay a dining package before you leave, you will have to select either the first or second night of the cruise as the first night of your dining package. Then, once you board the ship, you make arrangements to reserve the balance of the nights on your package. Or, if you wish, just wait until you board to buy the package. Celebrity, unlike any of the other lines we've been on that have specialty restaurants, engage in the barter system! Since you'll be aboard for 25 days (are you on a B2B?), the onboard food & beverage management will be anxious to sell tables in the specialty restaurants in order to meet sales quotas, etc. Don't be afraid to go to any of the restaurants and inquire about dining discounts outside of the dining package. Celebrity also often extends a 30% discount on the first night of a voyage, a night typically light in the alternatives. We've also found good discounts in the specialty restaurants on formal nights that are popular in the MDR due to their serving lobster, etc. Have some flexibility and have fun with the barter system. I was intimidated with it initially, but after reading the countless stories here I got over my shyness! Remember, you're doing THEM a favor by patronizing their establishments.

Thanks for that very helpful info. Yes, it's a B2B, a 10 day followed by a 15 day TA. We were curious if we bought a dining package on the first leg, could we spread it across both legs or would we have to purchase one per leg?

[farmerslou]

We are sailing on the Equinox Nov 16th. We pre purchased a 9 night specialty dining package for $209. That breaks down to $23.22 per day and gives us unlimited dining during the entire duration of the cruise.

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

[Ken the cruiser]

We are sailing on the Equinox Nov 16th. We pre purchased a 9 night specialty dining package for $209. That breaks down to $23.22 per day and gives us unlimited dining during the entire duration of the cruise.

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

Is the cruise you're on a B2B by chance?

[farmerslou]

Is the cruise you're on a B2B by chance?

Not for us, no

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

[BEAV]

Thanks for that very helpful info. Yes, it's a B2B, a 10 day followed by a 15 day TA. We were curious if we bought a dining package on the first leg, could we spread it across both legs or would we have to purchase one per leg?

 

I don't believe you can extend a dining package into the next voyage of a B2B. You may want to consider buying a package for the first sailing, see how you like it, and then play things by ear on the next. And since your second leg is a 15 night Transatlantic, you will generally find greater ease and flexibility booking and getting dining discounts the longer the voyage. We've sailed 3 Transatlantics with Celebrity and that has been the case every time.

[tanzania2015]

Wrong thread

Edited October 1, 2017 by tanzania2015

[floralscent]

You can get a discount by reserving a dining package before sailing or look for a deal once onboard- deals are not always available onboard though as it depends on how booked up the restaurants are.

 

We absolutely love the specialty restaurants and dine in them exclusively for dinner. We love the atmosphere, great service and think the food is superior to the MDR even though many will disagree. Remember food/pricing is very subjective.

 

We always purchase a dining package prior to sailing so we have one less thing to think about on our vacation.

[farmerslou]

You can get a discount by reserving a dining package before sailing or look for a deal once onboard- deals are not always available onboard though as it depends on how booked up the restaurants are.

 

We absolutely love the specialty restaurants and dine in them exclusively for dinner. We love the atmosphere, great service and think the food is superior to the MDR even though many will disagree. Remember food/pricing is very subjective.

 

We always purchase a dining package prior to sailing so we have one less thing to think about on our vacation.

That is precisely why we do it as well.

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

[mafig]

If you purchase the dining package ahead of time, you still can't pick the days or times, can you?

[farmerslou]

If you purchase the dining package ahead of time, you still can't pick the days or times, can you?

I was told I could do so when I board, if I choose to

 

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Forums mobile app

[countess5]

If you purchase the dining package ahead of time, you still can't pick the days or times, can you?

 

Yes you can, we purchase the dining package all the time. They say they make a reservation for you the first or second night, we always change it and book the other nights once we are onboard.

Just did this on 12 day British Isle cruise in August.

[mafig]

Yes you can, we purchase the dining package all the time. They say they make a reservation for you the first or second night, we always change it and book the other nights once we are onboard.

Just did this on 12 day British Isle cruise in August.

 

 

Sorry, I was not clear. What I meant to post was that if you purchase the dining package before the cruise you can't pick the days and times before the cruise ... at the time of purchase, can you?

[countess5]

Sorry, I was not clear. What I meant to post was that if you purchase the dining package before the cruise you can't pick the days and times before the cruise ... at the time of purchase, can you?

 

You can pick a time like 8PM. That is just an overall time for the sailing, But when we get onboard we just make the times we want for each night, but no you can’t select the times for each night prior to sailing, just an overall time.

[Ken the cruiser]

Sorry, I was not clear. What I meant to post was that if you purchase the dining package before the cruise you can't pick the days and times before the cruise ... at the time of purchase, can you?

Since we like to eat no later than 6 pm, if would then definitely be to our advantage to buy our dining package on board where we will also be able to make sure we can get an early dining time.

[countess5]

Never really had an issue making a time. Our last cruise we changed our time three times during the 12 days.

 

Check out Chef’s table when you get onboard if you like a nice meal with wine pairings! RCCL does a better job and less expensive but X does a good job. It is held in the Murano wine room.

I think X is more expensive because they “give” you the X Cookbook. It weighs about 50 Lbs. I wore it on my back coming from our Med cruise and since then have given two others away to people. Learned my lesson.

[mafig]

Since we like to eat no later than 6 pm, if would then definitely be to our advantage to buy our dining package on board where we will also be able to make sure we can get an early dining time.

 

 

Thank you. That's what I was thinking. I wouldn't like to have pre-purchased the package and then be told the only available time for the day I wanted was 8:30. If I was booking on-board I just wouldn't book.

[Wiseask]

Food is a matter of taste and value is an individual decision. You might disagree with what I think tastes good, and what you can afford to pay maybe I can't. I have dined in almost all of Celebrity's Specialty Restaurants and I agree with you that they are pricey. They do offer discounts during the cruise on certain nights: on past cruises it was as much as 50% but on our most recent Reflection cruise last month it was only 30%. I do think the food quality in the MDR and even the buffet restaurant for dinner is quite good, but having said that, it's your vacation so consider treating yourself to a night out. The filet mignon in the Tuscan is excellent, but so was the Beef Wellington served in the MDR in my opinion. You might consider trying Qsine because it's so unique. You will be hard put to find a restaurant like it anywhere else.

[VitaminSea53]

Maybe I am "old school" but what I have missed on my last 2 cruises (not Celebrity) was having a dedicated waiter. The cruises I was on had ONLY anytime dining so your table placement and wait staff was hit-or-miss. That is why I like the set dining time in the MDR. I think the food is good and I really appreciate a waiter who gets to know your preferences and treats you like a - wait for it - A Celebrity!

[wallie5446]

Check the speciality offers in your, 'My Cruise Planner' there is a 20% off sale going on. Many on the Roll Call for the cruise we just cancelled got a 9 night pkg for $209.00 pp.

 

We now book a basic balcony then get a pkg for the entire cruise.

[Hatteras51]

Maybe I am "old school" but what I have missed on my last 2 cruises (not Celebrity) was having a dedicated waiter. The cruises I was on had ONLY anytime dining so your table placement and wait staff was hit-or-miss. That is why I like the set dining time in the MDR. I think the food is good and I really appreciate a waiter who gets to know your preferences and treats you like a - wait for it - A Celebrity!

 

We've done set dining and select (anytime dining) on many different lines. We prefer select. We ask to sit in the same section each night and get to know our wait staff. This also enables them to know our preferences. One of the things that I didn't initially like about the anytime dining program was losing that connection with our wait staff, but this has solved the problem for us. We enjoy getting to know them.

[GranthamMommy]

We have a lot of obc for our next cruise, so we will book a three night package for our next cruise. We have been to the Tuscan Grill. Book this one and go hungry. We had one evening where it was phenomenal (the waiter was great) and another night where the food was okay, but the waiter was not so good. We enjoy QSine with friends although you can do it as a couple. We have done Murano's once and loved it as well. We leave next Friday !