Is Specialty Dining Goin' Beggin'???

[SargassoPirate]

We have a cruise departing in a couple of weeks. I have just received a third email from RCI offering a fifty percent discount on specialty dining. She Who Must Be Obeyed mused that they must be getting desperate to fill the specialty venues.

 

 

[Clarea]

I think it's just Royal wanting cash sooner.

[Zach1213]

7 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

She Who Must Be Obeyed

 

 

[little britain]

I got BOGOF on board Rhapsody last week.  All specialty dining venues were very empty indeed. 

But then again, if they want over $40 for Giovannis they are getting overly greedy.

[Goofyfanatic]

8 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

I think it's just Royal wanting cash sooner.

Agree 100%

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

I recently cruised aboard the Mariner of the Seas (Dec. 7 - 10, 2018) and don't think that Jamie's Italian was doing very well. Whenever I went to the Windjammer, there was a waiter outside Jamie's Italian trying to encourage people to make reservations.

 

Chuck

[not-enough-cruising]

 I have certainly noticed recently that specialty dining venues are being utilized less than in the past.  Perhaps the cost has reached a point where it’s no longer worth it to many people.  Maybe we will see the price go down a little across the board. (doubtful but one can dream)

[Scoobydobe7]

Was on the Freedom in August and on the first day in the windjammer for lunch we got BOMBBARDED by waiters trying to sell us the Specialty Restaurants and even after we explained MULTIPLE times that were already had reservations, they tried selling us the packages...IT WAS ANNOYING to say the least. 

[cruiseguy1016]

We were on Adventure last March and EVERY.....SINGLE.....NIGHT we had to listen to our waiters at dinner telling us to try the specialty restaurants.

[Clarea]

30 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

 ... Perhaps the cost has reached a point where it’s no longer worth it to many people. ...

 

One can hope.

[SargassoPirate]

It's telling if they are trying to push the specialty venues that much.  We get very annoyed at having our meal interrupted with a sales pitch about specialty dining.  On a recent RCI cruise, every night there was a representative from a specialty dining venue roaming the MDR and trying to sell them. I got so annoyed after the fourth or fifth night that I called the head waiter over and told him we were tired of having our dining experience interrupted by sales pitches.  He must've said something because they avoided our table after that, but they still interrupted other diners.

Edited December 17, 2018 by SargassoPirate

[Retired LEO]

With the cost going up and the quality and service going down this is what it has come to.

[cruisegirl1]

We were on Oasis last week and the specialty dining seemed empty every night.  We did FNDR ( Cheaper than using  a BOGO) and  changed the assignment to 150 Central Park.  There were only 5 or so tables taken  at 150 at 7:30 PM.  We had a drink most evenings at Trellis Bar in Central Park so we walked through on most nights, and saw that the three restaurants in central park were nearly empty each night.  

 

We didn't bother any other night and were never approached any special pricing.

M

 

Edited December 17, 2018 by cruisegirl1

[PhoenixCruiser]

The Specialty Restaurants were very busy on our 12/1 Symphony cruise.

[voyager70]

We've stopped going to the specialty restaurants.  We're not big eaters, and combined with the increasing fees it just isn't worth it anymore.

 

[S.S.Oceanlover]

1 hour ago, seacruise9 said:

Hi,

 

I recently cruised aboard the Mariner of the Seas (Dec. 7 - 10, 2018) and don't think that Jamie's Italian was doing very well. Whenever I went to the Windjammer, there was a waiter outside Jamie's Italian trying to encourage people to make reservations.

 

Chuck

 

Same on Jewel last week. He was there every day of the cruise.

 

One guy came up to us while eating in the WJ and asked if we would like to book Giovannis for 50% off.

 

Bill

[Iamcruzin]

With all of these comments I would have expected to see some type of reduction in price in my cruise planner. Not so. We haven’t sailed on Royal in years so the MDR menus will be new to us. We are sailing on Anthem. The only restaurant I’m willing to be over charged for is Wonderland. That’s only because I can’t have this experience on land. There are plenty of Italian restaurants and Stekhouses in my area. After reviewing the menu I decided they are just not worth the price. If anything I would just pay an up charge in the MDR for a better steak.

[Merion_Mom]

I really didn't want to write this post, but I'm doing it anyway.

 

They really are not such a premium experience any more.  At all.

 

So many things go wrong or are sub-par, and I am so disappointed in Royal Caribbean for letting this happen.

 

Ate at Chops and Giovanni's Table this just-finished cruise on  the  Vision  of the Seas.

 

I fully expected an excellent experience with delicious food and  outstanding service.  I simply do not feel that we received that in either restaurant.

 

Chef's Table was very good, although my friends were critical that one of  the wines was Kim Crawford.  😉 😄 And many people told me that they received big discounts which we did not get.  

[kevdad]

Only two weeks remain in the quarter/year, perhaps they are trying some things to meet/exceed budget and earnings expectations.

Edited December 17, 2018 by kevdad
Poor math!

[cruisegirl1]

21 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

I really didn't want to write this post, but I'm doing it anyway.

 

They really are not such a premium experience any more.  At all.

 

So many things go wrong or are sub-par, and I am so disappointed in Royal Caribbean for letting this happen.

 

Ate at Chops and Giovanni's Table this just-finished cruise on  the  Vision  of the Seas.

 

I fully expected an excellent experience with delicious food and  outstanding service.  I simply do not feel that we received that in either restaurant.

 

Chef's Table was very good, although my friends were critical that one of  the wines was Kim Crawford.  😉 😄 And many people told me that they received big discounts which we did not get.  

I agree with your friends.  Years ago, the wines at the Chef's table were nice, and a bit above average.  Now, just plain ordinary table wine.   Kim Crawford can be purchased for less than $10 a bottle ( case price)  at our local wine shop.   Anyone who likes finer  wines would be disappointed at the wine selection at Chef's Table.

 

Thanks for the comments.

M

 

[island lady]

We were very surprised on Oasis just over a week ago.  150 CP was 5.00 a person cheaper than Chops.  😮  And he told me they are doing the first and second night BOGO in there now also, which we missed out on.  We had a good meal (love the tenderloin for two) but agree....it was almost empty in there mid week.  AND they allowed drink vouchers for a glass of wine too.  

 

Things have changed.  

[Host Star]

we did the bogo (wonderland and 150 cp) the first 2 nites.. we agreed that if the dining room food was not good we would do the rest of the week specialty dining.. however we found the dining room food and menu improved since 2 years ago.. highlights were rack of lamb, lamb shank, salmon, beet salad, onion soup and escargot..even the strip steak  was tender and cooked to order.... among others... there was no need to spend the extra money for specialty dining as far as we were concerned and we had an excellent waiter ... did mtd.. at  7 every nite.. with reservation, no wait for a table .. maybe this is why the specialty restaurants are not as crowded..

[39august]

So please tell me how FNDR is better than the BOGO. We used ours, as usual, at Giovanni's on LB last week. The total bill with the 18% gratuity was $41 and change.

[Merion_Mom]

It depends on the price of FNDR and the BOGO restaurants you choose. 

[crusinthrough]

3 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

With all of these comments I would have expected to see some type of reduction in price in my cruise planner. 

I agree.  I have an upcoming Harmony cruise and the price for speciality dining has not gone down.  Conversely, as reported in another thread Izumi price increased when it went from a la carte pricing to fixed pricing.  There is no offer for FNDR in my cruise planner and the UDP is over $200, which is more than it was on a recent Allure sailing ($160).  Maybe less people are going but Royal may also break even.  Speciality dining doesn’t cost the cruise line much more money to operate.  I went to Givannis on the Oasis and the food was awful.  It was lukewarm and tasteless... never again even for free..