Old unlimited SR dining package vs. current Specialty Restaurant Dining Package

[jg51]

Good day!

Several years ago (possibly on the Equinox in 2013), we purchased an Unlimited Dining Package [UDP] -- probably on a 14-night transatlantic cruise, probably for $29 per night.  It included the obvious (dinner nightly in an SR of choice), as well as each SR lunch (at least one in Tuscan Grill and at least one in Murano), a special "Tea" in Murano, and lunch daily in Bistro on 5.

(We know that the Bistro has been replaced by a Sushi restaurant.)

 

We now have the following questions, as we prepare to be aboard a near-future transatlantic cruise on a Solstice-class ship:

1.  Can anyone confirm that the old UDP no longer exists?

 

2.  We recall seeing -- in 2017, we think -- that a 14-night Specialty Restaurant Dining Package [SRDP] was available for $336 (average = $24 per night).  We now see that the same package has skyrocketed in price (up almost $80) to $418 (average = $29.90).

 

3.  If the UDP no longer exists, does the high-priced SRDP provide only fourteen MEALS (e.g., fourteen SR dinners ... or twelve SR dinners and two SR lunches) -- or does the SRDP provide fourteen full DAYS' meals (i.e., fourteen SR dinners ... AND two or more SR lunches), more or less as the old UDP did?

 

If the answer to #3 is, just "fourteen MEALS," then it seems obvious to us that $418 is an unreasonable charge. 

Why "unreasonable?"  It is not that an average of $30 per meal is bad, but ...

(a) the increase amounts to an outlandish, unjustifiable "inflation" rate of about 25% in just two years ... and ...

(b) if one misses two dinners -- for any of a variety of legitimate reasons -- the average jumps to $35 per meal.

 

We look forward to reading any (non-snarky 😉) comments and factual information that anyone can provide!

Thanks very much.

PS:  One thing that has us wondering about this so much is that we just learned that Royal Caribbean International ships have recently introduced a UDP of their own (at something like $25 per day for most ships and $29 per day for the "monster" ships) -- in which a guest can eat both lunch [on sea days] and dinner in SRs ... AND ... can even eat meals in TWO (or more) SRs on the same night (e.g., an entree in each SR ... or most of a meal in one SR, but dessert in another SR).  Wow!  We wish that Celebrity would follow suit.  We hate it when there are major differences between "sister lines" under the same ownership.

Edited August 21, 2019 by jg51
(Afterthought in PS)

[jelayne]

The old package disappeared a few years ago.  The 14 night package (or any number of nights) is for 14 dinners although I am sure you could use a dinner for a lunch.  

Yes, the prices have increased on the packages in the past year.  You didn’t mention which ship you are on but the dining packages on the Edge are more expensive than the other ships as Eden and Fine Cut Steak House are more expensive than the speciality restaurants on the other ships.

[vtcruising]

Unless recently reimplemented, there is no longer a UDP. The 14 night SDP is $418 PP for S and M Class ships and my understanding is that it is 14 dining experiences, lunch or dinner (with $35 max in Sushi on 5 or Raw on 5, though some have reported that they were not charged for costs above that). Pricey, but a nice savings for those who prefer to eat in the specialties every night. I wouldn't do it personally, but works for some, I guess. 🙂

 

Here is the price sheet:

 

specialty dining packages.pdf

 

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by vtcruising

[jg51]

Dear "jelayne" and "vtcruising,"

Thanks for your assistance!

[Iamcruzin]

11 hours ago, jg51 said:

Thanks very much.

PS:  One thing that has us wondering about this so much is that we just learned that Royal Caribbean International ships have recently introduced a UDP of their own (at something like $25 per day for most ships and $29 per day for the "monster" ships) -- in which a guest can eat both lunch [on sea days] and dinner in SRs ... AND ... can even eat meals in TWO (or more) SRs on the same night (e.g., an entree in each SR ... or most of a meal in one SR, but dessert in another SR).  Wow!  We wish that Celebrity would follow suit.  We hate it when there are major differences between "sister lines" under the same ownership.

If you read some of the treads on the Royal Board their plan comes with it's own issues. One not being consistent across the line and the other being denied 2 entrées. 

[Turtles06]

We were on the Silhouette TA last fall. No UDP was ever offered, but at some point, the SDPs for 5 or more nights had sale prices in the Cruise Planner. The 5 night SDP was reasonable enough on sale that we bought it.  (Once on board, we were sorry we had, as the MDR food was excellent and Tuscan Grille, previously one of our favorites, had mediocre food and service, and as much as we enjoy Murano, that type of dining is something we only like to do occasionally.  YMMV of course.)