Dining package or ala carte?

[kskelley40]

We are sailing in January 2020 on the Dawn.  My booking was through the casino - great rate - but it only included the drink package and WIFI.  We are platinum so we will get our 2 free specialty dinners but I am also trying to decide whether or not to do more.  This is a 12 day cruise so we have lots of dinner options.  We are already using our platinum certificates for Le Bistro and Cucina.

Want to also do Los Lobos, Le Bistro again and Cagneys.  So, it would cost a total of $230.00 for the 2 of us to get the 3-night dining package. 

Any idea of what the ala carte price would be?  I can't locate any current menus with prices on the internet.  I can find menus but no prices.

Just trying to decide if the cost of the package is worth it or not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hallux]

Depends on what/how much you eat but I did a mental tally of what my meals would have been a la carte and each one would have been over $60 for app/entree/dessert.  At $230 for 2, that makes it reasonable, have you factored the 20% gratuity on that as well?

[TonyB17]

In general, the dining package should be cheaper than a la carte.  Especially in Cagney's. 

[kskelley40]

2 minutes ago, hallux said:

Depends on what/how much you eat but I did a mental tally of what my meals would have been a la carte and each one would have been over $60 for app/entree/dessert.  At $230 for 2, that makes it reasonable, have you factored the 20% gratuity on that as well?

The 230.00 includes the gratuity.  We are not big eaters, probably just an appetizer each and main dish.  Husband might get a dessert, but not me.   Normally I have the dining package included, not this time though, the rate was too good through the casino.

 

[kskelley40]

Anyone know where there might be current menus posted with prices?  The only ones I found either didn't have prices or were years old, like 2012, 2014.

 

[casofilia]

In general the dining package especially if you eat either "big" or "expensive"

[Paul Bogle]

If you are sure you will dine the three additional meals in the specialty restaurants you should buy the package. To come out cheaper ala carte you will need to eat like a hermit. Even limiting to a starter and main course will likely cost out about the same as the package. Just buy the package and enjoy your meals.

[kskelley40]

Thanks...I am leaning towards just getting the package and not having to worry about it.  Especially since I have 119 days to budget for it.

Thanks for the input...

[esm54687]

There are plenty of threads here where BirdTravels has been gracious enough to include pictures of 2019 menus.  Just do a search for their posts.

Edited September 24, 2019 by esm54687

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, kskelley40 said:

We are sailing in January 2020 on the Dawn.  My booking was through the casino - great rate - but it only included the drink package and WIFI.  We are platinum so we will get our 2 free specialty dinners but I am also trying to decide whether or not to do more.  This is a 12 day cruise so we have lots of dinner options.  We are already using our platinum certificates for Le Bistro and Cucina.

Want to also do Los Lobos, Le Bistro again and Cagneys.  So, it would cost a total of $230.00 for the 2 of us to get the 3-night dining package. 

Any idea of what the ala carte price would be?  I can't locate any current menus with prices on the internet.  I can find menus but no prices.

Just trying to decide if the cost of the package is worth it or not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Representative prices for the restaurants from last month can be found on my Joy thread below. Our Ocean Blue dinners ran $80 per person (less in other restaurants).