Pellaz Posted April 23, 2023 #76 Share Posted April 23, 2023 (edited) On 4/19/2023 at 5:59 PM, kwokpot said: You're assuming this wasn't purposeful. Obviously it was. Unlike the rest of the fleet, Cucina and Chibang are MEANT to be MDR's and NOT Specialty restaurants. That's why the menus aren't the same for Cucina on Excel Class ships; the choices and quality has been downscaled since it's NOT SUPPOSED to be a specialty restaurant. Hmm, if we experienced a "downsized quality" menu at Cucina on the Mardi Gras -- and we loved it, including my Italian cruise-friend -- then I can only imagine how awesome a "regular," for-pay menu at the Cucina would be. On 4/19/2023 at 7:02 PM, audcc77 said: Yes, I realize that. However, I only give anytime dining EXTRA tips if I have the same team for several nights. To me, the service during YTD ranges from ho-hum to lousy. Unless I find a good one and stick with them for the remainder. Thus, resulting in an extra tip. Huh, we've had just a couple of lousy service teams with YTD; otherwise they've ranged from good to excellent...and on our October cruise on Horizon, one team was so good we requested them for the last 3 nights...and tipped appropriately and generously. On 4/19/2023 at 7:22 PM, Elaine5715 said: It doesn't penalize set time. Early set time diners have a table and wait team sitting on idle should they choose to eat at Cucina or Chibang at the same time. ATD can't just go to the main dining room and use that empty table. It is better to consider both are ATD rooms until 7:30 pm Well, Carnival certainly considers them that way. Under "Dining," all YTD passengers' ship cards even list "Flamingo, Chibang!, Cucina" as your three available dining rooms. Note that the assigned MDR for YTD can vary based on requests and capacity. For the sailing before ours on Mardi Gras, they were using the other dining room for YTD. Edited April 23, 2023 by Pellaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 23, 2023 #77 Share Posted April 23, 2023 On 4/19/2023 at 5:29 PM, mz-s said: Go to 100% "freestyle" dining. That's NCL's jurisdiction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 23, 2023 #78 Share Posted April 23, 2023 (edited) On 4/19/2023 at 6:08 PM, TravelBluebird said: True, I think we are leaning towards set time dining because we have 2 generations on this cruise, and if we don’t all have a designated dinner time all together, we may never see the “kids” And you always have the option to A) skip one dinner early with your group to eat in Chibang or Cucina after 745 or B) take advantage of the lunches offered in each of those venues during sea days between 12 and 2, albeit with different menus from dinner time. Edited April 23, 2023 by CruizinSusan70 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 23, 2023 #79 Share Posted April 23, 2023 5 minutes ago, Pellaz said: I can only imagine how awesome a "regular," for-pay menu at the Cucina would be. On the Horizon in 2018 and 2019 we enjoyed multiple meals at Cucina with the best entree being the tomahawk pork chop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted April 23, 2023 #80 Share Posted April 23, 2023 On 4/19/2023 at 5:29 PM, mz-s said: Yes, that's how Carnival is doing things with their new ships. I agree it's a poor experience for set dining cruisers. I don't see why they don't just allow everyone to reserve a table at the restaurant of their choosing when they want. Go to 100% "freestyle" dining. Hahahaha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geckoaz Posted April 23, 2023 Author #81 Share Posted April 23, 2023 My cruise over and no chibang. If you want to go with full menu YTD is advised. One commentator stated YTD fills up fast so make your decision well before sailing. Just remember to remain respectful of others who make comments. Do not laugh or disparage them. Just pass on on experiences that others may find helpful to improve their cruise experience. Sea ya! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted April 23, 2023 #82 Share Posted April 23, 2023 32 minutes ago, geckoaz said: My cruise over and no chibang. If you want to go with full menu YTD is advised. One commentator stated YTD fills up fast so make your decision well before sailing. Just remember to remain respectful of others who make comments. Do not laugh or disparage them. Just pass on on experiences that others may find helpful to improve their cruise experience. Sea ya! My guess those comments also are good for all including thought on the cruise line. Nothing good happens when bashing occurs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sra12574 Posted April 23, 2023 #83 Share Posted April 23, 2023 On 4/19/2023 at 5:29 PM, mz-s said: Yes, that's how Carnival is doing things with their new ships. I agree it's a poor experience for set dining cruisers. I don't see why they don't just allow everyone to reserve a table at the restaurant of their choosing when they want. Go to 100% "freestyle" dining. I think the strategy is based on the main dining rooms not being large enough to accomodate all the passengers . The people who in the past have opted for set dining times were guaranteed their seats in a set location with the same waitstaff. by having this policy it encourages traditional diners to keep with their traditions . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted April 23, 2023 #84 Share Posted April 23, 2023 5 hours ago, sra12574 said: I think the strategy is based on the main dining rooms not being large enough to accomodate all the passengers . The people who in the past have opted for set dining times were guaranteed their seats in a set location with the same waitstaff. by having this policy it encourages traditional diners to keep with their traditions . You would be correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Thenagers Posted April 24, 2023 #85 Share Posted April 24, 2023 The new $8pp surcharge to eat at chibang a 2nd time will probably make it easier to fry it in the future. Looks like this policy goes into effect next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #86 Share Posted April 24, 2023 On 4/19/2023 at 4:59 PM, kwokpot said: You're assuming this wasn't purposeful. Obviously it was. Unlike the rest of the fleet, Cucina and Chibang are MEANT to be MDR's and NOT Specialty restaurants. That's why the menus aren't the same for Cucina on Excel Class ships; the choices and quality has been downscaled since it's NOT SUPPOSED to be a specialty restaurant. The menu is different, I did not find quality to be downscaled on Mardi Gras or Celebration. Some dishes are available on the Excel ships that are not available on the other ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted April 24, 2023 #87 Share Posted April 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Thenagers said: The new $8pp surcharge to eat at chibang a 2nd time will probably make it easier to fry it in the future. Looks like this policy goes into effect next week. I imagine the first night or two, Chibang will be very crowded - but as the week goes on it will be easier to get a table as many people don't want to pay $8pp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #88 Share Posted April 24, 2023 Just a guess, but I think the $8 surcharge might not apply to casino comped meals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #89 Share Posted April 24, 2023 3 hours ago, Thenagers said: The new $8pp surcharge to eat at chibang a 2nd time will probably make it easier to fry it in the future. Looks like this policy goes into effect next week. Where is this coming from? Do you have a link that provides more details? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #90 Share Posted April 24, 2023 1 hour ago, BlerkOne said: The menu is different, I did not find quality to be downscaled on Mardi Gras or Celebration. Some dishes are available on the Excel ships that are not available on the other ships. Cmon.... you're implying that the quality of the food in Chibang with their Asian choices is the same as Jiji's? The spring rolls were the same, but in general the quality is substantially better in Jiji's, IMHO. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #91 Share Posted April 24, 2023 1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said: Cmon.... you're implying that the quality of the food in Chibang with their Asian choices is the same as Jiji's? The spring rolls were the same, but in general the quality is substantially better in Jiji's, IMHO. I don't waste my time with Chibang even when free. Now Cucina is a different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #92 Share Posted April 24, 2023 3 minutes ago, BlerkOne said: I don't waste my time with Chibang even when free. Now Cucina is a different story. If you don't waste your time there, why imply that their food is as good as Jiji's? Also, I would personally prefer to pay the 18 at Cucina on the Horizon then eat at Cucina for free on the MG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #93 Share Posted April 24, 2023 4 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said: If you don't waste your time there, why imply that their food is as good as Jiji's? Also, I would personally prefer to pay the 18 at Cucina on the Horizon then eat at Cucina for free on the MG. I didn't. You and others have brought Cucina into conversation. I could eat there every night on Mardi Gras/Celebration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #94 Share Posted April 24, 2023 47 minutes ago, BlerkOne said: I didn't. You and others have brought Cucina into conversation. I could eat there every night on Mardi Gras/Celebration. That's why food is subjective. I thought the choices, quality and quantity of the food at Cucina on the MG was sub par compared to Cucina on the Horizon. Because of this, I would gladly pay 18 if the menu on the Excel Class was identical. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #95 Share Posted April 24, 2023 1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said: That's why food is subjective. I thought the choices, quality and quantity of the food at Cucina on the MG was sub par compared to Cucina on the Horizon. Because of this, I would gladly pay 18 if the menu on the Excel Class was identical. Everything is subjective. We have no plans to return to Mardi Gras or Celebration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcuchio24 Posted April 24, 2023 #96 Share Posted April 24, 2023 We were underwealmed with Chibang. Lot of sizzle but little steak... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #97 Share Posted April 24, 2023 5 hours ago, BlerkOne said: Everything is subjective. We have no plans to return to Mardi Gras or Celebration. True, we have no plans to return to every ship in the fleet besides the Celebration and the Venezia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted April 24, 2023 #98 Share Posted April 24, 2023 11 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said: True, we have no plans to return to every ship in the fleet besides the Celebration and the Venezia. not sure how you could "return" to Venezia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruizinSusan70 Posted April 24, 2023 #99 Share Posted April 24, 2023 43 minutes ago, BlerkOne said: not sure how you could "return" to Venezia Keeping the fingers crossed that we enjoy it since it's drivable. If so, then there would be a future return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherCraig Posted April 25, 2023 #100 Share Posted April 25, 2023 On 4/20/2023 at 10:03 AM, kdr69 said: HA!! not after exchange rates lol. Exactly. Spent $7000 for two cabins on Carnival for a 7 day cruise. Royal would have been $2K cheaper for the same kind of itinerary. Carnival is always more pricier for us when we cruise than Royal. I never understood the "discount" cruise line stuff. I don't ever see it unless it is a 4 or 5 day cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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