NCL Dawn Restaurant Questions

[cindala]

This will be our first time sailing on NCL and I want to make sure that I have it correct about the restaurants because this will be our first free-style cruise.:D

If I understand it correctly, the main restaurants do not require any reservations: the Venentian, Aqua, Impressions, and the Buffet Restaurant.

Now the specialty restaurants require reservations, but how far in advance can you make them? This would be for Bamboo, LeBistro and Cagney's I guess. Is it only one night ahead of time, or on the first night of the cruise should you be making all of your reservations.

Have I missed any other restaurants?:eek:

 

We found quite to our surprise on our last cruise, that we actually liked eating later, about 8pm. Will that be a crowded time for a party of 6? Is one main restaurant better than or more popular than another? Which specialty restaurants are worth a try? I have a coupon for the first night of buy one get one free. Any suggestions or recommendations would be really appreciated.:confused:

[johnql]

You can make any or all of your reservations on embarkation day using the phone or by visiting the reservations desk that will be set up in the atrium. If you're thinking about Teppanyaki (small venue with very limited seating) or the peak dining times (7 or so), you probably need to make your reservations early. If you're more flexible about time, you can probably make reservations later.

 

Here's a breakdown of the dining venues on the Dawn:

 

Included, no reservations required

Aqua (main dining room)

Impressions (main dining room)

Venetian (main dining room)

Garden Cafe Buffet

Bimini Bar & Grill

Blue Lagoon - 24/7 eatery

Pearly Kings Pub - Fish & chips

Ondeck BBQs

Late night snacks served in the casino

Room service - 24/7

 

Specialty Restaurants - included, reservations required

La Trattoria - Italian

Salsa - Tex-Mex

 

Specialty Restaurants - surcharge, reservations required

Bamboo - 3 eateries in 1 - Asian fusion restaurant / sushi / Teppanyaki

Cagney's Steakhouse

Le Bistro - French

 

To me, all of the specialty restaurants are worth trying out. In particular, Le Bistro serves a wonderful mushroom soup, great filet mignon and a delectable chocolate fondue. Cagney's serves excellent steaks. Teppanyaki is fun and the entrees are delicious (the other courses were just okay to me).

 

Have a great cruise!

[Cosmopolitan]

This will be our first time sailing on NCL and I want to make sure that I have it correct about the restaurants because this will be our first free-style cruise.:D

If I understand it correctly, the main restaurants do not require any reservations: the Venentian, Aqua, Impressions, and the Buffet Restaurant.

Now the specialty restaurants require reservations, but how far in advance can you make them? This would be for Bamboo, LeBistro and Cagney's I guess. Is it only one night ahead of time, or on the first night of the cruise should you be making all of your reservations.

Have I missed any other restaurants?:eek:

 

We found quite to our surprise on our last cruise, that we actually liked eating later, about 8pm. Will that be a crowded time for a party of 6? Is one main restaurant better than or more popular than another? Which specialty restaurants are worth a try? I have a coupon for the first night of buy one get one free. Any suggestions or recommendations would be really appreciated.:confused:

 

I would definitely choose LeBistro FIRST! and use your coupon there.

If you do not dine there, at least, go in during the day and get some photos.

Cagneys second choice!

Teppanyaki..a fun place.

 

Venetian a beautiful restaurant...ask for a table at the aft. Have your lunch there when you can...and your dinner (according to the menu)

Impressions....lovely

Aqua..our least favorite...would have done it if our kids were with us. If no kids...skip it!

 

LaTratorria..no charge...but get your reservations in early...for some reason(?) very popular.

 

We always dine around 6 so can't say how ressies are around 8 BUT you can do your ressies when you board....

 

Relax and enjoy your cruise...we LOVE NCL and freeystyle:)

[cruizinwithkids]

After "knowing" that we would not like Salsa, we ended up there one night - long story. We went knowing that when we didn't like anything, we could always go to a buffet. We loved it.

[KeystoneCruiser]

A party of 6 at 8:00 will probably have a 20-30 minute wait in Aqua and Venetian. Obviously with the others you can make reservations.

 

You can make reservations for the whole week the first afternoon on board on Deck 7 at the Information desk.

 

There is also the Blue Lagoon, which is a diner style restaurant on Deck 7. Limited menu but very good for a quick bite. (no tables for six though and very limited seating)

 

LaTrattatoria is very good. Can't speak to the rest of the specialty restaurants because I refuse to pay cover charges.

[Dolphins]

After "knowing" that we would not like Salsa, we ended up there one night - long story. We went knowing that when we didn't like anything, we could always go to a buffet. We loved it.

 

Salsa has always been one of our favorite restaurants on the Dawn. We always dine there at least once and on the final night of the cruise. At a table for two overlooking the atrium, under that beautiful stained glass ceiling, watching the glass elevators going up and down and listening to the melodic music from the atrium while enjoying a wonderful dinner with great desserts has always been our memorable farewell evening on the Dawn.

[BarbCT605]

Salsas restaurant was very nice.

 

I do have a question, though. I've seen the Tapas, or Tapas Bar, mentioned on this board.

 

What are Tapas? Were they on Salsas menu or literally "at the bar."

 

Or am I just having a blonde/senior moment? (I'm in transition from blonde ----> senior);)

[cindala]

Thanks for all the detailed information! I'm hoping that we won't have any trouble with long waits for our size party. Is there a tv screen from your cabin that you can see what the waits are, and are they realistic or exaggerated?

[electricron]

Everything you need to know about Tapas:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas

 

Tapas are snacks. Tapa means "cover" in Spanish. They are also called pinchos/pintxos, because many of them have a toothpick through them. It is very common for a bar or a small local restaurant to have 6-8 different kinds of tapas in warming trays with glass partitions covering the food. They are often very strongly flavored with garlic, chillis or paprika, and sometimes swimming in olive oil.

Common tapas include:

Chorizo al vino > Chorizo sausage slowly cooked in wine.

Gambas > Prawns sauteed in salsa negra or garlic.

Rajo > Pork meat seasoned with garlic and parsley.

Zorza > Rajo with added paprika.

Queso con anchoas > Castilla cured cheese with anchovies on top.

Ensaladilla > Mixed boiled vegetables with tuna, olives and mayonnaise.

Tortilla > De patata (potatoes) or paisana (mixed vegetables and chorizo), a type of omelette, similar to fritatta.

Allioli> Meaning "Garlic and oil" in Catalan (the classic ingredients are only garlic, oil and salt) a very strong garlic paste. Served on bread or with potatoes, fish, meat or grilled vegetables.

[BarbCT605]

Everything you need to know about Tapas:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas

Thanks -- are these on the menu at Salsas on the Dawn?

[BarbCT605]

Thanks for all the detailed information! I'm hoping that we won't have any trouble with long waits for our size party. Is there a tv screen from your cabin that you can see what the waits are, and are they realistic or exaggerated?

As of last January, no TV screens for restaurant info on the Dawn! Maybe a more recent Dawn cruiser can confirm this.

 

Or, just wait a few weeks, and I'll let you know personally! (Leaving on 5/27) ;)

[electricron]

Thanks -- are these on the menu at Salsas on the Dawn?

 

Here's a clean, easy to read web site for the Dawn's menus. Note, these are last year's menus at the Main Restaurants.

 

http://ontheseas.com/dawnmenus.htm

 

Salsa Menu > http://www.magwa.co.uk/dawn/salsa.htm

 

Don't forget to try the sopapillas. With lots of honey it's my favorite dessert.

 

Why can't any of the cruise lines, including NCL, do this? It's technically feasible, and shouldn't be hard to accomplish.

Post as little as possible seems to be the rule.

[BarbCT605]

Here's a clean, easy to read web site for the Dawn's menus. Note, these are last year's menus at the Main Restaurants.

 

http://ontheseas.com/dawnmenus.htm

 

Salsa Menu > http://www.magwa.co.uk/dawn/salsa.htm

 

Don't forget to try the sopapillas. With lots of honey it's my favorite dessert.

 

Why can't any of the cruise lines, including NCL, do this? It's technically feasible, and shouldn't be hard to accomplish.

Post as little as possible seems to be the rule.

Thank you very much -- I found the "Tapas Bar" on the menu (guess I was being 'literal' again!).

 

:)

[shoreguy]

Why can't any of the cruise lines, including NCL, do this? It's technically feasible, and shouldn't be hard to accomplish.

Post as little as possible seems to be the rule.

 

 

Sometimes more information is not good. Why worry that someone will see the menu and have that be the reason they don't book a cruise. :rolleyes:

[south1246]

I gotta be honest, I would have slept so damn well that night. I gotta love a little rockin' and rollin'