Do you think the specialty restaurants are worth the $20 pp charge??

[katespadegirl]

We are wondering about going to either Chops or Portofinos when we cruise on Freedom of the Seas in 2 weeks and wondering if it is worth the extra charge--it's a pretty big charge in my opinion. What do you guys think?? Thanks!

[FSUSammy]

When we were on the Explorer 2 years ago we ate at Portofino's and it was WELL worth it. The service and food just seemed so much better than in the main dining room. Just my 2 cents.

 

Sam

[lv2bcruzin]

Pretty big charge if you're not used to top notch restaurants with an elegant setting. IMHO $20 p/p for the quality of food and the atmosphere is well worth it. Compared to free like other food on the ship, yes it is expensive.

[cavkc]

We ate at Chops and Portofinos a couple of years ago on Brilliance. They were both so good we will definitely be going to both when we are next onboard in a couple of weeks.

 

It is certainly worth the extra $$$ in my opinion - you are just treated that bit more special and the food is/was tremendous.

[abridalmaven]

Absolutely! The steaks were sooo great in Chops, I know they would cost too much for them to have them for everyone at dinner, so in my opinion it is well worth it!

[john & Gerrie nj]

on the Empress- not really a $60 meal compared to the Italian

we are used to in South Phila.

but others rave about it.

personally I like the dining room better.

john

[nanfromatlanta]

We usually go to one of the specialty restaurants once on every cruise. It is well worth the extra charge for one special night. It would be a heck of a lot more money to dine in a restaurant like that here at home.

 

On the other side of the coin, we also dine in Windjammer on on one evening. It is usually the evening when they have the Caribbean party up on deck. If we eat early in the Windjammer, we will have room for the buffet at 11:30.

[over the edge]

Oh my gosh!!! We enjoyed Portofinos so much on the Radiance in January its all we talked about for days. It was soooooooo good and the desserts, amazing! Well worth the money, just make sure you're really hungry, there are so many courses and so much food. We were beyond stuffed when we left but "oh so happy"!! And yes, the service was excellent! :p

[spammie]

The food was good at Portofinos on Voyager but there was a table of about 15 next to us. Of the 15 "guests" there were around 6 that were children well under the age of 13. They were running around the restaurant, yelling and acting up. O.K. behavior for "Chuckie Cheeses" but not "Portofinos". We will stick to the dining room.

[abridalmaven]

on the Empress- not really a $60 meal compared to the Italian

we are used to in South Phila.

but others rave about it.

personally I like the dining room better.

john

 

Come on Philly Italian is NOTHING compared to NYC. Not that ii is bad, just NY's is better.This is from a lady whose last name ends in an A. I can outcook my italian MIL. Besides the food there ( in Portifino's) is NORTHERN Italian, not just pastas.

 

I will never forget eating in an Italian restaurant in Fla. Not as good as NY but not bad. The waiter brought round bread a very different consistancy than most "Italian" restaurants serve which is more like French bread than anything. People from the midwest wailed this is NOT real italian bread, when in fact it really was. The long loaf is what they wanted but it is not as authenic as you think, Italians in Italy eat lots of different kinds of bread and pasta is not as big as it is here.

So by your standards it was not as good, that does not mean it was not good.

[PhinsAndGills]

I guess I've never eaten in any of the speciality restaurants because I don't want to miss the dining room! I've never been dissapointed in ANYTHING I've had in the dining room, so I guess I don't see spending $40 + tip for a "special" restaurant. IMO, if it isn't broken, don't fix it! :)

[leoandhugh]

if you feel it is high, then don't go. but put it in perspective to the hundreds or thousands you have already spent on this trip, it's a drop in the bucket. go ahead and treat yourself and make up your own mind, rather than rely on others whose judgement on food is, at best , subjective. keep in mind, you don't know the likes or dislikes or the finances of those who respond.

[Trevoli]

I have never tipped, nor 'bribed', beyond the $20 pp charge for either of these restaurants, nor have I done so at Sabatini's or Sterling Steakhouse (on Princess).

 

That being said, while all the meals have been fine, the experience of Sabatini's beats the others, hands down. If you ever said Princess, be sure to give Sabatini's a try.

 

Spammie, I'm sorry your experience at Portofino's was not a pleasant one. Did you or anyone at your table party express your displeasure to the offending party or with a crew member? I can't believe that if you made a reasonable request that the obviously underage (and therefore, shouldn't have been there in the first place) children wouldn't have been dealt with somehow.

 

Please tell us 'the rest of the story'.

 

In any case, if you decide to eat elsewhere on any given evening, please tell your dining room waitstaff ahead of time so they know not to expect you. And please do tip your dining room staff for these nights. It's not their fault you want to eat elsewhere and their tips should not be adversely affected.

 

T

[MszKitty]

We are wondering about going to either Chops or Portofinos when we cruise on Freedom of the Seas in 2 weeks and wondering if it is worth the extra charge--it's a pretty big charge in my opinion. What do you guys think?? Thanks!

 

Definately worth it. We went to Portofinos on the Adventure of the Seas and we just did Chops on the Freedom of the Seas. Well worth the extra cost. I look at it this way: $20 each. Thats less than some people put into a slot machine for, what, if you're lucky 10 minutes of slot play? Or, 2 hands of blackjack @ 10 bucks a hand. Its also less than one session of bingo. Its less than one bottle of wine or approximately 3 drinks.

 

So I guess its all a matter of priority. For me, I can do without the slot machines, blackjack, bingo and a few drinks and I would rather spend the $20 (ok...a few dollars more when you include the extra tip, which incidently, you don't HAVE to, but you will realize that you get such great service that you will WANT to) for a great meal!

 

BTW...we usually cruise with our young adult daughters and sometimes other family members, so we think of our speciality restaurant meal as our "date night"...just the two of us in a more quiet and intimate setting.

[john & Gerrie nj]

on the GOS . I'm always willing to give a resturant on land a second chance

so why not at sea?

I'll sign up first thing on friday. for a port day .

the wosrt curise I've ever been on was Terific!!!!

john

[cds2423]

Without a doubt in my mind $20.00 spent at Portifinos on the Explorer last year was well worth it, from start to finish, everything about it was perfect. We were a party of 8, service, presentation, food quality was spectacular. This year on the Jewel we ate at Portofinos, again the service and prep was wonderful, this was the first sailing with their new menu, 2 of us ordered a veal dinner that neither of us liked, but with the appetizers that we'd had and the selection of desserts that were to come we weren't concerned. To be honest, we didn't like it because we didn't like the taste, it was beautifully prepared but there was a spice that neither of us enjoyed. The staff was so apologetic offering to bring us something else instead, we refused as we really didn't need any more food and wanted to save room to try the dessert sampler which was a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Now I'm from Montreal, we have some pretty wonderful restaurants here, I've paid many times more than $20.00 for a meal and can't even compare to the treats that Portofinos has to offer. Didn't try chops, the menu didn't excite us. Actually i had a small copy of the portofinos out this past weekend and my DH and i were looking at it trying to remember what we'd eaten, if i close my eyes I can still remember how nice everything was. just MHO

[jules815]

My husband and I had dinner at Chops on Mariner of the Seas last month. We absolutely loved it, and felt it was definitely worth the $20 pp charge.

[FitzLA]

For the amount of food that you get, and the quality, you would be paying well over $100 pp at a land based chops or portofinos. I would say that it is totally worth it for the intimate dining experience and a different pace. Go for it. $20 is nothing!!!!

[FitzLA]

on the GOS . I'm always willing to give a resturant on land a second chance

so why not at sea?

I'll sign up first thing on friday. for a port day .

the wosrt curise I've ever been on was Terific!!!!

john

 

Good for you! I like your attitude! Have a great cruise!:D

[bplazo]

I would have never thought to go to Portofinos but we won two free dinners on one of our cruises at the Meet & Mingle and just loved it. So, we at least go one night on our cruise.

 

I thought that the specialty restraunts did not allow children under 13? I would probably had said something to the management. I think that should have something like McDonalds on board for parents who allow their children to run and play in restraunts.

[PhinsAndGills]

I think that should have something like McDonalds on board for parents who allow their children to run and play in restraunts.

An honest question... Isn't that kind of what Johnny Rockets was for? A VERY casual dining experience with bright colors, burgers, milkshakes, and staff dancing / antics that kids love? I think you have a great idea!!!! RCCL should consider having a "family" dining room or family area where the kids can roam. Last year on the Mariner at Thanksgiving dinner, kids were running up and down the stairs, and running around the tables. I would expect that at Aunt Bea's Thanksgiving at her home, but not in an elegant dining room on a cruise ship! :)

[Micknmin]

We are going on the Freedom in a week and a half and would love to try Chops or Portofino (or both:)), but I am usure how much to tip the waiter. There will be 4 of us, and it doesn't seem right that we would leave a tip based on what we paid for the meal. A $16 tip seems so low when you are getting such a special meal that would cost so much more elsewhere, and great service (never dined there myself, so I am just going by what I've heard). Can someone give me a suggestion as to what would be an appropriate tip? Also, do you leave them cash, or do they bring you something to sign at the end of the meal so that it can be put on your account?

[FitzLA]

We are going on the Freedom in a week and a half and would love to try Chops or Portofino (or both:)), but I am usure how much to tip the waiter. There will be 4 of us, and it doesn't seem right that we would leave a tip based on what we paid for the meal. A $16 tip seems so low when you are getting such a special meal that would cost so much more elsewhere, and great service (never dined there myself, so I am just going by what I've heard). Can someone give me a suggestion as to what would be an appropriate tip? Also, do you leave them cash, or do they bring you something to sign at the end of the meal so that it can be put on your account?

 

Gratuities are actually included in the price of the meal, so if you would like to tip more on top of that, just tip what you are comfortable with.

[sgttami]

We like Chops and Portofino and if we're sailing on a ship that has both, we'll do both...

 

Personally like Chops better but when we go on Explorer we'll do one night at Portofino.

 

We like to split up the dining venue...dining room, specialty, windjammer..room service, eat in port...maybe even JR one night!!!

 

As previous posters said...for $40 for two I'm getting more than if I threw the money in the casino!!!

 

 

Pam

[Calicruisefamily]

We went to Portofino last November on Voyager It was great! We can't wait to go again this December. We loved the food and the service was so good;)

Voyager Western Caribbean 12/16/06 "Our First AFT"

Voyager Eastern Caribbean 11/26/05

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