Not doing formal night...where to eat?

[ocean lover]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

[Giovanina]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

 

There are sample menus on Princess' website for the specialty restaurants.

[packercruising]

If you do that on a formal night, don't they expect you to dress up too?

[rusticfurnituremaker]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

 

 

Pretty sure Chops Grille is only on RCI? (I could be wrong) Ate there on the Brilliance and Mariner of the Seas and they were exceptional.

 

From what I have read on the boards, and where I have personally dined, the premium restaurants (the ones you pay extra for) have all been outstanding. The food quality is much better, there is a more personal level of service, and the rooms themselves are better for a fine restaurant style experience.

 

IMO, a dinner or two at one of the special restaurants is a great thing to do if you can afford it.

[heisnuts]

We never do formal nights anymore (I already get the opportunity to dress up every weekday for work). On one of the formal nights we do the Ultimate Balcony Dinner, and the other night(s) we will go smart causual to one of the speciality restaurants.

[JPRLHR]

If you do that on a formal night, don't they expect you to dress up too?

 

No they don't... The speciality restaurants are smart casual at all times.

[Pam in CA]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

Hi there... there's no "Chops Grill" on any Princess ship. Do you mean the Crown Grill or Sterling Steakhouse. Princess ships have one or the other and actually, they are a bit different with different menus. Regardless, if you don't want to do formal night, you can eat in the buffet, order the Ultimate Balcony Dinnery (extra cost) or go to one of the specialty restaurants such as Crown Grill/Sterling Steakhouse or Sabatini's.

[Colo Cruiser]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

 

 

 

What ship?

[mii]

What ship?

 

Keith they are leaving on the ruby. now that has Sabatini's and the Crown Grill. also as others have mentioned you can do the buffet. We have done that on the last few cruises and boy the buffet has improved big time in my opinion.

 

Marilyn

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks Marilyn,

 

To the OP if you are referring to the Crown Grill, for us it was an excellent choice. We have dined there many times and well worth the $$.

[arizonaperson]

We have decided not to do the formal nights.What are our options for dinner? Also, anyone have menues to specialty restaurants? We have done Sabatinis and loved it. I don't know anything about Chops Grill? Any suggestions? Thanks, Bertz 6 days and counting!!!!

I think if you are referring to Princess ships- on formal nights in traditional, anytime, or specialty dining you need to dress formal. I think the buffet is the only public venue to dress un formal. I think this is the correct answer. :)Refer to pg 10 & 15 in the cruise answer book. Maybe in the specialty venue you don't need to dress formal on formal nights, I am not sure? I thought this was in any of the dining rooms except buffet(Horizon Court).

[rcacace]

I think if you are referring to Princess ships- on formal nights in traditional, anytime, or specialty dining you need to dress formal. I think the buffet is the only public venue to dress un formal. I think this is the correct answer. :)Refer to pg 10 & 15 in the cruise answer book. Maybe in the specialty venue you don't need to dress formal on formal nights, I am not sure? I thought this was in any of the dining rooms except buffet(Horizon Court).

 

As JPRLHR has said- "No they don't... The specialty restaurants are smart casual at all times."

[Grego]

OK, it is Sabatini's on all the ships and the other specialty restaurant has a variety of names including Bayou Cafe on the Island Princess along with the others named. We really like the Italian fare in Sabatini's and try to do that once per voyage. The other site usually specializes in steaks and for the most part are very good.

 

On nights that we don't do the dining room or either of the specialialty restaurants we will visit the buffet. The choices up there are usually very nice and the casual atmosphere is a refreshing change or welcomed after a hectic day. I'm sure you don't need formal attire here on FN.

[Embracedbylife]

You can dine in the buffet area dressing casually or in the specialty restaurants wearing smart casual. We never dress up for formal nights and have Loved how quiet horizon court is!! Enjoy!

[DEERINH2O]

We didn't do Formal on the last Princess cruise, we ate in the Cafe Caribe every night, except for one night of Ultimate Balcony dinner. The Cafe Caribe is great.

 

Kathy

[singwithjoy]

We loved the Cafe Caribe buffet. One night was formal night.

We put on some jeans. We got a meal from the buffet and took it out to the pool. We had dinner while watching a movie under the stars.

Fantastic! Who needs uncomfortable formal clothes!

[jean s]

We were on Crown in February and did not do the formal nights. We ate in the Crown Grill on both evenings. We dressed smart casual and there were many folks dressed the same way. We really enjoyed our dinners in the Crown Grill.

[WolfpackFan]

We're sailing on the CB in September and I don't plan on us dressing on formal night and plan to eat at Cafe Caribe. In fact, we may eat all our meals there. I remember it as being very good on our other CB cruise.

[Aquarian]

We just tried the Cafe Caribe for dinner on our last cruise. A server met us in the buffet and took our salads and asked if she could find us a table. She then came back and got us and seated us and took our beverage order. The food selection was terrific and we had a very nice dinner. It was the first time we had tried the Cafe Caribe for dinner and it was a pleasant surprise. It's a little nicer than the Horizon Court but not as stuffy as the formal dining rooms.

[espo56]

No they don't... The speciality restaurants are smart casual at all times.

 

Returned from the Ruby on Saturday. They would not let my husband in the Crown Grill on formal night because he wasn't wearing a long sleave shirt. He was wearing a silk Tommy Bahama dress shirt. They were very rude. I did my research on these boards and have travelled with Princess on other ships and had no problems in the specialty dining rooms on formal nights but I was told that they have chosen to enforce this on the Ruby which is ridiculous. It ruined our night.:mad:

[mjkbaok]

Returned from the Ruby on Saturday. They would not let my husband in the Crown Grill on formal night because he wasn't wearing a long sleave shirt. He was wearing a silk Tommy Bahama dress shirt. They were very rude. I did my research on these boards and have travelled with Princess on other ships and had no problems in the specialty dining rooms on formal nights but I was told that they have chosen to enforce this on the Ruby which is ridiculous. It ruined our night.:mad:

 

I actually think I saw you arguing with them. Was he wearing dockers or slacks? When I called to get a reservation they told me that they required formal attire. I explained that I had not brought a suit and they said that a long sleeved dress shirt with NO tie was ok. We went and had no problem. The second formal night we ate the buffet and they were serving crab and shrimp. Very good and the service was great. I'm glad I talked to the Maitre'd before going though.

[rcacace]

Returned from the Ruby on Saturday. They would not let my husband in the Crown Grill on formal night because he wasn't wearing a long sleave shirt. He was wearing a silk Tommy Bahama dress shirt. They were very rude. I did my research on these boards and have travelled with Princess on other ships and had no problems in the specialty dining rooms on formal nights but I was told that they have chosen to enforce this on the Ruby which is ridiculous. It ruined our night.:mad:

 

Was this on a formal evening?

[Clutterlady]

Returned from the Ruby on Saturday. They would not let my husband in the Crown Grill on formal night because he wasn't wearing a long sleave shirt. He was wearing a silk Tommy Bahama dress shirt. They were very rude. I did my research on these boards and have travelled with Princess on other ships and had no problems in the specialty dining rooms on formal nights but I was told that they have chosen to enforce this on the Ruby which is ridiculous. It ruined our night.:mad:

 

Wow..I'm sorry to hear this. We were on the Emerald in March and ate at the Crown Grill on the first formal night. My DH had on a Tommy Bahama shirt and he was just fine. Interesting how this varies from ship to ship. :(

[kimchee1212]

Formal night means formal night for the whole ship, so your options would pretty much be the Horizon Court.

[Clutterlady]

Formal night means formal night for the whole ship, so your options would pretty much be the Horizon Court.

 

Depends on the ship:)