One of the most common questions we hear from cruisers has to do with why there are charges for some restaurants on cruises.
“I thought all of the meals were included?” The answer is yes they are, but there are some restaurants that you can choose to pay for while onboard because they either offer unique or fine dining experiences.
It’s true, you can go your entire cruise without paying anything extra and have an incredible dining experience. But there are some amazing culinary treats that you would miss out on by skipping the ‘pay’ restaurants.
While there are a lot of reasons to choose to pay, here are my top 5.
- The Service – Anyone who has been on a cruise knows that the service from the dining room staff is excellent. They all work so hard and take care of so many in a such a timely manner. Their efficiency is amazing. [But in a specialty restaurant it is even better.] The wait staff is the best of the best and you will feel like you are their only table. The truth is they may only have a couple other tables. These restaurants vary in size, but one thing is common to all of them They are usually only half full. [The cruise lines limit the seating to maintain the exclusive atmosphere.]
- The Creativity – While you will see many dishes you recognize, there are a lot unique and fun dishes that are not seen on most menus. One example is sushi lollipops. And even your more traditional dishes may come in ways you have not eaten before. [A small restaurant allows for more customization than a large dining room.]
- The Wine and Spirits Selections – Just like in fine dining or a specialty restaurant at home there are [exclusive drink options] available that are not available on the rest of the ship. Options like Sangria or a special reserve wine. These are all a part of a more exclusive experience.
- The Value – Yes you may pay $15-$35 a person (without drinks), but the [value of what you receive for the quality of the experience could easily run you three times that if not more for the same quality at a fine dining restaurant at home.] And just like it is in the main dining rooms on ships, if you want more of something, just ask. There are limits to this with selections of items such as Australian Lobster Tail, but for the majority of choices, [you can have as much as you want and it doesn't cost extra.] I had Tuna Tartar in one specialty restaurant that was so amazing that I ordered another one, and so did my wife, and so did my friend and his wife!
- The Experience – A cruise is a lot of things, including experiences that you don’t get every day and that is one of the main things I love about these restaurants. Very rarely do I have the opportunity to make it to a fine dining restaurant outside of a cruise, although I have been blessed enough to have more of these meals than I probably deserve, but I do cherish them as great life experiences. And that is what I love the most about cruise line specialty restaurants. It’s a life experience that could cost you several hundred dollars on land. But on the ship it is a fraction of that. [It is an exclusive, exquisite experience that will only enhance your overall cruise vacation.]
Have you enjoyed a specialty restaurant on a cruise recently? Let us know your top five (or even just one or two) reasons you loved it.
Share and Enjoy
