Additional meal costs.

[cvanrys]

I read that the Jewel has servers at their buffets. Does anyone know if this is true? Also When you go to the specialty restaurants can you order as much as you want or is it one entree?

[MitchH]

Originally posted by ute_fan:
This is from an old "Freestyle Daily" for the Jewel, so the retaurants might be slightly different on the Pearl or the Star.

The restaurants with a cover charge include:

Cagney's (Steakhouse) $15
Le Bistro (French) $10
Chin Chin (Asian) ala carte pricing or all you can eat Sushi for $5

No-charge specialty restaurants

Mam'a Italian Kitchen (Italian)
Tango's (Tex-Mex) -- maybe a Tapas bar?
Blue Lagoon -- fish & chips, etc.

Main restaurants:

Tsar's Palace
Azura

Buffets:

The Great Outdoors
Garden Cafe

I haven't actually been on the Jewel yet -- coming up in 7 weeks, but I've been trying to gather information, and this is what I've found so far.

so does this mean that u pay the surcharge plus the price of the food?

[mawmaw]

no, just pay the surcharge. The food is included in your cruise price. For instance, a couple go to Le Bistro--a fifteen dollar charge is put on your ship card account, and they both can eat anything and everything they want from the menu. Wine or other drinks (except iced tea) are also charged to your account. We just returned on Oct 29th and the NCL Sun had early reservations at 5:30 and 6 PM for half of the surcharge, ie, fifteen for two

[ontcruisers]

we are booked to cruise with the pride of aloha in feb...after reading reviews i am confused...is it only the restaurants that have cover charges?..we have cruisesd twice before but never with ncl and have never paid cover charges in a restaurnat...meals were all included ..... how much more moeny can we expect to spend for this ?

[Ron Clark]

Originally posted by ontcruisers:
We are booked to cruise with the Pride of Aloha in Feb...after reading reviews I am confused...Is it only the restaurants that have cover charges?..We have cruised twice before but never with NCL and have never paid cover charges in a restaurant...meals were all included ..... How much more money can we expect to spend for this ?

Relax! Here's a listing of the Pride of Aloha's restaurants.

Palace Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental
Dress Code: No shorts or jeans after 6:00 p.m. in the dining rooms.
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Crossings Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental
Dress Code: No shorts or jeans after 6:00 p.m. in the dining rooms.
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Royal Palm Bistro
Cuisine: French
Dress Code: No shorts or jeans after 6:00 p.m. in the dining rooms.
Surcharge: Yes, $15 plus tax per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Kahili Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian
Dress Code: No shorts or jeans after 6:00 p.m. in the dining rooms.
Surcharge: Yes, $15 plus tax per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Pacific Heights Restaurant
Cuisine: Hawaiian/Asian
Dress Code: No shorts or jeans after 6:00 p.m. in the dining rooms.
Surcharge: Yes, $12.50 plus tax per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Hukilau Cafe
Cuisine: Assorted Buffet, Food Stations, Snacks & Grill
Dress Code: Casual
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

NOTE: This list is over two years old, surcharge fees may have changed since then.

The Cafe/Buffet and the Main Restaurants are about the same as you'll find on "Traditional" cruise lines, except there's open seating. The Speciality Restaurants require reservations mainly because they have far fewer tables and seats. Some Speciality Restaurants have a surcharge and ala carte fees, others are free.
The Pacific Heights and the Le Bristo Restaurants also serves steaks every night.

I hope this reply helped your understanding of the ABC's of Freestyle Dining.

Additional information, for those wishing to see the new 7 day menus NCL is starting November 2006. While the NCLA ships may not adopt these exactly, they will be close. Also, the Italian Restaurant aboard the POA and Norwegian Sun are better and different than what is aboard the Dawn. You can find the Dawn's new menus at http://www.kast.org/NCLDawnMenus/

[Bublik]

Originally posted by cvanrys:
I read that the Jewel has servers at their buffets. Does anyone know if this is true? Also When you go to the specialty restaurants can you order as much as you want or is it one entree?

Buffet is a buffet. Meaning, you get a plate, get what you want, pick a sit and eat. After you are done, a member of the staff will clear the table. Do you call those people servers? Probably not.

[Richard & Mary]

When sailing on the Jewel, Jan 2006, in the buffet area, there was NCL personnel to assist the elderly passengers with their trays of food from the buffet line to the table. Other than that, don't expect waiters. There are lots of workers to pick up plates, empty cups and glasses. Don't be surprised if you go back for a second plate of food, by the time you get back to your original eating spot, that all your drinks, plates, utensils will be picked up. The crew works fast to keep the area clean and make room for other passengers.

Richard & Mary
Las Cruces, New Mexico

on the Pearl Feb 2nd, 2007
on the Pearl May 20th, 2007

[cvanrys]

Originally posted by Bublik:


Buffet is a buffet. Meaning, you get a plate, get what you want, pick a sit and eat. After you are done, a member of the staff will clear the table. Do you call those people servers? Probably not.

There are Buffets where people put the food on your plate (Servers)and ther are Buffets were you plate the food yourself. The latter of the two being much less time consuming, thus the question.

[Richard & Mary]

On the Jewel and I will assume the same on the Pearl, you take your plate and pick out what you want and get it yourself, unless it's at the Pasta bar, omelete station, eggs made to order, carving stations, and a few other places then the contents are made for you and placed on your plate. Otherwise pick what you want and the quantity you want. Bon Apetite

Richard & Mary
Las Cruces, New Mexico USA