Specialty Dining on Norwegian Cruise Line | Tips on specialty dining and how to upgrade for FREE!

[@cruisingthroughlifewithalj5606]

Thanks for the video. We are going on our first Norwegian cruise on the Encore in December. I love your honest review of each place. The food options look great.

[@loutruckmd]

My wife and I have been on NCL three times. They are not perfect, but the experience is always very nice.

[@donovanwoodruff2718]

Very good information, my wife and I travel Norwegian almost exclusively. We are booked on the Encore for April 2020 and we are looking forward to the Barbecue restaurant. Love the Faith tee...

[@DestinedJourney]

Donovan Woodruff How exciting!! I love trying out the new ships! Enjoy. Our next one will be on the Breakaway.

[@wakeup7874]

question when do u book excursions and how many specialty did i get passes should i buy for a four day cruise

[@mikef2813]

April 2020. Excellent timing!

[@everalvarado3704]

We just did the Panama cruise on NCL Encore and it does have a full size Starbucks on deck 6. The Joy has a smaller one on deck 8. Onda by Scarpetta is a great restaurant that make their pasta in house. I don’t eat a lot of carbs but I had to try their tagliatelle pasta with lobster. It was delicious and no up-charge. Most of the time we book our dinners the day we embark and are able to get a reservation because online app may say the earlier times are booked. Ocean Blue gets booked up fast though. They also have a dress code. Thank you for a great video.

[@DestinedJourney]

I'll have to remember that about Scarpetta. It's one of the few NCL restaurants I have not tried. I myself do not eat many carbs (but I DO love them) so my cheats need to be worth it. lol! Next time I have the opportunity I will try it. I actually don't believe I've had fresh pasta ever.

[@mehchocolate1257]

@@DestinedJourney steals food 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@RG-hf4et]

Good tip to check the reservations online each morning. Thank you.

[@lindaschultz8124]

I’m departing on the Joy on January 8. Looking to hook up with other solo senior cruisers for dinners.

[@tinaburnette4170]

Thank You so much for sharing! I love cruising, I want to go on a Norwegian cruise soon.

[@forcedair92gt94]

We have not sailed NCL yet but, I'm gathering info and this video helped. Thanks. Now I need vids for the drink pkg, cabin tours, general buffet/burger eateries, and things to do. How did we ever get along without KZbin? haha

[@DestinedJourney]

So true! It was watching videos prior to our cruises that inspired me to create my own.

[@tonyantonio114]

The Haven restaurant and the restaurants for suite guests on the smaller ships have french press coffee. I agree...it is the best. We also ask for french press coffee in the the specialty restaurants which they happily provided. I don't know if it was because we're Haven / suite guests.

[@DestinedJourney]

Tony Antonio , thanks for the tip Tony! Never knew I could order French press at the other specialty restaurants. I wish I could do so in the am. Lol

[@susanabushaban2719]

Destined Journey Hello do you do tipping in these places on top of cruise ship per day tipping

[@DestinedJourney]

Susan Abushaban I have for great service. Your tips are paid in advance so don’t feel as though you have to. I know they work hard for very little and like to show my appreciation.

[@rlgwoody8966]

Thank you. My wonderful wife and I are planning a trip. The feedback you and your husband provided will help make our journey even better!

[@kristinakrueger3946]

Itsallgood Good I’m so glad. Enjoy!

[@chrissyohara9590]

I’m always at the montauk location of Scarpetta and it’s my favorite restaurant. Honestly everything is better than the next

[@tnsoos]

Ocean Blue is on Encore as well

[@nikkib6604]

My pics for the Joy leaving on Sunday are Tepenyaki for fun, Cagney's for a good steak, Ocean Blue for good quality seafood. I didnt know it was a celebrity chef restaurant!!

[@DestinedJourney]

Nikki B What is the surcharge for Ocean Blue if you have the dining package?

[@nikkib6604]

@@DestinedJourney $ 5 for the tiger shrimp cocktail and crab cake and $20 for a lobster tail .

[@younglady2789]

Thanks for sharing this info. I didn't notice Ocean Blue on the Escape; maybe I saw the name but didn't realize it was a restaurant.

[@DestinedJourney]

I think it's kind of hidden or maybe just not near other places we frequented. I'm pretty sure we came across it at the very end of our trip when we were on the Escape.

[@susu2911]

Called Baymo on the Escape

[@laucoco4127]

I just finished a cruise trip with NCL. The food is quite okay.

[@DestinedJourney]

lau coco Which ship were you on? Did you eat at the specialty restaurants?

[@SoPiPz]

I’m going on the NCL Bliss next weekend. Any other advice for new cruiser? Thank you!

[@DestinedJourney]

How was it? Huge, but beautiful ship!!

[@jameshchetwyndjr9739]

Yes cagneys and la Bistro a must free at sea $30. For 2 dinners. Brazilian $39 and Japanese $39. Also good.

[@waltdelong4959]

Just got off the Joy last week. Cagney's was our favorite as was Teppanyaki. Unfortunately, LaCucina was the worst experience of the 5 restaurants on our package. It wasn't just us, the neighboring table complained as well.

[@DestinedJourney]

What didn't you like about LaCucina? I'm planning to try it on our next cruise as it's one we haven't tried and I would like to review.

[@waltdelong4959]

@@DestinedJourney It may have been the particular dish I ordered. I ordered the Veal Scallopini which was tough and "dry". I can't remember what my wife had but she wasn't impressed. The couple at the table next to us complained about their desserts. We did enjoy the experience of eating outside on the Waterfront, however.

[@vivelmore2011]

Amazing

[@nikkib6604]

I love that they have Starbucks and you can use your app and earn your rewards. Even in Vegas you cant do that .

[@DestinedJourney]

Nikki B I agree! But I hate that my next cruise is on the Breakaway which does NOT have a Starbucks. 😢

[@Madmags007]

Great video....Thanks!

[@SherryAnnOfTheWest]

Yeah, just cruised 2 weeks in the Med on the Jade...no "American Diner." NORWEGIAN JOY only. My fave is Pinchos tapas on Escape and, of course, Cagney's.

[@tweetybrd18]

So my sister and I have never done Norwegian, I've only done a Carnival Cruise and I loved it! This March for Spring Break, we are doing the Breakaway and I have heard mixed reviews about it. We are on the 5th deck, is that a good floor to be on?

[@DestinedJourney]

Takyra Morgan We looooove NCL! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Did you get the unlimited beverage package as a perk? We’ve always liked lower decks. It’s very quiet and easy to get off the ship on port days. Also deck 6 is typically the atrium deck with guest services etc and we liked that it was just a walk up the steps instead of having to wait for the elevator. Next Feb we’re trying deck 13. Overall, for us the most important is being in the middle so we’re semi close to everything. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@tweetybrd18]

@@DestinedJourney I did get the drink package and it came with another perk and I chose wifi, but is it possible to switch wifi for the specialty dining?

[@DestinedJourney]

Takyra Morgan They are very accommodating when you call direct so I’d give it a shot. The dining is worth more $$$ so makes sense to switch it and then purchase wifi if you want it.

[@rgruenhaus]

1 or 2 specially dinners are almost always given as part of the free at sea pkg! I don't know why you didn't get it already! If you hadn't paid up full already you might have been able to have them add that with your drink and Wi-Fi

[@blackboy355]

If you have the Dining Package perk. You don't pay at any of the included restaurants right?

[@DestinedJourney]

The dining perk allows you 3 specialty meals for the 1st two people in your stateroom. Recently they have added limitations such as, only being able to choose 1 option per category. So if you would like 2 appetizers, you would have to cover the cost etc. The places that charge a flat fee such as teppanyaki would be completely free. Ocean Blu had a small surcharge if you were using dining credit. Also, keep in mind your gratuities are covered with the package as well so any tip you leave would be over and above. 😉

[@hunterebarron]

@@DestinedJourney A few days ago, an NCL agent over the phone told me that you can choose an unlimited amount of appetizers, sides, soups/salads, etc. but any additional entrees would cost extra. To your knowledge, is this information correct?

[@DestinedJourney]

@@hunterebarron That is NOT correct. Experienced it first hand on the Epic this past April. I believe we were allowed 1 from each category at Cagney's and Le Bistro. I have found that the agents aren't always updated on the information they provide. We did not have the drink package on our last cruise, so I called to see if club soda was free or if I needed the soda package. She said club soda is free. On board I was told it is NOT free and I would need the soda package. I could've gotten the soda package at a discounted rate in advance, but now had to pay full price.

[@juliebasso6428]

We did not get any additional charges at Ocean Blue

[@nikkib6604]

I also saw that there is a $20 upcharge for lobster tail and $5 for a crab cake .

[@nildabienes6313]

You said there was still an upcharge on "one" of the Restaurants even getting the package. I don't remember which one you mentioned but would you be more specific, what kind of upcharge? How much? Do you know why?

[@DestinedJourney]

Sorry my response is so delayed but Ocean Blue is not included with the Free at Sea Specialty Dining.

[@rodneyscales2648]

I haven’t been on the Dawn for some time. The Mexican restaurant was free. I am almost sure it not free now. Someone please tell me if I’m right!

[@DestinedJourney]

Rodney Scales I believe Los Lobos was always a specialty restaurant. Not sure if it was different before but it is absolutely specialty now.

[@rodneyscales2648]

Is It still free.

[@DestinedJourney]

Rodney Scales only if you have a dining package. Specialty restaurants are only included with the package or you pay extra.

[@rodneyscales2648]

I’m sorry I focused on the Epic my next 5 cruises are on the Epic in 2020 and 2021.

[@teresamoehlmann9471]

It's been several years since we've cruised, but now we are going on the NCL Pride of the Sea in June, only because it has the Hawaiian island itinerary in the month we want. In the 'olden days', they would have a night when lobster was served in the dining room and you could have as much as you could handle. Is it valid that the only place to get '1' lobster would be at Cagneys for the upcharge? Thank you for this video, it answered a lot of questions about the specialty dining, some in our group have it and others don't, so trying to decide what's best for us. This was a great video, much appreciated!

[@DestinedJourney]

teresa moehlmann I would loooooooove to do Hawaii, it’s just not in the budge right now. Let me know how it is. Curious if you get enough time at each island etc. Enjoy!

[@TAR309]

Excellent video...…..very informational!! This is a must see vid!!

[@jptraveladventures]

How many meals for the free at sea?

[@DestinedJourney]

They have recently changed it from 3 to 2 on a 7 night cruise.

[@JulieWallis1963]

It depends on the grade of stateroom you book!

[@susu2911]

You forgot "Q" on the Bliss and Encore for sure, maybe on Joy as well. BBQ place, brisket, ribs etc. Lots of fun about 9 PM they move the tables off the dance floor and country and western music and you can dance...Also there is Starbucks on the Breakaway...

[@bernadinetinker3028]

Love the shirt.

[@DestinedJourney]

Thank you!!!

[@highspec_tech90]

How does the dining package work with Al La Carte restaurants? Is there a certain amount of credit you have to spend?

[@DestinedJourney]

Christopher Roskam It used to be a free for all but on our last few cruises we could have 1 appetizer, 1 salad, 1 entree, and 1 dessert. If you don’t want something from one of the categories they’ll often let you double up on another. They’re very accommodating.

[@kurtsugg3455]

I read where margaritaville was good to go for breakfast Did you try breakfast they said it was free.

[@DestinedJourney]

Kurt Sugg It’s a great (free) option for breakfast, especially if you like to avoid the buffet madness. They have most of the buffet staples available and it’s never too busy. Nice to be able to sit outside as well.

[@RandomBoxingGuy]

Im going on NCL trIP i a couple weeks. I'm thinking of trying the Moderno Brazilian place. Is it relatable in quality to a Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao? I don't wanna pay $50/person unless its top notch. Thanks.

[@DestinedJourney]

SinCityMadman Good question! This is one that I haven’t tried but very curious about. If you’re going to do some specialty dining be sure to buy a package before boarding and you will save a lot! I think they charge like $100 for 3 specialty dining meals if purchased in advance.

[@JustaGuyinMI]

Thanks for the video! Heading out for our first cruise with NCL on the Sky in December and we received the Specialty dining package as part of the Free at Sea promotion. We were told by NCL that includes two meals at specialty dining. Do you know if that includes app, entree desert per dining?

[@DestinedJourney]

I believe it’s one item from each category. They were very accommodating though, so if you prefer 2 appetizers and no salad, it’s fine. I have menus for most of the specialty restaurants so if there are any you’d like to check out in advance just send me your email address at [e-mail].

[@JustaGuyinMI]

Destined Journey thanks! I’ll do that!

[@petergunn1701]

This is an informative video. Simple and well executed. My only gripe and not limited to this presenter (by any means) is in the pronunciation of words. La Cucina is pronounced La Ku-Chee-na. Cagney's is not pronounced with a long A vowel sound, but a short A vowel sound.

[@DestinedJourney]

Peter Mahoney Thanks for the tips!

[@sandpiper8991]

As for the Cagneys pronunciation... that’s just how ppl where I’m from talk- central New Yorkers use a long “A” sound even when we don’t mean to cuz it’s just our accent #Syracuse lol

[@c.slater5974]

@@sandpiper8991 I am an avid cruiser and you mispronounced several names of the restaurants on NCL cruises. Unfortunately, the excuse you used regarding your accent is unacceptable. If you are making videos for the world to view, you must pronounce the names of restaurants , people and places correctly. You would not accept someone mispronouncing your name.

[@mpTraveller87]

Providing a minor correction to be helpful is great. Telling someone that has worked hard to provide useful information that mispronouncing a restaurant name is as bad is mispronouncing a person's name is a tad overboard. Thanks for the informative video!

[@liznizify]

Hey! Quick question so I have 2 dining packages for the first two guests. I wanted to use the first one for the first two people and the 2nd one for the 3rd and 4th people. I know they say you can't transfer but would they realize if my 3rd and 4th guests went instead of the 1st and 2nd?

[@JulieWallis1963]

Yes. The keycard you use is scanned/swiped by crew and they know if it’s you or someone else using the card. If the card provided is yours but you are not dining, the staff will know.

[@fallguy4209]

Lol moderno uses a spit not a Spicket which is a faucet lol

[@DestinedJourney]

christopher kibler awwww you caught it! 😂 Well at least it took a bit for someone to notice. My husband was laughing at me, but I wasn’t about to re-record. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@marcello4592]

Am I able to get lobster on the bliss included with my speciality dining package

[@DestinedJourney]

Marc Ello No such luck. 😕 Lobster is an up-charge in the specialty restaurants as well.

[@marcello4592]

@@DestinedJourney I'm able to get a filet mignon in cagneys I believe though

[@DestinedJourney]

Marc Ello Lots of steaks to choose from at Cagneys. The filet with lobster though is an extra charge.

[@rodneyscales2648]

I’m a Platinum member and I usually go to Cagney and Moderno!

[@DestinedJourney]

Rodney Scales I haven’t tried Moderno. What do you love about it?

[@rodneyscales2648]

I love Moderno salad bar on the Epic! It’s better than other ships. I recommend if you don’t have a free dining pass on the Epic eat at the free restaurants. The Epic has the food at the free or specialty restaurants.

[@jackefird3777]

Me too.

[@jimf3885]

The Moderno is not an ala carte. Being a Platinum member I get two specialty dinners and I always choose Cagneys and Moderno. To not order the filet at Cagneys leaves you not realizing how good a steak can be. I have ordered other steaks twice, and they just don't compare. I always go to Modernos as well. A personal preference of mine is not to accept the pork, chicken, flank steak, etc but go for the more highly rated offerings, again the filet, lamb, etc.

[@nikkib6604]

How is the rib eye ? Sailing the Joy on Sunday.

[@keeperzero]

What really pisses me off about the NCL dining package is that at the beginning of the year they started to add surcharges too many of the menu items that used to be free in the specialty dining package for example a $19 upgrade for surf and turf 7 to $12 upgrades for items that used to be completely free on many of the other items of the specialty restaurants come on NCL it's just enough to be pissed off your customer base to go somewhere else nice job on the money grab

[@rgruenhaus]

Yes, I was just on the Getaway 06Mar22 and Cagney's Steakhouse charged $25 upcharge to make a Ribeye a Surf and Turf with a lobster tail! It was good, but very salty lobster so I may just get an extra shrimp cocktail instead of the lobster! Lobster tails are getting smaller and smaller! Several items on Cagney's Steakhouse menu were an upcharge! Back in 2015 I was on the Breakaway and I got a large lobster tail and was only charged $10 to add it to a porterhouse steak! I tried to get a steak at the Tropicana MDR, but was really disappointed when the New York Strip steak was poorly cooked and nothing like one you get in Cagney's!

[@rgruenhaus]

If it says this video was uploaded 1 year ago and it is now April 2021 why is she saying something will show up on certain ships in 2019?

[@DestinedJourney]

Hi Robert, this video was uploaded on Aug 13, 2019 as it states under the title. Hope this is helpful!

[@cliffjohnson715]

Just back off the Joy after a panama cruise. The WORST food I have ever experienced on a cruise ship.We were with a group and the standard comment after a couple of days was which restaurant has the hot plate so we will have a outside chance of warm food. The buffet was lousy ever have cold scrambled eggs and bacon was so over done it looked like a ball of crap. And it was cold. We will never go on NCL again and there were other issues with the cruise.

[@DestinedJourney]

Cliff Johnson How unfortunate! That is the exact reason we don’t frequent other cruise lines. I’ve heard too many times how the food lacks. We’ve been lucky to have great food on all of our NCL cruises though. Which cruise lines do you prefer for food?

[@rgruenhaus]

You only get all free when you book certain rooms! Not usually more than unlimited drinks with an inside room!

[@DestinedJourney]

They do keep changing the guidelines but you are correct, the higher the cabin category the more perks you receive.

[@rgruenhaus]

Yeah my last and next cruise NCL is giving 2 free Specialty dinners, but the one booked for 18FEB23 only gave 1 Specialty dinner even though we got a balcony room! The good thing is that in the list of add on meals they have an upgrade price of only $70.80 for adding two additional Specialty dinners so we will have 3 Specialty dinners for less than $100! The one free plus gratuities and two we got in an upgrade for the $70.80 plus gratuities for each of us!

[@rgruenhaus]

La kuchina is how la Cucina is said

[@DestinedJourney]

You are not the first to have pointed that out. lol!

[@JulieWallis1963]

@@DestinedJourney you spelled “thank you” incorrectly. When someone corrects your mistake that’s the normal reaction.

[@PeterSF-no6no]

La Cucina is pronounced LA Cu(CHEE)na....it means "the kitchen"

[@petergunn1701]

THIS!!!

[@mikeymutual5489]

How to say "Cagney": kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4WrZ6eMa99nmMU

[@DestinedJourney]

I’m from Wisconsin. We say bag wrong too! 😂

[@daekonteeb]

I enjoyed the video but the smacking was very distracting.

[@DestinedJourney]

Thanks daekonteeb! I didn’t even notice until you mentioned. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I will be paying attention to myself on the next video. 😂

[@jaybe959]

😂 when she says “Caaag-knees!”

[@DestinedJourney]

It's my Wisconsin accent. Lol!

[@mikef2813]

Starbucks is overrated, but the rest of this was excellent!

[@DestinedJourney]

You sound like my husband, lol! I just wish the buffet coffee was better.

[@mikef2813]

I hope the coffee is better in the solo lounge. Thanks for putting these videos together.

[@DestinedJourney]

@@mikef2813 It’s most likely the same. Have you done a solo NCL cabin before?

[@mikef2813]

This will be my first solo cruise. It’s on Escape starting December 24. Seven nights Caribbean. I have three solo NCL cruises in the next 14 months. Looking forward to it.

[@BaldGod]

I EAT ONLY CARBS

[@DestinedJourney]

My dream!

[@mikeconnolly2791]

Diners should be called true NJ diners

[@JulieWallis1963]

Eh?

[@smartdogmining6872]

Should be Peets and not Starucks

[@dicknijenhuis9894]

I was just on the Breakaway and I felt that the American Diner was similar to Margaritaville in that I didn't consider it at the level of a specialty restaurant either. The Breakaway now has a Starbucks.