I am considering my first cruise on NCL - but not sure about the whole freestyle dining thing? What are others opinions? I have always liked getting to know my tablemates - is this greatly missed? Do you end up eating alone?
Pat

Hello Pat,

welcome to Cruise-Chat.com.

While Freestyle Cruising means that you do not have the same tablemates each night, I have found this to be not a big problem. You will have plenty of chances to make new friends onboard, and of course you can go to dinner with these new friends.

Personally, I have enjoyed both Freestyle Cruising and traditional dining arrangements, and I like both of them. However, in the rare case you don't like your tablemates, Freestyle Cruising makes it easier to get rid of them.

I especially like the number of dining venues on NCL's newer ships. The dining is the reason to take the Norwegian Star in my opinion. I make the assumption that you will be traveling with someone, rather than as a single?

Tom

We've cruised on Princess and they offer a similar alternative (Anytime Dining). We found that most of the time, we ended up going to the casual or alternative eateries anyway!

We pretty much kept to ourselves the last cruise because that's the mood we were in (though I met some fun people playing cards!). But Tom's right, there are lots of other opportunities to meet people.

Do they have tables for 2 available in the dining room?OR would you have to go to one of the alternative resturants to get a table for 2.We are very seriously thinking about NCL for our next cruise.We love Celebrity but it is getting so expensive and the choices for the Caribean are very limited.JMHO.
Thanks in advance. Tom

sorry this is my first reply. we traveled as a family of 4 and LOVED the freestyle. The kids ate at the Market Cafe quite a bit (it was fine) but the dining rooms were all wonderful. We also ate at the Teppanyaki room and were very pleased with it.

Tom,

sorry, I only saw your posting tonight. If I remember correctly, NCL's ships do have tables for two in the main dining rooms. I should be able to say this for sure (at least as far as "Norwegian Jewel" is concerned) in a month or so.

Thanks for the responses, but since I a not sure whether I will be traveling with a friend or going solo on my next cruise - I would still like to know if I am by myself - will that mean I will end up sitting by myself or will they put me at a table with others? I sure don't look forward to eating alone, but then on the other hand I am concerned about being an unwelcome guest at a group table.
Pat

I have sailed on NCL as a single and think I would suggest that you go for traditional dining instead. Unless you hook up with someone and have a prearranged dinner date, you will be seated at the next available table when you enter the restaurant. You would have no input as to where you sit and would probably not have the greatest dining experience. The alternative restaurants are very difficult as the tables are usually reserved well in advance and limited to those making the reservations.

I once ended up in one of the alternative restaurants and felt like a total loser dining by myself.

Traditional dining can offer you the opportunity of joining other singles for dinner, as the Maitr d' will make those arrangements for you (especially if you offer an up-front gratuity),

Either way, you are bound to have a great cruise. For some great tips about cruising as a solo, read Nancy Norris' article on how to meet singles at sea;

http://www.cruisereviews.com/SingleatSea.htm

Have a great cruise!

Tom

Travelin Gal,
I agree with Tom - If you are traveling solo, Freestyle Dining leaves something to be desired. If you do end up traveling with a friend, then you will be fine.
Nancy

I loved it. It was the easiest thing ever. I sailed on the Spirit on March 24 (check out my review) and the dining was the easiest part of the whole voyage. I am taking four kids on Carnival next month and I am dreading the old school dining straitjacket.

Carla, great review! You are a tremendous writer! Thanks for sharing your personality with us. For those that have not read it, here it is.

http://www.cruisereviews.com/NorwegianCruiseLine/NorwegianSpirit14.htm

I can't wait to read your Carnival review.

Tom

Carla,
Boy - you said it perfectly! In your review, you say "The thing about the Spirit is the whole far surpasses the sum of its parts" - I don't think there is any way to better describe the NCL experience. Thanks for a great review.
Nancy

Tom and Nancyn
It seems to me by your posts that NCL is pretty high on your list. We are planning on the Jewel in the spring.It will be a saving's of about 600.00 dollars for the two of us.We have been very happy with Celebriry for the most part, and have been sticking with them. But now they have really gotten so high priced we are looking for another avenue. Do you think we will be as satified with NCL?I really value both of your opinion's.Thanks in advance for your advice.Tom

Tom, that is a tough one. First of all, NCL seems to draw a different crowd than Celebrity does. I love Celebrity and have never really had a difficult passenger load on them. However, I have had passenger loads on NCL that I didn't have much in common with. I think that is a major difference between the two lines.

Also, I would strongly suggest dining in the alternative restaurants every evening. This was a high point for me, but then the regular restaurant was not at all on par with Celebrity. I really liked being able to go to a different restaurant when I chose to go.

Freestyle is great if you "do your own thing" both in ports and at dinner time and go with the anticipation that it will be different than Celebrity and worth trying.

Many of the people that I have talked to that didn't like it, just didn't want to try to cruise in a different style than they were used to. They resented paying extra for the alternative dining restaurants and they liked having their dinner mates and waitors the same every night.

I hope that helps. Freestyle isn't for everyone, but I see a lot of advantages with it...and some disadvantages too.

Tom

Re Freestyle/dining alone. I just got back yesterday from an 11-day NCL Alaska cruise. I went on my own and worried about eating alone. I only dined alone (twice) when I elected to and never felt uncomfortable; all the other meals were with people I met on the ship. Yes, you must make the arrangements with the other passengers in advance but I didn't find that a problem.

Tom (Stanton),
As Tom (Ogg) wrote - that is a real tough one to answer. I do not think you can really make a fair comparison between NCL and Celebrity. As a premium cruise line Celebrity excels and NCL is an average mainstream product (thus the major price variance). I wouldn't put NCL high on my list, it is just a great product for the right passenger. I have had a great time on NCL - but, as Tom mentioned, I chose to dine every night with the exception of one (just for comparison purposes) in the alternative dining venues. Meals and service were excellent - but I paid extra for the privilege. I was not impressed with quality of food or service in the main dining room. I did, however, enjoy the freedom to dine where, when and with whom I wanted.

Again, as Tom mentioned - passenger load is quite different on the two fleets. NCL tends to have many bargain shoppers looking for that "deal" and Celebrity passengers tend to be more inclined to value quality and service over price.

Will you see a difference between the two cruise lines? Most definitely! Will you enjoy your cruise on NCL? That is entirely up to you! If you go with the attitude that you are trying something different, are willing to pay the extra price for quality food and service while on board and can appreciate (or at least accept) the more relaxed dress code than you should have a good time! Remember, as in life, a cruise is what you make it - just plan to have fun and enjoy the moment.
Nancy

NancyN and Tom
Thank you both very much for your input.After talking to both of you maybe I better hold out and see if we can get a deal on the Millenium.We belong to the Captain's club so maybe they will offer a special that is within reason. Thanks again.Tom

Thanks, Tom and Nancy! My opinion of this site: http://cruise-chat.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/738601132/m/7021073831

On QE2 and on Spirit I was traveling with my mother, who tends to crash early and bet excruciatingly small sums of money at the casino- unbearable to watch- so I was pretty much a single after 8pm.

Tips for finding dinner companions: by all means ingratiate yourself with the bar staff. The smaller the bar, the better. The bartender will do his/her part in making introductions, and the piano player will also be happy to play songs you like, which will make you famous for 2.5 minutes, and others will remark on your magnificent Billy Joel request, etc., and you will have dinner companions before you know it.

Sounds basic but it works.

If all else fails just keep an eye on the parents traveling with small children, particularly after a day of extreme sun. Try to find those traveling with one set of inlaws. This works particularly well if you are divorced. Try to focus on a few families that catch your eye. You will be so thrilled to be relaxing on your own, free to do what you wish, that the whole solo thing seems like a gift.

I think the rubber hits the road when it comes time to eat alone. But I was newly separated on QE2 and at a table with honeymooners and those celebrating anniversaries. There has to be an in between!

Now comes Carnival and to tell you the truth, I am dreading it.

Tom, I think the Millennium is one of the best ships out there. I am sailing her this September Venice to Barcelona and can't wait.

Carla, I am not sure how you found us, but I sure am glad you did.

Tom