| Author | Post |
|---|
awoltoday
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Phoenix, USA |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 03:38 am | 1st Post |
|
I'm a little surprised there hasn't been any chatter about this here. Freestyle dining was one of the reasons we chose NCL for our next cruise. Glad to see this feature is being rolled out to other cruise lines.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/07/holland-america.html Holland America has been testing the concept, which it dubs "As You Wish" dining, on its newest ship, 1,918-passenger Noordam, and now plans to roll it out fleetwide by July, 2008.
____________________
--Chris
07/06/08 NCL Pearl Alaska
09/28/07 NCL Pearl 1 night party in the pacific
10/28/06 Disney Magic Eastern Boo cruise
11/12/05 Disney Magic Eastern 7 Day
|
ItchyFeet
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Jul 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Tonga |
| Posts: | 362 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 01:33 pm | 2nd Post |
|
awoltoday wrote:
I'm a little surprised there hasn't been any chatter about this here. Freestyle dining was one of the reasons we chose NCL for our next cruise. Glad to see this feature is being rolled out to other cruise lines.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2007/07/holland-america.html Holland America has been testing the concept, which it dubs "As You Wish" dining, on its newest ship, 1,918-passenger Noordam, and now plans to roll it out fleetwide by July, 2008.
Have also heard RCCL is testing the concept. We can't live without freestyle in some form, so this opens up some possible new options for us.
|
hstrybuf
Founders
| Joined: | Sat Jun 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas |
| Posts: | 19574 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 11:07 pm | 3rd Post |
|
| My husband actually prefers this type of dining and I've enjoyed it too. We tried it on Princess and it was a hit with him. If HAL and RCI are going to do it as well as NCL and Princess, that gives us more options for the future.
____________________
Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Thu Jul 26th, 2007 10:18 pm | 4th Post |
|
I prefer the traditional dining, so as long as they keep at least one dining room for those that like that, I'll be fine!!!!!! 
____________________
32 previous cruises..
Next up: Last Atlantic crossing on QE 2 10-08/Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3/09
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
Don't touch that triangle!
Adopt a pet from your local shelter & save a life!
|
awoltoday
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Phoenix, USA |
| Posts: | 6 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Jul 27th, 2007 05:12 am | 5th Post |
|
Catnip wrote: I prefer the traditional dining, so as long as they keep at least one dining room for those that like that, I'll be fine!!!!!!
That's what I think is great. All the cruise lines still offer traditional dining as well. Normally, I would prefer traditional dining. But, for our upcoming Alaska cruise, NCL's freestyle dining made more sense! We'll be in port some 'nights' until late - although it will likely be light until late in the evening. On those nights, we won't want to have a scheduled time to eat on the ship :) It's great to have that flexibility if you want or need it!
____________________
--Chris
07/06/08 NCL Pearl Alaska
09/28/07 NCL Pearl 1 night party in the pacific
10/28/06 Disney Magic Eastern Boo cruise
11/12/05 Disney Magic Eastern 7 Day
|
Big Al B
Super Cruiser
| Joined: | Wed Jan 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 1434 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Jul 27th, 2007 10:15 am | 6th Post |
|
The folks on the other side are generally really up in arms about this  . Personally, I can live with either one, but some over there are saying they will not sail unless they can get traditional.
____________________
Is the poop deck really what I think it is?
HAL Eurodam Transatlantic - August 2008; HAL Zaandam Hawaii - October 2009
|
hstrybuf
Founders
| Joined: | Sat Jun 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas |
| Posts: | 19574 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Jul 27th, 2007 03:40 pm | 7th Post |
|
Big Al B wrote: The folks on the other side are generally really up in arms about this . Personally, I can live with either one, but some over there are saying they will not sail unless they can get traditional.
I wonder how many of those who say they won't sail have actually tried something other than traditional dining? If it's that big of a deal to them, then they should take their money elsewhere. Personally, I like having choices. Whether I'm doing traditional seating or some form of anytime dining is not a deal breaker for me. A cruise is about so much more than where you eat your dinner.
____________________
Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
|
Welove2cruise2
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Feb 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 455 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2007 01:33 am | 8th Post |
|
| As you wish dining is the main reason we are booked on the Noordam on 10/31 -- that and the INCREDIBLE price we got for a stern VA!!
____________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
|
cruise_more_often
Cruiser
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2007 03:08 am | 9th Post |
|
| Although we absolutely LOVE NCL's Freestyle freedom, we're going to try traditional dining on HAL's Ryndam. That's as of today. As we get closer to our cruise date, the plan may change.
____________________
Next: Golden Princess 1 night & HAL Oosterdam, Vancouver-SF 9/08; NCL Sun Sea of Cortez 10/09
NCL Jewel x1
NCL Pearl x1
NCL Sun x3
NCL Star x3
NCL Spirit x2
Coral Princess x1
RCI Monarch 'o Seas x2
HAL Niew Amsterdam x1
|
Welove2cruise2
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Feb 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 455 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2007 02:49 am | 10th Post |
|
Big Al B wrote: The folks on the other side are generally really up in arms about this . Personally, I can live with either one, but some over there are saying they will not sail unless they can get traditional.
Yes, they are, and I think at a minimum my posts on the subject will get poofed - might even get banned.
____________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll take the deck of a ship any time..." Jimmy Buffett
Majesty 10/00 & 01, 7/03 & 04, 5/05, 6/06, 9/06, 7/07 Dawn 11/04, 10/05, 3/07 Spirit 11/06, Dream 7/08 Noordam 10/07, 3/08
|
Big Al B
Super Cruiser
| Joined: | Wed Jan 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 1434 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2007 11:44 am | 11th Post |
|
Cruisemore, we're doing the same with our Noordam October cruise, but like you, that may turn out to be a game day change. I'm sure that with the long waitlists, no one will be upset if we opt out of traditional.
Welove, is there the same problems with banning and poofing on the HAL board also?
____________________
Is the poop deck really what I think it is?
HAL Eurodam Transatlantic - August 2008; HAL Zaandam Hawaii - October 2009
|
cruise_more_often
Cruiser
back to top
|
Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2007 04:58 pm | 12th Post |
|
Big Al B, I'll be watching the talk about introduction of the new style dining as it moves to the different ships. We've had a couple of very interesting (putting it mildly) experiences with traditional on RCI, which made returning to Freestyle even better. We're trying Princess's "Anytime Dining" in September and will see how that works.
____________________
Next: Golden Princess 1 night & HAL Oosterdam, Vancouver-SF 9/08; NCL Sun Sea of Cortez 10/09
NCL Jewel x1
NCL Pearl x1
NCL Sun x3
NCL Star x3
NCL Spirit x2
Coral Princess x1
RCI Monarch 'o Seas x2
HAL Niew Amsterdam x1
|
Mr_Pete
Snarky
| Joined: | Thu Jun 22nd, 2006 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 1000 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2007 12:37 pm | 13th Post |
|
Looks like Bicker and Heather are ready for round two:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=11093824#post11093824
Last edited on Sun Aug 5th, 2007 12:38 pm by Mr_Pete
____________________
Next up:
BOSTON
|
ItchyFeet
Casual Cruiser
| Joined: | Sun Jul 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Tonga |
| Posts: | 362 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2007 02:13 pm | 14th Post |
|
| Mr. Pete, I so dig your fish tagline. It's as peaceful as watching a real aquarium. Almost.
|
Mr_Pete
Snarky
| Joined: | Thu Jun 22nd, 2006 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 1000 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2007 09:45 pm | 15th Post |
|
| One of these days I'll get off my butt and make it reverse marquee!
____________________
Next up:
BOSTON
|
Sandy Shores
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2007 12:28 am | 16th Post |
|
Mr_Pete wrote: Hi Mr Pete! It's Heather. No ... Bicker and I are done. There was a bit of an uproar over there and I was sort of run off. So I decided to come over here and see if I could get in any trouble. Heather
____________________
Heather
Veendam 11~25~2007 Southern Caribbean
Eurodam 10~1~2008 Quebec City to Ft.Lauderdale
|
romancing_the_seas
Cruiser
| Joined: | Wed Oct 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 12 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 09:17 pm | 17th Post |
|
| While we understand why some prefer traditional dining, flex dining works best for us. We love NCL and Princess because of that. But we really prefer HAL overall and are excited to have this instituted on HAL. But we do wonder how this will work on HAL since HAL ships don't really have quite the alternative restaurants that NCL and Princess, for that matter, do.
____________________
Real Women Wear Red - 1 Book, 3 Women, and a 7 Night Cruise
|
mrdawson
Funnel Deck Cruiser
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 09:24 pm | 18th Post |
|
romancing_the_seas wrote: While we understand why some prefer traditional dining, flex dining works best for us. We love NCL and Princess because of that. But we really prefer HAL overall and are excited to have this instituted on HAL. But we do wonder how this will work on HAL since HAL ships don't really have quite the alternative restaurants that NCL and Princess, for that matter, do.
We are sailing Oosterdam in Jan and I read somewhere that the top floor of the dining room will be anytime dining and the lower will remain traditional...we shall see how it works though I'm a lil skeptical as we will be on only the 2nd sailing on Oosterdam after anytime dining begins on her....we have anytime dining..though NOT by choice so I'm a tad miffed already...
I should demand a free cruise! 
____________________
Mike
So many Pots....so few spoons!!!!
CTT Master Pot Stiring Advisor
1/09 X Solstice Eastern Carib
6/09 Mariner OTS Mex Riv
5/10 CTT Azul Sensatori AI Party, Riviera Maya
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 10:05 pm | 19th Post |
|
mrdawson wrote: ..we have anytime dining..though NOT by choice so I'm a tad miffed already...
I should demand a free cruise!
At least!!!!!!!
____________________
32 previous cruises..
Next up: Last Atlantic crossing on QE 2 10-08/Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3/09
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
Don't touch that triangle!
Adopt a pet from your local shelter & save a life!
|
Big Al B
Super Cruiser
| Joined: | Wed Jan 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 1434 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 01:12 pm | 20th Post |
|
We were just on the Noordam and had traditional dining. They used the upper dining room and a small part of the lower for that. Dinner was at 5:45 and 8:00.
The anytime dining began at 5:15 and I'm not sure when the last time they would seat people. You could just show up and request a table size. If one was available, they would seat you. If not, you could wait or agree to sit with others. You could also call each day after 8am and reserve a table. You had to call each day.
Since we were seated in the lower area, there were always people eating when we showed up. No waiting at the closed doors for the yum-yum man to ring the chimes. We were at a table for four (our mates were newlyweds) so we didn't wait for them to arrive to order . Service was very good.
I talked to people who had the anytime and heard no complaints although I have read that service was slower.
____________________
Is the poop deck really what I think it is?
HAL Eurodam Transatlantic - August 2008; HAL Zaandam Hawaii - October 2009
|
Current time is 06:42 pm | |
|
