Enhance Your Cruise Experience With Specialty Dining

Specialty dining restaurants, also known as premium or alternative dining, began in 2000 with Norwegian Cruise Line's Le Bistro. It started as an experiment on one ship and its success soon led to Le Bistro restaurants on all NCL ships and their claim that they "revolutionized the dining experience for the cruise industry."

Practically every cruise line has followed suite. In fact, if a cruise line doesn't offer specialty dining options, it is at a competitive disadvantage in the experienced cruiser market. Cruise lines now offer one or more specialty restaurants on every ship in their fleet with everything from Texas-style steak houses, New York steakhouse-style supper clubs and Tuscan steakhouses to gourmet French bistros, Italian trattorias, Asian-fusion, wine-themed restaurants, Champagne brunch, etc.

These specialty restaurants all require reservations and a cover charge from $5 to $35 per guest. Some restaurants have a la carte pricing for certain menu items. Some do and some don't allow children. Some have brunch and lunch on sea days, others are only open for dinner.

We make it a point on every cruise to dine at least once at a specialty restaurant; and every one has been a wonderful dining experience.

I'm often asked by people new to cruising, "Why would I want to spend extra money for specialty dining when all my meals are already included?

Simply put, compared to the main dining room: the cuisine is gourmet, the service is impeccable, the ambiance is more intimate, and the overall dining experience is well worth the money. You will get a lot more value for your money than you would on a restaurant ashore.

At Royal Caribbean's Chops Grille steakhouse, for example, the four-course meals last two hours. It's open only for dinner and you don't have to dress formal. Smart casual is the suggested attire. Teens are "welcome." The additional charge is $25 and includes gratuities. You can make your reservations on board or online up to 4 days before your cruise begins.

Specialty restaurants are a great venue for a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday. And when the kids are occupied at a pirate party, you can have a well-deserved quiet dinner for two.

Travel authority Author Frommer, however, noted this in a recent blog post:

"I have the impression that all the major, popularly-priced cruise lines have cut back on the preparation of the meals served in their main, no-extra-charge dining rooms, in order to send passengers to the profit-making 'specialty' restaurants on board ship."

To get a cruise line's response to this accusation Ralph Grizzle-The Avid Cruiser- interviewed Jacques Van Staden, vice president of culinary operations for Celebrity Cruises, in August 2010. The cornerstone of Celebrity brand is the dining experience. Van Staten says that while their guests appreciate the fine dining experience of the specialty restaurants, cruise lines are not often rated by their specialty dining. Rather, it's the main dining room and lido deck buffet that's their main focus.

Van Staten counters the assertion that the specialty dining is the new profit center on board with this eye-opening remark: "The specialty restaurants weren't designed to drive up revenue. What people don't realize is that the service charge goes 100 percent to our staff. That's their gratuities."

An employee for another cruise line, which shall remain nameless, told me that they charge the additional fee just to make it more exclusive as not everyone wants to spend the additional charge.

Like most restaurants on land, specialty restaurants on board cruise ships generate revenue from the alcohol purchased before, during and after dinner. When you're dining at this type of restaurant you tend to splurge for adult beverages more than you would in the main dining room.

Chances are the specialty restaurants on your cruise will be very popular. To avoid disappointment make sure you know your options and, by all means, reserve as early as possible. It will truly enhance your overall cruise experience.