Dining options for fine dining on cruise liners.?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

You are correct that NCL ships have a variety of alternative restaurants. BUT, I have been on many NCL ships and can tell you that not all of these alternatives are fine dining places. Most NCL ships have Tex/Mex, Chinese/Sushi, Italian and steak house restaurant. Not all of these places are venues where they have fine dining. Some are even free, no gratuity charge.

I have cruised on Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean ships and so I'll tell you how its been on those ships. There may be some minor differences if you go on Carnival, Holland America, or Cunard.

On NCL ships you are seated by the staff at whatever table is available when you arrive. Sometimes they will ask if you want to share a table, but you can always ask for and get a table for 2. So on NCL you really never have to sit with anyone; that's what we do, request a table for two and make sure that we have one as soon as we board the ship.

Princess Cruise lines has an arrangement similar to NCL that they call "Personal Choice" cruising. When you make your reservations you can either select a seating time, or elect to just go to dinner when you want and get whatever table is available, again making requests for a table to meet your needs. Princess ships generally have just a couple alternative specialty restaurants. For example, one ship has Sabatini's Italian restaurant and Sterling Steakhouse.

Holland America also has about the same process as NCL but they call it "As You Wish" dining. Again you pick one of the two times or just go whenever you want. Holland ships have a couple alternative restaurants like: Pinnacle Grill: This intimate reservations-only venue offers an elegant, sophisticated dining experience. "Featuring premium Sterling Silver beef, inspired seafood dishes and many select wines rated "Excellent" by Wine Spectator - as well as distinctive BvlgariÂ® china, RiedelÂ® stemware and FretteÂ® linens"; and Canaletto Italian Restaurant.

Royal Caribbean has also begun to offer the same options but on only a few of its ships. RC calls it "Your Way" dining and allow you to go to to dinner any time you want; and get a table for two. RC always has two alternative fine dining places called Portofino and Chopps.

Mary L

The other answers so far are excellent, but there is one more -- Holland America! I'm not sure whether it is on all its ships now, but am certain that it is that way on several.

Barkley Hound

Princess Cruises has anytime dining and specialty restaurant dining. The anytime dining allows you to go to the dining room anytime during set hours and be seated with your party or others as you wish. The specialty restaurants include Italian and steakhouse for $15-$20.

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olliedog

Some of the Thomson liners have non-set fine dining. I know the Spirit does. The Emerald and Destiny have "same table same people" Have a look at their website and you should be able to find out which ships do what. I think all the P&O have set tables.

Time travler

Yes, Princess calls it personal choice or anytime dinning, but it is exactly the same thing as NCL. My next cruise will be this in just a few days.

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