PHOTO: Pictured is Cagney's, the steakhouse on Norwegian Epic. (Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Cruise Line is replacing its Ultimate Dining Package, which includes specialty dining every night of a cruise, with one that is more flexible, allowing guests to decide how many nights to eat outside of the main dining room.
The new Specialty Dining Package is priced from $59 when purchased online in advance for three nights in specialty restaurants and goes up to $189 for a 14-day package. For example, guests on a seven-day cruise can choose packages ranging from three to seven nights at a savings from the regular cover charges.
An 18 percent gratuity and "specialty service charge" are tacked on to all package pricing; TravelPulse asked Norwegian how much the "specialty service charge" is and what exactly it's for but we didn't immediately hear back.
The new package will be available fleetwide Aug. 7. Passengers can start booking it beginning Aug. 1 for the Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star and Pride of America. Guests sailing on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl can purchase packages beginning Aug. 2. Package sales open for Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun on Aug. 3.
The Specialty Dining Package is good for dinners at Cagney's steakhouse, La Cucina Italian restaurant, Le Bistro and the teppanyaki restaurant.
However, those who buy the dining package will still have to shell out more money, although at a discount, to dine at Norwegian's à la carte priced restaurants and entertainment-based restaurants.
The extra fee is $15 for Geoffrey Zakarian's Ocean Blue on Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway; $10 at Bayamo on Norwegian Escape, scheduled to enter service in November; $7 at Pincho Tapas Bar on Norwegian Escape; $7 at The Raw Bar on Norwegian Getaway and Breakaway; and $7 at the sushi bars fleetwide.
At the Cirque Dreams show and dinner on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic, prices are $10 for general seats, $15 for premium seating, and $35 for VIP seating on Norwegian Breakaway.
Tickets to the Illusionarium are $10 or $15 for premium seats. Admission to "For the Record: Dear John Hughes" on Norwegian Escape will be $15.
The Specialty Dining Packages do not include Carlo's Bake Shop items, ice cream bar, gelato, Chef's Table, special occasion/holiday menus (New Year's, Christmas, etc.) Beverages are not included.
The new Specialty Dining Packages can be pre-purchased before sailing for additional savings or onboard during the first two days of the voyage; the dining package is only sold on the first day of three-day cruises.
Those who buy the package online can make dining reservations online within 90 days of their sail date or decide when and where to dine once onboard. For full details, click here.
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