I have now had the opportunity to take two four-day cruises; one to the Bahamas and one repositioning cruise up the coast from LA to Vancouver. These cruises have confirmed that I am not in any way a cruise person.There is just way too much time on a boat than out seeing the sites. If you like doing things in a hotel, that’s what a cruise ship is; a grand hotel with shows, casino, bars and restaurants, and a small pool/hot tub.

The two cruise ships were Carnivale and Norwegian for the Bahamas and North American coast respectively. The Carnivale ship was older and as one of my friends said about the decor, “It looks as if a gay fashion designer took acid and threw up all over the place.” The decor was very date and garish with green, yellow and gold decorations (and then tacky Christmas decorations on top of that). Chairs and design overall were date. Norwegian’s cruise ship (the Sun) is only ten years old and is fairly tasteful with wood accents.

Both ships have small outdoor pools and hot tubs (I think). Carnivale had assigned seating for dinners. The problem with this was that you were always sat with the same people and whether you got along or not, you didn’t get a chance to meet new people. However, the meals were excellent and definitely top of the line in desserts and in flavors. The other choice was the ongoing buffet for late night munchies or fast food stuff, which was mediocre.

Norwegian boasted thirteen restaurants, freestyle dining (you sit when you want to) and lobster. The reality turned out to be five restaurants that had an extra cover charge ($10-$25) and then on top of that there was often an extra $10 for any food of quality on the menu. Three restaurants seemed to be the same buffet, which was mediocre, with two (the Four Seasons and the Seven Seas) having the same menu. There was a pasta/pizzeria buffet (with dinners in the evening) and a Mexican tapas bar with only light items. When you count up the restaurants available without spooning out more money, the number goes way down. Oh, and lobster, well yes, they did have it at the other main restaurant. I had to send mine back because it was mushy (and half a tail). Other meals were dry or bland, with a shrimp bisque being so salty it was inedible. Desserts were kind of what you’d expect Mom to cook. Overall, Norwegian’s food was disappointing and middle of the road.

Extra costs are something cruise lines don’t always tell you about up front. Norwegian certainly did not advertise they had restaurants asking extra charges on their website. They also charge $12/day per person for gratuities to the staff while Carnivale charged $10/day (that cruise was about three years ago so prices may have changed). Booze is never included but Norwegian also added in an “autogratuity.”

Carnivale’s entertainment contained a song and dance number and maybe other things I don’t remember. All their bars had the same 70/80’s music and nothing but rap being played in the one disco every single night. Most of their “socials” saw no one going to them and the music was not that good.

Norwegian had a preview night of a comedian, some music and a woman gymnast doing a nautical number using the silks (two long pieces of fabric suspended from the ceiling in which various moves, spins and drops are done). It was beautiful, well executed and worth watching again. On the second night they had a musical adaptation of Peter Pan (called “Pan”) which had few words and was very well done in dance. I enjoyed it a lot. The following night had a guy from Vegas (George Solomon) who had a great voice but it was very old style Vegas, and a magician from Montreal, Jean-Paul (not sure if that’s his last name or not) who mixed comedy with his tricks. He was good even if he played up the creepy stalker jokes just a bit too much.

The musicians in the various bars, including a lovely Observation Deck (enclosed) with views of the ocean, were good and varied, compared to Carnivale’s mediocre music. Norwegian did seem to have better success in social gatherings, including people in the disco. This included having the comedian in there one night and having the dancers come in to kick off another party, mostly to sell more alcohol.

The staterooms weren’t bad in either ship. However the beds were more spacious in Norwegian but uncomfortable. I tend to have back issues and though my back had been okay before the trip I was definitely in pain afterwards. Both ships had casinos, duty frees and art galleries. Having been duped into the free piece of art in the Carnivale cruise (which meant I couldn’t carry it away but they had to ship it for an exorbitant cost of $40–I told them to keep it) I steered away from Norwegian’s, especially after they said they were the originators. Nothing, truly, is free.

All in all, it wasn’t anything I’d do again. I’d rather fly to the place and stay in a land hotel where I can get out when I want. And if I want a casino I’ll just go to one. I can see how it would be good for families and for elderly people who may get tired faster. For some people, they loved the games, and the whole gestalt water hotel experience, but for me it was being stuck in one place too long.

Of all the common misconceptions I hear concerning cruises from potential new cruisers, (and I do hear ALOT) is the misconception that cruising is all about dressed up formal dining.  Nothing could be further from the truth!

While most cruise lines do still offer at least one formal night a cruise and have the traditional assigned time and seating dining option, a cruiser has a virtual myriad of dining options onboard their cruise ship.  Depending on the cruise line, the cruise passenger has multiple options, including traditional assigned seating in the main dining room, specialty restaurants, buffets, 24-hour room service, and open-seating dining in a secondary or the main dining room to mention a few.

Traditionally, a cruiser could expect only one dining option for their evening meal.  A cruiser would receive an assigned table in the main dining room at an assigned time.  With the increased size of most modern cruise ships, the main dining room is not large enough to serve all the passengers onboard at one sitting, therefore, the cruise lines will have 2 seatings, one early (usually starting around 5:45 pm – 6:30pm) and one late (usually starting around 7:45pm – 8:30pm).  The cruiser would arrive each evening at the appropriate time and be seated at their assigned table in the proper attire.  Cruise lines now recognize 3 types of attire; casual attire, smart casual attire, and formal attire.  Even though cruise lines do allow casual attire most evenings, they still frown upon shorts, jeans or shirts without collars or sleeves in the main dining room. 

In today’s cruise vacation, the traditional option is still the preferred, and most opted for dining by most cruisers.  However, most cruise lines are now offering their own version of what is termed “alternative” dining.  For example, Princess Cruises has adopted “Personal Choice Dining” on it’s ships.  Passengers can come to the dedicated Personal Choice Dining Room at any time within a set interval and will be seated with their own party. They can also make reservations if they want a specific favorite table at a certain time. Evening dress codes apply in both the traditional and the Personal Choice Dining rooms.  Many other cruise lines have also adopted a similar alternative dining option, including Royal Caribbean International’s “Mytime Dining”, and Holland America’s “As You Wish Dining” option. 

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is the cruise line credited with the advent of alternative dining venues.  NCL’s “freestyle” cruising is their claim to fame and shook up the cruise industry some years ago.  All new NCL ships now have been built with the “freestyle” concept in mind, no large main dining rooms anymore; smaller, themed restaurants instead.  NCL can boast the most dining venues of all the major cruise lines, as many as 13 different restaurants on a single ship.  However, there are certainly pros and cons to the “freestyle” dining concept on NCL.  While you certainly have many dining options, some dining venues will certainly be more popular then others, and those popular dining venues will be very crowded and have long wait times for those wanting to dine there.  While those on more traditional cruise lines and have the traditional dining option, will always know they have a table ready for them every night at the appointed time.

Disney Cruise Line has a unique dining format. Passengers are assigned a table at a set time each evening. However, instead of dining in the same restaurant every night, passengers — along with their tablemates and waitstaff — rotate dining rooms, so they dine in three different restaurants during the cruise, each with a unique theme.

Other options onboard include the popular buffet, open for all meals and late night snacks.  Alternative restaurants that are only open for specialty evening dining, these restaurants will require advanced reservations and surcharges usually apply.  Many ships also have poolside grills and pizzerias for the sunworshipper looking to maximize their tanning time.   You can also find speciality coffee stands, ice cream shops, delis, sushi bars, and cafes with snacks and pasteries throughout the modern cruise ship.   And lastly, room service is available 24-hours and is included in your cruise fare.

Your dining options onboard a cruise ship are varied and “aplenty”!  Don’t believe the old cruise ship dining misconceptions, you do have plenty of dining options.  Bon Appetit!

            Carnival Cruise Lines will begin testing a new flexible dining option with the Carnival Legend’s June 29, 2008, departure that will enable guests to choose an open seating option for dinner.  Guests who opt for flexible dining can  dine at whatever time they wish between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightly in the ship’s main restaurant.

           The new flexible dining pilot program aboard Carnival Legend will in no way replace Carnival’s popular classic dining system which provides a choice of either main or late seating.  Under classic dining, guests dine at the same table with service from the same wait staff  throughout the full voyage.

Guests will be asked to designate either flexible/open seating or classic, assigned seating prior to departure and their choice will be in effect for the full cruise.            

            The new open seating dining initiative is the latest addition to Carnival’s Total Choice Dining and designed to provide guests with additional flexibility in their dinnertime options. 

            Carnival will begin contacting guests sailing on the Carnival Legend’s June 29 departure and beyond to advise of the new dining initiative beginning later this month.  

            Carnival Legend sails year-round seven-day western Caribbean cruises from Tampa.