Norwegian Cruise Line shakes up restaurant pricing
Dining on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship soon could cost you a lot more. Or a lot less. It all depends on what you order.
The fast-growing cruise company today announced it will switch from flat fee to a la carte pricing for many of the extra-charge restaurants on its vessels.
Instead of a fixed cost of $29.99 for the line's signature Cagney's Steakhouse, passengers will pay $4.99 to $7.95 for an appetizer and $17.99 to $29.99 for a main course, the line says. Desserts will be extra, too.
The pricing of main courses at Norwegian's signature French restaurant, Le Bistro, will start at $15.99. Main courses at Italian eatery La Cucina will start at $12.99.
Two Norwegian extra-charge restaurants that will keep the flat-fee format are Brazilian-style steakhouse Moderno Churrascaria and Japanese eatery Teppanyaki. They'll retain cover charges of $19.95 and $29.95, respectively.
Every Norwegian ship also offers several restaurants that are included in the cost of the cruise, and that will not change, the line says.
Norwegian spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello says the change from flat fee to a la carte pricing at extra-charge eateries shouldn't result in drastically different average check prices than what passengers are paying now.
At Cagney's, for instance, "we expect the average three course check (to be) around $30, with some coming in less and some more for premium main course items like the largest steaks and lobster," Picariello says.
The big different, she notes, is passengers only will be paying for what they eat, and that's in keeping with Norwegian's focus on flexibility and choice.
Norwegian also will continue to sell Specialty Dining Packages that include meals at Cagney's, Le Bistro and La Cucina at a set price without extra a la carte charges.
As part of the change to a la carte pricing, several Norwegian eateries also are getting expanded menus. The new a la carte pricing will debut in October on the new Norwegian Escape and be fleetwide by Jan. 1.
For a deck-by-deck tour of the restaurants and other public areas on Norwegian's newest ship, the Norwegian Getaway, click through the carousel below.
