Are the Norwegian Getaway's Specialty Dining Restaurants Really Worth It?
You've just boarded the Norwegian Getaway for your week-long cruise. As you unpack and settle into your cabin, your thoughts drift to the variety of dining options on board. Sure, there's the complimentary main dining room, but you're also intrigued by the specialty restaurants, like Cagney's Steakhouse and Le Bistro.
As you peruse the daily schedule, you wonder if the upcharge for these venues is really worth it. Before you make reservations, take a few minutes to check out this overview of the specialty dining options on the Getaway.
We'll give you the scoop on the cuisine, ambiance, and service so you can determine if the extra expense enhances your cruising experience or if you're better off sticking with the included complementary dining. Either way, bon appetit!
6 Things to know about Dining aboard the Norwegian Getaway
NCL offers "Free Style" dining. This means you don't have a set dining time, table or location. You simply choose your complementary dining venue and head over for dinner on your own schedule
Keep in mind that with "Free Style" dining you may have to wait for a table at peak meal times
Reservations are recommended to snag your preferred dining times in the complementary and Specialty Dining restaurants
Prices are subject to change; be sure to check your NCL app for the latest pricing when making dining reservations
Take advantage of your complementary dining offers at the up charge restaurants that come with your "Free at Sea" and NCL Lattidue rewards
You can dine al fresco on the Waterfront at Cagney's Steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria, Ocean Blue, and La Cucina
Overview of Dining on the Norwegian Getaway
There are so many options to choose from aboard the Norwegian Getaway. Whether you're in the mood for a multi-course gourmet meal or casual fare by the pool, NCL has you covered.
Complementary Dining Options
The Getaway offers 9 complementary dining options with no set dining times. Trust us, you'll never run out of choices or go hungry. Here are your options:
The Haven Restaurant
The Haven restaurant is exclusive to guests staying in The Haven suites and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Savor and Taste
These are two of the three main dining rooms featuring a shared menu with everything from steak and seafood to vegetarian fare. Both offer a refined and elegant setting for dinner.
Taste Dining Room aboard the NCL Getaway
The Tropicana Room
This is the third of the three main dining rooms and also offers a modern decor. This restaurant does also have live entertainment and a dance floor.
Tropicana Room aboard the NCL Getaway
The American Diner
This restaurant is fashioned after a 1950s-style diner with classic fare like burgers, 'blue' plates and shakes. The shakes will cost you $7, but the rest of the menu is free.
Garden Cafe
The Garden Cafe is the ship’s buffet and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Shanghai Noodle Bar
At this limited seating venue you can enjoy fresh noodle dishes that are made-to-order. This venue is very popular, be prepared to wait.
Shanghai’s aboard the NCL Getaway
O'Sheehans
This venue provides a relaxed Irish pub atmosphere that serves delicious comfort foods and is open 24 hours a day.
O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill aboard the NCL Getaway
Room Service
Don't forget that this option is available 24 hours for a service fee. While it may take some time to receive your order, room service is perfect when you want to avoid the dining rooms.
Specialty Dining Options
When sailing on the Getaway, you have several specialty dining options to choose from beyond the complimentary dining options and main dining rooms. Whether you're craving something sweet or a full meal, there are venues for every taste.
Note that the pricing for each of these venues varies and is subject to change. Be sure to check the NCL app for the per person and a la carte pricing. Reservations are highly recommend for all of these venues. Here are your options:
The Bake Shop and Dolce Gelato
These venues share a space with Dolce Gelato available on the Waterfront side of Deck 8. We tried the red velvet cupcake from the Bake Shop and can tell you that it was just the right amount of sweetness and was a tasty treat.
Cookies and Cream and Red Velvet Cupcake at The Bake Shop aboard the NCL Getaway
The gelato comes in a variety of flavors like chocolate, strawberry, tiramisu and looked like a refreshing option on a hot day.
Le Bistro
This upscale French bistro features classic dishes like escargot, mushroom soup (a personal favorite), and coq au vin. For a special night out, the romantic ambiance can't be beat. They also have an extensive wine list to pair with your meal.
Dessert at Le Bistro aboard the NCL Getaway
Cagney's Steakhouse
Steak lovers rejoice! Cagney's Steakhouse serves up quality meats, from filet mignon to ribeye, as well as seafood options like lobster tails. Cagney's offers an extensive wine list and we'd also recommend this venue for a special night out.
Cagney’s aboard the NCL Getaway
Ocean Blue
This restaurant serves seafood in a contemporary atmosphere. The menu is filled with options from ahi tuna to simply grilled fish. You'll find a list of Rosé wines and Champagne's to pair with your seafood.
Ocean Blue aboard the NCL Getaway
Teppanyaki
This hibachi restaurant is as you picture it with your meal prepared on a large grill in front of you as the chef entertains you with songs and jokes. We can recommend this one for families. You will be seated at a lively shared table if your party is not large enough to fill all of the seats at the grill.
Teppanyaki aboard the NCL Getaway
Moderno Churrascaria
Once again, the meat lovers should rejoice! If you like a variety of meats then this most certainly is the restaurant for you. Here you'll find everything from grilled chicken to pork sausage. The salad bar at this restaurant is everything. You'll be tempted to make a meal of the salad bar, take our word for it and save room for the meats.
Moderno aboard the NCL Getaway
The Raw Bar
This is a casual dining spot with limited seating that is located right beside Ocean Blue . It's a small plates menu that serves everything from calamari to salmon tartare. You'll also find a selection of cocktails to accompany your meal.
Wasabi
This is the sushi bar aboard the Getaway. You'll find options from edamame to sashimi along with a sake offerings. Similar to the Raw Bar this a limited seating venue.
La Cucina
If you're looking for Italian food, then this is where you will find pasta, pizza, risotto and other classic Italian fare. The family-style restaurant has a casual, rustic vibe. They also have a nice selection of Italian wines and cocktails to complement your meal.
La Cucina aboard the NCL Getaway
The Biggest Letdown
While the specialty dining restaurants on Getaway mostly deliver as expected, there was one surprisingly disappointing experience.
Ocean Blue
It pains us to write this. We recall eating at this restaurant abroad the Breakaway when it was still a new ship and loved the experience. However, this time out, not so much.
The seafood was not as fresh as we would have expected and the dishes just fell flat. For instance, the fish and chips were ordered. While we expected an elevated experience, what we got instead was the O'Sheehan's version of this dish.
The Fish and Chips at Ocean Blue aboard the NCL Ocean Blue
Our suggestion is to have a meal here earlier in the cruise if you'd like to try it in hopes that the seafood will be fresher. We'd also suggest that you use your dining credit here and skip paying for the experience.
The Biggest Surprise
We can't wait to share this one with you! If you like Asian food, then run do not walk to Shanghai Noodle Bar! Once you get there you're likely to find a long line and that should be your first sign that you need to eat here.
Not once did we pass this spot and not see a line. Our recommendation is to line up before they open so that you can snag a spot on the wait list. So what's the big deal?
Assorted rolls and dumplings at Shanghai’s aboard the NCL Getaway
This restaurant by far served the freshest made-to-order food on board the ship. It's a small dining venue with limited seating which likely goes a long way to the quality of the dishes that we experienced. Even our little guy as our resident picky eater loved this place and we think that you will too.
This was so good that we would pay to eat here, as long as the quality holds steady of course.
Which restaurants are worth the up charge?
When it comes to the specialty dining on the Norwegian Getaway, here's our take on which ones are worth the splurge.
Moderno Churrascaria
Coming in at number 4 is Moderno. This restaurant is very, very good with its' all you care to enjoy cuts of meat and an impressive salad bar. This salad bar is more than lettuce and tomatoes. You'll find everything from cheese, to sushi and soup. Did we mention the sides? All solid options and the Brazilian cheese bread is served warm and is not to be missed.
The Expansive Salad Bar at Moderno aboard the NCL Getaway
Teppanyaki
In third place we have the family favorite, Teppanyaki. Our pickiest eater, our little guy enjoys this one as well. The food is prepared on a grill in front of you as your chef sings and cracks corny jokes. The food is tasty as well, and of course is hot and fresh. Our favorite item here is the fried rice, it's never dissapoints.
Fried Rice at Teppanyaki aboard the NCL Getaway
Cagney's Steakhouse
In the number 2 slot is Cagney's. We've never had a bad meal here. The food is consistently good and the service is excellent. There was a minor issue with one of our dishes and the head waiter came over to handle it without be asked. For one of your sides, if you are a fry fan we can recommend the parmesan dusted truffle fries, they are excellent.
Cagney’s Steakhouse aboard the NCL Getaway
The stylish and contemporary atmosphere is worthy of a special occasion or date night. You'll find a nice selection of wines to accompany the steak of your choice and the dessert menu is solid as well.
Le Bistro
Topping our list is the Getaway's signature french restaurant. This restaurant with its elegant interiors with crips white linens provides a perfect intimate dining experience. We can recommend this restaurant for special occasions and of course date night.
The Mushroom Soup at Le Bistro aboard the NCL Getaway
The service here is very high end as well. We're talking your dishes arriving under silver covers that are lifted at the same time. Very fancy indeed. If you do have littles with you, there is a children's menu as well as a few approachable items on the menu that your older ones might try from the main courses. Our little guy went with the roasted pork chop.
Our Final Thoughts on NCL Getaway Specialty Dining
Before we give you our final thoughts, a word on the restaurants we didn't try. There are so many dining options that we couldn't possibly have given them all a try. There are definitely some that we wish had time to try and on our next NCL cruise we will give them a try, for science of course.
Overall, the specialty dining options on the Norwegian Getaway are worth experiencing, at least once or twice during your cruise. While the upcharge a la carte pricing may seem steep, the food quality, ambiance and service are definitely a step above the included and complimentary dining options in three main dining rooms.
With various cuisines, ambiances and price points, the Getaway’s specialty dining restaurants have an option for every mood and budget. Trying a few of these venues during your cruise is a great way to make the most of your dining experience aboard this floating resort.
But don't feel pressured, the complimentary dining has lots of delicious options too. However you choose to dine, savor the food and enjoy your time aboard this incredible ship.
We hope that this walk through the dining options aboard the Getaway help you as you plan your next NCL cruise.
Enjoy the journey!
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