What time's dinner?

Don’t ask, because it’s whatever time you want it to be. You can take your seat when you choose between 5.30pm and 10pm and there’s no need to hurry, as our restaurants and dining rooms are open through until midnight. So stay on deck and catch the last rays of sunset before dinner, or dine early and do the shows. We don’t ring bells for dinner, but we make sure you can ring the changes.

If you’re not certain which venue to choose, take a look at the electronic screens being rolled out on ships across the fleet. They show you real-time table availability in all the restaurants. And if your preferred choice happens to be full, just ask the Restaurant Manager for a bleeper, then relax in a bar – you’ll get a call when your table’s ready and waiting.

Do I need to book a table?

You don’t have to pre-book your table, but because our speciality restaurants are so, well, very special, it’s a good idea to book just as you would when dining out in style at home.

Naturally, we’ve made it simple. You can reserve your table at your chosen restaurant within 24 hours of your preferred dining time. This gives you the flexibility to pick and choose throughout your cruise and book the restaurant you fancy for the next evening. You might want to make up a foursome with new friends you’ve made on board or try a restaurant that another guest has given ‘rave reviews’. And the 24-hour reservation system offers you the freedom to do just that. Enjoy.

And what's on the menu?

That depends where you choose to dine and with up to 12 restaurants and dining rooms*, that’s Choice with a capital C. In our Main Dining Rooms, you can enjoy the best of international cuisine and the refined décor and tastes of classic cruising.

Then there’s gourmet French in our signature restaurant, Le Bistro; pasta and pizza that mama might have made, if only she’d been Italian; Tex-Mex and Spanish tapas; Asian fusion and Teppanyaki grilled fresh right before your eyes. Our Steakhouses have become something of a legend for their premium cuts of certified Black Angus™ beef.

And, of course, there’s our lavish Garden Buffets. Some contemporary cruise lines expect you to help yourself at buffets for most meals. Naturally, we don’t, but the Garden Buffet is there when you fancy a little picking and choosing and, maybe, alfresco dining.

You won’t find such choice on any other cruise line and that’s why it’s called NCL Freestyle Dining.

What about table companions?

What about them? We certainly wouldn’t insist that you dine with strangers or, heaven forbid, people you don’t even like – unless you want to. Or insist that you dine at the same table every night – unless you want to. Just do your own thing. Dinner for two, a great meal with the family, or dining with those new friends you met by the pool. How refreshing is that!

Room service with our compliments

You know those times when you’ve had a long day ashore and you just want to kick off your shoes and crash with comfort food and a movie; or come round slowly with a leisurely breakfast on your balcony after some serious partying the night before. Well, be our guest.

Room service is just a phone call away, round the clock and, like the best things in life, free.

*Availability of restaurants & dining rooms changes by ship. Nominal supplements or à la carte pricing apply in selected speciality restaurants.