In the beginning, Norwegian's strategy of Freestyle Cruising was designed to attract passengers who didn't necessarily want to dine at a predetermined time and who didn't necessarily want to have the same dining partners every night.
That would be us.
Fast forward. Today, Freestyle Cruising is part of a marketing tool for Norwegian customers who want to book dinner days, even weeks, in advance. Now they can make a dinner reservation up to 90 days before sailing and if that seems like something of a contradiction in "freestyle dining"…welcome to the club.
Part of the attraction, at least for us, was the flexibility and saying "Okay, time for dinner" and walking down to the ship's dining room and getting a table more or less right away. The idea of "freestyle" isn't making that decision — again, for us — 12 weeks in advance.
However, that was before speciality restaurants (for fee) came along.
Had Norwegian called this promotion "Specialty Freestyle Dining" then it guarantees you won't be shut out of places like the signature steakhouse, Cagney's (above). You can decide (up to 90 days before your cruise) which specialty restaurant you want to go to for dinner, who you want to eat with (or without), and precisely what dinner time you want.
Look at it that way, and it's the ultimate in Freestyle Dining.
Today at Phil Reimer's portsandbows.com: The latest in cruise news
Holland America Oosterdam
7 nights
July 6, 2014
Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Anchorage
Inside: $599
Cost per day: $85
www.hollandamerica.com