TheMick424 Posted April 18, 2022 Report Share Posted April 18, 2022 Been reading up on all the different options for specialty dining on the Symphony of the Seas, and would like to try some of the restaurants. However, I'm on the fence about whether paying for a dining package is worth it for teenagers. We've never cruised with our 2 teens (16 boy, 14 girl) before, and while they enjoy fancy/nice food I don't know if they'll want to be tied down to a 2 hour dinner every night. What would the experienced cruisers recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted April 18, 2022 Report Share Posted April 18, 2022 2 hours ago, TheMick424 said: Been reading up on all the different options for specialty dining on the Symphony of the Seas, and would like to try some of the restaurants. However, I'm on the fence about whether paying for a dining package is worth it for teenagers. We've never cruised with our 2 teens (16 boy, 14 girl) before, and while they enjoy fancy/nice food I don't know if they'll want to be tied down to a 2 hour dinner every night. What would the experienced cruisers recommend? Well for one I would say it's not always 2hr dinners. Then I would say ask your teenagers. If the adults decide to do unlimited dining, then maybe you can get either the 3night package for them or Chops+1. They are old enough to go to the Windjammer or eat at some of the quicker services restaurants on their own. TheMick424 and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 18, 2022 Report Share Posted April 18, 2022 2 hours ago, TheMick424 said: Been reading up on all the different options for specialty dining on the Symphony of the Seas, and would like to try some of the restaurants. However, I'm on the fence about whether paying for a dining package is worth it for teenagers. We've never cruised with our 2 teens (16 boy, 14 girl) before, and while they enjoy fancy/nice food I don't know if they'll want to be tied down to a 2 hour dinner every night. What would the experienced cruisers recommend? I don't think it would be a question of whether or not the kids would want to dine in a specialty restaurant so much as it would be a question of whether you would want to NOT dine in a specialty restaurant if you have the UDP and they don't and you decide you want to eat together. Of course, you could always purchase individual meals or a 3 night plan for the kids if you want to eat at a specialty and you want the kids to be there.... Personally, I would buy the plan for everyone or for no one. Pooch and TheMick424 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlassSlipper Posted April 18, 2022 Report Share Posted April 18, 2022 We just took our teenagers (13 & 18) last week and we dined in Speciality restaurants. They enjoyed it and I felt like took no longer than eating in the main dining room. If your kids do not mind having a sit down meal each night, then they would not mind this. I actually think it may be a bit quicker, you are seated right away because you have a reservation. WAAAYTOOO and TheMick424 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMick424 Posted April 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 19 hours ago, GlassSlipper said: We just took our teenagers (13 & 18) last week and we dined in Speciality restaurants. They enjoyed it and I felt like took no longer than eating in the main dining room. If your kids do not mind having a sit down meal each night, then they would not mind this. I actually think it may be a bit quicker, you are seated right away because you have a reservation. I'm sure they would love some specialty dining, but maybe not every night. We are staying in a junior suite, so I was hoping to take advantage of Coastal Kitchen for a night or two, but reading these boards it seems like that possibility is slim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mia081081 Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 My kids are 7 and 10 and we do specialty dining every night. They love it and are happy to sit and chat and eat. It’s never taken us 2 hours. Usually 60-90 minutes, which is the same as the MDR. And the food and service are much better. TheMick424 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 Oops, misread post! Never mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordell1 Posted April 19, 2022 Report Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 7:05 AM, TheMick424 said: Been reading up on all the different options for specialty dining on the Symphony of the Seas, and would like to try some of the restaurants. However, I'm on the fence about whether paying for a dining package is worth it for teenagers. We've never cruised with our 2 teens (16 boy, 14 girl) before, and while they enjoy fancy/nice food I don't know if they'll want to be tied down to a 2 hour dinner every night. What would the experienced cruisers recommend? My son would rather be doing things with his friends rather than eat with us, but our rule on a cruise is that he has to eat dinner with us. Pooch, WAAAYTOOO and TheMick424 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexster Posted April 20, 2022 Report Share Posted April 20, 2022 13 hours ago, wordell1 said: My son would rather be doing things with his friends rather than eat with us, but our rule on a cruise is that he has to eat dinner with us. "You'll eat with us and you'll like it!" Pooch, TheMick424 and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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