Should You Eat Every Meal in the Suite-Only Restaurant on a Cruise Ship?

My husband and I are set to sail on Legend of the Seas. We are only cruising for three nights. And this is our first time staying in a suite with a dedicated restaurant only for suite guests.

So, we have a dilemma. There are so many choices on this mega ship and only one Coastal Kitchen (the dedicated restaurant only for our tier.)

Definitely we will eat lunch on embarkation day in the Coastal Kitchen, because the main dining room and the buffet will likely get crowded.

But what about “Base Camp?” Hubby loves burgers and hot dogs. Do we waste the few meals that we do have on a grilled cheese when we could be dining on Shrimp Scampi or Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Honestly, I don’t know what they serve in the Coastal Kitchen. I just figure it must be special, because the web site makes it sound that way!

Are Dedicated Suite-Only Restaurants Really all that Special?

Long-time cruisers on the various forums say yes and no. they feel suite-only restaurants offer “premium” choices, like presumably filet mignon or lobster tails and quicker service in a quiet area.

But the reviews are mixed when it comes to whether or not it is worth your money to upgrade so that you can secure a place at the suites-only dinner table.

Many say to book a cheaper cabin and spend your money in the specialty restaurants.

I have yet to even try a specialty restaurant. My husband and I prefer grab-and-go spots. That is why “base camp” is so appealing to him.

On our last two cruises, we spent a lot of time by the pizza and burger joints near the pool. Except for breakfast in the main dining room, we never even entered a sit-down restaurant.

So, will we get much use out of Coastal Kitchen? Probably not. Likely, we will eat there for lunch on the first day and then maybe breakfast on day three. But the rest of our meals will be spent sampling the eatery in “Central Park” or the “healthy” smoothie place that also serves wraps and salads.

Before you roll your eyes thinking, “You think you are so high and mighty eating super healthy on vacation.”

Not so fast…I love the popcorn they serve at night near the outdoor theater on the pool deck. And the next day, that same kiosk becomes my go-to spot for soft serve ice cream.

You see, we all ingest our calories differently! Truthfully, I didn’t book a cruise for the special restaurants. I booked it so I could get a bigger bathroom!

We were in junior suites (which to me aren’t suites at all) during our last two cruises and I felt the bathrooms weren’t a whole lot bigger than air plane lavatories.

In fact, I would take a bigger bathroom and a smaller main cabin. But, to each his own, and we can’t redesign the ship.

If I could, I would designate certain suites as “large bathroom suites,” instead of naming them “grand” or “celebrity” or my favorite, “owner’s suite,” when it is anything but.

Don’t get me started. As you go up the ranks, the state rooms get bigger, but the bathrooms often don’t.

Do I have to book a penthouse suite in order to get a larger shower? Well, actually I did on a twelve day cruise we have coming up in a year. Will it be worth it? And what about the food? Twelve days gives you a lot of time to compare the MDR and buffet against the dedicated suite restaurant and the specialty establishments.

I will report back!