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WE have talked to others who have cruised with families that large, like a regular land restaurant it is very difficult to seat that many. Others who have had groups of more than 10 have suggested you make your plans for the large group before you ever sail or on embarkation day and of course you won't have the option of eating when and where you want without a long wait. Freestyle isn't designed for that large of a group. On Celebrity last November we got to know 2 large parties and both said they found it necessary to split for dinner. One party was 12, the other about 18 I beleive. As for the food, well food is a very subjective issue we all know. What one finds excellant another will find unacceptable. The $10 per day, service charge starts next May. Be assured, just like the no discount policy RCI, Celebrity and Carnival are just starting if it works all lines will do this. Your figures still come to $10 a day whether there are 4 of you or 50. $10 a day is very cheap and I would imagine most of us will add to that amount instead of being upset by it. This subject is almost a dead issue as it has been hashed over for weeks now on all boards. Everyone who has traveled to Europe, Asai or Bahamas knows a 10 to 15% service charge is always added and is not adjusted. We too have cruised 15 times, with the 16th coming up soon. there is only 1 mass marketed line we haven't hit. Food in general is on the decline. Look at the price of cruising now compared to 20 years ago. Considering inflation the prices have dropped and the cost of everything has increased. Have you priced steak in your super market lately? If we are lucky we can get a fair one on sale for about $5 per lbs, many are $10 and up a lb. The ships must be paying more as well. What about crab legs? On sale this week, previously frozen so you can imagine how wonderful they were not: $8.99 a lb. I think I have made my point. NMNita

<blockquote data-quote="newmexicoNita" data-source="post: 765714"><p>WE have talked to others who have cruised with families that large, like a regular land restaurant it is very difficult to seat that many. Others who have had groups of more than 10 have suggested you make your plans for the large group before you ever sail or on embarkation day and of course you won't have the option of eating when and where you want without a long wait. Freestyle isn't designed for that large of a group. On Celebrity last November we got to know 2 large parties and both said they found it necessary to split for dinner. One party was 12, the other about 18 I beleive.&nbsp; As for the food, well food is a very subjective issue we all know. What one finds excellant another will find unacceptable. The $10 per day, service charge starts next May. Be assured, just like the no discount policy RCI, Celebrity and Carnival are just starting if it works all lines will do this. Your figures still come to $10 a day whether there are 4 of you or 50. $10 a day is very cheap and I would imagine most of us will add to that amount instead of being upset by it. This subject is almost a dead issue as it has been hashed over for weeks now on all boards. Everyone who has traveled to Europe, Asai or Bahamas knows a 10 to 15% service charge is always added and is not adjusted. We too have cruised 15 times, with the 16th coming up soon. there is only 1 mass marketed line we haven't hit. Food in general is on the decline. Look at the price of cruising now compared to 20 years ago. Considering inflation the prices have dropped and the cost of everything has increased. Have you priced steak in your super market lately? If we are lucky we can get a fair one on sale for about $5 per lbs, many are $10 and up a lb. The ships must be paying more as well. What about crab legs? On sale this week, previously frozen so you can imagine how wonderful they were not: $8.99 a lb. I think I have made my point. NMNita</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="newmexicoNita, post: 765714"] WE have talked to others who have cruised with families that large, like a regular land restaurant it is very difficult to seat that many. Others who have had groups of more than 10 have suggested you make your plans for the large group before you ever sail or on embarkation day and of course you won't have the option of eating when and where you want without a long wait. Freestyle isn't designed for that large of a group. On Celebrity last November we got to know 2 large parties and both said they found it necessary to split for dinner. One party was 12, the other about 18 I beleive. As for the food, well food is a very subjective issue we all know. What one finds excellant another will find unacceptable. The $10 per day, service charge starts next May. Be assured, just like the no discount policy RCI, Celebrity and Carnival are just starting if it works all lines will do this. Your figures still come to $10 a day whether there are 4 of you or 50. $10 a day is very cheap and I would imagine most of us will add to that amount instead of being upset by it. This subject is almost a dead issue as it has been hashed over for weeks now on all boards. Everyone who has traveled to Europe, Asai or Bahamas knows a 10 to 15% service charge is always added and is not adjusted. We too have cruised 15 times, with the 16th coming up soon. there is only 1 mass marketed line we haven't hit. Food in general is on the decline. Look at the price of cruising now compared to 20 years ago. Considering inflation the prices have dropped and the cost of everything has increased. Have you priced steak in your super market lately? If we are lucky we can get a fair one on sale for about $5 per lbs, many are $10 and up a lb. The ships must be paying more as well. What about crab legs? On sale this week, previously frozen so you can imagine how wonderful they were not: $8.99 a lb. I think I have made my point. NMNita [/QUOTE]