I’ve sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line nine times so far, but until my most recent two voyages, I had never set foot in one of their specialty restaurants. Despite the allure of these extra-cost venues, I always found Norwegian’s complimentary dining options more than satisfying.
However, on my recent cruises aboard Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Jade, I finally took the plunge and dined at three of Norwegian’s classic specialty restaurants. My mission was to find out if they were worth the extra charge. After all, Norwegian Cruise Line’s complimentary food has consistently been some of my favorite among all my cruise experiences.
The variety and quality of the included dining venues have always left me feeling like I wasn’t missing out on anything by avoiding the specialty options. But on these last two cruises, curiosity got the better of me. Would my opinion change after trying three of Norwegian's specialty restaurants?
Why I avoided specialty dining for so long
Before diving into my experience, it’s important to note why I didn’t try specialty dining for so many cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line has a solid reputation for offering fantastic included dining options.
The complimentary dining rooms and buffet venues like O’Sheehan’s, The Local, Taste, and more often serve up a great variety of dishes that cater to all tastes. Plus, the Freestyle Dining concept allows for a casual, no-schedule dining experience that suits the relaxed vibe of cruising with Norwegian.
For me, the ease and variety of complimentary dining were enough to keep me satisfied during my cruise experiences with Norwegian. There were always plenty of choices, from diverse international cuisines to familiar comfort foods.
And since I always felt that Norwegian delivered on taste and quality, I never felt overly compelled to spend extra for meals onboard.
However, Norwegian often markets its specialty restaurants as must-try experiences for its brand. With mouth-watering descriptions and promises of elevated dining, it was only a matter of time before I started to wonder if I’d been missing out.
When I finally gave in, I focused on three popular specialty restaurants found on many of Norwegian’s ships: Moderno Churrascaria, La Cucina, and Cagney’s Steakhouse.
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Moderno Churrascaria
The first specialty restaurant I tried was Moderno Churrascaria onboard Norwegian Jewel during my Alaskan voyage. Moderno is a Brazilian steakhouse featured on many Norwegian ships, and its concept intrigued me from the start.
Right away, the experience felt special. Upon being seated, we were given instructions on how the Brazilian steakhouse works. It starts with an extensive buffet-style salad bar—though it’s far more than just salads.
Picture an array of soups, sushi, smoked salmon, cheeses, charcuterie, and more. As a smoked salmon lover, I was in heaven! The sheer variety at the salad bar made it hard to save room for the main course, but I knew the star of the show was yet to come. We were warned by our waiter to not overly fill our bellies at the salad bar!
Once you’ve made your selections from the salad bar, the real fun begins. Guests are handed a two-sided card: green on one side, and red on the other. If you want more meat brought to your table, flip it to green. When you're full or ready for dessert, turn it to red.
It's a simple system, but it adds a playful element to the dining experience, especially as servers appear with skewers of perfectly cooked meats one by one to your table.
The all-you-can-eat format offers excellent value at $59 per person, plus a 20% service charge. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making for a relaxed yet exciting dining experience.
I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Moderno Churrascaria twice now—once on the Norwegian Jewel and again aboard Norwegian Jade. Both times, the experience was fantastic. I thought this restaurant was so unique and offered a great experience in addition to the tasty food.
The meats, carved tableside, included lamb, filet mignon, pork loin, flank steak, top sirloin, pork belly, sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken breast, and even grilled pineapple. Every cut was tender and flavorful. The grilled pineapple was a surprise favorite of mine—sweet, caramelized, and a perfect palate cleanser between the rich meats. The quality and value for money were exceptional, and I’d go as far as to say it’s one of my favorite dining experiences across all my cruises so far!
What makes Moderno particularly impressive is that it’s an all-you-can-eat experience. You can indulge in as many rounds of your favorite meats as you like, which is a great deal for the price. If there is a particular cut of meat that you enjoy the most and want more of, just ask your server.
I would highly recommend Moderno Churrascaria to anyone cruising with Norwegian, especially if you’re looking for a unique and interactive meal that you won’t find in the complimentary dining venues onboard.
La Cucina
The next specialty restaurant I tried was La Cucina onboard Norwegian Jewel. Italian cuisine is a favorite of mine, so I was eager to see how this would compare to Moderno Churrascaria.
La Cucina is à la carte, meaning you pay per dish. The venue's atmosphere was casual and relaxed, which was nice, but the food unfortunately left something to be desired. Despite my high hopes, the meal didn’t quite live up to the hype, or the cost.
For a meal that cost over $100, I expected something far above what’s offered at Norwegian’s complimentary dining venues. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for our experience onboard the Norwegian Jewel.
The dishes were good, but not exceptional.
The pasta was cooked well, and the flavors were pleasant, but there was nothing that made the meal feel special or memorable. The homemade tiramisu, which had been heavily advertised, was fine, but not the showstopper I had hoped for.
In fact, we found the complimentary dining options onboard the Norwegian Jewel just as satisfying, if not better in some cases. While La Cucina served up decent Italian fare, we didn’t feel it was worth the premium price tag that came with it.
For those considering an extra-cost specialty dining restaurant, I’d suggest exploring other options before committing to La Cucina. If you’re a die-hard fan of Italian cuisine or really craving Italian fare, you might enjoy it, but in my opinion, Norwegian’s complimentary options can more than hold their own against this particular specialty venue.
Cagney’s Steakhouse
The third and final specialty dining experience was at Cagney’s Steakhouse, which I tried onboard the Norwegian Jade. Cagney’s Steakhouse is another signature restaurant in Norwegian’s lineup.
From the moment we entered, Cagney’s Steakhouse felt more upscale and elegant than the other venues onboard. The atmosphere was polished yet comfortable, and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive.
The dark wood accents, leather seating, and dim lighting gave the restaurant a classic steakhouse vibe, making it the perfect venue for a special occasion or romantic evening onboard.
The menu is also à la carte, and while it’s not cheap, the food was well worth the price in our opinion. I opted for the filet mignon cooked medium rare, which was cooked to perfection. The steak was juicy and tender, with just the right amount of seasoning.
The sides and appetizers I chose, like the Parmesan-dusted truffle fries and sautéed mushrooms, were equally impressive. My dining companion, Allie, opted for the filet mignon cooked medium well, and she was just as pleased with her meal as well. I appreciated how much the wait staff seemed to genuinely care about our dining experience.
But what really stood out to me was the dessert—specifically, the “OMG” cheesecake. This dessert truly lived up to its name! Creamy, rich, and decadent, it was the perfect way to end the meal. If you’re a fan of cheesecake, don’t skip this one. I personally thought this was the best dessert I had onboard the Norwegian Jade during our sailing.
Overall, Cagney’s Steakhouse provided a top-notch dining experience, ideal for celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a premium meal. If you’re a steak lover, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit during your Norwegian cruise.
Is specialty dining worth the extra cost?
So, after trying these three specialty restaurants, was it worth paying the extra charge? My answer: it depends.
I loved my experiences at Moderno Churrascaria and Cagney’s Steakhouse. Both offered something unique and elevated, making them stand out from Norwegian’s already impressive complimentary dining options.
The quality of the food, the service, and the overall atmosphere justified the extra cost in both cases. Moderno, with its all-you-can-eat format and variety of meats, felt like an especially good value for the price.
However, I was a bit disappointed with La Cucina. While the food was enjoyable, it didn’t feel much different from the complimentary options. For the price, I expected more of a "wow" factor. If I had to do it over again, I would have skipped La Cucina and opted for another specialty venue onboard instead.
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Final thoughts
If I were to sail with Norwegian Cruise Line again, I would consider dining at another specialty restaurant. With many of Norwegian’s ships boasting six or seven specialty dining venues onboard, there’s plenty left to explore.
Based on my recent experiences, I’d recommend trying at least one specialty restaurant during your cruise, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion or looking to sample some of the best food that Norwegian has to offer!
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Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
