Grand Pacific

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Grand Pacific Review: Pan-Asian Ambition, Mixed Execution

Introduction. Grand Pacific is NCL's Pan-Asian specialty restaurant found on select ships, offering a broad menu that spans sushi, stir-fry, and Asian-inspired entrees. It carries a specialty dining surcharge ($29-39 or a dining credit). It attempts to cover a wide swath of Asian cuisine, which is both its appeal and its challenge.

Food & Drinks

The sushi is the highlight — the Spicy Tuna Roll is well-made with quality fish and proper rice, and the Salmon Nigiri is fresh and cleanly cut. The Edamame starter is simple but perfectly salted. The Miso Soup is authentic and warming. For mains, the Teriyaki Salmon is reliably good: a thick fillet with a well-balanced glaze and crisp skin. The Chicken Katsu Curry is comfort food done well — crunchy cutlet, smooth curry sauce. Where it falls short: the stir-fry dishes lack wok hei (that smoky, charred flavor from a screaming-hot wok) — they taste steamed rather than stir-fried. The Tempura can be greasy, with batter that's too thick. Trying to be everything — sushi bar, Chinese, Japanese, Thai — means nothing reaches its full potential. The dessert menu is an afterthought.

Service

Service is attentive and the waitstaff know the menu well. Sushi is prepared to order, which means a slight wait but guarantees freshness. The kitchen accommodates spice and dietary requests readily. A full dinner runs 75-90 minutes. The sake and Japanese beer pairing options are a nice touch that the servers will recommend if asked.

Atmosphere

The dining room features clean Asian-modern design — bamboo elements, warm lighting, minimal clutter. It feels polished without being over-designed. The sushi bar seating (where available) is the best spot — you can watch the chefs work. Music is soft and ambient. The space seats 60-80 and doesn't feel cramped.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.7/5. Grand Pacific is a solid choice for sushi and straightforward Asian mains — the Spicy Tuna Roll and Teriyaki Salmon are specialty-dining quality. The breadth-over-depth approach means some dishes (stir-fries, tempura) don't reach the bar set by the sushi. Tip: Sit at the sushi bar if available and focus your order on the sushi and Japanese dishes — that's where the kitchen is strongest. Skip the stir-fry.

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