Specialty Dining on Sky Princess: Worth Every Penny or Tourist Trap?

I'll be honest—I was skeptical. When my travel agent mentioned that Princess Cruises' newer ships like Sky Princess offered multiple specialty dining venues with per-person charges, I thought it sounded like a cash grab. I'd cruised before on older ships where the main dining room was the main event, and I'd done just fine. But this time, my friend Maria insisted we splurge on at least one specialty restaurant experience. "Trust me," she said with that knowing smile. I didn't trust her immediately, but I trusted my stomach's curiosity. Our seven-day cruise from Los Angeles was shaping up to be the ultimate test. I decided I'd document everything—the food, the atmosphere, the service, the value—and compare it all to what the main dining room offered. Call it a culinary investigation with ocean views. I'd eat my way through the included Premiere Dining Room, plus hit up at least three specialty venues. My cardiologist would probably hate me by the end, but my taste buds would have some serious opinions. The first night, we headed to the Premiere Dining Room during early seating. Walking in was like stepping back into what I imagine a cruise ship dining room has looked like for the p…