Carnival MDR food quality going down?

I think those complaining about MRD and Lido quality going down are mis-framing their memories or mimicking the words of others. Many tend to be longer time cruisers remembering the more "white starch" service of days yore. And not as attentive service often leads to poor dining experiences and cold food, so that puts off a lot of people. Anytime Dining just makes that worse.

Others pick up on the poor food vibe and then when they have a dish that's not 5 star, they think, hey so&so was right the food is terrible. Yet they gorge themselves anyway.

Different strokes for different folks too. In some places the "best" in town is the local chain restaurant. In other places, "foodies" wouldn't be caught dead in the same chain if they were starving to death.

Up charges are a trend that will continue. And the upcharge venues do provide a sense of that older dining experience. But conspiracy? Purposely lowering the quality to entice you to the upcharge places? I don't think so.

I completely agree MDR food is on decline. The exceptions are the upcharges: $20.00 steak house options.

On the regular menu-- the jerk pork loin was wonderful. I don't recall seeing beef wellington as an option.

Even the desserts were... meh

I'm not "misremembering" some glory day of old. The food is worse.

Desserts have been "meh" to me ever since Ive been cruising almost 10 years now. I cannot stand the famed Warm melting chocolate cake and everything else just seemed "fake" meaning the cheesecake isnt really cheesecake. Its some kind of gelatin crap just like on Royal Caribbean.

Desserts have been "meh" to me ever since Ive been cruising almost 10 years now. I cannot stand the famed Warm melting chocolate cake and everything else just seemed "fake" meaning the cheesecake isnt really cheesecake. Its some kind of gelatin crap just like on Royal Caribbean.

Yea, that is so weird to me. Cheesecake is and odd choice of words...

I started cruising with Carnival in 1999. I fully agree that the food quality has gone downhill. It used to be gourmet now it is mass produced cafeteria quality. I notice it especially with the cuts of meat. I think most people would agree with me that there is a huge difference currently between the pay food and the free food. When I started cruising, all the food was included and there were no pay options and all of the food was at the quality level of the current pay food. That is not to say that I think all the free food is crap. There is a lot of free food I like, especially Guy's. I think those like me that have been cruising for a long time can definitely notice the decline.

It's a shame everyone can't do the behind-the-scenes tour. Maybe then people would have a different perspective, on what it takes to feed thousands of people all day long. Everything on the ship is made from scratch. The problem is it's made in massive quantities in huge kettles and ovens. I think they do the best they can,with what they have to work with and how they have to do it. If every single thing on the ship was cooked to order. People would complain about the food took too long to get to them.

Personally, out of all the different eating options on that ship. There has to be something that can sustain you for a few days.🍕🥞🌯🍔🍗🍎🍉🍢🍸I find most of it pretty good value for the buck. But I also cruise Carnival and shop at Walmart. 😨😨

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We've been cruising on Carnival since 2010 and I really can't say that I've noticed a large change in the quality or quantity of the food in the MDR. Yes, there have been a few instances where a meal has been less than wonderful, but that can happen most anywhere. And yes, the menu itself has undergone some changes, some not exactly welcome, but that can happen anywhere as well.

As far as Carnival intentionally trying to make passengers move towards "for fee" venues....no, I don't think so. I'm betting though, that as long as there are those who will pay for the various "upcharge" restaurants, that Carnival and other lines as well will be more than happy to accommodate them.

We've been cruising for 30+ years, and have cruised with Celebrity, NCL, RCCL, Cunard. I would agree, the quality of the food and service today bear no resemblance to how the MDR quality and service was when we first started cruising. In fact, I remember when the sides were actually served at the table, and the food didn't come out already plated. That was then; now everything is different. Also, the waitstaff wasn't serving the crowds they serve today.

We don't mind the food today. If the MDR menu doesn't appeal to us, we can always find something to eat. I can actually say, we've never had problems with the service on any of our cruises. A server might have been a little slow, but other than that, no other problems. We don't cruise for the food, we're more interested on getting a great price for our cruise, and we've gotten great prices lately.

I think for us, we're pretty easy going about what's served in the MDR. I'm not crazy about eating out when we're at home, because what we enjoy at home, can't be duplicated at a restaurant or on a cruise ship.

If, on the other hand, the cruise lines continue to build newer ships, with 15-20 dining venues and charging for all meals, my cruising days will be over. I hope it doesn't come to that.

It used to be gourmet .

I haven't been cruising 20 years but I highly doubt that. I wonder if people who make this type of remark truly knows what goes into preparing "gourmet meals". There is simply no possible way to serve gourmet food when cooking for thousands of people at a time. I wont doubt that the meat quality has gone downhill. Ive seen that on two lines in just 9 years but no way will I ever believe that a mass market cruise line has ever served what I would consider gourmet meals. Its massed produced banquet type food at best in my honest opinion.

Gourmet is what you would find on the small boutique lines that cost upwards of 5K per person and only have about 800 guests onboard. Crystal, Regents, etc.

I think Carnival is one of the few lines left which have mostly "included in your fare" food venues. There is only the one steakhouse/fine dining type restaurant, and some ships have Cucina, or JiJi etc, but mostly Carnival's food is included in your fare. I have looked at a lot of other mainstream lines recently, Celebrity, Norwegian, and RCI, and they all have a lot more "pay extra" places, as well as the included in the fare restaurants.

What Carnival's plan is for the future, in this regard, well, I really have no idea. And as of my last cruise, last September, there were some areas where I saw some decline, but food was not one. I thought the food was very good and I did not visit any pay extra places on board. JMHO though.

We loved the dinner in the MDR. Maybe one or two items wasn't mind blowing but we ate. We love food. We ate in the MDR every night. And on sea days :)

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My view is that the food has remained consistently good (and we've cruised for over 10 years) but I do think that MDR service has declined as the waitstaff gets stretched too thin these days.

The food doesn't bother me. Its actually quite the opposite. I'm fairly content with the mdr food and food options in general. I am just wondering if Carnival is positioning itself to eventually charge for all food on the ship. Eventually. Now that would bother me and cause me to change to a different cruise line.

I am also content with the food quality in the mdr and elsewhere on the ships. I don't see Carnival positioning itself to charge for it's restaurants though. Other than the steakhouses, many of the ships don't have any other for-fee establishments and even Vista has, what, four?

I think you may see that happen sooner on the others, like Royal or NCL. I thought I read some of their newer ships had 14 for-fee dining places.

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I am posting from the RCCL Freedom of the Seas on day 7 of a 14-day transatlantic cruise. I have been on 88 Carnival cruises and am on # 32 with RCI So I think I have enough experience to comment on the food. Both lines have gone up and down on food quality and presentation. I believe the current upper management at Carnival (see new president Christine) is fixated on profits and the product suffers. RCCL is now offering a superior product, a few years ago this was not the case. They often cost more and in the past, it was often not warranted. Now it is.

as an accomplished home chef, the majority of food i make is better than most restaurants.

i go on vacation to, guess what, not cook for 10 days +.

if you think you're getting "quality" food in many restaurants, you're kidding yourselves.

while the food may be very fresh in restaurants, the quality can be less than what you'd buy/cook at home.

having been on the behind the fun tour on ships past, CCL carries quality products and ingredients. part of the tour is in the walk-in cooler and kitchens.

in life, nothing is free. you get what you pay for. if you're paying nothing, then you're the product.

if anyone is expecting gourmet, high end dining experiences on CCL, you're going to have to pay for that. we're quite okay with that model.

as for comparing cruising today to 30 years ago, yup, indeed there's lots of changes. just like cars of 30 years ago, the memories were fond but today's cars (ships for cruising) offer MUCH more value for the dollar and better experiences.

i have cruised since 1982 and while there have been many changes, the overwhelming changes are and have been for the better. and the menus are more diverse today than ever. and so are people's tastes and preferences.

I like Carnival product.

I am posting from the RCCL Freedom of the Seas on day 7 of a 14-day transatlantic cruise. I have been on 88 Carnival cruises and am on # 32 with RCI So I think I have enough experience to comment on the food. Both lines have gone up and down on food quality and presentation. I believe the current upper management at Carnival (see new president Christine) is fixated on profits and the product suffers. RCCL is now offering a superior product, a few years ago this was not the case. They often cost more and in the past, it was often not warranted. Now it is.

I appreciate your opinion, thanks.

I have a theory I want to pose to everyone and see what yall think. From what I have heard on reviews on here and from what I have seen in the past several years, the food quality in the MDR is on the decline. It seems variety selection and quality are declining. Is that a fair statement? If it is true, why do you think?

 

My theory is that cruise lines, Carnival specifically (maybe others) are trying to get passengers to switch to the pay for restaurants by lessoning the quality and variety in the main dining room. I think they are doing this gradually to eventually make the change to a pay for all of your food cruise system. I think if they just starting charging for all food on the cruise, they would see big declines in ridership so they have decided to get customers to slowly pay for better food, comparable to what you used to get in the mdr.

 

What do yall think?

As to your question to whether they are trying to get passengers into the pay restaurants, that I don't know. What is fact and cannot be denied is that over the last 5 years the food and service has declined do to cutbacks. That is a fact. Unfortunately you will have the Carnival cheerleaders calling you names and defending what they know is an outright lie. These same people are the type that would preach against a certain group of people yet become a complete hypocrite and take a paycheck for 400,000.

If you believe everything you read here on CC, then I have a bridge for sale in NY for you; slightly used and over 100 years old.

 

If people don't like cruising, they can always take another land-based vacation, trapped in some low quality resort with overpriced and crappy food, rooms that were new 20+ years ago, facilities that are in decline and booze that's even more expensive than a ship's.

 

IMO, the majority of complaints here on CC, are because people were "offended" the way they were treated, have unreasonable expectations for a cruise, take short cruises and project their opinions from that limited experience, and expect to be treated like royalty when staying in an inside cabin on Deck 1.

 

No offense to anyone who cruises on Deck 1, inside cabins, as we all buy the vacations we want to spend money on and spend how we want to.

 

Reality is, the majority of complaints are just that, complaints. Go work in the service industry and you'll realize that you can never make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time.

 

There's a reason CCL is the largest cruise line. It's not because they deliver a deficient or substandard product.

 

There's always the buffet of you don't like MDR. Even room service too. Heck, you can just eat pizza for a week if that floats your boat.

I concur!!!!!!!!

As to your question to whether they are trying to get passengers into the pay restaurants, that I don't know. What is fact and cannot be denied is that over the last 5 years the food and service has declined do to cutbacks. That is a fact. Unfortunately you will have the Carnival cheerleaders calling you names and defending what they know is an outright lie. These same people are the type that would preach against a certain group of people yet become a complete hypocrite and take a paycheck for 400,000.

Actually your "fact" is your opinion. My last 2 cruises on Carnival have been some of our best in terms of food and service in the MDR of our Carnival Cruises. I'm not going to call anyone names for having their opinion but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them and it doesn't mean I am a Carnival Cheerleader or a hypocrite. I personally have found the buffet food on Carnival going down hill but not the MDR. On NCL I have found the opposite where their MDR food has gone downhill and their buffet food better....actually not so much in quality but more so in the variety of foods that appeal to us. But again this is all subjective so that is my opinion and I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my opinion nor would I insist that my opinion is a "fact".

I talked to 7 ladies last night that have been on 30+ cruises. I'm a waiter at a fine dining steakhouse at a casino here in Colorado. Been there 15 years. I've known these ladies for years. Told them I was going on a Carnival cruise in July. They all said I will love it and the food is awesome. They have been on almost every cruiseline. Another couple said if I'm taking kids that Carnival is the best, hands down.

I really believe if you always go with a new nice ship it will be better than an older one.

New ships and new casinos always have that "Wow factor".

Actually your "fact" is your opinion. My last 2 cruises on Carnival have been some of our best in terms of food and service in the MDR of our Carnival Cruises. I'm not going to call anyone names for having their opinion but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them and it doesn't mean I am a Carnival Cheerleader or a hypocrite. I personally have found the buffet food on Carnival going down hill but not the MDR. On NCL I have found the opposite where their MDR food has gone downhill and their buffet food better....actually not so much in quality but more so in the variety of foods that appeal to us. But again this is all subjective so that is my opinion and I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my opinion nor would I insist that my opinion is a "fact".

Well said. No cheerleader here. I've got two Carnival cruises over 9 years separated by several RC cruises. Food seems the same to me just different menu and more included options. I liked the food better on Carnival Magic than the last time on Feedom of the Seas only two years ago. Royal is far from the "quality product" it once was and the same dang complaints go on over there too. Lol.

I am posting from the RCCL Freedom of the Seas on day 7 of a 14-day transatlantic cruise. I have been on 88 Carnival cruises and am on # 32 with RCI So I think I have enough experience to comment on the food. Both lines have gone up and down on food quality and presentation. I believe the current upper management at Carnival (see new president Christine) is fixated on profits and the product suffers. RCCL is now offering a superior product, a few years ago this was not the case. They often cost more and in the past, it was often not warranted. Now it is.

And I totally disagree. See how subjective it is? I was just on FOS two years ago and my experience then in all areas was nowhere near the wonderful experience it was on the same ship 3 years prior. It's a beautiful ship but that's where it ends for me. I think Carnival, at least Magic anyway, provides a much better dining experience except the buffet (I love the Windjammer). and the steakhouse blows Chops out of the water. Pun intended. I just really have a hard time believing RC has stepped it up that much in 2 years when I see the same complaints over there and on other social media outlets. Royal has shoe leather steak and mystery chicken in the MDR too lol.

I don't have to shop for it, cook it or clean up after it. Fair trade off for smaller shrimp. (I order 2 now) I cruise for the relaxation and never ending views of the ocean. The food is secondary but I will agree that it has gone downhill.

My theory is that the food has probably remained relatively consistent but in the age of Food Network, Master Chef, etc..., we are all becoming more discerning foodies than in previous years... :)