Doug & Cindy Scrap Hunter

We're eyeballing our options for next year, and it's down to MSC and NCL if we want to try anything new. We still love the Lido food options on Carnival like Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana, the comedy clubs and the Alchemy Bar, but overall we liked our first cruise on Oasis of the Seas far better. So much to do, better service, nicer ship, and lots of eats as well. Some people complained about the dinner options, but we never went hungry.

Any letdowns or surprises with MSC, or with our taste would we be better off trying NCL first?

Not according to my research but whatever. Have you booked it or are you just a theoretical cruiser?

Maybe things are different down there but here's what I've got on the American site. This is from the cruise line we don't use travel agents. We didn't book just eyeballing, because we're doing Harmony of the Seas this year.

TFLG I hear your points. Maybe down the road when we want something more chillaxed we'll give it a try.

I missed the point of the OP not prepared to pay more than $500 ( $675NZ). Hope he/she enjoys travelling by kayak in their local lake. That said if someone can tell me where I can get a cruise for under $NZ100 per day which is all inclusive (meals, accommodation and entertainment) then please let me know because I will book it

$500 as a basic cruise fare, yes we try to get the max out of our vacations without breaking the bank. I wouldn't ask about Celebrity if I didn't look into this before. It's not the nouveau riche cruise line some of you people seem to think it is. That's Crystal.

We are beach bums and the sand and ships are just as nice when it's cheap as when it is expensive. Look at the Summit cruise ship at the end of October and it's well below $500.

If anyone is thinking that the OP's concerns about food on X have any basis as factual, may I point out a few things:

 

1. The OP has NEVER sailed on Celebrity.

 

2. The OP has posted on many other boards questioning the food and kinda insulting those cruise lines, particularly the costs (Princess, Crystal, and others). Never sailed on any of those, either. That is my definition of trolling.

 

3. She/he has stated that they will not pay more than $500 a week for a cruise - and there is NOTHING wrong with that. But it does limit their choices.

 

4. Has admitted that his/her demands for dining are cuisines that can be easily obtained at home and some people consider those choices pedestrian, or fast food. And there's NOTHING wrong with that. But it does mean that they are unlikely to enjoy a cruise on celebrity (or several other cruise lines. )

 

5. OP is absolutely entitled to their opinion. But I've always believed that the product actually has to be sampled before developing a valid, factual opinion.

 

And I wish the OP understood that trolling is annoying and frowned upon on this and Every internet forum.

Wow!

We tried Oasis of the Seas last year and were impressed with RCCL over Carnival. Not everything but overall. Lots of peeps complaining about changes in the food but we never went hungry. We missed the comedy club - The Alchemy Bar - The Lido Deck food options. Royal Caribbean won at everything else.

So I'm not allow to check details on the other cruise lines and follow recommendations I heard on board? I get it, we're low class which is annoying and frowned upon. MSC has caught my interest I'll see if they can be more civil.

 

The Constellation after it came out of dry dock last year changed the free burgers on the pool deck to pay as go Gourmet burgers with the old style free burgers available in the Buffet. The plan was a complete flop and within a couple of months free burgers were back on the pool deck.

There is a large variety of different foods available both free and chargeable. Some passengers will only go where there is a charge whilst others only go where its free. There are also many different varieties of food on offer with most nights especially in the buffet have themed dinners whilst the standard fare is always available.

What does impress me is that the cruise line seems to cater very well for those with some form of eating disorder, Gluten , free, Lactose intolerant Coelic disease to name a few. Whilst some effort must be nade to ensure that these needs are catered for reports are that once resolved a great cruise food wise is had by those involved. Cruise ships and Celebrity is no exception cater for the very rich to those who have saved for years for their one off experience and all those in between. All in my opinion are well catered for just as are those in the MDR who are happy on a table of eight to those wanting a table for two. IN nearly all cases an individual's wants and needs are met on most occasions. Sometimes the greater majority just has to prevail or those who have paid more get the icing first.

 

Ok this make sense to me now where you see it from the cruise line's point of view. At least they tried and they have to take into account the majority of passengers on board and what's working. We're feeling loyal to Royal right now so at least we're in the same company.

 

Nope, wrong. I’m a vegetarian, and I’m part of an ever expanding group. I’ve never had a “burger” on ship, unless it was vegetarian. They used to be pretty good, now only fair. However, Celebrity has other offerings I quite enjoy and they are always happy to accommodate my dietary needs.

 

I don’t frequent fast foods outlets on land or sea, and thus do not miss them. But that’s me; you do you!

 

It does seem that Celebrity is not the line for you.

Celebrity will have to make some big changes before I consider booking a cruise. Lots of folks here proud of their diets of snails and curry frog legs. I bet they don't even like that stuff but it makes them smug over us common folks. I'm at least being open and honest and couldn't care less what anyone thinks.

Rather than judging me you could be on my side. A high end outlet would offer vegetarian burgers too. I actually eat black bean burgers once in awhile if I'm feeling bloated, so why isn't this an option? :confused:

Yes and I have used it often. Its a shame that we have to. The hosts really do a very good job of trying to keep it civil.

 

I have even been encouraged to change user names from time to time as there are people who are stalkers and worse.

All this over criticizing the food? Some of these folks need to get off their high horse and realize that not everything is perfect. You're probably more of a foodie than I am, but if we don't tow the line then they want you off the forum. "Nothing to see here, move along." :confused:

People most of you are being helpful on this thread and I appreciate that, but I've had to flag a couple comments myself. Nancyshaw doesn't deserve harassment just for trying a new cruise line out. :rolleyes:

I would hate to go on a cruise and find a generic Fast Food restaurant / coffee shop chain on the ship.... that's probably what makes Celebrity different from other cruise companies

That's what I felt yesterday, but this is just getting ridiculous. Not you but Celebrity.

I bet everyone here has snuck and had a burger at least once per cruise. Am I right? That picture above tells me we're not alone. So if this is suppose to an upscale cruise line then they should have upscale burgers. I've been in plenty of steak houses and never had this problem. The burgers are always gourmet style.

If you folks are going to pay all this extra money and don't want Fast Food options, I get it. But can they at least throw you a bone with something like a Fuddruckers? They got elk and bison for some of you more exotic folks. Celebrity needs to step up to the plate here!

This is my section right here, but where's the chicken tenders and union rings? :D

Are those hockey pucks?!? I thought only RCI had ice skating. :eek::');p:p

I liked the Ice Skating show on RCCL the entertainment was better than Carnival. :cool:

The only thing missing from that lunch buffet are chicken tenders with Ranch or Gravy.

This doesn't look half bad actually. At least for lunch. :hearteyes:

If you're strict "meat & potatoes" Applebee's will be fine. If, however, you're more adventuresome (or a foodie like us)there is far better food to be had.

We like Applebees, I won't lie. We've been eating healthier at home with beans soups and salads, and lots of PB&J sandwiches with honey. We just like tasty food when we go out and enjoy ourselves to the fullest. I'm not against trying some new dishes as long as it's not weird, but we like our comfort food options too.

Not everyone was happy with the food on Oasis and we got recommended Celebrity and Norwegian. I got the freestyle recommendation mixed up it looks like, because it looks like Norwegian has both junk food and finer dining.

one of the things I liked about the dining on celebrity was trying different things

I tried duck terrine, crispy frog leg, seared branzino (fish), almond crusted hake (fish) - all things I've never eaten before

This must be why nancyshaw liked having special meals made in the buffet. I don't eat frog legs and squid and exotic stuff like this. You folks have convinced me that the MDR on Celebrity is positively inedible IMHO.

I've never had a scallop and curry smells gross, so maybe this food is just too fancy for us. I'm more of a meat and potatoes person with too many years of greasy spoon diners under my belt as a former truck driver. Tell me that there's a Waffle House on board and we'd be talking. I'm sure I wouldn't go hungry like TFLG said, but we're just eyeballing what else is out there. That Nancy gal had a lot to say but most of you don't agree.

I talk to folks on Oasis about Celebrity and Norwegian and might have got some of the recommendations mixed up.

In this case, the OP has sailed on Carnival several times and RCCL once. They enjoy eating at a chain hamburger joint and a hot dog "food truck on a ship". They admit that:

So what? I'm on a vacation to enjoy it to it's fullest and I can eat healthy when I get home. If this "food truck on a ship" were inedible then no one on the ship would be eating there also. I've looked into Celebrity and it doesn't look like there's much food we like there except maybe that lawn grill. Some well travel cruisers are saying the same unless you book a suite. Even George C above, it's not just one person.

What’s changed?

 

Professional entertainers replaced with Hasbro junk.

Live bands replaced with recordings

Elaborated productions replaced with playlist

No more rum swizzle Party

No more cocktail party

No more repeater party

No water color print

Less quality food in mdr- filet mignon replaced with ???

No more assigned server for all three meals

No more free galley tour

No more free stuff from kids club ( like helium balloons and t shirts)

No more free espresso in mdr

Butter imported from France replaced with butter flavored product

Free fresh orange juice

Bringing aboard beverages ( including alcohol) was allowed.

Andes mints left on pillow.

<Guy's Burgers. I got my criticisms too but some additional things have been added to offset these cutbacks.

Yet no noro outbreaks, Royal can't say the same.

When you start eyeballing all of Royal's options that's not a fair comparison. Nobody is going to spread noro on a short cruise enough to be reported. There are only 18 Carnival cruises that are 12 days or longer, compared to RCCL's 125. With the slacking on sanitizer and inspection results, I bet you'd be surprised at the results if CCL ran head to head with RCCL on # of longer cruises.

We just got off the Solstice and other than a couple of mediocre entrees the food was pretty darn good. If you are expecting a 5 star foo foo gastronomic experience you might be disappointed, but if you just expect a good meal I think you'll be fine. Lets face it, when feeding 1000 people you can't expect every meal served to be of stellar quality. If you've sailed a few times you know you are going to get some great meals and some that slightly miss the mark. You know that many of the appetizers are minuscule (order 2 or 3). Many of the apps are TINY and some of the menu descriptions are misleading which leads to unhappy campers. So it pas to ask the server if you should order more than one. Any scallop app will be comically small etc. You know that sometimes your meat will be under cooked or more often over cooked. But to say the food is inedible is just silly.

 

So here's what I remember from the MDR,

Prime rib (twice) was very good

Flank Steak, very good

rack of Lamb, good but slighty under done (I ordered med-rare, it was rare)

Sea bass, very good

Lobster, very good

Duck, this one was a disaster

I don't remember the other entree I had but is was fine because it it wasn't I would remember it.

It doesn't sound bad how you describe it. One of the gals on this forum had to order some of the dining room entre's in the buffet because she thought it tasted better with them preparing it. Even on land I don't eat at places this fancy, so the normal buffet food is fine with me. :)

"Straw Gate."

It sounds like a cutback to me. Supposedly we're all still 3 year olds if we still use straws.

Now they are cutting straws because John Heald says that we're grownups and they're are only for 3 year olds.

This seems like a joke post. The food in the MDR on the Allure was extremely disappointing and often cold.

 

Celebrity MDR/buffet food is on a whole other level from RCCL, NCL and Carnival.

Lukewarm more than cold, but still edible. These lines at least have Johnny Rockets and Guy's Burgers, and OSheehan's Irish Pub. How does Celebrity stack up when it comes to lunch?

I wonder if one could order up a table cloth for OVC in advance and early on in the sailing to start a trend??

 

I will do this on my next sailing in August to see how it goes...

 

bon voyage

Maybe some don't like the atmosphere in the MDR and could have a section of the buffet converted off for alternative MDR seating, and you grab your own drinks and deserts.

There are a comments out there saying that Celebrity's MDR food is turning inedible, and I've heard good and bad from peeps on board Oasis. Is this from cutbacks or are people not liking changes to the menu? We didn't love all the dining on RCCL either which owns Celebrity, but the Windjammer was great and we like having Johnny Rockets and the Dog House onboard for lunch. I hear folks talking up Celebrity like it's hot tickets but there plenty leaving for Viking Ocean and Oceania and Princess for better dining.

On the Eclipse, in the OVC, there was a wonderful Maitre d' who made it very clear, if you would like something , to tell him the night before and he would try and make it. That applied to fresh salmon, sea bass, trout. If you didnt see it, just to let him know the night before.

 

Really the food was amazing. I cant stress it enough.

 

A while back someone also posted wonderful pictures of all the Lunch time specialties. Lunch was definitely an extravaganza most days. So much choice. One of my favorites was all the grilled vegetable skewers, just so delicious. The only down side is the weight gain.

Some of us folks who've never been on Celebrity need to hear the other side of the story or we may book without knowing some of these criticisms. If you weren't onto something there wouldn't be so much defensiveness. We're turning more loyal to Royal but keep hearing how the food is better on Celebrity. I'll keep the Windjammer and Johnny Rockets, thank you very much. At least Celebrity's buffet is done right.

We're not foodies and go to the buffet anyways, but still not good news to hear.