Dawn Menus -New, Revised, Final

[jaja]

Thanks for posting the pixs of the menus. I wanted to take pictures but I didn't want to get into trouble.

For all the nights that I did eat in the main dinning rooms the food was really good. We ate at the Mexican restaurant as well.

 

you are welcome!!

I went down every day (late afternoon) to take them as posted outside the MDR..! ...Glad to help..

[c breeze]

Really helpful for planning which nights to go to the specialty restaurants. Thanks again!

 

you are welcome!!

I went down every day (late afternoon) to take them as posted outside the MDR..! ...Glad to help..

[luddite]

you are welcome!!

I went down every day (late afternoon) to take them as posted outside the MDR..! ...Glad to help..

 

Above and beyond the call of duty. Many thanks.

[jaja]

Above and beyond the call of duty. Many thanks.

 

At least it kept me out of the casinos for a little bit:D

[BikerAl]

I still wholeheartedly believe that it's not the static nature of the new menus that is the problem; it's the fare. Sure, people have been complaining about the lack of variety since the discussion started, but a great many of those people have also noted particular items that seemed 'missing', like chilled soups. If the items on the menu are appealing, choosing seven meals from 26 (5 static + 3x7 changing) options is plenty of variety (in my opinion).

 

I think that EVERYONE who feels negatively about the idea of this menu being implemented fleet wide - or even staying on the Dawn - should write to NCL. Do they read these boards? Maybe... probably... but the recent bar set up situation seems to indicate that the definitely read the mail/email they receive. :)

 

I couldn't agree more. I have eaten at a very exclusive place, numerous times, with a single menu item, and been very pleased. The menu has never been the same on any visit, so I anticipate going again. Come on NCL, think before you implement these changes. Saving a dollar, and losing repeat customers, is not a wise business practice. And the old adage that a negative review is passed on many more times than a positive one, is fact.

 

Al

[14ersco]

Almost four months after starting these tests not much has changed; NCL just keeps rearranging the deck chairs (menus). What dancintomusic has said about the food in September is just like what we experienced and reviewed in June. Watered down yogurt and guacamole being passed off as cold soups, numerous fish items (2 on static & also many nights as a special), and un-appetizing desserts. Many of the items sound good as written on the menu, but they sure don't look or taste that way. For example the key lime pie was actually a circular large ice cream scoop of green jello like goop. Blue Lagoon cheesecake was the best free desert.

 

The only reason I can think NCL would not take the Dawn's menu back to the menu that is currently on the rest of the fleet is that NCL is saving money in the MDR (are you sure that is a different type of fish every night smothered under the sauces?) and/or they are generating more revenue by driving people to the pay dining areas. We are booked on the Dawn next year for the itinerary; not to face the food again. Appears like it will be a week of steaks since we have tried most of the other entrees and one time was more than enough.

[KandCsailing]

That sums it up.

Its always been 'what do I really want?'

These menus are more like 'what am I willing to settle for?'

That was exactly how I felt in the dining rooms. We'd had the same type of menus on our Carnival cruises where the one side changes every day. I always had a hard time deciding on what to have. We've never felt like it was necessary to eat in the specialty restaurant before, or to add costs to our cruise.

 

This last cruise I ate 3 days off the everyday menu - salmon (overcooked), steak (tough) and tilapia (pretty good, too large for me). 3 days off the daily menu - broiled lobster tail (very overcooked), sea scallops with cheddar cheese grits and tomato (good, but very small) and wild mushroom ravioli (awful, I couldn't eat more than 2 bites and ended up at the buffet). We celebrated our anniversary on the cruise by going to the sushi restaurant (extra $15pp), it was alright, but we've had better around home.

 

Sorry for the honesty - just our opinion of our cruise on NCL Dawn. We did hear that the Italian restaurant ($10pp) and Cagney's steakhouse($25pp) on Dawn were amazing, but they were pay extras.

[KandCsailing]

The menus were used in both restaurants on the same night.

 

I tried the cold blueberry soup in the buffet one night and it wasn't great. Kinda watery and thin.

 

The wings were good in the Blue Lagoon (open 24 hour), although the mild seemed a little hot for me, and I loved that you could get a plate of potato chips.

 

Scrambled eggs for breakfast were best in the Blue Lagoon or the main restaurant; the buffet eggs were watery and runny.

 

The only drinks available for free at the Blue Lagoon or the buffet after breakfast were unsweetened iced tea, milk and water.

At breakfast there was watery orange juice, apple juice and one or two other choices that I don't remember.

[terrymtex01]

I've never seen PE gamble but his lovely better half does, so he'll be around the casino occassionally. Since you and I kinda like it there, I'm sure we'll get a chance to have a drink together. :D

 

Yes.. and I look forward to it. I do have to tell you though, Doug and I have decided on this cruise to try other parts of the cruise experience.. Shows, etc. We have always just been proped up in the casino so we have decided on this cruise to see what everyone is experiencing.. LOL. I am sure we will be in there enough though..

[jaja]

Yes.. and I look forward to it. I do have to tell you though, Doug and I have decided on this cruise to try other parts of the cruise experience.. Shows, etc. We have always just been proped up in the casino so we have decided on this cruise to see what everyone is experiencing.. LOL. I am sure we will be in there enough though..

 

OMG--you sound like me :eek:

[jmcdon7230]

I guess NCL has been listening to your comments (and luddites' and others) since they have now rolled out the 4th and apparently final version of this menu test with much more variety. Before you throw in the towel completely' date=' have you seen that NCL is now offering 6 items on the "fixed menu" for entrees along with the new daily specials - with 3 appetizers, 3 entrees & 2 desserts changing daily?

 

We will try it out on Oct. 4th but in this latest version, looks like about as many choices as the "old" menu. Have you taken a look at the menus jaja kindly posted for us? It's quite different from what you (and luddite) experienced.

[/quote']

 

I agree and can't figure out what the "problem" is with these new menus. You are able to order multiple items and have a choice of nine appetizers and nine entrees every meal. For instance if you and your significant other order multiple appetizers and a favorite extra entree (perhaps a pasta dish) to share between the two of you....where's the problem? I would love to get "bored" with the MDR on our upcoming nine day cruise in December.

[Cruisin250]

I must be missing something. I don't see any great increase/decrease in the available options. Am I understanding correctly? There is the fixed menu available all week (with the salmon,fish, cesear salad) and each day they have a menu of daily specials? If that's correct, is seems lovely, in looking at posted menus, I don't see how you could NOT find something to enjoy. I was a little concerned at first when I saw the daily menu with only "one" dessert option....:eek:

[Planer's Edge]

I must be missing something. I don't see any great increase/decrease in the available options. Am I understanding correctly? There is the fixed menu available all week (with the salmon,fish, cesear salad) and each day they have a menu of daily specials? If that's correct, is seems lovely, in looking at posted menus, I don't see how you could NOT find something to enjoy. I was a little concerned at first when I saw the daily menu with only "one" dessert option....:eek:

 

You are correct. The newest version of the Dawn menus has 6 entrees on the fixed menu with 3 entrees on the daily "special" menu.

 

The only disappointing thing to me is that the fixed menu is the same for both dining rooms.

 

I am looking forward to trying out the new menus in a few weeks.

 

PE

[jaja]

You are correct. The newest version of the Dawn menus has 6 entrees on the fixed menu with 3 entrees on the daily "special" menu.

 

The only disappointing thing to me is that the fixed menu is the same for both dining rooms.

 

I am looking forward to trying out the new menus in a few weeks.

 

PE

 

PE--anxious to hear what you think....

(and to see if they have tweaked it yet again since our 9/6 cruise and menus I posted)

[KandCsailing]

PE--anxious to hear what you think....

(and to see if they have tweaked it yet again since our 9/6 cruise and menus I posted)

Hi JaJa - I remember you saying at the Meet-n-greet that you were going to photograph all the menus. Good job!

 

Just curious - Where did you eat on our cruise?

[jaja]

Hi JaJa - I remember you saying at the Meet-n-greet that you were going to photograph all the menus. Good job!

 

Just curious - Where did you eat on our cruise?

 

Hi--and thanks...:)

 

For dinner...We ate in Venitian mostly...once in Aqua . Did Le Bistro one night and Salsa one night...

Wanted to try Impressions...but ran out of days :D

[amy417]

Soory to be a pest...but did anyone find out when they plan to roll this menu out to all of the ships.

thanks:o

[Baitman19]

Soory to be a pest...but did anyone find out when they plan to roll this menu out to all of the ships.

thanks:o

 

YES,

 

Look for them in late october.

 

Happy Cruising,

Monty

[Planer's Edge]

Soory to be a pest...but did anyone find out when they plan to roll this menu out to all of the ships.

thanks:o

 

YES,

 

Look for them in late october.

 

Happy Cruising,

Monty

 

According to Hugo no timeline has been determined yet. In Hugo's own words:

 

Hello John,

It hasn’t been decided yet, we’re still in the phase of reviewing and analyzing the comments and there still might be changes, we really want to get this right before it’s rolled out fleet wide and we’re getting closer in doing so!

 

PE

[c breeze]

Tell Hugo we think Lobster tail and Filet Mignon as offerings every night would be closer to getting it right! :D ;)

 

 

According to Hugo no timeline has been determined yet. In Hugo's own words:

 

Hello John' date='

It hasn’t been decided yet, we’re still in the phase of reviewing and analyzing the comments and there still might be changes, we really want to get this right before it’s rolled out fleet wide and we’re getting closer in doing so![/font']

 

PE

[MrLee]

Tell Hugo we think Lobster tail and Filet Mignon as offerings every night would be closer to getting it right! :D ;)

 

 

I'll second that! Especially the filet! :D

[amy417]

Tell Hugo we think Lobster tail and Filet Mignon as offerings every night would be closer to getting it right! :D ;)

 

OOOH! AND COLD SOUPS!!! ... Oh yeah and molten chocolate cake...Oh..Oh...and baked potatos...yeah....baked potatos:D

 

BTW thanks again Baitman and you too PE (gee your name sure sounds familiar ;)).

[lambchoplady]

Disclaimers:

1. I am a VERY picky eater. I don't eat red meat or eggs. I do eat a lot of pasta and shellfish.

 

2. I do not have a lot of cruising experience, although I do have a lot of travel experience. I have cruised twice - Bermuda on the Majesty and Alaska on the Pearl.

 

I have enjoyed both cruises on NCL. I do not need to be "pampered" and have no need to get to know my servers, so NCL and Freestyle have great appeal to me. I rarely attend the shows and can honestly say that I never stepped into the casinos. To me, one of the great pleasures of cruising is the dining experience.

 

While the new menus are certainly adequate, and I could always resort to the chicken breast, the "pleasure" of the dining experience will be decreased. I can have chicken breasts and mashed potatoes anywhere!

 

Will I still cruise on NCL? Maybe. But, I am also going to look at other cruise lines and other travel options.

[amy417]

If this flies with NCL, do you see other lines going in that direction. Namely Princess and RCL.

[Flyingfish]

Just off the Dawn. We've no complaints regarding food. However, the menu gets "tired" real fast. We looked forward every night for the Chiefs Special of the day. If that wasn't quite what we wanted, it was "back to the left side for the regulars." Dawn food is good, but there is nothing like a new menu every night!