Does anyone NOT eat in the dining room? Celebrity vs RCCL

[cruise kitty]

I could have sworn that there was an evening buffet on the Constellation in 2005, 2006, and 2007 or my memory just isn't what it used to be. There was the casual dining venue then as well, which I am not confusing with the buffet.:confused:

 

I know the Infinity had a serve yourself sushi area back in 2003 & again in 2004, also they had a sit down area that we ate at several nights, It's been a while but I think it was in the buffet area & there were waitors, we loved it. I think the confusion here is that on the S class there is a huge breakfast & lunch buffet, the dinner buffet is not as large, but it's fine,(& it does exist) dh & plenty of others wore shorts to it.

[tally10]

I know the Infinity had a serve yourself sushi area back in 2003 & again in 2004, also they had a sit down area that we ate at several nights, It's been a while but I think it was in the buffet area & there were waitors, we loved it. I think the confusion here is that on the S class there is a huge breakfast & lunch buffet, the dinner buffet is not as large, but it's fine,(& it does exist) dh & plenty of others wore shorts to it.

 

Well, I think the Eclipse and the evening buffet just might have been in a "learning process" since she was so new or maybe the evening we ate there they just had so little to offer. I don't know. The Connie did have a lot more to offer in those years but then, too, the only specialty restaurant they had back then was Oceanliners and boy was that wonderful!

[dkjretired]

Then where on earth did we eat all those nights?:D

 

You ate in the buffet area, point is they do not have the same buffet that they have for breakfast or lunch, never had them on any of their ships since their inception...They have various selections but not a full buffet. (see post 46 in this thread) Also, the casual dining area is not available on the S class ships...

[cuffy432]

My partner and I have just returned from back-to-back Solstice sailings (Eastern and Western Carib). We cruise quite often and have eaten enough meals in the main dinning rooms of ships to last a lifetime.

 

We didn't eat in the MDR once. We loved the casual atmosphere of the Ocean View. I honestly don't think my body could handle four course dinners every night for two weeks. I much prefer to have some control over what I eat and the buffet was perfect for that. Also, it isn't a case of not wanting to get dressed up. On formal nights, since we wanted to see the shows and wanted to respect the dress code, we got dolled up and ate in the Bistro on Five or Silk Harvest.

 

As for the selection, I always found something in the buffet. From a great salad bar to the sushi (limited but satisfying), there were some great healthy options. The hot main meals were just fine for my partner (chicken, roast beef, and some really great bbq ribs) - you really can't do much with buffet style hot meals - I tend to avoid them. One complaint is that they smother the cooked vegetables in butter.

 

I totally understand the desire not to eat in the MDR and found that the buffet suit me and my partner just fine.

 

It's your cruise. Enjoy!

[enchilada72]

I wrote the original post with a very simple question. I am sure this will sound very odd to a lot of you, but my husband and I don't go to the shows. So I don't plan on wearing flip flops, etc to a show or to a dining room, etc. We eat a good sized lunch and have a light dinner. This is why we don't eat in the dining room, because it is just too much food. We are in a suite and enjoy room service on the balcony, just like the previous RCCL cruises. We usually enjoy specialty restaurants a couple of times (we do bring 1 or 2 nice outfits, but not a week's worth). We go on a cruise to shut off. We read books, get massages, walk the decks, play shuffleboard, watch the waves and look at the stars and do nothing but spend uninterrupted time together. We go to the casino, both of us are very good black jack players. And it may sound like a waste of money to some of you since we don't do shows and other standard cruise activities. But for hubs and I we get every penny's worth. I appreciate all of your comments and I agree with quite a few. But again, everyone has an opinion. So thank you all and I am looking forward to my flip flops and t shirts. I have figured out there is no Windjammer type buffet on the cruise. And I wish everyone a wonderful time on your next outing. ;)

[enchilada72]

My question about the buffet had nothing to do with tipping, either.

Even on our previous cruises when we used the buffet, we tipped the wait staff there. In fact we tipped very well. And yes, we know to inform the dining room manager right away incase there is someone on a waiting list . We do have class even though we want to be casual on our vacation. That is all...;)

[Wanderlost]

Hello, We are elite members on Celebrity and rarely eat in the dining room (maybe 6 times). We prefer eating when we want and mostly eat salads at home so the buffet works great. Room service is also an option. There is nothing like a romantic dinner on your balcony or even in your room. We cruise on Celebrity for the great ships, great itineraries and excellent service and we dress casual. Have fun--that is the beauty of cruising--there is something out there for everyone. :cool:

[KruzPrincess]

With my first X cruise coming up, I am concerned about casual dining options in the evening. I don't like sitting in the MDR for 2 hours each night. Yes, I pay my auto-tips just like everyone else. I'm going on the Equinox. Has anyone had experience with their night time buffet. Below is the sample menu I found on the Celebrity website. Is this a good example of what you've found? If there's a good salad bar then I'm pretty much OK. Thanks.

 

From the Celebrity website:

 

Prepared with the same attention-to-detail, casual dining delivers outstanding gourmet flavor in a relaxed environment. The sample menu below gives you a flavor of what to expect:

 

 

a p p e t i z e r s

A Selection of Cold Daily Starters from the Buffet

Shrimp Cocktail

 

 

s o u p

Chef's Fresh Soup of the Day

 

 

s a l a d s

House Salad Bar

 

 

e n t r é e s

Margherita Pizza

Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Fresh Tomatoes, Oregano and Basil

Quattro Stagioni Pizza

Sausages, Mushrooms, Artichoke and Arugula

 

Quattro Formaggi Pizza

Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Parmesan

 

Vegetarian Pizza

Variety of Seasonal Vegetables

 

Penne with Broccoli

Tossed with diced Tomatoes and Red Pepper Flakes,

with a touch of Parmesan and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

 

Grilled Fillet of Corvina

With Cilantro Pesto

 

Roasted Half Grain-fed Chicken

Rubbed with Country Herbs and Spiced Mixture,

then slowly spit-roasted

 

La Parillada

South American Mixed Grill;

Marinated and grilled Beef, Lamb, Pork and Sausages,

Chimichurri Sauce

[dkjretired]

With my first X cruise coming up, I am concerned about casual dining options in the evening. I don't like sitting in the MDR for 2 hours each night. Yes, I pay my auto-tips just like everyone else. I'm going on the Equinox. Has anyone had experience with their night time buffet. Below is the sample menu I found on the Celebrity website. Is this a good example of what you've found? If there's a good salad bar then I'm pretty much OK. Thanks.

 

From the Celebrity website:

 

Prepared with the same attention-to-detail, casual dining delivers outstanding gourmet flavor in a relaxed environment. The sample menu below gives you a flavor of what to expect:

 

 

a p p e t i z e r s

A Selection of Cold Daily Starters from the Buffet

Shrimp Cocktail

 

 

s o u p

Chef's Fresh Soup of the Day

 

 

s a l a d s

House Salad Bar

 

 

e n t r é e s

Margherita Pizza

Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Fresh Tomatoes, Oregano and Basil

Quattro Stagioni Pizza

Sausages, Mushrooms, Artichoke and Arugula

 

Quattro Formaggi Pizza

Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Parmesan

 

Vegetarian Pizza

Variety of Seasonal Vegetables

 

Penne with Broccoli

Tossed with diced Tomatoes and Red Pepper Flakes,

with a touch of Parmesan and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

 

Grilled Fillet of Corvina

With Cilantro Pesto

 

Roasted Half Grain-fed Chicken

Rubbed with Country Herbs and Spiced Mixture,

then slowly spit-roasted

 

La Parillada

South American Mixed Grill;

Marinated and grilled Beef, Lamb, Pork and Sausages,

Chimichurri Sauce

 

I think that is the casual dining menu which is not available on the S class ships which includes Equinox. Celebritys buffet menu for dinner is very limited.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

I wrote the original post with a very simple question. I am sure this will sound very odd to a lot of you, but my husband and I don't go to the shows. So I don't plan on wearing flip flops, etc to a show or to a dining room, etc. We eat a good sized lunch and have a light dinner. This is why we don't eat in the dining room, because it is just too much food. We are in a suite and enjoy room service on the balcony, just like the previous RCCL cruises. We usually enjoy specialty restaurants a couple of times (we do bring 1 or 2 nice outfits, but not a week's worth). We go on a cruise to shut off. We read books, get massages, walk the decks, play shuffleboard, watch the waves and look at the stars and do nothing but spend uninterrupted time together. We go to the casino, both of us are very good black jack players. And it may sound like a waste of money to some of you since we don't do shows and other standard cruise activities. But for hubs and I we get every penny's worth. I appreciate all of your comments and I agree with quite a few. But again, everyone has an opinion. So thank you all and I am looking forward to my flip flops and t shirts. I have figured out there is no Windjammer type buffet on the cruise. And I wish everyone a wonderful time on your next outing. ;)

 

My input on this is that there is no need to explain yourself! As you said, you asked a simple question. Posts and the subsequent threads often have a life of their own and wander around, back and forth on various posts, often with people commenting on the posts of other people, not the OP.

 

We are similar in our goals for most cruises...relax, unwind, spend time together. Our years of racing from one event to the next are done; we don't care if we see shows most of the time; we don't do the spa; we love sea days so we can relax the whole day; we use the gym; read; don't attend games, etc. For every person who loves all the activity available on ships there is probably a corresponding person who wants the peace and quiet.

 

We were on a Princess cruise about 10 years ago and the MDR food was so poor (for us) that we just threw in the towel and ate in a little pizza place and in the buffet in the evenings. We enjoyed it, found food we could deal with; it changed the "vibe" of our cruise somewhat but was no big deal. It was an interesting, more casual cruise as a result, and we actually enjoyed not sitting in the MDR for such lengthy meals. IMHO each cruise/cruise line has a different feel, and by golly, we will adjust however we want to or need to in order to enjoy our vacation!

[dkjretired]

I wrote the original post with a very simple question. I am sure this will sound very odd to a lot of you, but my husband and I don't go to the shows. So I don't plan on wearing flip flops, etc to a show or to a dining room, etc. We eat a good sized lunch and have a light dinner. This is why we don't eat in the dining room, because it is just too much food. We are in a suite and enjoy room service on the balcony, just like the previous RCCL cruises. We usually enjoy specialty restaurants a couple of times (we do bring 1 or 2 nice outfits, but not a week's worth). We go on a cruise to shut off. We read books, get massages, walk the decks, play shuffleboard, watch the waves and look at the stars and do nothing but spend uninterrupted time together. We go to the casino, both of us are very good black jack players. And it may sound like a waste of money to some of you since we don't do shows and other standard cruise activities. But for hubs and I we get every penny's worth. I appreciate all of your comments and I agree with quite a few. But again, everyone has an opinion. So thank you all and I am looking forward to my flip flops and t shirts. I have figured out there is no Windjammer type buffet on the cruise. And I wish everyone a wonderful time on your next outing. ;)

 

In case it hasn''t been pointed out, the MDR menu is available to all cabins during regular dining room hours. In the suites it is expecially nice since they serve it by course...Also, you can easily make a meal out of what is available at the buffet area, give me a bowl of pasta and I'm happy., just thought it was important to point out that it is not the same as breakfast or lunch.

 

I do not know if you are into the pool area but the Aqua Spa is a wonderful area for relaxing. I just took my Kindle and layed there all day for the three sea days on my cruise. Really wanted to relax and I was able to do that. No kids allowed and a wonderful area with the Aqua Spa Cafe located in the area...

[KruzPrincess]

I think that is the casual dining menu which is not available on the S class ships which includes Equinox. Celebritys buffet menu for dinner is very limited.

 

Ah...thanks for that. Well, I'm going on the cruise and I'm sure I'll find something to eat. LOL. Like I said, food isn't the main reason I cruise. I know I won't starve.

[jackdiamond]

We will cruise on the Radiance next month before our Christmas Equinox cruise; and, we have decided to eschew formal and informal night in the main dining room. Therefore on this nights we will dine in the WJ since we would never embarrass ourselves, or the staff, by inappropriate attire in that venue.