No Comfort Food on RCCL's New Menu

[firefly333]

Sounds fabulous! But I truly don't mind the Carnival menus either ... :)

 

Im with you, as long as I get ENOUGH to eat and they allow large enough portions I dont go hungry .. Im go with either Carnival or RCL.

 

I kind of like comfort food to be honest .. I know I should complain and get blasted for saying it .. but I like fried chicken if its dark meat. My waiter on Carnival let me pick the one time I ordered it.

[maggieworkman]

Well, I am excited by the changes on RCCL. We were debating jumping over to RCCL for our next cruise because we weren't happy with the changes on Carnival. The only thing holding us back was that in the summer, RCCL was about $200 more pp. I think the new menus have pushed me over the edge. We weren't happy with the menu changes on Carnival - it seemed a few nights I had to find something that was ok, but not something that I really would normally pick to eat. I am really excited about being able to get a filet each night on RCCL.

 

I think between the better entertainment (for me and the teens) and better food, I am willing to pay the extra money for RCCL. It has a better value to me. It isn't just about rock bottom prices for me. I'd rather pay a little more and get what I want.

 

Maggie

[Georgiagolfer]

Im with you, as long as I get ENOUGH to eat and they allow large enough portions I dont go hungry .. Im go with either Carnival or RCL.

 

I kind of like comfort food to be honest .. I know I should complain and get blasted for saying it .. but I like fried chicken if its dark meat. My waiter on Carnival let me pick the one time I ordered it.

 

No blast here, as I agree. Give me enough good food to eat and I'm content with either lines menu.:D

[dclark]

Im with you, as long as I get ENOUGH to eat and they allow large enough portions I dont go hungry .. Im go with either Carnival or RCL.

.

 

Some people want quality food, others simply want unlimited access to a feed trough. Guess you fit the latter category.

[Georgiagolfer]

Some people want quality food, others simply want unlimited access to a feed trough. Guess you fit the latter category.

 

So, if someone happens to actually like fried chicken and order for dinner, they have unlimited access to a feed trough?:rolleyes:

[Rottweiler Puppy]

I am not a Carnival Cheerleader by any stretch but "sliders"????

 

I don't know how "sliders" ever made it to regular and upscale restaurants. They do it here as well. I remember "sliders" were called that because that's how they (this is gross) came back out after you ate them. A disgusting term referencing poop is now the preferred professional name for a food? LMAO The world is going crazy. No seriously, for the longest time the term "slider" wasn't a good connotation. It was something you ate when you were wasted and hungry, then paid the price for it in the bathroom later.

 

Crappy little hamburgers designed for drunkards are now popular everywhere and folks think its and upscale snack. LMAO

[drosphot]

Crappy little hamburgers designed for drunkards are now popular everywhere and folks think its and upscale snack. LMAO

 

Ever since Chili's and Applebee's added them they have been "gourmet" ;)

[jules815]

Some people want quality food, others simply want unlimited access to a feed trough. Guess you fit the latter category.

 

Remember, that quality you speak of is still going to be served to (in most cases) 3,000 + guests. No matter what's on the menu, it's still going to be good banquet quality at best. And I don't say that in a negative way, but it is what it is. We enjoy sailing with RC and Carnival; variety and change is a good thing, but I've never thought of any of the major cruise lines as gourmet.

[craftykitty]

Some people want quality food, others simply want unlimited access to a feed trough. Guess you fit the latter category.

 

I'm not entirely sure why you felt it necessary to run someone else down other than to try and make yourself look high and mighty? My feeling is to each their own. Personally I'd rather cruise with someone who has an optomistic point of view than with you who seems to just like to be in other people's face!

 

You don't like 'comfort food, don't eat it! Don't want to cruise on Carnival, go some place else, just take your derogatory comments with you.

[Surfwench]

Okay people this is just sad. I am a big Carnival supporter and have always cruised with Carnival but it is not helping the case to plead that the "Mac and Cheese" is good. Now come on. On our first cruise with Carnival I had Shrimp Cocktail every night, A wonderful steak not that piece of flat tire that they serve now, also had Duck Alagone. Among many other great items. All of which are no longer on the menu. I have seen the menu go way down hill.

 

I sure wish they would redo their menu like the one on RCCL

 

I think you mean Duck a l'Orange....French classic done badly by everyone. The comfort food on CCL is offered as an ALTERNATIVE to the regular menu, so I don't see what all the fuss is about.

 

However, the new Royal menu sounds outstanding. I sailed the Jewel last year and couldn't really see any difference in food quality between Royal and Carnival. They are obviously trying to distinguish themselves from their main competitor. Nice menu, we'll see how the quality turns out.

[jpg1747]

I generally don't order the comfort foods on Carnival cruises -- well, maybe except for the fried chicken if nothing else looks good to me -- but I applaud the line for trying to offer something for everyone. Some people don't like to eat anything out of the ordinary and that's all well and good for them. There will be people cruising on Royal who will complain that everything was too fancy and all they wanted was some plain down-home cooking. They probably appeal to a lot of kids too.

 

P.S. I'll be on a 16 day transatlantic on the Mariner this fall, so I'm looking forward to seeing what's offered.

[Surfwench]

I am not a Carnival Cheerleader by any stretch but "sliders"????

 

I don't know how "sliders" ever made it to regular and upscale restaurants. They do it here as well. I remember "sliders" were called that because that's how they (this is gross) came back out after you ate them. A disgusting term referencing poop is now the preferred professional name for a food? LMAO The world is going crazy. No seriously, for the longest time the term "slider" wasn't a good connotation. It was something you ate when you were wasted and hungry, then paid the price for it in the bathroom later.

 

Crappy little hamburgers designed for drunkards are now popular everywhere and folks think its and upscale snack. LMAO

 

NO... they were called sliders because of anti-German sentiment after WWII. I'm guessing you are not a fan of White Castle? Too bad. The patty was created so it never needed to be flipped while cooking... they were slid directly onto the bun. :)

[dixieva]

I mostly cruise with RCI and they have never had "comfort food" that I can remember. I can however remember wishing some nights that they did offer fried chicken or meatloaf! I tend to get tired of "gourmet food" in the dining room on a long cruise and wish for something simple and more down home.

 

And we find the food to be better on Carnival than on RCI.

[dms_cruisers04]

Until it is officially announced by RCI it is still just rumor.

 

That being said, the new menu sounds good so let's hope the quality is there too.

 

My concern would be if the new food budget would cause an increase in cruise fare or if RCI would cutback in another area to compensate.

[MissKIA]

No, I haven't tried it! I go on a cruise to try new and exciting foods, I don't go on a cruise to eat comfort food. Sorry, but if I want comfort food I'll head to Denny's or similar, however, I haven't eaten at Dennys in years.

 

I just find it funny that so many say all the cruise lines are cutting back on food and quality. Guess RCCL has a different plan and better in my book. I just did the Dream last month and found the food the worst on the high seas, however, I do try to eat somewhat healthy and Carnival doesn't do well with that.

 

You do realize that Carnival offers ONE comfort food per night right? It's an option for people who may prefer that kind of food and I don't see what's wrong with that.

 

This whole thread you started seems like nothing but an RCCL cruiser specifically coming here to "start something" with Carnival cruisers to me. :rolleyes:

 

I'm happy for you that RCCL has options you will love and I'm sure I will love them too when I try RCCL. I'm sure there are people out there who would love to dine on Mac and Cheese and meatloaf every night if they were offered it.

[repo-cruiser]

Thought I would post this on the Carnival page.

 

At least (if true) RCCL is listening to their passengers and not cutting back and giving us meatloaf, mac & cheese and other boring food. RCCL normally costs more, but you pay for what you get!:

 

Loyal2RCCL

Cool Cruiser

 

Join Date: May 2008

Posts: 908

Coming Soon..NEW MDR MENUS AND ENHANCED DINING

Let me start by saying I will not reveal my source, so please don't ask. I will tell you my source is directly involved in this project and there's supposed to be a formal announcement by RCCL within the next few weeks.

 

I don't know if anyone remembers getting a survey a while back asking about the onboard dining experience, but it seems RCCL is listening to that feedback along with the regular weekly comment cards.

 

With that said, there will not only be NEW menus in the MDR on all ships, but RCCL is improving the overall quality of the items it serves. They have decided to increase their food budget to offer a better dining experience.

 

Highlights:

 

The Top Sirloin on the "Always Available" Menu will be upgraded to filet mignon. Also on the "Always Available" Menu will be shrimp cocktail, escargot (provided they can be sourced due to the shortage), herb crusted cod, salmon, a bowl of mixed berries, and Key Lime Pie. Other items were mentioned, but I don't remember what they were.

 

New entrees will include:

- Rack of Lamb

- Veal Chops

- Veal Scalloppini Oscar

- Crab Legs

- Baked Lasagna (baked in it's own individual dish)

- Beef Sliders

- Each night there will be an entree salad with a featured protien

- Surf and Turf featuring a 6oz filet mignon and a 6 oz lobster tail (larger tail than the 4oz one that's currently being served)

- Sea Bass

- Baked/Stuffed Shrimp

 

The $14.95 Chops Steak will be removed since you will be able to get a filet mignon every night from the always available menu. In it's place will be the option to purchase a 1 1/4 lb steamed, Maine Lobster for $24.99

 

New Desserts will include:

- Mile High Lemon Merengue Pie

- REAL NY style cheesecake

- Baked Alaska is making a return.. and will be served in individual portions--

- Warm fruit pies and cobblers served in individual dishes. Straight from the oven to your table.

- Some chocolate, kahlua pie?

 

To enhance the new menu, all the tablewear and dishes will also be redesigned.

 

I wasn't able to get the full roll out schedule but here's what I do know... the new menus will be available on the following ships/dates:

 

Freedom- 7/29/2012

Oasis- 8/25/2012

Allure- 9/9/2012

Jewel- 9/23/2012

Rhapsody- 5/24/2013

 

RCCL is also partnering with Food and Wine Magazine and will be showing short culinary "snippets" on the Poolside TV Screens... one of the things they will show is the featured items for each nights dinner. Other culinary programs are in the works, but nothing finalized yet.

 

RCCL has used feedback from the guest comment cards, surveys and information received from the MDR staff to add items that were most rquested by guests. Additionally, they looked at the quality and menu offerings from the competition and decided it was time for them to up their game.

 

I for one, can't thank them enough..and I look forward to trying out the new offerings on my Oasis cruise in Oct.

There is nothing worse than a cruise ship trying to imitate a 5 star dining restaurant. Trust me RCCL may serve that but the quality is not there. Most of that menu I can get at a 2 to 3 star comfort food land restaurant. So go ahead and pretend your eating fine dining why my perfect healthy body eats comfort food.;)

[chasinraynbowz]

They needed a change. Last year on the Liberty of the Seas, the MDR food was just ok.... nothing horrible, but nothing to rave about either. The first night I had prime rib and that was good, but DH had the steak and it was dry. We didn't like their desserts, so we ended up skipping them. If we had to choose between Carnival and RCCL, Carnival would win hands down.

[kwagmyre]

You've just gotta love corporate spin... RCCL's MDR food is generally panned as the worst of the mass-market lines when reading reviews. So if they are upgrading, I say good for them! But let's not act like this is an act of beneficent largesse... they are responding to a din of complaints that has grown too loud to ignore. But props to them for actually listening to and responding to their customers.

 

Now if they could just not have their ticket prices be double that of NCL and CCL (and sometimes even Celebrity) I just might consider booking with them....

 

In the meantime, let's hope this puts some upward pressure on Carnival's own food quality, but I doubt it... the price gap is just too severe...

[dms_cruisers04]

Until it is officially announced by RCI it is still just rumor.

Loyal2RCCL's post on the RCI board states that RCI has been testing new items on previous cruises. And that apparently a menu revamp is over due. Kudos to them. (And no I don't mean the milk chocolate granola bar comfort food :D )

[Cruisegirl6]

RCI is our choice for a cruise line because not only you get excellent overall service, your getting better quality and selection when it comes to all its food. You won't find those comfort foods on RCI you get better quality.

 

My last four cruises were on RCI why because Carnival has made the most drastic cuts than any other cruise line! Why am I going on the Dream in two months I have no choice we want to go out of Pt. Canaveral which leaves us to go on the FOS a fifth time well we love her very much and not find one complaint about that ship but we just need a change of scenery as we also two years prior to the past four years gone on her identical sister ship twice LOS. Again we need change of scenery thats all and we going knowing what we giving up by not taking RCI. There is the Disney Dream but never would take Disney...no casino, all shows are only geared around the Disney theme...we not want to see disney characters night and day and the dining is all geard to entertain the kids.

 

Carnival I have been cruising on you since a little girl to a grown up adult with my kids now grown up. I watched you gone from (lets talk about food for instance) fair which was back in the 70's-80's to good and very good...then the past 7 years you have declined your selection/quality/variety of food. You chose to offer mostly fast food type items hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, burrito's, pasta just simple foods that really are inexpensive. Surely you offer a very extremely limited of other items but there is no variety. I took the Fascination three years ago to find no soups and no meat carvings in the lunch buffet. Then you took away the better cuts of meats in the MDR I watched you serve filet mignon years ago then to NY Strip, then sirloin now you serve that flat iron steak! Whats next cubed beef or stew or beef a roni? You added comfort foods meatloaf, fried chicken, hamburger on your dinner menu along with mac and cheese what are you thinking! Ok, its fine to add such items if you remain to have better items but you took away the better items.

 

Im not expecting quality I just asking for better....for instance why not serve sirloin steak instead of that flat iron...and whats up with the vegetables and sides you offer? You used to come around and we chose which sides we wanted and you got a decent portion now there are no choices and you put two or three pieces of carrot or broccoli on the plate! Then you have these tiny cups that you put mashed potatoes in or mac and cheese we not kids, Im not asking for huge portion I just asking for sensible and reasonable portions. I realize we can ask for more but if we want more veggies we get another full plate of all the food which that is waste...

 

Then there is the night after 11pm many are still up, they having cocktails and doing their thing and especially for those who have dinner early seating they get hungry I do! There is only calzones, pizza and ceasar salad ok you offer room service menu which I may say is limited and by the way you can't even get a hot meal for breakfast so that I can sit on my balcony and have. I not want to wait 45 minutes for something on that room service menu its a waste of time sitting in my room for it.

 

Other cruise lines have so much more to offer. I not asking for a midnight buffet but if you have some salads such as greek salad, caprese salad, and offer fruit, cheese and crackers, even chips you can have those small size bags of chips people like to have that for a snack at night. It be nice to have a few hot foods but I not asking for much just to satisfy my hunger after 11pm. Also it be nice to have those small bags of chips at the bars for a snack. I understand health reasons not putting out chips and nuts but those little bags are inexpensive and it be nice to have something to munch on you know what that means people will drink more! Or you can serve little bags of nuts or something similiar. I am also willing to pay for these.

 

It all boils down to this, I know I would be cruising alot more on Carnival if you make improvements. I am sure others would also, Im here on boards reading about how much Carnival has cut back, seeing many saying they going on other cruise lines, I say its time you evaluate these issues and do something now about them. I never had a bad Carnival cruise your ships are all well maintained and clean this is most important but I like to see improvements and I am positive others feel the same way as I do.

 

Please Carnival consider what I am saying...all you have to do is work on your food issue...service I realize is a hit or miss you can't help that but that is why you send the surveys after our cruise. I love the idea you added the Steakhouse in fact on the Dream we are confirmed for three evenings and I am sure after the first night in the MDR we may book more.

 

If somebody will say here well Carnival is cheaper that may be so but not by that much. Back in early June I could of gotten the same type of balcony room on the FOS for only 125.00 more a person, not much considering all the better food and service you get on RCI worth ever penney.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

NO... they were called sliders because of anti-German sentiment after WWII. I'm guessing you are not a fan of White Castle? Too bad. The patty was created so it never needed to be flipped while cooking... they were slid directly onto the bun. :)

 

Might be why you called em that but for me and everyone I know. We called them that because of the end result.

 

and White Castle is friggin nasty unless you are wasted and hungry.

[dms_cruisers04]

RCI is our choice for a cruise line because not only you get excellent overall service, your getting better quality and selection when it comes to all its food. You won't find those comfort foods on RCI you get better quality.

 

If somebody will say here well Carnival is cheaper that may be so but not by that much. Back in early June I could of gotten the same type of balcony room on the FOS for only 125.00 more a person, not much considering all the better food and service you get on RCI worth ever penney.

You are apparently in the minority about RCI food. On Loyal2RCCL's thread many posters commented how they are happy about the changes because it will get them back to trying the food in the MDR.

[Neekflowers]

They needed a change. Last year on the Liberty of the Seas, the MDR food was just ok.... nothing horrible, but nothing to rave about either. The first night I had prime rib and that was good, but DH had the steak and it was dry. We didn't like their desserts, so we ended up skipping them. If we had to choose between Carnival and RCCL, Carnival would win hands down.

 

This has been my experience as well. I have only cruised on RCCL and in my experience the food was just ok the Chops restaurant was delicious but that was for an additional cost. I must say food doesn't make or break my cruise but I did want to say that RCCL food isn't some 5 star dining experience by any means. I'll b able to compare and contrast after my first Carnival cruise in a few weeks. I'm guessing it won't be much difference.

[Jenbo57]

There is nothing worse than a cruise ship trying to imitate a 5 star dining restaurant. Trust me RCCL may serve that but the quality is not there. Most of that menu I can get at a 2 to 3 star comfort food land restaurant. So go ahead and pretend your eating fine dining why my perfect healthy body eats comfort food.;)

 

 

Exactly! :):):)

[TexanTodd]

MDR food on Carnival may not be 5 star, but it is hands down supperior to RCCL, that is for sure. That is not just a "fan boy" statement either, it is the vast consensus amongst reviewers who have experienced both.