Food quality - MSC or NCL?

[MTL=CRUISEFAMILY]

That sounds like a proper English breakfast, isn't England still considered part of Europe? As other have pointed out, different parts of Europe have different tastes, pretty narrow minded to think that all of Europe is like your little eastern slice.

 

:D

What? no pasta for breakfast??

That's not italian.;)

[Deckhandoug]

:D

What? no pasta for breakfast??

That's not italian.;)

 

I'm sure it's interesting enough traveling away Croatia , vomiting at another countries breakfast and whatnot, bringing pasta into the mix would prolly put her over the edge:eek:

[Daniela32]

OMG, I just said that heavy fried sausage smell is too much for me early in the morning, it was not my intention to offend anybody. If I did, I apologize.

 

About geography, you probably settled my "slice of country" into historical context. But it took so many lives, so much suffering and sorrow to get out of it. If I offended you somehow, why are you angry in my country?

 

Anyway, I lived one month in Hasting in England in a host family when I was young, and we had toast / butter / jam and coffee or tea for breakfast. Just like in my home.

[Rotterdam]

I grew up here in NYC & while breakfast was common Bacon & eggs which I do not care for at all.....I was lucky enough to have an excellent pastry shop around the corner & so the Croissants are warm & my coffee ready....my partner loves the eggs bacon sausage etc....go figure.

 

Usually on a cruise I'll order breakafast in the cabin & sit on the balcony...

 

 

 

 

Here in Europe, we have 1 croisant and a coffe for breakfast. Or a slice of bread with butter and jam or honey. MSC is an European/Italian company that is probably not good for American expectations and habbits. I can't even tolerate smell of a coocked food (sausages, beans, fried smoked ham) early in the morning. It raises my stomach up.

[Deckhandoug]

OMG, I just said that heavy fried sausage smell is too much for me early in the morning, it was not my intention to offend anybody. If I did, I apologize.

 

About geography, you probably settled my "slice of country" into historical context. But it took so many lives, so much suffering and sorrow to get out of it. If I offended you somehow, why are you angry in my country?

 

Anyway, I lived one month in Hasting in England in a host family when I was young, and we had toast / butter / jam and coffee or tea for breakfast. Just like in my home.

 

Not sure how your personal favorites are germane to the OP's question, are you suggesting nothing other than "Italian / European " items are served because everything that you don't like and assert Europeans don't eat is served on MSC, or are you so xenophobic you don't understand that all cultures can enjoy a cruise on MSC?

 

I have no issue with you or your country, rather you have made some interesting comments on how you feel about others culture.

 

Enjoy your cruise

[happytravellers2]

At the risk of wading into someone else's argument and getting whacked in crossfire:

I have been reading this board with interest over the past couple of months as we have booked our first cruise with MSC - MSC Davina - next June.

My wife and I are foodies - so I have been following this thread. We are not experienced cruisers - this will be our second - but we enjoyed the first one so much that we now definitely consider ourselves as cruisers.

What I find amazing is the polarisation of views and opinions and seeming lack of balanced views. The same comments apply from our first cruise on HAL Eurodam - we found the food quality extremely good, but saw terribly harsh reviews and comments.

The reality is that tastes differ, and what I like and appreciate will be different to the vast majority of others - and vice versa, and virtually all restaurants have their bad days and can suffer inconsistency.

But, I find it hard to comprehend in this day and age that the quality of food on a major modern cruise ship such as Divina will not be good and have enough variety that we will not enjoy it.

As a last comment - when I go on holiday part of the experience is eating the local food - I don't want the food I get at home, I want to experience something different.

[Alex71]

As a last comment - when I go on holiday part of the experience is eating the local food - I don't want the food I get at home, I want to experience something different.

 

I completely agree with you. The Italian food added to our mediterranean experience and was a good fit. I would find it odd to eat American food during a med cruise, but for that same reason equally odd to eat Italian food during a New England cruise, for example.

[pmacher61]

At the risk of wading into someone else's argument and getting whacked in crossfire:

I have been reading this board with interest over the past couple of months as we have booked our first cruise with MSC - MSC Davina - next June.

My wife and I are foodies - so I have been following this thread. We are not experienced cruisers - this will be our second - but we enjoyed the first one so much that we now definitely consider ourselves as cruisers.

What I find amazing is the polarisation of views and opinions and seeming lack of balanced views. The same comments apply from our first cruise on HAL Eurodam - we found the food quality extremely good, but saw terribly harsh reviews and comments.

The reality is that tastes differ, and what I like and appreciate will be different to the vast majority of others - and vice versa, and virtually all restaurants have their bad days and can suffer inconsistency.

But, I find it hard to comprehend in this day and age that the quality of food on a major modern cruise ship such as Divina will not be good and have enough variety that we will not enjoy it.

As a last comment - when I go on holiday part of the experience is eating the local food - I don't want the food I get at home, I want to experience something different.

An eminently reasonable and intelligent statement. Yes, variety is the spice of life and yes, tastes are subjective. However, as you are "foodies" I'm pretty sure you will also agree that it is equally true that the quality of the food and the dining experience in general is not without an element of commonality. After all, most people would agree that a good lobster is "better" than fish sticks and a well prepared filet mignon is better than a hot dog. Similarly, most people appreciate gracious, efficient service over clumsy, poor service. That's why restaurant reviews are helpful and appreciated by the general public.

 

The quality of on board dining varies tremendously. As you and your wife are just beginning to get into the cruise experience, you have not yet had the opportunity to experience the range of dining quality found on board the various cruise lines. Dining on luxury lines like Silversea, Regent, Seabourn, Crystal, and even the so-called luxury lite lines Azamara and Oceania is light years ahead of dining on board the mass market lines.

 

To cater to those desiring a higher standard of on board dining the mass market lines all have several specialty restaurants which charge an extra fee, generally between $20-30, (though on Disney there now is a $75 pp fee), some of which come closer to the MDR experience on the luxury lines. I have always thought these fee restaurants were a bargain given the delta between the MDR and what you get for the extra fee.

 

Some lines hire celebrity chefs to generate buzz and a patina of excellence. Celebrity executive chefs do not necessarily translate to excellent on board dining, but it is a fairly reliable indication. For example, Jacques Pepin is the exec chef of Oceania and it shows. Here is a CC article on celebrity chefs that you may find of interest http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=721 .

 

Here's hoping you have the opportunity to explore many of the various lines and what they have to offer. Don't be too quick to underestimate the wide range of the on board dining experience. Not surprisingly, it comes at a price, but in almost all cases it is well worth the price whether as a separate fee or for the higher overall cost of a luxury line. Of course, in the latter case it is not only dining that is superior. Accommodations, service, entertainment, etc are also distinguishably better.

 

Happy cruising to you.

[happytravellers2]

Sorry, can't do the quote thing so cut & paste quote from pmacher "After all, most people would agree that a good lobster is "better" than fish sticks and a well prepared filet mignon is better than a hot dog"

 

I agree with the word "better" being in quotation marks because it is so subjective.

Simple ingredients cooked well often end up being more enjoyable than premium products cooked averagely.

No large dining room can serve a steak to the quality that any of us can find in our favourite specialist local restaurant - so start off by accepting that and and there is a slight chance that you might be pleasantly surprised - but the likelihood is that you won't.

I know a guy that never orders a specific dish - he ask the waitron what the chef thinks is good that night - and might say that he favours fish or meat that evening, or a light or substantial dish - and he maintains that the vast majority of the time he is very happy with what he is served.

The most important thing is the experience - that's what we really want. Look for the positive things and you are more likely to be happier than if you look for the negative things.

In the words of Roland Keating (if he didn't pinch it from someone else) "life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride"

[papcx]

Sorry, can't do the quote thing so cut & paste quote from pmacher "After all, most people would agree that a good lobster is "better" than fish sticks and a well prepared filet mignon is better than a hot dog"

 

I agree with the word "better" being in quotation marks because it is so subjective.

Simple ingredients cooked well often end up being more enjoyable than premium products cooked averagely.

No large dining room can serve a steak to the quality that any of us can find in our favourite specialist local restaurant - so start off by accepting that and and there is a slight chance that you might be pleasantly surprised - but the likelihood is that you won't.

I know a guy that never orders a specific dish - he ask the waitron what the chef thinks is good that night - and might say that he favours fish or meat that evening, or a light or substantial dish - and he maintains that the vast majority of the time he is very happy with what he is served.

The most important thing is the experience - that's what we really want. Look for the positive things and you are more likely to be happier than if you look for the negative things.

In the words of Roland Keating (if he didn't pinch it from someone else) "life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride"

 

You were doing so well until you quoted Roland Keating (sp) :rolleyes:

[All aboard??]

Next we will get another link to the Cruise Critic Members Poll courtesy of PM :eek:

[pmacher61]

Sorry, can't do the quote thing so cut & paste quote from pmacher "After all, most people would agree that a good lobster is "better" than fish sticks and a well prepared filet mignon is better than a hot dog"

 

I agree with the word "better" being in quotation marks because it is so subjective.

Simple ingredients cooked well often end up being more enjoyable than premium products cooked averagely.

No large dining room can serve a steak to the quality that any of us can find in our favourite specialist local restaurant - so start off by accepting that and and there is a slight chance that you might be pleasantly surprised - but the likelihood is that you won't.

I know a guy that never orders a specific dish - he ask the waitron what the chef thinks is good that night - and might say that he favours fish or meat that evening, or a light or substantial dish - and he maintains that the vast majority of the time he is very happy with what he is served.

The most important thing is the experience - that's what we really want. Look for the positive things and you are more likely to be happier than if you look for the negative things.

In the words of Roland Keating (if he didn't pinch it from someone else) "life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride"

Hit the "quote" box at the bottom of each post to make it appear as a quote. Hit the quotation marks to obtain multiple quotes.

In regard to dining, you are stating the obvious. Moreover, I agree that a positive attitude is more likely to lead to a happier state of mind. But that's no reason to ignor the very obvious difference in the quality of on board dining that does exist (though you have yet to expereience it) or to celebrate the mundane as if it were or good.

[happytravellers2]

You were doing so well until you quoted Roland Keating (sp)

 

I love the maxim - wouldn't want to say it was my quote:)

Hoping for a "whaaaaaaaaaah" on Divina in the Med - particularly looking forward to visiting Turkey as I havn't been there - and keeping to the original thread - I love Turkish food.

[Tatka]

LOL I would add and just dont cruise NCL .dont waste you time)

 

This is not true. We had 4 and going on 5th NCL cruise. You can tell by my signature, we have tried it all in massmarket. Well almost all, booked on MSC in March.

 

I wouldn't call NCL's food a gourmet, although they have nice additional restaurants Le Bistro, Cagney's etc, but we were pretty much satisfied with offerings in the included dining. In addition to the regular MDR freestyle, and buffet, you have somewhat fast food place Blue Lagoon(free of charge) with nice soups, buffalo chicken wings, fish&chips, NY cheese cake and such.

[Tatka]

Here in Europe, we have 1 croisant and a coffe for breakfast. Or a slice of bread with butter and jam or honey. MSC is an European/Italian company that is probably not good for American expectations and habbits. I can't even tolerate smell of a coocked food (sausages, beans, fried smoked ham) early in the morning. It raises my stomach up.

 

Well, it depends on where in Europe you are. In Germany we ate full breakfast, which included Bavarian sausages, salads, omelets etc. Again.. beans for breakfast are more popular in UK, than in America. I am formerly from Ukraine, and remember eating full breakfast there too, as well as in Poland.

[Deckhandoug]

I completely agree with you. The Italian food added to our mediterranean experience and was a good fit. I would find it odd to eat American food during a med cruise, but for that same reason equally odd to eat Italian food during a New England cruise, for example.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't happen that way, we were hoping for some local foods last year in the Med with RCL but all we got was the standard tired fare.

 

Same with MSC in the Caribbean, mostly mass market Italian like they serve on their Europe cruises.

 

All these mass market lines pick a menu and stick with it, worldwide.

 

It would be nice to get some local flavors on a cruise.

[Traveling Bob]

LOL I would add and just dont cruise NCL .dont waste you time)

 

I would tend to agree. NCL's main dinning room food is dreadful and the service is just as bad. But NCL upgrade restaurants are very good.

In comparing cruises, one must take the TOTAL cost of each into account to make a comparison. If you add +$25.00/person/day to the NCL price so that you don't have to eat in their dinning room, and assuming that the Total cost is the same, NCL could be better.

We were on the Divina in Sept. and only ate in the Yacht Club restaurant where the food and service were beyond comparison to NCL's main dinning room. But it was costly.

Although we loved Divina Yacht Club, the cabin we had was small compared to NCL suites. So despite my oath never to do NCL again, I might consider it if the price of a suite + dining up-grades was comparable to YC fares.

[maryyl]

We have been on MSC Splendida, Melody, and Armonia. There was no alternative free buffet in the evening, so you HAVE to eat in the dining-room (MDR or paid). I don't know if MSC has now changed this policy. Costa, too, does not have an evening buffet, so it may be an Italian thing.

 

My bitter half hates waiting for his food, so likes to "eat and run" :(

[AmoMondo]

We have been on MSC Splendida, Melody, and Armonia. There was no alternative free buffet in the evening, so you HAVE to eat in the dining-room (MDR or paid). I don't know if MSC has now changed this policy. Costa, too, does not have an evening buffet, so it may be an Italian thing.

 

My bitter half hates waiting for his food, so likes to "eat and run" :(

 

They do have evening buffets on MSC. They've had it most of this year and have recently extended it to 20 hours per day. We also had an evening buffet on Costa Favolosa in January, but perhaps that's justnon the larger ships.

[annim]

Mr Amomondo -

I see by your signature you are certainly well versed in MSC cruises! We will be cruising MSC in February, and I have some questions. Do you mind mailing me personally? Thank you so much~

annimcclung@yahoo.com

[maryyl]

They do have evening buffets on MSC. They've had it most of this year and have recently extended it to 20 hours per day. We also had an evening buffet on Costa Favolosa in January, but perhaps that's justnon the larger ships.

 

From personal experience, there was no evening buffet on MSC Melody 2 years ago, nor on MSC Armonia in July 2011 so MSC might have changed their policy this year. On Costa Favolosa in December 2011 there was a very limited buffet in the evening (pizza, salad, 1 type of pasta, 1 meat dish). Nothing like what the other cruise-lines offer.

[roundthebend]

I never cruise for the food. I have never found the food to be outstanding on any cruise line. Actually it has always been at best...average. I don't believe it is possible to produce really good food when you are catering for thousands of people. So I accept it for what it is.

However, when in port I search out wonderful, authentic local food and I'm a happy camper.

[AmoMondo]

I never cruise for the food. I have never found the food to be outstanding on any cruise line. Actually it has always been at best...average. I don't believe it is possible to produce really good food when you are catering for thousands of people. So I accept it for what it is.

However, when in port I search out wonderful, authentic local food and I'm a happy camper.

 

Completely agree with you. Although you do get a much better experience in the small a la carte restaurants which you of course pay for. Catering for 50-100 means they can pay more attention to quality, flavour, presentation and service.

 

One of the reasons I avoid organised tours and just wander around looking for local interesting places full of character to have a meal or just a drink ........and people watching also adds to the overall experience.

[Capricruiser]

From personal experience, there was no evening buffet on MSC Melody 2 years ago, nor on MSC Armonia in July 2011 so MSC might have changed their policy this year. On Costa Favolosa in December 2011 there was a very limited buffet in the evening (pizza, salad, 1 type of pasta, 1 meat dish). Nothing like what the other cruise-lines offer.

 

MSC began the evening buffet in April 2012.

[theman1]

It was very general sentence Dear Daniela. I live in europe and prefer different dishes for breakfast :-)

 

Here in Europe, we have 1 croisant and a coffe for breakfast. Or a slice of bread with butter and jam or honey. MSC is an European/Italian company that is probably not good for American expectations and habbits. I can't even tolerate smell of a coocked food (sausages, beans, fried smoked ham) early in the morning. It raises my stomach up.