Mystery Dinner Theater

[Sorry Muffin]

Have any of you experienced and seasoned cruises attended the Mystery Dinner Theater? I was wondering if I could get some reviews or comments. Also do you remember the cost?

 

Thank you

 

Wish I could cruise more

 

Mary

[Clarea]

Cost is $55 per person. It was fun for us to do once or twice, but we don't need to do it again.

[foxgoodrich]

It's $55 per person, which includes the meal in Portofino, free-flowing wine all evening, and the entertainment. I think there might be some limited cocktail options for folks who don't like wine, but we've always just stuck with the wine. The Mystery play itself is performed in installments throughout the evening by RC entertainment staff, and it is campy and goofy and kind of over-the-top silly, but fun. So don't go if you expect seriously good acting or if you seriously want to play detective, i.e. see yourself as Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. Go if you want to have a few drinks, a good meal, interesting dinner companions, and campy/fun entertainment throughout.

 

If you reserve the Mystery Dinner, you will receive an invitation card in your cabin with the time/date and meeting place. Usually you meet in a lounge/bar for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and Act 1 of the mystery drama. That takes 30-45 min. and then you proceed to Portofino, where you sit at large tables. Antipasti platters are on the tables. You'll order appetizers and entres, and wine is poured. (Menu is limited - see below for the typical menu.) I will add one thing - the tiramisu is not only delicious, it's a beautiful work of art in a cup of chocolate leaves with raspberries on top and tall chocolate spikes sticking out of it…it's just food porn. (So you should bring a camera or your phone because you'll want a pic of that tiramisu!)

 

Here's the typical Mystery Dinner menu - limited choices from Portofino's menu:

Antipasti Assortiti: A selection of grilled vegetables, prosciutto, and seasonal melon (these platters are on the table when you arrive)

APPETIZER: Soup of the Day or Ceasar Salad (our previous experience says you can have both if you wish)

ENTRE: Gamberoni al Profumo di Mare (Tiger shrimp sautéed with garlic served on a bed of baby vegetables) or Fileto di Manzo (Filet mingnon with white truffle mashed potato and baby vegetables)

DESSERT: Tiramisu Alla Portofino A luscious favorite with crushed marinated raspberries (Ahhh…what can I say, this is wonderful!) (There may be another dessert choice like ice cream too.)

Red & White wines are served throughout the meal, and coffee/tea is served with dessert.

 

The mystery drama continues throughout the evening, then each table kind of collaborates and tries to figure out who the killer is.

 

We've enjoyed the Mystery dinner twice on different ships. It's always been at Portofino for us, so on ships where Portofino has been replaced by Giovanni's Table, I don't know if the menu is the same. I probably wouldn't do it again if it were just the two of us, but if we were sailing with friends who hadn't done it before, we would do this again. It's a fun evening!

Judy

[dacsmom]

I did it on the FOS in 2013 and booked it again for the Adventure in October, since it is in a different restaurant. It is cheesy, campy, and over the top, but so much fun. There is unlimited wine, your choice of red or white. The menu usually has two or three entree choices. The cast interacts with the audience and one person who guesses correctly wins a basket of goodies. The theme on the FOS was murder in a high school reunion. I would recommend trying it once, I thought it was well worth the price.

[Ren1216]

This isn't my thread but thanks for the information and feedback so far! We've never done it but I just booked 4 of us the other day to try it in Oct on Indy.

 

Upon booking, the description said it's to take place in Portofino's, which Indy doesn't have any more, so I assume it will be in Giovanni's. Anyone have any experience with the menu when it's held in Giovanni's?

[george35]

Going on the Serenade Nov. 13 do they have a mystery on this cruise & does anyone the name of it????

 

george35

[Clarea]

Going on the Serenade Nov. 13 do they have a mystery on this cruise & does anyone the name of it????

 

george35

If they have the Mystery Dinner on your cruise, it will be listed in your Cruise Planner. To my knowledge, it's the same mystery as on other ships.

[sross6019]

Agree with other posts. It is cheesy, some bad acting , but a lot of fun. We have done it twice and going again soon (treating family). The last time in was at Giovanni's for the whole show. The first time it started in the Viking lounge with snacks and wine and them ends up in Portofino's. Personally liked it at Portofino's the best. It is a good time to relax and start the vacation off nicely. Usually done on the first night at 6:30ish.

[Doug R.]

I did it on the FOS in 2013 and booked it again for the Adventure in October, since it is in a different restaurant. It is cheesy, campy, and over the top, but so much fun. There is unlimited wine, your choice of red or white. The menu usually has two or three entree choices. The cast interacts with the audience and one person who guesses correctly wins a basket of goodies. The theme on the FOS was murder in a high school reunion. I would recommend trying it once, I thought it was well worth the price.

 

I agreee with the cheesy, campy and over the top. On our Explorer out of Bayonne in 2013 it had a organized crime theme (well we were sailing out of Jersey :D). Lots of fun, food was good.

[Sorry Muffin]

Thanks for the input.

 

Mary