Quality of food on Royal Caribbean

[dreadpirate3]

On our cruise a few weeks ago, we found the MDR to be as good as any we had experienced on our other three cruises, with these exceptions.

 

The lobster bisque was spiced water with a few indiscernible bits of shellfish.

The half roasted chicken was slightly underdone and sent back.

The roasted lamb shank was over cooked and tough.

 

Our wait team took great care of us and warned us to avoid the pork shoulder, as it was tough. It seems like roasted meats are much harder to keep at a good temperature for serving large groups without going over.

 

We ate in the MDR and the Compass Deli, and only went to the Windjammer for our soda refills.

[NemoCrownie]

The positive thing is with this quality of food, we should not gain any weight during our cruise

 

DH and I lost weight on our last B2B cruise and that was while consuming too many calories from alcoholic drinks. The best meals we had were during our port stops and excursions. Portofino's was also good but it is officially gone now - we were on the Jewel - and Chops was only a mediocre experience.

 

We aren't foodies by any stretch of the imagination but the food quality, variety and availability, in addition to all of the other cutbacks, have caused us to explore other vacation options. I also don't buy into the "I didn't have to buy it, cook it or clean up after it" argument because that is expected with most vacation choices. For the first time in years we have no future cruises booked on RCI and I am hesitant to recommend them to others.

[trev71]

I agree the food has some what declined but I have never had to send anything back.

[Biker19]

Haven't tried the hot dogs, but I liked the BBQ chicken and ribs.

 

+1 on the ribs.

[forkcreek]

Over the years we have noticed that the number of people who have given up on the MDR for dinner has been growing. This is very noticeable in the WJ There although the food is not really great, there is a large variety including several soups, a large salad bar,deserts, usually a carvery station, at times a Mongolian stir fry area, an Indian selection and a glutton free area. Usually the food is available at the proper temperature and selections are constantly being trefilled. The WJ is not for cruisers who prefer a sit down/waited on experience. For that we go to a specialty restaurant even tho with each menu change the quality of the dining experience and service has lessened.

[squiffynimrod]

Over the years we have noticed that the number of people who have given up on the MDR for dinner has been growing. This is very noticeable in the WJ There although the food is not really great, there is a large variety including several soups, a large salad bar,deserts, usually a carvery station, at times a Mongolian stir fry area, an Indian selection and a glutton free area. Usually the food is available at the proper temperature and selections are constantly being trefilled. The WJ is not for cruisers who prefer a sit down/waited on experience. For that we go to a specialty restaurant even tho with each menu change the quality of the dining experience and service has lessened.

 

Quoted for posterity.

[big_schots]

I first sailed almost 30 years ago, but those days are long gone unless you go upscale. The MDR food from the 1987 Carnival Jubilee would blow away anything that all the mainstream cruise lines specialty restaurants have to offer. That being said, in a 2.5 year period on RCCL, I have definitely noticed a decline in quality and offerings. I have always found the service in the MDR restaurant to be excellent, and all the wait staff to be very accommodating. I completely avoid the Windjammer, since the majority of food looks very unappetizing. Seeing all those (precooked) burgers sitting a steam plate full of water makes me cringe. The OP asked about a Princess comparison, and I (unfortunately) find the MDR food comparable. Not horrible, and if you go by the waiters recommendations the food is edible. But, I find the food in the Princess' Horizon Court buffets, especially on the Royal class ships, to be excellent. Both presentation, quality, and choices. Also, the free specialty restaurant, Alfedo's, makes made to order pizzas, among other items. But, Royal's entertainment is definitely a notch better then Princess. So, when we now cruise RCCL we go the specialty restaurants on the majority of the nights. We are rolling with the punches.

[Rocketlady]

As long as I can get fresh fruit and veg. I am happy. I prefer to go to the windjammer because of this. My husband goes for the meats. Neither one of us complain the lack of food. Hey as long I don't have to cook I am even more happier.

[brady19]

Its most likely intentional. RCI is still packing people in and now more and more passengers are paying for specialty dining. Years back almost all meals were in the MDR, maybe you had one specialty night, now you book a 3,4 or even 5 night specialty package. Crusie lines, including RCI have figured out how to get people to pay extra for food that was once included.

[George C]

Its most likely intentional. RCI is still packing people in and now more and more passengers are paying for specialty dining. Years back almost all meals were in the MDR, maybe you had one specialty night, now you book a 3,4 or even 5 night specialty package. Crusie lines, including RCI have figured out how to get people to pay extra for food that was once included.

 

My next cruise has 5 nights in specialty for 105 and 1st night 1/2 off specialty so we will have one night in MDR

[harola]

We were on Jewel transatlantic in November and we thought MDR selection and quality was just so so. The menu in the Diamond lounge had better choices than the one in the MDR so the menu was altered for the transatlantic. We had lamb shank twice (12nights) and that was good but there were evenings when nothing on the menu appealed to us. There was lots of chicken but few beef dishes although there was the Manhattan stripsteak available every night which was not bad. One night we asked for Indian food, that was available and tasty.

 

We did Chefs table which was excellent. Izumi was also good but we did not like Chops Californian wine dinner. Wines did not pair well with the food and were much too sweet to our taste.

 

We cruise since 2011 and are Diamond members. We notice the decline in food selection and quality and are quite bored with the menus. We will never pay an upcharge for a filet mignon in the MDR. It costs too much and we do not like big quantaties. We simply prefer a smal piece of meat of good quality with a nice glass of wine. We are european and liked Royal Caribbean because it had the wow factor but now we do not have any reservations and are looking also at MSC or Holland America. If the price and destination is right for us we are open to other cruise lines.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[vacationlover_mn]

On our first cruise, almost 20 years ago (on Carnival), dinners were FANCY! We've noticed an overall drop in fanciness and # of options since then. However, it's still nicer than what we make at home :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited January 4, 2017 by vacationlover_mn

[jticarruthers]

Cruising (primarily with RCI) regularly for about 6-7 years now and would say that there has definitely been a steady decline in quality over that time period.

 

Not only has the quality dropped but the reaction to that lack of quality has also become ho-hum.

 

When we first started cruising if you had any complaint at all it felt like the whole restaurant team would be all over it, headwaiter was summoned to apologize, etc. (admittedly probably over the top reaction but it felt "special"). Last cruise out we had an issue every night, ranging from meat cooked wrong, cold food, hair in food, etc. and never once did we see/hear from our headwaiter.

 

Just a different atmosphere/focus now than it was a short few years ago.

[cheers55]

Wow- maybe I am easy to please. I'm shocked to hear some of the reviews for RC food. We are diamond with RC and have never tried another cruise line. Our food in MDR has always been outstanding. We love it. The service couldn't be better IMO. For example, the last 2 we went on Warm Chocolate Cake was not on the menu.....we love this dish for desert .... The next night our waiter had in for us made special. It's the little things I guess. But we could not be happier with the food.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[tjmaher]

In October RCCL rolled out a fleet wide new menu. We were on the Oasis in November and the food was horrible off the new menu. Limited choices. Both my husband and I felt like they were forcing us to go to the specialty restaurants for better food. I felt bad for the servers and they stand on their heads to please you.

 

We are NOT complainers, especially when we are on a cruise, but I will say, I don't believe we would sail on RCCL again until the menu changes again.

[davy jones]

Combine a 'I don't have to cook it or clean up' mindset with people being guilt tripped into providing perfect surveys and you end up here; mediocre food. RCI food is "okay". I've never had anything terrible that I couldn't or wouldn't eat, but as far as comparable cruise lines go I rank them at the bottom consistently.

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

Add to that, reducing MDR quality increases business at the pay for venues and you have the root causes of the issue.

[BillOh]

I never complain about the food. I can always get something else if I am disappointed in what I have chosen.

.

 

Not all of us have that luxury. My wife and I are weight loss surgery success stories and as a result if you have seen any of my reviews, Food porn is almost non-existent. By the time I eat enough of one entre to find it is sub bar, I can't eat enough of another to make it worthwhile. Its very disappointing to waste a big part of my dinner on something that isn't good. While its far down my list of priorities we do have to eat. I do enjoy eating in the main dining room. However, on many nights there may be only one entre I would order without going to the classic's menu.

[rafinmd]

As long as I can get fresh fruit and veg. I am happy. I prefer to go to the windjammer because of this. My husband goes for the meats. Neither one of us complain the lack of food. Hey as long I don't have to cook I am even more happier.

 

You probably shouldn't look at Seabourn. There's a "fruit of the day" (green apples 1 day, bananas the next...) but nothing in the lido. For this Royal blows Seabourn away for me. What you get doesn't always correspond to what you pay.

 

Roy

[artvlay]

this is why the quality has declined....before "specialty" restaurants, the food options were plentiful, artfully presented, and quite tasty! Then, they decided to lessen the "included food options", and if you wanted what you had in the past, you'd pay extra for it....and it seems folks are willing to do that.

 

I foresee, in the not too distant future, that only the buffet will be included in your fare....if you want anything else, it will be an uncharge.

 

exactly!!!!

[Cro_and_Swan]

I can't comment on the decline in quality over the years ... but I'll share some observations/thoughts from our recent cruise.

 

If I had based my opinion purely on the food in the MDR the very first night of the cruise, I might never have wanted to cruise again .... it was not good and nothing was hot, mostly room temperature or even cool ... but happily we had many other MUCH MUCH better meals in the MDR during the cruise. I'm so happy I didn't write it off just based on that first night. And honestly, it made me think of when Delta served meals on its flights and not just snacks ... and they were basically glorified microwave dinners.

 

Seasoned cruisers probably know and practice this to some extent ... but for other newbies ...

 

It also helped that I quickly became comfortable with the idea of ORDER WHAT YOU WANT (within reason) ... if you see two appetizers you want ... order them ... if you want a salad and an appetizer ... order both. I never ordered more than one entree, but I did see others who did and no one batted an eye. If I'd gotten an entree that I didn't like at all, I would have asked for a different one. I don't think I could justify the quantity of actually eating two full entrees, but that's just me ... I'm sure my son would enjoy both a steak and a fish entree and it wouldn't seem excessive for him. I didn't go out of my way to be difficult, but knowing I didn't want the extra carbs/starch (would rather save them for multiple desserts lol) ... I asked that the rice/potatoes be left off a dish ... one night I asked for extra veggies, etc.

 

When I couldn't decide between two desserts ... I ordered them both. I didn't always finish them both, but I got to try them ... and shared with my travel partner as well. When I wanted a dessert that didn't come with ice cream but I wanted ice cream with it, I asked for it. I decided my enjoyment was worth more than my concern that a table of total strangers who i would never see again might think i was being piggish.

 

Anyway, I know this is getting away from the original topic of food quality ... but as a new cruiser, just becoming comfortable with ordering to my own preferences/desires went a long way in making the whole MDR experience meet my own expectations.

 

For lunch, we ate at the buffet or cafe ... and mainly enjoyed fresh salads, fruit and lighter meals after the first day frenzy of thinking I wanted to try EVERYTHING. I found that there were some good entree/side dishes on the buffet, but in general, the simpler selections were more to my liking. The broiled fish was good, the BBQ chicken was excellent ... it wasn't all sticky and 'overly sauced' but rather truly tasted like barbeque-grilled chicken. The Indian entrees were very good. What wasn't good, imho, were the pasta dishes ... to me every sauce I tried just basically tasted like someone opened a jar of supermarket sauce (both the marinara type and the cream/alfredo type) and heated it up ... not very well seasoned, not fresh tasting, etc.

 

Anyway, I hope to one day enjoy a more 'gourmet foodie' fine dining type cruise experience ... but this time, I was satisfied for the most part with RC's 'free'/included food offerings ... just not overly impressed.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Cro_and_Swan

[rbschultz]

used to be we did every meal save maybe one in MDR.

 

I agree with this. On the smaller, older ships the only "specialty" restaurants are Portofino (renamed Giovannis), Chops, and now Izumi. We would always pick one non-formal night to do Portofino and the rest of the cruise go to the MDR. Now that there is more choice we find ourselves elsewhere.

 

In terms of quality, however, I have absolutely no gripes with what we get in the MDR. Always have a delicious meal.

[traveler111]

I was on the Adventure of the Seas Christmas sailing. The food in the main dining room was all right if you ate beef. On Christmas day the brisket I ordered was corned beef, not braised meat as one would expect. It arrived with potato pancakes which is what one would expect with brisket. I know corned beef is cured brisket but that was not what was indicated. As for the Windjammer as an earlier posted mentioned the pile of dried out hamburger patties looked bad. The food on the ship did not compared with Princess or Holland America ships. Also the drink prices seemed high.

[John&LaLa]

Not all of us have that luxury. My wife and I are weight loss surgery success stories and as a result if you have seen any of my reviews, Food porn is almost non-existent. By the time I eat enough of one entre to find it is sub bar, I can't eat enough of another to make it worthwhile. Its very disappointing to waste a big part of my dinner on something that isn't good. While its far down my list of priorities we do have to eat. I do enjoy eating in the main dining room. However, on many nights there may be only one entre I would order without going to the classic's menu.

 

I have a good idea if the food is not to my liking when it is placed in front of me, and can probably tell it's not to my liking after the first bite. ;)

[vacationlover_mn]

Hi Bill- didn't realize we were In the same "club". I usually order 2-3 apps and a dessert. I can eat about 4 oz protein, and maybe 1/3 of a dessert. I always start out the cruise by telling the waiter "I don't eat much". And, every night, I say- the food was awesome, I just couldn't eat another bite! However, they always are worried that I found something wrong with the food :(. On the last cruise the head waiter came over on night 6 and was very concerned that I was unhappy. Do you have any tips about how I could handle this better? Ordering less isn't an option- I must have my escargot and cheese plate, and something new/fun :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited January 4, 2017 by vacationlover_mn

[John&LaLa]

Hi Bill- didn't realize we were In the same "club". I usually order 2-3 apps and a dessert. I can eat about 4 oz protein, and maybe 1/3 of a dessert. I always start out the cruise by telling the waiter "I don't eat much". And, every night, I say- the food was awesome, I just couldn't eat another bite! However, they always are worried that I found something wrong with the food :(. On the last cruise the head waiter came over on night 6 and was very concerned that I was unhappy. Do you have any tips about how I could handle this better? Ordering less isn't an option- I must have my escargot and cheese plate, and something new/fun :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Tell them why you don't eat much. Do it discreetly. You can also do what my grandson does, just spread it around the plate. 😉

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app