Radiance windjammer review

[above sea level cruiser]

We were on the Radiance last week for the six day cruise and have a comparison review between the voyager of the seas and the Radiance in terms of the windjammer restaurant. First let me say that the food was very good and there was a good variety and selection for everyone. The thing that impressed us the most was the layout. On the voyager (and I'll bet this is true of many a ship), the buffet consisted of pretty much two long lines down either side of the ship towards the aft, which created long lines as you passed through the areas of offerings while not wanting to "step out" and go around people to the food selection you wanted for fear of looking like you were butting in line. Instead, one would tend to stay in line and push there tray along stopping to pick up what they were looking for.

 

However, on the Radiance of the seas, the layout consisted of several "islands" of different types of foods that were scattered in the area with plenty of room around them. This made for excellent traffic control and virtually no line ups. A very great idea in my mind.

 

As I said, the food was very good. In fact our kids 13,17 &18 actually preferred to eat there for breakfast - omelets were superb - than the dinning room!

 

One complaint though (actually two). It irks me (politeness not intended) that I saw - on more than one occasion - one couple eating right from the buffet as if it was some sort of feed trough. (If you are reading this then you know who you are). RCCL should not allow animals on their ships. Also, somewhere I've read, that you are never to return to the food stations with a dirty plate!!! Yet, you guessed it! Some people! Although this is not as bad as gorging yourself in line, It's a shame that some people need to be reminded of their manners. Funnily enough, I never saw any kids do this.

[logan1_2000]

I too thought the layout was terrific, thought the offerings were excellent quality and variety. liked the casual dinner options that i saw on one evening when DS (9) fell asleep and thus no dining room trip for us. the room decor was classy, the variety of seating options to include the rattan comfy chairs and loveseats was great. I think trays might help so that perhaps you could at least go from one station to another to gather your meal, instead of a plate here and a plate there filling both your hands...and then how to get that dish of dessert, or fruit...

 

i hope it wasnt us eating from the trough! always used tongs and put it on our plates...not always sure if everything was still on the plate when the plate was set down, i confess:o

[Cruising89143]

We were on the Radiance last week for the six day cruise and have a comparison review between the voyager of the seas and the Radiance in terms of the windjammer restaurant. First let me say that the food was very good and there was a good variety and selection for everyone. The thing that impressed us the most was the layout. On the voyager (and I'll bet this is true of many a ship), the buffet consisted of pretty much two long lines down either side of the ship towards the aft, which created long lines as you passed through the areas of offerings while not wanting to "step out" and go around people to the food selection you wanted for fear of looking like you were butting in line. Instead, one would tend to stay in line and push there tray along stopping to pick up what they were looking for.

 

However, on the Radiance of the seas, the layout consisted of several "islands" of different types of foods that were scattered in the area with plenty of room around them. This made for excellent traffic control and virtually no line ups. A very great idea in my mind.

 

As I said, the food was very good. In fact our kids 13,17 &18 actually preferred to eat there for breakfast - omelets were superb - than the dinning room!

 

One complaint though (actually two). It irks me (politeness not intended) that I saw - on more than one occasion - one couple eating right from the buffet as if it was some sort of feed trough. (If you are reading this then you know who you are). RCCL should not allow animals on their ships. Also, somewhere I've read, that you are never to return to the food stations with a dirty plate!!! Yet, you guessed it! Some people! Although this is not as bad as gorging yourself in line, It's a shame that some people need to be reminded of their manners. Funnily enough, I never saw any kids do this.

 

On the Navigator they also have the islands in place of the long lines of the earlier Voyager class ships. This does make it easier to use.

[nanfromatlanta]

We were on the Radiance for the Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years cruise. We ate all of our breakfasts, most of our lunches and one dinner in the Windjammer. The food was always the correct temperature, the selections endless, and no long lines. The evening we had dinner there, I selected my meats and veggies and had them stir fried Mongolian style. It was teriffic. The captain was also up there with his wife and 2 children. I told him how much we enjoyed the food as well as the layout. By the way, I am a big salad eater. I always found everything cold and fresh. I only wish they had Balsamic vinegarette dressing (yum).

 

The soft serve yogurt was also very refreshing.

 

Nan

[above sea level cruiser]

We have only cruised twice before, so I think it's safe to say we were on your cruise. Based upon what you've posted on these boards, I think you have been around a lot longer than me! By the way, wasn't it you that said the stateroom attendants said that the reason for the vaccu-flush problem was created by a towel and a running shoe flushed down a toilet? - We also had a problem with our toilet plugging up but maint. guy came by while we were out and fixed it. I think the kids weren't pushing the button all the way in and that might have been the problem. I might have seen you on the ship one never knows. I was sitting beside Banker in the casino a few nights and never even knew until I told my wife about a guy I met from Mississauga then she said "does he have 2 kids? - I've seen his posts on CC!!" - too bad, as I look back know and review the boards, I missed all the hype and anticipation that you guys built up over the preceding months. Oh well, theres always next time! How's May? If I can find Banker WON (formerly Bank1), maybe he'll cough up for another cruise in May!!!! We'll see.

[logan1_2000]

there was only whole milk and skim milk!! i didnt expect the full range of varieties that disney carried (they even had vanilla) but i consider 1% lowfat a rather standard variety--DS (9) was a real sport and made the transition when I told DW I wanted her to buy 1% not 2% a couple years back, but he found whole to be "too much" and skim to be "too watery", he was looking for JUST RIGHT!

 

that's my gripe. not a deal breaker, but i do think it its a reasonable expectation.

[bmr12]

How to make 1% milk: mix one part skim (0%) milk with one part 2% milk.

[whale-watcher]

The Enchantment refurb also included conversion of the Windjammer buffet to the new layout - it really cuts down on lines and crowding!

[BEVGOO]

This was our 6th cruise in 5 years. The Radiance Windjammer layout was great. You could "cruise" the station you wanted - say dessert or salads or eggs/meats and usually not be in anyone's way. My husband did say he picked up a piece of bread and put it on his plate without the tongs and the attendant did say something to him. He told him he was sorry and did it without thinking. He did put it directly on his plate and didn't think he touched any other piece but the attendant was right to remind him.

 

My only complaint -- the chocolate iced donuts in the morning were way tooo good. I sometimes ate 3. I think that they shouldn't taste so good so I wouldn't eat as many. It is all RCCL fault!

[logan1_2000]

How to make 1% milk: mix one part skim (0%) milk with one part 2% milk.

 

thanks for the algebra refresher. there was no 2%. just whole and skim. didn't see chocolate, now that I think about it.

 

2% is also a popular variety--but perhaps neither 1% nor 2% is popular in miami and the rest of latin america and the caribbean.

[logan1_2000]

The Enchantment refurb also included conversion of the Windjammer buffet to the new layout - it really cuts down on lines and crowding!

 

4 weeks to go!

[MGoBlue2]

thanks for the algebra refresher. there was no 2%. just whole and skim. didn't see chocolate, now that I think about it.

 

2% is also a popular variety--but perhaps neither 1% nor 2% is popular in miami and the rest of latin america and the caribbean.

1/3 whole -2/3 skim will be close enough to 1% that no one would notice. Not that you should have to do that, but ....

[sailor moon]

We so enjoyed the Windjammer on the Radiance that it was a huge disappointment on the Splendour. I like the Splendour but the Windjammer is too small and crowded and the food was never up to the par of the Radiance. I guess I was spoiled!

[mkringen]

1/3 whole -2/3 skim will be close enough to 1% that no one would notice. Not that you should have to do that, but ....

 

That is what we did on the Monarch for my 10yo ds. Either mixed it in a glass or right in the cereal bowl. He prefers 1% or 2% but can't stand skim or whole. Also he prefers his milk from Costco and not the regular grocery store. Talk about a milk connoisseur. Sheesh.

 

Michelle in SoCal

[albertiger]

We were on the Radiance last week for the six day cruise and have a comparison review between the voyager of the seas and the Radiance in terms of the windjammer restaurant. First let me say that the food was very good and there was a good variety and selection for everyone. The thing that impressed us the most was the layout. On the voyager (and I'll bet this is true of many a ship), the buffet consisted of pretty much two long lines down either side of the ship towards the aft, which created long lines as you passed through the areas of offerings while not wanting to "step out" and go around people to the food selection you wanted for fear of looking like you were butting in line. Instead, one would tend to stay in line and push there tray along stopping to pick up what they were looking for.

 

However, on the Radiance of the seas, the layout consisted of several "islands" of different types of foods that were scattered in the area with plenty of room around them. This made for excellent traffic control and virtually no line ups. A very great idea in my mind.

 

As I said, the food was very good. In fact our kids 13,17 &18 actually preferred to eat there for breakfast - omelets were superb - than the dinning room!

 

One complaint though (actually two). It irks me (politeness not intended) that I saw - on more than one occasion - one couple eating right from the buffet as if it was some sort of feed trough. (If you are reading this then you know who you are). RCCL should not allow animals on their ships. Also, somewhere I've read, that you are never to return to the food stations with a dirty plate!!! Yet, you guessed it! Some people! Although this is not as bad as gorging yourself in line, It's a shame that some people need to be reminded of their manners. Funnily enough, I never saw any kids do this.

what does it matter if you return with a dirty plate (only YOU ate off of it) to get more of something? am i not getting the point?:confused:

[logan1_2000]

what does it matter if you return with a dirty plate (only YOU ate off of it) to get more of something? am i not getting the point?:confused:

 

germs from one person's mouth touch the fork, that fork touches the plate, and when the plate is (incorrectly) carried back up to the buffet, the serving piece touches the plate.

 

it is common standard practice of r buffet restaurants to collect used plates off table when guests return to the buffet, where they should get fresh plates for their subsequent courses.

 

or at least that's how I learned it at the Cornell Hotel School.

[lauren0309]

How is the windjammer on Adventure of the Seas? Is it two long lines or different islands. When we were on Majesty and Monarch there were two long lines, but on the Serenade and Enchantment before it was stretched there were islands also. Just curious!

[wolfcathorse]

We were on the Radiance for the Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years cruise. The captain was also up there with his wife and 2 children. I told him how much we enjoyed the food as well as the layout. Nan

 

Nan - it was my understanding that Capt Loekling was unmarried. Does this mean that for your holiday cruise you had Capt Bowland?

[above sea level cruiser]

germs from one person's mouth touch the fork, that fork touches the plate, and when the plate is (incorrectly) carried back up to the buffet, the serving piece touches the plate.

 

it is common standard practice of r buffet restaurants to collect used plates off table when guests return to the buffet, where they should get fresh plates for their subsequent courses.

 

or at least that's how I learned it at the Cornell Hotel School.

 

Thanks Logan1, I couldn't have said it any better. My cross contamination experience occurred when a dirty plate entered the food conga line only to have the cook (rather unwillingly) put an omelet on it using the exact same spatula that masterminded my breakfast. Had he thrown the omelet towards the plate, that would have been a different story......!

[HurricaneSally]

Actually, it's a health code violation to carry a used plate to the buffet. Most people don't get it.

[dfishner]

I was also on the 6 day radiance cruise, I thought the Windjammer was awesome so much to choose from and greatly layout. I am in the food business and could not agree with you more about people eating from the buffet as well as going back with the dirty plates. Makes you think how they were raised it is just plain unsafe and poor sanitation habits of their parts. Glad I did not see anyone do it.

[logan1_2000]

Nan - it was my understanding that Capt Loekling was unmarried. Does this mean that for your holiday cruise you had Capt Bowland?

 

It was definitely Rune on board the Radiance. As a divorce lawyer on vacation, I chose not to pay any attention as to whose wife anyone might have been snuggling up to--that is what I had waiting for me here at the office when I got back.:eek:

[wolfcathorse]

It was definitely Rune on board the Radiance. As a divorce lawyer on vacation, I chose not to pay any attention as to whose wife anyone might have been snuggling up to--that is what I had waiting for me here at the office when I got back.:eek:

 

I think many a lady is going to cry when they read this! However, I have to believe half of what I see and none of what I hear. Unless OP or logan HEARD Capt Loekling introduce them as HIS wife and HIS kids, hope will spring eternal. :D

[shirleygr]

germs from one person's mouth touch the fork, that fork touches the plate, and when the plate is (incorrectly) carried back up to the buffet, the serving piece touches the plate.

 

it is common standard practice of r buffet restaurants to collect used plates off table when guests return to the buffet, where they should get fresh plates for their subsequent courses.

 

or at least that's how I learned it at the Cornell Hotel School.

That's how I learned it in sanitation class in culinary school, too.

I just wanted to comment about the lack of hand sanitizing stations in the Windjammer. It was one of the things I really liked about my cruise on the Dawn--sanitizer stations everywhere.

Oh, and the ones on cococay were not working, either. Disappointing.

Ahh, I love the smell of bleach in the morning. ;)