denmarks Posted May 14, 2019 #1 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Is a dining room open for lunch on the Grand Princess on embarkation day? Is it available but limited to certain people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondfk Posted May 14, 2019 #2 Share Posted May 14, 2019 No restrictions, it's open for all. Deck 6 midship. On our last cruise, open from 11:30 to 1:00. Quite strict closing at 1:00 on the dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonit964 Posted May 14, 2019 #3 Share Posted May 14, 2019 One of the dining rooms will be open from 12:00-1:30 on Embarkation day. Just check the Patter to see which one. It is open to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondfk Posted May 14, 2019 #4 Share Posted May 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, tonit964 said: One of the dining rooms will be open from 12:00-1:30 on Embarkation day. Just check the Patter to see which one. It is open to anyone. Times (at least on the Grand) were revised to 11:30 - 1:00 earlier this year, including our most recent in April. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishywood Posted May 14, 2019 #5 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Once you are onboard immediately look for which MDR is open. Very likely it will be the one that is partially used for Club Class, deck 6 midship. Don't worry about the Patter. And for sure never ask a crew member which MDR is open. They will always tell you to just go up to the buffet. In Alaska this past summer on both Island and Golden most days the MDR was open for lunch the hours were 11:30 to 1:00. But at least one day on Island it was 12:00 to 1:30. And embarking in Whittier I was in the first group to board at 12:30, took my carryons up to my cabin, then went back down to deck 6 and was admitted to the MDR. Didn't notice how soon after they shut the doors. And speaking of doors--it is possible the only door that will be open is the one marked for Club Class. Was that way on my last three cruises. But everyone who turned up was admitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In Toronto Posted May 14, 2019 #6 Share Posted May 14, 2019 I love to have embarkation lunch in the MDR. Nice glass of white wine with it and I am all set for my cruise. Anyone have the menu for this lunch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted May 14, 2019 #7 Share Posted May 14, 2019 One dining room is always open although with short hours. The crew will always steer you toward the buffet which is generally a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matadams4u Posted May 15, 2019 #8 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Lately I’ve experienced the hours to have been 12 to 130. The sliced filet mignon with the shrimp avocado appetizer are my favorites. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Yoda Posted May 15, 2019 #9 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Pretty typical, sometimes fewer choices - see second post https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2546777-royal-embarkation-lunch-menu/ Thank you to Pooh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishywood Posted May 15, 2019 #10 Share Posted May 15, 2019 2 hours ago, In Toronto said: I love to have embarkation lunch in the MDR. Nice glass of white wine with it and I am all set for my cruise. Anyone have the menu for this lunch? Courtesy CanadianBurger's live thread from Star Princess last week: Menu much reduced since last year. Used to be a small charcuterie plate appetizer, pasta fagioli soup, and salmon and chicken cacciatore entrees. Plus apple tart and cherry trifle as well as the souffle for dessert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLOlady2014 Posted May 16, 2019 #11 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Interesting that Princess ships have different embarkation menus. We just came back from Alaska on the Coral, and I had a delicious salmon entree along with the avocado/shrimp appetizer and orange soufflé. I believe we were able to choose from the “old” menu fishywood referred to. Everything was yummy😋 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JF - retired RRT Posted May 16, 2019 #12 Share Posted May 16, 2019 On 5/14/2019 at 6:51 PM, fishywood said: Menu much reduced since last year. Used to be a small charcuterie plate appetizer, pasta fagioli soup, and salmon and chicken cacciatore entrees. Plus apple tart and cherry trifle as well as the souffle for dessert. We were on the Pacific on Sunday for a BVE and they had that "old" menu. Guess it's still available...depending on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneharborlady Posted May 16, 2019 #13 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Maybe I stand alone, but that menu would not thrill me. I would prefer something from the IC, or pizza from the Lido deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare karatemom2 Posted May 16, 2019 #14 Share Posted May 16, 2019 We too had the traditional menu on the Royal last week - I had the salmon and DH had the beef tenderloin. We still had the cold cut appetizer and avocado/shrimp appetizer as well as the same salad and soup options we have had before. And of course the orange souffle which is the best way to start out any cruise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky61 Posted May 16, 2019 #15 Share Posted May 16, 2019 On 5/14/2019 at 3:19 PM, fishywood said: . And for sure never ask a crew member which MDR is open. They will always tell you to just go up to the buffet. I I have never had a crew member tell me to just go to the buffet. How many times has that happened to you?😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JF - retired RRT Posted May 16, 2019 #16 Share Posted May 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, Husky61 said: I have never had a crew member tell me to just go to the buffet. How many times has that happened to you?😃 After the 3rd or 4th time, I finally decided not to ask anymore. Just head to deck 6 and see what's open. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare karatemom2 Posted May 16, 2019 #17 Share Posted May 16, 2019 4 minutes ago, Husky61 said: I have never had a crew member tell me to just go to the buffet. How many times has that happened to you?😃 Although we have not experienced this in the past couple of years, this used to be a common occurrence. I think I began to note the change once Princess implemented the Bon Voyage Experience and thus created a more high profile of the dining room lunch on embarkation day. But there really was a time when it was the best kept secret around if you weren't in the know or privy to the great information here at Cruise Critic. And yes, back then if you boarded and asked about dining options you were sent up to the buffet. We even had instances where we were at the door of the dining room and they were still trying to route us away. That just doesn't seem to happen anymore, but I can only assume they staff it differently now and aren't as concerned about having more guests than they can handle which may have been the issue in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted May 16, 2019 #18 Share Posted May 16, 2019 10 minutes ago, Husky61 said: I have never had a crew member tell me to just go to the buffet. How many times has that happened to you?😃 They usually just tell me that the dining room is closed and lunch is served in the buffet. The last time, they had an employee at the elevator telling people the dining room was closed. I went anyway and it was open. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezabel2924 Posted May 17, 2019 #19 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Here is what we had on the Pacific Princess for the embarkation lunch on May 12th. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasbo49 Posted May 17, 2019 #20 Share Posted May 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Husky61 said: I have never had a crew member tell me to just go to the buffet. How many times has that happened to you?😃 I have asked crew members several times which dining room is open, and all they say is, "the Lido deck is open for lunch." They will look straight into your eyes and tell you no dining room is open. At least 8 to 10 times. Then I quit asking. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEFdoc Posted May 17, 2019 #21 Share Posted May 17, 2019 On 5/14/2019 at 2:56 PM, denmarks said: Is a dining room open for lunch on the Grand Princess on embarkation day? Is it available but limited to certain people? Been 50/50 for us. Sometimes they close it early, sometimes they have PreCruise activities or private parties. Also, if BV group is too large they may turn you away. Worth a try. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted May 17, 2019 #22 Share Posted May 17, 2019 4 hours ago, jasbo49 said: I have asked crew members several times which dining room is open, and all they say is, "the Lido deck is open for lunch." They will look straight into your eyes and tell you no dining room is open. At least 8 to 10 times. Then I quit asking. Jim Yup. We don't ask, we just check out the dining rooms. On once cruise, we were chatting with the Cruise Director and commented that we were off to the dining room for lunch. He insisted that in all his years with Princess he had never seen the dining room open for lunch on embarkation day. It was open. Only once in a few dozen cruises have we found the MDR closed. There was a private function. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jondfk Posted May 17, 2019 #23 Share Posted May 17, 2019 18 hours ago, jasbo49 said: I have asked crew members several times which dining room is open, and all they say is, "the Lido deck is open for lunch." They will look straight into your eyes and tell you no dining room is open. At least 8 to 10 times. Then I quit asking. Jim Same for me, at least 6-8 times. Most recently they had a staffer standing in the elevator lobby one left turn away from the clearly open dining room firmly telling anyone who asked "go to Lido deck for lunch". Maybe it only happens to the two of us 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted May 17, 2019 #24 Share Posted May 17, 2019 I have also been told there is a private party when there isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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