What’s your favorite restaurant on any cruise ship?

[Rotherham_Cruiser]

Don't know if it's still there but the BEST meal we've ever had at sea was at the SS United States on Celebrity Infinity

[Aquahound]

8 hours ago, George C said:

Celebrity infinity still has pictures and menus from the ship SS United States , I worked for US Lines which owned the SSUnited stares in 60’s as a computer operator . Unfortunately ship is basically rotting on dock in Philadelphia.

 

I've been hearing a lot of recent talk about restoration.  I really hope it happens.  I've been intrigued about that ship ever since I saw her in person in Philly a couple years ago.  

[leaveitallbehind]

42 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

I've been hearing a lot of recent talk about restoration.  I really hope it happens.  I've been intrigued about that ship ever since I saw her in person in Philly a couple years ago.  

FYI, here is a link the latest update on the restoration plans.  Being a resident of the area, I have seen the ship as it is many times and would love to see a restored version anchored at the pier.  It will be a fairly extensive undertaking but certainly would be a much nicer story than scrapping her.

https://www.ssusc.org/news/rxr-realty-moving-forward-with-plans-to-restore-the-ss-united-states

[JRG]

3 hours ago, Rotherham_Cruiser said:

Don't know if it's still there but the BEST meal we've ever had at sea was at the SS United States on Celebrity Infinity

 

I can almost still taste the Goat Cheese Souffle.......

 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by JRG

[George C]

1 hour ago, leaveitallbehind said:

FYI, here is a link the latest update on the restoration plans.  Being a resident of the area, I have seen the ship as it is many times and would love to see a restored version anchored at the pier.  It will be a fairly extensive undertaking but certainly would be a much nicer story than scrapping her.

https://www.ssusc.org/news/rxr-realty-moving-forward-with-plans-to-restore-the-ss-united-states

There is a tread on SS United States on cruise critic What ever happened to. 

[lenquixote66]

13 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

Because everyone is not like you.  I’m glad you prefer the MDR, but I prefer the ambiance, service, and better food in specialty restaurants. The MDRs on mass market ships have become too chaotic and impersonal over the years. 

Due to the fact that I have been on the same ship over the past few years I developed a “friendship” with head waiters and I tend to get personal service .

Having said that I rather save my money and use it for something other than food.

 

Enjoy your holiday.

[lenquixote66]

4 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

It is just an option for those who wish to expand the dining options from those venues that are included in the base cruise fare.  I think with most cruise lines in recent years the MDR, while still good, has changed in terms what it used to be with the variety and overall quality level of offerings in an attempt to keep the base fare in check.  The specialty restaurants just provide a higher level of dining option for those who want that. 

 

IMO spending extra for a better dining experience is no different than spending money on board for a spa treatment, ship sponsored shore excursion, beverage package, photo packages, or any other optional offering that is outside of the base cruise fare to enhance your cruise experience. 

 

Truth be told, in our earlier years of cruising we held the same opinion as you until we tried one of the specialty restaurants and realized the distinction between what was offered with the base fare and what was available with these optional venues.  Since then in recent years we now eat most of our dinners in the specialty restaurants v the MDR.  But we also don't buy the photo packages, spa treatments, or ship sponsored excursions, etc., where others do.  Just our preference.

Everything is preference .In 2018 we were on an NCL ship and our TA offered a perk of 8 specialty restaurant dinners.We decided to take it.The food was not that great .

We never buy photos .Our preference is to save our money for the casino.

 

Happy holiday

[leaveitallbehind]

5 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Everything is preference .In 2018 we were on an NCL ship and our TA offered a perk of 8 specialty restaurant dinners.We decided to take it.The food was not that great .

We never buy photos .Our preference is to save our money for the casino.

 

Happy holiday

I have never sailed on NCL so I cannot say from personal experience, but from what I have heard - and supported by some on this thread - perhaps is more the nature of that particular cruise line. 

 

Happy Holiday to you as well...

Edited April 10, 2020 by leaveitallbehind

[lenquixote66]

Just now, leaveitallbehind said:

Happy Holiday to you as well...

Thank you 

[XBGuy]

14 hours ago, JRG said:

If I could turn back time.....(think of the Cher video)

 

.......my vote would go to the SS United States on the Celebrity Infinity.......

 

 

 

For years I have been trying to remember the name of that restaurant.  Thank you.

 

In 2004 we were on the Celebrity Infinity for a 15-day cruise up western South America and through the Panama Canal to Florida.  This was the sixth ever cruise, but first one that had a restaurant.  It, actually, took us a couple days to find it.  When we did, we decided that for $25 pp it would be fun to try it.  We made a reservation for that evening and thought it was terrific.  The food was great, and the service was completely over the top.  So, we went back several more times.

 

Towards the end of the cruise, we were chatting with one of the servers while finishing coffee and dessert.  We were gushing over the experience we'd had. and he was thanking us profusely for our multiple visits.  Then, my wife mentioned something.  "I am a bit surprised that on a South American cruise, you never had anything on the menu from South America.  We love seviche."   He agreed that having some local choices would be good, and the conversation continued for a few minutes.  He left, and we continued with our dessert.

 

A few minutes later he was back.  "Come back, tomorrow.  I just spoke with the chef, and tomorrow we'll have seviche."

 

We did.  Sure enough, it wasn't on the menu, but we had seviche--and lots of it--that evening.

 

That was the only Celebrity cruise that we have ever been on.  From the reports I have read in this thread, it sounds like they have several excellent restaurant options.

 

Since 2011 the only cruise line we have taken is Princess.  The best restaurant on Princess is called SHARE.  Interestingly, SHARE is not, particularly, well-regarded by most Princess passengers.  As a result, it has been deployed on only three ships.  The menu is, truly, excellent.  However, the service is even better.  Since there is, generally, a pretty negative feeling about SHARE among Princess passengers, I don't think that in, roughly, a dozen visits to SHARE I have ever seen it more than one-third full.  As a result, the servers--and the headwaiter--have plenty of time to fuss over us.

 

 

[bob brown]

Best meal I have ever enjoyed on a cruise ship, was back in 2004, on the Celebrity Constellation.   We had dinner in its "Ocean Liner Restaurant", which was a specialty restaurant that had authentic artifacts from the CGT Ile de France, and other famous liner's.   We had the Steak Diane, prepared for us tableside...open flames are now outlawed in cruise ships.   They also served us "butterfly style", with as many server's as there were patrons, at each table, serving each course, and even removing dishes, simultaneously.   That all ended with the last major refit.   Here's a link to give an idea of what once was...

 

https://beyondships.com/Celebrity-Constellation-review-OceanLiners.html

[marco]

Doesn't sail any longer, but the Princess Grill on the QE2...both food and service were outstanding!

[rkacruiser]

41 minutes ago, marco said:

Doesn't sail any longer, but the Princess Grill on the QE2...both food and service were outstanding!

 

Not so in Tables of the World Restaurant, July 1980.  First lunch aboard (soon after a Noon sailing from Southampton), Entrecote was listed on the menu.  I ordered it.  I was served with Beef Liver.  When I told my Seward that this wasn't what I ordered, I was told, "Yes, it is.  That's Entrecote".  A beginning of the most disappointing experience at sea that I have ever had.  There were labor troubles on the ship and the guest experience suffered with one memorable exception.

[dkjretired]

Wife and I have been sailing mostly Celebrity ships for over 25 years and have eaten in almost all of Celebrity's Specialty restaurants over the years, also in the suite restaurant Luminae and Blu.   As good as they are none of them are as good as the experience of eating in the Main Dining Room on Celebity under the Michel Roux era. (who incidentally just passed away)   This comparison is in terms of service and food both.   You had four people assigned to serve you every night and they did not have as many tables as the MDRs of today.  The food was excellent and compares to any Specialty now.   Many items were prepared at your table as well as some specialty drinks, often with flaming shows put on.   

 

Murano today is probably their best specialty, lately many complaints on Celebrity board about the food in Tuscan.  I do agree with the poster about the Goat Cheese Soufflé's, served warm as an appetizer and delicious.   My absolute favorite is the Grand Marnier Souffle's, served warm for dessert.   Also dark chocolate souffle is excellent.  

[clo]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Not so in Tables of the World Restaurant, July 1980.  First lunch aboard (soon after a Noon sailing from Southampton), Entrecote was listed on the menu.  I ordered it.  I was served with Beef Liver.  When I told my Seward that this wasn't what I ordered, I was told, "Yes, it is.  That's Entrecote".  A beginning of the most disappointing experience at sea that I have ever had.  There were labor troubles on the ship and the guest experience suffered with one memorable exception.

The sauce for Entrecote actually is made from chicken liver and other things. But that's the sauce.

[cruisemom42]

17 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

 

 The main dining room on any Sitmar Cruises ship.  

 

What a wonderful flashback. No modern ship's MDR can offer the same, although many probably would not enjoy the extended number of courses (every evening) and very continental/Italian fare. I sailed Sitmar as a child through teenage years. I remember:

• Dinner chimes
• Caviar on formal nights (not just a garnish)
• Tableside preparations
• Full suite of silver, replaced at every course
• Table being de-crumbed
• Salads dressed at table and sides served at table 

among other things.

 

Sitmar is where I learned to like lobster, escargot, Beef Wellington, and to LOVE pasta and a cheese course for dessert. Long may her ships sail in our memories.

[AdoraBelle]

Palo on Disney Dream in 2015.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, dkjretired said:

Wife and I have been sailing mostly Celebrity ships for over 25 years and have eaten in almost all of Celebrity's Specialty restaurants over the years, also in the suite restaurant Luminae and Blu.   As good as they are none of them are as good as the experience of eating in the Main Dining Room on Celebity under the Michel Roux era. (who incidentally just passed away)   This comparison is in terms of service and food both.   You had four people assigned to serve you every night and they did not have as many tables as the MDRs of today.  The food was excellent and compares to any Specialty now.   Many items were prepared at your table as well as some specialty drinks, often with flaming shows put on.   

 

 

Another great memory from the past. Roux basically modernized the dining experience on cruise ships, who at the time were mostly offering either 1) very Continental menus that were becoming dated (see my post above, no contradiction -- Sitmar was by this time almost defunct), or 2) mostly "all you can eat" huge plates of food.

 

Roux introduced modern Continental menus with minimalist plating ("nouvelle cuisine") and decor. The presentation, quality and service gave the impression of dining in a very nice landside restaurant. Predictably I recall there were some who did not appreciate the decreased food quantity.

 

Back in those days (1990s) I truly didn't see the point of specialty restaurants on ships -- particularly because they were mostly steakhouses. If they had offered some good Asian food I might have tried it just for variety on longer cruises. But not a huge fan of just big ole steaks.

Edited April 10, 2020 by cruisemom42

[George C]

31 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

What a wonderful flashback. No modern ship's MDR can offer the same, although many probably would not enjoy the extended number of courses (every evening) and very continental/Italian fare. I sailed Sitmar as a child through teenage years. I remember:

• Dinner chimes
• Caviar on formal nights (not just a garnish)
• Tableside preparations
• Full suite of silver, replaced at every course
• Table being de-crumbed
• Salads dressed at table and sides served at table 

among other things.

 

Sitmar is where I learned to like lobster, escargot, Beef Wellington, and to LOVE pasta and a cheese course for dessert. Long may her ships sail in our memories.

Caviar was pretty common in 80’s and 90’s on a few lines rccl for one, remember getting it on Costa and they served it with chilled vodka at no cost.

[rkacruiser]

32 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

What a wonderful flashback. No modern ship's MDR can offer the same, although many probably would not enjoy the extended number of courses (every evening) and very continental/Italian fare. I sailed Sitmar as a child through teenage years. I remember:

• Dinner chimes
• Caviar on formal nights (not just a garnish)
• Tableside preparations
• Full suite of silver, replaced at every course
• Table being de-crumbed
• Salads dressed at table and sides served at table 

among other things.

 

Sitmar is where I learned to like lobster, escargot, Beef Wellington, and to LOVE pasta and a cheese course for dessert. Long may her ships sail in our memories.

 

Being a teenager, you probably didn't experience Wine Stewards and their service.  I do recall a pasta dish being prepared tableside without special request.    

 

A story about tableside preparations although on Rotterdam V in 1971.  I asked our Table Captain to prepare Crepes Suzette for my table one evening.  The evening he did, I remember a woman commenting as she left the LaFontaine Dining Room, passing our table saying:  "I didn't see that on the menu."   

[lenquixote66]

When we were on a Cunard ship in 1073 we had everything described above. It was mandatory that men wear suits at every dinner .

[cruisemom42]

3 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

When we were on a Cunard ship in 1073 we had everything described above. It was mandatory that men wear suits at every dinner .

 

Wow, you really did start cruising a long time ago!! 

 

And here I thought the only line back then was Viking.....

 

 

[George C]

5 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

When we were on a Cunard ship in 1073 we had everything described above. It was mandatory that men wear suits at every dinner .

Lenny I know your not young but 1073? Everyone had suits until mid 1980’s on most lines. Also most lines prepared some dish’s table side.

[sullaRaffaello]

The Queens Grill on all the Cunard ships. To turn back time, the Versailles Restaurant (tourist class) on the SS France.

[rkacruiser]

2 minutes ago, George C said:

Also most lines prepared some dish’s table side.

 

The loss of such an elegant dining experience was a significant departure from what cruisers of my generation learned to enjoy and helped to attract us to cruising as a vacation choice. 

 

Our experiences today have been so influenced by governmental regulations by the USCG and  the USPH that those that sailed--and survived--on the trans-Atlantic voyages of the great liners might be amazed that they lived to enjoy their crossings.  

 

What ship was lost because Crepes Suzette were flamed tableside?  How many became seriously ill because of a Deck Barbeque?  

 

This coronavirus situation is going to cause a further impact on our future cruise experiences.  Health wise for all?  It's probably going to be positive.  How many thousands and thousands of our citizens have been poorly educated about good health practices because classes dealing with Health Education have been supplemented by STEM classes in recent years?  STEM is important.  Health education is as well.  Could the lack of proper education for people been responsible, in part, for the spread of this disease?