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Embarkation Day Lunch

NaplesKnitter

By NaplesKnitter,
in Princess Cruises

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JF - retired RRT

JF - retired RRT

Posted
Posted (edited)
22 minutes ago, jimbo1683 said:

Is embarkation day lunch a 'thing'? (Ive not cruised before) Is it different to other day lunches?

Shhh!! Yes, it's a 'thing' & it's a secret.

One of the reasons those in the know go to the MDR for embarkation lunch is because so few know about it...it's usually very uncrowded.

If you ask a crew member, "which MDR is open for lunch?", you will be directed to the buffet 99.8% of the time. I didn't make it 100%, because I assume that occasionally a crew member will tell you.

If you want to know where it is - check the Patter that should be in your cabin or just go to the MDR on deck 6 midship - if it's not there, go down the stairs to deck 5. This works on almost all of the ships.

You can also grab lunch in Alfredo's or Gigi's (depending on the ship - if it has one or the other). Both are superior to the overcrowded, noisy buffet.

Edited by JF - retired RRT
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jimbo1683

jimbo1683

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Shhh!! Yes, it's a 'thing' & it's a secret.

One of the reasons those in the know go to the MDR for embarkation lunch is because so few know about it...it's usually very uncrowded.

If you ask a crew member, "which MDR is open for lunch?", you will be directed to the buffet 99.8% of the time. I didn't make it 100%, because I assume that occasionally a crew member will tell you.

If you want to know where it is - check the Patter that should be in your cabin or just go the the MDR on deck 6 midship - if it's not there, go down the stairs to deck 5. This works on almost all of the ships.

You can also grab lunch in Alfredo's or Gigi's (depending on the ship - if it has one or the other). Both are superior to the overcrowded, noisy buffet.

Good advice thanks. If you're club class will it be in the club dining area or does that not operate for it?

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croozer

croozer

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I always look forward to the embarkation lunch.  It's a civilized way to start the cruise and I'm so happy to hear that it's back.  With the hope of it being available on my Dec. 5 Grand Princess sailing, I signed up for an 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. check-in time slot.  We shall see!

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umpire30

umpire30

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And the salmon!  {which is pretty much available any time, but never seems as good as at the embarkation lunch}  Maybe just the thrill of being back on board, but REALLY looking forward to it!  Two weeks from right now on the Caribbean! 

 

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USC Sailor

USC Sailor

Posted
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20 minutes ago, Bridalgownz said:

Do they have it on the Majestic?

Yes! I asked where the Concerto dining room was for lunch and the first crew member directed me to Adagio. The second crew member corrected him and directed us back to Concerto. I still don't know where Adagio is, lol. My favorites are the Salmon, the bay shrimp and avocado salad and the orange souffle. I think this is my most favorite meal of many aboard all the cruise ships.

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jondfk

jondfk

Posted
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17 hours ago, jimbo1683 said:

Good advice thanks. If you're club class will it be in the club dining area or does that not operate for it?

If you're Club Class, embarkation lunch will be in Club Class.  Occasionally embarkation lunch may be in a different dining room (than usual for Club Class) but it will still have its own area and service team.  This notably happened once on Royal in September '19.  Embarkation day lunch was in the aft dining room, all other CC meals were midship (deck 6 if I recall).

 

Also, it's no joke that crew will direct you away from the dining room.  We were once directed to the buffet despite being within 10 feet of the open dining room doors through which we could see folks eating lunch.  Staff clearly had been told to herd towards the buffet, pay no mind, there is almost always a dining room open somewhere, typically from noon to 1:30 though we've seen hours vary somewhat ship to ship / time to time.  

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Coffeeluvr05

Coffeeluvr05

Posted
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On 11/14/2021 at 10:38 AM, jimbo1683 said:

Good advice thanks. If you're club class will it be in the club dining area or does that not operate for it?

When we were in a full suite, they had a person escort us onto the ship directly to club class dining for lunch.  It was quite the VIP treatment.

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memoak

memoak

Posted
Posted
On 11/14/2021 at 10:38 AM, jimbo1683 said:

Good advice thanks. If you're club class will it be in the club dining area or does that not operate for it?

Yes if you have a club class mini suite or a full suite you will enter at the club class entrance

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jondfk

jondfk

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

On Majestic, Concerto is on Deck 6 mid.

We didn't make it there past couple cruises, as we had to pass Alfredos first,

and thats as far as we got! 😋

Good point.

Alfredo's, on the ships that have it, is also the very best alternative on port days when the MDR is usually closed for lunch.

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victory2020

victory2020

Posted
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On 11/14/2021 at 11:40 AM, croozer said:

I always look forward to the embarkation lunch.  It's a civilized way to start the cruise and I'm so happy to hear that it's back.  With the hope of it being available on my Dec. 5 Grand Princess sailing, I signed up for an 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. check-in time slot.  We shall see!

It will be , just came back from the Grand

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trbarton "Live from...." Rare

trbarton

Posted
Posted
On 11/14/2021 at 8:56 AM, NaplesKnitter said:

Has anyone been on a Princess ship lately and can confirm that they still do an embarkation day lunch.  We are on the Emerald Princess on 11/26.  Thanks for your help.

Yes they do. It’s my favorite thing to do when boarding the ship. 
 

Tom😀

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trbarton "Live from...." Rare

trbarton

Posted
Posted
On 11/14/2021 at 10:13 AM, jimbo1683 said:

Is embarkation day lunch a 'thing'? (Ive not cruised before) Is it different to other day lunches?

It’s a great way to relax & enjoy a nice sit down meal & avoid the large crowds at the buffet. It’s a smaller menu but plenty of choices. 
 

Tom🍷😀

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