Brilliance of the Seas - lunch on Boarding Day ; lunch on Port Days

[PaperSniper4]

It's been awhile since we've sailed RCI. We're scheduled on the Brilliance ot Seas this October (2024), sailing from NOLA.

 

1. We much prefer to eat all meals in a dining room, especially on boarding day to avoid the chaos on the Lido deck. Can anyone tell me if the MDR is open for lunch on boarding day? And its hours?

2. I heard that the MDR may not be open on port days. Can anyone confirm that disappointing news? We rarely eat ashore at ports where we have been dozens of times as this this sailing does.

 

Thanks!

 

 Doug

[smokeybandit]

I've never found the windjammer to be busy on boarding day.

[Starry Eyes]

On Royal Caribbean, the MDR is not open for lunch embarkation day currently (though people who purchased The Key do receive a special lunch served in the MDR).  If you do not want to go to Windjammer for lunch, you could pay for a specialty restaurant that day (Chops is probably open on Brilliance).  Windjammer in the main lunch option on port days; it is quiet if you are on board while others are in those ports you have do often visited.  Do not expect the MDR to be open for lunch on port days.  The MDR is open for breakfast on port days.

Edited May 17 by Starry Eyes

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, PaperSniper4 said:

And its hours?

The app, set to the current sailing (not yours), should show operating days/hours for all the dining venues - they should be about the same on your sailing.

[firefly333]

Pizza should be open by 1 pm if not sooner. They have some fruit and other stuff usually also.

 

It's a smaller ship, less food choices. 

[jean87510]

3 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

It's been awhile since we've sailed RCI. We're scheduled on the Brilliance ot Seas this October (2024), sailing from NOLA.

 

1. We much prefer to eat all meals in a dining room, especially on boarding day to avoid the chaos on the Lido deck. Can anyone tell me if the MDR is open for lunch on boarding day? And its hours?

2. I heard that the MDR may not be open on port days. Can anyone confirm that disappointing news? We rarely eat ashore at ports where we have been dozens of times as this this sailing does.

 

Thanks!

 

 Doug

Doug, we are on the Brilliance in December for the holiday sailing.  I read you don't like eating at ports but in New Orleans, why not eat lunch prior to boarding in the city?  Or, there is the Specialty restaurants as well boarding day.

 

Port days, it will definitely not be chaotic for lunch in the Windjammer.  If you do decide to eat at the ports, we usually look on social media for recommendations from locals and frequent travelers.  

[PaperSniper4]

Thanks to all who replied, it is appreciated.

 

We avoid the Windjammer (Lido) partly because of the crown, and partly because many folks have not figured out how to wash their hands prior to visiting.

We have not thought of grabbing lunch in NOLA prior to boarding; thanks for that idea.

 

We do like a sit down meal with table service even on a port day, but we'll adapt....never go hungry y'know!😉

 

 Doug

 

[RoperDK]

Isn't the MDR open for breakfast on all days and on all ships?

[gumshoe958]

6 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

Isn't the MDR open for breakfast on all days and on all ships?

No, on some ships the MDR now does only brunch on sea days, not separate breakfast and lunch.