Picture of New Menu with $14.95 Chops Steak

[traveljen1027]

Has anyone atcually ordered this steak yet? Would be interesting if someone did - ESPECIALLY if they did a side by side comparison with the "free" steak...

 

Boo

 

Yes, I'd be interested to know the difference in a head-to-head competetition of "free" steak vs. "purchased" steak (although didn't we really pay for the "free: steak in the first place?)...and shouldn't the dining room food be excellent without having to pay extra for a steak? Instead of charging people $14.95 for a special steak, maybe RCCL should focus on making sure the rest of its menu is so stellar that people don't feel the need to order a special dinner for a meal that is already be included in the original cruise fare. Ridiculous.

[moofus]

I quickly read the title of this thread and thought it said "14.95 CHOPPED Steak". :eek: I was really boiling until I read though it.

Joke's on me,:D but who knows what they will try next!

I agree with most everyone here. It cheapens the DR experience. Remember in "the old days" when the DR experience was what you looked forward to all day and you didn't think about whether or not you should order room service, go to the Windjammer, wait until midnite, or just skip dinner altogether because it isn't so special anymore, and the casino is more fun. I hope they don't start charging for special appetizers or desserts. I really enjoy going to the DR and having a good meal and trying a variety of things... oh well, I'll find out in December on AOS.

[Spender Nui]

Put me in the it's a disgrace column.

 

And ... a question. When offering the disgrace steak do they ever offer a strip steak on the regular (not the every night) menu?

 

That would allow some hungry person (not me) a way to make the comparison.

[dfishner]

You can't possibly believe that they hire specialty chefs who ONLY cook in specialty restaurants' date=' can you?

 

The same chefs, sous chefs and kitchen staff prepare the meals for the whole ship including main dining room, buffets, any deli's, fish n chip places, specialty dining rooms, etc.

 

What you are paying for is more food, better presentation of it and personalized service.....and the feeling you are getting special treatment. Same chefs......[/quote']

You need to get your facts straight before you post. Chops and Portofino have their own kitchen, own kitchen staff and a chef that overseas those operations. what your are paying for is a better quality product then what is being offered in the dining room. Your information is not correct

[CruisesOnMyMind]

Leaving Thurs for a last minute sailing on Enchantment. If it does have the free steak and the 14.95 steak, my hubby and I will order and let you know next Monday night what the verdict is. I will have the 14.95 :p Every Saturday night is our household "steak night". We usually have New York steak as I think they are more flavorable than filet. At least once a month my DH wants a porterhouse.

We will definitely be looking out for this as we are steak lovers!:D

Since we are such steak lovers,,,I am really torn between the pay for the strip or the freebee. Will let you know.

[amybear912]

Leaving Thurs for a last minute sailing on Enchantment. If it does have the free steak and the 14.95 steak, my hubby and I will order and let you know next Monday night what the verdict is. I will have the 14.95 :p Every Saturday night is our household "steak night". We usually have New York steak as I think they are more flavorable than filet. At least once a month my DH wants a porterhouse.

We will definitely be looking out for this as we are steak lovers!:D

Since we are such steak lovers,,,I am really torn between the pay for the strip or the freebee. Will let you know.

 

 

Just to let you know... we just did Enchantment (off on 8/28)... and neither were available... No $14.95 steak... no "freebie" steak... on any night...

 

the steak charge trial is, as of now, only being tested on Freedom and Majesty... no one has reported it on any other ships...

[oceanblue33]

take care

[BILLP1]

Just the beginning. Soon you will have two menus on at your table.

The included food and the better quality pay per meal menu.

 

Like certain restaurants that charge for a complete meal they always offer a few items that incur an extra charge for the more expensive items.

[FL_Cruiser64]

We were wondering the same thing. For an extra $15.00 I'm thinking it will be "made to order" and not cooked earlier in the day like the rest of the food in the dining room. Who's going to pay extra for a steak which was made 8 hours earlier and reheated?

 

There is no food pre-made. My wife has proof of that.

 

The difference between the Chops quality steak and the regular steak is that if you order it medium or medium-rare you get it that way. They make it, they bring it.

 

The regular offered steak is cooked just prior to you ordering it but will be lined up with other food and by the time it gets to you it is well done. Food keeps on cooking.

 

The only pre-made items on a cruise ship are probably certain desert items, soups etc.

 

 

On topic: it is absolutely hilarious how you all make such a big deal about a darn steak. You either order it or you don't. Who cares if it is on the menu or not. It is an option, nothing else. Hey how about you all sue for some OBC or free cruises because the mere presence of the $14.95 steak on the menu in the MDR causes you emotional distress or something like that.

[Jeka]

Unfortunately this is just a sign of things to come. You had better all get use to it. :)

 

and hopefully be able to have better food in the MDR if you are willing to pay for it.

[Jeka]

I don't feel there is anything wrong with offering a high quality steak, and charging for it. If the ship doesn't have a specialty restaurant, or a guest doesn't want to go to one, this is a nice offering. How can it cheapen the MDR experience? If you go to a land based steakhouse the cost varies according to the cut of meat. It's about options and choices and I like to be able to choose.

 

Or, if is often the case on some ships, you can't get a Chops reservation.

[Jeka]

RCI "cheapened" the items on the DR menu years ago...

 

the old grey mare ain't what it used to be...(and we've only been cruising for 4 years...)

 

Cheaper cuts, fewer selections, smaller portions, boring presentation, not to mention the ambiance of shorts, flip-flops and wife-beater t-shirts at the next table... :p

 

LL

 

Been on 13 RCL cruises since Nov. '06, I've never seen flipflops or wife beaters in the MDR. A CC myth.

[WinnieinWA]

Hmm.. I'm surprised anyone could see the menu at all. I sure couldn't. :(

[cruisenfever]

Been on 13 RCL cruises since Nov. '06, I've never seen flipflops or wife beaters in the MDR. A CC myth.

You haven't been sailing on the right ships.................have seen the type of dress that LL referred to on our last 6 cruises...........and when we did the TA out of Lisbon this past April...........that was the dress of the evening for some of the Brazilians.:(

[GrandSuiteorBust]

I am very pleased that RCL might start offering quality food in the MDR. I really enjoy the ambiance of the MDR, but the current food offered is low quality and the menu has not been updated in years.

 

Although I am not a fan of the Chops steak, I am very happy it is on the menu. I really wish they would offer the Portofinos Filet in the MDR.

 

RCL will never go to a pay only MDR. They have committed an immense amount of square footage and employees to the space, while the pay eateries can only seat b/t 50-100. A pay only MDR would be nearly vacant, and a redesign of the ships would be required.

 

This is just a simple marketing stategy called cross promotion. They offer you the opportunity to try something special at an agreeable price. One, this pads your total cruise cost, and two, they allow you to experience other dining venues, which in turn you might be compelled to try in the future.

[FL_Cruiser64]

 

RCL will never go to a pay only MDR. They have committed an immense amount of square footage and employees to the space, while the pay eateries can only seat b/t 50-100. A pay only MDR would be nearly vacant, and a redesign of the ships would be required.

 

This is just a simple marketing stategy called cross promotion. They offer you the opportunity to try something special at an agreeable price. One, this pads your total cruise cost, and two, they allow you to experience other dining venues, which in turn you might be compelled to try in the future.

 

Now that is a very good post. I agree 100%! :D

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

Wow, news to me, I missed the steak thread I guess. I have to agree with everyone who says it cheapens rest of the MDR menu.

 

I'm on Majesty next week, I'll look for the new menu.

 

Great! We'll look forward to hearing about it.

 

End the RCL pay-per-entree scam!

 

 

Say "No" to Fain

 

[Jeka]

You haven't been sailing on the right ships.................have seen the type of dress that LL referred to on our last 6 cruises...........and when we did the TA out of Lisbon this past April...........that was the dress of the evening for some of the Brazilians.:(

 

Out of Lisbon were they Portugese or Brazilians, or both?

 

Guess I'm less concerned with those around me than most but have never seen a guy in a tank top in the MDR ever. We do eat at late seating so maybe that's the difference.

[Ladylouwho]

 

 

On topic: it is absolutely hilarious how you all make such a big deal about a darn steak. You either order it or you don't. Who cares if it is on the menu or not. It is an option, nothing else. Hey how about you all sue for some OBC or free cruises because the mere presence of the $14.95 steak on the menu in the MDR causes you emotional distress or something like that.

 

 

I think you are missing the point here. This has nothing to do with money. What most folks seem to be saying is the "mere presence" of an optional item that is for "sale" and supposedly of much higher quality than the other offerings in a traditional cruise dining room seems to cheapen the other offerings on the menu. I think it is a bad idea. That is just my opinion as it is obviously the opinion of others.

 

I do not go to the MDR for the food. As someone who has cruised many, many times on RCL, I know that the food in the MDR is generally not as good as it used to be. I go to the MDR for the traditional cruise experience. Meet new people, form relationships with servers, have nice long conversations and drink our after dinner "shots" with new friends, etc. Our children over the years have received a great gift in learning how to meet new people and act properly in a nice dinner setting and so on. The waiters and assistant waiters from all over the world have left a great impact on them. We have very fond memories of getting to know people we otherwise would have never met. Some of our table mates have become friends and we have sailed with again. We can go to a fine Steak House any/every night of the week if we want to. It cannot compare to that kind of experience.

 

We usually partake in Chops or Portofinos when offered. The food and service is very good and the extra money is inconsequential.

 

If Royal Caribbean REALLY wants to make a smart business move, than here is a little advice from a Family full of Diamond Members with 4 future cruises on RCL already booked. Simply offer a decent steak in the MDR along with the rest of the menu. On your newer and larger ships offer more specialty dining at a cost as you are obviously doing with the Oasis. Fine. Make the dining room smaller if you are trending toward that. Fine. But don't cheapen the MDR in such a way as this. It is actually a quite tacky move on RCL's part.

 

Oh, and to the poster quoted. Your last sentence is unnecessary and actually quite nasty. It is akin to me asking you "why don't you sue the government of the US for having a Constitution that actually gives people the right to free speech and their own opinion"!!!!!!

[sweston85]

Is the chop's steak worth paying extra $$ for in the dining room?

[FL_Cruiser64]

I think you are missing the point here. This has nothing to do with money. What most folks seem to be saying is the "mere presence" of an optional item that is for "sale" and supposedly of much higher quality than the other offerings in a traditional cruise dining room seems to cheapen the other offerings on the menu. I think it is a bad idea. That is just my opinion as it is obviously the opinion of others.

 

I do not go to the MDR for the food. As someone who has cruised many, many times on RCL, I know that the food in the MDR is generally not as good as it used to be. I go to the MDR for the traditional cruise experience. Meet new people, form relationships with servers, have nice long conversations and drink our after dinner "shots" with new friends, etc. Our children over the years have received a great gift in learning how to meet new people and act properly in a nice dinner setting and so on. The waiters and assistant waiters from all over the world have left a great impact on them. We have very fond memories of getting to know people we otherwise would have never met. Some of our table mates have become friends and we have sailed with again. We can go to a fine Steak House any/every night of the week if we want to. It cannot compare to that kind of experience.

 

We usually partake in Chops or Portofinos when offered. The food and service is very good and the extra money is inconsequential.

 

If Royal Caribbean REALLY wants to make a smart business move, than here is a little advice from a Family full of Diamond Members with 4 future cruises on RCL already booked. Simply offer a decent steak in the MDR along with the rest of the menu. On your newer and larger ships offer more specialty dining at a cost as you are obviously doing with the Oasis. Fine. Make the dining room smaller if you are trending toward that. Fine. But don't cheapen the MDR in such a way as this. It is actually a quite tacky move on RCL's part.

 

Oh, and to the poster quoted. Your last sentence is unnecessary and actually quite nasty. It is akin to me asking you "why don't you sue the government of the US for having a Constitution that actually gives people the right to free speech and their own opinion"!!!!!!

 

What is it with you people and this rude and nasty stuff today. Different opinion = rude and nasty?

 

My last sentence was not a statement thus can not be rude or offensive. It was suggestion "how about.....". But lets not go into english language. How about your statement:

"why don't you sue the government of the US for having a Constitution that actually gives people the right to free speech and their own opinion"

 

You are denying me the right to have an opinion? The same right you are taking for granted? Kettle...pot......

 

Your statement:

a little advice from a Family full of Diamond Members with 4 future cruises on RCL already booked.

 

Since this is a statement I could consider this as condescending and rude towards those who are NOT diamond and not have 4 future cruises booked. So you know better because you are diamond?

 

I usually don't go into what level I am but this family is diamond as well and has...5 or 6 cruises booked with 3 more NCs ready to be put in action.

 

Now we are into "my daddy is bigger than your daddy". Not a fun game.

 

Having said all that: the $14.95 steak seems to be only an issue on CC. Our entire table didn't even blink once and the offer is so small that one of our table mates didn't even see it until day 2. So, it is hardly tacky.

 

IT IS MY OPINION that it does not cheapen the MDR experience.

[cruisenfever]

Out of Lisbon were they Portugese or Brazilians, or both?

 

Whoops......our TA was from Sao Paulo to Lisbon................ and on that cruise we had 1500+ Brazilians on board.

[mompolo]

Out of Lisbon were they Portugese or Brazilians, or both?

 

Guess I'm less concerned with those around me than most but have never seen a guy in a tank top in the MDR ever. We do eat at late seating so maybe that's the difference.

 

Just got off the Mariner on Sunday - saw no one dressed inappropriately in the mdr. We went to breakfast on a seaday in the mdr and dh had a tanktop on, they asked him to change and he happily complied. No problem.

 

We didn't see anyone who didn't dress up on formal night - although, I didn't see all 3600 passengers.

[nanfromatlanta]

Is the chop's steak worth paying extra $$ for in the dining room?

 

 

Since this is a brand new offering, here's what I suggest. Order the regular steak entree' which is included in the price of your cruise. If you are not satisfied with the quality of that steak, you can always upgrade to the Chops steak.

[Pixiedoodle]

When this becomes the accepted way of doing things, you should take a few years break from cruising RC. When you return, you will find a price on everything on the DR menu. There will be a little note on the menu - "For our guests preferring complementary dining, the Windjammer Cafe is open for dinner from 6-9PM". This is what's wrong with offering this steak.

RC can raise cruise fares as needed to cover costs as the market will bear, but I say leave the essential cruise experience (including the DR) unchanged.

 

You totally hit the nail on the head PS...

 

I remember having a NY strip on the Brilliance a few years back that was equal to the quality offered at Chops. I would be ticked to see a surcharge, especially on a menu that flaunts prime rib just above it!!