new menu

[laurae]

hello
we just got off the monarch this morning and while eating one night our head waiter told us of the new menu going to start on may 7th. It's a fixed menu with many choices like a land restaurant. Has anyone heard of other ships doing this? It sounds good to me since I have been on the monarch 3 times so it will be a nice change for me.

[jstducky]

ok this may be a dumb question... but you mean they would stick with the same menu for the whole week and then when you go into the dining room you just choose of that menu, rather than getting new menu options each night?

doesn't that mean in the end you get less of a choice in food options if its the same thing over and over again?

if i understand correctly, i'm sure i like this new change.

jstducky!
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...til 9/04 - Jewel of the Seas - Canada / New England

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[suziehmkr]

I don't think they would be able to bring enough lobsters if we could have them more than one night! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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Legend of the Seas 06/13/04

<font color=purple>Viking Serenade 6/1992

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[laurae]

Well on the 3 and 4 day they don't serve lobster. I understand it to be more like a restaurant just choose off the menu each night. I forgot to ask about lunch. I am hoping to go back in June so we will see. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard anything from the 3 nighters on the east coast.

[Cruising Fool]

I'm going on a 3-nighter on the Sovereign this Friday, May 7th. Guess I'll soon find out if the menu has changed. I sure hope they still have the spinach tart and the boston creme pie on the menu!!!

Marianne
Royal Caribbean - 23; Carnival - 11; NCL - 9
Princess - 4; Costa - 2; Disney - 1; Celebrity - 1
Other now defunct lines - 18

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[jkrislc]

On the short cruises, this may not be a bad idea as you can create your own variety. However, on the longer cruises, I'd bet I'd get bored with the menu really fast. I'd also be concerned the RCI is going to do away with the "nicer" entrees like shrimp cocktail, lobster, etc. unless they run it as a special one or two nights during the cruise. Otherwise, the fixed menu might end up costing them more in the long run.

KLC
UPCOMING CRUISES:
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MONARCH OF THE SEAS (04/04)
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PREVIOUS CRUISES
-------------------------
RCI's Monarch of the Seas (01/04)
Star Princess (6/03)
RCI's Rhapsody of the Seas (4/01)
Carnival's Ecstasy (6/96)
RCI's Viking Serenade (1/94)

[tpooleinjax]

Did the menu have Ranch Steak????

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Until Explorer of the Seas

[B]Nordic Empress March 15, 2003[/B]

[cmason]

I don't get it. The menu was already full of multiple choices. It is not a set menu, but a choice of 4 entrees, several veggies, etc. It changes daily, as many restaraunts do.

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...left until Navigator of the Seas 11/13/04

[dougp26364]

This does not sound good to me. I like the variety of menu's. Even though it's the same room, it's like eating at a different restaurant every night. We go to a variety of restaurants at home, even though most of them have many options on their menu. We like variety.

Like others, I'm hoping this is only on the short cruises. I can handle the same menu for 3 or 4 nights, but I'll still be disappointed. There's something about entering the dining room and reading a new menu every night.

Future cruises
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Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05
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Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

Past cruises
Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03
Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[Family of 14]

I don't like this either. They did this at The Cloister, Sea Island, Georgia. We were there for 5 nights and the menu never changed. We ended up having the filet twice (cooked the same way). [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

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[kbt2]

Cruising Fool...we are going to be on your same may 7th cruise. We are looking forward to a great getaway, as I am sure you are.

Kim
Dawn Princess
Regal Princess
Grand Princess
Mercury - Celebrity
Windward - NCL
Monarch of the Seas - RCCL
Voyager of the Seas - RCCL

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[Facation Fanatic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tpooleinjax:
Did the menu have Ranch Steak????<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm just off the Sovereign 3 day and I noticed the menu did not have the word RANCH anywhere on it. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] The alternatives each day listed a "grilled steak with herbs" in the slot where Ranch Steak was once. I think it is still the ranch steak, RCI just changed the name to fool everyone and not make it so recognizable. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] I never ordered it to see if it was ranch steak and meant to ask the waiter about it, but forgot. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

I don't know if they have a major stockpile of ranch steak or a long-term contract to buy it, but they have a problem getting rid of it of since almost no one was eating it. With the name change, most cruisers will be unsuspecting and RCI will rid themselves of the dreadful inedible before anyone catches on to them. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] Poor first time cruisers. Therefore, be forewarned!!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

As a side note, the menu was different each day.

I also found out from a crewmember that the Sovereign is going into dry dock in Freeport in November. RCI is going to spend 20 million on a refurb. Rumors, and I stress the word rumors, were that the Schooler Bar is coming out and it will become a Chops specialty resturant. Also, the entire ship will get all new carpet and furniture. The Music Man Lounge is coming out, but they were not sure what was going back in. There was also some talk that RCI was going to try to put some balcony rooms somewhere. I wonder if that is what they are going to do where the Music Man Lounge is? All of this is scheduled to be done in 3-4 weeks I am told.

Perhaps someone in the know can either confirm or disspell the information I was given. We'll see

Facation Fanatic

Fantasy - 6/02 Bahamas
Fantasy - 12/02 Bahamas
Victory - 9/03 NE/Canada
Sovereign of the Seas - 1/04 Bahamas
Sovereign of the Seas - 4/04 Daughter's Birthday Cruise

Carnival Glory to the Eastern Caribbean
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[This message was edited by Facation Fanatic on 05-04-04 at 04:20 PM.]

[skydad]

also sailing on the sovereign may 7
anyone been on coco cay with another ship

[Cruising Fool]

kbt2/Kim and skydad: So, any thoughts of meeting onboard the SOS on 5/7? We're in late seating and room 6043.

Marianne
Royal Caribbean - 23; Carnival - 11; NCL - 9
Princess - 4; Costa - 2; Disney - 1; Celebrity - 1
Other now defunct lines - 18

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[Vanilousky]

That is in All Royal Caribbean Cruise....

That's wonderful... I can't wait.

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[img]http://fa.univision.com/attachments/univision/Fabrica/442688/1/get%20out%20there.gif[/img]

[sunlovey]

i certainly hope we can keep this thread "afloat" so that cruisers sailing after May 7th can come back and verify this one-menu every night possibility. Also, if those of you sailing soon could ask if this will be implemented on all shorter cruises, i have a four-nighter in sept. thanks!

[Bellalago Breeze]

We were on the Sovereign on 3/5 and again 4/23. On 4/23 we got the new menus. Most was the same as the old with a few exceptions, like the dreaded words RANCH STEAK was gone and on formal night the tenderloin was back. It was replaced 3/5 with a strip steak that was as tough as the ranch steak!

We too heard all the rumors about changes coming, including that the Schooner Bar was going to become a Chops. I've since heard from someone "in the know" who has assured me that the Schooner Bar will be staying. I sure hope so, as that is our favorite place to hang out in the afternoon.
We also heard that Finian's Rainbow, not the Music Man Lounge, is going as well as the Champagne Bar. They are supposed to be getting a Latitudes Coffee Shop as well as an Asian/Fusion station in the Windjammer. We talked to the Loyalty Ambassador, Cruise Director and Social Director, and you know what ... each told us something different which contradicted the others! Obviously, the only way we are going to find out what will be new is to book another cruise after the drydocking and see for ourselves! I volunteer to do that!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Brad1185]

It really makes you want to go on those 12 and 14 night cruises, with one menu for lunch and dinner, yummy. Someone said that they got the new menus on the Mariner and sounded line the dinner menu changed each night, only it had fewer choices and the lunch menu was the same each night. They also said the Windjammer was better for lunch.

[sunlovey]

well the original poster said the restaurant type menu (same offerings every night of the cruise) would go into effect after May 7th. So that's day after tomorrow.... we should know more after this weekend right?

[Cruising Fool]

I'll let you all know when I return from the Sovereign on Monday.

Marianne
Royal Caribbean - 23; Carnival - 11; NCL - 9
Princess - 4; Costa - 2; Disney - 1; Celebrity - 1
Other now defunct lines - 18

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[dougp26364]

I suppose if the lunch menu was the same every day, then I'd have to plan additional money for vacation to eat in port. If they do this for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then it could be the thing that gets me to try another cruise line. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] I don't eat at the same restaurant every day at home (we eat out a LOT) so I wouldn't want the same menu every morning, noon and night on vacation.

Rummors float like clouds in the sky. They appear and disappear and most have no substance. It could be they're going to "test" the idea on a few cruises to see what the responce is. Sort of like what they're doing with JR's. In the end, we'll just have to wait and see what direction they go.

Future cruises
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2005;01;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05
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Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

Past cruises
Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03
Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[rjg41]

We were on Navigator in March. The fixed menu every day is for lunch only. They are rolling it out ship by ship. It started on Navigator as of the March 20 sailing.

Carnival Ecstasy, March 1993
Celebrity Millennium, Caribbean, Jan 2002
Coral Princess, Panama Canal Feb. 2, 2003 [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=887097554&m=6683066607&r=6683066607#6683066607"](Review)[/url]
Celebrity Summit, Alaska Land [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=268097554&m=1763035447"](Land Tour Review)[/url] & Sea [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=147097554&m=2043034547"](Cruise Review)[/url], Aug. 15,2003
Navigator of the Seas, Family Reunion, March 13, 2004
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=94910369&r=94910369#94910369"](Review)[/url]
Celebrity Infinity, Valparaiso(Santiago), Chile to Fort Lauderdale, via Panama Canal, Feb. 27, 2005
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[dougp26364]

Well that sort of sucks but not as bad as if it where for dinner also. I always liked going to the dining room for lunch if just to see the menu. I do have to admit that there wasn't always something on there that I wanted to eat and I'm sure several passengers probably eat in port.

If it's a large enough variety, then I'll probably do all right. If not, then it will be a disappointment but not something that will chase me to another cruise line. As it is, I'll just have to see how it affects me on my next two cruises. I just hope this doesn't expand to the dinner menu.

Future cruises
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2005;01;14;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05
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Explorer OTS - Eastern Caribbean 11/04

Past cruises
Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03
Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

[laurae]

From what I understood from my cruise is that the change is only on the Monarch of the Seas I am hoping someone comes back after this weekend and lets us know. But for all you east coast cruisers of the 3 day you should ask if there are changes coming.

[Brad1185]

I cannot imagine that RCI would pick one of the daily lunch menus and make it permanent and offer it every single day. It was limited enough. This menu has to either have more selections and better choices. I was so pissed off about the JR charge that we just got back from the Diamond Princess. It was great. They had fantastic lunches that changed daily. The 24 hr buffet was also a step above RCI's offerings. I also cannot imagine these changes like JR and offering the same menu every day are changes that are going to make people want to come back to RCI. It appears that it will have the opposit effect. We are all paid up for the Jewel July 15th, after that, if the JR thing stays, its Princess.