$20 meat upgrades in MDR?

Has anyone asked about getting any of the Steakhouse entrees not listed on the MDR menu?

I only want to try the ribeye, and it's not on the MDR menu. Going to the steakhouse probably isn't an option since it will only be myself and 4 children.

My family has requested the Ribeye in the MDR with success. This should satisfy those that question if the meat is the same quality. There is no Ribeye in the MDR, it could only come from the steakhouse meat supply.

Things to consider:

1. You must be on a ship that has a steakhouse. Since you said the steakhouse is not an option because of your 4 kids, I'm thinking you are.

2. Plan ahead, this needs to be a request for a future night.

3. Ask your waitstaff nicely if this is a request they can check in to. If you have YTD, obviously it helps if you request the same waitstaff each night and request after a night or two. We did this on YTD, it can be done.

Depending on the circumstances, you may or may not have the same luck we had.

.

Our party of 7 last cruise ordered steaks or surf and turf for $20 in the MDR and we're pleased for the most part. There was a long wait for it one evening, but we thought the quality was worth it. If nothing appealed to me on the menu that night and I wanted a steak I wouldn't hesitate to pay the $20 if the flat iron is the alternative.

My husband will likely order the upgraded entree at some point during our cruise since I don't eat red meat (steakhouse would be a waste of money for me) and because we will be sailing with our 22 month old and our 3 year old, and NOBODY wants them to be in the steakhouse for 2.5 hours.

I ordered the lobster on the last night of our cruise. I had it before in the steakhouse. It wasn't as big as I remembered. I wouldn't pay the extra $20 again.

The Steak House used to be a special evening with intertainment and really really good service. No longer, now it's just a different menu in a different room with the same quality service for a lot of money. I think ordering a good steak for $20 in the MDR is a pretty good idea.

 

Burt

When, and on what ship(s), was entertainment provided in the steakhouse? We've eaten in the steakhouse on three different cruises and there was never any entertainment. We've always had excellent service, definitely far better than that provided in the MDR. I suppose if you're cruising on a really tight budget, $35.00 pp might seem like a lot of money, but we look at it the same as paying for an excursion. To us, it's well worth the money for a quiet enjoyable dinner, without having the wait staff singing and dancing around the dining room.

Ok, now I'm wondering if the Magic has a steakhouse. I thought all C ships did.

Everyone's answers are helpful. I know food is a speculative topic. Thank you!

Is the free bottle of wine only if you book a reservation on ship or can you book ahead of time. I know the reservation has to be for the first night of the cruise. TIA>:)

 

Also, on our last cruise, on the Sunshine, we ate at the steakhouse and loved it!!! Best meal ever!! The steak was good but the sides and appetizers were amazing.

You can book ahead of time for the steakhouse. Free bottle of wine included. It took me a long time to decide to spend extra money on dining but I think it's worth every penny. It's a really nice experience. And the tip is included in the $35 although some tip a few dollars extra if service was excellent.

And now I'm a Chef's Table fan also. And to me, that's worth every penny as well, especially if you like free-flowing champagne and wine. :D

We've enjoyed the steak house several times but with a party of 4 that really adds up.

I'm not too crazy about the 2nd formal night menu and so I ordered one of the $20 steaks from the steak house and loved it! It was well worth it.

I like having a choice.

Ok, now I'm wondering if the Magic has a steakhouse. I thought all C ships did.

 

Everyone's answers are helpful. I know food is a speculative topic. Thank you!

Not all ships have it, but Magic does.

I've ordered steakhouse selections in MDR and found it to be worth it. Honestly, in the steakhouse, the appetizers are so big I'm stuffed before the entire comes out and have never managed to finish it, much less dessert, so the extra $15 for the nicer appetizers and desserts is really a waste for me.

I think they are worth it. Before our last cruise, I would've never paid to go to the steakhouse. Last cruise, it was comped to my husband and I. wOW! Delicious! The steaks were huge, I think the smallest was 14 oz but I could be wrong. I got a filet, had it butterflied, with a baked potatoe and veggies. The apple tart dessert was to die for today! We were with our kids but they are teens so we let them go to the MDR while we went to the steakhouse (on the liberty). The last night, I won $240 in the casino so I treated myself to the filet in the MDR for $20. It was just as good and worth every penny. Now, if our budget allows and it sounds good, I won't hesitate to order it in the MDR next week when we are back on the liberty again.

Has anyone asked about getting any of the Steakhouse entrees not listed on the MDR menu?

I only want to try the ribeye, and it's not on the MDR menu. Going to the steakhouse probably isn't an option since it will only be myself and 4 children.

This! I, too, love a good ribeye over a filet any day. I wish they would offer any of the steaks. Especially since you can get a filet on formal night (granted not the same quality). Wonder if anyone has asked?

I am in the same boat as the other poster, I have a family of 4 and refuse to pay for any extra food, we will get by with what they serve. If we go to an all day port and beach, we will just make sandwiches in the morning and bring them along

I can't believe that you take sandwiches off the ship so you don't have to buy food. Do you not care for the ecology of other countries? Only food that is in a sealed container, ie cereal in little boxes, are allowed to be brought into most countries.

Why do you think the Fun Times tells you not to take food off the ship? Have you ever heard of Med Fly and the devastation it caused in CA? Seriously, it is so irresponsible and selfish of you to do so.

Bringing food into another country is to their people the same as having people bring unsealed foods into our country. Please don't be an ugly American. Give some consideration to the other countries as you would wish them to do to ours.

we always do the steakhouse the first night (free bottle of wine). i recommend it. its worth the $35pp for the food you get!!

 

 

 

and as to why someone would pay extra $20 for the steakhouse menu in the regular MDR....because the MDR steaks arent that great (IMO)

Unfortunately, I agree with this. The reason we love the steakhouse is more for the service than the steaks.

I am in the same boat as the other poster, I have a family of 4 and refuse to pay for any extra food, we will get by with what they serve. If we go to an all day port and beach, we will just make sandwiches in the morning and bring them along

I thought that bringing unpackaged food into ports is a no-no. Do you break the laws of the places you visit for the sake of a few dollars? If so, that is really, really tacky....:mad:

When, and on what ship(s), was entertainment provided in the steakhouse? We've eaten in the steakhouse on three different cruises and there was never any entertainment.

Before the experience was cheapened, they were "supper clubs" with live music.

I thought that bringing unpackaged food into ports is a no-no. Do you break the laws of the places you visit for the sake of a few dollars? If so, that is really, really tacky....:mad:

agree with it being tacky. not only that, thats one of the fun parts about visiting different countries. experiencing their foods and flavors!

I thought that bringing unpackaged food into ports is a no-no. Do you break the laws of the places you visit for the sake of a few dollars? If so, that is really, really tacky....:mad:

To each their own, its about my children's allergies as well as we cannot trust what they are cooking in

To each their own, its about my children's allergies as well as we cannot trust what they are cooking in

This is not just a matter of "to each their own". This is a matter of actually breaking the law. You can be fined for things like this. Also, I have heard that some ports have the dogs there checking for items brought off ships.

If you are that worried about what they are cooking in, go back to the ship to eat and then leave again. But, why can't you just ask what the item is cooked in? People with allergies travel all the time and eat in other countries.

The first and only time we ate at the steakhouse we left hungry and went to eat on lido. Some people like it but maybe it was just a bad night for it when we ate there. After my experience, I will never order the plate in the MDR. The flat iron steak is fine for me.

You must have some ginormous appetite! They give you sooo much food between the appetizers - you can order an appetizer and soup or an appetizer and a salad, the main course and sides and the BIG hunk of cheese cake! Most people can't finish it.

Sorry the flat iron isn't even close!

You must have some ginormous appetite! They give you sooo much food between the appetizers - you can order an appetizer and soup or an appetizer and a salad, the main course and sides and the BIG hunk of cheese cake! Most people can't finish it.

 

Sorry the flat iron isn't even close!

geeze that cheesecake is HUGE! 2 couples shared it on our last cruise!

and yes, that flat iron steak is very very unimpressive!! even our son, who was 8 last year, was like "momma, what is this!? this isnt steak!"

We always eat in the steak house at least once, so I was excited to be able to order the entrees in the MDR. I was going to on our last cruise, but I kept forgetting about it. One of the people in our group got the lobster - OMG - I was jealous! It was a huge portion and she said it was fabulous!

To each their own, its about my children's allergies as well as we cannot trust what they are cooking in

Then perhaps if you don't want to or are unable to get back to the ship for lunch, you prepare for your kids by bringing something prepackaged FROM HOME to take off the ship.

And just in the off chance that your next statement will be I paid Carnival for food so I will eat their food. That is true, in that you paid to eat while on the ship, not when you are off.

I do wish you would really do some research before your next cruise so that you can realize how you could be causing problems in someone else's country. I'm sure you wouldn't want someone to do that here.

How in the world did my original posting about spending $20 in the MDR for upgraded steaks/seafood turn into a free for all rude comment session about taking food off the ship or not? Feel free to start your own thread about taking food off if you like, but I would like to request everyone to keep it civil. The world has enough ugliness in it already. We do not need to attack strangers online who have a common love of cruising but a different opinion of what is morally acceptable to them vs others. My Mother taught me if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your opinion to yourself.

Now back to the wonderful discussion about the MDR upgrades vs the Steakhouse…I'm really enjoying that part of "my" thread. ;)

Not being nasty just curious...do you also return to the ship at port to eat lunch since you have already paid for it?:confused:

sometimes...depending what time were due back on the ship.

I try to eat more for breakfast to hold me over

My family does. Feeding 6 people in port is ridiculously expensive. And I have a bad food allergy, so it's too hard trying to explain it and hope the cooks don't make me sick. We normally get off the boat really early and return around 1:30 or 2 for a late lunch

 

 

Carnival Dream, Fantasy, and Liberty. Next up? The SUNSHINE!!!!

excellent thinking