Chef's Table - No Longer Adult Only!

Ok, haven't done the CT, but isn't it like a $75 upcharge per person? I can't imagine paying that when Mr and Mrs I have children and more money than sense shows up for a fancy dinner with Billy picking his nose and throwing his cheerios on the floor joins us. I would be unhappy. Guess that explains why I don't do mass events and the DW and I usually choose a table for two...

What am I missing?

jc

I'm very interested in the answer to this as well. We're thinking of booking the CT on our Brilliance cruise but the answer to this question will definitely help us decide either way. We had a great time when we did it on Allure and the Chef and the Sommelier together really made the meal. It just wouldn't be the same without the chef presenting his/her dishes.

Brilliance should still have the chef presentation. When I was on Quantum they said the new menu and serving style was Quantum Class specific. They knew I had done CT many times on other ships. The Sommelier was from Oasis and did feel they would find a new location there, but it looks like he was wrong.

One strategy is to book onboard or to book day 2 or later and pay in advance and then cancel 24 hours prior if they have changed the style. The only problem is the refund is done as OBC on your account and not refund to card.

Couldn't agree with you more. Its really sad when Disney has more adult-only venues than RCI does!

I love kids. We have three of our own. And they all managed to survive to adulthood.;) I coached kids' hockey, baseball and soccer. Our house was where all the kids hung out, playing hockey in the driveway, throwing hoops, or playing X-box. That being said when I want to attend an Adults Only event, I want to attend an Adults Only event!

Now that the kids are grown my DW and I want an Adult Cruise Line.......

Disney here we come!!!!!:D

i love kids. We have three of our own. And they all managed to survive to adulthood.;) i coached kids' hockey, baseball and soccer. Our house was where all the kids hung out, playing hockey in the driveway, throwing hoops, or playing x-box. That being said when i want to attend an adults only event, i want to attend an adults only event!

 

Now that the kids are grown my dw and i want an adult cruise line.......

 

Disney here we come!!!!!:d

lol!!

Brilliance should still have the chef presentation. When I was on Quantum they said the new menu and serving style was Quantum Class specific. They knew I had done CT many times on other ships. The Sommelier was from Oasis and did feel they would find a new location there, but it looks like he was wrong.

 

One strategy is to book onboard or to book day 2 or later and pay in advance and then cancel 24 hours prior if they have changed the style. The only problem is the refund is done as OBC on your account and not refund to card.

From someone currently on the Quantum who ate at the Chef's Table tonight:

(it is inside Chops on QOS)

"Chef's Table is an intimate dining event that had previously been in concierge lounges on oasis and allure. It is in a separate/private room inside of Chops on the Quantum. It has 14 ppl in it. It is a set menu paired with wines. It had changed a bit over the years we have done them. There is no chef explanation of the courses any more. There are no free cookbooks given as a gift. The sommelier does all the course and wine pairing explanations now. Although the captain did just come in. We are dressed as though it is formal night."

As a mother of a small child why would anybody want to subject their children, themselves or other people to such an experience. Talking about setting your child up for a total meltdown.

We did the Chefs Table on Oasis in February 2014. There was a family with a 7 year old girl. The girl was better behaved than the mother who did not talk to anyone and was staring at her cellphone the whole evening. The girl was bored to death, though!

I'm grateful there were other people who were really nice talking to. We would never do it again if even babies could be part of this exceptional experience now, no way.

(Background)....Recently (Nov 16 - 23, 2014), we cruised on Allure of the Seas and booked the Chef's Table prior to our sailing for our Anniversary dinner on the first night. We have been to the Chef's Table many times in the past, and LOVE this event!

 

 

 

Everything you read about the Chef's Table says that the venue is for adults only (21 and over). The FAQ's on RCI's website as well as an onboard menu with information was also provided in our cabin describing the "rules" of who could/could not attend. Confirmed that it was an adult only venue.

 

 

 

This was our Anniversary Dinner and we were very upset to see that a family and a "baby" were scheduled to go to the Chef's Table the same time we were scheduled to attend. They told me that an "exception" was made to allow the baby.

 

 

 

This was truly a shocker to us and decided to cancel the Chef's Table since we felt a baby was not going to create the proper mix of folks for a gourmet dinner with wine pairings and actually went against RCI policy.

 

 

 

BTW, my husband and I are not against children, since we cruise Disney often. Disney has a venue called REMY's which is extremely elegant and does not allow any children to attend.

 

 

 

BE AWARE THAT RCI HAS CHANGED THEIR POLICY AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2014 TO ALLOW CHILDREN AT THE CHEF'S TABLE. This is what I was told on the phone this morning.

 

 

 

Although RCI contacted me after the cruise, I thought it would be important to inform those who are thinking about booking the Chef's Table that the Policy to allow children has, in fact, changed. What they are now saying is that children can attend the Chef's Table, they just need to be 21 to drink.

 

 

 

I understand a family friendly cruise line is what RCI is striving for, however, I feel that some venues should be left to Adults Only.

Royal IS a family cruise line. Maybe you should consider HAL or Princess. May be a better fit. The way I look at it is you can not complain your way to happiness.

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Royal IS a family cruise line. Maybe you should consider HAL or Princess. May be a better fit. The way I look at it is you can not complain your way to happiness.

 

 

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Yes, but there are adults on board too, and what is wrong with providing adult experiences?:rolleyes: I suppose in keeping with RCI wholesome healthy atmosphere that they should eliminate the casino. :rolleyes:

There is probably no more predictable posts on a thread like this....:D

jc

From someone currently on the Quantum who ate at the Chef's Table tonight:

 

(it is inside Chops on QOS)

 

"Chef's Table is an intimate dining event that had previously been in concierge lounges on oasis and allure. It is in a separate/private room inside of Chops on the Quantum. It has 14 ppl in it. It is a set menu paired with wines. It had changed a bit over the years we have done them. There is no chef explanation of the courses any more. There are no free cookbooks given as a gift. The sommelier does all the course and wine pairing explanations now. Although the captain did just come in. We are dressed as though it is formal night."

When I reserved Chef's Table for my Oasis cruise, "an intimate enclave within Chops" was part of the description. They cancelled it completely, and after eating in Chops on the Oasis, I'm not sure where they were thinking they could put it. Chops was packed, and the tables were VERY close together.

Royal IS a family cruise line. Maybe you should consider HAL or Princess. May be a better fit. The way I look at it is you can not complain your way to happiness.

 

 

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I completely disagree, and I think telling the OP to switch cruise lines is ignoring their legitimate complaint. RCI failed to deliver on a contract they made when the OP purchased Chef's Table. Just because a cruise line is family oriented doesn't mean they can't provide experiences that are exclusively for adults. One of the most child-oriented businesses on the planet, Disney, does so on their ships and in their resorts. In the same way that there are places/activities on the ship that aren't appropriate for adults, there's room for things that aren't appropriate for children.

I think if RCI is allowing children at Chef's Table, which is undoubtedly an expensive, adult-oriented experience, they're taking the easy way out because they don't want to risk getting a passenger angry by enforcing their written policies. Sooner or later that will backfire on them...most adults aren't going to pay $95 and risk having a cranky toddler at the table. If people stop booking, that's a lucrative revenue stream gone. Royal Caribbean has a lot of big ships to fill -- they need to keep all their customers, and they can do that by making sure they have something that appeals to everybody.

When I reserved Chef's Table for my Oasis cruise, "an intimate enclave within Chops" was part of the description. They cancelled it completely, and after eating in Chops on the Oasis, I'm not sure where they were thinking they could put it. Chops was packed, and the tables were VERY close together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I completely disagree, and I think telling the OP to switch cruise lines is ignoring their legitimate complaint. RCI failed to deliver on a contract they made when the OP purchased Chef's Table. Just because a cruise line is family oriented doesn't mean they can't provide experiences that are exclusively for adults. One of the most child-oriented businesses on the planet, Disney, does so on their ships and in their resorts. In the same way that there are places/activities on the ship that aren't appropriate for adults, there's room for things that aren't appropriate for children.

 

 

 

I think if RCI is allowing children at Chef's Table, which is undoubtedly an expensive, adult-oriented experience, they're taking the easy way out because they don't want to risk getting a passenger angry by enforcing their written policies. Sooner or later that will backfire on them...most adults aren't going to pay $95 and risk having a cranky toddler at the table. If people stop booking, that's a lucrative revenue stream gone. Royal Caribbean has a lot of big ships to fill -- they need to keep all their customers, and they can do that by making sure they have something that appeals to everybody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Point we'll taken. However it was simply a suggestion. Just seems everything on this forum is a complaint lately. Perhaps it should be called "cruise complaints". Smart companies evolve their products towards their target audience and that seems to be what rci is doing. We love princess and is a GREAT adult experience.

Point we'll taken. However it was simply a suggestion. Just seems everything on this forum is a complaint lately. Perhaps it should be called "cruise complaints". Smart companies evolve their products towards their target audience and that seems to be what rci is doing. We love princess and is a GREAT adult experience.

Yep, including your previous "you need to switch cruise lines" post. :rolleyes:

Thank you so much to those who "understood" my post. I have always felt that RCI has done a beautiful job of providing adult and childrens activities. Unfortunately, those days seem to be slowly disappearing.

I love RCI and would never think of switching lines. I would much prefer to point out where RCI is making a policy mistake and hope that they see the error of their ways.

When the cruise line hangs banners all around the ship advertising an intimate, romantic dinner at the CT and then decides to allow children at the table, they are actually contradicting what their marketing is trying to convey to the passenger.

Everyone, have a lovely Thanksgiving Feast! :D

RCL is leaning towards a Disney model lately. Remember when the concierge lounge didn't allow children but now they do. RCL seems to want their adult cruisers without children to go to their Celebrity or Azamara lines.

As a mother of a small child why would anybody want to subject their children, themselves or other people to such an experience. Talking about setting your child up for a total meltdown.

A sensible, responsible and considerate (of the child and others) parent. What a concept!

Yep, including your previous "you need to switch cruise lines" post. :rolleyes:

That was hardly a complaint. It was a suggestion.

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As a mother of a small child why would anybody want to subject their children, themselves or other people to such an experience. Talking about setting your child up for a total meltdown.

I agree. Some situations do tend to set up little ones for a melt down. They can only do so much for so long. It's just reality. They are little ones.

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There is a new Tapas menu in Vintages.

Thank-you! Good Information...:)

We had a child at Chef's Table on Oasis last January. Not a little one but a boy of about 10 -12 years old. It was a young French couple who brought the boy. I was concerned at first but it turned out to be no problem, a pleasant table, and they left early - maybe 2 or 2 1/2 hours into it. Usually the table goes on for about 3 hours and this was no exception.

After my last CT on Vision, I will ask the demographics of the table before we book a night. NO more very old people or women's groups for us. The couple that were 90ish - he could not hear and kept saying so, nearly deaf he was. She started coughing during the first course and couldn't stop, she left, he said "I think she's sick with the illness you read about" (meaning noro which ended up being on the ship) - really? and she came to the table? The women were a group of 4 traveling together and celebrating a birthday. More very old people who kept talking loudly as the Chef was speaking.

This isn't meant to cause controversy. We simply only want to be at a table with couples of any age because those have always been the best tables and lots of fun. Actually in most cases the 90 something crowd would be fine but I'd insist they be seated at the Chef's end of the table rather than the far end as these were.

No babies please...or I'd also cancel.

The latest dining chart has confirmed that they do not plan to re-open a Chef's Table on Oasis. Wonderland is taking over the space and there were rumors they would move it elsewhere, but that appears not to be the case.

 

Freedom Class, Voyager Class, Majesty, Enchantment, Jewel and now Oasis do not have the Chef's Table.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/statichtmlpage.do?pagename=brochure_dining_guide_options

LOL, well that certainly decides it. :D

Quote: She started coughing during the first course and couldn't stop, she left, he said "I think she's sick with the illness you read about" (meaning noro which ended up being on the ship) - really.

NoroVirus or Norwalk is a gastro-intestinal illness and does not have any respiratory symptoms (coughing).

Maybe there should be a no children after 8 p.m. rule.

Maybe there should be a no children after 8 p.m. rule.

I seem to recall they had a similar rule (might have been 7pm) for all specialty restaurants, but that went by the wayside.

I seem to recall they had a similar rule (might have been 7pm) for all specialty restaurants, but that went by the wayside.

Exactly, we had a screaming toddler in 150 Central Park at 8 pm and even DH was unnerved and he's usually the more patient one...

Quote: She started coughing during the first course and couldn't stop, she left, he said "I think she's sick with the illness you read about" (meaning noro which ended up being on the ship) - really.

 

 

 

NoroVirus or Norwalk is a gastro-intestinal illness and does not have any respiratory symptoms (coughing).

Exactly. But that's what he said. We thought it odd he would say such a thing. Because he did mean that. He also decided at the end of the meal that the casino would be coming his meal. It was all weird. No children needed.