Recent Cruisers - Grand Princess - Painted Desert

[psilverman]

Has the Painted Desert been converted to a steakhouse? Will it be?

[lunyma]

I was on the Grand in November, and they told our group that indeed, the Painted Desert will be replaced with a steakhouse. I'm sorry, but I can't recall if they said when this would happen. I would guess that it would be done during the next drydock.

Pam : )
Emerald Seas 6/20/83
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Enchantment of the Seas 9/1/03
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Grand Princess 11/16/03

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[TinaLee]

We were on the Grand last month and it is still the Painted Desert. I did notice that they were offering a "lunch special" that included prawns and steak and looked pretty darn good, but we never made it in there to eat!

I also heard the rumor that it would be converted to Sterling Steakhouse before changing her home port, but I don't know when that will take place.

TinaLee

Sail Away on Caribbean Princess

[preteristbrd]

It will be quite unfortunate if they change the Painted Desert/Desert Rose restaurants into steak houses-they serve steak all over the ships. Some of our best meals were in there. The guacamole, chips, fajitas, prawms are fantastic and throw in a wonderful large margarita-mouth's watering just thinking about it. We are sailing the Canada/New England cruise in October on the Grand and hope to still get a good Mexican lunch/dinner.

Bruce

[KruzPrincess]

I'll be disappointed if they change the Painted Desert to a steakhouse. I really enjoyed that restaurant.

[KruzPrincess]

You know, I was just thinking about this and it doesn't make sense. The Grand is moving to Galveston and a lot of TX folks will be traveling on her. Do they think that Texans don't like Tex-Mex food? There's a reason why there's a Tex-Mex restaurant on every corner in TX. Many Texans would love having that alternate restaurant. I cruised on the Grand with a friend from TX and she enjoyed the Painted Desert.

[preteristbrd]

Good points KP. With the change of port to Texas, it is inexplicable to me why they would want to change the diner, but they didn't ask me. Maybe some princess decision-makers read these boards.

[Toto2Kansas]

Last spring on the Grand, although the sign still said Painted Desert, the menu was from the Sterling Steakhouse.


Tahitian October 14th,2004

[bbqbears]

hi Preteristbrd-we too are sailing r/t NY in October (10)-which sailing are you on?

Kathy

 Until we sail on the Grand Princess

[Coral]

Toto - did you mean the "Star Princess"?

The Grand last spring and the Golden last fall still had the Southwestern Restaurant. The Southwestern restaurant was very empty on the Golden with the exception of French night.

[Toto2Kansas]

Opps! Thank you so much Coral, my error. You are correct, it was the Star Princess. Geezzzzzz PCD must be setting in.
But we were on the Grand too last year. Too many ships I guess. lol


Tahitian October 14th,2004

[Coral]

Toto - I just remember you talking about going to Sterling Steakhouse on the Star Princess

I am assuming the Golden will get the Sterling Steakhouse at dry dock this month. I wonder about the Grand - maybe in October?

The food was more "Southwestern" then "Tex-Mex".

[Toto2Kansas]

Coral, I am sure this will end up being a fleet wide thing before long.
Again, thanks for correcting my error!


Tahitian October 14th,2004

[todd-r]

The Grand is going into dry/wet dock beginning October 31, 2004 - I know for sure as Pricncess cancelled our cruise!

Up next - Pacific NorthWest Coastal!



Navigator of the Seas - 01/05
Dawn Princess - 10/04
Grand Princess - 11/04 (Cancelled)
Grand Princess - 10/04 (Cancelled)
Island Princess - 05/04
Grand Princess - 10/03
Norway - 10/03 (Cancelled)
Wind Surf - Transatlantic 4/02

[PeabodyNVL]

I think with the Grand and Golden doing the Mediterrean during certain parts of the year, the steakhouse theme goes over better than Tex-Mex. Some places in the world don't have Mexican restaurants everywhere like we do in the states...and many people would rather have a more traditional choice in their option of alternative restaurant. Plus Tex-Mex is a singularly American type of cuisine, rather than true Mexican cuisine.

It was very nice when we were on the Grand in 2002, the waitstaff in the Painted Desert were mostly Mexican. Had some nice conversations about their hometowns, etc.

Pea

5/9 Golden Princess  

[preteristbrd]

Hi Kathy. We'll be on 3rd/Oct. My wife and I have sailed on her 3x and she is our favorite ship,"grand" in every way. Also looking forward to seeing the great/colorful northeast. Looks like the Painted Desert will still be around. Yippee!

Have a great cruise,
Bruce

[Trisha]

I am assuming the Painted Desert it open for lunch right? Are there days it is closed?
Does the margarita come included with lunch also?

Trish

[TinaLee]

Yes, it was open for lunch and dinner. It wasn't closed at any point while we were on board. And YES the margarita is also included with lunch!

Sail Away on Caribbean Princess

[demisod]

Just got back from the Grand and it is still the Painted Desert. We ate there once and thought it was very good but the line must be having some problems with it. It seemed half-empty most of the time and when I asked the maitre d' about it he said they only had enough staff to offer a limited number of tables each night.

[johndru]

We,too,just got off the Grand on 4/18, and ate at the Painted Desert just once. Yes, it's still there, and sorry to see the previous postings that state Princess is changing this to a steakhouse. Really too bad, since it was the best food we had on the ship! We found the food on Princess to be just "o.k.", compared to past experiences on RCCL and Carnival, however, the Painted Desert was the shining light over and above everything else. The service was excellent, as was the food. We ate there on Wednesday night, and I agree with the previous poster who said it appeared to be empty most of the time. But it was a nice getaway from the hustle/bustle of the Michealangelo/DaVinci dining rooms and the Horizon Court. It really is too bad that they want to change this to a steakhouse. I find that when I'm on a cruise, I try new and different menu items - something that I'm not likely to try at home - so Princess should give this menu a chance when it goes over to Europe in a few weeks - hopefully, the Europeans will be as adventerous as I am when travelling!

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Pride 02'
Fantasy 03'
Grand Princess 04'