Ultimate Balcony Dinner Review

As promised, here is my review of the Ultimate Balcony Dinner.

Let me first start by saying that before our cruise my husband and I posted the question many times to see if anyone had experienced this and we couldn’t get any information except from the folks that couldn’t understand why we would want to spend $50/pp for food that we could order from room service and have delivered for free. That is not what this experience was about. This was a fine dining experience. When I first heard about this option, I also wondered the same thing. After reading my review, I think you’ll see why I changed my view.

The Ultimate Balcony Dinner is only advertised in the suites but any room with a balcony can experience it. We had trouble early in the week finding any information about it. We checked at the Purser’s Desk a couple of different times. Our table mates at dinner had trouble also, but they paved the way for us and experienced it on Wednesday night of the cruise. You just need to call the Food & Beverage Supervisor at the Bell Box (on the 5/1/04 Sailing of the Caribbean Princess it was Christian) and let them know the day and time you would like to make a reservation. 24 hour notice is required and they can only accommodate two balcony dinners per night. Since this dinner is not advertised, not many take advantage of it. Christian said the most they had done on one cruise was four. The menu will be brought to you and you will order the day before.

An hour before your dinner starts, the gentlemen from Room Service will come to set up. They put a table cloth on your patio table, bring all the china and glassware and a beautiful flower centerpiece. They moved the small round table from our sitting area to the balcony to use for the ice bucket.

45 minutes before dinner begins, cocktails (your choice) and canapés will be brought to your room and served to you out on the balcony. A photographer will also come to the room and take photos on the balcony. You get to decide at what point during the meal you would like to have the photos taken- we chose to have them done during the cocktail time (I figured that I would still have lipstick on by this point). The photos (4- 8x10’s) were delivered to our room before our dinner was over- these are included in the price.

The Menu

Cocktails (your choice) and canapés

Appetizer Course- Pacific Blue Crab Cake Baked in a Puffed Pastry Crown

Thyme infused tomato chutney and whole grain mustard cream

Salad Course- Marinated Chevre and Mesclun Field Greens

Pear, Walnuts and an Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette (there was also some toasted goat cheese on the top)

Main Course (your choice)

Broiled tail of Cold Water Lobster w/ Drawn Lemon Butter and Vegetable Bouquet

Or

Grilled Filet of Beef Tenderloin Diane w/ Chateau Potatoes, Vegetable Bouquet and Mushroom Demi-Glace

Or

Surf and Turf- Broiled Tail of Cold Water Lobster and Grilled Filet of Beef Tenderloin

Served together with Rissole Potatoes, Vegetable Bouquet and a Duo of Sauces (our choice)

Dessert Course- Princess’ Extraordinary Quartet Mouesseline

Delicate Quenelles of Dark, Swiss, Milk and White Chocolates

(there was also a small cookie dish of berries- strawberries and blueberries)

Split of Moet & Chandon Champagne

Experience

Rob and I felt that we were the only passengers on a 900 foot yacht. Christian and the wait staff were the best we met on the ship. They were attentive and quite pleasant. They engaged us in conversation, but at the same time gave us plenty of time to enjoy this romantic dinner. We were told that they would be waiting outside our door during the courses (in case we needed anything) and guess what? They were! I checked one time (I didn’t need anything, I just wanted to see) The food was magnificent and my only comment was that there was so much of it. If you aren’t a “foodie†this may not be the experience for you. Rob and I really enjoy fine dining and were happy that we had saved some of our vacation dollars for this night.

I could comment on each course, but I won’t. I will just say that every course was delicious and served at the correct temperature. The lobster was succulent and the steak was tender and cooked perfectly. The dessert mousse- well, I could have eaten it all night even though I was stuffed- it was light and so delicious. The presentation of each course was magnificent and I even took photos of each course. (I’ll provide a link to my photos at the bottom.)

After we finished our dessert, we went up to the main dining room to say goodbye to our table mates and to thank them for telling us more about their experience about their balcony dinner. When we returned, everything was cleared, but they did leave that beautiful centerpiece for us. I was sad that we were disembarking the next morning and I couldn’t take the flowers with me. (Princess has the most beautiful flowers. Rob had ordered a dozen roses that were waiting for us the first day on the ship and they stayed perfect the entire week.)

If you are celebrating a special occasion or just want a special evening to enjoy your balcony. I would strongly recommend this experience. I hope I haven’t left anything out. Please let us know if you have any questions.

http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAN2LJo0bsmbKLg&notag=1

Thanks for putting together a definitive explanation and review, this topic has been discussed repeatedly but never described.

Life is at it's best when your address floats

<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>

Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02

Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95

<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>

Diamond Princess 12/04

Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04

Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>

West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>

Ecstacy 09/01

<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>

Century 12/97

<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>

Century 9/96

Thank you for your review. We would like to celebrate our 20th anniversary this way while on the Golden in January. I think your review just swayed me off the fence to the "yes" side.

Sea Princess 2/02

DisneyWonder 6/03

Mariner of the Seas 4/04

Golden Princess 1/23/05

Thanks for the great review. Were you in a full suite?

Thanks,

Lynda

Thanks for the information you have provided.....it may just change my mind about this service and I may order it in November.

Thanks again.

Jim

Nordic Prince 8/88

Viking Serenade 3/93

Enchantment 3/01

Rhapsody 9/02

Splendour 4/03

Rhapsody, 9/03

Brilliance, 4/04

Until Our Caribbean Princess Cruise

Until Hawaii on Inifinity

Hi Lynda- we were in a balcony cabin B751.

You did an excellent job with the review, and I have changed my opinion to it is worth it! The photos alone would cost $80.

Gloria

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001

Grand Princess, Western,April 2002

Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

Oh that just looks and sounds like quite the experience. Do you know if they offer that on all the ships?

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

Carnival Valor 10/30/05

Thanks for a great review and wonderful pics! This looks like something we'll do on the Star in December.

Yours in Cruising, Layla

What a great review. My DH and I may try it. I imagine that it was a great experience. Again, thank you.

Marilyn

I agree, just the photos alone woul be worth that price! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

Bernie

"so many cruises, so little vacation time"

Diamond Princess - September 2004

Grand Princess - March 2003

Carnival Pride - June 2002

Carnival Victory - June 2001

Great review and lovely pictures. The menu sounded great, ( by the way Chevre is goat cheese) and as pointed out the pictures and the cocktails alone make up for the fee. Mind you it's still a bit " rich" for me. We tended to hit the buffet and bring food to our cabin ( we were on the Lido deck) to enjoy on our balcony. Still the service sounded great.

I'm almost sorry you did the review! Now everyone will want to do this and it might be more difficult to get a reservation.

It does sound like you had a fabulous romantic evening made more wonderful by delicious food and great service. Thanks for sharing your experience and for posting the photos.

Cruising! It's like being in the Garden of Eatin'!

AWESOME!!!!

I will definately look into it when we board in Jan.

I think we have one of the smaller balcony's (Aloha Deck BC cabin).

Do you know if it's still possible?

Thanks again for sharing your experience with us.

Dan

Until we sail the Carribean Princess<BR

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005

<IMG

Roll Call.... click here to join the fun!

</applet>

CARNIVAL'S LEGEND JAN 2003

CELEBRITY'S CENTURY DEC 2003

WOW! That looks wonderful.

In spite of the fact that I've drooled all over my keyboard and I'm anxious to go home and start packing already, I have to say this was an excellet review and the photos are wonderful!

Southern on Dawn Princess Feb 28, 2005

Grand Princess Feb 15/04

Great snaps! I do have a question. You mentioned that your waiter waited out in the hallway. Does that mean that you had to go and open your door to get him each time you were finished with a course? Or, did he just enter when he thought you would be through?

This service is available on the Diamond Princess, as well as the Glacier Breakfast during the Alaska season. Sounds fantastic.

Hi Pipermary-

The waiters (we had two for the entire meal plus Christian popped in afew times to make sure we were happy) entered when they thought we were finished with a course- we never had to go and get them.

BTW, I just remembered something that I thought was so cute! When they delivered dessert, they told us to close our eyes. I laughed and one of them said "I'm serious!" So, we did. They wanted us to see the spectacular dessert at the same time. I don't think that the photo does it justice. It was spectacular!

Now to me, that sounds better than a visit to any of the alternate restaurants. Hummmmm might just have to try it on our next Princess cruise.

Thank you so much for the review, it sounds wonderful!

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

Thanks for the review...given the cocktails, the split of champagne and the photos, along with the additional personal service, I think the experience would be well worth the price.

-------------------------

Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

It sounds heavenly! BTW, when you say the wait staff waited outside the door for you in case you needed anything, which door are you referring to? Your balcony door (which meant they waited inside your cabin), or your cabin door (which would leave them standing out in the hallway). Did you have to summon them every time you were done with a course?

caribbeanqueen3@comcast.net

Hi there- they were waiting outside in the hallway, not in our stateroom.

Hi Tamie (and Rob too!). Wow, what a great review, we enjoyed reading it, looking the pictures (your other ones too). Thanks alot for taking the time, made us feel like we were back there. We had a great time. Hope you have recovered from the PCD!

At least we still have a bit of Stanley Cup to keep us interested!

Cheers..

Steph and Peter

Thanks so much for the great review along with the photos. I think this is going to be something we would really love to do for our 40th anniversary night during our Oct. cruise. I sure hope that by that time everyone hasn't heard about it and it will become too popular!

Hope they won't have to limit it to suites only by then. We also just have a balcony guarantee (right now on Lido). Wish they had a way of reserving it before boarding. Again thanks for a fantastic presentation!

awfw