Why do so many people rave about the wings at the Blue Lagoon?

[bananasforcruises]

We just returned from the Jewel yesterday. This was our first NCL cruise. We had a good time. The ship was crowded. We were in a mini suite, room 11022. The room is in a good location, very quiet. Food was okay. We had some meals that we enjoyed more than others. The buffet food was okay. Not great but it was edible. There was enough food that you wouldn't go hungry.

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What I don't understand is how so many people rave over the Blue Lagoon. We tried the Blue Lagoon one evening and it was the worst Won Ton soup and wings I've ever had. The wings were mushy. The broth of the Won Ton soup looked and tasted like dirty water. The spicy chicken wings by Banquet are 100 times better than the wings at the Blue Lagoon. My nephew had the chicken tenders and said they weren't that bad. I consider my nephew the chicken tender expert because he eats so many of them. One thing my 10 year old nephew did enjoy was the hot dogs. He pretty much ate one for lunch every day. The hamburgers are a little thicker than the ones you can buy at Burger King or McDonald's. The fries are good, better than McDonald's.

 

My niece and I ate at Tsar's and Azure. We enjoyed Tsar's more than Azure. I had the lobster and it is tough. It is still edible, but nothing to rave about. The steaks weren't bad at all. The steak my niece ordered in Azure had more fat on it, but it was still pretty good. One day we had lunch in Tsar's and I ordered the Mahi Mahi. If you don't like anything with a very fishy taste, don't order the Mahi Mahi. My niece ordered the short ribs and they were extremely fatty. Whatever meat she could get tasted good. After that we just ate lunch in the buffet.

 

Since we had a 10-month old with us we never made it through a dinner long enough to order dessert. By the time we ate the main course he started getting very fussy so we had to leave. We wanted to try some of the desserts. When we did want dessert we went to the buffet. The best thing for dessert in the buffet was the ice cream and the oatmeal cookies. We had the ice cream every day.

 

I am a seafood person so I really enjoyed the shrimp cocktails they had at the buffet. We saw them the last 2 nights of our cruise. The shrimps are big, but you only got 2 shrimps. Some people were taking four of them and dumping all the shrimp in one cocktail dish.

 

Since my niece usually gets seasick easily we brought bonine and dramamine with us, but she never used it. She felt a little seasick once or twice but never to the point of really being ill or staying in bed because of it. I love being on the higher floors. I felt more motion on the lower floors. I felt more motion in the casino on the last night, but when I went to my room I didn't feel anything. Room 11022 is considered forward, but it was great. We didn't feel any rocking or swaying.

 

Our steward was okay, but he was very friendly. The room was pretty clean. Sometimes he didn't do it until after 2:00, but we didn't mind because some days we slept late. There was one night he didn't empty the garbage pails. Since we had soiled diapers in the room every day we made sure that we had diaper bags for the soiled diapers. We brought extra bags so we could double them. There are areas on the boat that could use some deodorizing. There was a foul smell.

 

When we were in Port Canaveral we took the shuttle and went to the beach and Walmart. The shuttle service is good. It is cheaper than booking it through NCL.

 

We skipped Great Stirrup Cay and stayed on the ship. We spent the day by the pool. I think other people did the same thing, but the pool area wasn't crowded.

 

For Nassau, Bahamas we went on an excursion, swimming with the seals. My nephew really enjoyed it and I think it will be something that he will remember.

 

The casino, we visited every night. The first night, I was offered a free drink, but that was it. No more free drinks throughout the rest of the cruise. The machines are very tight. I really enjoyed the casino on the last night, I won some of my money back. Not much, but some.

 

My nephew really enjoyed the kids clubs. He didn't want to leave, not even to eat meals. He rushed through his meals to go back in the kid's clubs. Nickelodeon isn't really anything to worry about. You never see them except for the area where they are having the meet and greet or the show by the pool.

 

Some other cruisers posted on this site that the Slime Time Live show was held in the evening in the Stardust Theatre. I guess they changed that. The Slime Time Live show was in the Stardust theatre, but they had it at 12:30 in the afternoon.

 

All in all we consider it a good cruise and I think we will try NCL again.

[Hikini]

I've never tried the wings in the Blue Lagoon because I can't stop ordering the fish and chips which are delicious! I look forward to having them again next month on the Star.

 

Several in my group have had other things and the only thing found to be a disappointment, although it wasn't awful, was the Won Ton Soup.

[debnjoe1438]

First let me say I enjoyed all the food I had on the Jewel. However, I don't understand why people rave about the wings in the Blue lagoon. I tried the wings and I must say. I have had better. The wings were ok, not special.

[johnql]

Simple: the people who rave about the wings like them. Since food is extremely subjective, you (and others) may disagree. No one is wrong and no one is right. Personally, I like them but I wouldn't rave about them. I don't think the spicy version is spicy enough.

[Leafpeeper]

Food is always subjective. We prefer the Blue Lagoon on NCL Dawn and Star where you can sit out on deck. We used to love pickup our Banana Bread each night on our way back to our room after the production show. After we went on the Gem, we were disappointed that Blue Lagoon was a sitdown restaurant and no longer a fast food " to go " type restaurant.

 

We also love the fish and chips because it is so crunchy. I love the tempura in the Asian restaurant too. Chicken wings are never special to me, but what was always my DD's favorite dish in Blue Lagoon was the lomein with cashews. Wonder if they still have it. We'll find out on Gem in January. Can't wait.

[melehundele]

We got wings once on the Spirit in February. They still had feathers on them, no lie. Not a favorite....

[Philip217]

bananasforcruises,

 

You say that you are a seafood person, but don't like anything with a fishy taste.

That's rather different.

 

I'm a beef person, but don't like red meat.

[tiyana4]

Food is always subjective. We prefer the Blue Lagoon on NCL Dawn and Star where you can sit out on deck. We used to love pickup our Banana Bread each night on our way back to our room after the production show. After we went on the Gem, we were disappointed that Blue Lagoon was a sitdown restaurant and no longer a fast food " to go " type restaurant.

 

We also love the fish and chips because it is so crunchy. I love the tempura in the Asian restaurant too. Chicken wings are never special to me, but what was always my DD's favorite dish in Blue Lagoon was the lomein with cashews. Wonder if they still have it. We'll find out on Gem in January. Can't wait.

 

We do too! They have since moved the Blue Lagoon to the center atrium area on deck 8 (just down the hall from our cabin), so it was very convenient.

 

As for the OP's post, on embarkation day we ate at the Blue Lagoon instead of the buffet and ordered the wings and spinach/artichoke dip.....it was fantastic! Not only were we served the wings hot and fresh, but it only took a few minutes to bring the order out to us. After this we were hooked. I don't like a lot of extra stuff on my wings, so they suited us just fine. If you are accustomed to heavy seasoning, marinades, sauces, etc. on wings, they would probably disappoint you.

 

I also enjoyed the cheesecake with blueberry compote - one of my favorites.

[Obi1]

Oooh - the blueberry cheesecake and the chicken tenders! YUM!! My hubby loves the fish and chips too! He always has it several times a week when we are on board.

Have never tried the wings, but maybe this time.

[halos]

I've never tried the wings in the Blue Lagoon because I can't stop ordering the fish and chips which are delicious! I look forward to having them again next month on the Star.

 

Several in my group have had other things and the only thing found to be a disappointment, although it wasn't awful, was the Won Ton Soup.

isn't it funny...I love that won-ton soup :)

I haven't had it on the Jewel though..on the Spirit, Dawn and Star it was great. It was definitely different tasting than what I would normally find in a Chinese restaurant at home, but I still loved it. It was just different.....

 

We've also enjoyed some of the other Blue Lagoon munchies as well. (Like the fish n chips and the wings) It's our 'place to go' after we get back on the ship after a day in port.

[mellygo]

Food is very subjective. When someone agrees with us, then we tend to believe everyone agrees with us! I've had the wings at Blue Lagoon, and they were okay. Personally, I don't like that much of a vinegar taste - it cuts the spiciness. But that's just me.. . . I managed to EAT them!! DH loved the fish and chips, and breakfast in Blue Lagoon was good. My favorite - and I would probably eat there almost every night is Le Bistro. Again - just my experience! Swordfish in Le Bistro was to die for, we thought!!

[jackson bernard]

We just returned from the Jewel yesterday. The spicy chicken wings by Banquet are 100 times better than the wings at the Blue Lagoon.

 

All in all we consider it a good cruise and I think we will try NCL again.

 

If you like the spicy chicken wings by banquet, you should try the Tyson ones......DELICIOUS!!!

 

Thanks for your review. I was on the ship a few months ago and thought the food was hit or miss. The lobster taco's at the pay mexican place were great!

[Micchi]

bananasforcruises,

 

You say that you are a seafood person, but don't like anything with a fishy taste.

That's rather different.

 

I'm a beef person, but don't like red meat.

 

I understand perfectly what she means.

 

"Fishy" implies a taste that isn't a good seafood taste, but rather one that is foul, like the fish has gone bad or is of poor quality.

 

I, too, love seafood, but don't like things that taste "fishy."

[Fishbait17]

I'm with you on Blue Lagoon, not the best food on the cruise, but a nice alternative for late night. I have had the wings several times and they have ranged from delicious to almost disgusting, even on the same sailing.. Number one is that they must be ordered hot (spicy) - which is barely warm by normal wing standards - the mild ones are pretty awful.. After that it's hit or miss - but I will say the best ones I have had were a few weeks ago on the Jewel. Maybe it was the 2am order, but they were tasty and just crispy enough. I have found the fish-n-chips the same, as in different every time I order them - not really that great, but somehow satisfying late at night. My favorite is the tomato soup...

 

Robin

[Don Haynes]

Considering how much difficulty Gordon Ramsey has having fine food cooked and served for one hundred diners, imagine the difficulty Gordon would have serving three thousand diners? On cruise ships you are being served massed produced banquet food, not five star high quality fine dining food...

 

We are fortuante to be getting edible food on cruise ships, lucky if its as good as Dennys...

[ColinIllinois]

Why do people rave about the wings? Probably because they aren't cooking them in their own house with kids running around and work calling to annoy them about some crappy project. :D

[weltek]

I agree completely-the wings are subpar in my opinion. The Blue Lagoon does make some decent snacks, but nothing worth raving about or craving, IMHO. We really enjoy going there for breakfast. Quieter than the buffet, faster than the dining room.

[EileenN]

I am not a lover of wings, but did enjoy the fish and chips. Another thing that was goood was the spinach dip, a nice pickme up late evening or afternoon. Also like the stuffed potato skins.

[halos]

I understand perfectly what she means.

 

"Fishy" implies a taste that isn't a good seafood taste, but rather one that is foul, like the fish has gone bad or is of poor quality.

 

I, too, love seafood, but don't like things that taste "fishy."

 

 

Fish/seafood tastes and smells a bit more fishy when it's been frozen. It doesn't necessarily mean it's of poor quality or has gone bad ....

The only time fish is pretty odorless is when it's really fresh.

[STARFISH*4]

for us we didnt rave about the wings at the Blue Lagoon on the Jewel...they were nothin like on the STAR...cos when we were on the STAR it was the whole package before they changed the locale of the STAR---we liked the crew in there, the QUAINT ATMOSHPERE, the food

it was a package deal-they even made a Grilled Cheese for me a couple of nights on my December sailing:)...we will MISS the BL as WE KNEW IT on the STAR--like the Quaintness too of the Spirit's but

you can keep the one on the JEWEL and we dont even get one on the SUN:(

[NJGeorge]

Fish/seafood tastes and smells a bit more fishy when it's been frozen. It doesn't necessarily mean it's of poor quality or has gone bad ....

The only time fish is pretty odorless is when it's really fresh.

As P. J. O'Rouke said, "fish is the only food that should not taste like it smells"!

[Fishbait17]

Why do people rave about the wings? Probably because they aren't cooking them in their own house with kids running around and work calling to annoy them about some crappy project. :D

 

Amen to that! Where else can you leave a bar late at night and have someone serve you fresh cooked, hot food without paying for it before walking a few steps to bed? :D

 

Robin

[thescot123]

Have never tried the wings. The Blue Lagoon is one of those hidden gems on the cruise boat. Really like the tomato soup which I have several times during a cruise. Will try the fish & chips next time and see they compare to what you can get in England. Sometimes I will pop-up in the blue lagoon for a quick coffee while walking the promenade early morning.

[Don Haynes]

As P. J. O'Rouke said, "fish is the only food that should not taste like it smells"!

 

Unfortunately, cruise ships don't get deliveries of fresh food everyday... Cruise ship food isn't fresh food one finds at a land based five star restaurant...

[iheartbda]

Unfortunately, cruise ships don't get deliveries of fresh food everyday... Cruise ship food isn't fresh food one finds at a land based five star restaurant...

It's not fresh seafood??? I thought they caught it off the back of the ship everyday.:D