Chefs Table question

[murph1031]

We are booked for the chef's table on our upcoming cruise. I understand that it costs $75 per person. Does this include the tip, or will they add the auto tip to this, OR is the tip left up to the diner? In other words I can tip whatever I want. I have read elsewhere that after the meal you are given a bill to sign, with a space for the tip. I usally tip 20% sometimes more if service was excellent, but I don't want to tip 20% if the auto tip will also be added, or is already added.

 

Thanks

Murph

[skittl1321]

It includes the tip. The reciept leaves a space to add an additional tip, most of our group chose to.

[Monalis]

As I understand it the $75 does include tip, but just a small percentage. My husband and I are doing the Chef's table on the Conquest in Nov. and if the service is as good as we have heard we will be tipping extra.

[target32]

Glad to see the responses. I am hoping to get my wife and I at the Chef's table on our cruise in October. Nice to know what we need to do afterwards in regards to tipping. Thanks.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

The tip is included in the $75. That said, the service was beyond anything I've experienced on a cruise ship (including many visits to the steak house) and we did tip an extra $20. When we did it, there was one waiter for every two diners. :D

[lady_cruiser]

The Chef's Table on The Magic was the highlight of our cruise. The sights, smells and workings of the gallery is something that will stay with us a long time.

 

We started out meeting in The Play It Again Lounge for a private reception where we were served Champagne and met with Chef Caniel Arulraj.

 

We were then served appertizers that consisted of Parmesan Core & Olive, Chorizo & Dates, Piquillo Sofrito, Focaccia, Mascarpone Cream & Prosciutto Crudo and Langoustine & Sundried Tomato Jam Fritters (don't let the fancy names scare you, if you are afraid to try new things. Everything was delicious)

 

We then was escorted upstairs where we went to the gallery. We each had a small clay flower pot that had the most delicious bread baked in it.

 

Then we started with the meal. Our menu was as followed:

 

Tomatoes Our Way!

Aerated Tomato Juice, Cocoa Butter Coated, Chardonnay Poached

 

Tuna Banh Mi

Lemon Bread, Sesame Crisp, Miso Cream Avocado gel

 

Cornish Hen

Caramelized, Butternut Squash, Sofrito

 

Bavarois

Spinach, Green Peas, Warm Turnip & Apple Juice

 

Salmon

Herb Pesto, Cured Tomatoes, Carrots, Fava, Mushroom Earth, Condensed Beets

 

Wagyu

Slowed Stewed short ribs, Potato Pebbles, Pumpkin Fudge, Tomato Dust

 

Dessert

Chef in a Candy Shop

 

Believe me, by the time we got to the Salmon we were already full. And all this time they were filling and refilling our wine glasses.

 

If I had seen this menu before we went I might have cancelled but everything was beyond delicious.

 

You also get to keep a souvenir menu with your name on it and a group photo with the Chef. BTW the service was so excellent that we each tip $25.00 extra. To us it was well worth it.

[mominkaty]

We're also booked for it on our upcoming cruise on the Magic. What time does this typically start? If you go on a port day, is it a rush to get back and ready for dinner?

[LMDaddy]

We're also booked for it on our upcoming cruise on the Magic. What time does this typically start? If you go on a port day, is it a rush to get back and ready for dinner?

 

Ours started at 6:30pm. They want to take you through the galley during full dinner service so you can watch all of the action. By 6:30pm, the galley is in FULL swing. It's awesome. You will love it.

[LuckyZ]

The tip is included in the $75. That said, the service was beyond anything I've experienced on a cruise ship (including many visits to the steak house) and we did tip an extra $20. When we did it, there was one waiter for every two diners. :D

 

We did the exact same thing.

 

Chef's table is one of the most memorable experiences I've had on 12 cruises

[ranger10!]

We have booked Chef's Table twice with our third coming in Feb. We always tip more. The service, the food, the fun time is worth the extra tip! Everyone involved works very hard at making sure your experience is top notch. Haven't been disappointed yet and don't believe we will be in Feb. Enjoy the experience.

 

One piece of advice...if you are a wine drinker be careful. They keep the glass full and you don't realize how much you have had to drink until you stand up to leave! :eek: Wow!!! They will offer you white and red. We take both. Drink according to the course being served.

[ribbitt]

If I had seen this menu before we went I might have cancelled but everything was beyond delicious.

 

Thanks so much for that comment. My husband and I are booked for the Chef's Table on our anniversary cruise. I was really worried about the menu change. I was debating on changing to the steak house. We have not done either on previous cruises.

If you have eaten both Chef's Table and Steak house, what would you recommend?

[mikel24m]

We are booked for the chef's table on our upcoming cruise. I understand that it costs $75 per person. Does this include the tip, or will they add the auto tip to this, OR is the tip left up to the diner? In other words I can tip whatever I want. I have read elsewhere that after the meal you are given a bill to sign, with a space for the tip. I usally tip 20% sometimes more if service was excellent, but I don't want to tip 20% if the auto tip will also be added, or is already added.

 

Thanks

Murph

 

The tip is included but we did tip extra.I think we tipped an extra $40.Service is awesome ,the food was awesome,all the wine you care to drink ,the picture and cookbook are nice.

 

We did the first menu and it was really good ,I have never had filet that could be cut with a fork and have to say the best mac and cheese I have ever tasted

 

The new menu doesnt really impress me,I can make cornish game hens in my crockpot

 

Just take a look at the steakhouse menu ,I think thats what we may do.Although the behind the scenes part of the chefs table is worth the money just to see how they make warm choc melting cake,and to see the big kitchens.I wish the new menu was better we would love to do it again

[Quilting_Cruiser]

If I had seen this menu before we went I might have cancelled but everything was beyond delicious.

 

Thanks so much for that comment. My husband and I are booked for the Chef's Table on our anniversary cruise. I was really worried about the menu change. I was debating on changing to the steak house. We have not done either on previous cruises.

If you have eaten both Chef's Table and Steak house, what would you recommend?

 

 

My opinion will likely be different from most of the responses you receive. We've done both and very much prefer the steakhouse. While the service is much better at Chef's Table, we have found the food to be far better in the steakhouse. We're foodies and have participated in Chef's Tables and fine dining "on land" so maybe our expectations were too high, but at $75 pp, I think we should have high expectations.

 

Carnival's CT menu is fleet wide, so it isn't a true Chef's Table where the chef creates a menu for his guests--he's just fixing what he's told to fix. I had a filet in the steakhouse a couple nights before CT that was so far superior to the one I received at CT there wasn't even a comparison. We found the dishes at CT to be good but nothing I'd order again. That said, we enjoyed the experience, but I don't know that I'd do it again. I would most definitely do it again if they allowed each chef to create his own menu and especially if they used regional ingredients.

[murph1031]

Thanks for all the replies. Really looking forward to this experience.