chrismch Posted January 1, 2014 #1 Share Posted January 1, 2014 When we board the ship, will the MDR be open for lunch? Or is our only choice the horizon court or the International Cafe? If the MDR is open, what are their hours and is it only restricted to certain passengers? Link to post Share on other sites
capriccio Posted January 1, 2014 #2 Share Posted January 1, 2014 The Patter (which will be in your cabin) will tell you which dining room is serving lunch. The hours are noon to 1:30. The Horizon Court (buffet) as well as the International Cafe and Alfredos (on ships that have the latter two eateries) will be open. Link to post Share on other sites
sunsetbeachgal Posted January 1, 2014 #3 Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) As I board the ship, I ask one of the employees who greets you which dining room is open. The embarkation lunch is usually one of the best meals on the cruise! Edited January 1, 2014 by sunsetbeachgal Link to post Share on other sites
JimmyVWine Posted January 1, 2014 #4 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I have found that the Patters only lists the lunch venue on embarkation day about half the time. Asking crew members should get you the right answer, but be persistent if the first and only answer you get is: "Go to the buffet". For reasons that are unclear to me, sometimes you get an out-and-out lie that there is no MDR open when in fact there is one. Link to post Share on other sites
FritzG Posted January 2, 2014 #5 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I have found that the Patters only lists the lunch venue on embarkation day about half the time. Asking crew members should get you the right answer, but be persistent if the first and only answer you get is: "Go to the buffet". For reasons that are unclear to me, sometimes you get an out-and-out lie that there is no MDR open when in fact there is one. We've had the same experience a couple of times. DH asked an employee which dining room was open, and the answer was that Horizon Court is open. After a couple of tries DH finally had to say that we know there is a dining room serving lunch, and that we'd like to know which one. Link to post Share on other sites
Gail & Marty sailing away Posted January 2, 2014 #6 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Yes yes yes ... Link to post Share on other sites
chrismch Posted January 2, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Thanks for the tips! Link to post Share on other sites
geoherb Posted January 2, 2014 #8 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) On our Ruby Princess cruises last month, the DaVinci Dining Room was the one open for lunch on embarkation day. We did two cruises back to back. On the first day, we had plenty of time to make it after embarkation. On the second cruise, we were delayed at going through the Immigration by a couple of in-transit passengers who did not show up on time. They delayed the whole embarkation process for the oncoming passengers as well. I bet some people who had planned to be on board in time for lunch in the dining room did not make it. The best thing to do before your cruise is to find out which dining room is usually open for breakfast and lunch. That's the one that should be open on embarkation day as well. Edited January 2, 2014 by geoherb Link to post Share on other sites
Mom33 Posted January 2, 2014 #9 Share Posted January 2, 2014 If you are sailing the Caribbean Princess, lunch was served in the Coral dining room on deck 6 on our sailing.:) Link to post Share on other sites
Loonbeam Posted January 2, 2014 #10 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Note that iff boarding is delayed past 1:00 for whatever reason they may not open the MDR or restrict it to in transit passengers because they divert staff to help with catching up on boarding.. Link to post Share on other sites
Colo Cruiser Posted January 2, 2014 #11 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Our favorite place on embarkation day. :D Link to post Share on other sites
satxdiver Posted January 2, 2014 #12 Share Posted January 2, 2014 One of the MDR rooms will be open for lunch on embarkation day usually from 12:00-1:30 pm. It seems to be a closely guarded secret. When in the past I have asked a welcoming crew member upon boarding, I have consistently been told no and to use the HC. Now I simply board and then go check the MDR rooms myself. It is far better than the hordes in the HC loading their plates to the max not to mention trying to get a seat to eat your food. Link to post Share on other sites
boca7 Posted January 2, 2014 #13 Share Posted January 2, 2014 On every ship lunch is open until 130pm & the menu is always the same, if someone tells you different its that they would prefer you go to the buffet. Link to post Share on other sites
JPEvans Posted January 3, 2014 #14 Share Posted January 3, 2014 When I boarded the Royal a few weeks ago, my friends and I had lunch at Alfredo's in the Atrium. Hardly anyone was in there. The buffet is usually A madhouse on embarkation day. It was nice to sit down and have a quiet Lunch. Link to post Share on other sites
Gail & Marty sailing away Posted January 3, 2014 #15 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Alfredo's in the Atrium. That is a good idea .. Link to post Share on other sites
helenb Posted January 3, 2014 #16 Share Posted January 3, 2014 If you board and can't make it to the MDR for any reason, then head to the International Cafe. ;) Link to post Share on other sites
Fisherwoman Posted January 3, 2014 #17 Share Posted January 3, 2014 On our last cruise we were told NO dining rooms were open to proceed to the Horizon Court. When I told him I knew there was one dining room open as we are Elite and cruise often he directed me to the open dining room. I figure they don't want everyone to find out the "secret". Yes it is the best lunch on board and so quiet! Link to post Share on other sites
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