A first look at the Koningsdam Menus

[roxybear135]

1 minute ago, zgscl said:

I am planning 2 dinners each in Pinnacle, Sal de Mer, and Canaletto and 1 in Tamarind. May shift the numbers around before the sailing date but after our Alaska trip and seeing these I am very uninspired. Perhaps we will be wowed by the photos posted on the Oct 10th sailing and I will change my mind (unlikely) 

We will likely be doing the same.  We loved Tamarind and Nami sushi so we will likely go back to both, plus go to Pinnacle at some point.  We also booked Club Orange so we will have an extra option for entrees which looks like it will be desperately needed with these menus which are severely lacking options.  Maybe HAL's goal is to bore us all so much with the menus that we spend money booking specialty dining so they can generate more revenue?!

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

I hope these aren't the final menus.  Neither is at all exciting to me and the lunch menu is exactly the same as it was on our Alaska cruise which got boring after a few days.  I will be on the Mexican Riviera cruise at the end of the year so I'm hoping the menus improve greatly by then.  I noticed they did not put up a new menu today in the Navigator app.

I love having lunch in the mdr as I don't like the lido.  That said, he lunch menu is not appealing to me.

[roxybear135]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I love having lunch in the mdr as I don't like the lido.  That said, he lunch menu is not appealing to me.

It's the same exact menu we had on our Alaska cruise last month and it got boring very quickly (plus nothing was all that great tasting).  We ended up ordering room service for lunch a few days because it was better than the food in the MDR and at least had some more variety.

[zgscl]

21 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I love having lunch in the mdr as I don't like the lido.  That said, he lunch menu is not appealing to me.

I think I will be doing pinnacle lunch on sea days and lido on the port days. I got the retreat cabana so at least I can relax up there and the cabana stewards will bring lunch up. There were a couple room service items I’ve been wanting to try also 

[syesmar]

45 minutes ago, zgscl said:

I saw from another thread they still have those three options even if not on the menu

I have heard that, as well. I wonder if the lasagna in the Lido is like those items in the MDR, still there each day, but not reflected on the menu? Does anyone know if lasagna is still offered daily in the Lido? Thanks!

[zgscl]

4 minutes ago, syesmar said:

I have heard that, as well. I wonder if the lasagna in the Lido is like those items in the MDR, still there each day, but not reflected on the menu? Does anyone know if lasagna is still offered daily in the Lido? Thanks!

I will say that I actually found the lido to be quite good and not nearly as crowded as before due to the reduced number of pax.
 

I don’t recall if there was lasagna daily but there was definitely a special pasta dish of some sort like lasagna, baked ziti, etc. 

[syesmar]

1 minute ago, zgscl said:

I will say that I actually found the lido to be quite good and not nearly as crowded as before due to the reduced number of pax. I don’t recall if there was lasagna daily but there was definitely a special pasta dish of some sort like lasagna, baked ziti, etc. 

On my last cruise in 2019 aboard Nieuw Statendam, the Lido was excellent. Appreciate all the info!

[zgscl]

37 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

It's the same exact menu we had on our Alaska cruise last month and it got boring very quickly (plus nothing was all that great tasting).  We ended up ordering room service for lunch a few days because it was better than the food in the MDR and at least had some more variety.

But just think now you have a great reason to try the indulge section…sigh. 

There was a recent live thread over on the X board with tons of pictures. They are really putting HAL to shame when it comes to dining 

[AncientWanderer]

4 hours ago, 12cruise2 said:

Thanks for posting these menus; it's disappointing to see only four choices for mains in the MDR.  We had a better choice in Alaska on the NA.  Wonder what the NA will have in the MDR for the three weeks through the panama canal coming up.  We're not Pinnacle or specialty restaurant goers every night.

 

There are actually five, plus the everyday lasagne.  There is a "Port to Table" choice listed at top -- a starter and a main.

I know we could carve out a good meal from the choices provided, but not shy about ordering both a soup and a salad or some such.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, zgscl said:

But just think now you have a great reason to try the indulge section…sigh. 

There was a recent live thread over on the X board with tons of pictures. They are really putting HAL to shame when it comes to dining 

I've also been looking at the menus on x.  Hal looks like the Walmart of cruise lines right now.

[Florida_gal_50]

9 minutes ago, zgscl said:

I will say that I actually found the lido to be quite good and not nearly as crowded as before due to the reduced number of pax.
 

I don’t recall if there was lasagna daily but there was definitely a special pasta dish of some sort like lasagna, baked ziti, etc. 

I hate the crowds in the lido more than anything else.  

[zgscl]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I hate the crowds in the lido more than anything else.  

This will be my first cabana rental. Apparently they will being whatever you want from the lido/pizza/dive in to enjoy from your private cabana or the much less crowded retreat area. Will be interesting to see how I like it. Totally agree with you I am not at all a fan of crowds. 

[zgscl]

12 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I've also been looking at the menus on x.  Hal looks like the Walmart of cruise lines right now.

I may just have to give them a go. Still reading their daily programs and deciding if there is anything during the day I would actually go for 

[zgscl]

19 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

There are actually five, plus the everyday lasagne.  There is a "Port to Table" choice listed at top -- a starter and a main.

I know we could carve out a good meal from the choices provided, but not shy about ordering both a soup and a salad or some such.

I am definitely not shy about that either! I will often order the pasta as a starter too. 

[Florida_gal_50]

Just now, zgscl said:

This will be my first cabana rental. Apparently they will being whatever you want from the lido/pizza/dive in to enjoy from your private cabana or the much less crowded retreat area. Will be interesting to see how I like it. Totally agree with you I am not at all a fan of crowds. 

They will get you whatever you like.  I prefer to get my own food.  If I sit too long the stiffness sets in and I look like I’m ninety 😛 when I get up.

[zgscl]

Just now, Florida_gal_50 said:

They will get you whatever you like.  I prefer to get my own food.  If I sit too long the stiffness sets in and I look like I’m ninety 😛 when I get up.

Lol I know that feeling and I am only 29😂. I’m looking forward to it. I think this trip I may stay on the ship most of the time and just relax so it seemed like a good investment 

[Florida_gal_50]

2 minutes ago, zgscl said:

I may just have to give them a go. Still reading their daily programs and deciding if there is anything during the day I would actually go for 

I’ve done celebrity before and it was a little underwhelming but it has been a few years.  Things change so I think it’s good to try things again.

[roxybear135]

3 minutes ago, zgscl said:

I may just have to give them a go. Still reading their daily programs and deciding if there is anything during the day I would actually go for 

I did a Med cruise on them a few years back and really enjoyed it.  I thought they had a wide variety of activities (and more to do than HAL did on my Alaska cruise last month) and I remember the food being really good.  I may have to look into them for my next cruise if things don't improve on my Mexican Riviera cruise I have booked with HAL in December (which I only booked because it was a free casino cruise).

[zgscl]

25 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

There are actually five, plus the everyday lasagne.  There is a "Port to Table" choice listed at top -- a starter and a main.

I know we could carve out a good meal from the choices provided, but not shy about ordering both a soup and a salad or some such.

To be honest it’s the principle more than anything else. I was a lot more forgiving on the Alaska sailing with them just starting out. Comparing with other lines in similar segments it is disappointing to see the direction they are going. We certainly did not starve on our AK trip and I can’t imagine that I will starve this time around either 

[zgscl]

2 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

I did a Med cruise on them a few years back and really enjoyed it.  I thought they had a wide variety of activities (and more to do than HAL did on my Alaska cruise last month) and I remember the food being really good.  I may have to look into them for my next cruise if things don't improve on my Mexican Riviera cruise I have booked with HAL in December (which I only booked because it was a free casino cruise).

From the program I saw on the live from recently they have more to do it looked like, just less that I would be interesting. We loved the cooking demonstrations, music walk, and EXC talks so much. Still reviewing the various activities and what not but I think it is good to see what is out there every now and again. 

[zgscl]

6 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’ve done celebrity before and it was a little underwhelming but it has been a few years.  Things change so I think it’s good to try things again.

I agree completely. We do love HAL and this next sailing will be my 10th with them so maybe it is time to consider other options. That said I’m 2 sailings away from 4 star which I do want to achieve 

[Florida_gal_50]

8 minutes ago, zgscl said:

To be honest it’s the principle more than anything else. I was a lot more forgiving on the Alaska sailing with them just starting out. Comparing with other lines in similar segments it is disappointing to see the direction they are going. We certainly did not starve on our AK trip and I can’t imagine that I will starve this time around either 

I’m sure I won’t starve either but it’s not like hal cruises are cheap.  I get tired of the supply issue excuse.  Why are other lines not experiencing it, especially those under the carnival umbrella?   They must have pretty robust supply chains.  I live in a large city and when I go to the grocery store it’s pretty well stocked.  Sometimes there are a few things that are short.  It’s not like hal is a tiny town.

[zgscl]

Just now, Florida_gal_50 said:

I’m sure I won’t starve either but it’s not like hal cruises are cheap.  I get tired of the supply issue excuse.  Why are other lines not experiencing it, especially those under the carnival umbrella?   They must have pretty robust supply chains.  I live in a large city and when I go to the grocery store it’s pretty well stocked.  Sometimes there are a few things that are short.  It’s not like hal is a tiny town.

I agree 100%. All the cruise lines sailed out of Seattle and even the other CCL brands seemed to have far better choice and selection. With the prices folks pay you should not have to cobble together a nice meal at every single dinner (and we stay in Neptunes every time so it it sits particularly poorly). We wrote HAL off in 2017 after being particularly disappointed in the entertainment (food was actually pretty good) and took a few years off cruising. Decided to give them another go this year and really enjoyed most of it but found the main stage lacking. 

[AncientWanderer]

4 minutes ago, zgscl said:

To be honest it’s the principle more than anything else. I was a lot more forgiving on the Alaska sailing with them just starting out. Comparing with other lines in similar segments it is disappointing to see the direction they are going. We certainly did not starve on our AK trip and I can’t imagine that I will starve this time around either 

 

The quarrel I have with the MDR menus -- and this was the case pre-pandemic as well -- is that the menus have moved toward uncomplicated things that I can cook myself -- kind of "home cooking" types of dishes.  I do think the meals are nicely plated and presented, of good quality, and they taste good, but on a cruise, I like to get out of my range of capability.  I figure they should have enough kitchen help to compose more complex dishes that I would find tough to put together myself at home.

 

We ate in specialty restaurants every single night in Alaska.  That was a first for us and not something we will do again.  Just too much rich food.  For upcoming California Coast, we added the Club Orange to kind of plus the experience, but still stay in reality diet wise.  Seems like gone are the days of just appearing at the MDR and expecting something wonderful.  A little more thought has to go into things.

I guess as long as one accepts that, their cruise will be a good one.  And I think this applies to all of the mainstream cruise lines.  We bounce around and they've all been the same.

(And second that about main stage entertainment.  They really need to bring back the shows.)

 

[san diego spartan]

So my cruise is end of October.   On the app could only see 1 menu for MDR.  It was disappointing for sure.  How did you find other night menus?