Food in decline?

[Engineroom Snipe]

9 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I can tell you why mine skew so positive (nothing is perfect) and it fits with that last line...

 

It seems to me, from reading many food posts, that a significant number of them focus on or at least prominently mention the MDR. I was never a huge MDR fan, even back in the 2000's. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't as special to me as it was to others. Additionally, it wasn't optimal for my wife b/c she is very picky (as far as what she eats, not quality-wise) and would wind up ordering a caesar salad and the classic, boring grilled chicken far too often.

 

So over the years, we realized that the WJ worked better for us b/c I eat a lot and it gave her more options. WJ's that had/have cook to order pasta/wok station were the perfect solution for us. She could obviously design her own dish and, honestly, they usually came out tasting hotter and fresher than anything in the MDR. I also enjoy quantity, trying lots of different things, and am not picky, so I do enjoy buffets.

 

One last reason why I have always enjoyed the food is that dinner (again, a common focus of food posts) is not all that important to me. Why? I spend all day snacking and eating from the early AM when I get something to go with my CL cappuccino to my actual breakfast (always found breakfast enjoyable) to my lunch and afternoon snacks from Park Cafe, ELF, WJ, Sorrento's (the pizza was actually very good on my last 2 cruises), to some pre-dinner snacks in the Crown Lounge. Unless we have specialty dining booked, which is rare, by the time I get to dinner, I'm not looking for a huge, stellar meal. And if I'm still hungry after that, I'll check out WJ or grab some more pizza.

 

Anyway, I know that was long-winded, but just sharing an example of why certain people may not view the food experience the same as others. If I was focused on main meals in the MDR, my opinion would likely be quite different.

Ironically, you are not one of the posters I thought "of always having perfect dining experiences."

 

That is why I would respond to your questions about dining experiences.

 

I know you will take my opinion as just that, an opinion.

 

You have posted the dining experiences that you prefer and appreciated my input, even when it might have been different than yours.

 

When you post your next cruise dining experience, I will be very attentive. I know you will give the great, the good, the bad, or the ugly without drama.

 

I always look at the source of the information as well as the information itself.

 

Sources matter.

[Moltar]

I wish people would look at statistics customer return all those business things because if you did a lot of you who are saying that Roy doesn’t care about the repeat customers you would find how off-base you are with that opinion. And frankly, it’s not that hard to have great meals on 23 cruises over a 30 year timeframe. my apologies for not having any negative opinions on the meals. I’ll be sure to look at the glass half empty next time.

 

Cheers! I’ll be sure to post about all the food on icon and just over three weeks

 

PS I’m sure Royal is going to take the millions upon millions of surveys they get at the end of each cruise as their feedback as opposed to a few hundred possibly a few thousand critics on a cruise forum… the majority far far far  outweigh the minority.

 

if Royal made a decision based on a few people who post in a cruise forum… cmon….

 

I started in this forumin the early 2000s, lost the account…. this place hasn’t changed since which is a very very very very very very, very, very, very bad thing.  
 

It’s just a place that everyone likes to throw darts at each other

 

sources do matter that’s why it’s very very hard for me to take anybody on this forum seriously when all they do is nag and complain, and I constantly ask myself why the hell are they still cruising on the cruise line if they hate it so much?

 

something doesn’t make sense. When I go to a hotel and I had a bad experience, I won’t be back when I buy a product that failed me miserably. I won’t be back when I buy something or go anywhere where I felt the product wasn’t right for the price paid I wouldn’t be back, but yet they keep coming back 

 

and finally Frankly I find it immature to passively aggressive talk about me without speaking to me directly. 

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by Moltar

[OCSC Mike]

29 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Ironically, you are not one of the posters I thought "of always having perfect dining experiences."

 

That is why I would respond to your questions about dining experiences.

 

I know you will take my opinion as just that, an opinion.

 

You have posted the dining experiences that you prefer and appreciated my input, even when it might have been different than yours.

 

When you post your next cruise dining experience, I will be very attentive. I know you will give the great, the good, the bad, or the ugly without drama.

 

I always look at the source of the information as well as the information itself.

 

I appreciate the sentiment and also enjoy our food discussions.

 

No, my experiences are never perfect (few things is this world are) but I've also never NOT gained a bunch of weight on a cruise, lol, so I'm unlikely to majorly complain about the food.

 

The closest I've come to a bad experience was on Indy in 2022, but that was more due to the lack of included venues (Fish N Ships charged for everything back then; if I could have gotten included fish n chips and chicken fingers as a snack, I might have loved it) as well as the worst CL snacks I've ever seen, but that part really isn't important. That cruise let us know that while we're perfectly happy to drop down from Oasis class to Freedom/Voyager class, I really missed the extra food venues.

Edited January 13 by OCSC Mike

[Ride-The-Waves]

Recently back to CONUS from a TA on Odyssey.  Lost 10 pounds!  Not trying to, but that was the result,  Never ate in the MDR - have avoided MDRs for years.  Too noisy with bad service.  Ate two meals/day: a late breakfast in the buffet and early evening meal in a specialty restaurant  Italian was great, Chops horrible with a very poor quality filet.  Late in the cruise we discovered the Solarium Bistro and the ability to order a filet: excellent, as were the deserts.  😀

[chiguypaul]

12 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I would never tell someone their opinion on food was wrong, since food is very subjective. However, if I felt like you did about RCI’s food quality, I definitely wouldn’t cruise on RCI again. 

 

Well I don’t think it’s that simple. No cruise experience is perfect and has everything. There are many things I really like about Royal and I’m very excited about the Icon. So just because the food is average, on average, doesn’t mean I won’t go on Royal again. The food is just one factor of many in the decision process. 

 

And feelings on food are very subjective - absolutely. But it’s a fact that RCL has taken steps to reduce their cost in the dining room.

[chiguypaul]

On 1/12/2024 at 3:00 PM, Engineroom Snipe said:

 I have been with RCI since 1988 when food was the main focal point. Six cruises since the opening after the pandemic. My last one in November finally reminded me of what I was used to in a good quality experience in the food area.

 

I see myself in your review. Fruit was missing in action for the first three cruises. The braised lamb was either wonderful or awful. Soups were limited and could have come out of a can. Salad bars were severely limited in choice, and all of the chicken and meats seemed to disappear in some sauce that was nondescript.

 

If you got your Icon cruise at  good price, I would go just to experience a new ship. I would hope being the new darling of the fleet, it might have the best food and chefs onboard.

 

I have two more reserved this year that I reserved awhile ago. I am hoping for the best.

 

My excitement and enthusiasm for the Icon will likely far surpass my thoughts on the food despite the pricing on the holiday sailing I’m on. Food is just one part of the overall decision on which line and ship to take. 

[PhillyFan33579]

31 minutes ago, chiguypaul said:

 

Well I don’t think it’s that simple. No cruise experience is perfect and has everything. There are many things I really like about Royal and I’m very excited about the Icon. So just because the food is average, on average, doesn’t mean I won’t go on Royal again. The food is just one factor of many in the decision process. 

 

And feelings on food are very subjective - absolutely. But it’s a fact that RCL has taken steps to reduce their cost in the dining room.

I agree food is not the only part of a cruise, but if I am going to be on a ship for 7-14 days or longer, if I didn’t think the food was above average, I wouldn’t cruise on that ship/cruise line. I think Icon is going to be a great ship for families, especially from what I have heard from a few friends who have been on Icon the last few days. But as I move into my late 50s with adult kids, I don’t think Icon will be one of my favorite RCI ships, although I do have a few cruises booked on her this year. At this point I like Celebrity as much as RCI, but it’s tough to ignore 5 free drinks, free WiFi and free drinks in the casino on RCI. 

[Engineroom Snipe]

10 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I agree food is not the only part of a cruise, but if I am going to be on a ship for 7-14 days or longer, if I didn’t think the food was above average, I wouldn’t cruise on that ship/cruise line. I think Icon is going to be a great ship for families, especially from what I have heard from a few friends who have been on Icon the last few days. But as I move into my late 50s with adult kids, I don’t think Icon will be one of my favorite RCI ships, although I do have a few cruises booked on her this year. At this point I like Celebrity as much as RCI, but it’s tough to ignore 5 free drinks, free WiFi and free drinks in the casino on RCI. 

There are so many variables that go into a cruise decision and a vacation decision in general. After everything is calculated into the decision, then the price point comes in. At what price does that decision satisfy all of the above. A slightly disappointing MDR is not so bad if everything else aligns and you get the cruise at a much lower than average price. That same MDR experience becomes aggravating if you think you are paying a premium price.

 

So many variables..........

[Tlbecker1]

On 1/13/2024 at 6:29 AM, Ride-The-Waves said:

 Late in the cruise we discovered the Solarium Bistro and the ability to order a filet: excellent, as were the deserts.  😀

100% agree with the Solarium Bistro.  They have the best Salmon on the ship.  

[docsievers]

Newbies and kids - the bane for us long time cruisers. We have to face the fact that we are a dying breed and the cruise lines are all adding new ships that are much larger and getting rid of their smaller ships. This equates to having to sell a whole bunch more state rooms every year to make their target profit margins. They need new passengers and families. Those new passengers are not coming from our ranks. New blood is needed so these new ships offer more activities and opportunities that appeal to a broader demographic. It is really hard for us cruisers to ride the waves on our mobility scooters. Food service and quality can be reduced with little impact - after all, these new passengers are used to McDonalds. They can label the food with fancy French sounding names with exotic seasonings and these new passengers will think they have died and gone to heaven. Perhaps all that is left for us are the small ship luxury cruise lines. If we still went to enjoy life at sea, we are going to have to pay the price. Of course, there is always the opportunity to take a cruise with your grandchildren.

[HappyTexan44]

I wonder though if Royal can convert the new people into loyal customers?     One downside of attracting customers looking for the latest shiny, is that they are easily tempted away with another shiny.   There isn't an unlimited supply of families with money.   
Maybe they'll stay, after all, as parent of a 13-year-old I can see the appeal of a vacation where daughter is active and happy while I am relaxing.  
 

[SUgwoz]

18 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

I wonder though if Royal can convert the new people into loyal customers?     One downside of attracting customers looking for the latest shiny, is that they are easily tempted away with another shiny.   There isn't an unlimited supply of families with money.   
Maybe they'll stay, after all, as parent of a 13-year-old I can see the appeal of a vacation where daughter is active and happy while I am relaxing.  
 

No matter what they have to attract a new customer base. They can't rely on the current loyal cruisers to be cruising 20 years from now. 

 

It seems there is a lot more 

cruise line options for those looking for the upscale adult oriented cruise. Including a cruise line that Royal is connected with.  Would make sense they focus on a demographic that has their other main choices being either with Carnival or Disney. 

[Twenty2020]

3 hours ago, docsievers said:

Newbies and kids - the bane for us long time cruisers. We have to face the fact that we are a dying breed and the cruise lines are all adding new ships that are much larger and getting rid of their smaller ships. This equates to having to sell a whole bunch more state rooms every year to make their target profit margins. They need new passengers and families. Those new passengers are not coming from our ranks. New blood is needed so these new ships offer more activities and opportunities that appeal to a broader demographic. It is really hard for us cruisers to ride the waves on our mobility scooters. Food service and quality can be reduced with little impact - after all, these new passengers are used to McDonalds. They can label the food with fancy French sounding names with exotic seasonings and these new passengers will think they have died and gone to heaven. Perhaps all that is left for us are the small ship luxury cruise lines. If we still went to enjoy life at sea, we are going to have to pay the price. Of course, there is always the opportunity to take a cruise with your grandchildren.

 

 

Hilarious. You think a family that can drop $15k/wk for an Icon sailing is used to eating at McDonald's and doesn't know any better as to what is good food?

 

Edited January 14 by Twenty2020

[Jtd724]

8 minutes ago, Twenty2020 said:

 

 

Hilarious. You think a family that can drop $15k/wk for an Icon sailing is used to eating at McDonald's and doesn't know any better as to what is good food?

 

Thank you. I wanted to say something a few minutes ago, but I held my tongue. Thank you for doing it for me.

Edited January 14 by Jtd724

[Twenty2020]

22 minutes ago, Jtd724 said:

Thank you. I wanted to say something a few minutes ago, but I held my tongue. Thank you for doing it for me.

 

I've been on RC ships going back 25 years now. And the food has never been a stand out item, IMHO.

 

Good, yes, but not stand out.... And definitely no better than a mid tier restaurant experience at home. Certainly never approaching true gourmet fine dining.

 

The only thing that stood out to me in those earlier years of cruising (which for me was 2000ish) was the high level of service. Not necessarily the food itself. 

Edited January 14 by Twenty2020

[Tree_skier]

On 1/13/2024 at 5:19 AM, Moltar said:

I wish people would look at statistics customer return all those business things because if you did a lot of you who are saying that Roy doesn’t care about the repeat customers you would find how off-base you are with that opinion. And frankly, it’s not that hard to have great meals on 23 cruises over a 30 year timeframe. my apologies for not having any negative opinions on the meals. I’ll be sure to look at the glass half empty next time.

 

Cheers! I’ll be sure to post about all the food on icon and just over three weeks

 

PS I’m sure Royal is going to take the millions upon millions of surveys they get at the end of each cruise as their feedback as opposed to a few hundred possibly a few thousand critics on a cruise forum… the majority far far far  outweigh the minority.

 

if Royal made a decision based on a few people who post in a cruise forum… cmon….

 

I started in this forumin the early 2000s, lost the account…. this place hasn’t changed since which is a very very very very very very, very, very, very bad thing.  
 

It’s just a place that everyone likes to throw darts at each other

 

sources do matter that’s why it’s very very hard for me to take anybody on this forum seriously when all they do is nag and complain, and I constantly ask myself why the hell are they still cruising on the cruise line if they hate it so much?

 

something doesn’t make sense. When I go to a hotel and I had a bad experience, I won’t be back when I buy a product that failed me miserably. I won’t be back when I buy something or go anywhere where I felt the product wasn’t right for the price paid I wouldn’t be back, but yet they keep coming back 

 

and finally Frankly I find it immature to passively aggressive talk about me without speaking to me directly. 

 

 

 

It's almost as if you are reading my mind

[RobInMN]

1 hour ago, Twenty2020 said:

 

 

Hilarious. You think a family that can drop $15k/wk for an Icon sailing is used to eating at McDonald's and doesn't know any better as to what is good food?

 

Not everyone is a food snob.

Just because you can afford "better", doesn't mean you care all that much.

 

My wife and I like to go to Ruth's Chris once a year for a really, really good steak, but the rest of the year, we are perfectly happy with "pedestrian" fare.

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, RobInMN said:

Not everyone is a food snob.

Just because you can afford "better", doesn't mean you care all that much.

 

My wife and I like to go to Ruth's Chris once a year for a really, really good steak, but the rest of the year, we are perfectly happy with "pedestrian" fare.

 

Well said.

[grandgeezer]

On 1/13/2024 at 6:19 AM, Moltar said:

I wish people would look at statistics customer return all those business things because if you did a lot of you who are saying that Roy doesn’t care about the repeat customers you would find how off-base you are with that opinion. And frankly, it’s not that hard to have great meals on 23 cruises over a 30 year timeframe. my apologies for not having any negative opinions on the meals. I’ll be sure to look at the glass half empty next time.

 

Cheers! I’ll be sure to post about all the food on icon and just over three weeks

 

PS I’m sure Royal is going to take the millions upon millions of surveys they get at the end of each cruise as their feedback as opposed to a few hundred possibly a few thousand critics on a cruise forum… the majority far far far  outweigh the minority.

 

if Royal made a decision based on a few people who post in a cruise forum… cmon….

 

I started in this forumin the early 2000s, lost the account…. this place hasn’t changed since which is a very very very very very very, very, very, very bad thing.  
 

It’s just a place that everyone likes to throw darts at each other

 

sources do matter that’s why it’s very very hard for me to take anybody on this forum seriously when all they do is nag and complain, and I constantly ask myself why the hell are they still cruising on the cruise line if they hate it so much?

 

something doesn’t make sense. When I go to a hotel and I had a bad experience, I won’t be back when I buy a product that failed me miserably. I won’t be back when I buy something or go anywhere where I felt the product wasn’t right for the price paid I wouldn’t be back, but yet they keep coming back 

 

and finally Frankly I find it immature to passively aggressive talk about me without speaking to me directly. 

 

 

 

Don’t lump everybody that has made negative comments still cruises. I know a lot of people who bailed even before the shutdown, us included. We went from averaging 40+ days a year to 42 days total between 2016 and the shutdown. Shutdown through today 0. Nothing planned, nothing even considered. Living life to the max without cruising, retired and more money than we’ll ever spend. 

[bucfan2]

5 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Don’t lump everybody that has made negative comments still cruises. I know a lot of people who bailed even before the shutdown, us included. We went from averaging 40+ days a year to 42 days total between 2016 and the shutdown. Shutdown through today 0. Nothing planned, nothing even considered. Living life to the max without cruising, retired and more money than we’ll ever spend. 

Cool...went from cruising to commenting on cc. Sounds fun. 

[Jtd724]

14 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

Cool...went from cruising to commenting on cc. Sounds fun. 

 

NAILED IT!!!

[Jtd724]

1 hour ago, RobInMN said:

Not everyone is a food snob.

Just because you can afford "better", doesn't mean you care all that much.

 

My wife and I like to go to Ruth's Chris once a year for a really, really good steak, but the rest of the year, we are perfectly happy with "pedestrian" fare.

 

I didn’t take it that way..

 

what I found very disrespectful was the woman who said pretty much anyone below the age of 65 only eats McDonald’s and has no idea what food is. 
 

The point he made is I’m pretty sure people spending thousands of dollars on Cruise vacations aren’t only eating McDonald’s.

Edited January 15 by Jtd724

[Twenty2020]

1 hour ago, RobInMN said:

Not everyone is a food snob.

Just because you can afford "better", doesn't mean you care all that much.

 

My wife and I like to go to Ruth's Chris once a year for a really, really good steak, but the rest of the year, we are perfectly happy with "pedestrian" fare.

 

I'm not a food snob either. I'm perfectly fine eating pizza and drinking beer or Olive Garden level Italian food, if the situation calls for it. 

 

I've also had meals that were at the $500pp level in true top tier restaurants in major cities. 

 

Point is, I imagine that people that can afford Royal's new ships while taking their kids with them, likely at least understand what is actually good food (or not), contrary to the ridiculous post above about "newbies". 

 

The MDR food has never been much better than a modern mid-tier chain offering. It's totally fine for what it is, but it was never gourmet dining.  (I mean maybe it was in the 80s or something, I have no idea). 

Edited January 15 by Twenty2020

[Twenty2020]

40 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Don’t lump everybody that has made negative comments still cruises. I know a lot of people who bailed even before the shutdown, us included. We went from averaging 40+ days a year to 42 days total between 2016 and the shutdown. Shutdown through today 0. Nothing planned, nothing even considered. Living life to the max without cruising, retired and more money than we’ll ever spend. 

 

You haven't been on a cruise in 8 years, and don't plan to go on another one.... But you hang out on a cruise forum to just complain about cruises that you don't go on? That's a bit, uh....odd. 

 

 

Edited January 15 by Twenty2020

[shofer]

On 1/12/2024 at 6:50 AM, Mick B said:

Hi,

My wife and I will be on the Jewel this April for its TA,

Does anyone know what the food in the MDR is currently like. We were last on it back in 2021 in Cyprus and all seemed OK then.

 

Mick.

 

 My last cruise with DH was on Symphony Jan 29/2022 and the food was great.  My friend & I were on Jewel 10/19-30/2023 for a Canada/New England cruise.  New menus aside, the MDR food was pathetic.  We were not impressed by the theme nights which were poorly executed.  It seems that there are more dishes focused on Indian cuisine than the "theme".  We ate dinner in the buffet for Mexican and Caribbean nights and had steak and salad which was pretty good.  Then there's all those yummy desserts beckoning us.  For me, the ambiance between the Jewel and Symphony couldn't be any wider.  My friend was underwhelmed with Jewel.  I'm trying to convince her to try Celebrity.