JimnKathy

We've enjoyed the various Specialty Dining packages in the past as well. When we travel with our younger grandkids (and their parents), Kathy and I prefer to book specialty lunches so we can all enjoy good times in the MDR as a big family. Some of the sales on the specialty lunches are pretty amazing. This allows us to get our Izumi, Italian and Chops "fix" while maximizing family time at dinner (the best of both worlds).

...and that might explain part of the reason why they're not a thing on most cruise ships these days. Like the Bionic Bar, it takes up some space that could be deployed to generate more sales dollars.

Chef's Table is discounted down to $59.95 this 4th of July weekend. We grabbed the opportunity on Night 5 of our sailing.

All of the other Entertainment options are showing up in the cruise planner for our 8-night Sept 13 sailing on Harmony with the exception of Grease. Given what I've seen/read on FB, I'd say that it's probably going away. The good news is that we're still sailing on Harmony AND it includes Perfect Day at Coco Cay!

Some shows are listed as of today...reserve them while they're hot off the press! "Grease" is the only show not yet posted. Edit: Looks like "Grease" is likely going away sometime in August.

I agree that some ports aren't interested in some 1st world countries (Key West, FL, some of the Maine ports, some Canadian ports, some European stops, etc.), but the 2nd and 3rd world nations will be more open to opportunities to get the passenger traffic that the larger ships offer.

I think we'll also see more ports upgraded over the next decade that can handle the larger ships, too. The local economies need the injection of tourist dollars (especially in the 2nd/3rd world nations) and the large ships do a better job of bringing those needed travelers to their ports.

We've been fortunate to have enjoyed a B2B on Symphony a few years back coming off the lockdown...the experience was sublime! Just knowing we were going to enjoy our same Central Park Balcony room for 14 nights was an incredible feeling. I suggest anyone who can pull it off do so...it's quite the treat.

Having done the MDR a few times now, I've figured out most of the go-to items to satisfy my tastes depending on availability. While I'm a pretty adventurous eater (I love to cook at home and do some private dinners for a client or two now that I'm "retired"), the MDR can offer up pretty decent offerings here and there even if it's not considered an upscale culinary experience overall. The Prime Rib can be very good (love me some rare P-Rib), escargot is delicious, Indian food can be surprisingly good, fresh bread is tasty, creme brulee is solid (I ask them to put some strawberries/blueberries on the side), lamb is pretty tasty, etc. I've found that a nice glass of red wine elevates any meal in the evening (vacation lunches, too) and there are some decent by-the-glass selections available to please any palate. My goal is to let the MDR staff know my preferences upfront while giving them a $20 handshake and ask them to steer me towards their favorite personal suggestions if a particular night's menu seems underwhelming at first glance. I've benefited from some out-of-the-box suggestions a time or two that work out well with this approach. I've always enjoyed the service in the MDR (they're amazing with my grandkids, too) and love their hospitality and effort to make each dining experience a wonderful treat. Happy Sailing to All!

It's like when a company tells their salespeople "You could actually earn more money under the new commission plan we're rolling out next fiscal year!"

Sounds like RCL architects/designers need to listen to you going forward.

I wish RCL would capitalize on their current popularity by improving the food quality in the MDR. Seems to be an opportunity ripe for the taking to further differentiate themselves from the likes of Carnival, Disney, NCL and MSC.

I recall going there once really early in the morning to "bulk up" prior to an early shore excursion...the breakfast food was fresh and delicious.

Once Perfect Day at Mexico is up and running, I expect the RCL/Celebrity traffic out of Galveston to increase significantly...higher pricing likely to follow as well.

I have a family member who works for the DofD. They told us that a Passport Card is a waste of time in an emergency...said a passport book is the only and best option when traveling outside the states. particularly in the 2nd and 3rd world countries.