I found the pace of the meal to be too slow, but my biggest gripe was the pairing of the wine, and how they were really overselling $10 bottles as being very premium (the Mondavi was good, but even then a $50 retail bottle).
But Royal is clearly pulling away from anything premium in the wine space, the lack of a trained Somm being replaced with a guy with script, and pairings that not only didn’t work, but actually detracted from the meal.
We were set for this to be the highlight of the cruise meal experience, and it fell abysmally short. The steak was the best steak we had on the cruise, and the Mondavi Cab worked well, but the others… wow. We have the most New Zealand-y Savi Blanc ever… might as well just eaten aGrapefruit, but the worst part is it overwhelmed the fish.
Conceptually, a great idea. But increasing poor execution. Stick to Chops and Jaimes.