Food quality seems to have improved in recent years

[sealy]

Have boycotted Royal Caribbean for the last two years because of declining standards in food and service, we decided to chance another cruise(our ninth with RC) in April of this year.  The cruise was 7 days aboard the Freedom of the Seas, sailing to the western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral.  The Freedom is the largest ship on which we have had the pleasure of sailing.  To our surprise, food and service standards had improved significantly since our last cruise.  Overall the food quality was excellent.  Royal Caribbean has obviously responding to customer demands in that area.  As usual, the shows were superb.  However, I have a large nit to pick regarding dress standards in the dining room on formal night.  On such nights my wife and I prefer to be dressed for the occasion, as do the majority of guests.  However, amongst the crowd are a few who just don't seem to get it.  A fellow sitting next to us, who looked to be in his thirties, was attired in an orange flex shirt, cutoffs, sandals and an orange cap, turned backwards.  He insisted on called the waiter, "Dude!" in a loud voice. To the disgust of those sitting around him, he began to utter a string of profanities.  "Look at this effin' fancy ass food!" said he.  "It's like bein' in an effing five-star restaurant!"  No attempts were made to stem his behaviour.  All those unfortunates who happened to be sitting around him were forced to listen to his boneheaded tirades for the balance of the evening.  At least on Day 2, someone mentioned that he might want to remove his hat, which he did, albeit with some effing complaints.  Thankfully, on Day 3, he and his party were moved to a far away alcove, where he could spew his invective in splendid isolation.  Another erudite diner attempted to enter the dining room bare-chested, if you please.  Apparently, he had just come from the pool, as his swimming trunks were still damp.  If I begin to sound like a snob, I am most assuredly not.  As is the case with good manners, dressing properly is to me, a gesture of respect directed toward those who would serve you and your fellow diners.  Royal Caribbean would to well to better monitor these types of situations.

 

[Tylor]

Welcome back to Royal Caribbean. Since you've cruised last you probably noticed a revamped menu. This has mostly been a big hit with many Loyal Royals. Food, like entertainment, is subjective and what is right for you won't be for the next person. Many people from all walks of life cruise on the same ship and all those people dine at a few hundred different restaurants on land and they must all choose from only a handful of places to eat onboard. So not everyone will always be happy with the choices. But I believe Royal Caribbean does a good job at covering all the bases for everyone who sails onboard their ships.

 

I have sailed on Royal Caribbean since 2005 and haven't noticed a decline in food or service, but I'm not overly picky and I don't dine in 5 star restaurants on land, so otherwise wouldn't expect that type of service or food onboard a ship. With that said, I do enjoy the specialty restaurants onboard and think Royal tries hard to be creative with menu planning and making sure there is a good mix of restaurants on the ship.

 

I have noticed a slow migration to more casual dining onboard the ships. I do like to "look the part" when eating in a nice restaurant but don't mind if others don't care to match with the attire of the evening. Quantum of the Seas is a good example of how Royal Caribbean is creating different dining experiences so guests can choose what they want to do with their evening, creating restaurants where formal night is every night and others were dressing up isn't required.

 

Thanks for your review.

[Matt]

Food is such a subjective topic because what I find great tasting, you might find awful and vice versa.  But I'm glad to hear you think things have gotten better!  Great comments