WayneH Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 I am still trying to understand the reason RCCL changed Main Dining Room dinner menus in 2023 that I ( and assume countless others based on comments I have read on line) have enjoyed, and looked forward to, for many past years on their cruise ships. - RCCL's online main reason was that people were complaining that dinner took too long so they had to reduced the number of items offered. - Old menu starters = 9 including 5 Classics vs new Menus starters = 6 , no Classics - Old menus entrees= 9, including 4 Classics vs New Menus entrees=6, no Classics - Old Menu desserts = 9 including 6 Classics vs New Menus desserts= 6, no Classics One may think that the reason dinner service took too long was that RCCL cut MDR serving and kitchen staff to save money. Then they poll the guests for consensus which of course results in negative comments. This sets up a business case for RCCL to spin to the future cruisers and to support the reduction in dishes they need to prepare and offer to guests ( brilliant?- but nice try!). If the speed of eating dinner is an issue for guests, then one could argue that there are other " fast food" options available throughout the ship, such as the Windjammer buffet, pizza, hamburger and hot dog grills . One may assume that the reason that you want to have a sit down dinner is to have it at a relaxed pace, socializing with others at the table, not at "take-out" mode frenzy. Alternatively, if one has to hurry through dinner because they started late and would miss their theatre reservation, perhaps they could have planned their earlier activities and choices better to accommodate their schedule. Another possibility is that RCCL wants to drive guests to the specialty restaurants, which of course are at additional charge (more RCCL profit), assuming that the service is any faster. It is disappointing that RCCL may be marring their reputation for good service , quality food and a good food selection which their customers have come to rely upon over the years. Based on other cruiser comments, the aforementioned are some of the main reasons for selecting a cruise line. I understand that RCCL is a business and has responsibility to its shareholders, and employees to be profitable. I understand that the pandemic was financially catastrophic for them ( and many other businesses and individuals) and I give them credit to have survived and to continue to offer great cruise experiences. If recovering lost income is their goal, i would prefer that they increase the price of the cruise rather that compromising quality, selection and service. I hope that RCCL reconsiders and do not change the dinner menu. I would be interested in hearing others' thoughts on this subject SteelersNationVA and Jjohnb 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 They made the change because they had too many options and too few people eating the less popular options. Too much waste and too much wasted time spent prepping meals that people weren't eating. Jjohnb, CruiseGus, Chippertrips and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 This wasn't mentioned in the thread header, but I do want to touch on the reduction or elimination of duck and lamb on the menu. People have complained Royal's going cheap by their removal. However, I wouldn't be shocked to learn there was plenty of food waste with both as they're notoriously difficult to cook properly and not overcook. Since Royal is plating and serving thousands in their MDR, the odds of not receiving overcooked lamb or duck (due to residual cooking while waiting to be served) meant people expecting a perfectly cooked dish sent back the entrée. Combine the sent-back dishes with those which people didn't eat, as they were trying the meat for the first time and decided it wasn't for them, and inexperienced cooks overcooking the meat at the start make lamb and duck an easy target for removal. Yes, it saves Royal money, but it also means they avoid passenger complaints from dishes not meeting expectations and can work in inexperienced cooks easier. The braised lamb on the current menus should be moist enough to withstand the rigors of platting and simple enough to withstand preparation by new staff. A duo of grilled lamb and lamb tagine is being offered nightly in the Solarium Bistro on ships which have the Bistro without an upcharge (or at least is listed as such for my sailing next week on Anthem). ChessE4 and Chippertrips 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biaggio Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Because if the “themed “ menus like Jamaican, Mexican nights, I have more dinners in The Windjammer WAYNO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 I see non “themed” items on the menu every night. New York strip, tiger shrimp, pesto tagliatelle are not Caribbean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjpoe Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 But even the WJ dinners are 'theme' the same as what is being offered in the MDR. Day 2 is French night in the MDR and in the WJ its called 'Savor La France', yes you can get a few of the original items but the same foods are being offered. The WJ was offering the theme night back in the fall even before they started the theme night is the MDR, so Royal was already trying the theme nights out. I miss my DUCK & Grand Mainier souffle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 And I will have the beef bourguignon in the MDR then sneak up to WJ for the Coq au Vin!!! Eamon, FireFishII and Ghostdog1963 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 33 minutes ago, Pooch said: And I will have the beef bourguignon in the MDR then sneak up to WJ for the Coq au Vin!!! Yes, there is always a work-around on a cruise ship. It's just that we all haven't learned them for the new menu.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biaggio Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Check the dinner menu posted and then decide. MDR or windjammer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumlee2028 Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 I really enjoyed the new menus last month. It was the first week Oasis had them, and the overall food consistency/quality was the best I could remember in a while (at least since the restart). It also cut around 15-20 minutes off the time of the meal, getting to around an hour or so. Royal Caribbean has not in recent years had the reputation of the best food in their class. Repeating the same processes over and over doesn't make sense, when they can identify methods to improve the product and the costs associated with it. There's still lots of choice, and the classics are still there, they are just not labelled as such. Most of them can be found on multiple nights. I was much happier with the menus that the past ones. They did well in my opinion. Chippertrips 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotPayinExtra Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 12 hours ago, WayneH said: I am still trying to understand the reason RCCL changed Main Dining Room dinner menus in 2023 that I ( and assume countless others based on comments I have read on line) have enjoyed, and looked forward to, for many past years on their cruise ships. - RCCL's online main reason was that people were complaining that dinner took too long so they had to reduced the number of items offered. - Old menu starters = 9 including 5 Classics vs new Menus starters = 6 , no Classics - Old menus entrees= 9, including 4 Classics vs New Menus entrees=6, no Classics - Old Menu desserts = 9 including 6 Classics vs New Menus desserts= 6, no Classics One may think that the reason dinner service took too long was that RCCL cut MDR serving and kitchen staff to save money. Then they poll the guests for consensus which of course results in negative comments. This sets up a business case for RCCL to spin to the future cruisers and to support the reduction in dishes they need to prepare and offer to guests ( brilliant?- but nice try!). If the speed of eating dinner is an issue for guests, then one could argue that there are other " fast food" options available throughout the ship, such as the Windjammer buffet, pizza, hamburger and hot dog grills . One may assume that the reason that you want to have a sit down dinner is to have it at a relaxed pace, socializing with others at the table, not at "take-out" mode frenzy. Alternatively, if one has to hurry through dinner because they started late and would miss their theatre reservation, perhaps they could have planned their earlier activities and choices better to accommodate their schedule. Another possibility is that RCCL wants to drive guests to the specialty restaurants, which of course are at additional charge (more RCCL profit), assuming that the service is any faster. It is disappointing that RCCL may be marring their reputation for good service , quality food and a good food selection which their customers have come to rely upon over the years. Based on other cruiser comments, the aforementioned are some of the main reasons for selecting a cruise line. I understand that RCCL is a business and has responsibility to its shareholders, and employees to be profitable. I understand that the pandemic was financially catastrophic for them ( and many other businesses and individuals) and I give them credit to have survived and to continue to offer great cruise experiences. If recovering lost income is their goal, i would prefer that they increase the price of the cruise rather that compromising quality, selection and service. I hope that RCCL reconsiders and do not change the dinner menu. I would be interested in hearing others' thoughts on this subject What's to understand. It's money. Royal Caribbean is going cheap on food. IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 I don’t discount the cost savings aspect of this change. Like it or not, and most here don’t, we ain’t sailing the Queen Mary anymore. But can you imagine the amount of food waste on a ship? The meals in the MDR aren’t fired as they are ordered, there most certainly has to be X number ready to go at any given time. Some of the dishes that have been removed, although near and dear to someone’s heart, were probably not popular enough to make the cut. If at the end of the day, nobody’s ordering the eggplant parmigiana, why keep it on the menu? FireFishII and Chippertrips 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjpoe Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Pooch, Have you had the 'new' lobster tail? if so do you think it is a Northern one or still the southern 'bug'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted February 20, 2023 Report Share Posted February 20, 2023 Nope, first cruise with the new menu is in May. I live in New England so if it is not an improvement over what they have served in the past, not a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/19/2023 at 4:23 PM, Biaggio said: Because if the “themed “ menus like Jamaican, Mexican nights, I have more dinners in The Windjammer You should try some of the "themed" meals if you haven't before. Besides, the mexican night barely even had any mexican food.... like @Poochsaid, there are usually a few non themed items like Steak, spaghetti and shrimp. We weren't sure about the new menus either, but we loved pretty much every thing (we split our time between MDR, Windjammer and a few smalller meals at El loco fresh and playmakers) but the service was great... full meals and desserts and we were out in 70 minutes pretty much every night. I'd go crazy if I ate at windjammer every night...that walking around looking for a table thing would get to me if I did it nightly, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcruise Posted February 24, 2023 Report Share Posted February 24, 2023 Just finished a B2B on Harmony. As a Diamond member with many cruises I was very disappointed with the new menu. Very clearly cheaper and lower quality. The extra charge for lobster tail is nuts and will upset many long time cruisers. Dining is important on cruise ships and as a loyal R.C. cruiser they can do much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Thomas Posted February 24, 2023 Report Share Posted February 24, 2023 I just got off a 4 nighter on Serenade. Main Dining Room is a terrible waste of time and menu redesign is to blame. Bad menu item choices along with bad recipes. Going forward, I will only go to the MDR as a last resort (fresh bread and butter). Windjammer and MDR are now competing with each other and the Windjammer is winning. WJ is winning because you can complete your meal within minutes and move on to do something fun. MDR is food that isn't quite up to Windjammer standards and you just have to sit there while they serve you slop while presenting it like it is gourmet. Pooch and Ticca 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostdog1963 Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 I have an upcoming cruise in April. I don't mind changes to the MDR menu, as long as it's for the better and not just for RCCL. ChessE4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMaxRebo Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 On 2/20/2023 at 12:01 PM, barjpoe said: Pooch, Have you had the 'new' lobster tail? if so do you think it is a Northern one or still the southern 'bug'? I am departing the Symphony today and had the lobster tail in MDR and it was definitely a northern cool water tail ... Not the biggest one but decent size. And I was able to make it a surf and turf by adding it to the steak - which was well cooked and season well. Overall it was a really good meal WAAAYTOOO, FionaMG and Pooch 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chippertrips Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 I haven't cruised yet with RC so I don't have any experience with the prior MDR menus. I know people really look forward to the food on a cruise (I am too!). But anything that reduces food waste is a winner in my book. FireFishII 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rackham Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 2 hours ago, TheMaxRebo said: I am departing the Symphony today and had the lobster tail in MDR and it was definitely a northern cool water tail ... Not the biggest one but decent size. And I was able to make it a surf and turf by adding it to the steak - which was well cooked and season well. Overall it was a really good meal It's sounding like Royal, or at least their servers, are working around the 1 entrée at a time limit by giving guests what they really want from that steak order. And it's not a second piece of broccoli. Allowing a surf and turf order makes sense to keep people happy, since the introduction of the additional lobster charge, if we take Royal at face value with the cost of lobster skyrocketing. Chippertrips and TheMaxRebo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCVirgin22 Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 Pretty sure there were several factors involved with the change, as someone already mentioned removal of less popular items. Another aspect is the short staffing issues that have plagued the industry for the past three years, it's far simpler to streamline the menu in the wake of less help. A top reason possibly is the Money factor, when you figure out how much you can save by making the change it certainly is a compelling reason. If I were to put Money on the main reason for it, it's likely the time factor, due to having fewer staff it takes even longer to get meals to people and impacting the guest experience negatively isn't something they really want to do as it brings about an overall sense of dissatisfaction/disappointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotPayinExtra Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 46 minutes ago, RCVirgin22 said: Pretty sure there were several factors involved with the change, as someone already mentioned removal of less popular items. Another aspect is the short staffing issues that have plagued the industry for the past three years, it's far simpler to streamline the menu in the wake of less help. A top reason possibly is the Money factor, when you figure out how much you can save by making the change it certainly is a compelling reason. If I were to put Money on the main reason for it, it's likely the time factor, due to having fewer staff it takes even longer to get meals to people and impacting the guest experience negatively isn't something they really want to do as it brings about an overall sense of dissatisfaction/disappointment. If I put money on the main reason, it would be money. LOL. And that goes for every change. Money first. Or profits first, happy customers second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted February 26, 2023 Report Share Posted February 26, 2023 Maybe I'm just not a foodie...but I had no issues with the new menu on Oasis, The only thing that wasn't great was the steak on Mediterranean night...it was a bit dry. But everything we tried on italian, Mexican and the last night were all very good. FireFishII 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaa Posted February 27, 2023 Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 The answer to all your questions is, money" --Don Ohlmeyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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