Awesome...to mediocre...to just plain bad

[DocLC]

6 minutes ago, Katiel53 said:

I guess you can resurrect Chops because last month on Allure there was a ribeye steak.  Our waiter recommended it to my son and he loved it so much that he when we went again, three of the four of us ordered it.  It was really good.

We had a five night dining package and ate at Chops three times, Giovanni's once and at Sabor once.  Obviously, we loved Chops and our service was wonderful.  Giovanni's food was good, but the service was nothing like that in Chops.  Sabor was meh and not worth doing again. 

 

The MDR is not a favorite of mine in that it is too loud, the service isn't that good and the food leaves a lot to be desired.  My next cruise which will again be on Allure, will have 7 nights in specialty restaurants.  We will go to Chops at least three of the seven nights and will have the same waiter as we had last month.  I know we will go to Giovanni's a couple of times and will figure out the other two nights.   I won't feel the least bit bad not going to the MDR for dinner.

Thanks for reporting on the ribeye steak; this is great to here. 

We ate at Chops 4 nights on an 11 night cruise with two nights at Izumi and one at Giovanni's. However, in January on the Allure, we bought the 5 night dining package as well and had a 6th from our TA as a travel perk, so we never ended up in the MDR. We only made it to Chops once as it was only so-so in comparison to the other specialty restaurants onboard. 

[cruise-y]

On August 16, 2017 at 1:15 PM, bcarney said:

I think if cruising was a new and emerging industry that would be possible, but they've had decades of operation under the old all-inclusive model that it's hard to, umm, change ships at this point.  Many of us - myself included - have bemoaned the loss of perks, additional charges, lowering of food quality, etc.  If they changed to 'giving people more options' - i.e., charging for every little thing - they'll likely lose past customers.  If I can't budget adequately when I book, I won't be booking.

There are still cruise lines that are all inclusive.  Oceania (charges for alcohol only) and Crystal come to mind.  That includes bottled water, ice cream, soft drinks and juices all day.  Yes, they cost a bit more but I appreciated not having to pay an extra $30+ every night just to get a high-quality meal.   I was disappointed enough in the LIberty MDR that I probably won't be sailing with them again any time soon unless they add some new and interesting ports (not just private beaches) to the itinerary out of Galveston.

There are plenty of cruise lines that go the cheap-o route to attract that crowd.  People who are happy to eat hot dogs and burgers from a buffet so they can cruise for 3 days for $299.  I hate to see RCCL head that way.

 

 

 

[FManke]

On ‎8‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 6:56 PM, DocLC said:

 Look at the airlines. They charging for baggage supposedly to reduce airfare yet they're making record profits. It just doesn't add up in the end.

The fare reductions are always disproportionate to the service reductions.

[Matt]

On 8/16/2017 at 7:56 PM, DocLC said:

Look at the airlines. They charging for baggage supposedly to reduce airfare yet they're making record profits. It just doesn't add up in the end.

If memory serves me correctly, charging for baggage was a means of combating a one-time high oil prices (which have all come back down).

[mbk999]

2 hours ago, Matt said:

If memory serves me correctly, charging for baggage was a means of combating a one-time high oil prices (which have all come back down).

That's exactly when I remember it starting, about the same time I started to embrace Southwest Airlines.  

[Floski]

That's capitalism for ya - companies always use some "unforeseen tragedy" as their excuse to increase prices, but when that 

"crisis" subsides, prices don't return to normal.  I think companies actually like the occasional recession so they can increase

cost to the consumer and decrease the size of their product.

[henrysea13]

I just got off the indy I agree with the comments above I took the advice of many bloggers and tried the dinner buffet I must say it was very good except the carving station which they were carving top round which dries out as soon as you cut it let alone cut it after it has been sitting on the cutting board for an hour everything else was almost identical to the MDR menu and quite good BUT I made the mistake of trying the lunch buffet absolutely horrible unacceptable not even fit for a pig not just one day but every day of the cruise maybe they are trying to get people to eat at all the additional charge venues I don't know but it was as though there were different cooks from lunch and dinner I have always loved WJ but yuck the lunch offering was so poor every day we are casino people and never make it awake for breakfast which is a whole nother topic burgers green hot dogs stale buns cold French fries so much curry you would think everyone on board was from india I glanced at plates as we navigated the crowds going every which ways butting lines looking one way and going another I saw 2 out of the hundreds we passed with curry as a selection I guess the help gets the left overs so they have a great variety they did have oxtails which was quite good the beautiful selection of breads only looked good but had been out way to long and were hard as rocks please understand the dinner buffet was fresh and tasty and not crowded at all wonderful selection of cheeses fruits sushi I have always loved the windjammer but omg the mid day offering was just not anything I have come to expect the last night though we were promised lobster and being the skeptic I am I doubted that would happen and it didn't I guess it only happens when they thaw to many to meet the orders in the MDR but I guess it would have been another curry dish anyway I am sure the help likes lobster I guess its got to the point with royal that if you want a good sit down dinner you have to pony up another 500.00 to eat in chops or giovanis when you travel with the family 

[Suzanne]

I've never been a fan of the Windjammer. After having gastric bypass a few years back, I'm pickier about what I eat now. When you can only eat a small amount, you want WHAT you eat to be good.  The Hubs loves the Windjammer breakfast. If forced to go in there, I usually just go for the fruit.   I do love the salads in the MDR. The breakfast is much better there too. The oatmeal is good.

The waiters on my cruises always get very concerned that I don't clean my plate. Usually by the 2nd or 3rd night, the Hubs explains that I had stomach surgery and can't eat much...LOL

I have even had the Matre'd come ask if the food was ok....LOL  We are sailing on Adventure Of The Seas in May.....Yes, I'm spolied. I will sure miss the Park Cafe and the yummies in the Spa Cafe too. I love the bigger ships....but this one was such a bargain. After enduring flooding from Hurricane Harvey, and 12 chemo treatments...all during recovering from Harvey....I wouldn't care if my cabin was in one of the lifeboats...as long as I got away for a few days.