4ensic Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 How many have ordered something off the menu? I don't mean a dish available another night, but something Royal doesn't offer at all. How'd it turn out? Friends I cruise with do this on occasion and the results are usually worthy of a specialty restaurant. They usually ask early on the voyage for something generic like "Filipino food" for a meal at the convenience of kitchen staff (basically we'd be happy with a crew meal). Usually a chef comes around that evening and makes suggestions. On the Freedom, the chef (Filipino!) volunteered to prepare different meals for two nights. He did family style meals of: pancit bihon (Rice noodles with pork and vegetables), sinigang (sour fish soup), chicken adobo , goulay (local vegetables), and lumpia Shanghai (pork filled eggroll). What's your experience been? Sweety 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 I always order Indian curry in the MDR and it usually comes out quite good. JennyB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrB Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 +1 on Indian food. On Majesty of the Seas, they had some very good Indian food all the time in the Windjammer, if you knew where to look. We casually mentioned how we were enjoying that Indian food to our head waiter in the MDR the first night and every night he provided an Indian dish in addition to the regular menu items. It was awesome. Boy, did we look forward to the MDR. We would have gladly traded out one of the listed entrees for the Indian dish, but he insisted that it be additional, not replacement. We noticed that there were several chefs and cuisine managers from the Indian subcontinent listed in the WJ. For the cost of a few plates of food, Royal locked us in as customers for the foreseeable future. Cheap customer retention costs for them. Good food for us. That works. JLMoran, bcarney, Al Horner and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 On our July 2 cruise on Mariner of the Seas, the executive chef came around and asked everyone how the food was. My son Brandon who is 13 said his steak was great but wanted to know when he could have a quesadilla. The chef told him it wasn’t going to be on the cruise menu and I thought saw son get very sad. Then the chef said just tell your waiter tomorrow “Chef McDonald” said I could have a quesadilla and we will make you one. It was awesome. Orchids, MrB, tdcackler and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrB Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 19 minutes ago, Oliver said: Then the chef said just tell your waiter tomorrow “Chef McDonald” said I could have a quesadilla and we will make you one. It was awesome. Very much like us. They won your heart for the cost of a tortilla and cheese. Oliver, 4ensic and JLMoran 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 On 8/27/2018 at 9:31 AM, Matt said: I always order Indian curry in the MDR and it usually comes out quite good. I did this in January (I believe taking a cue from you). Unfortunately our server, for some reason, waited until we were nearly finished our dinner the next evening and I was already pretty full, but I did try it and it was excellent! Wish I had known... They really are such good people, and seem to take a lot of pride in their jobs with our satisfaction being their goal. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baked Alaska Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 While we were on the Disney Magic, my son, who was 6 at the time (he's now 13) was not into the children's menu (he's a foodie, not picky). Our waiter in Animator's Palate asked him what he would like, instead. My son replied "a venison steak, please". (I thought, "oh brother"). The waiter replied, "how would you like it cooked?" My son replied, "how my mom makes it." I said medium rare, and that is exactly what our waiter brought out for him, plus french fries. FWIW: We have left Disney, since they've priced us out of our Alaska cruise. We are giving RCCL a try for the next couple of years and see how it goes, but for price and amenities that I WANT (to pay for), Royal seems like a no brainer. We are cruising to Alaska July 2019 in an Owner's suite. At the time of booking, that was the same price as a regular ocean view on DCL. The junior suite on Royal was the same price as an inside stateroom on DCL (at time of booking). MikeK, Fuzzywuzzy, PrincipalTinker and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcarney Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 On 8/25/2018 at 11:22 PM, 4ensic said: Friends I cruise with do this on occasion and the results are usually worthy of a specialty restaurant. They usually ask early on the voyage for something generic like "Filipino food" for a meal at the convenience of kitchen staff (basically we'd be happy with a crew meal). Usually a chef comes around that evening and makes suggestions. On the Freedom, the chef (Filipino!) volunteered to prepare different meals for two nights. He did family style meals of: pancit bihon (Rice noodles with pork and vegetables), sinigang (sour fish soup), chicken adobo , goulay (local vegetables), and lumpia Shanghai (pork filled eggroll). OMG. I'm sooo doing this on my next cruise. Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcarney Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 This isn't off-menu, but on our last cruise (Adventure Nov '17) our waiter left a little bit to be desired so we hit the Windjammer two nights. One night they had an Indian food section that was solid, and the butter chicken was the best I've ever had. Another evening was "Caribbean Night" that was to die for. The jerk chicken was moist, spicy... great stuff! Floski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 8 minutes ago, bcarney said: This isn't off-menu, but on our last cruise (Adventure Nov '17) our waiter left a little bit to be desired so we hit the Windjammer two nights. One night they had an Indian food section that was solid, and the butter chicken was the best I've ever had. Another evening was "Caribbean Night" that was to die for. The jerk chicken was moist, spicy... great stuff! Ahh yes, the hidden gems of dinner in Windjammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ensic Posted August 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 30 minutes ago, bcarney said: This isn't off-menu, but on our last cruise (Adventure Nov '17) our waiter left a little bit to be desired so we hit the Windjammer two nights. One night they had an Indian food section that was solid, and the butter chicken was the best I've ever had. Another evening was "Caribbean Night" that was to die for. The jerk chicken was moist, spicy... great stuff! I agree, their Indian entrees are top notch. Celebrity actually had an Asian food station at the back of their Windjammer-equivalent. It was freestanding, had a cook, and about 10 entrees from Indian to Filipino and Thai. Open for all 3 meals. And this was on a British Isles cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hands down for Windjammer....the Indian food there is great, multiple dishes usually and something I could eat every night. There is always usually a nice surprise or two in the WJ.....haven't eaten in the MDR since my 2015 cruise on Independence and then it was only for 1 night out of 5 night cruise...... I found the food in the WJ just as good..more variety...just as hot..much quicker...more relaxed than the MDR.....I have never requested or asked for a special/different dish though...to me that seems inconsiderate ..maybe they love to do it for you..but maybe not..imagine if all 4000 guests wanted there own special dishes on different nights... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 There is absolutely something to be said for the WJ for dinner. No dressing up after a long day in the sun and a huge variety of foods that you may not try otherwise. If my husband and I are travelling alone, that's what we tend to favor over the MDR if we aren't doing specialty. monctonguy, Orange Crush, Baked Alaska and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 7 hours ago, KLA said: No dressing up after a long day in the sun and a huge variety of foods that you may not try otherwise. Agreed. I never can seem to talk anyone into the WJ for dinner whenever I cruise. +1 for Indian. Our waiter was thrilled we even asked and brought something every night after. Orange Crush 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 Just now, ellcee said: Agreed. I never can seem to talk anyone into the WJ for dinner whenever I cruise. When we cruise with husband's family, it is always MDR every night with special attention paid to formal night and pictures taken with family every night. Husband and I take the much more laid back approach when cruising on our own... and no pictures. ellcee, MikeK, 4ensic and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 12 minutes ago, KLA said: and no pictures Boooo.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason.H. Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 After seeing CGTLH's live blogs with pictures I am deffinately planning to do some Windjammer recon of my own on my cruise in less than two weeks on Oasis. The night that the MDR has the sliced beef tenderloin the windjammer has it as well but at the carving station and its hot and fresh and charred on the outside rare to medium on the inside (depending which end he slices from) and tastes much better there then it does in the MDR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 15 hours ago, KLA said: When we cruise with husband's family, it is always MDR every night with special attention paid to formal night and pictures taken with family every night. Husband and I take the much more laid back approach when cruising on our own... and no pictures. it would be the same if we travelled with family...12 cruises so far and avoided it......most of my friends that I travel with prefer the WJ.....I think in 11 cruises so far..its prob been less than 10 nights out of about 50 nights for the MDR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 My biggest problem with the Windjammer is that I’ll eat too much. I just want to try everything! I don’t have a lot of self control Jason.H. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 7 minutes ago, Oliver said: My biggest problem with the Windjammer is that I’ll eat too much. I just want to try everything! I don’t have a lot of self control I have the same issue at dinner in WJ. It all looks so good I end up with a massive plate of food. I really should scout the whole area before putting anything on my plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 3 hours ago, twangster said: I really should scout the whole area before putting anything on my plate. This is the trick. Also easier at dinner time because it isn't nearly as congested as during the day at peak times. twangster and Orange Crush 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason.H. Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 21 hours ago, Oliver said: My biggest problem with the Windjammer is that I’ll eat too much. I just want to try everything! I don’t have a lot of self control Me either! My plan is to find a small plate by the dessert section to use as my dinner plate. But I'll probably end up going back for seconds and thirds haha. Oliver 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWhoWaits Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 1 hour ago, Jason.H. said: Me either! My plan is to find a small plate by the dessert section to use as my dinner plate. But I'll probably end up going back for seconds and thirds haha. And a large plate from the main buffet to fill up with desserts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobWhatley Posted September 6, 2018 Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 Just wondering.... Is Honey Stung Chicken gone from the fleet for ever? All I ever heard about was Honey Stung Chicken...…. :( Would love to try it one day.....Brilliance - Jan 31 2019. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Crush Posted September 11, 2018 Report Share Posted September 11, 2018 On 8/29/2018 at 4:36 PM, ellcee said: Agreed. I never can seem to talk anyone into the WJ for dinner whenever I cruise. It varies by ship and sailing, but the early MDR seating is around 6:30, late seating's around 8:30. Windjammer serves dinner from 6 - 9 . . . HeWhoWaits and ellcee 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeh Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 On 9/6/2018 at 6:54 PM, RobWhatley said: Just wondering.... Is Honey Stung Chicken gone from the fleet for ever? All I ever heard about was Honey Stung Chicken...…. Would love to try it one day.....Brilliance - Jan 31 2019. it is on the room service menu. i will be ordering it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeh Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 On 8/27/2018 at 8:31 AM, Matt said: I always order Indian curry in the MDR and it usually comes out quite good. i asked for chicken tikka masala and sag paneer on a cruise a few years back, didn't give them a heads up, either. but it came out quick and was delicious. i might have had naan bread too, if i had told them this request a day ahead. they seem to like cooking the food of their home for people. 4ensic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ensic Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 8 minutes ago, georgeh said: i asked for chicken tikka masala and sag paneer on a cruise a few years back, didn't give them a heads up, either. but it came out quick and was delicious. i might have had naan bread too, if i had told them this request a day ahead. they seem to like cooking the food of their home for people. That seems to be the key. What's exotic to an American might be some chef's family recipe s/he cooked as a youngster. I'd bet regional US specialties wouldn't go over as well even if the ingredients were in stock ( e.g. a Horseshoe or Jambalaya). bcarney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeh Posted October 1, 2018 Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 just got back from the liberty of the seas. apparently, indian food is such a popular thing now, it is always offered in the MDR (off menu, but always available). my wife had some indian dish at least twice. on the last day, they had a full compliment of indian on the buffet (chicken tikka, etc). 4ensic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobWhatley Posted October 13, 2018 Report Share Posted October 13, 2018 On 9/20/2018 at 2:31 PM, georgeh said: it is on the room service menu. i will be ordering it! Please let me know... :) And which ship did you see it on the room service menu? Thanks much! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ensic Posted October 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2018 On 10/1/2018 at 12:17 PM, georgeh said: just got back from the liberty of the seas. apparently, indian food is such a popular thing now, it is always offered in the MDR (off menu, but always available). my wife had some indian dish at least twice. on the last day, they had a full compliment of indian on the buffet (chicken tikka, etc). Just off the Harmony. Our Headwaiter said that there is nonpublished Indian menu nightly with a vegetarian and a meat entree. They were getting so many requests for different Indian dishes this was a compromise. Anyone can request either entree 24 hours in advance. Their Butter Chicken was great and the chef wasn't afraid to use chile pepper. ellcee and bcarney 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyB Posted November 6, 2018 Report Share Posted November 6, 2018 On 8/27/2018 at 9:31 AM, Matt said: I always order Indian curry in the MDR and it usually comes out quite good. indian food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeka27 Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 there has been a lot of talk about Indian food but has anyone scored Puerto Rican style food? Who do you give the request to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie Posted January 16, 2019 Report Share Posted January 16, 2019 We love Thai food and wish RCI offer authentic Thai cuisine on the ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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