seagoingJLW

Hi there,

My husband and I just came back from the Radiance of the Seas on Sunday. I would not nor could not complain about the food. The food was very very good. If we had something we did not care for, they bent over backwards to please us. I did not like the turkey wrap I ordered for lunch, it came with mayo, I can't stand mayo, the waiter was very concerned and wanted to get me something i would like, he named a million different items that I might like better. He wasn't even our regular waiter. Lunch was open seating, so chances were I would never see him again. The service, the selection, the quality was outstanding!

We found no reason to go to the buffet or use room service, everything was fantastic. So, if the food was bad on one ship, we can't say the food is bad on cruises overall.

Thanks for listening.

Take care,

Peggy

When we were on the Jewel of the Seas in June, the lunch menu in the dining room was exactly the same every day. Choices were very limited. We wound up going to the Lido for lunch daily where there were a lot more offerings.

Joan

I can imagine describing some cruiseline food as airline food, even if it is a bit of an overstatement. The mass market lines (at least NCL and Carnival, can't speak to RCI) are serving basically banquet food--mass bought ingredients, indifferent to good preperations, some time under heat lamps or otherwise waiting.

 

Celebrity seems to do a better job (I've heard HAL and Princess as well), they seem to get good quality, if still mass-bought ingredients, and have more skill in the kitchen.

 

The problem cruise lines face is that the culinary revolution in America has really exposed us to carefully prepared and imaginative meals made with the highest quality of ingredients that can be found.

 

Cruise lines at their best are only reaching the standard of the earlier "fine dining" which was primarily french or pseudo-french food that really relied more on atmosphere, service and classic appeal than on the quality of the food.

 

And not to be too controversial, but coq au vin isn't much more than chicken stew, chateubriand is basically either a pot roast or broiled beef with a pan gravy (depending on who's version you use). If I dig through my Escoffier long enough I can probably find a French dish which is, after all, meatloaf. A French name (or simple exoticism) ought not to be enough to qualify as fine dining, unless we all want to turn our clocks back to 1979 or 1983 or some such.

Food aboard cruise ships is good and well prepared. It is the menu choices that have deteriorated badly. I want my grenouille back.

Joan

One of the main reasons we cruise is for the great food. I have never been disappointed (overall). There will always be something that doesn't suit, but for the chance to eat Rack of lamb, lobster, escargot, etc every night - I'm in heaven.

 

But most of all - it's great because I don't have to plan it, cook it or clean up after. I'm a pretty good cook myself, but by the time we sit down to eat what I cook, I can barely taste it.

 

Cruises are for trying new things, savoring favorites and being good to oneself. Enjoy!

 

:p

What cruiselines have you been sailing on recently. Food is one of the things that has gone downhill fast. No longer do you get chateaubriand, coq au vin, Veal Oscar, etc. Now you are served pot roast, pork loin and meat loaf. Quelle domage!!!

Joan

There has been a tremendous change in the foodserved on board cruise ships in the last few years. I think the problemstarted with the advent of the specialty restaurants on board. The elegant food served in these rooms for which the cruise lines charge an additional fee of $20 to $25 per person per meal are the same meals that used to be served in the dining room.

Cruise ships used to take pride in their elegant continental cuisine. Some, like Holland America, were so proud of their food that sets of menus were distributed at the end of the cruise. Now, they serve what they call "comfort food." Instead of Chateaubriand and Coq au Vin, you now get pot roast and meat loaf.

From now on we shall sail mainly on Oceania, where cuisine is very important and all menus come from Jacques Pepin.

Joan

Sorry about that as it seemed like a real possibility.

 

I knew they went there as the last 3 ports on our 503/504 btb are in India (we fly home from Chennai) and the next one was "Passage".(starting in Chennai)

 

Swan Hellenic is a "regular" line. It is yet another member of the P and O Group. The prices might seem high on first look, but tips, all excursions, speakers are included.......and like all other cruise lines, theres discounts to be had.

I know it is a regular cruiseline. But paying in pounds is not good for us right now. The dollar is too weak.

Joan

Just curious to know if the info above was useful to you :) .....or not?:(

Not really. I am looking for a cruise on a regular cruiseline that isn't overpriced. RCCI had one years ago, when they had their Royal Journeys. At that time, we took the cruise they offered around the Arabian Peninsula.

Joan

I have been trying to find a cruise which goes around the Indian subcontinent without any success. Does anyone know of such a cruise or a cruiseline that does this voyage? I am not interested in going to China, Thailand, or Japan as we have already done that.

I do really want to visit India on a cruise.

I should appreciate any help that you can offer.

Joan