pcur

I just checked the Cruise Planner online for my Adventure cruise this September, and both Chops and Giovanni's are open on embarkation day for lunch. I find the Cruise Planner to be easier to work with. Select the lunch option, and it shows you all the days lunch is available and what specialty restaurants are open.

Bacon is FFTG.

A bit off-topic: I cruised on a back-to-next day cruise, where I got off the ship in Baltimore and took Amtrak up to Newark, NJ the same day. The second cruise left the next day. It was a very quick (2.5 hours) and pleasant train ride, and the fare was $25.

I haven't seen those signs in years. The Solarium has evolved to more of a social gathering place.

You can always ask. Make sure you know how to play the game, since they may not be in the frame of mind to teach the game. Some people are pretty competetive. I stopped by to watch a couple I knew who were in the early 90's, the wife being an EXTREMELY bossy and controlling person. She finally lost, and her sweet, silent husband was smiling shyly at me when I stopped and said, "So, it looks like Sydney finally won, huh?" She grmbled, "When you're right, you're right." Sydney just smiled silently. Love that old guy! I was playing a tile game with friends in the Solarium, and several people stopped by to ask what game it was.

I have never thought those tables were for eating. There are many more tables out on the pool deck. The Solarium tables are used for crafts, reading, cards, eating, talking, knitting. All the stuff people do to relax and enjoy the sea view.

Biker19, whenever I walk into any Solarium, I see at least 20 people playing cards at multiple tables. There is no reason why this group cannot do that. Yes, I agree one of the conference rooms would work, but the Solarium, or the pool deck, has refreshments, nearby bathrooms, and food.

Many people already play cards in the Solarium. You may have to get several tables, but that's part of the fun, and there are always at least that many tables being used for cards. Rotate people every so often bewtween tables. The corner back where the Spa is located is quieter.

Just a reminder, you can move a cruise to another date for a $100 change fee. I always do this, because I know I'm going to want to cruise again......................

I have taken so many kitchen tours over 50 years that I won't take any more. Yes, they pre-plate as many as possible, but combining two appetizers together, or serving a smaller portion of an entree with a full portion of another, is something they will accommodate. The kitchen and serving staff are responsive to passengers' requests. We are NOT at a predetermined banquet where no exceptions are allowed. We ARE on a cruise in the main restaurant where they still make efforts to accommodate requests. The requests we are discussing are what I have done for ME to accommodate THEIR changes in the menu and service. I pay them, not the other way around. And, my extra requests are inclusive with extra tipping, too.

The only one I remember is Flagger and his casino trick.

They take what's said about them seriously on all social media. I've been with RCCL for over 50 years, and I've seen many changes come about from individuals en masse voicing the same opinion.

Like I mentioned above, ASK for multiples on one plate. It can be plated in the kitchen that way. (I just reread my previous post, and started laughing. I ordered 4 APPETIZERS for dinner on the Grandeur, NOT 4 entrees!)

I have found since 1/14/23 when they changed the menus and service policies, that if I ask for an entrée, and then ask for an appetizer-sized second entrée on the same plate, I have no issues getting them. On the same plate seems to work. I also eat only appetizers for dinner sometimes, because the limited selections and removal of the standard grilled salmon. I don't want them all at once, so they just keep bringing me the next one. My serious issues on the Enchantment in January, and the Grandeur in February were cold food (obviously not using the warming equipment), and (I think) new kitchen staff. I ordered 4 entrees for dinner one night on the Grandeur, and the mushroom risotto with snow peas arrived cold with cold pea SOUP on top. It was the second of 4 orderd, and I gave up and went to the Windjammer for dinner. I REALLY hope things have improved by my next RCCL cruise. I just got off a Princess cruise and not a single bite of bad food passed my lips. The food EVERYWHERE was amazing.

I found the breakfast menu in both restaurants to be pretty much identical. Enjoy both of them. Just point me in the right direction and I will go there.

Seriously, Biker? It took me over 50 years to become Pinnacle, and I've never been unwashed. I have also been in and absolute crush of people going in the Suite/Pinnacle door at Port Everglades.

I bought a supply of button magnets from Amazon. I tested two with a clean/dirty sign on my dishwasher, and they are working great. I only want them to post documents on my cabin wall: excursion tickets, invites, cruise compass, etc. I travel with a travel size massage gun for muscle spasms caused by sitting for prolonged periods of time. It's shaped, well, like a gun. So, I take it out of my rolling carry-on, put it in the tray going through security, and then there's no delay. They will look at it after it goes through just to make sure, but I've never had my carry-on bag sidelined for a full inspection. I'll start putting my magnets in the tray, too. All my credit cards, and "magnet-unfriendly" belongings go in my tote bag, anyway.

Seems to me if it's not enforced, then it's more of a suggestion. I works to keep the passenger flow a little less dense IMO. My sister and I arrived to check-in on time around 11:30 - noon for the Vision, going into the Suite/Pinnacle entrance, and we were the only ones there.

Not sure, but I think it was non-Suite. It was the Concierge in the Suite Lounge on either the Allure or the Oasis. I went in on embarkation day to ask, and was told I could eat all my meals in the CK, since the Pinnacle count was below 50. I assume they don't count Suite Pinnacles, since they are allowed in by staying in a suite.

Politely not agreeing with you. I have been on ships where the CK was practically empty during meals. Adding Pinnacles increased their use of the restaurant. Of course, being a Pinnacle myself, I am totally biased about this. 😁

I was told a few months ago the cut-off was less than 50 Pinnacles on the cruise. Seems they can handle an increase of 50 more people in the CK.

And, keep flexible. I was flying home from Seattle 2 days ago, sitting up near the podium in the terminal. Volunteered to be rebooked the next day for $1,000 and a paid hotel. I gave it up to a college student after chatting with him for a while. He was grateful, since he could stay and spend Mother's Day/Evening with his Mom. They gave me $350 anyway for volunteering, and my outbound air for one of my cruise is free!

Hmmm....so serious.......so dour.........you need a cruise, Starry.

I will. I just got off the Discovery Princess, and not a single bite of bad food passed my lips for 7 days.

I was one of the (fairly) early posters on this thread, having been on multiple ships from when the new menus were rolled out until mid-March. My experiences weren't pleasant, but things seemed to improve, and it was obvious the quality varied up and down from ship to ship. I am currently on the Discovery Princess, and I'm seeing what the competition has to offer. To even up the apples-to-apple side of this opinion, for a solo traveler Princess is more expensive, as they have no solo loyalty discount. One evening on the ship so far and I was blown away. To divert from food, I love Prosecco, and they not only had it available, but it was excellent. RCCL says they have it, and I get their standard champagne instead many times. Dinner was in Gigi's pizzeria. I'm sailing with a group of friends, so I'm good with whatever they choose, and I budgeted for some specialty restaurants. First surprise is I didn't walk up to a grab-a-slice kind of pizza place: this is a full service sit-down Italian restaurant. The antipasto was excellent. You know the comments about the quality of cold cuts and deli meats in the Windjammer? Gigi's was very thinly sliced and delicious. It also came with a small shrimp salad with dressing. My main was thin sliced eggplant, rolled and stuffed with angel hair pasta, and wonderful cheesy goodness. I skipped dessert, but I'll bet their tiramisu was great. The kicker? This was a COMPLIMENTARY restaurant! So, my dilemma now is pay more / most likely get MUCH better food, or stay with RCCL and cobble my food from their selections like I did the first 3 months this year. I haven't decided yet, and I'll probably wait until my booked RCCL cruises are over next Spring. But, I'm looking at West Coast lower priced Princess cruises...............................