Horizon court food - what has happened?

[Pochahontas]

I've not done many cruises - but each time we have used the Horizon Court more and more! the food is moorish - and if you want to go back for "seconds" you can - if you want to take your food outside - you can.

 

The one thing I love about eating in the MDR is the dessert - I am a glutton for the "love boat" and you cannot get that in the Horizon Court.

 

I had an issue last year with HC food and the head waiter sent chocolate strawberry's to our room as an apology - now how good is that? I suppose if you don't raise the quality of the food and allow the head waiter to know what is wrong you wont get it rectified - I did - in a polite manner - and he was mortified! so no its not all bad.

 

Also I took the lead from other Cruisers when the dishes were down to crusty offerings to ask for a replacement - they usually are in the process of waiting for it to be cooked - so a bit of patients goes a long way and asking never hurt anyone.

[mr green]

I am now totally curious why any cruise line would let such a popular eating option get a rather universal thumbs down. Three meals a day, they have to care......don't they?

 

I would hardly call the comments on this thread a 'Universal thumbs down'. I for one am a fussy eater, [just ask my wife], but I have never found anything wrong at HC. If I don't like the look of anything, I don't take it, its as simple as that.

 

john

[Clutterlady]

I am now totally curious why any cruise line would let such a popular eating option get a rather universal thumbs down. Three meals a day, they have to care......don't they?

 

Where do you see a "universal thumbs down":confused:

[ginagirl]

Just sailed the Grand a couple of weeks ago, and thought the Horizon Court food was the worst ever. We did this same ship, same 14 day Caribbean itinerary, same 2 weeks last year, and the food was great. What the heck is going on???

 

Only saw a real live band poolside, on Day 1 and Day 13. How pathetic is that? And the bands in the Wheelhouse and Explorers Lounge were" certainly far from "the cream of the crop." We love to dance. Our previous cruise in October, 2009, on the Golden to Hawaii was quite disappointing in that area also; and we decided that if we were not as pleased with the Grand this year as last year, we would jump ship and go for land vacations.

 

So----After years of sailing Princess numerous times and loving it, we have just booked two vacations at all inclusive resorts. in Oceanfront Jr. Suites.. And that's not costing us any more money than each 2 weeks' cruise in a minisuite on Princess. In fact, we are noticing the Princess cruises are more expensive now than previously!!! Charging more - for giving less!!!! So we will see if this is now the way to go for us. One thing I do know - there will be no liquor bill on these 2 vacations!!!!!:D

[Maraprince]

IMO the Horizon Court offers a much wider assortment of food choices by comparison to the limited offerings in the Promenade Cafe on RCI ships where the food is handed to you and the portions are very small. You cannot just pick up what you want on an RCI ship where you can control your portion size on Princess ships. Princess ships have something for everyone when it comes to food in the Horizon Court. Just remember there is more than one section -- both a front and back section. Check out both areas since they offer different choices.

 

MARAPRINCE

[asctony]

IMO the Horizon Court offers a much wider assortment of food choices by comparison to the limited offerings in the Promenade Cafe on RCI ships where the food is handed to you and the portions are very small. You cannot just pick up what you want on an RCI ship where you can control your portion size on Princess ships. Princess ships have something for everyone when it comes to food in the Horizon Court. Just remember there is more than one section -- both a front and back section. Check out both areas since they offer different choices.

 

MARAPRINCE

 

You must have been on a different ship on RCI. We were on the IOS and others. They do have a very vast array of food in the Windjammer Cafe. On those ships you served yourself.

[MTJSR]

Where do you see a "universal thumbs down":confused:

You are right, poor choice of wording. Replace "Universal" with "Majority". Remember, during my cruise on the Grand, I thought the buffet food was good. I am in the minority then.

[Pam in CA]

Just sailed the Grand a couple of weeks ago, and thought the Horizon Court food was the worst ever. We did this same ship, same 14 day Caribbean itinerary, same 2 weeks last year, and the food was great. What the heck is going on???

Just like the dining room, it's the same recipes and same foodstuff throughout the fleet. The difference is the head chef and sous-chefs, i.e., food preparation and presentation. You can be on two different ships just a couple of months apart, as I was last year, and the exact same dish can be prepared, presented and taste completely differently. Same item, same ingredients, same recipe, different chefs.

[knorrisb07]

I think the downfall theme about the Horizon Court buffet is more common from those who are comparing HAL or Celebrity's buffet. Other than that, I have not noticed posts that it was really bad. It is certainly better than RCI's buffet.

 

 

HAL's buffet is better?

[04cruises]

IMO the Horizon Court offers a much wider assortment of food choices by comparison to the limited offerings in the Promenade Cafe on RCI ships where the food is handed to you and the portions are very small. You cannot just pick up what you want on an RCI ship where you can control your portion size on Princess ships. Princess ships have something for everyone when it comes to food in the Horizon Court. Just remember there is more than one section -- both a front and back section. Check out both areas since they offer different choices.

 

MARAPRINCE

Just wanted to correct you politely.The Promanade restaurant is only for snacks. The Windjammer is the buffet.

I am very thankful that I learned that food is always subjective or I would cancel our upcoming cruise.I can tell you that it sounds like all of us who have cruised for awhile can say all lines have diminished their food quality

[BosoxI]

<P>

Because we don't like how it takes 2 1/2 hours to eat. We want to grab a bite in 20-30 minutes, then enjoy the pool, hot tub, promenade deck, our tv, our bed (<IMG class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue" border=0 alt="" src="images/smilies/tongue.gif" smilieid="5">) or whatever the evening has to offer. Some people just aren't the fancy schmancy foods type people. JMO.

</P>

<P> </P>

<P>Lunch in the MDR  is an excellent choice as the food is varied and frequently not like anything available at night.  Also a good way for casual dressers to eat well and not have to wear  tux or annoy formal diners at night.  Never has it taken 2 1/2 hours to eat there.  Trick is to chew and swallow and keep repeating the process <IMG class=inlineimg border=0 alt=0 src="http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" smilieid="3"></P>

<P> </P>

[roe2ship]

IMO the Horizon Court offers a much wider assortment of food choices by comparison to the limited offerings in the Promenade Cafe on RCI ships where the food is handed to you and the portions are very small. You cannot just pick up what you want on an RCI ship where you can control your portion size on Princess ships. Princess ships have something for everyone when it comes to food in the Horizon Court. Just remember there is more than one section -- both a front and back section. Check out both areas since they offer different choices.

 

MARAPRINCE

That is not Royal's buffet.......it is the Windjammer and you do serve yourself.

 

HAL's buffet is better?

From what I have been reading on here....according to many.....yes.

[windsor26]

I think the downfall theme about the Horizon Court buffet is more common from those who are comparing HAL or Celebrity's buffet. Other than that, I have not noticed posts that it was really bad. It is certainly better than RCI's buffet.

 

 

This is so subjective We like Horizon food but love RCI buffet and think their layout as well is so much better