Question for Voyager-class ship passengers (except Navigator) since 3/1/05

[PAGA]

We sailed on Navigator in Nov '04 about 2 weeks after they began the new menu that was to be tested only on that ship.

 

I'm now seeing posts referencing new menus fleetwide effective 3/1/05 and I'm trying to figure out if these new menus are the same/similar to what we experience (and loved!!) on the Navigator.

 

So here is my question for those who have sailed since 3/1/05 on a Voyager-class ship (other than Navigator!!):

 

During dinner, were there nights when the appetizers or salad were served "family style" (i.e., instead of ordering from the menu, a plate with 1 or more "chef's selections" were placed in the center of the table)?

 

*Please respond with your ship's name and sail date*

 

FYI - If the answer to this is "yes", that appears to mean that the Navigator's 'test" menu has been adopted on other Voyager-class ships and trust me -- this is good news!!

 

I'm especially hoping to hear from someone recently on Explorer -- we're sailing in the end of May.

 

Thank you!!

 

- PAGA

[djpingel]

We sailed Explorer on 3-13. No "family-style" appetizers. Just ordered off the menu.

--Doug

[travel2cruise]

Just sailed Voyager and it was individual appetizers ordered per person off the menu. This could be a dumb question...What's the difference? :rolleyes:

[sleeples23]

Where did you hear that they are developing whole new menus?;)

[Schplinky]

I don't like the idea of family style (everyone serves themselves from a plate put on the table). I think there is a distinct difference between being served by a waiter who is required by the cruise line to wash their hands and sharing a platter with folks who may have "varying standards" in that realm. This seems like a recipe for nonovirus spreading to me. My understanding was that the waiters serving you your bread was a step toward other guests not touching your food. This seems like a step backward.

 

We will not be eating in the buffet for the same reason. I know this makes me sound like a germ freak and if you could see my apartment, you'd know I'm not but I prefer my germs to sharing other folks'.

[PAGA]

As to the question of where did I hear about new menus:

 

I'ver personally experienced the "test" menus on the Navigator on our Thanksgiving '04 cruise. Then within the past week I've seen posts such as this one from poster "Firefighterhoop":

 

"I was just on the mariner the 3/13 sailing, It [menu] was changed, however I don't have a copy. According tot he Food and beverage manager, it is FLEET WIDE."

 

This post made me curious as to whether the new menus being referenced are a fleetwide implementation of the Navigator's "test" menu...

 

As to the comment about germs and family-style serving, all I can tell you is that yes, they do continue to put individual rolls/bread on your plate in the dining room, but the "test" menus on Navigator inlcuded about 3 days when either appetizers, salad or dessert were served family style. I do realize that this can be a concern -- especially if someone had a past experience where a sickness impacted their vacation, but personally, I don't have a problem with a few family-style serving experiences in the main dining room at dinner -- everyone at the table is using the same salt & pepper, butter serving dish and coffee creamer, why not a serving utensil...and the waiter touches every piece of silverware you use -- I guess I can't think that much about it or I'd never eat out!! I've been on more than 10 cruises, experienced every food venue available and never gotten sick...so family style-serving doesn't raise any red flags for me.

 

In addition to the family-style serving, there were a few other selection changes and the overall quality of the food was notably better than our other experiences. So, guess I'm still hoping to get some more responses that will support what "joeyancho" posted on March 22:

 

"We sailed the Navigator in Feb. 05 and they were still testing the new menu and dining room improvements. There was an Italian appetizer plate one night served family style and a delicious Greek salad served family style and also a Caesar salad served family style. There was also a nice dessert sampler plate one night with 3 different desserts. I would say that the food overall was much better than our cruise in December on the Grandeur. The beef was also upgraded. No more Royal steak that everyone seems to loathe. The food in the Windjammer was also very good. The head waiter told us that the new menus and improvements would go fleetwide in 05. When, I don't know. I hope soon because I think everyone will enjoy the change."

 

Hoping to get some more responses -- remember to include your ship name and sail date. And if anyone is sailing now or soon (especially Explorer), ask around about this onboard -- thanks!!

 

- PAGA

[Schplinky]

 

everyone at the table is using the same salt & pepper, butter serving dish and coffee creamer, why not a serving utensil...and the waiter touches every piece of silverware you use --

- PAGA

 

I agree and I am not usually germ-phobic but I really do see such variety of standards. I went to a casino near here on the weekend and I was surprised how many people walked out of the bathroom straight from the urinal, without even rinsing their hands, and walked back to the buffet and kept eating and serving themselves.

 

I think that as far as germs are concerned, we all take risks but this is one I would think the cruise lines would want to avoid.

[Nano]

We were on the 2/20 Mariner sailing, and our waiter told us they were currently testing new menus that would be offered fleetwide in mid-March. Not sure if that happened yet or not?

[Schplinky]

Could you describe how the food was different?

[PAGA]

Could you describe how the food was different?

 

For some detail on Navigator's "test" menus, do a search on the Royal Caribbean board for a thread called "New Menus" from joeyancho on November 13, 2004. The wife of the Navigator's Captain has some of the sample menus posted - her name is TJ. When we sailed on Thanksgiving 2004 we found the menus to be exeactly as she described. You'll see plenty of old favorites with some great new additions.

 

Again, hoping these menus are going fleetwide soon based on some posts that are floating around during the past week.

 

- PAGA

[KamloopsCruisers]

We sailed on the Voyager the last week of January and the 1st week of February on a B2B. Our first week was the final week of the "old" menu, with the "new" menu being in effect for our second week. There were some minor changes, but absolutely no family style appetizers, etc. Personally, I didn't see a big difference between the old and new.