Windjammer Dinner Items

[fairweather]

Which items from the MDR menu each night will be served in the Windjammer, too? Only the entrees or will the appetizers and desserts be available as well? Are the daily MDR alternatives like chicken breast, sliders, steak and salmon available, too?

[JYD Hawkeye]

You could get a hundred replies to this and still not know what all is on both menus. There is about 50% of the MDR menu in theWindjammer for dinner. That is about as close as I can come to an accurate answer. And it is mixed between entrees, veggies, and desserts.

[firedudewife]

We were on the FOS last year. The Windjammer had carving stations, and more "home style" meals...meatloaf, pork chops, burgers, and casseroles. The MDR always had a chicken, beef, and pasta dish. We had our two kids with us, and they always special ordered Mac and cheese, or burgers. I'm sure you'll find things you like at both places. I thought the desserts in the MDR were great, better than in the Windjammer.

 

 

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[ticktoneer]

We were on the FOS last year. The Windjammer had carving stations, and more "home style" meals...meatloaf, pork chops, burgers, and casseroles. The MDR always had a chicken, beef, and pasta dish. We had our two kids with us, and they always special ordered Mac and cheese, or burgers. I'm sure you'll find things you like at both places. I thought the desserts in the MDR were great, better than in the Windjammer.

 

 

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That sounds like the Windjammer lunch menu not dinner menu ?

[Trekker954]

Which items from the MDR menu each night will be served in the Windjammer, too? Only the entrees or will the appetizers and desserts be available as well? Are the daily MDR alternatives like chicken breast, sliders, steak and salmon available, too?

 

I'm not sure the people who posted here actually skip MDR to eat dinner in the WJ, but I do. First of all, we always look at the MDR menu at some point during the day to decide if we'll eat there. Typically it has more to do with time, than food BECAUSE, WJ typically has the same exact items as the MDR as well as their comfort food. From soup, entrée AND dessert. Other than a couple of nights say in a 7 week cruise we are interested in dessert, therefore, we usually eat in the WJ 90% of the time so we are in/out of dinner within 45 minutes and we are off to do things we want to do, rather than milling for two hours over dinner waiting to be served.

 

I will say this, I don't recall the WJ servicing the lobster tails on the fish night, so we do eat in MDR that night. Maybe its just not easy for lobster in the WJ.

[Morecruisesplz]

That sounds like the Windjammer lunch menu not dinner menu ?

 

Agreed. Although we ate in the MDR or specialty dining every night on our recent Freedom cruise, we would walk up to the Windjammer to see what was offered. MANY nights we wished we skipped the MDR. For instance if the entree in the MDR was Chicken Marsala the Windjammer would have that but also have pork chops, one of two other meats, better sides (IMHO), and lots of variety. The desserts were also much better looking than the MDR.

[Langley Cruisers]

We do that too, look at the MDR dinner menu and decide where we will eat that evening. The past few cruises, WJ has won most nights. ;):D They do not have everything exactly the same as the MDR - they do not serve escargot, lobster, prawns, those kinds of "higher end" items if you will, but you will find most of the same items are available and more of it. The desserts are available and they are often served "family style" or simply cut into bigger portions in WJ. I don't need the special sauce on the side of my small piece of carrot cake in the dining room, I just need a bigger piece of carrot cake. ;) LOL

 

WJ for dinner, especially on the Radiance-class ships with the outdoor aft seating, is absolutely glorious. :) Some people think WJ is not special or wonderful or intimate... I can tell you it absolutely is all of those things when you are with the one you love and you are together. I cannot wait until I get back there again... one day.... :)

 

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[pfm18]

I prefer to do it at my own pace, eat basically any combination I want etc, love the windjammer.

[jules815]

It's been a while since we've been on RC, but the evenings we dined in the WJ were very pleasant. They even dim the lights and put linens on the tables. Lovely aft views.

[Ashland]

We do that too, look at the MDR dinner menu and decide where we will eat that evening. The past few cruises, WJ has won most nights. ;):D They do not have everything exactly the same as the MDR - they do not serve escargot, lobster, prawns, those kinds of "higher end" items if you will, but you will find most of the same items are available and more of it. The desserts are available and they are often served "family style" or simply cut into bigger portions in WJ. I don't need the special sauce on the side of my small piece of carrot cake in the dining room, I just need a bigger piece of carrot cake. ;) LOL

 

WJ for dinner, especially on the Radiance-class ships with the outdoor aft seating, is absolutely glorious. :) Some people think WJ is not special or wonderful or intimate... I can tell you it absolutely is all of those things when you are with the one you love and you are together. I cannot wait until I get back there again... one day.... :)

 

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I agree with you...However we eat all our meals in the WJ regardless of ship (although on occasion a specialty venue isn't unheard of) as we have no interest in the MDR and don't even bother checking the posted menu (and that includes the small lobster tail night offered on the fisherman's plate ). Just off the ROS (May 24th) and of course you know the aft dining for the WJ is no more :( although, on our particular cruise you could have easily taken your WJ food out there since the aft was "EMPTY" every night of diners from Rita's and Izumi..no one dined there the entire cruise we were on..too cold and a bit windy. Also I for one missed the Seaview Café. No thanks to Samba Grill.

[Beth C]

I've found most nights the WJ will have the signature menu item (carving station item typically) along with others from the MDR menu (minute steak, chicken breast, indian dish etc) but I agree on the better sides. I don't want or need 3 brussel sprouts rolling around on my plate trying to escape my fork & knife or the 4 baby carrots adorning my piece of meat.

 

Most nights we peruse the MDR menu on screen and decide if we want to invest the time in the MDR. Many nights the WJ won out especially if there was something 'good' going on that evening... some nights I just want to have a small piece of chicken and a big honkin' baked potato loaded up... or a gigantic salad :)

 

Many nights on my last cruise they had theme nights in the WJ - one section would be italian or mexican etc. Our group of 10 would load up a bunch of plates of each item and eat family style at the table.

 

Another WJ bonus... you don't have the shame of asking for that 2nd or 3rd sourdough roll... you might have the guilt but not the shame :D

[wildernesslady]

Is WJ buffet style at dinner or waiter service? I never thought of eating there, but sometimes MDR can take a long time. We may give this a try our next cruise.

[Clarea]

Is WJ buffet style at dinner or waiter service? I never thought of eating there, but sometimes MDR can take a long time. We may give this a try our next cruise.

Windjammer is always buffet style. Waiters will usually bring drinks.

[windjamming]

Depending on the ship, there will be special items offered only in the Windjammer! On the Jewel, I loved the antipasto, and on the ships that have Jade, I really enjoyed the Asian menu items.

 

Since we tend to choose late seating, we'll usually do a walk-by of the WJ and try a couple of starters and perhaps a bowl of the yummy cold fruit soup, which they always offer in the WJ.

[edjny]

I'm not sure the people who posted here actually skip MDR to eat dinner in the WJ, but I do. First of all, we always look at the MDR menu at some point during the day to decide if we'll eat there. Typically it has more to do with time, than food BECAUSE, WJ typically has the same exact items as the MDR as well as their comfort food. From soup, entrée AND dessert. Other than a couple of nights say in a 7 week cruise we are interested in dessert, therefore, we usually eat in the WJ 90% of the time so we are in/out of dinner within 45 minutes and we are off to do things we want to do, rather than milling for two hours over dinner waiting to be served.

 

I will say this, I don't recall the WJ servicing the lobster tails on the fish night, so we do eat in MDR that night. Maybe its just not easy for lobster in the WJ.

 

This is what we do also. Check the menu for the MDR and then decide if we really want to eat there. Usually, we find the item from the MDR being served in the WJ also. The big exception is lobster night. For that, we go the the MDR.

[helen haywood]

Can anyone tell me more about "theme nights" in the WJ? We are sailing Oasis in September.

[ehfl]

You can never tell. It shouldn't be a big deal, but if for some reason it is, then just look at the MDR dinner menu, usually posted in the afternoon. Then compare it with what you see at the WJ. Then you can decide. I can't imagine it making a big difference, as there are plenty of options at either, but for the fussy eaters, there is ample information available before you have to make the decision.

[Langley Cruisers]

Can anyone tell me more about "theme nights" in the WJ? We are sailing Oasis in September.

 

It's not a big thing - just usually one station per night which has "themed" food selections like Italian or Chinese or Indian.

[Virtopia]

I plan to eat in the Windjammer for 5 evenings on my upcoming cruise.

 

This will be the first time I haven't primarily used the MDR but I'm looking forward to enjoying dinner on the outdoor Windjammer area on the Jewel.

[Board_Shorts]

The evenings we dined in the WJ were very pleasant. They even dim the lights and put linens on the tables. Lovely aft views.

 

Totally agree, the linens have gone, but the dimmed lights, calm music and beautiful aft views are wonderful for a more relaxed dinner.

[Langley Cruisers]

I plan to eat in the Windjammer for 5 evenings on my upcoming cruise... This will be the first time I haven't primarily used the MDR but I'm looking forward to enjoying dinner on the outdoor Windjammer area on the Jewel.

 

So excited for you! I promise you will love it. :)

 

Totally agree, the linens have gone, but the dimmed lights, calm music and beautiful aft views are wonderful for a more relaxed dinner.

 

Yeah, ya know what?.... maybe we should stop talking about it on the board here... it might not be the calm and relaxing atmosphere if lots more find out about it! LOL j/k :D:D:D

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[DaisyL]

Our group of 10 got back to the ship too late for our early seating so we decided to go to the WJ. My brother and his family who have been on many RCI cruises had never dined in the WJ for dinner. They were all pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This was our first RCI cruise and we enjoyed the meal and atmosphere very much. The waitstaff cleared the dirty dishes quickly and was always asking if we wanted a beverage (water, ice tea, coffee, etc).

 

Very impressed and would certainly have dinner in the WJ on future cruises.

[Trekker954]

opps, I meant to say we interested in desserts so we are in and out quickly. Although my daughter loves that mini trio dessert, but only the chocolate fudge cake triangle. So in the WJ, she can take her trio of all chocolate cakes.

 

We've been doing WJ for many years now instead of MDR. It use to be very empty at night, however, it has gotten very busy. I think more and more people just don't want to get dressed for dinner, and/or take two hours for dinner.

[Let'sGo!]

With the exception of one - possibly two - specialty restaurant nights, we too will be eating all of our dinner meals in the WJ on our Jewel cruise next year.

 

It's just so nice to have the great variety. We did that a couple of cruises ago and didn't even miss the MDR!

 

Ann

[Jimnbigd]

Freedom of the seas dinner buffet: