Dining room lunch menu on embarkation

[IECalCruiser]

So, I am not scheduled to board the Crown next Saturday until 1:30 pm, but on other cruise lines we have been able to board much earlier. We plan to arrive about 11 am based on some posts I have read on here and are hoping to have lunch in the MDR. Do you think this will work out?

The 1:30 time is more of a suggestion. Unless there have been Noro problems or another significant issue, check-in starts between 10:30 and 11:00 and first boarding starts around noon. Your plan sounds good. We target a 10:30 arrival because we can wait in the Elite Lounge after check-in. Edited July 14, 2015 by IECalCruiser

[Colo Cruiser]

So, I am not scheduled to board the Crown next Saturday until 1:30 pm, but on other cruise lines we have been able to board much earlier. We plan to arrive about 11 am based on some posts I have read on here and are hoping to have lunch in the MDR. Do you think this will work out?

 

 

 

If you get there early you should have no issue getting to the DR by 1:30.

Boarding starts around Noon. ;)

[JF - retired RRT]

You could order a burger or a veggie burger. You can order a plate of fries separately--a huge pile of them.

If you like veggie burgers...be aware that if it is the same one that they serve at the burger/hot dog place, it is horrible.

80 or 90% potatoes, falls apart and doesn't taste good at all (YMMV)

[JF - retired RRT]

-Avocado & Shrimp Appetizer- offered in MDR after boarding (12-1:30). I would Love that. Thanks MilliesMom [emoji4]! This is my 1st time on a Princess Cruise and am hoping we get onto the Crown Early enough to invade the MDR!!

If you don't have preferred boarding status and have a friend who would like to see the ship, you can book a BVE for the friend.

Depending on: are you leaving out of LA, is the Crown hosting a BVE that day.

BVEs cost $39pp (applied to your fare if you book a cruise w/in 90 days). The BVE board before everyone else (that would be your friend and YOU) except for wedding parties and get a boarding picture for everyone in the group, all the food you can eat in approx. 4 hours, glass of wine w/MDR lunch.

Check here: http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk//showthread.php?t=2125034 to see if your sailing has one.

[Colo Cruiser]

If you like veggie burgers...be aware that if it is the same one that they serve at the burger/hot dog place, it is horrible.

80 or 90% potatoes, falls apart and doesn't taste good at all (YMMV)

 

I would have to agree with that. :(

[jeaniust]

If you don't have preferred boarding status and have a friend who would like to see the ship, you can book a BVE for the friend.

Depending on: are you leaving out of LA, is the Crown hosting a BVE that day.

BVEs cost $39pp (applied to your fare if you book a cruise w/in 90 days). The BVE board before everyone else (that would be your friend and YOU) except for wedding parties and get a boarding picture for everyone in the group, all the food you can eat in approx. 4 hours, glass of wine w/MDR lunch.

Check here: http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk//showthread.php?t=2125034 to see if your sailing has one.

 

 

 

Couple question about the BVE - the friends that one book the BVE for...are they escorted around by Princess personnel and have to be certain places at certain times? Or can you take them around yourself after you board with them? And when you say board before everyone else what time is it usually? We will be on the Ruby on Sept 25th.

 

Lastly...the $39/pp cost that can be applied to a future booking...is that usable for my friends only or can I use it if I'm paying for their BVE?

 

Thank you so much!!

[Working 2 Cruise]

Couple question about the BVE - the friends that one book the BVE for...are they escorted around by Princess personnel and have to be certain places at certain times? Or can you take them around yourself after you board with them? And when you say board before everyone else what time is it usually? We will be on the Ruby on Sept 25th.

 

Lastly...the $39/pp cost that can be applied to a future booking...is that usable for my friends only or can I use it if I'm paying for their BVE?

 

Thank you so much!!

 

You can walk around the ship by yourselves and have a nice lunch...

 

No, you cannot use the $39 credit for yourself. It's for your friends only.

[Colo Cruiser]

Couple question about the BVE - the friends that one book the BVE for...are they escorted around by Princess personnel and have to be certain places at certain times? Or can you take them around yourself after you board with them? And when you say board before everyone else what time is it usually? We will be on the Ruby on Sept 25th.

 

Lastly...the $39/pp cost that can be applied to a future booking...is that usable for my friends only or can I use it if I'm paying for their BVE?

 

Thank you so much!!

 

 

Yes they can walk around without an escort.

 

Its just like buying an FCC it goes to the person named, not the person that purchased it. ;)

[mcgratru]

Hint....don't be dissuaded by the numerous staff who will try to direct you to the buffet. On Crown in July even the agent at checkin mentioned it (we didn't ask one person, they just kept telling us to go to the buffet once onboard). We got to the dining room and once again were asked if we were looking for the buffet. I said "No, we are looking for the dining room lunch that is open until 1:30" (it was then 12:15) and then they led us right in but if I had not sailed Princess before and known about it, I certainly would have ended up in the long, long, long buffet line.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hint....don't be dissuaded by the numerous staff who will try to direct you to the buffet. On Crown in July even the agent at checkin mentioned it (we didn't ask one person, they just kept telling us to go to the buffet once onboard). We got to the dining room and once again were asked if we were looking for the buffet. I said "No, we are looking for the dining room lunch that is open until 1:30" (it was then 12:15) and then they led us right in but if I had not sailed Princess before and known about it, I certainly would have ended up in the long, long, long buffet line.

 

 

BVE participants are supposed to eat the lunch in the DR.

Of course they don't have to but they do get their wine with lunch. ;)

[laughing husky]

Ask if it Alaskan Wild Salmon....If it is not wild, it is farmed....(the only other kind) and definitely not good for you....

 

Wild Farm-Raised

Nutrition Higher Ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 Fatty Acides Lower levels of protein and much fattier

PCBs Low levels 8 times as many PCBs

Coloration Naturally orange or red because of diet Given pigments to turn color of salmon from natural white

Disease Contain low amounts of contaminations High levels of disease,pesticides and given large amounts of antibiotics

Environmental Populations killed off by escaped farmed fish Excess waste and disease harm natural eco-system

Price Slightly higher price Cheaper because already in nets

 

I have to admit bias......I am Alaskan......:)

[Nancyquilts]

Ask if it Alaskan Wild Salmon....If it is not wild, it is farmed....(the only other kind) and definitely not good for you....

 

Wild Farm-Raised

Nutrition Higher Ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 Fatty Acides Lower levels of protein and much fattier

PCBs Low levels 8 times as many PCBs

Coloration Naturally orange or red because of diet Given pigments to turn color of salmon from natural white

Disease Contain low amounts of contaminations High levels of disease,pesticides and given large amounts of antibiotics

Environmental Populations killed off by escaped farmed fish Excess waste and disease harm natural eco-system

Price Slightly higher price Cheaper because already in nets

 

I have to admit bias......I am Alaskan......:)

 

Don't think they have Copper River red salmon.:(

[abbydancer2003]

I believe the menu differences are whether or not the ship is offering BVE. If they are, you get the London Broil menu, and if not the other one.

[emmak8]

Love wild salmon, but pretty sure the ship uses farm raised. But let's skip right to dessert. On embarkation day , my favorite lunch MDR dessert is the souffle! It's always on the first day menu. Great with vanilla sauce.

[Colo Cruiser]

I don't care where the salmon comes from! Its always excellent! :D

[sherryf]

[quote name='abbydancer']I believe the menu differences are whether or not the ship is offering BVE. If they are, you get the London Broil menu, and if not the other one.[/QUOTE]

Not so. There was a BVE on our most recent cruise (saw people with stickers) and we did not have the London Broil menu. We had the same menu we have always had, which I posted about a year ago on this thread.

[msmoger]

[quote name='Colo Cruiser']I don't care where the salmon comes from! Its always excellent! :D[/QUOTE]

Totally agree!! :D

[abbydancer2003]

[quote name='sherryf']Not so. There was a BVE on our most recent cruise (saw people with stickers) and we did not have the London Broil menu. We had the same menu we have always had, which I posted about a year ago on this thread.[/QUOTE]

Oh - Ok - every one I'd been on, the London Broil menu was only offered with BVE, but maybe it's something else. It could also be that the vast majority of my recent cruise have been Coastals where they offer BVE. (And our recent Alaska cruise we got there too late for lunch).

[dcdisney]

We had the menu posted above. As another person mentioned the dining room did not have many staff working and even with maybe 4 tables occupied they were totally overwhelmed. The staff were brand new and/or new to their positions so they were very confused too. I'm guessing it was new staff in the kitchen too as the food just wasn't up to the same standard as our other meals. The souffle was superb though. Having it to do over again we all agreed that we should have eaten by the pool and had dessert at the IC.

[Colo Cruiser]

[quote name='dcdisney']We had the menu posted above. As another person mentioned the dining room did not have many staff working and even with maybe 4 tables occupied they were totally overwhelmed. The staff were brand new and/or new to their positions so they were very confused too. I'm guessing it was new staff in the kitchen too as the food just wasn't up to the same standard as our other meals. The souffle was superb though. Having it to do over again we all agreed that we should have eaten by the pool and had dessert at the IC.[/QUOTE]


Thats too bad you had that experience.
We go there everytime and love the relaxed atmosphere.
I have never seen them overwhelmed with an embarkation lunch.
What ship was that?