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Dynamic Dining - 8 days on Quantum shows Royal could learn a lot from Norwegian

Mattsudds

By Mattsudds,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Mattsudds

Mattsudds

Posted
Posted

I'm just off the 8 night 23 Nov maiden trip. I won't post a full review because others have done that already, with great pictures. But I will make a couple of observations.

 

Firstly the ship really is lovely. She feels like the most spacious RCCL ship yet, outside the dining rooms. The blue hull and the wow features really are superb. I loved 270 which I think must surely be a candidate for the best public room ever to put to sea, and makes up for the loss of the Viking Crown Lounge for me.

 

Secondly the entertainment. In a word, top notch and challenging the boundaries of what has been done before. Sonic Odyssey is a very innovative show, and the music contains something for everyone. Starwater was an amazing fusion of people, space and technology, although that said, I could take or leave the actual show which felt a bit slow and drawn out to me.

 

The ship is a great sea keeper in my view. We had very rough seas out of New York but she handled them superbly. I watched a large car carrier sail near us that first day and compared to her, we seemed to be gliding through a pond.

 

Dynamic Dining - I get the idea. And there are certainly merits in dining in a more intimate setting, with waiters expert in that particular menu, matching drinks and the chance to rotate around. I also get that the big banquet meals with strangers is a huge factor in putting off the new to cruise market, so a company looking to expand will find such a step inevitable. But, for me the RCCL implementation just is not good enough yet. It is probably heresy to say it, but I think RCCL should send some staff on the Norwegian Beakaway and Getaway, together with their interior architects, to learn how it is done properly. Here are some of the ways I think Norwegian do it better.

1) Outside every 'complimentary' dining room (please can we banish that phrase and replace it with 'included') there are chairs and usually a bar. On Quantum, the only thing outside each restaurant is a corridor. There is nowhere nearby to wait, no adjacent bar to have a pre meal drink in.

2) Separate the with and without reservations lines. If I have reserved a table should I really have to line up to check in, then line up separately to 'wait' for the table, all the while in a long line of those without reservations.

3) Deal better with people who's table isn't ready. NCL give you a buzzer and in some cases a drinks voucher if your table isn't ready when you show up. Quantum gives you an arm wave to stand against the wall out of the way.

4) Make spontaneity possible. NCL use their big display screens to show restaurant availability. On Quantum you have to join the queue before you find out a place is full. I know Royal IQ is meant to let you do this, but so far forget it.

5) Make reservations easier - I know this is being done. I love the idea of the Royal IQ, and the sense that you will be able to see real time restaurant availability. But for most of this past cruise it just didn't work, either on my own devices or the ships. On NCL, the big screens in corridors also have a card reader and let you make reservations there and then.

6) Have some 'dish of the day' in at least some restaurants. On NCL, the 3 main 'complimentary' dining rooms have a combination of daily changes and regulars. I expected to see some rotation on Quantum but if there was any I didn't find it. Perhaps that is inevitable because I did not dine anywhere twice and only checked the menus online.

7) Deal better with those wanting something simple. There always used to be a kind of always available menu - something like chicken, strip steak, salmon and pasta with shrimp cocktail and Caesar to start. I thought there was this on Quantum but no matter who I asked in the restaurants they said no, there was the Dynamic menu or the kids menu. And I made a point of asking for the always available or simple tastes menu and even highlighting the things that used to be on it, so the staff I dealt with could be in no doubt what I meant even if I got the name wrong. I hope an equivalent of always available still exists, but if it does the staff need better training.

8) Please please do not let staff give the 'comment card' speech every meal. It is the part of the cruise I most loathe, being told how to fill in a comment card, and now it happened to me every single dinner in the Dynamic restaurants. It really is not the way I want to end my dinner.

 

I know at least one improvement is coming in Dynamic Dining, when the IT works properly. Apparently the waiters will be able to record your preferences in their tablets and software, and those will be attached to you wherever you dine. Thus if you always have something specific at each meal, they should be eventually able to know in advance even if you are in a different Dynamic restaurant. That should provide some comfort to those who miss getting to know a waiter personally.

 

One question I have in my mind is whethher part of the pressure to book and what felt like a lack of flexibility this past week is down to numbers. Quantum can seat approximately 1600 in the 4 main Dynnamic restaurants. This is about 1/3rd of the passenger total. On previous generations of ships, the Main Dining Room was designed to take 1/2 the passengers at a time so that in 2 sittings all would be done. The Coastal Kitchen, with 128 seats for suite guests, isn't enough to make up the difference.

 

Some other observations on the Quantum dining. The Windjammer is the best yet. It still puzzles me why other lines haven't copied RCCL and Celebrity for their outstanding buffet layout and choices. The bakery is a very fine addition to the offerings.

 

Do not miss Wonderland - creative and fun, really well worth booking in advance.

 

Devinly Decadence - for me please bring back the Solarium Bistro. I dined there on Oasis in September and it was great. I found the Devinly food much more obviously 'diet', stripped back food and really bland and rather tasteless - I would not dine there again.

 

I know it is early days for Quantum. I have every confidence that when they eventually get the IT fully working, it will be superb, apart from my niggling worry about whether the dining room capacity will be sufficient. I assume that Royal IQ will one day have the full daily programme, and allow booking of things like North Star and Ripcord slots and this will certainly help eliminate more lines.

 

One final point - I was expecting more 'fuss' for the inaugural, based on experience on Oasis at least.

 

In case you were wondering about whether I have enough experience to comment, I am Diamond with Royal and Equivalent with several other lines. This was my third RCCL trip this year, and it is 9 months since my last Norwegian trip (I mention just because of the comparison I used).

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yj2cute

yj2cute

Posted
Posted

Thank you for you well written points. I have to agree with all of them. I enjoy the Dynamic Dining concept but feel the menus are entirely too limited. Already I'm worried about how to plan for a 12 night sailing. I just don't see enough options that I'll enjoy and don't want to be forced to pay for specialty dining. Since the dismemberment of American Icon Grill's menu it leaves a lot to be desired and I really don't look forward to much on that menu.

 

Hopefully Royal with implement some of these changes.

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Elizanessie

Elizanessie

Posted
Posted (edited)

7) Deal better with those wanting something simple. There always used to be a kind of always available menu - something like chicken, strip steak, salmon and pasta with shrimp cocktail and Caesar to start. I thought there was this on Quantum but no matter who I asked in the restaurants they said no, there was the Dynamic menu or the kids menu. And I made a point of asking for the always available or simple tastes menu and even highlighting the things that used to be on it, so the staff I dealt with could be in no doubt what I meant even if I got the name wrong. I hope an equivalent of always available still exists, but if it does the staff need better training.

 

There is a simple tastes menu...ok let me re-phrase that...there is meant to be a simple tastes menu on Quantum.

 

Hmm the Simple Tastes Menu file is not working. Will try again.

 

I was assured by Chic Restaurant Manager while on the 11/2 Maiden Voyage that there is an alternative/simple tastes menu after I was told by a waiter that no there was not one.

 

When I explained to the waiter in Chic that Adam Goldstein had said in his QN reveals and QN chats that there would be one, (and it was in the FAQs etc)....the reply from the waiter was "Adam Goldstein is wrong" :eek:

 

The Chic Manager said he would be giving all his restaurant staff further training but alas it doesn't appear this has happened. :(

Edited by Elizanessie
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heatherb1958

heatherb1958

Posted
Posted

Agree completely having separate lines for guests with or without reservations. After all they do that for MTD on the other ships.

 

The ship has been sailing now for 31 nights with revenue and non revenue guests. I would have thought the bedding in for Dynamic Dining would be sorted by now:(

I wonder how many crew have resigned.

I know of crew who definitely were not expecting to be on Quantum, so feel for them.

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greygoose66

greygoose66

Posted
Posted

Paying for specialty dining keeps the lines/reservations in check. Norwegian has this down to a science. Just back from the Thanksgiving NCL Breakaway trip. I will say it was exciting to finally see Quantum up close at the sailaway and then again at Nassau. The ship looks gorgeous. Those I spoke with were giving less than stellar reviews though. From dynamic dining complaints to value and "wow for the dollar". I feel Royal is pricing themselves out of a competative marketplace. We usually sail with Royal and are 3 days shy of Diamond.... even with discounts etc... NCL was a better value. Quantum was going to cost us almost 8000.00 for two adjoining balcony staterooms (family of 4) Beverage package for all (age appropriate 2 adult 2 child). Ncl Breakaway was just shy of 4000.00 for the same plus the Dining package for all. I was ahead by almost 4000.00.... half price. I must say the food on Breakaway was excellent and put to shame dining on the Explorer from previos cruises. Maybe the new ship curiosity will let it sail full for a while, but if the "bugs" aren't worked out soon I think more customers will start to pursue other options. Yes I am one of the curious and will be sailing on QotS early next year, but I must say NCL gave my family a Lot of Entertainment & Value for the dollar and has opened our eyes to the other offerings. We were Super Loyal to Royal, but now Royal is just another option.

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Dave85

Dave85

Posted
Posted (edited)
Paying for specialty dining keeps the lines/reservations in check. Norwegian has this down to a science. Just back from the Thanksgiving NCL Breakaway trip. I will say it was exciting to finally see Quantum up close at the sailaway and then again at Nassau. The ship looks gorgeous. Those I spoke with were giving less than stellar reviews though. From dynamic dining complaints to value and "wow for the dollar". I feel Royal is pricing themselves out of a competative marketplace. We usually sail with Royal and are 3 days shy of Diamond.... even with discounts etc... NCL was a better value. Quantum was going to cost us almost 8000.00 for two adjoining balcony staterooms (family of 4) Beverage package for all (age appropriate 2 adult 2 child). Ncl Breakaway was just shy of 4000.00 for the same plus the Dining package for all. I was ahead by almost 4000.00.... half price. I must say the food on Breakaway was excellent and put to shame dining on the Explorer from previos cruises. Maybe the new ship curiosity will let it sail full for a while, but if the "bugs" aren't worked out soon I think more customers will start to pursue other options. Yes I am one of the curious and will be sailing on QotS early next year, but I must say NCL gave my family a Lot of Entertainment & Value for the dollar and has opened our eyes to the other offerings. We were Super Loyal to Royal, but now Royal is just another option.

 

Greygoose, we were on Breakaway's 11/9 sailing and felt the exact same way. We are Diamond on RCI, that was our first experience with NCL, and we were so surprised and impressed at the NCL product. The entertainment was top notch and we actually had more fun on the Breakaway than we had on our last RCI cruise on the Allure, which was positively stunning -- I never expected that. It's also worth noting that we had none of the little annoying Guest Services issues that we've had on other recent cruises. None. My only trip to Guest Services was to pay down some of my bill with cash won in the casino :D. The Freestyle Dining system on board proved to be a well-oiled machine that enabled spontaneity and provided options. It was actually harder to get a seat in a pay venue than an included venue, contrary to what I'd been told to expect.

 

Bottom line is RCI has some serious competition, and it will only grow stiffer as NCL releases its next round of Quantum-sized new builds starting late next year. Was the Breakaway perfect? No, of course not, and there are still things RCI does better... but my view is RCI needs to continue to earn my business each time I step on board next year, and if they don't I know now that I have an attractive alternative. I'm not concerned at all as an RCI fan about the tech-y issues on Quantum, those will be resolved. I'm much more concerned about the more systemic problems people are reporting -- diminished entertainment, the OP's note about the awkward setup for guests waiting for restaurants, etc.

Edited by Dave85
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babygirl722

babygirl722

Posted
Posted

Thanks for your review. We are due to sail on QOS on 2/13/15 after our last 8 sailings on NCL. We were on the Breakaway last Thanksgiving and then again for Feb break and have fallen in love with her and Freestyle Dining. I'm hoping that some of the kinks are out of the system by then to make for a much better experience.

 

Found the pricing on this ship to be better than the Breakaway for Feb break sailing!

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seeshore

seeshore

Posted
Posted
There is a simple tastes menu...ok let me re-phrase that...there is meant to be a simple tastes menu on Quantum.

 

Hmm the Simple Tastes Menu file is not working. Will try again.

 

I was assured by Chic Restaurant Manager while on the 11/2 Maiden Voyage that there is an alternative/simple tastes menu after I was told by a waiter that no there was not one.

 

When I explained to the waiter in Chic that Adam Goldstein had said in his QN reveals and QN chats that there would be one, (and it was in the FAQs etc)....the reply from the waiter was "Adam Goldstein is wrong" :eek:

 

The Chic Manager said he would be giving all his restaurant staff further training but alas it doesn't appear this has happened. :(

 

I did a "Simple Tastes" experiment every night that we dined in one of the 4 included restaurants. Here's my experience...

 

Silk-adamantly told by the person who seated us and also our waiter that there was no such menu and looked at me like I was crazy and not deserving of their time. I asked for the head waiter and lo and behold received the Simple Tastes menu. He then asked me what my specific dietary needs were. Told him it was personal that there were things I could eat and those I could not. He did not need to know that I'm undergoing chemo. He couldn't do enough for us after that whereas we could tell our waiter was pissed for getting his supervisor involved.

 

Chic-I asked for the menu, waiter looked at me like I was nuts told me no and then looked at my husband for help when I insisted that he get me the menu. Told him to get the head waiter and the menu appeared.

 

American Icon-asked waiter for menu, he said no such thing. I said get the head waiter. Menu appeared.

 

The Grande-server actually knew about the menu but said it has the same items as the regular menu. Wrong..sides and sauces are different.

 

Why should we we have to through that aggravation just to get something that we know is available? Wait staff is poorly trained.

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Dave85

Dave85

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Posted (edited)

Why should we we have to through that aggravation just to get something that we know is available? Wait staff is poorly trained.

 

 

Sheesh, that's absurd. Ultimately a failure of senior management on the ship.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Edited by Dave85
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boscobeans

boscobeans

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Posted
How can fettuccini not have Alfredo sauce/?

 

 

 

Just order the pasta plain with a little olive oil (if they can use butter instead it would be best).

Add a few extra pats of butter (enough to make it quite juicy) then pour on the grated cheese.

 

This is how it was originally made in Italy.

 

bosco

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Maraprince

Maraprince

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Greygoose, we were on Breakaway's 11/9 sailing and felt the exact same way. We are Diamond on RCI, that was our first experience with NCL, and we were so surprised and impressed at the NCL product. The entertainment was top notch and we actually had more fun on the Breakaway than we had on our last RCI cruise on the Allure, which was positively stunning -- I never expected that. It's also worth noting that we had none of the little annoying Guest Services issues that we've had on other recent cruises. None. My only trip to Guest Services was to pay down some of my bill with cash won in the casino :D. The Freestyle Dining system on board proved to be a well-oiled machine that enabled spontaneity and provided options. It was actually harder to get a seat in a pay venue than an included venue, contrary to what I'd been told to expect.

 

Bottom line is RCI has some serious competition, and it will only grow stiffer as NCL releases its next round of Quantum-sized new builds starting late next year. Was the Breakaway perfect? No, of course not, and there are still things RCI does better... but my view is RCI needs to continue to earn my business each time I step on board next year, and if they don't I know now that I have an attractive alternative. I'm not concerned at all as an RCI fan about the tech-y issues on Quantum, those will be resolved. I'm much more concerned about the more systemic problems people are reporting -- diminished entertainment, the OP's note about the awkward setup for guests waiting for restaurants, etc.

 

 

NCL's beeper system allows you to comfortably wait until your table is ready without creating a "hostile" atmosphere for those waiting and prevents the crowding issues outside the restaurants. Not to have 2 lines for those with reservations vs. non reservations is just another irratation adding stress to the staff. Looks like RCCL needs to send everyone including their Chairman to the Disney school to learn how to do crowd control and keep passengers happy/amused while they wait.

 

MARAPRINCE

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