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[George C]

12 hours ago, clo said:

He was on Bill Maher and I also heard him on NPR (Fresh Air I believe).  He has changed A LOT.  For the better.

Agree I am not a fan of Stern, but we love Bill Maher, went to a Bill Maher show at a casino in Oklahoma a hour from our house, we see a few shows every year there , but on his show we had to go thru a metal detector, never needed to do that for any other shows.

[ducklite]

1 hour ago, George C said:

Agree I am not a fan of Stern, but we love Bill Maher, went to a Bill Maher show at a casino in Oklahoma a hour from our house, we see a few shows every year there , but on his show we had to go thru a metal detector, never needed to do that for any other shows.

You'll see it more and more at all types of shows moving forward.  It's been a requirement at most concerts for a good 10-15+ years now.

[Cruzaholic41]

The best meals I’ve had on a cruise were on Viking Ocean. The worst I’ve had by far and most consistent is NCL. 

[lenquixote66]

3 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

The best meals I’ve had on a cruise were on Viking Ocean. The worst I’ve had by far and most consistent is NCL. 

I am going on an NCL cruise Saturday.Could you have waited till Sunday to post this ,LOL

[Hlitner]

On 10/13/2019 at 3:59 PM, lenquixote66 said:

I believe that the perception is that if you are on a cruise the food will be better than your local restaurant.

If only that were true.  There are no mass market MDRs that serve food we would buy in a restaurant.  Some of the alternatives rise to a restaurant level but others would not get our business on land.  Our favorite mass market alternative restaurant is Celebrity's Murano.  Probably our least favorite is Celebrity's Tuscan.  As to HAL's Pinnacle, we would not be willing to pay anything for that food/service on land if it were dinner.  But the Pinnacle's lunch (when they have it) is darn good.  As to Princess, their Crown Grill is better then the Pinnacle (on HAL) but still not quite up to restaurant quality.  None of the Italian restaurants on any of the mass market lines is good, and would not get our business on land.

 

Hank

[ducklite]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

If only that were true.  There are no mass market MDRs that serve food we would buy in a restaurant.  Some of the alternatives rise to a restaurant level but others would not get our business on land.  Our favorite mass market alternative restaurant is Celebrity's Murano.  Probably our least favorite is Celebrity's Tuscan.  As to HAL's Pinnacle, we would not be willing to pay anything for that food/service on land if it were dinner.  But the Pinnacle's lunch (when they have it) is darn good.  As to Princess, their Crown Grill is better then the Pinnacle (on HAL) but still not quite up to restaurant quality.  None of the Italian restaurants on any of the mass market lines is good, and would not get our business on land.

 

Hank

Actually DCL's Italian restaurant Palo is very good.  

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, ducklite said:

Actually DCL's Italian restaurant Palo is very good.  

Will take you word for that one :).  We have never cruised on DCL because we tend to take far longer itineraries.  But with two young Grandchildren it could be in our future.

 

Hank

[SantaFeFan]

2 hours ago, ducklite said:

Actually DCL's Italian restaurant Palo is very good.  

 

I second that.

 

The best meal and most personalized service we have received on a cruise was in Palo on Disney Magic. We enjoyed it so much we dined there twice on that 7 day cruise. Besides the excellent menu items, our waiter made suggestions and offered special items not on the menu. The head chef would even come out to each table to ask about preferences and special foods that diners might want to try. They encouraged us to try different items, and gave no expectations that we finish anything they brought. It was nice sampling several items we would not normally order. 

 

This was a decade ago, but it sure made a great impression. 

[cruisemom42]

Is there anyone who can compare Palo (Disney) with Sabatini (the specialty Italian restaurant on Princess)?

[SantaFeFan]

44 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Is there anyone who can compare Palo (Disney) with Sabatini (the specialty Italian restaurant on Princess)?

 

Palo is much, much better. From my experience on Crown Princess, Sabatini is not much better than Olive Garden. Palo stood out for their selection, quality, ambiance and service. No comparison at all. Palo wins hands down. 

[cruisemom42]

2 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Palo is much, much better. From my experience on Crown Princess, Sabatini is not much better than Olive Garden. Palo stood out for their selection, quality, ambiance and service. No comparison at all. Palo wins hands down. 

 

Thanks, I was just curious -- I wasn't impressed with Sabatini. Don't foresee a Disney Cruise in my future though. 

[clo]

14 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Don't foresee a Disney Cruise in my future though. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  I don't suppose they have a child-free ship, do they?  LOL.

[SRQbeachgirl]

I have to admit that one of the best things I have had at sea is the made-to-order huevos rancheros at Blue Iguana on Carnival. Definitely a stand-out item.

[DarrenM]

I forgot about this. One of the worst things I tasted on Celebrity edge was from the buffet. I was wandering through on one my many explorations of the ship and noticed they had what I think they called cheese cake lolly pops. In also sorts of neon colours. I took one of each colour and sampled them all. I never went back for more of them.

Edited October 16, 2019 by DarrenM

[Hlitner]

This thread has caused me to think about all of our cruising over more than 42 years of extensive cruising.  Out of more then 1200 dinners on ships, there is one particular "Starter" that jumps out.  It was on the then, new, Azamara Journey.  We met friends for dinner in Aqualina, which was one of their two alternative restaurants. My friends insisted I order the "Seafood Cocktail" which I assumed would be the typical shrimp cocktail with a few pieces of fish.  What I got was a large serving platter which was completely full of shaved ice which had been perfectly sculpted.  Indented in the ice where several jumbo shrimp, clams, oysters on the half shell, mussels, and a large lobster tail.   The presentation was truly magnificent and could have been the cover of Bon Appeitit and all the mollusks were delicious.  

 

Hank

[DarrenM]

13 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

This thread has caused me to think about all of our cruising over more than 42 years of extensive cruising.  Out of more then 1200 dinners on ships, there is one particular "Starter" that jumps out.  It was on the then, new, Azamara Journey.  We met friends for dinner in Aqualina, which was one of their two alternative restaurants. My friends insisted I order the "Seafood Cocktail" which I assumed would be the typical shrimp cocktail with a few pieces of fish.  What I got was a large serving platter which was completely full of shaved ice which had been perfectly sculpted.  Indented in the ice where several jumbo shrimp, clams, oysters on the half shell, mussels, and a large lobster tail.   The presentation was truly magnificent and could have been the cover of Bon Appeitit and all the mollusks were delicious.  

 

Hank

That sounds incredible.

[navybankerteacher]

4 hours ago, DarrenM said:

I forgot about this. One of the worst things I tasted on Celebrity edge was from the buffet. I was wandering through on one my many explorations of the ship and noticed they had what I think they called cheese cake lolly pops. In also sorts of neon colours. I took one of each colour and sampled them all. I never went back for more of them.

That seems to be uniform across mass market cruise lines - those cases filled with gaudily colored, whipped lard dessert confections.  Why can’t they just put out some slices of chocolate layer cake?

[DarrenM]

23 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

That seems to be uniform across mass market cruise lines - those cases filled with gaudily colored, whipped lard dessert confections.  Why can’t they just put out some slices of chocolate layer cake?

Actually makes me feel quite sick thinking of them now and as you say all of their gaudy colours.

 

The whole presentation looks a lot more appetizing than the taste. And once you realise it doesnt taste that great, it no longer looks that good.

[lenquixote66]

12 hours ago, clo said:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  I don't suppose they have a child-free ship, do they?  LOL.

There are cruises guaranteed to not have kids,just not Disney

[cruisemom42]

13 hours ago, clo said:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  I don't suppose they have a child-free ship, do they?  LOL.

 

It's not particularly the kids. I have to admit I've never been a big fan of Disney's whole experience of manufactured fun in their parks. I'd rather visit the real Paris or London than the sanitized EPCOT versions, and find Disney staff in their parks to be almost Stepford-like in their uniform cheeriness and helpfulness.

 

I've never been on a Disney cruise but have often wondered if they are the same, e.g., more of a 'Disney interpretation' of classic cruising than actual classic cruising. 

 

[Cruzaholic41]

I forgot about that seafood cocktail on Azamara. I agree it was quite impressive. 

[George C]

14 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Palo is much, much better. From my experience on Crown Princess, Sabatini is not much better than Olive Garden. Palo stood out for their selection, quality, ambiance and service. No comparison at all. Palo wins hands down. 

When I first did Sabatinis it was very nice this was about 15 years ago but did not care for visits after that, same goes for rccl Giovanni’s really liked that 7 or so years ago but last few visits were pretty bad and I am very particular about Italian food coming from a NYC Italian family.  About twenty years ago my wife wanted to try Olive Garden, I took about two bites of lasagna and I wouldn’t eat another , they asked me what was wrong I said it wasn’t Italian food, have not returned.

[clo]

55 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

It's not particularly the kids. I have to admit I've never been a big fan of Disney's whole experience of manufactured fun in their parks. I'd rather visit the real Paris or London than the sanitized EPCOT versions, and find Disney staff in their parks to be almost Stepford-like in their uniform cheeriness and helpfulness.

 

I've never been on a Disney cruise but have often wondered if they are the same, e.g., more of a 'Disney interpretation' of classic cruising than actual classic cruising. 

 

I've never been to a Disney 'property' either and have no desire and for the same reasons.

[George C]

2 minutes ago, clo said:

I've never been to a Disney 'property' either and have no desire and for the same reasons.

Totally agree , I do not understand why adults would want to visit , not nearly enough bars.

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

It's not particularly the kids. I have to admit I've never been a big fan of Disney's whole experience of manufactured fun in their parks. I'd rather visit the real Paris or London than the sanitized EPCOT versions, and find Disney staff in their parks to be almost Stepford-like in their uniform cheeriness and helpfulness.

 

I've never been on a Disney cruise but have often wondered if they are the same, e.g., more of a 'Disney interpretation' of classic cruising than actual classic cruising. 

 

 

If you are looking for classic cruising I would say not Disney.  They clearly are delivering the Disney experience.  

 

Anyway, I agree that Disney is no substitute for the real Paris, but I can still enjoy the magical kingdom.