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What have we been missing at the Windjammer??


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Always loved the Windjammer but my goodness, it's just a cesspool of bacteria in there. If you ever catch a cold/flu on a cruise, that's where it came from. I'm saddened, actually, because I used to have better meals in the WJ than in the MDR. I just can't go in there without getting sick. Wash your hands when you go in, wash your hands after touching a serving spoon, then sit down and touch the bottom of your chair seat to slide it in at the table and you're done. How often do you think they clean that area on a chair? I'm guessing, never.

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15 minutes ago, rusty nut said:

 Wash your hands when you go in, wash your hands after touching a serving spoon, then sit down and touch the bottom of your chair seat to slide it in at the table and you're done. How often do you think they clean that area on a chair? I'm guessing, never.

You could say the same about the MDR. I am more careful in WJ.  If you use utensils for everything you should be good. Pro tip:  If you pick up bread to eat it, pick it up in the same spot, then don't eat that last part. 😉

 

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What have I been missing in the WJ?  I found out last night.  On the Anthem now, eat mainly in Coastal Kitchen with friends.  After another blah menu, and admitting I am a picky eater, I didn’t order from the menu and told our waiter I’d be going to the WJ to bring back my food.  I wandered and wandered in the WJ.  Told you, I’m picky.  
 

A chef saw me, approached me and asked if he could help me find something.  I felt weirded out a bit at the attention but eventually he talked me into a pasta stir fry.  He remained there while the guy frying it up added this and that at our request.  He showed up in Coastal later to make sure I was enjoying my pasta.  
 

Finally, I think what I’ve been missing all along in the WJ is a Windjammer Chef Concierge!  
 

His name is Hemmet. 
  

Edited by CruiseKeeper
A shout out where due.
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They had "Theme" nights in the Windjammer on the Freedom.

There's a sign as you enter showing the theme...Italian, Indian, Caribbean, etc.

Just our opinion, but there were a few nights we skipped the MDR...food in the Windjammer was better.

 

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Funny you should ask.  We've always done MDR.  I like that as part of the cruise experience. Get to know other folks. Enjoy being served once in a while, etc.. But we've had a night or two where the food didn't interest us. So we tried WJ. WOW!  Like everyone else has said, themes, some of the same choices, some more.  Now hubby wants to do this more than MDR. Hmm.   First world problems.
Erika

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Thanks for all the replies and like others we enjoy the MDR experience especially when we tell them we have plans so they move things along faster.  But after many cruises I think we will try or at least take a look at the Windjammer more often.

 

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Me and DW where on the Indy last summer around the Med (14 nights) and after a very busy cruise and a lot of ports we decided to miss the last night in the MDR and go to the WJ to just chill not dress up and meet my parents a bit later. WOW, they had lobsters, in fact every kind of shell fish and lots more to boot. Maybe they where just getting rid of everything before the next cruise I don't know but it was well worth going. I do love eating in the MDR, meeting people and socialising but it is nice sometimes to just chill. We are on Anthem in November for the transatlantic and cannot wait to get aboard.

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20 hours ago, rusty nut said:

then sit down and touch the bottom of your chair seat to slide it in at the table and you're done. How often do you think they clean that area on a chair? I'm guessing, never.

 

How often do you clean that area of the chairs in your home?

 

 

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I am not a fan of the Windjammer and avoid it on most cruises.  I’ve been bumped into and almost tripped more times than I can imagine. I’ve also seen too many people touching food and dropping serving spoons and putting them back for the next passenger to use  I’d much rather order off a menu and have someone serve me.  I also find the food in the MDR great (usually).  I understand that many like the Windjammer but I’m just sharing my opinion.  

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2 hours ago, SRF said:

 

How often do you clean that area of the chairs in your home?

 

 

In my home, I'm not touching vile serving spoons that breed bacteria and that hundreds of people, many of them sick have touched.

Edited by rusty nut
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I use utensils to eat everything . 

Don't eat anything with my fingers , to avoid germs .

If you ever see anyone eating a muffin with knife and fork ... that's me .

Don't eat bread and if I get a slice of pizza , I hold it by the crust and then pitch the crust .

But if you are like me and touch your face a lot , you may get sick .

The dining room is probably a more germ free invironment .

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I really enjoy it after a port day. I'm usually snacking/eating in the port and for dinner I can make a really big salad with all of my pickings and choosing from the different stations. I like to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that so the WJ works for me, also enjoy it more as a solo cruiser than the MDR.

 

Another yummy is the Solarium Bistro. Sort of a combo of the WJ with the appetizers and dessert take what you want and the MDR with dinner being served to you. Nice and light selections.

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We have given up on the MDR and do half specialty nights and half WJ. The food is fresher in the WJ, you can get grilled to order fish, chicken or steaks, they have theme nights and the desserts are much better than the MDR. The ambience is quieter than lunch or breakfast and if you go after 7 pm it's generally 3/4 empty. 

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On 1/14/2020 at 10:39 AM, marci22 said:

You could say the same about the MDR. I am more careful in WJ.  If you use utensils for everything you should be good. Pro tip:  If you pick up bread to eat it, pick it up in the same spot, then don't eat that last part. 😉

 

That's why miner's wives would roll a little tab on the corner of a Cornish Pasty when they sent their husbands down into the dirty pit mines with lunch!

 

Eat down to the last piece and toss the corner!

 

pasty.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by BillHoo
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On our last Anthem cruise to Bermuda, we generally like the WJ, but ate a lot of dinner meals in the MDR.

 

I did feel disappointed on a shore day when we came back after stuffing ourselves on land at some great seafood restaurants to find the WJ had put out a Jamaican themed lunch.  My family is Chinese-Jamaican and we found the dishes they presented had all the local flavors, but were kicked up a notch with better quality and presentation.

 

I'll have to check out the WJ on shore days when we do Grandeur this fall.

 

 

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17 hours ago, rusty nut said:

In my home, I'm not touching vile serving spoons that breed bacteria and that hundreds of people, many of them sick have touched.

 

And you ALWAYS wash your hands when you come into your house before you sit down?

 

Oh, and you NEVER get sick and touch your chairs while you are sick?

 

 

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19 hours ago, sellwingri said:

I’ve also seen too many people touching food and dropping serving spoons and putting them back for the next passenger to use  I’d much rather order off a menu and have someone serve me.  I also find the food in the MDR great (usually).  I understand that many like the Windjammer but I’m just sharing my opinion.  

 

If you see that happening, TELL SOMEONE.  They will remove the serving spoon or the whole pan of food. 

 

Last cruise, I saw a lady use her finger to wipe off the serving utensil from serving a piece of cake.  I told the attendant, who did nothing, so I told some officers nearby.  Before I could finish telling them, they took off at a dead run.  They removed the cake, all the serving utensils, and the container with water used to keep them clean.

 

And are you sure nobody touches your plate or food when it is served to you?

 

And really, how many people get sick on a cruise?

 

BTW, if you really afraid of germs, don't breathe.  You would be amazed at what is in the air.

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4 hours ago, SRF said:

 

If you see that happening, TELL SOMEONE.  They will remove the serving spoon or the whole pan of food. 

 

Last cruise, I saw a lady use her finger to wipe off the serving utensil from serving a piece of cake.  I told the attendant, who did nothing, so I told some officers nearby.  Before I could finish telling them, they took off at a dead run.  They removed the cake, all the serving utensils, and the container with water used to keep them clean.

 

And are you sure nobody touches your plate or food when it is served to you?

 

And really, how many people get sick on a cruise?

 

BTW, if you really afraid of germs, don't breathe.  You would be amazed at what is in the air.

Tons of people get sick on a cruise. Here's a challenge for you. get a seat in the Winjammer, anywhere is fine, and just observe. You will see plenty of sick people sneezing, coughing, sniffling, hacking and wiping their noses. Watch as those same people touch all the serving utensils, which sit in a warm, bacteria breeding environment. You will see dozens of people within minutes doing this. Now imagine this going on for an hour, or more. 

Like I said, I love the WJ and I am truly saddened that I can't go in there without being extraordinarily careful. The sanitary prep and avoidance is just too much for me. I believe that most passengers that get sick on a cruise, get it from the buffet. 

Edited by rusty nut
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3 hours ago, Canmilitarywife said:

Yes he is, 37 years this Aug. 

Congratulations.  I was only 2 years at Gagetown before my knees blew up.  Can I assume he knows the perks with luggage on Air Canada and Via Rail?  

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