The new lunch menu

[OzKiwiJJ]

10 hours ago, VaCruzers said:

We typically don't go to MDR for lunch, but based on my recollection, this menu has more items for lunch that past menus had. I can't imagine cancelling a cruise over a menu, especially since there are so many other options than the MDR, but different people prioritize differently. 

 

The problem seems to be that this menu stays the same every day, except for maybe one or two items. Past menus were smaller but the whole menu changed every day with a repeat factor of around 14 days on longer cruises.

[DallasGuy75219]

11 hours ago, Paula_MacFan said:

Is this it? Not sure about rotating items.  It was posted on another thread from a few weeks ago.   

We were on Regal last week but didn't eat in the MDR.  

 

8 appetizers and 13 mains, with 2 of them rotating, makes OP's complaint look a bit petty.

[homedepot124]

We are currently on Emerald and we had Pub Lunch in the MDR today.

[roomba920]

This would only apply to me during Sea Days, as I love to try the local food at visiting ports.

Edited February 5 by roomba920

[cr8tiv1]

When did this all change?  I was on the Caribbean Princess late October 2023 and they had a different lunch menu every sea day.

[mevs904]

We have never been impressed with MDR lunches and don’t care for dinner type selections at noon time so we usually go to the sandwich and salad sections of the buffet and are very happy.  We also enjoy lunch at Alfredo’s/Gigi’s.  We find both the menu and the atmosphere in the dining rooms to be uninteresting.  If we can get a sandwich or salad at a table where we can look outside we’re happy.

[cruise_critical]

On my recent Royal cruise, embarkation lunch was nice, but other days weren't that great tbh. (we had reserved class dining as well). So we had lunch mostly at Ocean Terrace and Alfredos. (had Premier)

 

It would be nice if Princess opened Crown Grill and Sabatinis for Lunch like what RCCL does with Jamie's Italian and Chops Grill on sea days, with a cheaper upcharge and smaller menu. But yeah, maybe they think it won't be that popular?

 

I was on RCCL Quantum last week and Jamie's Italian was packed nearly every sea day lunch. But Chops Grill was mostly empty. Having a celebrity chef name does help for sure I think.

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

6 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

8 appetizers and 13 mains, with 2 of them rotating, makes OP's complaint look a bit petty.

It depends on what you like to eat. If you're happy to have a burger or hot dog for lunch every day you'd probably be happy. Personally I would find that menu very boring as only four of the appetisers tempt me and none of the mains - yet I never had any trouble finding choices to enjoy from the old menus. 

[coo359a2]

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

When did this all change?  I was on the Caribbean Princess late October 2023 and they had a different lunch menu every sea day.

We were on the Grand Princess last Oct/Nov and they had the new menus.  

[JF - retired RRT]

17 hours ago, victory2020 said:

Have the desserts been downgraded also?

Yes. Smaller and not as many choices IMHO.

[JF - retired RRT]

16 hours ago, TrixieBel said:

I work in an office in a city. There’s the same choice of places to get my lunch from every single work day and I tend to get similar things to eat each day. How is that any different? For breakfast at home I have 3 standard breakfasts. I don’t really expect anything more when on a cruise ship. And looking at the lunch menu now shared  on this thread, it looks like it would provide enough choice for me. 
 

it’s sad to see someone cancel a whole cruise based on this. But variety (in people) is the spice of our world.

I repeat...that wasn't the only reason. I just threw that comment in. My point was that the lunch menu is not to my liking and expectations for Princess.

[homedepot124]

The new lunch menu is a real first world problem.  Everything on the new MDR lunch menu is better than a sandwich and an apple in the breakroom at work.

[beshears]

As LAcruiser88 said, WHY go to the SAME place every day for lunch. To me, there are plenty of options to choose from.

[Coral]

29 minutes ago, beshears said:

As LAcruiser88 said, WHY go to the SAME place every day for lunch. To me, there are plenty of options to choose from.

It depends on what ship you are on and how long your cruise is.

 

If you are on a 7 night cruise on a newer ship, it probably isn't a problem. If you are on a longer cruise with more sea days and on a ship with out many other restaurants, it would be a bigger deal. Not all ships are a like.

Edited February 6 by Coral

[dmwnc1959]

3 hours ago, Coral said:

It depends on what ship you are on and how long your cruise is.

 

If you are on a 7 night cruise on a newer ship, it probably isn't a problem. If you are on a longer cruise with more sea days and on a ship with out many other restaurants, it would be a bigger deal. Not all ships are a like.

i.e. Coral Princess. I’m booked on a 16-night SF-FLL Panama Cruise and the seemingly lack of options is almost a make-or-break decision maker when compared to Norwegian Jade. I’m hoping that somehow in the upcoming dry dock they do anything to add another option. 🥸

[dmwnc1959]

4 hours ago, beshears said:

As LAcruiser88 said, WHY go to the SAME place every day for lunch. To me, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Maybe if you are looking at one of the newer Royal-class or the Sun Princess. Coral Princess has a LOT fewer options, and the International Café is the size of a postage stamp. 😳

[PacnGoNow]

22 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

Maybe if you are looking at one of the newer Royal-class or the Sun Princess. Coral Princess has a LOT fewer options, and the International Café is the size of a postage stamp. 😳

It is quaint though!😂

[dmwnc1959]

21 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

It is quaint though!😂

And I really LOVE that about Coral Princess. I’m getting to the point where I’ve had my fill of big ships and big crowds. The smaller passenger capacity and numerous public spaces, wide open wrap-around promenade deck with those amazing padded steamer chairs, and the fact that it can transit the Panama Canal using the old locks are all a huge plus. The only thing IMHO that it lacks is maybe one more causal dining option, or a more expansive International Café (that’s not back-to-back with a casino. 😁

[memoak]

57 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

i.e. Coral Princess. I’m booked on a 16-night SF-FLL Panama Cruise and the seemingly lack of options is almost a make-or-break decision maker when compared to Norwegian Jade. I’m hoping that somehow in the upcoming dry dock they do anything to add another option. 🥸

I am not aware of any space on the Coral that could be repurposed to a dining venue 

[ChristopherTracy]

22 hours ago, homedepot124 said:

The new lunch menu is a real first world problem.  Everything on the new MDR lunch menu is better than a sandwich and an apple in the breakroom at work.

Absolutely. Though for those of us who work in cities like London we totally miss the global choice when we are on ships that are have very Western-heavy menus. At least P&O for all of its faults has The Quays casual dining where you can always get some ramen or a katsu curry etc etc

[kirtihk]

On 2/4/2024 at 3:33 PM, TrixieBel said:

I work in an office in a city. There’s the same choice of places to get my lunch from every single work day and I tend to get similar things to eat each day. How is that any different? For breakfast at home I have 3 standard breakfasts. I don’t really expect anything more when on a cruise ship. And looking at the lunch menu now shared  on this thread, it looks like it would provide enough choice for me. 
 

it’s sad to see someone cancel a whole cruise based on this. But variety (in people) is the spice of our world.

The intension (and expectation for that matter) of cruising to have something totally different (including food experience) than in a regular life for many reasons (one of them a financial aspect - spending much more than in home daily routine).  Otherwise, why to bother to travel?

[dmwnc1959]

Just now, memoak said:

I am not aware of any space on the Coral that could be repurposed to a dining venue 

I had commented in another post that gutting the Wedding Chapel and Fine Arts Gallery then expanding Sabatini’s to include a permanent Alfredo’s might be hugely popular. 

[PacnGoNow]

11 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

I had commented in another post that gutting the Wedding Chapel and Fine Arts Gallery then expanding Sabatini’s to include a permanent Alfredo’s might be hugely popular. 

The shops of Princess right across from the casino could be integrated in the huge area of the Shops of Princess on the same deck.  This is a odd area to have one big store.  

Would be nice to have more seating for the IC there or an Alfredo’s.  

 

Dreaming..,
 

 

[dmwnc1959]

2 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

The shops of Princess right across from the casino could be integrated in the huge area of the Shops of Princess on the same deck.  This is a odd area to have one big store.  

Would be nice to have more seating for the IC there or an Alfredo’s.  

 

Dreaming..,
 

 

Something really needs to be done with the IC on Coral Princess. A new (surcharge?) lunch option would be a huge improvement over a burger counter. Even installing a Gelato would be an in-demand revenue provider, and then entice more people to go with the Princess Premiere package.
 

If the main dining room service is going to continue to be slow with a limited lunch menu, a ship like Coral Princess needs more options. 

[BamaVol]

I don’t think the menu would be a deal breaker for me. But I understand that some will be disappointed, especially on a very long trip. We average one MDR lunch per cruise so far on two Princess cruises totaling 17 days.