Embarkation Lunch - Where do you go?

[Geomom]

What is the favorite to order from the MDR embarkation lunch menu? Cruising soon and would love to try it this time

The beef empanada is tasty! I've done that and the leek and potato soup for a meal and dessert. Both carrot cake and the sundae. I got the muffuletta sandwich last time.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

What is the favorite to order from the MDR embarkation lunch menu? Cruising soon and would love to try it this time

I order the seafood and chicken gumbo starter, followed by the grilled salmon salad. I enjoy the seafood on board. DW always has the sliced roasted beef sirloin, no starter at lunch for her.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Can't believe no one has mentioned the Welcome Aboard Sundae! If you want that then you have to do sit-down lunch.

Oh wow, we’ve never seen this! Something “new” for us to look out for.

 

[Louise97]

We do the MDR lunch so we can relax. Last time I just wanted a light lunch so just had the chicken caesar salad and wasn't planning to have a dessert, but DH wanted the Welcome Aboard sundae. Our server asked if I wanted a Mickey bar, and I think that might become a new tradition!

 

[Halfbrit]

My wife is gluten intolerant so Cabanas is the only realistic option on day one. The kids like Cabanas too as it's a bit of a ritual to go there on day 1.

After that you can pre order gluten free options for the restaurant lunches for the following days at your evening MDR so we do that, and the kids do Cabanas or one of the pool deck takeaways/room service for their lunches.

 

[sadiecatie]

The beef empanada is tasty! I've done that and the leek and potato soup for a meal and dessert. Both carrot cake and the sundae. I got the muffuletta sandwich last time.

This is what I do as well - empanada and leek and potato soup plus dessert. I usually don’t want a big entree (and actually there are dinners where I just want a few appetizers instead of an entree), so this works well for me.

 

[lizzyb]

Cabanas.. I like a quick easy lunch.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We've done concierge lunch once, and the regular MDR lunch once, mostly to avoid the chaos/crowds and because we bring our own carryons onboard instead of checking them at the terminal. But I think we'll try either Marceline Market or the pool deck options next time. The entrees were incredibly mediocre and it felt like the service was really slow, my food was cold when it was served. Hoping with an early enough PAT, the buffet won't be too crazy. Maybe we'll just check our bags even though we usually just bring one carryon per person.

 

[magsnwonderland]

We’ve done both, but prefer the buffet since it takes less time, the kids get antsy and we like the variety of food options better than the sit down lunch menu

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

What is the favorite to order from the MDR embarkation lunch menu? Cruising soon and would love to try it this time

I skip the appetizers and soup and go straight to entrees.

1st cruise I had
Pennette Pasta

2nd cruise I had
Muffulette Sandwich
Kids Chicken Tenders

Carrot cake

I didnt really like the Muffulette Sandwich, but loved the other two.

 

[Dfoerch]

Does anyone know if you can go to MDR on embankment day to just get the ‘Welcome Aboard Sundae’? If so, I was planning on eating at Marceline’s Market, but wanted to try that Sundae.

 

[OKW Lover]

Does anyone know if you can go to MDR on embankment day to just get the ‘Welcome Aboard Sundae’? If so, I was planning on eating at Marceline’s Market, but wanted to try that Sundae.

They will serve you whatever you want to order in the MDR.

 

[Amunet]

Usually MDR because I always have carry luggage with me and its a pain navigating a buffet with that. My upcoming cruise it will depend upon my PAT though as I will want to explore the ship more.

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

We usually go to the MDR, but when we did a back-to-back, we went to the buffet on the second leg. Since we had no carry-on at that time, it was easy.

 

[Girl of the South]

Sailing solo, it's too hard to manage the buffet and my carry on bags . . . so I go to the MDR. Usually share a table as it goes quicker. Once I shared with a Support Dog who sat on my feet. Never saw him again on the ship, though, even though we became "close" during lunch. Sigh.

 

[Dug720]

Sailing solo, it's too hard to manage the buffet and my carry on bags . . . so I go to the MDR. Usually share a table as it goes quicker. Once I shared with a Support Dog who sat on my feet. Never saw him again on the ship, though, even though we became "close" during lunch. Sigh.

I was thinking about doing the MDR since I'm solo and yeah - it's tough navigating the buffet with carry-ons. But not if it's sharing tables. Ew. No thank you. (I get that you sometimes have to at dinner - but that's not a choice really (unless you want to do super early pool deck food or room service or try to get into the adult-only restaurants each night) so I tolerate it if there's no other option. But to willingly choose to eat there having to share? Nope!)

 

[Girl of the South]

I struck up conversations while in line and I was hungry and I suggested we share a table. I am sure if I held out for a private table, I could eat alone. It was only an hour. I didn’t mind. For dinners, I agree. I much prefer my own table.

 

[Flossbolna]

I was thinking about doing the MDR since I'm solo and yeah - it's tough navigating the buffet with carry-ons. But not if it's sharing tables. Ew. No thank you. (I get that you sometimes have to at dinner - but that's not a choice really (unless you want to do super early pool deck food or room service or try to get into the adult-only restaurants each night) so I tolerate it if there's no other option. But to willingly choose to eat there having to share? Nope!)

I think it depends on how crowded the MDR is. On our EBTA it seemed like everyone went there and we ended up being placed at a table with random people in line before us. We figured we would survive one meal having to share. By luck these were great people - we ended up having lunch with them several times during the cruise and even are still in touch after the cruise. But it could also have been really awkward, I get your point. They did give us the option when checking in to wait for a private table. On both our Med and our Alaska cruise getting a private table was no issue and AP was half empty anyway. You could always go and see how busy it is and if they can give you a private table. If not, Cabanas is just an elevator ride away.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Our preference is to actually eat early lunch at a restaurant before we board ... so around 11 or 11:30 we're eating, then we're at port sometime around 1pm when the crowds are thinned out and it's open boarding. In the best case, we've been able to board and go straight to the room so we can drop off our carry-on things.