Extra charge for ordering two entrees

[xiphoid76]

This is being tested on Holland American...I wonder how it will go. One thing I love about cruising is ordering two entrees - I typically don’t order an appetizer or dessert. I hope this does not become the norm.

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-adds-fee-for-second-entree-in-main-dining-room/

 

[dclpluto]

This is being tested on Holland American...I wonder how it will go. One thing I love about cruising is ordering two entrees - I typically don’t order an appetizer or dessert. I hope this does not become the norm.

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-adds-fee-for-second-entree-in-main-dining-room/

I agree with this a little bit some people just like to waste food. Sometimes the entrees are very small and I will get two but no food goes to waste. Than what if you don’t like your first entree. I been on dcl lots of times I know what to get and what not to get. It’s a shame people like to waste food.

 

[PhilipC]

I can't see DCL doing this. Apart from anything else, one of the key points that the dining staff keep mentioning is that if you don't like your entrée, you can change your mind and pick a different one. That is part of their "we'll do whatever we can to keep you happy" mantra.

For myself, I'm not an adventurous eater so I do use cruises as an opportunity to be a bit braver sometimes, safe in the knowledge that if I don't like what I've ordered, I *can* ask for something else.

 

[GoBlue99]

We just got back yesterday off the Fantasy and our waiter would sometimes encourage us to order two entrees. It was typically when they thought we might not like the entree we ordered, so they wanted us to have a back-up option.

 

[Numtini]

I've never ordered a second entree, but I have ordered things I might not have ordered if I didn't think I could get something else if I didn't like it.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I know the food waste on cruise ships is absolutely ridiculous, but I’m not sure charging for a second entree is the best way to combat it. I’m guessing this is a money saving/making move, but people will tolerate more in the name of reducing waste so that’s how it’s spun for PR.

I would think there’s more food waste at the buffet and room service. Even the new room service charges encourage people who are ordering to order a ton of food since the charge is there for one item or ten.

Cruise ship food is awful. I’ve ordered entrees that weren’t edible IMO and swapped. I’d be really annoyed to pay $10 or have to go to room service or quick serve place after dinner. I don’t know if they’ll let you swap for free if you don’t like it. This just seems more trouble than not.

 

[CamColt]

I have gotten a small portion of an entree as an appetizer/side when ordering another entree. I have also asked them to add some pasta with sauce to the app of eggplant rollatini (I forget what they call it on the ship) and made a meal out of that. It is great to have the flexibility to finagle different options. And it seems this is one of the things people love about cruising in general. When you talk to anyone about a cruise the first thing they bring up is the food!

 

[Dug720]

My server on the Wonder flat-out brought me two on the last night of my cruise last month. I did not even verbally ponder two but he brought them.

 

[Pens Fan]

I can't see Disney doing this, for reasons mentioned above. While I've never ordered a second entree myself, I've often received one when our server just brought something extra out without us asking for it. It really seems to just be part of the dining experience, and something they actually encourage. When our son was younger, a cruise was a great opportunity for him to try new foods as he could have simply gotten something else if he didn't like what he ordered.

 

[keighttf]

Even the new room service charges encourage people who are ordering to order a ton of food since the charge is there for one item or ten.

I know a bit off topic but I haven’t been on here much. Is DCL charging for room service?

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I know a bit off topic but I haven’t been on here much. Is DCL charging for room service?

No, most other mass market cruise lines do (for non-suite passengers) so I was just speaking generally.

 

[tinkerone]

On one of our cruises we were seated near a family of three, mom, dad and 6 or 7 year old. They ordered a meal for themselves and then one of everything on the menu. That was for every course. The waste was obvious and extreme. This happened three nights in a row and on the fourth night the head waiter came over and spoke with them. The serving team were there as well but stood to the side. Not sure what was said, it was discreet, but they didn't show up for dinner the following nights.
I get ordering extra, wanting to try a few new things, but they seemed the type who 'were going to get their monies worth'. If your going to eat it fine, if your going to look at it then just don't order.

 

[Starwind]

For myself, I'm not an adventurous eater so I do use cruises as an opportunity to be a bit braver sometimes, safe in the knowledge that if I don't like what I've ordered, I *can* ask for something else.

.

This. We have multiple food allergies and are also not adventurous eaters. We take advantage of our DCL cruises as a chance to order what we know we want and then, if something sounds interesting, we will order one of it and share it between us, each of us at least trying it [just one per meal, and maybe half the meals]. To be honest we usually discover it isn't something we will order again, but at lest we tried it !

One thing that does bother us with food on DCL is the portion sizes are large. We find that if we eat one of each course it is WAY too much food. We've asked if we could get smaller portions and been told no. So for dinner we usually skip the appetizers, get either a salad or a soup, have an entree with side, and usually have a dessert. For lunch we just get an entree with a side. Our servers think we're weird, but anything more is just way too much food.

SW

 

[Mitura]

Funny I just saw this article on line this morning and talked about it with the Mrs.

In all my years of cruising this was always one of the selling points of a cruise. No not the wasteful trend of ordering one of everything and taking Instagram pictures of the food. By trying out other types of food, or when two entrees were excellent, getting both. Our past Nov cruise we had a great Indian waiter (Jeffrey) and he let us try some Indian dishes that I thought were quite good, the kids though did not. Would I have ever ordered them?, no. Were they on the menu, nope. So I don't know remember how that happened. But even the head waiter came over and asked us how we like the "off the menu" offering. So I am glad for the "extra" taste testing. And at the table next to us a gentleman loved Lobster. He easily ate 3. No sides, no appetizers, just lobster.

I remember in the 90's we sailed Celebrity. One of our table mates did not like 3 main courses. The waiter has no problem with returning them and letting her try other dishes.

I could see this $10 policy backfiring not towards the Cruise line, but towards the server. "Sorry I can't get you another main course unless you pay $10." Being in the retail industry I usually get grief for a management decision that I have to carry out on their behalf.

Joe

 

[CamColt]

I could see this $10 policy backfiring not towards the Cruise line, but towards the server. "Sorry I can't get you another main course unless you pay $10." Being in the retail industry I usually get grief for a management decision that I have to carry out on their behalf.

Joe

Very good point!

 

[Bonnie1222]

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-adds-fee-for-second-entree-in-main-dining-room/

Have you seen this? What do you think? And how are they going to control buffets?

 

[dclpluto]

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-adds-fee-for-second-entree-in-main-dining-room/

Have you seen this? What do you think? And how are they going to control buffets?

Already a thread going on about this. No problem I’m sure you didn’t see it.

 

[cyclenut]

I still don't see the "other" thread.
This is just a pilot and only pertains to the main dining room entree.

 

[Stinkerbe11]

I have wondered how much less waste there would be if cruising were a la carte. Pay a lower rate for the cruise and then pay for food/drinks separately. It's unbelievable how much food I see left on plates! I bet if they charged for food, the reduced amount of waste would be substantial.

 

[Dug720]

I still don't see the "other" thread.
This is just a pilot and only pertains to the main dining room entree.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/extra-charge-for-ordering-two-entrees.3737562/