Food in Conceirge Lounge

[katmigordon]

I think it’s good to hear different perspectives. Would love to know what you didn’t enjoy about the Wonder.

To be fair in hindsight I think a lot of it could have been an issue with any ship. we haven't traveled in years and I hadn't realized how much my physical deteriation was going to factor into the trip, making us far more miserable than I would have been otherwise.

Our biggest issue seemed to revolve around food, we had a hard time getting our scheduale to work with non dinner dining times and dinners tended to be frequently bad. Our first server team was also very rude and dismissive.... to us. They seemed to be ok with our straight tablemates - specifically the male. More than once we had to ask him to make requests for us before they would get done. We would ask for a refill on drinks and wait all the way through the next course with no drinks - when he asked we had them within minutes. For one example. They talked quite a bit with the traditional couple at our table but barely nodded at us when we spoke to them. It was bad enough that our table mates noticed.

The turn around on back to back was awful - the port was freezing and there was no place for anyone to sit while we waited.

Getting off the ship was a wall to wall nightmare, and that was after staying to be one of the last people in the dining room for breakfast... so our normal trick of waiting until most folks had already departed failed us.

They gave our ecv key to the wrong people so when we first got on board we had to wait for hours to get my ecv, while they tried to tell us it hadn't been deliverd. This led to my wife and I not being able to do sail away together because while I grabbed a seat on deck, she was running around trying to resolve this issue.

The bathroom and shower were difficult for us to use with our physical issues and this led to having to shower in the spa showers that had a seat for me to use. Which led to some embarrising and difficult moments and one rather nasty run in with a very rude guest.

The whole ship was kept at freezing temps {for us, comfort level seemed to vary from guest to guest}

Because so much of the trip port days there was frequently nothing for us to do as we couldn't debark again, physical issues. And as we all know there is very little to do on board on port days. We fare much better on sea days.

The seas were roguher than anything we had experienced on a 3 - 5 day out of port canaveral, triggering my sea sickness.

They lost our pics with santa

Don't get me wrong - we had a lot of good moments too, but you asked about the bad ones.

 

[auntlynne]

If that were my experience, I wouldn’t have happy memories, either.

A HA room could solve the shower issues; a concierge room would not fix anything but possibly some off-time snacking.

 

[soniam]

First - Because we did a back to back on the same ship all the shows and such were doubled and I quickly found myself bored. With a 7 day on the fantasy it should be a long enough cruise without having to double up on everything.
Second - And this one is tottaly not the wonder's fault but it is tied up with the wonder in my mind - we'll get a handicap room and that will solve so many issues we had with our cabin last time. At our age we actually need the things offeed by an accesible room, and it will be nice not to have to park my ecv on a different floor.
Third - Pete seems to think the food on the Fantasy is better than the food on the Wonder.
Fourth - I can't help but wonder how much of our issues was caused by the San Diego pier just not being able to keep up with the port canveral one we're used to.
Fifth: I like artist pallate much better on the dream and fantasy
Sixth: Hopefully it will be warmer - we did winter in Mexico and I thought it would be fine but we were freezing the whole trip.
Seventh: It has an ice cream and candy shop
Eighth - more sea days

In the end this is us giving DCL one last chance because we used to be such big fans,

I think cruise food reviews from last year need to be ignored. We had better food on our June Wonder Alaska cruise than we had on our July 2022 Southern Caribbean Fantasy cruise. In fact, our 2 previous Fantasy cruises, pre-Covid, had better food than last July. I think last summer staff and supply issues were affecting the experience. Also, I felt the QS on Wonder in June was better than any QS on the Fantasy.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I think cruise food reviews from last year need to be ignored. We had better food on our June Wonder Alaska cruise than we had on our July 2022 Southern Caribbean Fantasy cruise. In fact, our 2 previous Fantasy cruises, pre-Covid, had better food than last July. I think last summer staff and supply issues were affecting the experience. Also, I felt the QS on Wonder in June was better than any QS on the Fantasy.

Agreed.

Plus so much of it is in eye of the reviewer- we’ve had the same thing on Dream/Fantasy/Magic that taste completely different each time and even food on the same ship 2 months later can taste different.. what I think is amazing my spouse found bland etc.

Plus I’d agree that Wish has the best deck food followed close by Magic/Wonder then Dream/Fantasy…

If you aren’t adapted to meals when the cruise says they are you have to adapt.

We are naturally early risers and so by the time Cabanas opens at 8 it’s 2.5 hours after we want breakfast- so we’ve adapted to ordering room service at 6 then Cabanas is second breakfast or early lunch which is our main meal-We’d absolutely love if we could eat dinner service at lunch time then snack for dinner as it’s what would be ideal but alas.. we typically only order appetizers or one course at dinner as we prefer to not eat so much that late.

 

[mamaburrito]

The food on DCL has always been meh in the main dining rooms. I have found that listening to server on recommendations has gotten better results in listening to the advice of the servers.

I liked the shawarma on the pool deck but know it’s not for everyone.

So sorry that your first set of servers treated you that way. Did you discuss with the head server or guest services. They need to be made aware so future guests aren’t treated that way.

I was on the NYE cruise on the wonder and yes, getting off the ship was a cluster. San Diego has never been organized or has the bells and whistles of the other ports. I hope in the future they invest in their facilities.

 

[katmigordon]

I liked the shawarma on the pool deck but know it’s not for everyone.

So sorry that your first set of servers treated you that way. Did you discuss with the head server or guest services. They need to be made aware so future guests aren’t treated that way.

I was on the NYE cruise on the wonder and yes, getting off the ship was a cluster. San Diego has never been organized or has the bells and whistles of the other ports. I hope in the future they invest in their facilities.

I think we have so much access to solid real (Non americanized) greek food that we're really picky when it comes to shawarma.

We didn't want to get them in trouble, but we did change over to a different serving team led by a server we met during one of the lunches we did manage. She was fantastic - but the first experience on top of everything else just left a really bad taste in our mouth. Ok call it what it was, my wife didn't want to get them in trouble and shut me down when I tried to explain the issue - prefering to say we just met a better server.

 

[mamaburrito]

think we have so much access to solid real (Non americanized) greek food that we're really picky when it comes to shawarma.

Same here but it’s still pretty tasty. And I don’t know why but I find something magical in Disney’s chicken tenders.

Did you try room service at all?

I wouldn’t think of it as trying to get anyone in trouble but as avoiding someone else going through the same experience. They would be getting themselves in trouble for their actions.

 

[katmigordon]

Did you try room service at all?

I wouldn’t think of it as trying to get anyone in trouble but as avoiding someone else going through the same experience. They would be getting themselves in trouble for their actions.

We did get cookies and milk delivered.

I tend to agree with you, but it wasn't worth fighting with my wife over or making her feel bad.

 

[shananigans]

We like to sail concierge - but for the perks of earlier boarding and disembarking. The lounge snacks aren’t much - tiny plates at best. They do change every 3 hours I believe. Lots of drink options and a nice quiet spot away from everything else.

We decided on less cruises per year and to just sail concierge once a year instead. I’d echo what others said about deck food - Dream & Fantasy seriously lack anything of merit. Wonder was fabulous. We’re sailing the Magic in Sept, so I’ll be able to comment more on her offerings then. We don’t sail the Wish until January - but we are very excited to do so!

 

[mousefan73]

Honestly it seems eating and food is such a large factor in your vacationing so I wonder if DCL is the right fit for you. DCL does somewhat restrict eating vs other lines. No buffet for dinner, lack of other options besides MDR and pool deck.. Take a look at Royal or other mega ships lines.. Here you have sweet shops, ice cream shops, specialty dining galore (fancy and casual) AND buffets open bascially all day. Believe me you won't go hungry... spending concierge money I have a feeling won't quench your thirst (or hunger)

 

[mamaburrito]

Virgin looks like an awesome cruise line too.

 

[auntlynne]

Virgin looks like an awesome cruise line too.

Your idea is what I thought of when @mousefan73 suggested picking a different line that could offer better food. The reviews of their food options sound wonderful.

 

[RedHead0186]

Is there a flat rate mandantory tip?

No. Tipping for room service is by cash (at least that's the only way I'm aware of), so you're in total control of how much you want to tip.

 

[Karin1984]

we haven't traveled in years and I hadn't realized how much my physical deteriation was going to factor into the trip, making us far more miserable than I would have been otherwise.

Our biggest issue seemed to revolve around food, we had a hard time getting our scheduale to work with non dinner dining times and dinners tended to be frequently bad.

Maybe knowing now how your physical condition impacts your travelling, you will be able to improve to make your schedule work on the next cruise? Maybe by taking more time to rest? So you will be able to make it to breakfast and lunch.

Taste in food is so incredibly personal, and depends what you are used to at home. A lot of people rave about the food in the main dining restaurants, others think it's so-so and others think it's bad. A different ship might not make a big difference.

And yes, I agree with the others. If food is important, there are better cruiselines out there. There are plenty where they have sit down restaurants and/or buffets open for the entire day.

(And always speak up when a server who is getting paid to be friendly to you and is ignoring you/ is rude to you, otherwise you are frustrated for the entire cruise and they will treat the next couple just like they did to you)