Food Request in the MDR

[DietCokeMommy]

I've read varying opinions here about asking the servers in the MDR for items that aren't exactly on the menu. I'm curious if I could ask for some plain iceberg lettuce and cucumbers? I'm guessing these are items they'll have on hand, and it's healthy stuff my picky kids are guaranteed to eat. But I'm not sure if this is an appropriate thing to ask the servers for, or if it's making them jump through hoops. Any thoughts?

 

[Marc D]

That is an easy request and it should be fulfilled without problem. To make it easier on them, you could meet with your head server before the first meal and ask for it In advance.

Cooked preparations not appearing anywhere else on the ship are something else and should only be requested out of necessity, like a special diet or medical condition.

 

[lklgoodman]

I would also think this would be easy for them to get for you. If not, they pretty much always have cucumbers on the salad bar at Cabanas. You could always get a small bowl and put in the fridge in your room. I can't remember if they usually have romaine or iceberg lettuce on the salad bar.

Several years ago my dd made a comment to me about not having any berries, she eats a lot of fruit at home. I told her we'd try to get some the next day at breakfast/lunch. Our servers weren't at our table at the time, but must have heard us because they brought her a bowl of different berries each night. Like you, I wasn't sure if it was something to ask for or not, so was really appreciative to receive it.

 

[daedelus]

Totally agree with both previous posters. The dining team will go out of their way to fulfill your request is it's possible. And I think your request for a basic salad would be pretty easy.

My son mentioned to the server one night that he really like the escargot appetizer one night. That's only served once (on shorter cruises). Yet every night, a plate of escargot would be brought out to him. He was in heaven!

Our server (who we've managed to get on several cruises) is from India and knows we love Indian cuisine. He owns a restaurant in India and got the OK from the chef to cook a couple of traditional dishes for us one night. Amazing!

Here's the crazy thing. DCL must have the Rolls-Royce of CRM systems, because that server REMEMBERED that my son loved escargot on our next cruise and did the same! I can only suppose that they made a note in computer system about that, or he has photographic memory!

Bottom line, talk to your head server or server when you get on board and they will certainly hook you up.

Cheers!

 

[Marc D]

My son mentioned to the server one night that he really like the escargot appetizer one night. That's only served once (on shorter cruises). Yet every night, a plate of escargot would be brought out to him. He was in heaven!

Here's the crazy thing. DCL must have the Rolls-Royce of CRM systems, because that server REMEMBERED that my son loved escargot on our next cruise and did the same! I can only suppose that they made a note in computer system about that, or he has photographic memory!

We also got escargots to share every night on our 12-nights BI cruise. That request is probably the easiest to fulfill since the plates are prepared onboard, frozen then reheated on request. The fact that they are on the menu in one of the MDRs or not that evening does not change much of anything. Unless the batch is not prepared correctly - it happened once where they were so salty they were inedible- they are the best escargots anywhere we’ve had, and we’ve had some all over France over the years.

As far as your server remembering your tastes, I don‘t think they have a CRM but just an excellent memory. Once, our previous server on Magic saw us from across the room, excused himself from his table, ran to come greet us and said to my wife, calling her by her first name : ‘you look wonderful ! You lost so much weight since last time!’ He was right on all counts even though our previous cruise with him was two years before. On a return trip to Fantasy, we requested a previous server. On the first night, there was an adult menu for my 6yo kid, a bottle of sparkling water opened on the table with lemons and no wine glasses when we arrived, all things we requested every night on the previous cruise. Some of them are just that good !

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

Our table mates on our 2008 Magic cruise asked our server for an item their daughter had on the previous night's dinning room. Anyone remember Wilson? His answer was no problem I can do that but it will be a bit because it needs to be brought up from that dinning room. Fast forward to our Wonder cruise. We asked for the same because our sons couldn't find anything appealing on the menu and we may as well asked our server and assistant server for their personal vital organs. We ended up ordering something they did not want or eat. We tried the MDR 2 nights later and even though we did not ask for a menu change we decided not to return to the MDR. Personally I think the server makes the experience. We have another Dream cruise coming up and we are hoping Barry from India is still on the ship and that we can request him.

 

[monkeydawn]

You might not get them the first night, although that's an easy enough of a request that I bet you could. However if you let them know you want them each night after, it should be no problem. If your kids like carrots I know they were no problem and offered every night in case the cucumbers arent available on night #1.