From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 5

[aan1701]

The amount DCL charge nobody should have to 'lower their expectations'. Good gracious.

I agree with you as well, but unfortunately DCL is going thru obvious growing pains that will be around for a bit. Like I said, I still think they are way better than the others even factoring innthe growing pains

 

[glindamood]

I agree with the 'growing pains' concept but somehow they should have been able to avoid some of it with longer training periods on ships that had passengers. I don't think I will get over the well done Beef Wellington - ever. It had the consistency of liver and it tasted like pot roast. Oddly enough, I like pot roast and liver but somehow or other, it was not right. And then the dining manager (someone NOT new) offering me a chicken breast (had I wanted chicken, I would have ordered chicken). In reflection, the food in that restaurant close to the whole cruise was 'off'. There is part of me that feels we paid a pretty high price to be guinea pigs!

On the other hand - I could pack up and be ready to go tomorrow (helps that I still have one suitcase not unpacked). It was awesome and everyone here made that so - from the FE's to the SM gifts and all the activities. It was so nice seeing familiar faces - well, except you. Alan. I am bummed that we didn't meet.

 

[granmaz]

I have only sailed on DCL so have nothing to compare it with, but some friends who have cruised other lines say some are excellent. I guess I will only know that when I try some!!

 

[valbob89]

I agree the food was not up to par. If I hadn't been on a TA I would have said it was because of the length of the cruise. One night Bob had duck and the meat was spoiled. We know the smell and taste of bad meat versus aged or wild and this was sour spoiled. I know Bob is very finicky and voices his displeasure when he doesn't like the spice or taste of something, but in this case he was right. I told them they needed to tell the kitchen so someone didn't get sick. The chef came out and said he would look into it but I just didn't think they took it serious enough. Of course they offered something else. One morning two cartoons of milk were bad, not expired and they didn't smell bad, just tasted horrible. This was up in the morning buffet. Bob ask for the officer and told them he was concerned. The officer looked at the cartoon, said it wasn't expired, smelled the milk, said it smelt ok, then tasted the milk and spit it out and agreed something was wrong with it. We saw them remove some cartoons but no one ever said anything.

My favorite place to get food was Goofy's Kitchen, with the yoguart in the morning and wraps in the afternoon. That says something about the food overall.

I know I'll hear cries of disbelief but we ate at Palo's twice for dinner and I felt it wasn't up to the normal standards. The steak was good, but the pizza, pasta and my favorite, the calamari were all disappointing.

I have never thought any cruise ship deserts were that good. I was talking with the pastry chef onboard the Magic once and he said the problem is due to the volume and need to make stuff that can sit out, they use nondairy whippings, not cream. They also don't use as much butter as would be needed to make highend pastry. They all look beautiful but the taste - not so much.
And speaking of butter - what's with the lard they put out to use on your bread? That stuff is bad.

I would like to have fewer choices done really well. I think it would make the dining experience better. They could publish the menu with the navagator and if you didn't like what they were serving at the main dining you would have the choice of going upstairs.

 

[aan1701]

Well looks like I am in disagreement about the food. I loved the food. Never did I have anything I dud not care for or tasted funny. The Brunch at Palo was amazing, and the Chicken Parm there was to die for. Now we did not do dinner as we did it once and was very underwlemed. Not that it wasn't good, just nit worth paying extra for. Glindamood, I too wish I got to meet people, but I was so busy hanging with my friends, or standing in line for pins, I hardly meet a handful of you.

 

[granmaz]

We found the food mixed really. But what is it with the butter? I think it is insulting when you pay the amount you do to sail DCL to be offered that rubbish margarine. John asked every time for butter. Of course our Assistant Server had it there every night after our first dinner, but it was such a pain at lunch and buffets. They were always willing to go look, and even go off downstairs, but how silly is that.

Now it was the same on the Magic, they changed to that stuff. I kept saying that the Europeans wouldn't put up with that when she went over for the Med cruises, and sure enough when we got onboard for the WBTA there was butter out all the time. It just should be standard.

 

[aan1701]

Again, I must be a weirdo or something. I had zero problems with the margarine.

 

[granmaz]

Well I must agree with you there Alan because that stuff is terrible. Now whilst you all accept it and don't complain then DCL will continue to offer it. Yuk.

 

[aan1701]

Well I must agree with you there Alan because that stuff is terrible. Now whilst you all accept it and don't complain then DCL will continue to offer it. Yuk.

What I am trying to say is I preferred it to the regular butter. I got nothing to complain about.

 

[TxMermaid1]

I received a reply from Disney concerning the letter I sent about some problems on our cruise. It was little more than a form letter.They thanked me for letting them know some of the problems etc. Did anyone else hear back from Disney?

I did..they sent me a 25% off of a future cruise coupon.

 

[granmaz]

What I am trying to say is I preferred it to the regular butter. I got nothing to complain about.

No, I got you. I was just thinking it is a shame you liked it and therefore didn't have need to complain.

 

[TxMermaid1]

Has anyone else not received their Photo DVD yet?

 

[aan1701]

No, I got you. I was just thinking it is a shame you liked it and therefore didn't have need to complain.

Alright, now we are on the same page. Sorry, I really did like it.

 

[ChipperMerlin]

Our family got to meet up with Shirley and Doug on Saturday evening for dinner at DGC. We had a nice evening and I was happy to see them again!

If anyone comes this way for Disneyland - let me know. Would love to meet up.

Doug & I were delighted to have dinner with Des, Richard & Tori. It was fun to get caught up on what's happening with everyone. Maybe we'll get together again in April. Goofprincess (Tony & Sandy) wants to come down for the MouseAdventure on April 10th. We want to play, too.

Tony & Sandy are coming over for dinner and cards this evening. We're all tired of rain - but aren't fussing a lot. At least we don't have to shovel it and we do need it. I'm making a BIG pot of chili.

Val, I really like what you did with your pins - gives me a good idea of what to do with mine. Perhaps I'll put the pins around the Panama Canal certificate.

Sorry to be away from the board for awhile - we've had some serious health issues to deal with. Fortunately, it's not related to the cruise, but I haven't felt like being on the computer. Things are looking up, though. We leave for WDW Thursday morning. I'm doing the 5K on Saturday, and we're both doing the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom that afternoon.

I will try to post my pix to SmugMug after we get back.
Shirley

 

[JimmyMartin]

What was the complaint about Clayton?

 

[aan1701]

What was the complaint about Clayton?

To put it simply, he provided very, very poor Disney Guest service. As a former CM I can say this. If you schedule two family things, the boat building contest and Friendship Rocks at the same time you do not tell a guest you must choose between entering and racing a boat you have worked on for two weeks or seeing your kid on stage. You tell that guest let me see what I can do for you. What Clayton did was completely inaporprate according to Disney Guest Service standards.

 

[KayR]

I did..they sent me a 25% off of a future cruise coupon.

That must have been a good letter - please share! I need to write to them too, just still catching up from the trip!

Doug & I were delighted to have dinner with Des, Richard & Tori. It was fun to get caught up on what's happening with everyone. Maybe we'll get together again in April. Goofprincess (Tony & Sandy) wants to come down for the MouseAdventure on April 10th. We want to play, too.

Tony & Sandy are coming over for dinner and cards this evening. We're all tired of rain - but aren't fussing a lot. At least we don't have to shovel it and we do need it. I'm making a BIG pot of chili.

Val, I really like what you did with your pins - gives me a good idea of what to do with mine. Perhaps I'll put the pins around the Panama Canal certificate.

Sorry to be away from the board for awhile - we've had some serious health issues to deal with. Fortunately, it's not related to the cruise, but I haven't felt like being on the computer. Things are looking up, though. We leave for WDW Thursday morning. I'm doing the 5K on Saturday, and we're both doing the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom that afternoon.

I will try to post my pix to SmugMug after we get back.
Shirley

Have fun in WDW - at least it will be much warmer. I looked at the forecast for there today and it is hanging around the 80s. Sure could use some of that warmth right now

-Kay

 

[aan1701]

I did not get 25% off with my reply. Please share what was said. I too am very courious.

 

[Shoshie]

Doug & I were delighted to have dinner with Des, Richard & Tori. It was fun to get caught up on what's happening with everyone. Maybe we'll get together again in April. Goofprincess (Tony & Sandy) wants to come down for the MouseAdventure on April 10th. We want to play, too.

Yay! We hope you guys all play (and that we get to see you!)! It's going to be an awesome game.

 

[LindaBabe]

SmugMug gallery has now been updated with Banana Bus; Wedding; Train & Boat excursion photos