Just off Dream... Disappointed....

[Yokelridesagain]

We cruise June 2011 with a mostly vegan eater in our group. She did tell them before she boarded the ship that she was vegan. She got special menu with every meal. She was really shocked. I was even jealous of her choices. For breakfast they made her a egg burritto whenever she wanted. It came with eggs, cilantro, black beans and other yummy stuff. It looked so good.

OK, that does sound pretty good but it's not vegan! Vegans don't eat eggs.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

To OP--I'm totally with you that the food on DCL is not good, even by mass produced standards, and unfortunately if you did eat seafood, red meat or chicken it wouldn't help much.

But I think you have to understand, there's a limited number of things the kitchen can prepare when they're trying to serve a couple thousand people. Realistically, they're not going to make more than 2 vegetarian entrees out of 8-10, and the strict vegetarians aren't going to be happy if the only thing for them is a plate of roasted vegetables--in fact, in settings like this I find that often the vegetarian entrees are among the best choices as the planners go out of their way to make sure there's something tasty for them. And it's hard to see them being likely to design a non-veggie dish that fits your unique set of preferences.

Can you give a few examples of the kinds of dishes that make you happy on RCL? (For example, were you looking for a simple pasta with tomato sauce, etc)?

 

[newbydisney]

...and the food was so bad the frst night in Enchanted Garden I was truly scared the next night. However I knew one of the head servers and would have raised the roof if it had been bad again....it was not..it was actually quite good. We also were only on a 3 niter. The mushroom Risotto for me was not good. However, I am a mushroom Risotto snob and I admit it. I simply sent it back and got something else that was good. The Beef and Lamb which I usually shy away from were quite good. The mushroom pasta thing that everyone seems to love I thought was just OK..but I am also a pasta snob. IMHO most of the desserts were cheaply made and with lots of sugar but I shouldn't eat them anyway so I was not overly concerned. I did have a couple things that were outstanding and a couple things that were quite bad.....but you know there are always chicken strips and really I could eat those for 3 days 3 times a day...and I am a chicken strip snob as well. You cannot possibly go hungry on a Disney Ship but admittedly you may get several things that you do not like, and admittedly it may take more than one 3 day cruise to discover the things you do like. Cookies...I never found them til about the 3rd cruise....kinda wish I had never found them....!

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Cookies...I never found them til about the 3rd cruise....kinda wish I had never found them....!

I shouldn't ask but where can these hard to find cookies be found? Cookies are my favorite food group and I would hate to miss them.

 

[chateau]

To the Original Poster. Please do not let this first experience taint your experience. People on the board are passionate. And you seem like the type of person that may be a little shy at saying something negative to someone. If you do indeed decide to travel Disney again, please ask to speak with the Head Server. They will do everything you need to make your experience the best it can be. I was not too terribly talkative the first cruise and was disappointed as well. But the second cruise I knew it was OK to speak with them and no one would get in trouble. That is what they are there for. It's not a problem at all.

Happy sailing everyone.

You're very kind.

 

[Tinkerbell139]

I shouldn't ask but where can these hard to find cookies be found? Cookies are my favorite food group and I would hate to miss them.

Room service, for one!!!

 

[acourtwdw]

I have done several 3 night cruises on DCL other lengths as well. I have found the crew less willing to help on the shorter cruises than the 7+ nights. In 09' my dad wanted a hamburger for dinner when we were in Parrot Cay. I asked the server and was told no that he couldn't have that. I left the dining room, went up to the pool deck and got him a burger. It was the last night as well. I was surpised by the fact that we were told no, esp. since it was on the kids menu that night.

So I understand where the OP is coming from....

 

[chateau]

Some think OP is a troll.... anyone ever look up the definition? I had to when I first heard the term. Best way to not give a troll what they are trying to accomplish would be 1) don't get into heated debate 2) don't identify one as such. Answer the post as if it were perfectly legit, being kind, respectful, and honest.... what could you lose by doing that?

I don't want to believe OP is a troll so I'll comment to the experince as such. Sorry your experience was bad. I, too, did not know the ins and outs of DCL on first sailing, and though I'd eat some of the things you do not, I do have preferences- I prefer barbeqe to gourmet, I prefer buffets to served meals. If my available options were limited to, say, Victoria & Alberts (at WDW- super gourmet), I'd likely be dissatisfied too. Just find your options and learn for next time.... then (.hopefully) enjoy!

 

[jdb in AZ]

I have done several 3 night cruises on DCL other lengths as well. I have found the crew less willing to help on the shorter cruises than the 7+ nights. In 09' my dad wanted a hamburger for dinner when we were in Parrot Cay. I asked the server and was told no that he couldn't have that. I left the dining room, went up to the pool deck and got him a burger. It was the last night as well. I was surpised by the fact that we were told no, esp. since it was on the kids menu that night.

So I understand where the OP is coming from....

That's odd. If the waiter refused to bring something that was on the kids' menu I would have asked for the head waiter so he could bring your dad a hamburger. Either the waiter would have suddenly decided it was do-able, or the head waiter would have made sure the waiter knew it was do-able.

 

[CandyMandy]

So what DO you eat? Every night there are appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts on the menu. There is a "light" menu with chicken on it. You can order anything without the sauce or plain. I'm sorry you were disappointed but I find it hard to believe out of a 4 course menu all you could find to eat is soup.

Excuse me, but in defense of the OP they were speaking with something that many, many here do not have, ergo, extensive experience on another cruise line.

Just because DCL offers a "lot" of food or some flexibility on how some of it is served does not mean it is necessarily of the same quality or breadth as those with specific or seasoned tastes expect and receive from some competitors.

I can't speak for RCI, but in addition to DCL I have sailed on Holland American, Celebrity, Cunard, Princess, Carnival and Norwegian. In my opinion the dining on the first four listed is significantly better than DCL (Celebrity in particular, it is in a class of its own) and on the last two roughly equivalent.

So the opinion of the OP does certainly not surprise me.

Or put another way, as good as DCL is, those that only sail that line often don't realize what they are missing. Things like truly fine and flexible dining, quality live music, world class spa services and off the beaten path itineraries.

Of course, some here may try to retort with "yeah, and no casinos."

And in response I say, "yes and what you have to endure on DCL but don't on Celebrity, Costa and Princess is the archiac policy of smoking still being allowed on balconies."

 

[newbydisney]

I shouldn't ask but where can these hard to find cookies be found? Cookies are my favorite food group and I would hate to miss them.

They are often near the equally evil Chicken Strips and they are the star of Cookies BBQ on CC.

 

[CandyMandy]

They are often near the equally evil Chicken Strips and they are the star of Cookies BBQ on CC.

I will concede the chicken strips on DCL are among the select universe of the most truly scrumptious and addictive pool deck offerings in the industry. Another discussion in this forum a while back had me rolling on the floor when one poster said they'd walk around with a feed bag full of those if allowed.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I find that the topic of food is so subjective. Some may be picky, some may be vegan or whatever but everyone is different. What I like, you may not. I for one never would give a harsh review on food knowing that everyone has different tastes. You can't please 100% of the guests.

 

[chateau]

I will concede the chicken strips on DCL are among the select universe of the most truly scrumptious and addictive pool deck offerings in the industry. Another discussion in this forum a while back had me rolling on the floor when one poster said they'd walk around with a feed bag full of those if allowed.

Who's gonna stop me?!?! Not allowed... if I like 'em as much as you describe, please don't laugh at me when you see my sac full (and me stuffing my face!)

 

[jilljill]

I find that the topic of food is so subjective. Some may be picky, some may be vegan or whatever but everyone is different. What I like, you may not. I for one never would give a harsh review on food knowing that everyone has different tastes. You can't please 100% of the guests.

This is so very true and I'm glad you brought it up.

But if the server is unwilling to help out, just ask the head server to help out that's what they are there for.

 

[kcashner]

I've found the food on DCL to be just so-so for the last several years. It is much better on other lines we've cruised. Family rules--entertainment is infinitely better on DCL, so we're keeping our current reservations.

 

[sissy_ib]

Excuse me, but in defense of the OP they were speaking with something that many, many here do not have, ergo, extensive experience on another cruise line.

Just because DCL offers a "lot" of food or some flexibility on how some of it is served does not mean it is necessarily of the same quality or breadth as those with specific or seasoned tastes expect and receive from some competitors.

I can't speak for RCI, but in addition to DCL I have sailed on Holland American, Celebrity, Cunard, Princess, Carnival and Norwegian. In my opinion the dining on the first four listed is significantly better than DCL (Celebrity in particular, it is in a class of its own) and on the last two roughly equivalent.

So the opinion of the OP does certainly not surprise me.

Or put another way, as good as DCL is, those that only sail that line often don't realize what they are missing. Things like truly fine and flexible dining, quality live music, world class spa services and off the beaten path itineraries.

Of course, some here may try to retort with "yeah, and no casinos."

And in response I say, "yes and what you have to endure on DCL but don't on Celebrity, Costa and Princess is the archiac policy of smoking still being allowed on balconies."

My point was NOT that she was wrong in the assessment of the quality of food. That is somewhat subjective and we are all entitled to our own opinions. But I hold to my disbelief that she found NOTHING other than soup to order. OP said they do not eat seafood, red meat and only eat chicken on occasion. So my asking what they do eat is a fare question.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Oh, it's just someone new to Disney Cruise Line and didn't know how to escalate. Don't be paranoid. Two of our four kids are in-between the kids menu and the adult menu. We discussed with our waiter and let them know their preferences. They had to speak with the head waiter. We were able to get them all combinations of the pastas, sauces, seafood, veggies, fruit and cheese plates etc. that would work. There was no problem at all.

Seems odd there are many posts about the veggie diets and how they are easyly found......................odd this person allegeds there were none.

So I am not paranoid! I still feel this person was trolling!

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

My point was NOT that she was wrong in the assessment of the quality of food. That is somewhat subjective and we are all entitled to our own opinions. But I hold to my disbelief that she found NOTHING other than soup to order. OP said they do not eat seafood, red meat and only eat chicken on occasion. So my asking what they do eat is a fare question.

I totally agree!.......This is a odd OP post.

All food is subjective and we have all seen many posts about the food on this or that line as being better or worse that the next line!Actually of late, Celebrity has had a number of posts on various sites as having food that has gone hill fast!



AKK.

 

[cruisecrasher]

I'm newer to posting here, but I post alot on cruise critic... as a Diamond (almost Plus) member of Royal Caribbean... we sail alot.

I got a great last minute Fl resident rate and decided to take my daughter on the Dream since she didn't have school.

The ship was beautiful, the service was fine, but the food was AWFUL. I had seriously high hopes from all the reviews of everyone saying how fantastic the food is etc.... I do not eat seafood, I do not eat red meat, and I rarely eat chicken. When I told my server this, he made no effort to help get me a meal that I could eat... so every night I had soup for dinner. And if your hungry late afternoon the only option is the fast-foody type stuff on the pool deck... there's only so much pizza a girl can eat . I asked on the 2nd and 3rd night if there was any type of pasta option I could have and I was told I could order off the kids menu. Really??? very dissapointing.

I'm sure we'll sail again on Disney for our daughter, buy probably not for a long time.

I feel like the menu is more for someone with an adventurous palete... if that's not to your liking there is no "safe" list to choose from. =(

As a vegan, they bent over backwards to get me food to my liking.