Palo Brunch Outside?

[TestingH2O]

I was just looking at our reservations for June to see if a third seat had opened for Palo brunch. (Nope, but I'm sure we can add on board.) I had never seen this note before on a brunch reservation.

Dining Al Fresco
Guests may request to be seated at the restaurant’s private outdoor teak deck with picturesque views and warm ocean breezes.

Is this new? Has anyone experienced this?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was just looking at our reservations for June to see if a third seat had opened for Palo brunch. (Nope, but I'm sure we can add on board.) I had never seen this note before on a brunch reservation.

Dining Al Fresco
Guests may request to be seated at the restaurant’s private outdoor teak deck with picturesque views and warm ocean breezes.

Is this new? Has anyone experienced this?

Which ship? The Fantasy class ships have a small outdoor deck outside Meridian, but I wouldn't think that would do for a meal.

 

[TestingH2O]

Which ship? The Fantasy class ships have a small outdoor deck outside Meridian, but I wouldn't think that would do for a meal.

Magic

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Magic

Hmm.... I'm wondering if, somehow, they've opened a door to the deck that was behind Palo and blocked it off from people walking up there. There was a small deck that people would sometime do very interesting things on that diners in Palo could see, but the people on deck were unaware that there were people on the other side of the window.

 

[TestingH2O]

Which ship? The Fantasy class ships have a small outdoor deck outside Meridian, but I wouldn't think that would do for a meal.

And on the Dream or Fantasy, you'd have to go through Meridian to get to the buffet.

 

[dcassetta]

I was just looking at our reservations for June to see if a third seat had opened for Palo brunch. (Nope, but I'm sure we can add on board.) I had never seen this note before on a brunch reservation.

Dining Al Fresco
Guests may request to be seated at the restaurant’s private outdoor teak deck with picturesque views and warm ocean breezes.

Is this new? Has anyone experienced this?

On the Dream last month, there was a group dining outside during Palo brunch. There is a deck area next to Meridian on the non-smoking side which evidently is available for this. The deck is public, but it's only accessible through Meridian, and so you don't have lots of people wandering through. I would guess the Fantasy would have a similar availability. I will say that it created a challenge for our server, as our table was relatively close to the buffet area and he had to go back-and-forth across the entire restaurant.

On the Wonder and Magic the deck area outside of Palo is an open public deck area, where people are often strolling. Because of this, I'm not sure it would be as nice for enjoying a Palo meal, I also don't know if they offer this on the classic ships.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On the Dream last month, there was a group dining outside during Palo brunch. There is a deck area next to Meridian on the non-smoking side which evidently is available for this.

I would think it would be a bit windy out there for eating (since brunch is on a sea day, the ship is travelling). And hot foods wouldn't stay hot very well.

 

[cvjw]

After eating dinner at palo, we got a drink at meridian and went outside to that small deck. There were tables out there that were set up exactly like the palo tables were. Same table cloths, decorations, candles, etc.

We wondered if you could actually sit out there while dining at palo.

 

[DCSWO]

I’m guessing wind could be an issue.

 

[IrishEye]

I did not see this anywhere on our reservation but we will see in about 3 weeks.

 

[TestingH2O]

I did not see this anywhere on our reservation but we will see in about 3 weeks.

Yeah. I hadn't seen it either, but I randomly clicked on the View More button and saw it.

I too wonder about the comfort of eating outside.

 

[dcassetta]

I would think it would be a bit windy out there for eating (since brunch is on a sea day, the ship is travelling). And hot foods wouldn't stay hot very well.

This was Nassau day, although I could see how it might be too breezy if the ship is sailing.

 

[CamColt]

We always go outside of Meridian to enjoy a cocktail at least 1 night of our cruise. It is a quiet, "candle" lit area that no one seems to know about because it is usually deserted. Meridian staff will serve you out there too. I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of the area.

As for dining out there once while we were there, probably after 10:00 pm we noticed some servers moving tables and putting out place settings. They told us an officer and his party were coming out to dine. We could have stayed but we didn't feel like we belonged so we left.

Here is how it was set up for them (a little blurry, but...)

 

[diznymom]

We always go outside of Meridian to enjoy a cocktail at least 1 night of our cruise. It is a quiet, "candle" lit area that no one seems to know about because it is usually deserted. Meridian staff will serve you out there too. I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of the area.

As for dining out there once while we were there, probably after 10:00 pm we noticed some servers moving tables and putting out place settings. They told us an officer and his party were coming out to dine. We could have stayed but we didn't feel like we belonged so we left.

Isn't that the cigar smoking area?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Isn't that the cigar smoking area?

One side is. There are two outside decks at Meridian. One on either side of the bar. You can see the chairs outside the doors in these pictures.

 

[Dug720]

One side is. There are two outside decks at Meridian. One on either side of the bar. You can see the chairs outside the doors in these pictures.
View attachment 316224 View attachment 316225

Yeah. So you have to hope the wind is blowing the other way - away from the side for people who value their lungs.

 

[CamColt]

Isn't that the cigar smoking area?

As PrincessShmoo noted above there are 2 sides. The side to the left of the bar in her picture is where we go and have never been bothered by smoke. We do from time to time hear some kids above and have witnessed a golf ball going overboard, but nothing that ruins the experience.

 

[Dug720]

As PrincessShmoo noted above there are 2 sides. The side to the left of the bar in her picture is where we go and have never been bothered by smoke. We do from time to time hear some kids above and have witnessed a golf ball going overboard, but nothing that ruins the experience.

I'm glad you've never had the wind going the wrong direction. I have when trying to enjoy a pre-dinner drink. Thankfully I went inside soon enough the smell did not make me sick - I would not have been happy to not be able to enjoy my Palo dinner because of the cigar area. (Too much of that stench literally makes me unable to keep anything on my stomach.)

IMHO those things should be restricted to a fully enclosed (and honestly since people who smoke them love the smell so much non-ventilated I think) area. I don't like ANY kind of smoke, but cigar is exceptionally nauseating.

 

[Cheerio]

On our last cruise, we were outside at Meridian late at night and I think a Palo or Remy chef was outside the Palo area with his guests for a private dinner. I think there is a door right into Palo (as seen in the blurry photo above, that door doesn't go to Meridian)

 

[OKW Lover]

There is a separate door into this deck area directly from Palo on the Dream/Fantasy. Its immediately on your right as you enter the restaurant itself. Easy to over look as your attention is probably on the dining room itself and following the seater. No need to go through Meridian unless you want to.

As far as smoke from the area on the other (Remy) side of Meridian goes, I can't see that being an issue at all. The movement of the ship would cary any smoke off the back of the ship. It wouldn't go up and over (or around) Meridian to land on the Palo side.