Palo Brunch vs Traditional Worth it?

[fflmaster]

For those that have gone to the Palo Brunch, did you find it was worth the extra cost versus just going to one of the included restaurants for breakfast/lunch?

I have watched multiple videos of the reviews of Palo, and the food looks good, but it is still just breakfast or lunch. Is it worth the extra cost to pay?

 

[Mommb]

I am typically unimpressed with the lunch options onboard, so I am willing to pay for Palo Brunch to get more vegetarian options, a different tea selection, and a quieter atmosphere on at least 1 morning.

If you are happy with the other breakfast and lunch options, then you may not feel the need to go to Palo instead.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Yes.

I have done Palo brunch on The Magic and twice on The Dream. On the other days of the cruise I only eat in the sit down restaurant for lunch, I have never had lunch in Cabanas.

Palo Brunch is fine dining, well as much as can be on a cruise ship. Everything is elevated compared to the sit down restaurant. Its a much smaller restaurant, so the food can be more like a land restaurant than the high capacity main dining room.

I have worked as a chef on land so I can tell the difference in the quality of the ingredients used , and the food on the menus. Its very obvious to me that the chefs at Palo are trained to a higher standard than the chefs in the main dining room.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I really like Palo brunch. It is steps up from the breakfast in the main dinning that is offered daily. Those are lovely too, but Palo is more of a signature dinning experience

 

[yowcruiser]

The short answer... yes

 

[holula]

I like Palo Brunch. I don’t think it’s worth $50.

 

[tlovesdis]

Yes! I would pay $50 for the lasagna alone!!!

 

[CamColt]

We get a complimentary Palo experience therefore for me it is very much worth it. But honestly I do feel it is some of the best food on the ship (Remy/Enchante are not something I would enjoy). Is it necessary? No, you can get perfectly fine food elsewhere. Is it a delicious splurge? Yes.

 

[Calantha]

I've paid and had it for free with my platinum in-laws. I am now platinum, so it will always be at no additional cost. I have no desire to do Remy - although we've done the dessert experience (which I thought was just okay).

That all being said: I enjoy it beyond the food - the service/ambiance/break from the kid. I'd say we do eat out at home a fair amount, but no where that I'd dress up and just go with my spouse.

 

[CaptainMarvel]

I generally think it is worth it (there are unique options that you won't find in Cabanas/Marceline or the main dining rooms and even items that can be found elsewhere on the ship are, in my opinion, significantly better in Palo). However, I will say that depending on how much enjoyment you generally get from food and/or the number of picky eaters in your party, the level of worth it may vary.

 

[Joanna71985]

Palo brunch is my favorite restaurant on all of the ships!

 

[lilmc]

I’m usually the dissenter. Is it good? Yes. Is it $100 good for two people plus gratuity? I don’t think so. I’ve liked everything I’ve eaten there, but it’s just so expensive for what it is and definitely no better than what you can get on land. But if you need a special meal away from the decidedly mid food in the MDRs, then go for it as it’s def better!

 

[xiphoid76]

Free excellent food v paying for food. No contest for us. Even with the free Palo, we never use it. Don’t want to pay the extra gratuities when you can get all the free food you want. We are not foodies though. Give me an uncrustable and I am a happy camper.

 

[pachy25]

For those that have gone to the Palo Brunch, did you find it was worth the extra cost versus just going to one of the included restaurants for breakfast/lunch?

I have watched multiple videos of the reviews of Palo, and the food looks good, but it is still just breakfast or lunch. Is it worth the extra cost to pay?

 

[pachy25]

Yep

 

[cruisehopeful]

I enjoyed the brunch a lot. I am not impressed with the main dining options most of the time. If you are satisfied with what you can get for breakfast/lunch around the ship, it might not be worth it to you.

 

[fflmaster]

Wrong thread.

 

[unrequited23]

DH and I were booked an alcohol tasting, I think it was the martini one, just to have something scheduled for the two of us without the kids. Then 20 days or so before embarkation a Palo brunch slot opened up. We jumped on that and cancelled the tasting. For us it was the right choice. They were similarly priced but Palo offered a relaxing setting where we could finish a conversation. And the almond croissant.

So if you view it as an on board paid activity on par with a spa service, a tasting, bingo, etc. it's easier to justify the splurge.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

the almond croissant...

 

[jwalk03]

The Brunch is very difficult to get a spot for. Much harder than dinner. We have a week long cruise with 3 sea days and are silver so not even first time cruisers and I tried to book right at midnight the night it opened up and not a single spot was available for Brunch any day! So I settled for a dinner reservation at Palo instead.