Prior cruisers react to first time on DCL

[mmouse37]

Carmine's......you just made my mouth water. Hands down one of our favorite restaurants in New York!!!!!

Rigatoni Country Style, Yeah!!!!!


MJ

 

[ripleysmom]

Mmm...Carmines.

Okay my take on the DCL cruise.....

We had a really great time. The kids loved it and the rooms were great!!

While the kid's programming was nice, most of the programming was the kids playing on their own. We will be cruising on Carnival next year and the kids are quite excited about some of the activities they have listed.

Also I have to say I wasn't that thrilled with the food. I am not really a gourmand or anything (I can eat at Old Country Buffet without a problem) but I didn't really like the entree's I had to choose from. Also while the entree's do try to give the appearance of gourmet items, the underlying quality of the ingredients could have been better. One night I ordered steak (I wasn't happy with any choices) and wasn't too happy with that either. I can see where the comments about food come from.

Please don't get this wrong, I really enjoyed the DCL cruise and had been considering taking one again. A friend (Hi Deb!!) talked us into Carnival and we are looking forward to trying them next year for about $2,200 less than the cost of a Disney Cruise.

 

[Mjasp]

Mmmmmmmmm... Now I want Carmine's myself. If we all meet there we could order 3 different entrees and have left overs to bring home.

My favorite dish at Carmine's is the Chicken Saltambucca

 

[ripleysmom]

Veal Parm!!

And what about Calamari appetizers?

 

[fireplug]

here it goes,

I have read many of these "comparison" threads and always feel the same way. Not everybody is going to like the same thing.
Therefore one person may enjoy the whole experience and one may not. That is fine, we are all different.
The problem I have is when someone sets themselves up as being better than someone else or that they are somehow more quaified to comment on a topic that is as totally individual as we are.
If you thought the food wasn't as good as expected, thats fine.
You are entitled to your opinion. Why lambast somone who liked it by saying if they like Mcdonalds they will like DCL food. I assure you that the food on a Disney cruise is better than a Big Mac.
Could it be that you have too high of an expectation ? Did you speak to the head waiter and voice your concerns ? How about talking to the chefs and telling them how to do a better job of pleasing you ?
If you were unhappy about the food you were served did you send it back or ask for a different dish ?

Many times it is easier to sit back and complain than to take up your issues with those who could help you. Next time you are unhappy tell somebody then, maybe they can fix it. Not when you get home and it can't be.

Steve

 

[pal2pluto]

Steve, Thank you for reminding us. We are a very big world with diverse tastes/expectations/desires/likes. It is impossible to please everyone all the time. Diversity is what makes the world interesting. And food is one place where those differences are the greatest. Let's play nice..........

 

[FLeisure]

Steve,
I don't mean to be offensive but try taking another cruise line and then make comment.

 

[fireplug]

We have been on RCL Monarch of the Seas and do not remember it as being any better. Some meals were real good some were not.

You did not offend me but it may have offended others.

My main concern was that if you were that unhappy with the food , say something on the cruise. I'm sure that someone would have at least tried to please your palate. I know our waitstaff and head waiter were all very helpful. I hope you have a better experience next time.

I realize that food can be a big factor in determining which cruise line to take. We have taken Disney because we enjoy the WHOLE experience and food is just a portion of that.

Steve

 

[mmouse37]

Hey....we could have a local DIS meet at Carmine's!!!!!! Don't forget about the great ceasar salad!!!!


MJ

 

[Laurajean1014]

Only cruised once before on DCL last year.

DCL Success: Oceaneers Club
Teen Activities
Movies, Internet and tweener stuff to do
Palo's
Service (room staff)

DCL Pitfalls: Pools (very small)
Food (overall was good but nothing to rave about)
Service (food staff)
JMO,

L

 

[Laurajean1014]

Carmine's.................. Is it on Mulberry or Arthur?

I like Portobello's on Mulberry and Dominic's on Arthur. Am I missing something by not knowing Carmines'? Give me a break, I've been in CT for the past 13 years?!

 

[Mjasp]

There are 2 Carmine locations, One is in the theatre district which is the one we go to, but there is also one uptown, where my neighbor always goes and she said its much less crowded, so next time I want to go uptown with no wait.

Yeah wouldn't that be a blast, a DIS meet at Carmines.

OK I dreamt about the cruise last night, since we have never cruised before, in my dream, when the ship left the dock, I felt I couldn't even stand up due to the motion, and my stateroom had no walls only a chain to keep you from falling off. Hopefully it stays in my dreams. Actually it was a nightmare.

3 more weeks for me!

 

[DARWIN91]

We cruised DCL Sept 2001 and now are going back in less than 3 weeks. DH and I are "not" Disney fanatics, personally I would rather be on a carribean beach all day than standing in a park on line for hours in the heat (reason for 7 day versus land/sea) but of course with child, you have to make some changes in life. This is a Happy Medium.

My opinion: We found DCL cruise to be awesome. I am sure there are other great kids programs but they sure won't have Mickey and friends and that is priceless when you see your childs face after a character has just hugged them. I have read that other cruise lines kids programs are not open as late and if they are you then get charged for babysitting. DCL is free (unless under 3) all day and night. This is great if you would like some adult time.

Food is good not great. There should be enough choices to please your palate though. I also love Carmines and my husband used to work in the restaurant business for many years. Personally, I love the fact that I don't have to worry about where I am eating every night. I was always full and I usually stuck to 3 meals a day - who needs a midnight buffet?? The mudslides are great - that should fill you up (LOL).

Thought I would miss not having a casino- Not. Saved me money and Bingo satisfied my gambling craving.

I thought the shows were very good. I wish that the night clubs would get rolling a little earlier at night. Always had dreams of staying up late and dancing and after being in the sun all day we would poop out about 10 pm. If the DJ had started earlier than 11 pm I probably could have lasted and been a dancing fool.

I thought the rooms were great! Plenty of room, very clean and spacious. I also thought the whole ship was spotless. I remember commenting to my husband that the bathrooms were always very clean no matter which one I went to. Very important when taking child ( didn't have to stress about saying "don't sit"!! Sorry to be blunt)

Service was excellent no matter where we were.

I guess we thought it was the best for our family. My daughter is almost 5 and she remembers everything. She loved the kids club and never wanted to leave. We had such a great time. I thought it was a floating paradise.

So the food is just a small portion of the trip. The other things outweigh the fact that the food could be better, but I never left any restaurant hungry or unsatisfied.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by gary in florida
Typical reaction from a New Yorker - everything is better in New York -

From a former New Yorker, who was glad to leave.

LOL - as a New Englander who had to relocate to New York (work in Manhattan, live outside it) I have to agree. But to add honesty to this subject, here are some culinary things that are NOT better in New York:

Barbecue (want real Kansas City or Oklahoma barbecue in New York? Forget it. Repeat, FORGET IT.) Doesn't exist, never did and probably never will, even though locals born and bred in places like -- ugh-- Long Island foolishly claim otherwise).

Ice Cream: the whole gourmet ice cream trend (Steve's, Hagen Daz, . etc.) started outside of New York and for whatever reason never migrated here. New Yorkers wouldn't know great ice cream if it slapped them in the face. One of my biggest treats is stopping at Herrells in Boston when on trips there, for a fix of the REAL ice cream one just can't get in New York.

Mexican/Tex Mex: despite having a reasonably large Mexican immigrant population, real southwest hasn't made it to the Big Apple. Perhaps it's seen as too downscale; New Yorkers equate this cuisine with Taco Bell.

 

[Mjasp]

Lucky you Mikey, that you can travel the country for BBQ'ed food and Ice Cream.

WOW You people are real lucky, now that you left New York, so now you don't have to work and can sit around and eat Bon Bons and BBQed food , now that you sold your homes and live the good life elsewhere.

My brother is building himself a pretty big home in FL. Sold his house in NY and is building as we say a castle for half the price. Can't wait to do it myself in a year or two. Imagine retiring with 2 small children, can't wait.

OK Where's the good Italian and Chinese food, Bagels, pizza, etc?

Hey Mikey, remember you have play nice on the boards. Remember the RULES!!!

I've never cruised before, but hey like someone has said previously, cruising is not for everyone, and I will know if its for me after i've done it, small pools, small children, doesn't sound like alot of fun, but from what I hear there is plenty of other things to do.

 

[FLeisure]

Don't worry, once you've bought your house with a pool in Florida, the size of the pools on the ship cease to matter

 

[DARWIN91]

Personally, I like Carvel for Ice Cream!!!!

And Barbecue????? what kind?? The kind like on Fried Green Tomatoes(movie)? No thanks. Ha

 

[mmouse37]

Hey Mikey...ever been to "No Name Restaurant" in Boston...out on the wharf....it is great. A bit of a dump but great seafood!!

Gloucester and Rockport are two other of my favorite New England towns. My mom was born and raised in Gloucester.

MJ

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

How are all you NYC expatriates handling the lack of Tasty Kakes?

 

[plutospup]

Life just wouldn't be the same without a delicous "Butterscotch Krimpet". Tastykakes - a fine Philadelphia delicasy!
(Last month on DCL I had to suffer - eating only croissants, creme brulee, and chocolate soufflee! Oh the tragedy of it all!)