Updated Palo Menu

[auntlynne]

My prior experiences the server would bring out extra entrees to share to try different things. Some half portions of pasta, etc. This made it a special meal. Have the people making these decisions actually been on a cruise, or are they just sitting behind a spreadsheet?

They had already removed the option of half portions; it was full portions only. I don’t know how closely they stuck to that.

 

[kathi]

We will just use our Platinum meal at bru

I’d like to see the official DCL wording regarding the complementary Palo dinner for Platinum loyalty cruisers.

I read that as - you get the prix fixe meal. Anything else is extra - not that we can pick and choose and get the first $45 of items complementary. I would like that to be the case. The prix fixe reduces me to steak and soufflé. Bye, bye, white bean soup. And no antipasto cart?

I hope that is not the case - the vegetarian entrée on the fixed price is BORING. If they gave a $45 credit toward whatever you ordered, that seems more appropriate.

Do you think the $22 for the antipasti is per person? That seems steep. Clearly there are nuances to this system that we need to hear from DCL; however, my 2 nights at Palo on my September cruise is feeling more like 1 night at Palo. I love the individual service, but I feel there is just as much variety in the dining room and it's already paid for. We could order a bottle of wine with dinner and find new ways to make main dining special.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Not exactly devil's advocate here, but I'm just wondering since I've only had dinner at Palo a few times: what's missing? I'm not saying you're wrong, so please be gentle & just tell me- it's a real question. I guess I can't see it because my favorite items- the chocolate souffle, the bean soup and the steak- are still there.

The big thing is that Palo used to be the flat rate for whatever you could order. You weren't sitting at the table thinking about pricing. The servers were encouraged to have you try new things. Now, like so many other things on DCL, they've made it all about money and in this case, they aren't even trying to hide it.

I am livid about this change and we aren't even platinum. It seems like just another attempt to squeeze more money out of people on board. The items that I would normally order are on there also, but add up to a (significantly) higher cost than what it was previously. Heck, I would have even been fine if they raised the flat rate to $50 or something but al a carte is just obnoxious.

Dinner was by far the weaker of the two meals served in my opinion. If we can't get brunch reservations moving forward I guess we just won't go.

 

[Cheburashka]

The big thing is that Palo used to be the flat rate for whatever you could order. You weren't sitting at the table thinking about pricing. The servers were encouraged to have you try new things. Now, like so many other things on DCL, they've made it all about money and in this case, they aren't even trying to hide it.

Okay, that explains it, thanks. Fortunately for me, the fixed menu has the items I like and is all I can eat, but I feel bad for those it doesn't appeal to, and I dislike Disney's scrounging to save money at the expense of their guests when they're charging more than ever, both on the ships and at the parks.

I predict this is going to make brunch at Palo harder to book than ever.

 

[icc2515]

This is crazy greed plain and simple. The way that I look at Palo is that is was supposed to be a step above the main dining room. You are already paying for the main dining room dinner which I would figure to be about $75-100 "Disney prices" which is for an all you can eat meal. So Palo is $45 on top of that and they are serving choice meat, what are they serving in the main dining room? I like a good steak and while I do not expect a Gibsons steak in the main dining room I would expect at least prime beef at Palos. I mean I can get a package of prime sirloin or New York at Costco for under $45 for the whole pack. This is really lowering the bar. Pretty soon they will have a box out for you to drop a quarter in by the ice cream machine.

 

[JWelch62]

I’d like to see the official DCL wording regarding the complementary Palo dinner for Platinum loyalty cruisers.

I've emailed the concierge team asking for clarification of the policy. I'll post whatever response I get.

 

[kathi]

I've emailed the concierge team asking for clarification of the policy. I'll post whatever response I get.

Thank you! I totally should have thought of that - we are in concierge on the Fantasy in September (maybe...)

 

[Cheburashka]

I mean I can get a package of prime sirloin or New York at Costco for under $45 for the whole pack.

Perhaps, but you have to cook it and serve it and and clean up after it yourself, and it doesn't come with an appetizer, bread service, or dessert. It's always cheaper to cook for yourself, but restaurants exist for times when people don't want to. And most people (including me) don't know how to cook as skillfully as the chefs at Palo. Comparing the cost of an elegant meal on a cruise ship to raw meat you can buy at Costco is a bit of a stretch.

 

[holula]

I really hate this new menu. The prix fixe is so uninspired. I love the osso bucco jus is that really worth $22 above the MDR included food (plus whatever else I order?) I can get a prime cut steak on other lines for less. I also hate that the antipasti seems to have disappeared as a standard and now you have to order it (and that is for sure not worth $22!)

If they were going to limit what people order because people were wasting food or just getting ridiculous, I’d have rather them said you can order one item from each section of the menu.

 

[MomOTwins]

I will say I never understood the value of Palo dinner for non-platinum guests. The MDR dinner menus are really nice, comparable to Palo and cost nothing extra. Now a super high end meal like Remy, or Palo brunch which replaces a lackluster lunch on the ship, is totally another story.

 

[icc2515]

Perhaps, but you have to cook it and serve it and and clean up after it yourself, and it doesn't come with an appetizer, bread service, or dessert. It's always cheaper to cook for yourself, but restaurants exist for times when people don't want to. And most people (including me) don't know how to cook as skillfully as the chefs at Palo. I agree this change is a negative, but comparing the cost of an elegant meal on a cruise ship to raw meat you can buy at Costco is a bit of a stretch.

I feel like you are already paying for the labor, bread service, dessert, etc. You get all this in the main dining room, which you are not going to that evening. I was pointing out that for the upcharge at Palo you should expect something above average and choice meat is average.

 

[pjacobi]

My idea of the perfect Italian meal would not be on a cruise ship. It would be in a remote Italian village. The menu would be presented by a Grandmother saying in broken English, "Sit down. I bring food!". No matter what was served it will be the best food I have even eaten.


-Paul

 

[epcotrulz]

It’s just as much about the service and quiet/ ambience as it is the food …. If you think it’s the same as the MDR then probably not really geared towards you. Not a dig at anyone, this why they make chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc ….

 

[Donna3271]

We will just use our Platinum meal at brunch

me too.

 

[Donna3271]

My idea of the perfect Italian meal would not be on a cruise ship. It would be in a remote Italian village. The menu would be presented by a Grandmother saying in broken English, "Sit down. I bring food!". No matter what was served it will be the best food I have even eaten.


-Paul

Paul,
As a daughter if Italian immigrants, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your comment!

HUGS TO YOU!

 

[Cheburashka]

I feel like you are already paying for the labor, bread service, dessert, etc. You get all this in the main dining room, which you are not going to that evening.

The service, food and ambiance in Palo is far superior to that in MDRs.

 

[Henlady]

Years ago dinner prices at palo were mainly for server tip and a small portion toward cost. As the price started increasing it was more toward cost. We then ended up paying the cost and tipping handsomely on top. Now it is a specific price for cost/food and additional toward tip. Now the server will likely get less tip. As platinum we would tip around $50 per “free” visit. Now that it is a “pay restaurant “ and I have to purchase items I like beyond the price fixe mediocre menu, I’ll most likely be tipping 20%-25% as in a regular restaurant.

 

[MrsInsG]

It’s just as much about the service and quiet/ ambience as it is the food …. If you think it’s the same as the MDR then probably not really geared towards you. Not a dig at anyone, this why they make chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc ….

This was my thought, too. The MDR is loud, and the break from the noise is nice. However, $120 for dinner (for two) before wine for food that is good, not great, is a stretch when you add it to the premium you are paying for DCL in the first place. With tip and wine, that meal is now north of $200 for my husband and I. For comparison, last week's dinner at the California Grill for the two of us was $300 with tip and drinks. The difference in cost there does not justify the difference in quality. I hope this will be reconsidered.

 

[DisneYE]

This is terrible news…many times especially on longer cruises reservations would go unused..this certainly will not help…I hope they don’t ruin brunch too

we are on the Maiden of the Wish but….these changes makes my DH not want to sail Disney anymore

A bit on the extreme side, but I understand dinner is really important to some.
I wouldn't stop sailing DCL bc of the food, but still..

I can see this happening soon in Palo brunch as well.
And next the eye scream, and the soda stations, etc..
I can see why they'd do it... they've been hurt by the pandemic & they're looking to recoup.
But I wish they'd stop doing it and just CHARGE MORE upfront for the price of the cruise and let ppl decide if the price is worth it or not.
DCL should just stop this nickel and diming.

 

[cmash95]

two words bob chapek get used to all these upcharges in order to try and make up for all the money lost over the last year and a half. get readyto be nickeld and dimed at the cruiseline as well as the parks and resorts. everything is going to go up and frankly $45 is rediculous for any meal at palo. I love the food but it's not worth it. niether for brunch or dinner. there are two ways of letting the cruiseline know how you feel. first complain and second don't book palo. if enough people do that then disney will figure out they have screwed up and do something about it. also and your comment card let disney know how you feel about the new menu. they do read the cards