Victoria & Albert's review (sorta)

[FSU Girl]

I wonder if the Queen Victoria room will be different than the main dining room? This is what we have booked in November.

 

[helenasue]

I thought Daniel in NYC is currently occupying #1?

 

[kiford]

I wonder if the Queen Victoria room will be different than the main dining room? This is what we have booked in November.

Now that they've changed how they do the menu, I think that the biggest difference is that the QVR has only four tables. They do (did at least) spend more time with guests at each table and give more personalized service. We've done it twice (three times? don't recall) and have booked it again for December. The main room is very nice but we think that the QVR is just that much nicer of an environment.

 

[FSU Girl]

Now that they've changed how they do the menu, I think that the biggest difference is that the QVR has only four tables. They do (did at least) spend more time with guests at each table and give more personalized service. We've done it twice (three times? don't recall) and have booked it again for December. The main room is very nice but we think that the QVR is just that much nicer of an environment.

I hope they do something a little different. I've only been in the main room, but we decided to book QVR since it's after our wedding and an extra special special. Either way I know the food will be delicious

 

[Pete W.]

I thought Daniel in NYC is currently occupying #1?

Yes, according to current TripAdvisor rankings, with V&A at #2. Not sure how 'scientific' that list is, since it's a reflection of individual reviewer ratings and not 'professional' food critics. It could be skewed the way DCL gets ranked #1 when I don't truly believe DCL offers the very best cruise experience in the industry, but Disney fanatics invariably give it top marks.

 

[Pete W.]

Now that they've changed how they do the menu, I think that the biggest difference is that the QVR has only four tables......

My recollection (at least from our experience in 2015) is that QVR has two tables, so the entire room accommodates a maximum of 8 guests.

 

[kiford]

My recollection (at least from our experience in 2015) is that QVR has two tables, so the entire room accommodates a maximum of 8 guests.

In 2015 and 2016 (December both times), there were four tables of two. Still 8 guests, but perhaps they modify the configuration based on actual bookings.

 

[helenasue]

Yes, according to current TripAdvisor rankings, with V&A at #2. Not sure how 'scientific' that list is, since it's a reflection of individual reviewer ratings and not 'professional' food critics. It could be skewed the way DCL gets ranked #1 when I don't truly believe DCL offers the very best cruise experience in the industry, but Disney fanatics invariably give it top marks.

Not to take the conversation TOO far off course... but no? I haven't been on a Disney cruise yet, but my husband has been hounding for it. We used to be RC loyal, but we got fed up with them and actually started sailing Carnival instead because we found those ships to be a lot more fun and better quality in recent years (crazy, I know!).

Who do you usually sail with? We've been discussing DCL and whether or not the steep price jump could be 'worth it' considering that we're not bringing kiddos onboard.

 

[Dean Marino]

Interested to know what your #1 is in Chicago since I do live here and kind of laugh at you "Iffy" comment. But that aside I do appreciate the info on the meal from V&A.

I screwed up, using 2017 data....

Highest rated 5 Diamond in 2018 is....https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...08-Reviews-Daniel-New_York_City_New_York.html

Number 2 remains: V&A https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants-cFineDining-g191

CHICAGO now number 4: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g35805-d570063-Reviews-Alinea-Chicago_Illinois.html

 

[Dean Marino]

I thought Daniel in NYC is currently occupying #1?

DEAD right... ratings changed in 2018 . I screwed up . See post above....

 

[peabody58]

I would love to do V&A again, the last time in 2012 was with TIW and they comped our drinks due to a rude loud guest in the room which was unexpected and great. However with the prices today, I just don't know how to justify it again.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Interested to know what your #1 is in Chicago since I do live here and kind of laugh at you "Iffy" comment. But that aside I do appreciate the info on the meal from V&A.

Same! We don’t live there but visit often and regularly walk all over the city with our five year old. Have never once felt unsafe.

 

[Pete W.]

Not to take the conversation TOO far off course... but no? I haven't been on a Disney cruise yet, but my husband has been hounding for it. We used to be RC loyal, but we got fed up with them and actually started sailing Carnival instead because we found those ships to be a lot more fun and better quality in recent years (crazy, I know!).

Who do you usually sail with? We've been discussing DCL and whether or not the steep price jump could be 'worth it' considering that we're not bringing kiddos onboard.

We're far from cruise experts so my observation is more from what I've read. Having said that, we did a 4-day cruise on The Wonder within the first couple years of DCL launch and thought it was perfectly fine, and our two young kids enjoyed it, but it was our first cruise and we had nothing to compare it against. A few years later we did a 1-week Caribbean cruise on Holland America with my in-laws and I thought it was very nice -- definitely not geared towards kids but I really liked the dinners, the overall service was great, their private island was great and we had no trouble booking a cabana there. Then, a couple years later we did a 5-night cruise on the Disney Dream ~6 months after it launched, assuming the 'kinks' would've been worked out by then, and we were underwhelmed. The service was not good in the dining rooms, our kids (teenagers at this point) didn't spend much time in the kids clubs, I couldn't book a cabana on Castaway Cay, and overall the experience was just okay but nothing special so I came away thinking it wasn't great value for our money. Maybe it's just us or we just happened to have bad dining servers, but our experience was disappointing enough that I don't think I'd ever book a Disney Cruise again, although I'll probably eat my words in 5 or 10 years when I get suckered into taking grandkids on DCL.

BTW we've been DVC members for 18 years, have made numerous trips to WDW (including an upcoming New Years Eve trip), one trip to Disneyland, one visit to Disney's Vero Beach Resort, and my wife and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii which included 6 nights at Aulani which we liked very much, so we're definitely 'Disney people' but DCL is just not on my list of things I'd want to do again, and NO WAY would I cruise DCL without kids - we'd pay more and get less IMO.