The Food

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Sestra

Guest
Ok, tell me the truth. Just how good or bad is the food? I have been reading umpteen reviews and most negative remarks are hurled at the food. How bad can it be? I have been to buffets at home and of course they are not even meant to rival New York's or San Francisco's finest restaurants. But you have choices and can get as much as you like. The main dining rooms even took hits. In previous cruises, I have enjoyed the variety of dishes and found quite a few worthy of my praising the chefs. On my last cruise, my traveling companion was like these detractors, criticizing it all as bland. However, I liked the way they made dishes indigenous to each port we were in. I guess it's in what we expect. I am not picky, my friend was extremely so. I was happy, he was not. My only nitpick was that it seemed to me the fancier the dessert, the less taste it had. But someone told me that Europeans aren't always as into sugar as we are, so maybe that explains that. The pastry chefs are European. :)

Can anyone share what they ate, found yummy, what was horrid, etc..... I'd like to know.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Sestra, I don't care what boards you read and what cruise line you check you will get pros and cons on everythign, especially the food as meals are very subjective. I love to cook and like top quality food. NCL is not Ruths Chris, but if you are happy with Outback Steak house you should love the food on any NCL ship. I even think the buffets are ok, especially the sandwhich, omelette bar and taco bars. The hamburgers can be hit or miss. If you really want the top of the line eat in the specialty restaurants. The main dining rooms are good to very good. On the Sky last Janurary I had one entree I wish I had just left in the kitchen. It was very dry pork lion. The same night DH had a great meal. Just remember this is mass cooking on a mass marketed cruise line. Some love HAL, as many say the food has gone down hill big time . We think NCL is far superior to RCL or Carnival. Get what I am saying? Just make sure you keep an open mind.

NIta
 
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Sestra

Guest
Thanks for you response. I recall my first cruise that had daily midnight buffets, yummy choices if casual. The next time I went on the same trip, they had cold cuts and obvious bottled potato salads etc.... In a few years they were defunct. Compared to cold cuts, I won't be complaining. :)
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Sestra,

which line? We have seen a couple we have cruised go by the wasteside. Sad but that's life.

Nita
 
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bostongal

Guest
Sestra - I got off the NCL Majesty this morning and we found the food on this trip to be wonderful. We ate at the buffet most mornings and were able to get custom made omelettes and crepes. The croissants are to die for. The breakfast in the dining room is wonderful too. Lunch we liked the dining room or getting burgers and fries from the Piazza San Marco on the pool deck. Dinner in the dining room was amazing - the quality was outstanding.

I too find the food better on NCL than on RCCL.

Enjoy!

Meg
 
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Sestra

Guest
To newmexicoNita:

It was called the Azure Seas operated by Western Cruise Lines. It did runs from LA to Ensenada 3 nighters, and also San Diego and Cataline on the 4 nighters. My first intro to cruising because they were cheap and didn't require long vacations. Last I saw, the ship was name changed, switched to the east coast and did runs from Miami to the Caribbean somewhere. Wow, a small vessel compared to the RCCL Majesty of the Seas I went on 2 years ago. Love these new mega ships! :)
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Sestra, that was the same ship our daughter spend her first cruise on when she was in college. I think she was under the influence the entire time so doesn't remember her experience. Our first cruise was on Commodore's Caribe. Same as you, we loved the midnight buffet even though we only went a couple of time. The second time we cruised her was just before she became a thing of the past and the buffet was nothing but a bunch of junk. Was it the fact she was about to go bye, bye or did we just remember the magic of our first cruise?

Nita
 
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Sestra

Guest
I raved on and on about the BBQ ribs they had when my sister and I went, to my mom, so she would know to look for them when she and I went. So what happens? No ribs. They were the best, and on a ship mind you! Bologna just doesn't cut it. :p
 
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Sestra

Guest
Do the NCL ships serve lobster? When I was on the RCCL Majesty of the Seas, I was expected and looking forward to lobster, yet we were told no lobster on shorter cruises, whatever that is. We were on a 5 nighter. I've also heard some lines are cutting out lobster all together instead serving lobster dishes. I look forward to both lobster and Baked Alaska on the last night, Captain's Farewell Dinner.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
This is slightly off the subject but I think the cruise I remember the most for it's food in Costa and not for it's good food. The Lobster (though they were whole lobsters) were grilled and covered with Curry flavoring. I like Curry and I love Lobster, but together, it does not make a happy couple. The first night of the cruise one of the selections was Liver and Onion. Again, to some this is a staple in their household once every week or so, but not on a ship. That rates right up with the last night when one of the choices was meat loaf. Maybe that explains why my girlfriend and I spent much of the time smashed. It made dinner a little more barable and we skipped lunch many time. Breakfast, well we managed to eat it for what that is worth?

Nita
 
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JIMC_USA

Guest
The answer is subjective, and as said, depends on the person.

I know there are people who would compalin if you gave them free money.
I loved the food, you have got to be picky if you cannot find something you like.

And by the way - I love liver and onions .....................
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Jim, I like, not love Liver and Onions also, but was still a bit shocked when it was served on a cruise ship. Maybe if the rest of the food had been decent I wouldn't remember this one entree. Costa is the only line where I thought the food sucked. You are so right about finding something to eat that suits you unless you are very picky or critical.

Nita
 
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