Would you consider DCL's menus too American?

[DCLMP]

Not sure but I’m from uk and I love American food

What do you consider American food?

 

[jkeilty]

I always wondered if the Indian food the servers bring guests as a special treat come from the crew member dinner offerings. It doesn't seem like the chefs would have time to be whipping up other types of food at the MDRs.

 

[wide awake]

I'll agree w/ PP, Food Republic on NCL is amazing. That said I don't expect innovative food on DCL, the majority of their guests don't want it. Way back in 2003 I was on the Magic and ordered Gazpacho...the waited leaned over and quietly told me that it was a cold soup, which led me to beleive he'd had some unhappy guests on previous cruises. Indian food is always a plus and Carnival has a great offering every night as does RCL. I don't want Mexican on a cruise, I'm from California so most likely not going to be happy w/ whatever is served.

 

[FastPasser.]

Food is probably the least important facet in my life so I’m fine with DCL food.

 

[tidefan]

Royal did a different theme every night. Such as American, British, Italian, Indian, Greek, Asian etc you get the picture.

Princess does this as well with their nightly buffets. It is great, especially on the Royal/Regal class ships.

Of course, DCL for some reason still won’t open Cabanas/MM up for dinner…

 

[brentm77]

I'm surprised by the notion that decent Mexican food couldn't be served on a cruise. I think there are many dishes that would be fairly easy to mass produce to an acceptable standard. Would it be as good as authentic Mexican food? Of course not, but I can't think of any dish on the ship that would be as good as the real thing. There are many Mexican dishes that aren't particularly complex, but very good. On the other hand, that Mexican restaurant at the Magic Kingdom is pretty terrible, while the one at Disneyland is pretty good for a theme park, so maybe I am wrong and DCL wouldn't be able to pull it off well.

 

[DCLMP]

I'll agree w/ PP, Food Republic on NCL is amazing. That said I don't expect innovative food on DCL, the majority of their guests don't want it. Way back in 2003 I was on the Magic and ordered Gazpacho...the waited leaned over and quietly told me that it was a cold soup, which led me to beleive he'd had some unhappy guests on previous cruises. Indian food is always a plus and Carnival has a great offering every night as does RCL. I don't want Mexican on a cruise, I'm from California so most likely not going to be happy w/ whatever is served.

I feel the same about Mexican food being from California/Arizona. I do like the blue Iguana, Donald’s cantina and the one on Royal. It’s not really Mexican, but you can make a decent bowl or burrito similar to chipotle.

 

[brentm77]

Princess does this as well with their nightly buffets. It is great, especially on the Royal/Regal class ships.

Of course, DCL for some reason still won’t open Cabanas/MM up for dinner…

I wish DCL would reopen Cabanas for dinner again. In a perfect world, I would prefer a dinner buffet option there. I think it would really mitigate a lot of the problems with the repetitious menus and allow for a more relaxed cruise for those evenings you just aren't in the mood for a long dinner. Or at least great improve the quality of the pool-side offerings. But it seems like the trend is to reduce food waste, so I don't see that happening.

 

[DCLMP]

I'm surprised by the notion that decent Mexican food couldn't be served on a cruise. I think there are many dishes that would be fairly easy to mass produce to an acceptable standard. Would it be as good as authentic Mexican food? Of course not, but I can't think of any dish on the ship that would be as good as the real thing. There are many Mexican dishes that aren't particularly complex, but very good. On the other hand, that Mexican restaurant at the Magic Kingdom is pretty terrible, while the one at Disneyland is pretty good for a theme park, so maybe I am wrong and DCL wouldn't be able to pull it off well.

Their attempt at Mexican food in Cabanas is really bad. You’d think they could make decent enchiladas, soft tacos, rice and beans. It’s not that hard. Enchiladas is one of the few things my husband can make and he does a pretty good job.

 

[brentm77]

Their attempt at Mexican food in Cabanas is really bad. You’d think they could make decent enchiladas, soft tacos, rice and beans. It’s not that hard. Enchiladas is one of the few things my husband can make and he does a pretty good job.

That's too bad. I don't remember ever trying or seeing Mexican food there, so maybe I just automatically bypassed it based on how it looked. It always surprises me when I get bad Mexican food, because the basic stuff just takes quality ingredients, but isn't that complicated to make. All this talk is making me hungry for good Mexican food.

 

[DCLMP]

That's too bad. I don't remember ever trying or seeing Mexican food there, so maybe I just automatically bypassed it based on how it looked. It always surprises me when I get bad Mexican food, because the basic stuff just takes quality ingredients, but isn't that complicated to make. All this talk is making me hungry for good Mexican food.

When you get around to trying another cruise line you’ll have the buffet at night as an option. I think you’ll also find the dining room a little less hectic.

 

[brentm77]

When you get around to trying another cruise line you’ll have the buffet at night as an option. I think you’ll also find the dining room a little less hectic.

Nice. We will be sailing Celebrity twice next summer, if all goes as planned, so I am looking forward to it!

 

[Unvoiced_Apollo]

Yes. I like variety and while the food is fine in MDR, it isn't exactly exciting either. I guess they want to appeal to the most palates as possible since it is where the majority of people on the cruise eat.

 

[Phoneix8]

Nice. We will be sailing Celebrity twice next summer, if all goes as planned, so I am looking forward to it!

I have been on Celebrity twice and will say the food is better, that is something Celebrity is known for. I'd also like to add that though I haven't experienced it firsthand, by all accounts the new Festival of Foods (Donald's Cantina) on the Disney Wish serve excellent (by cruise standards) Mexican food. In fact, I have heard from multiple friends that the food in general is much better on the Wish, which gives me some optimism about the Disney Treasure.

 

[auntlynne]

I went to China in 1995 and our group was served Americanized Chinese food for all meals. Which worked for me. I am not that adventurous a diner. The thought of Street Food in other countries leads me to think of upset tummies.

I am what they are making food for on mainstream American cruises.

I do eat Thai, Mexican, Vietnamese in my own town, but I truly believe they are Americanized versions of those cuisines, too.

And I grew up thinking British food was the one that was considered bland

Disney cruise food is actually a little more daring than I would fix at home.

I have been cruising since 2007 and have wondered if there has been any significant change fleet-wide. I enjoyed Carioca’s on the Magic or Wonder (took the place of Parrot Cay) - that attempt at different did not last long.

I watch reviews of other cruise lines and often wonder what I could enjoy ordering for dinner - lots of goose and lamb are served.

Check out Cunard, Viking, or even very British P&O to see some menu variety.

… And almost all “American” food has origins in other cultures. We are just the melting pot, proverbially and in the kitchen.

Again, rambling thoughts.

 

[DCLMP]

I still don't know what OP meant by American food. When I think of American food I think of things like Fried Chicken, meatloaf, BBQ, or maybe Southern food. There's not that many foods that originated in America.

 

[soniam]

I would agree. I can't compare the regular MDR on Celebrity to DCL, since we were in a suite and ate at the suite MDR. However, the buffet on Celebrity blew away the buffet on DCL when it came to variety and quality. Every night was a special night in the buffet, and it usually influenced some things at lunch too. They always had regular food, but every day/night they had at least a few Indian dishes, Italian, and an excellent, but small, salad bar. Probably not great for allergies or gluten-free; however, lots of vegetarian and vegan options. DCL does an OK job in the MDR of having vegan/veggie options every night though.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Very true! Forgot about that, had the best food on the trip at all the amazing port cities for sure! I did have Remy one night for dinner, and still didn't feel like that was worth the high price tag (around $650 for 2). Definitely stick to brunch for either Palo/Remy lol

Good grief. That’s a ridiculous price for dinner.

 

[soniam]

Those are good points! I too would love some Moroccan, or Turkish, Greek, Lebanese, Persian, etc!! A Hercules-themed Greek eatery on the pool deck would be bomb.

They had Turkish and Greek nights in the buffet on Celebrity this summer; however, it was a cruise to Turkey and Greece.

I would love to get great Mexican food on a cruise, but I don’t know if cruise ships are capable of doing anything great. If you are used to authentic Indian or Mexican food you’re probably going to be disappointed with the ships version.

Virgin has an interior Mexican (not Tex Mex) called Agave. It looks really good. It's an included restaurant. Most of theirs are.

I'm surprised by the notion that decent Mexican food couldn't be served on a cruise. I think there are many dishes that would be fairly easy to mass produce to an acceptable standard. Would it be as good as authentic Mexican food? Of course not, but I can't think of any dish on the ship that would be as good as the real thing. There are many Mexican dishes that aren't particularly complex, but very good. On the other hand, that Mexican restaurant at the Magic Kingdom is pretty terrible, while the one at Disneyland is pretty good for a theme park, so maybe I am wrong and DCL wouldn't be able to pull it off well.

I like Rancho del Zocalo. Being from Texas, I don't usually eat Mexican food elsewhere, but their's is pretty good for quick Tex/Cali Mex. I also thought La Hacienda at Epcot was really good. San Angel inside isn't bad, but it's not amazing. Although the horchata margaritas are just xmas in a cup.

Good grief. That’s a ridiculous price for dinner.

I think that must include the wine paring. However, I didn't think ours was that much, but it was last summer.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

We just wish the buffet was open at dinner