The cruise line has has modified all its principal eating room menus, however that is not the transfer that Royal Caribbean passengers would be the most upset about.
Royal Caribbean (RCL) – Get Free Report started rolling out its new principal eating room (MDR) menus in the beginning of the 12 months. The adjustments embrace making each night time comply with a theme (together with Welcome Aboard, American, Italian, Mexican, Caribbean, and Mediterranean) and eliminating the “classics” part of the menu.
That change may be even larger than shifting to theme nights as staples that was once provided each night time now solely seem a couple of times throughout a seven-night cruise. Diners will really feel that impression in two methods. First, some passengers had a favourite appetizer on the “classics” listing — escargot and French onion soup, for instance.
Second, the “classics” part provided primary gadgets together with New York strip steak, spaghetti bolognese, salmon and a primary hen. That was a consolation for choosy eaters or dad and mom of youngsters who may not be culinary adventurers. These gadgets do nonetheless pop up, however not each night time, and that might push some passengers to go for a specialty restaurant or the Windjammer buffet on nights the menu doesn’t meet their liking.
However whereas the brand new menus have acquired many of the media (and social media) consideration, that is not the one change the corporate has made. Royal Caribbean has additionally modified its lobster tail coverage and lots of passengers are usually not going to be blissful.
Picture supply: Nora Tam/South China Morning Publish by way of Getty
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Each Make Lobster Modifications
Royal Caribbean ships on 6-night journeys or longer supply a proper night time (really known as “Costume Your Greatest” night time the place lobster tails are served in the primary eating room on the free menu. It is at all times attainable to buy a lobster tail in MDR from the small listing of things from the Chops steakhouse menu each night time, however on formal night time, they’re included.
Beforehand, Royal Caribbean provided passengers as many lobster tails as they needed (and truly ate). Servers would generally even go across the eating room bringing them to passengers earlier than they even requested for one.
Now, below the brand new guidelines, passengers who need a second lobster tail (and any after that) pays $16.99 plus an 18% gratuity for every one they ask for.
Passengers, it ought to be famous, can nonetheless order a second entree together with their lobster tail (and lots of go for a steak to make it surf and turf) freed from cost. You too can have seconds, or much more parts of every other entree, however lobster tails are being restricted to 1 complimentary tail per seating.
Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) – Get Free Report has enacted its personal entree coverage which impacts lobster lovers as effectively. It’s now charging $5 per entree after a passenger has had two entrees. That counts for lobster tails as effectively, which means {that a} Carnival cruiser may have 5 lobster tails (two free and three at $5 every) for rather less than Royal Caribbean’s cost for a second tail.
Royal Caribbean, Carnival Modifications Are Not All About Cash
Whereas passengers rapidly blame any change on monetary cutbacks, that is not the one factor motivating Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Each wish to minimize down on meals waste and having a slimmer menu does that as does making folks assume twice earlier than ordering an entree they might not likely need.
As well as, Royal Caribbean Group President Michael Bayley has mentioned that many passengers have mentioned that dinner takes too lengthy. Previously, dinner might be a two-hour affair. Now, the cruise line is capturing for 75 minutes for the night meal.
The brand new menus are already starting to look on some Royal Caribbean ships. Absolutely rolling them out is anticipated to be accomplished in some unspecified time in the future in February. Bayley has mentioned that the cruise line might proceed to make tweak based mostly on buyer suggestions because the adjustments roll out across the Royal Caribbean fleet.
