Mariner of the Seas Food Review June 2024 | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Cruise

I hope this video is helpful for anyone who is planning on cruising on Mariner in the summer of 2024 or after, and wondering, how is the food in the main dining room these days?? This was a very fun video to make and quite a break from what I usually do, which is recipes using freeze dried foods. Enjoy!
If you're interested in meals in jars using freeze dried ingredients... check this out.
thefreezedried... You can purchase my cookbook here!

[@MaryJoLampe]

Thanks for the very detailed review! My family is going to be on the Mariner for a Christmas cruise, and admittedly, am seeing very mixed reviews on the food at this point. I was on the Liberty out of Galveston several years ago, and the food was very good for the most part then, also. A few less memorable, but overall, very good. My other experience on the Oasis out of Miami was actually very good also, so I'm hoping those weeks when people had bad experiences were brought to RC's attention and the anomolies addressed. I'll be sharing this link with the rest of the family for planning. Thanks again!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Absolutely!! We also had been on Liberty years ago out of Galveston and really enjoyed ourselves then, too. Admittedly, I am a "glass is half-full" kind of gal, and we don't vacation very often, so I found the cruise to be pretty amazing. The food and especially the service were delightful. Not every single thing was top notch or 5-stars, but overall, we were very pleased. And I always thought, if we can't get what we like here, we can always go somewhere else😆 The sheer volume of food that is served is astonishing to me, so I tend to give some extra grace. Maybe it's best to temper expectations going in, then see if they don't surprise you with some great meals. Thanks so much for the comment, and have a WONDERFUL cruise!!

[@LongTimeCruisers]

Great video! My favorite thing about a cruise is that I truly get a vacation free of any meal planning/cooking/cleaning! 🛳💜

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@@LongTimeCruisers Yes!!! Absolutely!! 😄 And thank you! 💚

[@susysworld4114]

Thank you for sharing 💜 my family and I cruising next month 🤩

[@freezedriedfoodie]

You're welcome!! Have a wonderful cruise!!🎉🎉

[@spookyghost2772]

great video!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thanks!

[@rossisummers4042]

Thank you for making a current video. Much appreciated!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Absolutely! 😊

[@WhiteBoxFarm]

Fantastic video! Thank you for taking the time to make and share. This video is so helpful and well presented. Your voice is an absolute delight to listen to.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@WhiteBoxFarm You are so kind!! Thank you! I really enjoyed making the video, and we absolutely loved our cruise 🥰

[@bevshaw5871]

We’re going on MOS in 70 days and your video was very helpful! Ty🌹

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Oh, yay!! I'm so glad! Thank you for sharing that with me. Have a wonderful trip!🌹

[@roxannedeams7042]

Thanks for this review! We will be on board next month. The "enchilada" looks like what we had in AZ, burrito enchilada style. Also in Texas and have spent a lot of time in Mexico. I don't think that would be considered an enchilada anywhere other than the ship 😂. But I could be wrong, I haven't been everywhere yet. But either way, I plan to try it if they have it!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@@roxannedeams7042 Yay!! Thanks for the comment! And have a wonderful cruise!! Hope you enjoy everything, enchiladas and all 😁😂

[@masamichiito4661]

Great video!!! I have watched close to fifty Royal Caribbean food videos, and this is the best one. You described each dish very well, pictures are so much nicer than others for some reason. Thank you very much. We are going on a seven day Mexican Riviera cruise next year March. 😊

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Gosh! That is so kind of you! Thank you very much!! I just used my phone for the photos, and it has a "food" setting that certainly helps. I hope you have a wonderful cruise -- that sounds absolutely AMAZING!!🤩

[@margaretlusk5556]

Great video. We are booked in August, can't wait to try all the food.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thanks!! I hope you have a great time!

[@roberdsjd]

Thank you for the info. Great video!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@@roberdsjd Absolutely! Thanks!

[@drumoore9380]

Great Video!!! So helpful!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thank you!!

[@sherryfincher1344]

We have taken the kitchen tour twice. It runs about $50 and purchased at a discount of $43. Great for adults as you are treated to mimosas and brunch at the end. The kitchen is impressive. The bakery that produces that wonderful basket of rolls, is a 24 hour operation! It's the one tour I always recommend if you are a foodie! We sail on Mariner in a few weeks, so we appreciate seeing your video. I think the menu is the same as on other RC ships! Lunch is even better than dinner in my opinion!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Oh my goodness!! Thank you for that tip!! I honestly had no idea that was even a thing. I really need to book that tour! I would love it. Just to see the bread operation alone 😆And I never got to visit the MDR at lunch, so I'm definitely going to remedy that next time! I had no idea it was that good. Thanks you!🤩

[@CharmsByCj]

One of the BEST videos of food reviews on RCCL. 🌸Thank you!🌸

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Wow!! Thank you so much!!🤩

[@gma2one]

We have a 5 day Mariner cruise Oct ‘25. Never cruised out of Galveston, but we’ve cruised out of Tampa, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral. Tx for great video of dining room nights. I too love their breads. Top notch.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thank you! Sounds like you enjoy cruising, too. I've never had the chance to cruise out of Florida. I bet it's amazing!! Hope you enjoy your time on Mariner!

[@Mahweeyah]

This video was super helpful! We sail in two weeks and I cannot wait! 😊

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Oh how fun!! Have a great time!🎉 And thank you!

[@overton1963]

I agree with you about the burrito….I am from California, but I also lived in the Houston and Kemah area…. Enchiladas need to be made with corn tortillas…. lol. I now live in MIssouri and OMG…. A lot of the restaurants here have enchilada sauce that tastes more like tomato soup…..it drives me crazy…

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@@overton1963 😂Yes! If you've had good enchiladas, you understand!😁

[@jonathanaustin7258]

Thanks for doing this, great video. I am cruising on the Mariner with family in February.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thank you! I hope y'all have a wonderful cruise!!

[@jodybranum4015]

Thank you for your video, will be on the Mariner in a few weeks

[@freezedriedfoodie]

How exciting!! Hope you have a great time!

[@billackerman3107]

Very enjoyable and informative video. I've always enjoyed the food on Royal Caribbean cruises, and your review reinforces my opinion. Looking forward to sailing on MOS in December.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Yay!! Enjoy your cruise!

[@tammyd7400]

Loved your video!! We're going in May/June 2025 and this was super helpful! We have been on Voyager (2023) and will be on Harmony in Fall 2024, but haven't seen a lot of Mariner videos. Thank you so much!!!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Yay!! I'm so glad you found it helpful! We had such a great time on Mariner!! And you're getting to do some fun cruising, aren't you?? I hope you enjoy every moment onboard! Be sure to visit Ellington's on deck 14. It was a definite favorite spot of ours! Great views and great A/C 🥰

[@keyman6689]

Jamie's Italian had our favorite meals on Harmony. So, so, good. We're going twice on our upcoming Mariner. I recommend lunch. It's mostly the same menu with only a few items missing, but it's half the price. We even snagged a $12.50 deal on national Italian food day (or something like that). Their lasagna is to die for! Thanks for your MDR review. We have my time dining reservations every night. I can't wait for the French onion soup. That was very memorable from Harmony. Also, the French toast was really, really good. I missed having it again on disembarkation day. The MDR closed before we could get there due to the nightmare of lines at the elevators.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Ohhh, great tip!! Thanks! We'll definitely have to try Jamie's (at lunch) on our next cruise. I had heard it was fantastic and definitely worth the extra money. I hope y'all have a wonderful time on Mariner! Bon Voyage!

[@kathleenfantauzzi2688]

You got back just in time, thus avoiding the hurricane in the Caribbean

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Oh my goodness! Wow😳

[@beastar2]

I agree, they make the best rolls and breads 🍞

[@freezedriedfoodie]

We were kind of obsessed! 😂😅

[@leenahaldipur4297]

Is food included in the cruise contract or do we pay separately for food? I loved the video and your commentary.

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Thank you so much!! Most of the food is included in your cruise fare. The Main Dining Room food is included, except for a highlighted section of the menu which is clearly marked as an upcharge... like lobster tail, etc. and it says how much extra it is. The drinks included in the MDR are iced tea, water, and coffee, same as the buffet. You can eat in the MDR every evening and most breakfasts and lunches. I know the MDR is closed during port days at lunch and there's no breakfast served on disembarkation day. The schedule is posted on the app. We never paid anything extra to eat in the MDR. There are plenty of choices on the menu and we usually chose multiple items to try. The servers are wonderful and they're very used to that. For instance, if you want a soup and a salad, you can order both instead of only choosing one or the other. It's all included. We did that many times. Loved the appetizers in the MDR. And we had signed up for early dining, which I recommend because then you won't miss the shows. The Windjammer Cafe on Deck 11 Aft is also included in the price of your cruise. That's the buffet. There are probably a thousand items to choose from at every meal. So. Much. Food. The Windjammer is open for all meals and everything's included. You can take a plate back to your room if you'd like. The hot dog stand by the pool and the frozen yogurt are included. The Promenade Cafe (Deck 5) is also included, and that's where they serve the pizza, sandwiches, and desserts. I'd eat there if I were you as soon as you get on board. Everyone else is at the buffet. There are specialty restaurants where the food costs extra money and those are Johnny Rockets burger joint, Jamie's Italian, Chop's Grill, and Izumi Hibachi. We only went to Johnny Rockets, and it's a flat charge of $18 which gets put on your sea pass card. That includes a starter (fries), a main (burger), and a drink (milk shake). I don't know how much any of the other restaurants cost. The bars are all extra. Room service is a flat fee of $7 (I think) and it doesn't matter how many things you order, it's just $7. Anyway, I hope that's helpful to you! We have literally been on cruises where we did not spend one dime extra on the ship and still had a great time and plenty to eat. If you're OK with drinking iced tea and water, you'll save lots of money! Enjoy your cruise!!

[@leenahaldipur4297]

@@freezedriedfoodie Thank you so much for the detailed information. This is the first time I am going with my son and daughter in law and your information cleared up a lot of questions I had. Thanks again. I’m subscribing to your channel. Happy cruising!

[@daniella7356]

Is MDR/Windjammer open for lunch when the ship is docked in costa maya port?

[@freezedriedfoodie]

I know for sure the MDR is closed on port days, but the Windjammer should be open... it might have limited hours but the app should tell you for sure.

[@tracybennett840]

We are leaving Monday Sept 2. My birthday 🎂

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Yay!!! Happy Birthday!!🎉🎉

[@daniella7356]

There are 3 of us in the family, are we going to sit in a table with other person/people? I chose the 8pm time during booking for the MDR meal, can I change it to 5:30pm?

[@freezedriedfoodie]

I've had both situations occur -- we've been placed at at larger table with another family on one cruise (it was awkward at first but it worked out great once we got to know them... we ended up hanging out on the ship), and we've also had our own private table. You might need to visit the maître d' in the MDR once you get on board to find out how they have it arranged. You can always ask to be switched, and they'll do their best to accommodate. You might try calling RC before you sail and ask to be switched from 8pm to early dining. They might put you on a waiting list but it usually works out because people switch things around all the time. I hope you have a wonderful trip! Happy cruising!!

[@MaryJoLampe]

It is definitely easy to change your time to the earlier time and also make a request to have a particular set up (by yourself or with others)...just call your travel agent and/or RC to make those requests. Since there are three of you, it could be fun to be placed with others, but you can definitely request what you prefer, and I think they do everything they can to accommodate special requests.

[@theresa2baldwin121]

How was the dress code?

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Hi! The dress code was super relaxed at breakfast and lunch. I noticed people in a wide variety of styles for dinner, but I didn't see anyone in shorts on formal night. Lots of dresses and collared shirts, a very few people in "formal" wear. So overall, pretty relaxed dress code.

[@melissamouton9464]

I’m having a hard time taking this review seriously! I just got off this ship and this was the worst food I’ve ever tasted on a cruise. Maybe it was on this specific cruise because your food does look better than any of mine did but the only good food I had was the food I paid for and the shrimp dishes. Bacon was terrible: I guess to each their own!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

Oh no!! That's a shame! I think if I'd had bad food in the MDR I would have cried. Seriously. Because it's something I look forward to so much. And cruises are not cheap! We only go every few years; it had been 7 years since our last cruise. Our food was lovely and tasty. I'm sorry yours wasn't. If I had that kind of experience, I definitely wouldn't want to go back🥺

[@melissamouton9464]

⁠@@freezedriedfoodieit was so sad because this cruise was my first cruise not centered around shore excursions but, instead, focused on enjoying what the ship had to offer! I was really looking forward to the food. I’m really hoping Harmony of the Seas is better for my December/January cruise!

[@freezedriedfoodie]

@@melissamouton9464 oh yes, me too!!🤞