We Tried Royal Caribbean's NEW Menus: SPOILER: THEY WERE TERRIBLE

[@upforellie]

Stone cold food is a MASSIVE food safety issue because you have no idea how long that food was in the Temperature Danger Zone. Im a serve safe certified food Manager for a high end restaurant brand in the States and I cannot begin to tell you how much of my training was about TTA (temperature time abuse). If it’s stone cold I send it back because i cannot validate that it was even cooked recently enough to keep me safe! Genuinely great video guys

[@activ8me3]

100% agree. Would not have eaten ANY of this.

[@PsychGirlRaven]

You didn’t need to add anything aside from the first line. It’s common sense.

[@fatimamahmudusa]

Glad an experienced professional commented

[@ashleighjaimaosborne3966]

TY for your comment and credentials. It validates your comment. Be well. 🇨🇦

[@trishoconnor2169]

Even though I don't have your professional credentials, I thought the cold food must surely be dangerous, and it's nice to have my amateur instinct by someone who actually knows about such things. I kept waiting for them to say they got food poisoning!

[@igliori2]

People watching you guys for the first time probably think you guys are being picky but I’ve been watching you guys for years and know how honest you guys are and how well you’ve always spoken of Royal Caribbean, so that being said, this scares me lol

[@lebutzki]

Videos like this are why I subscribed to you guys. Yes it's nice to see the ships, the shore excursions, the places, and the food puns (lol) but if something is bad I never feel like you're going to bullshit us. Your honesty makes your opinions credible and that is something deeply valued.

[@judithmiddleton8996]

I love your phrase “calorie refund”. I’ve always felt that way for something I ate that wasn’t worth the calories. Lol!🤣

[@bunsterj]

When I used to do Weight Watchers, I would declare that certain foods were not "point worthy."

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@bunsterj my cousin’s daughter was at our house for dinner and she was driving so wasn’t drinking. I offered to make her a spirit free mocktail and she said ‘What! a calorie laden drink WITHOUT alcohol! Are you mad?’ 😂

[@crystalrowan]

This type of video is why I love your channel. Most cruise review channels gloss over any negatives (got to get those sweet free cruises after all) but you guys are always honest and always give the positives, the negatives, and fair ratings. I've learned more about the various cruise lines from your channel than just about anyone else's (except maybe Tips for Travelers who is also very honest is in his reviews). I hope RCCL sees this video and realizes that they have to make some changes.

[@timmoore3534]

It’s not first world problems! You paid hard earned money for a service and told honest true opinions. Thank you for the honest review

[@Bexstas]

Just got off 17 nights to Honolulu, very disenchanted with the whole dining experience. Bored of all the selections after the first week, bland, cheap, small portions (so began ordering two starters), cold. One room service a day, beds concrete hard with no mattress toppers available even though I requested through special needs 45 days prior to boarding. If Royal Carribean are trying to be rid of their long term loyal customers then they are doing a fantastic job at it. The stateroom staff are under great pressure to cover their massively increased workload and it shows on their faces. All while the Fat Cats in the boardroom are all still taking home millions.

[@cherr1355]

I’m so appreciative of your honest review. Many cruise/travel influencers/vloggers aren’t honest with their reviews. Kudos!!!

[@boganpainter1638]

My theory on the decline of MDR food is that it is not just cost cutting, but is also to drive you to specialty restaurants. When specialty restaurants started popping up on cruises, I thought why would anyone pay more for food when the food you get for free is already so good. That is no longer the case on the most mass market cruise lines. There is a significant gap between specialty and MDR and it makes specialty dining prices seem reasonable and drives more revenue for the cruise line.

[@tinaburden4174]

You possibly have a point but the food that you say is free is not you have paid for that in your cruise cost and it should be of good quality not rubbish

[@CitizenMio]

Well, specialty dining was already a thing 111 years ago in 1912. ;) It's supposed to be extra posh food for those that want to spend more and feel special. The food you already paid for should still be excellent and prepared and served with appropriate dedication and pride. I also know some people (used to) get lucky with deals that don't seem to make a whole lot of financial sense. But with the way prices have been going up lately and for the amount we're paying for a balcony cabin, we absolutely paid for proper service and quality food. So I hope this was a fluke and that things will improve quickly.

[@boganpainter1638]

@@CitizenMio not really. Yeah, there were different classes on ocean liners. But specialty dining is a phenomenon primarily of this century. The first several cruises I went on your only choice was dining room or buffet. The dining room food was amazing and often the buffet had the same food just self service.

[@CitizenMio]

​​@@boganpainter1638 The Olympic class sisters very much did. They had an "a la carte restaurant" (marketed simply as the restaurant at the time) which cost extra. In fact it was quite expensive and exclusive, thus extremely popular with the rich people. They got rid of the piano there just to have more seats. Titanic added the neighbouring café parisien also at additional cost, which Olympic added later as well. Britannic was set to cut out the cafe and expand the restaurant even more, ofc the war intervened. Still a few more years till pizza and sushi places, but the basic idea was there. As were quite a few other peculiarities we considered typical up until recently really. It's quite a fascinating history. :)

[@susan4916]

Interesting point...but can they fit everyone into specialty dining? It sounds like they are alienating everyone in the MDR.

[@salesencore]

I’m sure RC (and other lines) will gladly shoulder a ton of complaints so long as their ships keep filling up and the cash rolls in. Nothing accidental about their business model. Keep squeezing passengers for all they can until something breaks. We keep booking, they keep squeezing. This is just the beginning.

[@kristencarlbon4561]

I hope Royal Caribbean see your videos. Maybe they’ll do something about it that’s a lot of money to pay to have crappy food.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I was on the Harmony last week, and the food was very substandard. I wrote their blog, and the ship was contacted. Surprisingly, the maitre'd phoned my stateroom, and offered me a lovely upcharge meal to make peace. They treated me very very well. I voiced my objections very clearly. The menu and the quality are both very substandard.

[@gavinneedham2013]

People have had the same complaints ever since the menus came out months ago. RC isn’t doing anything…

[@glencline4547]

Trust me.....They see the video's

[@104Margie]

We were on the Odyssey of the Seas. The food definitely wasn’t up to par in the MDR and the WJ selection was about 1/3 of what it used to be! We picked the main dining room time of 5:30 for all nights. We were seated at a lovely table for 4 with only my husband and myself for dinner. The wait staff was exceptional. We were traveling with another couple and told them there was room at our table so they could join us the next evening. The next evening we went back to that table only to find that they pushed that table against three others and had reserved signs on them. We were told, without any explanation that we were no longer sitting there and to go downstairs. We waited and waited for the maitre D to give us a table. They finally gave us our table number for a table for 4 and 4 people were already sitting there. They asked them to move and they wouldn’t. Apparently they didn’t like the table they were assigned to and took ours. We finally got another table close to the entrance and had to put up with the noise of the crowds waiting in line. The Head Waiter came over and we told him we didn’t appreciate being removed from our table and the location they put us at and he said “well I didn’t do it” and walked away. The wait staff at our new table were very mediocre and we had to ask several times for rolls, water ,etc. we should have complained at guest services about our treatment, but at this point we just didn’t feel like complaining. We will NEVER go on RCCL again. We’ve taken about 30 cruises and this was terrible! If and when we go on another cruise, it will be with Oceania. 1000 times better food and service!!

[@lynnleipold2617]

I sure hope so because we are booked on Insignia for an 18 day cruise on June 2

[@deansemmer1791]

Why are the dining hours 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm. It takes over 2 hours to serve dinner?

[@donnaparsons4371]

This makes me so sad. I have been cruising for 35 years, and Royal was my fave, it used to be so elegant and special. Laying out in the sun, or visiting exotic places then a hot shower , dressing up, cocktails and a beautiful "hot" dinner in the MDR. Your servers spent time and were your friends by the time the cruise ended. Every night there was an exciting show and dancing under the stars. Although the turn down service doesn't make or break a cruise it was a nice touch and made one feel special for just a few days. I'd rather cruise less and save my money to go on a line that still offers a touch of luxury.

[@nedflanders3769]

Royal Caribbean should be ashamed and embarrassed. How sad that the quality has gone down the shitter. Thanks as always for the honest review, guys. It definitely affects my choices on where to spend my cruising dollars. And RC would do well to pay attention to social media creators like you.

[@ReyOfLight]

The most worrying part is the temperature as food at the wrong temperature could potentially cause food poisoning if the wrong temperature has lasted for an extended period of time and especially if also stored wrong. Food at the wrong temperature isn’t just a quality issue, it’s a health hazard and someone should contact the local health authorities to check the routines on the ship

[@cesiliaduarte1781]

I took a cruise in January this year at Freexom of the Seas. On Chops Grille, every food they brought (except for the steak) was freezing cold, how can you enjoy cold food! I am very disappointed.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Very true. This is an important issue as many passengers are elderly, or have underlying health issues 🫢🤮🤒⚰️🏥

[@esm6899]

Maybe they should at least put a microwave on every table for the cold food. Not a prefect solution, but I could at least eat it warmed.

[@FreestyleTravelers]

Wow, this is a whole new level of crazy. They can't keep making these cutbacks fleetwide without proper quality control and guest feedback. We always appreciate your honesty! Hope the after dinner pizza was good.

[@ysykes489]

Our last Royal Caribbean cruise was in the Allure’s last cruise October 2022 before it went onto Galveston. This was like cruise 16 or 17 with RC for us. We are ver6 easy going people keep in mind.There were several things that were really bad and yes, we did speak to GS. Nothing was ever done. Some of our worst moments were in the dining room. We had a set time every night but it was a disaster. The food was so so and we were like you, we dreaded going. We finally did not go back after night 4. This was an absolute first for us on any RC cruise. We did have a very good meal in 150 Central Park. When we did our email survey, I mentioned all of what we experienced. We were never contacted, never emailed, called, nothing. We have a credit still with RC from canceled cruises and I am doubtful that we will even use it. Their lack of care for their customers is beyond anything I can even comprehend. I’m just like Ben, I have recommended RC to hundreds of people, not anymore. I am done.

[@Rose-bv6wp]

One of the things I really appreciate about your vlogs is that you're always honest. I can depend on what you say because I know you don't complain just to complain, you're actually very forgiving most of the time, so when you say something is bad - I know it's bad. Thanks so much for another honest review, it helps us with our decision making. 👍

[@karateday]

Face it guys, Royal has slacked off in quality and variety, in an attempt to cover all those losses from the pandemic, plus the huge outlays of monies to cover new ship builds. Across the industry, the bean counters are nickel and diming the consumers with reduced quality, less services, and frivolous extra charges. I’m so glad at least you’re telling it like it is. So that the consumer is aware prior to making choices. Keep up the good work!

[@LeoRousseau]

Well said! 👊

[@lf3288]

Agreed--- we just hit diamond and canceled our upcoming cruise after horrible last experience. RC didn't give two cents about our experience.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

We shouldn’t have to accept this. Royal’s Celebrity brand is doing just fine with their included offerings. Norwegian’s MDR is every bit as disappointing as Royal’s right now, but their buffet is top notch. Then both Princess and Carnival are *excelling* in all of their included food venues. Royal has no excuse whatsoever. As the customer, it’s our duty to give pushback when our dollar isn’t being used to our liking. As I’ve said before, I wouldn’t give Royal so much pushback if I didn’t love the brand and believe in it so much.

[@samanthaserie3257]

My last Royal cruise I had the French Onion soup every night. Always one of my favorites…

[@bobbear4437]

Actually we didn't think their main dining room was that good before Covid!

[@cflores9275]

You two are absolutely THE best cruise vloggers on the Tube. Seriously, between the salmon slapping David in the face and the Nic Cage reference (accurate BTW) I literally giggle snorted twice. Thank you for that. Promise us you’ll never stop?! ❤

[@sandypluris6626]

I so agree with these folks. I hope you ever stop.

[@marcianease1971]

I agree, will be a faithful follower for all future cruise decisions!

[@lynnleipold2617]

I did the giggle and snort thing too.

[@WendyS18]

This has put me off trying Royal Caribbean for a while, my wish list is getting smaller and smaller 😬 Thank you for your honest review, it’s genuinely appreciated!

[@ParksWithMark]

Most cruise lines are all doing the same thing or worse. NCL now serves the same menu every single night!

[@rseymour1295]

We have cruised on various lines about 25 times and the food now is truly BAD on all of the cruise lines, even the ones that charge more than, say, Carnival. There is just no way that the cruise lines can continue to fill their ships full of people who are paying quite a lot, actually, for these cruises. My spouse and i are not big eaters, and we rarely complain about much, but the food, wow, it has really taken a dive on all the cruise lines. Just awful

[@michaelvitale4029]

It’s so funny that you referenced some things being identical,, I noticed this also. The “chocolate bar” in the Promenade Cafe offered as a snack is identical to the “royal chocolate cake” in the MDR as a dessert, just a larger piece in pie shape 😂

[@LiftUpNotDown]

It’s been a while since we’ve cruised on Royal, but it’s clear we’re not missing anything! The presentation is abysmal. I don’t mind smaller portions, especially with multiple courses but presentation, temperature and flavour are key to a good meal. Service and variety equally important.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I was on the Harmony last week. My key lime pie came out warm instead of chilled, so it wasn't good. Tried the Salty Dog, and my chicken & apple hot dog was *room temperature.* I took one bite (the flavor was nice, actually) and threw the rest out. I didn't need food poisoning on my cruise. As you said, the presentation was severely lacking (so was the quality), and for me, the menu selections were mostly ho-hum. Overall, I love Royal Caribbean as a brand, which is why I'm so hard on them.

[@bitterbeauty6144]

I’ve been hearing the same things about the NCL line. The Viking Longships have cut back on the number of choices, some of the high end dishes like lobster have disappeared and the steak options have been downgraded. Bye bye Angus Beef. The service is said to still be excellent.

[@bookon999]

​@@TVHouseHistorian I was on Harmony last week as well and thought the food was very good compared to my last cruise. I didn't try the dog place or Key Lime however. I agree that the menu was limited and there were nights I didn't want any of it. So I ordered a Fillet from Chops one of those nights and it was excellent.

[@irenedavo3768]

Need hot plates

[@lynnleipold2617]

We went on our first Viking river cruise on the Douro in Portugal last year. Very disappointed. The food and service were lacking. I got food poisoning one night and couldn’t go on the excursion to Salamanca, Spain the next day. Our tour director was drunk, then absent the last few days. They initially put us in a cabin below the water. I had a fit and they said they “comped” us a balcony cabin which was what I know I had booked. If we book another river cruise it will be with Ama, because I have friends who love them. We have always had great experiences on Viking Ocean.

[@AronRoss72]

Guys I so appreciate your honesty and you do it with class! My girlfriend and I just watched this and we are disturbed! We will be going on Ovation of the Seas to Alaska on May 11th, so this video has us nervous, especially since our plan is to eat mostly in the Main Dining Room. We boarded a Royal ship (Freedom of the Seas) for the 1st time on this exact day 1 year ago. Since then we sailed on Harmony then Navigator. Food quality for specialty, MDR and Windjammer were inconsistent on all of those ships, the worst being dinner at night in the Windjammer on Harmony. Food was cold and flavorless. I expected better from Royal honestly. I made sure they heard about it in my post survey. If this nonsense happens on Ovation, I will be letting guest services know and like you guys, I will not take any free offers just to show them we just want good food. There is NO excuse for that kind of lousy food quality!

[@tomgolledge7722]

We were on Ovation to Alaska last year. All food venues were well above average comparing to all the Royal ships we have sailed.

[@AronRoss72]

@@tomgolledge7722 So glad to hear that…thank you!

[@penelopeperry8365]

We were on Ovation in September and ate all dinners in the MDR. The food unfortunately was mediocre. Needless to say my next 3 cruises I've booked we are specialty dining.

[@giulliagomes5993]

omg imagine being so mean and ignorant

[@markeasterwood1187]

​@@penelopeperry8365That's the rub. People are upset about the lack of quality food, but we keep on cruising. The only way things will improve is to withhold booking cruises until they correct their shortcomings.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I was on the Harmony last week, and suffice to say, the food in both the MDR and Windjammer were well-below standard - both in quality and innovation. I made my objections known on the Royal Caribbean Blog. Someone up there caught wind of it, and I was contacted by the Maitre'd who asked me for input as to my objections. I told them as follows: #1 the desserts that are supposed to be chilled (such as key lime pie, creme broulee, etc) came out warm. #2 I'm insulted that RCL, in an attempt to still offer "food adventure," would replace creativity and innovation with ethnic foods and think that I would accept that as an adventure - which brings me to number 3... #3 I can get any of that food (Mexican, Caribbean, Indian) at home. When I'm on a cruise, I want things I wouldn't ordinarily get back home. #4 The flavors offered on French night (specifically with the salmon) were *very* muted. I'm in the Caribbean, and I want flavors that POP. They creamed the sauces that came with the salmon, and it all tasted like Fancy Night at the local Assisted Living Center for the Aged. #5 The menu selections on Mexican night had me scrambling for Sorrento's. #6 The Windjammer food was *exceptionally* limited both in selection and in quality [[ Pro tip: *DO NOT* try the "Burger of the Day" 🤢]] Anyway, I was offered a surf & turf meal on the second formal night, with alcohol, at no charge, and the staff ABSOLUTELY treated me like a dignitary. I was led to my very own window table in the MDR, and was treated with kid gloves. I had no idea that was coming (Thank you, RCL, that was wonderful). They did the very same thing the next night, and the food was very delicious. I enjoyed the variety that night. My hope is that they take my feedback to heart and take creativity and innovation more seriously. I should not be required to spend more money on specialty dining if I want a special cruise dining experience.

[@VictoriaGates]

I made the mistake of eating a hamburger in the windjammer... it made me feel sick.. it was cold low quality beef. I just wanted a simple burger for lunch... but never again!

[@foursheetswind1]

agree with your comments, unfortunately we only complained after we got home. i feel that they have received a lot of negative feedback but have done nothing to rectify it

[@TVHouseHistorian]

@@VictoriaGates I’m so sorry! Yes, I only ate two or three bites of their “Burger of the Day,” and knew the handwriting was on the wall in terms of there being a possibility of food poisoning, so I threw it out after those few bites. Definitely not the experience I remember having on my first Royal Caribbean cruise.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

@@foursheetswind1 No worries. Leave the immediate complaints to blowhards like me, and it’ll all be fine. There’s no shame in keeping your peace for later. I made my complaints known once more on the email survey.

[@bobbear4437]

scrambling for Sorrento's lololololol wow must have been really bad cause you can't do worse with a pizza than Sorrento's!

[@mistigodwin5745]

I LOVE an honest review, and we can always depend on you two for that. I haven't sailed with Royal, but we were thinking about it. I am now rethinking...

[@thomasmoeller3446]

Really hope RC watches this video. Honest, Brutal and Cold (like the food?). They need to know and do something about it.

[@wjbwendy]

I would bet the kitchen staff has been cut drastically along with cutting out menu items. Glad to hear your honesty.

[@erniewarinner7692]

We were on the Royal Princess (Princess Cruises) a couple of weeks ago. I never had any complaints about the food on our trip. It was just as good as I remembered it pre COVID. We had thought about trying a Royal Caribbean cruise, but your experiences and others we have followed has convinced us to stick with Princess.

[@melthebelgian.5837]

I just did a royal cruise found the food so much better than my last princess cruise, guess its ship dependent. First royal cruise, done 8 princess and the last was the worst, both food and entertainment.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I did a Princess cruise last November on the Discovery, and the included food was absolutely top notch. I only did one specialty dining (which was amazing too) but it wasn’t necessary because all of the included options were delectable.

[@327Erich]

In fairness, Princess and Royal aren't exactly in the same category. Princess is more in line with Celebrity. Royal is a step above Carnival and MSC, but still in that "mass cruising" market along with Norwegian, which would probably be their most comparable competitor.

[@nickandjulieg1182]

Hi Guys, we went on the Spectrum of the Seas in February of this year for a 10 night cruise and were also very very disappointed with the new menu. As you have said in your vlog, they had a new theme every night on the menu, but there were some very random things on the menu and a limited choice. I thought the portions were a lot smaller than on the previous menu and invariably cold and the service was the worst we have ever had on a Royal Caribbean cruise, taking on average over 2.5hrs per sitting. I think Royal Caribbean have changed the menu to cut back on things along with only cleaning the cabin once daily. If they cut things further, customers will not come back. We have already made the decision to move away from Royal Caribbean for our next cruise. Keep up the great vlogs guys we love watching them.

[@kathrynweiss3168]

I've cruised on RCL many times and this is a huge step down from the norm..I'll pass on RCL till they can up their game! Really good video guys..Love your candid honesty..I'm a Brit and get it!❤

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Same here. Princess on the other hand is doing splendidly with their included food.

[@valeriepowell5752]

Thanks for telling us like it is guys. You have put me off sailing with RC as we both love the food experience .

[@mikeandcheryl1885]

I do hope that the leadership team at Royal Caribbean are watching as this is awful. Heads should roll having ongoing cold food is never acceptable shame on RC.

[@dongeonmaster8547]

Thanks for another informative video. My wife and I are doing our first cruise in December 2024 with Royal Caribbean, and we're really enjoying your content as we learn what to expect. We both appreciated how you guys critiqued the dining experience here. Good and bad, honest evaluation, not letting the disappointments spoil the whole experience. We look forward to seeing more of your videos and hope your dining experiences improve.

[@furrysfunnies]

we were on Celebrity in Jan. and were just about as impressed as you were...whatever Royal Caribbean Group is attempting to do, they've ruined their reputation for sure.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Royal Caribbean Cruises are becoming the Butlin’s at Sea 🫢🤮🥴

[@Tina2tu]

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed this last year when I tried the Allure. It happened again on the wonder and we didn’t even bother going to the MDR. As a pretty experienced cruiser who’s seen the quality of things go down, I hope people keep making more honest reviews So they will stop cutting back

[@-tg4fz]

Thank you so much for sharing guys. As a couple who don’t normally eat in the main dining room, or specialty dining, we were really keen to see this video. After watching and hearing of your experience it just reinforces our decision to stick with the buffet for our meals. With so much to do on a cruise we don’t want to be waiting so long in a dining room for food that’s cold and not that great. Thank you again for sharing and keep up the great work!

[@rjc7026]

Have only just found you guys as we're yet to cruise but finding hints and tips. Have to say your info and input to what you say is so detailed, thank you. You have however now put us off Royal Caribbean, food really shouldn't be hit and miss like that. Keep up the great work.

[@jinimcclelland]

So sorry the food was disappointing. How awful. Y’all are always so positive so we know when you say it’s off, it’s truthful ❤🎉😢😊

[@johnbolton5569]

Thank you for sharing this video with us and we love the way you are guys are so honest, sorry you had to go through that on your vacation! Thanks again

[@soniauk4284]

I think the biggest issue is the fact they don't seem to care or be alarmed that the food isn't hot , its a food safety issue... I just came back from MSC virtuosa cruise , day three both dad and I had sickness bug.... Absolutely down to the temperature of the food... Not acceptable

[@akaCol1987]

There's nothing wrong with providing feedback for a bad experience. Most people only provide feedback IF the experience is bad! But hopefully Royal will see this video and take your comments "on board" ;-) and if they don't improve the experience with this new menu structure then maybe they'll put it back the way it was!

[@lcam1665]

Nothing will change until you stop giving them your money. And I do mean EVERYONE.

[@cassierobichaux4284]

Hi Guys! Just got off Oasis and we found the food mostly great if not solidly good. We also had onion soup available on 3 nights in the MDR. We had the early dining time and never had issues with cold food thankfully. I think you’re right about things maybe not staying hot for later seatings. I think the random menu items like the curries probably help to appeal to a global/vegetarian dinner. We are going to be on Symphony in November and you have got me a little nervous! What the heck is going on in their MDR?!

[@spamalot2099]

I have a theory based on what they ate and how it came out. A) Most things were prepped and plated at first seating. B) Once someone asks for something, it was pulled from the cooler and tossed under a heat lamp, just before... C) The fried food that needed to be prepped on-demand came out.

[@kamelhaj6850]

Since Oasis was much better, it sounds more like a Symphony problem than an RC one.

[@TheCruiseCouple]

We had similar issues on Wonder over Spring Break. The Windjammer was better for dinner because the food was at least hot. The cutbacks they’ve made are being noticed 😳 Beyond that, the specialty restaurants were great but at a cost

[@Michelle-yf2dk]

I believe that’s the point… They want us to spend more money to get decent food.

[@lcam1665]

If you can't eat the slop at the MDR and go to specialty restaurants for relief, the cruise line just got what they wanted. In the long term, they hope that no one goes to MDR and pays the upcharges to get a decent meal. Eventually, the MDR will go the way of the midnight buffet.

[@williamwatson689]

Thanks for opinions on RCL menu changes and quality that is clearly on the downside. We are considering cancelling our November 12th cruise on Symphony.

[@Cheeseburge40718]

I love how Ben says “it’s absolutely…” and I’m not quite sure what the verdict will be until he finishes with “cold.” I thought the same about the food especially on a Royal cruise I took a few months back.

[@marias902]

This is why we have never sailed on a ship that holds more than 1,000 people. Their dining rooms are smaller, and the galley kitchens closer. So they rarely have to feed so many people at one time in their MDRs. We are happy with Viking and Oceania, and recently booked on the Celebrity Beyond (Retreat, because your review of the Infinite Balconies made us want a real balcony). But I hope you guys are enjoying your current cruise in Hawaii! ❤️

[@esciteach7997]

wow; how true, but ships with only 1000-2000 don't have all the activities we want, so up to the cruiser.

[@suzannesmith2711]

Thank you for always being so honest. I love that💗.

[@Alan-zr2fz]

We had similar experiences as you last year on Symphony in MDR with old menu, never had an issue on other Royal Caribbean ships last year, we ended up going to Solarium Bistro most nights where service and food was excellent.

[@vicbernardi7960]

On Mariner last week, everything we had in the main dining room was served luke-warm. We had “creamy mashed potatoes” with two of our meals and they were cool starch logs that you could cut cleanly in half with a knife. Just very disappointing and we mentioned it to the senior dining room crew member but nothing changed. We think they are plating food too far in advance to speed service that is resulting in food getting to the table like-warm to cold. We are giving them just one more chance.

[@Bessie66]

I’d be tempted to invest in a food thermometer to drop the hint how cold the food is 😂

[@hrizonsdebbie]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@geezygee]

Do it - certain foods need to be kept and reheated at certain temp levels for food safety. If you can document it, and it's no longer just a vocal complaint, it will go VERY FAR

[@howardgroos7603]

Great idea, I have an infrared heat gun. Also just told Royal I will be taking it on my next cruise and why.

[@upforellie]

It’s a genuine safety issue and you should. I have one with me. Learn the Temperature Danger Zone and how to recognize when food has been in it for too long

[@soniauk4284]

When I'm cooking in our church kitchen I have to use a food thermometer before I start serving. I wonder if it's a different protocol on board?

[@patrick8128]

My appraisal of you two guys has risen a great degree. You two are really good guys to be so stoic. I would have demanded the head waiter serve my table!

[@christopherwalker7045]

EXACTLY

[@victoriawoods3354]

oh no! I have my first cruise in 2 weeks this makes me want to cancel my dining room reservations and stick to the buffet. Thank you Ben and David for another great video.

[@masblas3379]

This is the first time I've watched one of your video's and was genuinely concerned for your health! While watching, several times I said to myself, "omg please don't eat it if it's cold". You two are such an amazing source of information and entertainment. Thank you for all the information you provide and keeping things honest. Just try not to endanger your health :)

[@joecichlid]

I will be aboard the Radiance of the Seas in a few weeks so I am looking to see these changes for myself. Hopefully things will be a bit better while I am in Alaska. Thank you both for your honesty, something I have always valued.

[@ScottJohnson-uh9ci]

Interesting video guys! We were on the same 12 day transatlantic as you just critiqued. We agreed with your assessment of some of the dishes you highlighted with respect to taste and selection. HOWEVER, we never had an issue with food temperatures or timeliness. We ate in the main dining room, level 4, at 5:30 pm, all 12 nights and had no issues. We know our waiter and his assistant would have been appalled if we experienced any of your issues. They checked and double checked after each course to make sure we were happy. It seems to us that someone may have been “messing” with you!! Food/taste is always subjective but temperature and timeliness are not. Sorry your experience was opposite of ours!

[@kguthrie8976]

I really think MyTime dining is a mess overall. The servers are rushed and mistakes made

[@gailgohrick5836]

Wow! You two had the worst time in the dining room! We were on the same cruise and didn’t have the same experience. You would think your waiter would make extra sure your food was hot after sending it back even twice!!

[@laurameakin]

That’s very telling- the way in which the royal Caribbean team interact with you while you’re in the dining room. If they can’t ask “was everything ok” or “oh was something wrong?” Shows there’s probably something wrong they shouldn’t be afraid to ask and take dishes back and get you new ones or credit your account. I would definitely be keeping an eye on that for future cruises as much as the quality and speed of service.

[@elizabethblevins5736]

Ben and David, I'm so sorry you had to experience such a terrible time in the dining room. Bad food and service. I always thought I would love to take a Royal Caribbean cruise, but now I'm re-thinking that. I respect your opinions, and again, I'm so sorry. Thank you for your videos. ❤

[@brentshuffler1234]

[6] I found it remarkable that you went to Guest Services with valid complaints, and then refused the wonderful gestures of apology that you cited. No way that I would be not accepting better amenities and upgrades of service/menu-items when offered. You deserved it! And the more often that you have cruised with a cruise-line, the MORE you deserve to be heard and to be treated well when something did not go well. E.g., One cruise (with Holland America), I found that supposed-to-be-hot items were often reaching the table lukewarm. I reported this to the waiters . . . and then reported it to Guest Services. The outcome was amazing! The very next night, everyone who was serving me was aware of the feedback and made a special effort. I was also offered a free luncheon (for all persons in our reservation) in the cruiseline's top specialty restaurant for our next cruise.....

[@RobinsonPetty-w5r]

@brentshuffler1234 : Ben and David may have refused the GS offers because accepting them could appear to cause bias in future reviews. We love the guys because we know they will tell us the unvarnished truth, good and bad, with a touch of snark and the occasional pun thoroughly intended. Their integrity, as internationally-known bloggers, is worth more than a bottle of wine and a keychain, or whatever. We, however, are private citizens, so yes, Brent, I will be whipping out a thermometer in the Harmony MDR in mid-January to test the Yorkshire pudding and the pork chop. And yes, I will discuss Imodium dosages at the dinner table if food is served cold more than six times (that almost seems like there's a saboteur in RC's kitchen...) and yes, I will gladly accept the bottles of wine, comfy robes, artwork, etc they offer to shut me up. ;)

[@erikagholston6610]

Thanks for taking one for the team & sticking it out in the main dining room. I hope the late-night pizza was good, because your meals looked unappetizing..

[@madiantin]

Thank you so much for this video! Lets me know I will absolutely never sail on RC. Cold food?!?! Stale food?!? Food that's clearly been sitting there for hours? YIKES! That's food poisoning waiting to happen. Really bad standard. Very grateful to you for this honest review.

[@maryloufarnsworth8461]

Sorry to hear this. I've been on two RC cruises several years ago and the food was definitely the highlight of the trip. Hope they can work out the bugs with the new menu. Ben, I'm like you and hate to waste food. However, when you have sent back cold food several times , it seems the kitchen just doesn't care. Are the ships getting too big to still offer great service?

[@mslizzy3772]

Never cruised on RCCL … thank you fir your honest and professional reviews.

[@nmb1431]

Love that you are still covering the food. I know we all have different tastes, but it helps us so much. You guys are the only cruise channel I follow. ❤❤❤

[@angiefostaty]

Just came off Symphony and, sad to say, things have not improved. Thanks to this video which I had watched before we went, I rescued our dining experience somewhat with some specialty dining. (150 Central Park never disappoints in terms of both food and service - we went twice.) The MDR was not enjoyable; the rice with the lobster actually had a cold crust on it from being out so long. It's all very sad because we went on Symphony TWICE in 2019 and we loved the MDR - our adult kids still talk about the meals there. Thank you for all you do, guys! We just love your videos and look forward to your Icon reviews. (That said, RC really needs to up its game if it wants us back.)

[@georgehasker7063]

We completely agree with you. We were just on the Enchantment of the Seas for 12 days and the food was cold and just as bad as your cruise. We think it's the new Royal Caribbean to save money and it's turning us off to their cruise line even though we are diamond plus customers.

[@alexandriajohnson6656]

You have a big fan and new subscriber across the pond. ❤️ the pop culture references !

[@pickypants9696]

I compared the regular menus to the "new" themed menus when they were testing it on three ships in late 2022. It was very clear what they were doing. They were removing dishes, or on some scaling way back on what was included in those dishes, appetizers and desserts that have the highest cost. Notice cheesecakes, cheese, fruits, scallops, clams, muscles, cream based items etc. are either non-existent, or rarely offered. Desserts have been dumbed down to mostly basic cake bases. Most desserts don't included fruit, no cheese plate or fruit plate. Appetizers the same way. French Onion soup isn't cheap to make. Garden salads are more expensive than a Ceaser salad with the added fresh veggies. A lot of mains that used to have multiple types of seafood in it now only has just small shrimp or just fish. No more seafood platters or seafood linguine. Just fish & chips. Steak is mostly gone. When it comes to soup, notice it was a tomato soup vs. a creamy tomato soup. Much cheaper to cost when you eliminate the cream. I'm sure whatever was left over was included in the Minestrone soup the next day. There is a night and day difference. You also can't order two mains at the same time anymore. You have to eat your first main before they will bring your second, so ordering that second lobster for your companion would get tricky.

[@Hannah68-n7l]

Thank you for your very helpful reviews.👏

[@kaunas88]

Thank you for your honest reviews. Even before this video I could tell that standards have slipped just by looking at the Windjammer buffet selection, which seemed more limited than in the past with cheap ingredients and and nothing really special. In my precious RC cruises the Windjammer always had special items and a lot of selection. The main dining was also fine in the past. Now it seems that it is cost cutting to the point that the food is very ordinary...but I do not want to pay a lot of money to go on a cruise just to get (sub) mediocrity. And the prices have gone up a lot! Previously RC was the classy option with quite competitive prices...but now it has become the gouge option. Before RC was my favorite line, but I am not sure if I will go on them again.

[@teerad6600]

Good to know. Thank you for an honest review! Well done, as always ❤

[@samanthaspringman5527]

I'm sorry but I'd be straight to guest services pitching a fit. Those cruises aren't cheap. And cold meats in particular are asking to get somebody sick. I so enjoy watching you review the foods. I'm glad you were honest even though I'm sure you were very diplomatic. I would not be so kind or patient and honestly I'd probably be less civilised especially when undercooked cold food turns routine.

[@joansarratt]

You guys are hilarious! I really enjoyed the video. That being said, I’ve never sailed RCL and am grateful for the heads up in case I do in the future.

[@MrWellington227]

I’m a little nervous now because I’m going on my first Royal Caribbean cruise June 2nd for 7 days. I’ve been on 4 other cruises and I’ve always enjoyed the food. I’ve been looking forward to this vacation for about 5 years now and I pray the food doesn’t suck! Thank you Guys for the honest feedback. You had me dying with laughter when you said. The fish fell on the floor bounced back and slapped him on the face. 😂

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I’ve been super critical about the food I got on the Harmony last week - BUT, this I will say… No matter where I was I always found something I liked, and I have no doubt you’ll find things you’ll like as well. Yes, the food experience is not what it was pre-pandemic, but be encouraged that you’ll find things you like and it will still be a good experience. Just keep both your eyes and expectations open, and you’ll still have a good experience 👍

[@paulscheibel5829]

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[@paulscheibel5829]

I've lost count on how many cruises I've been on but every single has been great. Never had a complaint for anything, enjoy.

[@327Erich]

You'll find plenty of good things to eat. I've had a few "less than stellar" meals over the course of 6 Royal cruises and counting, but the vast majority of our meals have been "good" or "very good." The service has ALWAYS been spectacular, and they will bend over backward to satisfy your tastes, even if it means bringing you another meal. I do see people in the Royal Caribbean facebook pages who seem to expect a Michelin 3 star meal every night on a ship that feeds 6,000, and if that's the standard, you WILL be disappointed. But overall, you'll have a great time, and you'll never go hungry. Enjoy your cruise!

[@aliasmarg8ta127]

@@327Erich Their food is always cold. They were not asking for 5 star meals.

[@carolgreenwood5479]

Thanks for such an honest review. Makes me think twice before booking an RC cruise.

[@ST-hs7tx]

Thank you for doing a review on the new menus from RC. I have heard from many people regardless of the ship they were on ever since this new implementation have heard horrible feedback from guests about the MDR food. The let down on the food..

[@deansemmer1791]

I was on my third RCL cruise in November, 2022. The food was awful. I was with a group. Our table of 8, there was not one person who felt the food was good. Some people ordered escargot, it came out cold. They sent it back. The second order came out it was cold also, but on a hot plate. One of the people at the table had chicken one night, he couldn't cut the chicken breast. I went to Guest Services. The person who was in charge of all the restaurants spoke with me. He had the head chef come to our table, he heard an earful. The food was terrible. On Royal night, the ship brought us champagne, filets, lobster tails, halibut. It was outstanding. Why can't the other meals be as good. One of the last days, we went to breakfast at 7:25 and ordered. At 8:00 we did not have any food. Other people came in after us had their food. There are many inconsistancies on Royal Caribbean. I WILL NEVER GO ON ANOTHER ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE AGAIN.

[@satemkin]

We went on Odyssey of the Seas March 25th-April 2nd and we did write in the survey our observations. The Windjammer for lunch was not what we were used to before Covid. For us there was not a lot of choice and i ended up with a hamburger the two times we did eat there. It was like there was some form of Indian food and maybe another dish and that was it. Salad and burgers were the rest of the menu. For breakfast it was great and had what we were used to. We ate in the main dining room one morning for breakfast and we didnt go back. I always saw the eggs Benedict on this channel from RC cruises and was so excited to try it and it looked nothing like what Ben has had. We just felt the Windjammer had more variety for breakfast and better quality. We did 6 of our 8 nights in the MDR and overall we had good service and for the most part all the food was done really well. Everything that needed to be hot was hot at least. My fish and chips were not as good as theirs in this video and actually I couldnt finish it. It was bland and had no flavor at all. On Caribbean night, I had some white rice that was sticking together and when I tried to eat it, it clumped together and just wasnt how white rice should be. The apps were great and we always got 2 each night just in case the main dish wasnt good. My favorite dish was the pulled pork enchiladas on Mexican night. It had a lot of flavor and everything about that meal was old time RC. The last night of the cruise I was the most disappointed in the offerings. If it is the same next time, I may just order 4 apps or off the kids menu. The speed was great, but the first set of waiters we had were all about getting things out to us so quick there wasnt any kind of small talk at all. They seemed to be very focused on getting the meals out quick and moving us along. The second set we had were old pros and were much more talkative and able to balance the two better. We liked both sets equally. We are going on Odyssey again March of 2024, so we will see if there are any changes and if not, we know where to go and what to eat to navigate the cons we came across.

[@colingratwick9239]

Wow Im sailing with RC in September. I was looking forward to the food but after watching you guys Im dreading it.

[@cindybridges3046]

I really like Royal Caribbean. So sad to hear of the bad food experience. I’m not really a foodie but I do expect food to have a decent taste and warmth to it. Thank for the honest review.

[@kellybrown8638]

So GOOOOOD to see the two of your crusing again! A wonderful sign that life is getting back into normal balance.

[@peteruhlir2047]

I was on Liberty of the Seas in April, and most of the dining room menu was also in the Windjammer. There were very few differences.

[@kuftamarc]

Thank you so much for doing this honest review. Your opinion carries weight since your videos aren’t mindlessly positive or negative. Just telling it like you see it

[@matthewparrott7841]

I like the 3 women behind you watching you

[@debbenson5253]

I want to thank you for your honest thoughts! No one likes to complain, but you are just being honest.. We have a upcoming cruise on RC and thank you for preparing us.

[@scottstempmail9045]

They've managed to recreate Sysco's thaw-and-serve deserts.

[@chriskinsey2184]

AMEN! I told the officer in charge of food and dining - 19 years with Royal Caribbean - that they are rapidly headed downhill past Carnival and on their way to school cafeteria. Sysco and Smart & Final are probably VERY pleased with RCCL’s new menu.

[@MikaylaClayton1998]

Someone told me once to always take the earlier dinning as they bulk make a lot of the food so when your on a later dinning you aren't getting the freshest food. Not sure if its tru but it seems to work for me.

[@Prettyblueshy]

Such a huge shame about the food. I hope you guys didn't get any food poisoning. They're really makes me nervous having so many dishes being that cold. I was kind of thinking of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise at some point soon, however, if they're making changes like this I think I'll be changing my mind and doing a different Cruise. Thank you for your honesty.

[@Shawnia67]

Glad you are honest that is what I appreciate of about your videos. Thank you. I’ve felt the same about going to dinner off of a cruise Appreciating you both. Happy cruising.

[@andrewjackle3806]

Same experience here. Last royal cruise I went on this spring the line for sorrentos was the longest I’ve seen from how many people just started skipping dinner. Royal is going to think this is great short term but I know a lot of those people aren’t coming back. Giving them one more shot and then if it’s still as bad we’re switching to a different type of vacation.

[@vickielee9397]

I loved your honest review and just clicked the subscribe button. Looking forward to your future videos. 👍

[@nicolehylen3948]

We had a HORRIBLE experience on serenade of the seas which actually caused us to sail with another cruise line. Going on Mariner in a few days and certainly hope I have a better experience. So sorry it was so awful for you guys!😢

[@ricardajames5769]

Thank you for the warning.

[@rw4022]

I had the same food experience as you guys did on Oasis of the Seas in 2019. I actually had a better food experiences on the Carnival ship. We are going on a Disney Cruise in November and hoping for fantastic food.

[@TenkawaBC]

You won't be disappointed. I just got off the Wish a couple weeks ago and the food was very well done (and hot).

[@kennethstrauch8957]

Great review, we cruised on the Harmony and the Jewel and the MDR food was great, in 2 weeks we're on the Mariner with the NEW menu's. I hope our experience is better. We just did Carnival Magic in which to say the food was mediocre at best. Our Specialty meals were awesome, maybe they are trying to fill up the specialty restaurants. Love watching you guys because of your honest reviews.

[@Nyanfood]

I hope they get their act together by my first cruise in November. I'm not like expecting anything mindblowing but if it's going to be like school cafeteria food that's been plated nicely, I'm going to be questioning why I didn't just stay home and cook the same for myself.

[@esciteach7997]

SAME but are they reading these comments and doing anything about the horrendous mess???????

[@laurataylor9207]

Could the poor quality have anything to do with it being a repositioning cruise. Maybe they have different kitchen staff. Whatever it is, they need to pull up their socks. There is lots of choice out there.

[@genep7344]

Thanks for your honest opinion. RCL better get their act together. We went on RCL in November and everything was delicious and hot.

[@mtnmagic1998]

One of the main draws for me on a cruise is plentiful and wonderful food. I'm afraid I'll be skipping RC!

[@StephWells]

Thank you so much for the honesty. This video is exactly what I needed to see, as I’m considering booking my own trip.

[@Cruisewith]

You are so welcome!