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00:00:00 – 00:11:53
The video from Royal Caribbean Blog provides an in-depth review of the new main dining room menus recently introduced by Royal Caribbean on the Symphony Of The Seas. Matt, along with Elizabeth, evaluates these changes, focusing on the duration and efficiency of meal service across different themed nights. The dining times varied based on the theme and crowd size, with an average duration aligning with the company's goal for faster service, as highlighted by CEO Michael Bailey.
Elizabeth shares her favorite dishes, including the warm chocolate chip cookie, roasted poblano pepper soup, and crispy coconut jumbo shrimp, while also noting some consistent issues such as cold dishes and the removal of a "classics" menu. She applauds the new menu's variety and the integration of vegan options, sugar-free desserts, and a static kids' menu.
Significant updates include a consolidated menu presentation, a limit to one complimentary lobster tail with additional servings available at a charge, and the need for guests with special dietary requirements to reach out before their cruise. Overall, the video concludes with a positive sentiment towards the faster service and an invitation for viewer engagement.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog discusses the new main dining room menus recently rolled out by Royal Caribbean, starting with Symphony Of The Seas. The team aims to evaluate the changes, focusing on meal duration to gauge improvements in service times. They documented their dining experiences day by day to provide insights on the new menus and dining efficiency.
On day one, with an American cuisine theme, the dining took 73 minutes. By day two, featuring French cuisine and formal night, the meal extended slightly to 84 minutes. The team also offered practical tips like speaking to the head waiter if current seating arrangements aren’t satisfactory.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, Elizabeth recounts her dining experiences over various themed nights on a cruise. On day three, with two fewer people at her table, service was impressively fast, with all courses completed in one hour and eight minutes during Italian night. Day four’s Caribbean night saw a fuller table and new menu changes, finishing in one hour and 25 minutes. Day five, Mexican night, also wrapped up in one hour and 24 minutes. Royal night on day six, known for its complimentary lobster, was more crowded, extending dinner to one hour and 39 minutes. On the final Mediterranean night, Elizabeth dined alone, finishing quickly in 38 minutes. Overall, the average dining time was just over 75 minutes, aligning with Royal Caribbean’s goal of faster service as mentioned by CEO Michael Bailey at the end of 2022.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, Elizabeth shares her top three favorite foods from the main dining room during the cruise. Her number one pick was the warm chocolate chip cookie on Mexican night, highly recommended by the head waiter, served in a hot ramekin with vanilla ice cream. Number two was the roasted poblano pepper soup, which she appreciated for its spicy kick, though it lacked sufficient roasted corn, red peppers, and sauteed chorizo. Her third favorite was the crispy coconut jumbo shrimp on Caribbean night, praised for its crunchy texture and sweet chili dipping sauce.
Elizabeth also reflects on the overall dining experience compared to previous cruises. She notes that although speed of service wasn’t an issue for her, about a quarter of her dishes arrived cold, a problem she had experienced with the old menu as well. She discusses the removal of the “classics” menu, which might be problematic for picky eaters, but she personally enjoyed trying new options. Despite some minor disappointments like the vegetable moussaka on Mediterranean night, she was generally impressed with the new menu and looks forward to future dining experiences. Additionally, there was a change in menu formatting during the cruise, which better highlighted the chef’s recommendations.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the discussion centers on improvements and changes to the dining menus on Royal Caribbean cruises. Elizabeth highlighted that consolidating all available options into a single location made it more convenient. A significant change is the restriction to one complimentary lobster tail on lobster night, with additional servings costing $16.99 plus 18% gratuity. There is a separate, static kids’ menu with five entrees available nightly. Adults can order from the kids’ menu and vice versa. Royal Caribbean has integrated vegan options into the main menu, with a leaf icon indicating vegan dishes. For those monitoring sugar intake, a sugar-free dessert is available each evening. Guests with special dietary needs can email Royal Caribbean with their requirements ahead of the cruise. The video closes with a positive note on the service speed and an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts and subscribe to the channel.