Thread: Couple of Questions - Monarch of the Seas

My wife was reading some reviews from another cruiser site and read a couple of things that I feel the need to question. So this is for those who travel on the Monarch to Nassau and Coco Cay.

1 she read that in the dining room, if steaks arent on the menu, you can still get them, but at a cost. Now, I can understand if this was in one of the "specialty restaurants" but from what I have read, the Monarch doesnt have them.

2 also, with the dining room again, she read that if you cant decide what to have, you can have some of each entree? If this is accurate, I would assume it is only a portion of each entree and not two complete dishes?

3 she has also read, in different reviews that those in suites traditionally post that they have better service than those in inside staterooms. (At least, this is what she came away with from reading posts about the experience from other travelers). If this is true, and suites offer a little higher level of attention, I can understand from the stateroom person (sorry, dont know what they are called), but how does one in the dining room or else where on the ship know you are in the suite? Is your sea pass card a different color or is there some indication on it - or - is this simply not true. That the service is (sould be) the same for everyone on board?

Thanks

Jim

P.S., I hope this is the right board to post this on.

Originally Posted by Jim143

2 also, with the dining room again, she read that if you cant decide what to have, you can have some of each entree? If this is accurate, I would assume it is only a portion of each entree and not two complete dishes?
Thanks
Jim
P.S., I hope this is the right board to post this on.

Jim .... You can order as many entrees as you wish on RCCL ships. Sometimes, my DH orders TWO ... like when he wants both seafood and steak. Normally, they bring two complete entrees. Really, is perfectly OK to do this.

There are 2 steaks on the menu, one is a better cut, they lead you to believe it is from Chops but it is cooked in the diding room kitchen for $14.95. The other steak, so I have heard is good and served at no cost. It is your decision. As Far as the suites. There is a consierge for the suites but sound like they are phasing this out, and there are "perks" that come with the suites. I do not believe the service itself is any better than all cabins receive, the differences are with the perks for the suite. Breakfast , lunch and dinner menus can be ordered for in room and is delivered. Luxury bathrobes, consierge service for tickets, dining in specialty dining venues, etc

Originally Posted by Jim143

My wife was reading some reviews from another cruiser site and read a couple of things that I feel the need to question. So this is for those who travel on the Monarch to Nassau and Coco Cay.

1 she read that in the dining room, if steaks arent on the menu, you can still get them, but at a cost. Now, I can understand if this was in one of the "specialty restaurants" but from what I have read, the Monarch doesnt have them.
You are correct, Monarch does not have the specialty restaurants. RCI was trying out a new premium steak on the menu in the main dining room that was a was only available on certain ships. The cost was $14.95. I don't think it was very popular, from what I have heard. It is not on the Monarch's menu.

2 also, with the dining room again, she read that if you cant decide what to have, you can have some of each entree? If this is accurate, I would assume it is only a portion of each entree and not two complete dishes?
They will normally bring you the whole plate, not just a portion of the plate. Order as much as you like, though.

3 she has also read, in different reviews that those in suites traditionally post that they have better service than those in inside staterooms. (At least, this is what she came away with from reading posts about the experience from other travelers). If this is true, and suites offer a little higher level of attention, I can understand from the stateroom person (sorry, dont know what they are called), but how does one in the dining room or else where on the ship know you are in the suite? Is your sea pass card a different color or is there some indication on it - or - is this simply not true. That the service is (sould be) the same for everyone on board?
Suites have extra amenities and perks available to them, but out in the general public areas of the ship service should be the same for all passengers.

Thanks

Jim

P.S., I hope this is the right board to post this on.

This is indeed the right place to ask this question!
Happy 20th anniversary! A cruise is the best way to celebrate!

My experience with the no charge steak in the dining room isn't very good. They put a sauce on it for different days and call it Steak Diane or Steak Oscar. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

Once you leave your cabin you are treated just the same as anybody else. They have no Concierge Lounge on Monarch so that's not a perk you would get in a suite but they may have a roped off section by the pool for sunbathing. All of the other suite amenities are in your cabin.

Reggie

I, personally, liked the regular ole steak in the dining room. Didn't taste like pig to me.

Everyone answered you as far as entrees, eat as much as you want, they'll bring more.

The suite attendants can be a little more attentive. But it's hit/miss. We have had some fabulous suite attendants. And we have had some fabulous regular cabin attendants.

The Set Sail passes DO have "Suite Guest" marked on them. But unless you are wearing it on your forehead you really won't notice a difference. I never have.

The best cabin steward I ever had was when I was in an inside cabin on the Majesty and what I would call the least atenative was when I was staying in a suite. The suite stewards are some of the longer term employees are not always still as eager to please as the newer ones who are usually in the lower priced cabins, at least in my experiences. That said I have never had what I would call a bad steward on any ship.

And I agree with Michelle the no charge steak in the dining room is pretty good and depending on the staff in the kitchen can be excellent.