Coral Princess-Bad food
 

Just got back from the W. Caribbean on Coral Princess. The ship was fine--the fitness room is small but very useable as is the rest of the ship. The services in the "spa" are very expensive-e.g. a $45 manicure--but that's certainly not a necessity. However, I must comment on the food--it was terrible! We were part of a 50 person group, so ate in the dining room ("anytime") just about every night, except when we tried the specialty restaurants. The food in the dining room reminded me of leftovers and the specialty restaurants were not special, especially not the Italian one. Good lobster tails in the Bayou restaurant, but I heard from several persons that most of the steaks were 2nd rate, except for the filet-which was good. Even the formal nights (2) had below-average food-e.g. the "lobster" was a slipper lobster variety--like a large shrimp! It's too bad the ship is scrimping on the food--but the good part is--you don't gain weight on the Coral Princess!

Sorry that you had such a bad experience. Princess Lines usually has very good food. I have been on two Princess cruises -- one to the Baltics, and the other the Mediterranean -- and the food on both was excellent. We travelled with "foodies", who are quite particular. The entire group, including a vegetarian, enjoyed the food immensely. We have also heard good comments from other Princess cruisers.

Princess Lines is very, very sensitive to comments from their passengers, so you should be sure to contact them to let them know of your dissatisfaction.

I have been on 2 Princess cruises for a total of 24 nights. The food at all dinners has been just fair.

Good thing I only choose Princess for the itineries - I would never choose them for the food.

I have had very good food on previous Princess cruises (including the Coral Princess).

The spa prices are high on most brands of cruise lines. Most are ran by Steiners (subcontracted out). The cruise line doesn't set the prices, Steiners does.

A sad reality is that food quality has declined noticeably from the glory days of the last century on all mass market cruise lines like Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, etc. To meet price competition, cruise lines are cutting back on costs like food. If you want top quality food these days on a cruise, you are going to have to pay the price to go on a luxury line like Crystal and Regent, etc.

We will be on Dawn Princess in June for the first time. This thread scares me. Are you only saying the food went from 5* to 4*, or is it downhill in everything?

Please assure me, my carnivorous husband will have an edible slice of chicken and I'll get digestable vegetarian :)

I scanned several of the latest member reviews on cruise critic about the Coral and food evaluation was mixed. Some raved, some ranted and others were in between. I've never been on the Coral but have eaten at Sabatinis several other times and have been quite pleased. Sorry to hear your experience there was a let down.

Almost all passengers find cruise food more than satisfactory. Don't get the idea you're going to starve or be confronted with inedible food. It's just not the outstanding gourmet offerings that even non-luxury cruise lines used to offer routinely. Enjoy your cruise. Just don't make food the main reason for going

We had very good food on Oceanea cruises. Those larger ships go for quantity of food over quality and you pay for all the extra's.(expresso, Latte etc).. I think they stoped the midnight buffets too...I am not up at that hour, but I've heard they don't do that any longer. Yes they are cutting costs, and those huge ships are the worst...cheap....pushing booze and food that is cheaper to prepare and serve.

I was on the Pacific Princess in September and the food was OK. Sme things were better than others, but I would not call it terrible at all, but I wouldn't say gourmet either. It was fine. Good hamburgers and fries out on the pool deck. The buffet was always good, and I usually had a good dinner in the dining room. I wasn't expecting gourmet dining actually so was not disappointed.

All right, so my understanding is, it's at least on McD's level :) Will work for us!

As someone who has taken dozens of Princess cruises, I think it depends a lot on the chef. We had just okay food on the Pacific a couple of years ago too.
There will probably be a different chef when you board!!

We were on the Diamond Princess in September and the food were average. It really depends on what you compare it to. I have never come across food on any ship that is truly 5 stars (when compared to a 5 stars restaurant on shore)

Most people don't dine out at 5 stars restaurants on a regular basis and stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel or Ritz Carlton and dine in their dining rooms so when they rave about the food at a crusie ship, what are the benchmark?

I would rate the Princess at about 3 stars, slightly above NCL, RCCL and Carnival. I would rate HAL similar and Crystal slightly higher.

With that said, I have left a 2 page comment on the food (Diamond Princess) and have heard nothing back. None of the cruise lines do eggs properly. I like soft or medium boil or poached eggs and over the course of 7 days, I have the eggs done right only once, and it was only on one egg! The other one was overcooked and hard as a rock. So it was a total fluke that they did the egg correctly once.

On the other hand, I ordered Prime Rib rare and actually received the Prime Rib rare which was a surprise. The beef they used in the dining room did not appeared to be top grade but the beef used in the specialty dining rooms were better.

If you are accustomed to McD and Perkins or most of the every day chains (Red Lobsters etc), the food and the service on any cruise ship should be better than that.

If you frequent Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton, you will be disappointed at the cruise ships.

Think about this, a 3 course meal and desert at any of the 5 stars dining room would set you back at least $150 to $200 per person per meal without drinks. What portion of the fare you paid for a cruise is for food at the cruise ship?
Base on what I paid for a crusie, I considered it generally very good value for the money on my food.

"I have the eggs done right only once, and it was only on one egg! The other one was overcooked and hard as a rock." - Mr Again will feel right at home, sounds like my cooking :))

(just kidding of course!)

How does one cook one egg one way the other differently? Don't you put them in the same pan at the same time? :D Now if the omelette had eggs like this I'd be really worried. :D

Jacketwatch, if your stovetop is not perfect, has a slight angle, one side can burn while the other is undercooked.

Oh come on. :D

What can I say - I rent, don't own.

Oh, well, it may be a good thing - always have a reason :))

I will give you high marks for creativity or thinking on your feet. Bravo :D :D Now level that stove ansd fry those eggs. : D

Sailed on Sapphire Princess. You are right, the food was coffee shop quality. Steaks (if they could be called that) were tough & tasteless. Food, in general, was tasteless. McD's level seems appropriate, so don't make food the focus point of your trip.