Royal Caribbean’s Quantum leap: No main dining rooms

By Rebecca Tobin

QUANTUM-AMERICANICONrenderRoyal Caribbean International is eliminating the main dining rooms on its two upcoming ships, the Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, in favor of five smaller restaurants that will offer specific culinary styles.

The five restaurants, to be included in the cruise price, will be among a total of 18 eateries onboard, in a concept Royal Caribbean calls “Dynamic Dining.”

Royal Caribbean also introduced four new specialty restaurants.  Patrons will pay a cover to dine at these restaurants.

The specialty restaurants include Jamie’s Italian, which was developed in coQUANTUM-JAMIESrenderncert with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. Michael’s Genuine Pub will be a gastropub built on a relationship with chef Michael Schwartz. Devinly Decadence, designed by bestselling author and chef of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” Devin Alexander, will feature a low-calorie menu.

Also carrying an extra charge will be Wonderland, where chefs will “twist their culinary kaleidoscopes to invent a dreamscape of never-before-seen fare,” Royal Caribbean said.

In addition, the ships will carry Royal Caribbean stalwarts Chops Grille, Izumi Japanese Cuisine and Chef’s Table, plus casual eateries such as the Windjammer lido cafe, Sorrento’s and Johnny Rockets.

Also on the casual side, the SeaPlex Dog House will be the first food truck at sea, Royal Caribbean said.

The line will use a new reservations system for the restaurants. QUANTUM-MICHAELSPUBrender

In eliminating the main dining room, Royal Caribbean appears to be taking the next step in the evolution of cruise ship dining.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s most recent ships, the Breakaway and the Getaway, each have three main dining rooms, but they are smaller and quieter than the traditional two-deck dining rooms on cruise ships. One of main dining rooms on the Breakaway and Getaway has a different menu than the other two.

Princess also has experimented with smaller main dining rooms and cuisine-specific restaurants that are included in the cruise fare.
QUANTUM-WONDERLANDrender
Still others have been working on new concepts within their traditional dining rooms, such as Carnival Cruise Lines with its American Table and American Feast.

The 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, scheduled to enter service this November, will sail from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J. The Anthem is due to enter service the following spring.

Royal Caribbean coming back to Dubai

 

By Jerry Limone
Royal Caribbean will return to Dubai in the winter of 2015-16, homeporting the Splendour of the Seas in the United Arab Emirates city.

The 2,076-passenger Splendour will sail 16 roundtrip cruises from December 2015 through March 2016. The ship will call in Abu Dhabi and the Oman cities of Muscat and Khasab.

Royal Caribbean departed Dubai after the 2012-13 winter season, citing decreased demand.

Helen Beck, Royal Caribbean’s regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the development of the Cruise Arabia alliance was “a welcome step in continuing to promote the economic and touristic benefits of cruising, and I’m sure the season will be very successful.”

The alliance was formed earlier this month to promote Persian Gulf cruising. The partners in the alliance are Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman.

Royal Caribbean certified by autism group

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean International said it is the first cruise line to win fleetwide certification from Autism On the Seas, a group that helps families with autistic members with their vacations.

The certification requires that a cruise line make certain accommodations for autistic passengers, including special staff training.

The guidelines also include providing sensory related toys, autism-friendly modification to youth activities, autism-friendly movies, priority boarding, dietary offerings (including gluten-free and dairy-free), and several modifications to services for groups of guests with disabilities.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Royal Caribbean’s executive vice president of operations, said the cruise line has been working with Autism on the Seas for more than seven years.

The organization is taking a staff cruise on Serenade of the Seas on March 8.

On its website, Autism on the Seas said it also works with Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.