Secrets of the Cruise Main Dining Room
5 Secrets of the MDR: Maximize Your Cruise Dining
One thing that makes cruising special is the opportunity to enjoy restaurant-quality meals every evening in the Main Dining Room, or MDR. But did you know that there are five little-known “secrets” that can make this experience even more enjoyable?
1. The MDR isn’t Just for Dinner
I love the MDR, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the MDR isn’t just for dinner — it’s often open for breakfast, brunch and/or lunch. I somehow completely missed this fact until my fourth cruise. Oof! All cruise line apps differ, and sometimes this information isn’t immediately visible, so you may need to dig around a bit to find details of MDR hours, but it’s worth looking into, as (in my humble opinion) all MDR meals are superior to those from the buffet.
2. You Can Order Off the Kid’s Menu
If you are, shall we say, a “selective eater” (as one myself, I won’t use the insulting term “picky eater”), you’ll be pleased to know that you are welcome to order off the kid’s menu at any time. The kid’s menu is sometimes not listed on the regular menu, and if you aren’t traveling with children, your wait staff won’t proactively give you one, so if you don’t see it anywhere — just ask! With this menu, you’ll find basic and dependable kid-friendly standbys such as chicken tenders, pasta, burgers, mac and cheese, and burgers. I love mac and cheese, so even when I don’t order from the kid’s menu, I’ll ask for a serving of mac and cheese on the side. Which brings me to our next secret…
Want the steak entree, but it comes with mashed potatoes, which you don’t like? But darn it, the broccoli you love comes with a different entree, but one you don’t want. No worries! In the MDR you can mix and match entrees and side items, and this includes asking for items from the kid’s menu (the aforementioned mac and cheese, for example).
3. You Can Mix and Match
Want the steak entree, but it comes with mashed potatoes, which you don’t like? But darn it, the broccoli you love comes with a different entree, but one you don’t want. No worries! In the MDR you can mix and match entrees and side items, and this includes asking for items from the kid’s menu (the aforementioned mac and cheese, for example).
4. You Can Take Food “To Go”
While I love the MDR experience, it’s not for everyone as it can feel “stuffy” and others may not like the lengthy process, as service can take 1.5-2 hours from start to finish. Or, perhaps you don’t mind these things, but you had a long port day and you’re just tired and don’t feel like a prolonged dinner. Well… good news! You can order food to go. Wait staff will provide you with plate covers so you can take your food back to your stateroom. This is also helpful when you want to bring dessert back to your room, either because you’re too full to eat it, or you want a second serving to enjoy later. Which brings us to my final secret…
5. You Can Order Extras
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the MDR is the opportunity to try new foods; sometimes exotic things such as beef tongue, squid, or escargot. But perhaps you aren’t sure if you’ll like it, and don’t want to be left hungry. Or, maybe you had a long day and just brought an extra robust appetitive with you to dinner. No worries — you can order extras! Cruisers are welcome to order more than one appetizer, entree, and/or dessert, which is also helpful, as sometimes portions can be quite small. Some cruise lines are starting to crack down on extras, though. I recently sailed MSC, and they charged $5 for an extra entree. Some of the other lines, such as Carnival, still allow for complimentary seconds, but charge for thirds. Many of them charge for seconds of the more expensive entrees, such as lobster tail on elegant night. But when in doubt, just ask.
Now that you know these “secrets” of the MDR, make sure to consider and ask for them on your next cruise. And if you’re curious about the differences between MDR dining times, such as whether to choose flexible or set dining, check out my post here.
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