If you choose Signatures (which I would recommend), let them know ahead of time and your table will be decorated for the occasion. They really make you feel special.

Ardis

Wendy - they do have Lobster - prepared several ways and other seafood choices. I would love to see a Polo Grill on Voyager.

I'm not enough of a steak house fan to go to the steak house four blocks from my house. I tried the Pinnacle Grill on the new Noordam, and both of us thought "it's just steak: why bother". On the other hand, we both loved Latitudes. I guess it's all a matter of opinion.

They may have developed the idea from tha focus groups on all the ships when researching ideas for the new ship. There was quite a lot of discussion about speciality restaurants during the Mariner's "Build the New Ship" cruise in March.
Jim

Thank you Jim, I imagine that is just what happened. While I prefer Asian, I know many people prefer steak houses. The night we went to Latitudes it was crowded, but I have read that is not always the case.
I hope there is seafood along with the meat. :)
................
Susan

I was on a call a few days ago where Ken Watson and Mark Conroy both gave a talk, and Ken said the steakhouse would be called Prime Seven and would open after drydock, so we will miss L'Atitudes for our Christmas cruise. It was my favorite night on my Voyager Christmas cruise.

The menu on the website is what we had. I just ate lobster and all the other courses, but I loved the service and the seating approach.

Signatures was my least favorite meal of the week, so gaggy salty. Next time I will ask for it to be specially prepared. My tablemates loved everything they had.

I liked Le Veranda the night I dined there. I was so

I picked this cruise over SS for Christmas since I thought there would be more going on at night and for the dining variety. I don't think there will be much variety now, but I am sure the meals will be good.

I have only been on Navigator and Voyager, but I have read more negative reviews on Mariner's L'Atitudes than the one on Voyager. At the new ship talk on the Halloween talk w/ the execs, people were mainly concerned about the cabin size, the tour desk, the repeater benefits, and the entertainment. I don't recall much about dining except wanting it quieter. That has been quite a while back now.

I do think they are trying hard to please all the guests, which can't be easy, so I am sure if this doesn't work out, they will change it again.

Has anyone heard anything about Le Veranda changing? I have not, but it just makes me wonder.

There was talk during the Seven Seas Summit on the Mariner in May about changing La Veranda -- I just don't recall what they will be doing other than redecorating. We found La Veranda very crowded during lunch -- it was difficult to walk past other passengers in buffet area.

"azgkrudi" we also appreciate spicy food -- just ask your server for some hot sauce on the side:-)

If I had a choice, I would prefer a seafood restaurant or even steak AND seafood like Susan suggested :)

I agree about the crowding at lunch, and there can be a little bit of "herding". Redecorating was what they mentioned on this call, too but only that they said they were redecorating and redesigning all public areas. They already serve veal chops and monstrous steaks there, though it's not like a prime steak house.

I guess I will have to look forard to the pancit and other stuff the Filipinos in the kitchen offer as treats at the galley lunch.

They could have tried a plated Asian thing and taken it very upscale.

I am sure Todd will like the prime steakhouse. As Beth said, he "moos on a cruise".

On our recent Navigator cruise they converted Portofinos to a steak house on the last two nights. But the menu wasn't exclusively steak. It included lamb shops and several other items I can't remember. Looked really good to me although we weren't able to give it a try.

Latitudes has been half empty or more on the last two times we dined there. The ship was full on both occasions. Passengers were voting with their feet. If this became the rule rather than the exception, it is understandable that Regent is making the switch to a more popular menu. If an alternative restaurant isn't full it is waisting space and crew resources and placing added pressure on the other three restaurants.

I liked Latitudes. But a really good steak house alternative with an imaginative menu sounds quite good to me.

Pat

I posted this over on CC; thought I'd re-post here as I think I'm echoing some of Pat's comments.

If they decide to go "Steakhouse" I hope they go "Grill." I agree, with Judy (a cc poster) that I've never had a "great" steak on any commercial ship. Best was a flight deck BBQ on the Dubuque the same summer Armstrong walked on the moon. A Grill would allow Regent to still exploit the "open kitchen" concept AND allow for great grilled fish, haven't seen that on menu in CR or signatures. Also allows for chicken, grilled lamb chops or pork chops (both double cut of course), shrimp, and kabob type things. The feature would be "cut to order steaks" and grilled fresh fish (could be location driven). The catch (no pun intended) is the hardest thing that I know of to do well on a grill is fish of any kind. The limited footprint of Latitudes might allow something like this to be pulled off successfully.

Greg

and I hope they have baby back ribs too!

Marcie,
You know I thought of that but intentionally left ribs off. The reason is that ribs don't really lend themselves to "cook to order" type meals. Most really good ribs I've had come off some sort of "slow cooker" and, at best, are finished on a grill. I would like to see CR offer a "mess of ribs" :D on the menu one night as ribs do lend themselves to a "prepare mostly ahead of time" strategy in the kitchen.


Greg

In LaVeranda on the world cruse they've had an American menu where they had delicious ribs and basics like mac'n cheese, chili dogs, pizza. It was a big hit....after months of gourmet, we all appreciated the simple foods.

I wish they could/would do something like that on any cruise 10 days or longer. I mean, after all, a world class chili dog with all the trimmin's (wouldn't shredded Gruyere instead of shredded Cheddar or Jack be a nice touch?)truly fine dining!

Greg

Oh Boy!
Now were talk'in! :woh:

For a short cruise, whatever they normally do is fine. Longer than that, nice to add variety, as everyone gets tired of same old, same old, whatever the venue! If I were on for 21 days or longer, would definitely be looking for variety! Can't even imagine the challenges of a WC when people are are for more than 100 days!

Of course as you all know Latitudes was NOT my cup of tea. Even though some liked it overall it was not a popular restaurant. Anytime they had the Italian Steakhouse in La Verandah good luck getting a table. So that kind of speaks volumes for the majority of people.

If they do this right, with lamb (of course) seafood (works for me) and specialty grilled items I think it could be a huge hit.

In Dallas the most popular restaurants are the "steakhouse and seafood" type.

I am quite delighted with the change and hope it works out well. It certainly offers me a new venue as Latitudes was totally out in my book.

If I ate there it was dine in my room first and the go for the people at the table!

I agree with you, Ngaire! My favorite dish was the candied ginger on the way out, lol. I am not a fan of "family style" dining maybe that was what turned me off, too.

"I agree with you, Ngaire! My favorite dish was the candied ginger on the way out, lol."

very very funny and very very true

I loved L'Atitudes, but I just had lobster and all the other courses. At La Veranda, we got a table easily but were there when they opened. That seemed to be the key everywhere.

Ken Watson said they were calling it Prime Seven if I heard correctly.

They also plan to add casual dining - pizza and ice cream. I mentioned this on cc and a lot had bad reactions, but they have this on Silversea, and it is just mixed in. At the buffet lunch, you can order pizza at your table, as you can at the pool grill and through room service, and the ice cream is available on the pool deck and at the end of the buffet. It doesn't cheapen anything. It is just another choice. I don't know how Regent will do it, but I imagine it will be something that is not tacky.

I did really like the Italian Steakhouse implementation at La Veranda but just worried this would be something similar with better cuts of meat. Maybe they will rotate La Veranda, too, but they said nothing about that.

One thing that my husband has missed on Regent was pizza. Oceania had it for lunch and if I remember correctly Princess had a little cafe set aside for it. Of course this was awhile back so I don't know what they are doing now. Anyway he for one thinks this is a great addition. Sometimes something simple is a great pleasure

Well it's Wednesday and the "ads" just came out in the local paper. One of our local stores has Ribeye steaks for $3.97 a pound. Nice thing is you can buy the pre-wrapped or ask the butcher to cut you a couple however thick you like. I may have to get a couple for back yard grilling. ;)


Greg

PS You know we really don't eat much red meat any more; mostly chicken, pork loin and fish. Turkey hamburger in spaghetti and such. So while I enjoy a good pot roast or meatloaf as much as anybody, we just really don't eat much of that any more...not a conscious thing, just drifted away. So, when we do indulge in red meat, it's either a home grilled chili dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings or a good steak. I also don't think it's impossible or even difficult to have a"Steak House" with a variety of healthy, tasty, and elegant options.

The healthy part isn't important to me while on vacation as that is the only time that I indulge! Think of all the things you eat on a cruise that you wouldn't at home on a normal day!

I'm excited about Prime Seven and won't miss Latitudes (except for the fun theme nights they have).

Prime Seven will be elegant and the menu good. I'm also looking forward to having an authentic pizza oven (long overdue) and the ice cream outlet.

All sounds great to me!

I also want to indulge on vacaction, and would also be excited about Prime 7 as a new option. Maybe they can steal a menu from Prime 112 in South Beach Miami and get some ideas since its been the hottest steak house in Miami for years now. They would probably just have to scale down the Portions.

FV

Wow -- what a great menu! Just checked it out (their website menu would not come up but did find a listing of their offerings at http://www.miamibeach411.com/Restaurants/prime_112.html Hope that works as a link -- not sure.

There were a lot of seafood appetizers as well as a great selection of prime steaks, lamb, veal. . . makes my mouth water. If this is the direction of Prime 7, I'm all for it (still think they should turn Signatures into something different:-)

I was on vacation.com's call yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to mute 10 minutes of the 45 minute talk. Interestingly, someone asked if Le Cordon Bleu would be coming to Navigator. The rep said it would not, and that in fact they were introducing a whole new concept for their ships but that she could not discuss it but that it would be on all the ships and was very exciting.

I wonder if they are still thinking all of this through.

Not on either call have they said Prime Seven was a replacement for L'Atitudes, they just keep saying new concept/new venue. I wish they would replace Signatures instead.

Debbie: I am happy as long as I don't have to cook it - we have loved Regent since '03 - I will agree with others prices have gone up - but so have my taxes, gas, food and insurance - so I don't stress about Regent's restaurants too much - we love the people and relaxed atmosphere - Latitudes (not L'Atitudes?) was not a favorite - no matter how you spell it I won't miss it just my opinion - thanks for all your good insight and tips - we are easy to please so we are not good judges - I'll be happy to carry my luggage to my cabin if it means I am ON REGENT!!!!