Ok, who here has dined at Palo?

We've booked the romance package, so we get "priority reservations". Does that mean a window seat?

Also, how romantic is it? :)

I haven't actually cruised yet, but from what I've read on other boards, the "priority reservations" means you will get to make yours before you actually board the ship, whereas those who do not have the REAS package will need to wait until they board. From what I understand these fill up fairly quickly once on board. The other thing I've heard about this, is sometimes you can pick your dining rotation (or at least make your request) so that your evening at Palo isn't during a formal night, or is because you don't want to attend the formal night...

Yes, it is VERY romantic -- no kids, beautiful views, great atmosphere! And you eat at a table for two. :) I haven't eaten there, but I was up there on a tour and wish I had eaten there.
Order the chocolate souffle! I haven't had it, but I heard it is awesome.

With the romance package they will assign you an evening (priority reservations and your chrage of $10 a person is already taken care of), which means you don't have to wait in line unless you need to change the night. If you want to change it, you will need to go down to where they are taking resevations -- usually on Beat Street/Route 66.
The first few nights you enjoy the menu of each dining room, on night four (and beyond), all the rooms have the same menu (captain's choice, mexicalifragilistic, etc...). Don't miss your first night at Animator's Palate (and bring a camera).

Palo is one of the best restaurants anywhere - land or sea. The food is creative and absolutely amazing. Desserts are to die for. The waitstaff professional and classy. It will be a memorable meal. Enjoy!

Order the chocolate souffle! I haven't had it, but I heard it is awesome.



The chocolate souffle is to DIE for! Really. I still think of that souffle a couple years later. :)

Skip the whole meal...go for just the dessert! :D ;)

And, I agree with Niwel...you can skip dinner at any of the other restaraunts...Except...don't miss "Animator's Palate". That was the BEST meal of all...just for the room entertainment. :D

My husban and I went on the cruise for out honeymoon. When we dined at Palo they asked us where we would like to be seated. If they don't ask you, just tell them you'd like a seat by the window. If you are eating there when it's dark outside there's almost no point in sitting near the window, you can't see anything at all! Palo is very nice but I found it almost a bit too stuffy to be romantic. The staff is very nice but you'd be suprized by all the business type men who eat there. I think we were one of the only couple in there. The food is excellent though! And the chocolate suffle is to die for. I bought the disney cook book with the recipe so that i could cook it at home. If you can, try to book a room with a veranda. My husband and I ordered champaign and chocolate dipped strawberries and ate them on the veranda during sunset. That was much more romanitc than Palo, and much more privite. Public displays of affection didn't seemed encouraged there.

Palo is one of the best restaurants anywhere - land or sea.

Palo suffers a bit because the food they're serving is several days old by the time it is served. For some things this doesn't matter, for others (particularly the seafood options) it can take a significant edge off (though this is a problem for all the meals, not just Palo).

Personally, I found our waiter to be too intrusive with the conversation; our brunch waiter had the balance just perfect.

On the whole I didn't see much to distinguish it from the other meals other than a bit more personal spacing between tables and the deserts.

But I would still recommend any cruiser to go when they can if for not other reason than to get away from your regular servers in the restaurant rotation (there are good things about having a dedicated server and there are bad things).

Palo suffers a bit because the food they're serving is several days old by the time it is served. For some things this doesn't matter, for others (particularly the seafood options) it can take a significant edge off (though this is a problem for all the meals, not just Palo).
Do cruise ships not take on new supplies when they make port calls? I always thought they did.

Disney does not. They said it was because they could not procure supplies that they could guarantee were to their standards.

For this 2-week cruise, I believe they are doing so at least once.

How does one go about booking the Romance Package for Palo?

How does one go about booking the Romance Package for Palo?

The romance package $339 per couple (which you book through the cruise line) includes:

Romantic Gift Amenity delivered to your stateroom (one per package)
Couples Massage at the Vista Spa & Salon
Priority Seating at Palo for one night
Romance Turndown Service (one night)
Champagne Breakfast in Bed (one morning)

Remember that you can now book Palo reservations online before your cruise. I can tell you that the people on the 14-night cruise who knew this were able to make all 3 reservations if they wanted them (dinner, brunch, high tea), while there are many - many - people on this ship who did not know about it and were unable to obtain any reservations once they got here.

It's going to be a few months until people get the hang of this new process - SO many people have not heard about it - so those who book online will have a huge advantage.

AVP

Well, everybody that reads the WDW Update now knows about it. ;)

Remember that you can now book Palo reservations online before your cruise. AVP

AVP - do you know what would happen about the chance of booking a PS for Palo and then getting to the ship and finding out the night you booked for Palo is your formal night, or a night at one of the other restaurants that you want to eat in but not a night at a restaurant you'd rather skip? Are you then S.O.L.?

Karin

AVP - do you know what would happen about the chance of booking a PS for Palo and then getting to the ship and finding out the night you booked for Palo is your formal night, or a night at one of the other restaurants that you want to eat in but not a night at a restaurant you'd rather skip? Are you then S.O.L.?

AVP is checking in on and off, but I can try to answer your question. If you get on and need to change, get whereever they are takign reservations (usually it is on Beat Street/Route 66) as soon as possible and see if you can switch (as soon as you check in and get your card it will have your rotation on it). They may put you on a waitlist and then move you up if someone cancels. If you are traveling just with adults, your usual rotation is Lumiere's/Tritons - Animators Palatte - Parrot Cay. Hope that helps you sort it out. Young children: Animators Palatte - Parrot Cay- Lumiere's/Tritons
Older children/sometimes adults: Parrot Cay- Lumiere's/Tritons - Animators Palatte.

Formal night is usually second night and second-to last night. Don't miss the first night in Animator's, since they have something really special. Second night they don't do anything different.

If you are traveling just with adults, your usual rotation is Lumiere's/Tritons - Animators Palatte - Parrot Cay.

Formal night is usually second night and second-to last night. Don't miss the first night in Animator's, since they have something really special. Second night they don't do anything different.

Niwel, this is very helpful, thank you. If I may double check what I'm understanding you to say, to see if I have it right...

This is for the 7-day West Coast cruise. There are just two of us, both adults. So formal night will be when we're scheduled for Animator's Palette, yes? Do they do formal night there? So if I don't mind missing Parrot Cay, I should book Palo for our 3rd night? But the 5th night would then be Animator's Palette and formal night again, yes?

I wish they'd just publish something online as to what our schedules will actually be... it'd make all of this so much easier and no second-guessing would be required!

Thanks in advance for your help. Karin

Niwel, this is very helpful, thank you. If I may double check what I'm understanding you to say, to see if I have it right...

This is for the 7-day West Coast cruise. There are just two of us, both adults. So formal night will be when we're scheduled for Animator's Palette, yes? Do they do formal night there? So if I don't mind missing Parrot Cay, I should book Palo for our 3rd night? But the 5th night would then be Animator's Palette and formal night again, yes?

You got it!
I checked some old navigators and your fifth night is semi-formal. the other nights are casual. So I say try for third night or fifth (so you don't have to bring another "nice" outfit). One of the nights they will give you your ticket for the character breakfast in Parrot Cay (don't miss it). The waiters are awesome and remember EVERY detail. My friend's mom liked her tea a certain way, and he had it waiting for her when she sat down.... :)

You got it!
I checked some old navigators and your fifth night is semi-formal. the other nights are casual. So I say try for third night or fifth (so you don't have to bring another "nice" outfit). One of the nights they will give you your ticket for the character breakfast in Parrot Cay (don't miss it). The waiters are awesome and remember EVERY detail. My friend's mom liked her tea a certain way, and he had it waiting for her when she sat down.... :)


Actually, let me clarify with what we are being onboard right now. Formal night will be your first Day at Sea. It happens for all three restaurants simultaneously. So, you could be in Animators, Parrot Cay, or Lumiere's for it.

Actually, let me clarify with what we are being onboard right now. Formal night will be your first Day at Sea. It happens for all three restaurants simultaneously. So, you could be in Animators, Parrot Cay, or Lumiere's for it.

Yes, what Tony said. And slight update to what I said earlier... while dinner most nights is casual, Lumiere's tends to be a little dressier -- and Parrot Cay tens to be a little more tropical ( a lot of Hawaiian shirts). Palo is absolutely dressy :)

So did anyone who just got back from the 14-day cruise do the Romance Package?

What (if I may ask) was the Romance Gift Amenity?
How was the Champagne Brunch in your room?
What did they do different for the Romance Turn-down Service?
Were your massages together or separate?

All in all, do you think it was it worth it? I mean, $339 is a lot of money...

I'm debating whether or not to book this for our West Coast Cruise and any and all information will be most appreciated!

Thanks, Karin

So did anyone who just got back from the 14-day cruise do the Romance Package? I know a couple who did this on the 14-day, I'll forward on your questions as soon as they get back to their computers.

I know the "Romance Turn-down Service" involved LOTS and LOTS of rose petals - we saw a stateroom host cleaning them up one morning.

AVP

So did anyone who just got back from the 14-day cruise do the Romance Package?

What (if I may ask) was the Romance Gift Amenity?
How was the Champagne Brunch in your room?
What did they do different for the Romance Turn-down Service?
Were your massages together or separate?

All in all, do you think it was it worth it? I mean, $339 is a lot of money...

I'm debating whether or not to book this for our West Coast Cruise and any and all information will be most appreciated!

Thanks, Karin

Has anyone on any of the West Coast 7-day cruises done this? I'm wanting to know if it's worth it.

Did you travel with children? We won't be and I'd be interested to hear what your dining rotation was and when you scheduled to go to Palo and not miss one of the other restaurants you wanted to be sure and get to.

This seems like a lot of money to have Priority Seating at Palo,and I guess I'm hoping all the other bits that come with it make it worth it.

Thanks for any and all info you can share!

Karin

Considering you can now book Palo in advance, the romance package might not seem like as big a deal. If you want the expeirence of the champage, chocolate and the spa package , you mught want to. I wouldn't book any of the first three nights -- just to be on the safe side so you don't "miss" first night on animator's palate. since you aren't traveling with kids, you rotation will likely be Lumire's-Animator's-Parrot Cay.
Hope that answers some of your questions.

Considering you can now book Palo in advance, the romance package might not seem like as big a deal. If you want the expeirence of the champage, chocolate and the spa package , you mught want to. I wouldn't book any of the first three nights -- just to be on the safe side so you don't "miss" first night on animator's palate. since you aren't traveling with kids, you rotation will likely be Lumire's-Animator's-Parrot Cay.
Hope that answers some of your questions.


Thanks, Shoshanna!

Did you do the Romance Package yet? I'm wondering if the breakfast in bed, rose petals and massages are worth the rest of the money spent to get all the rest of that stuff.

Thanks! Karin

Thanks, Shoshanna!

Did you do the Romance Package yet? I'm wondering if the breakfast in bed, rose petals and massages are worth the rest of the money spent to get all the rest of that stuff.

I haven't, but I think Disneyphile did on the cruise she just returned from. I think she's working on trip reports -- or you can PM her.