Disney Fantasy | Eastern Caribbean | Dinner at Royal Court

We were scheduled for the second dinner seating at 8:00 on this cruise. While that is much later than we normally eat dinner, it ended up working out great for us.

Here are a few tips on dinner times:

1. Second seating usually has less children if you are traveling without them.
2. Second seating allows you more time at the ports. You are typically scheduled back on the ship around 5:00, but if you have the 5:30 seating time, then that does not give you much time to get ready, which means back at the boat early.
3. First seating allows you to have dinner, then go to the evening show afterwards at 8:00. With second seating, you’ll have to go to the show first at 6:15. Shows were typically 45 minutes, so with first seating the night is still young for the adult shows.

A unique feature of Disney’s cruise line is that they have not one, but three rotational dinner restaurants, so your dinner experience never gets mundane. The Fantasy has Royal Court, Enchanted Garden and Animator’s Palate. The first three nights of the cruise, each restaurant served their typical cuisine. Our dinner schedule had us at Royal Court the first night for French fare.

It is the “fanciest” of the restaurants, intended to mimic the feel of a castle. There were mosaic images of the Disney princesses on the walls and a King’s table at the very center of the circular dining room. Hint: the King’s table seats 10 and is table number 82 if you want to put in a special request.
Onto the food. Bread service was a Warm Herb Brioche with an Olive Spread and it was served in this adorable basket shaped like Cinderella’s pumpkin coach.

For my appetizer, I ordered the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp served with white/green asparagus, micro greens and lemon-dill dressing with horseradish cream. Very flavorful.

Rem started off with our server’s recommendation for the evening – Double Baked Spinach and Cheese Soufflé coated with a Three-Cheese Cream. He said it was delish, but very rich. Here’s another hint: ALWAYS ask the server for their recommendation and try to go with it.

Next, I got Belle’s French Onion Soup. With Gruyère Cheese Crouton.

Rem went with a healthier choice – the Avocado-Citrus Salad. With Iceberg and Radicchio Leaves and an Orange Vinaigrette.

Funny story about that salad – so Disney is not perfect and he bit down on an orange seed. I noticed him wanting to spit something out and gave him a foul look – as if to say you better not do that in front of these people we just met in this fancy restaurant. What he told me later was that it had splintered, so he proceeded to chew on it for a good 10 minutes until it was safe to swallow. Sorry hubs!!

As an entree, I could not pass on the lamb chops. This was a Double Cut Rack of Lamb with a Dijon Crust with fine Green Beans, Gratin Potatoes and a Rosemary Jus.

Rem’s entree – Aged Angus Grilled Beef Tenderloin topped with Garlic Shrimp, sauteed Snap Peas and Marquis Potatoes with a Cognac reduction poured over top.

If there is a soufflé on the Dessert menu, I almost always order it. So I had to get the Grand Marnier Soufflé- Infused with fresh Orange Zest and served with Crème Anglaise. Yum!

Rem’s dessert was Sweet Temptations – a Trio of Peanut Butter Mousse, Mango Cheesecake, and Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée.

If you want to see the full menu at Royal Court or check out the menu at other DCL restaurants on the Fantasy or their three other ships, the Disney Cruise Line blog is a great website.