On a recent 3-night sailing on the Disney Dream, I had the
opportunity to experience Remy for dinner.
The Disney Cruise Line website touts Remy as “Offering the most luxurious dining onboard, Remy is an
adult-exclusive restaurant serving the finest French fare for dinner.”
Excited, and a little nervous to
dine outside of my comfort zone, I did a bit of research to be prepared for the
evening. It was a bit of a challenge to
find current menus on line – they are constantly changing to reflect trends in
fine dining and the freshest ingredients available.
Now, time for a bit of
honesty. I’m a picky eater. My husband would say that I’m VERY
picky. I also have a shellfish allergy,
but the day of our Remy reservation I went all in with a sense of adventure –
committing to at least trying everything presented.
It was FABULOUS! Each course surprised me more than the last –
beautifully plated, elegantly presented, and each and every guest in the
restaurant felt like a VIP. Dinner wasn’t
rushed, but perfectly timed to enjoy every bite as well as conversation with my
dining companions. We enjoyed the live
violin played several times throughout the evening by a feature musician as
well.
Dinner: $95 dining charge per
person
·
Remy
Champagne Brunch: $60
charge per person; $30 charge per person extra when adding the Champagne
pairing
·
Remy
Dessert Experience: $55
charge per person; $25 charge per person extra when adding the wine pairing
·
Petites
Assiettes de Remy: $50
charge per person (includes a wine pairing with each course)
o This event can only be booked
onboard
·
Remy
Wine Pairing Experience: $105
charge per person
Dinner
At dinnertime, the following dress code is enforced:
Men: A jacket (such as a sports, suit or tuxedo jacket) is
required, with dress pants/slacks and shoes. Ties are optional. Please no
jeans, shorts, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes. Jackets are available to
borrow if needed.
·
Ladies: Cocktail dress, evening dress,
pant suit or skirt/blouse are required. Please no jeans, shorts, capri pants,
sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes.
Now,
I have to warn you – I’m going to share my experience and spoil some
surprises. If you prefer to be
surprised, stop reading here, call your Travel Planner, and book this amazing
experience. You’ll never be able to do
it for a lower cost and what an experience!
Upon
check in, we were escorted into the Maritime Lounge on the Aft of the ship to
wait for our table to be ready. This is
a lovely area full of comfortable seating and dark wood – cigars and drinks are
available here as well. We were escorted
into the dining room, and shown a bottle of wine in the display that was
featured in the movie Ratatouille. We were also greeted by Remy himself perched
in one of the crystal light fixtures, and introduced to the sommelier.
The
restaurant is beautifully decorated in golds and deep reds, with simple center
pieces. We were seated near the windows
just before sunset over the ocean – not many other opportunities to see a
sunset like that. Our service team was
spectacular – replacing napkins with alternate colors if they clashed with
outfits, and arranging silverware appropriately. Though I had never dined in a restaurant like
this, I didn’t feel out of place or awkward – they walked us through each step
kindly and smoothly.
We
were given a water menu, sparkling, still, or flat in a wide variety. Then, our server presented us with a
champagne drink, with a touch of candied fruit to increase the bubbles. What a fun way to start a decadent meal! We were given the option to select an
American Menu, a French-inspired menu, or items ala-carte. We all selected the American option at the
recommendation of our server and she encouraged us to trust the chefs – one the
head chef at Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian and the other, a
chef with 3 Michelin stars.
Next
came the Amuse Buche. A single spoon was
presented, each with a small, bite sized morsel. Our assistant server explained that it was a
tomato soup explosion, and best eaten in one complete bite. We appreciated the advice and tried it – huge
smiles on our faces as we understood what she meant about explosion. The creamy tomato soup was delightful, and
its presentation even more so.
Our
next dish was a martini-style glass with a foie gras and hazelnut
combination. I was surprised that this
was served warm, but I liked the taste – like a rich soup with a big of
sweetness and texture at the bottom from the hazelnuts.
Next
on the menu was the tomato Gelatin. It
was presented with a glass of tomato water and a sauce added after
serving. One of the diners in our group
was Gluten free and each course was accommodated for her – in this case, there
was no “chips” on the tomatoes and she had separate bread as well. Multiple types of tomato made up the
beautiful plate, but the center “cherry tomatoes” had a jellied consistency and
were very interesting.
I
knew the next course was salmon – even though the menu was in French, I could
decipher that much. The salmon came
wrapped up with a variety of sauces and a foam on the presentation. I was surprised it was raw and it looked like
a play on sushi. I don’t love seafood,
but I tried it and enjoyed it more than I expected. Again, the presentation took center stage
here and it was just beautiful.
Following
the salmon, we had a halibut filet. This
was perfectly grilled and accompanied by root vegetables and a creamy sauce
that was delicious. It also included
toiles as garnish, left off of the plate for my gluten free companion.
Our
next course was the “main course” I believe, and it was served under a silver
dome, which was later removed in unison by the attentive staff with a
flourish.
This
course was Waygu beef from Australia surrounded by different types of
onions. Though Chef recommended
medium-rare, everyone at our table opted for medium and really enjoyed this
course. The beef was tender and
flavorful – certainly the star of the evening.
After
relaxing for a bit, we were offered a selection from the cheese cart. Our server asked us if we had a preference or
preferred for her to prepare a selection of cheeses for us. We each received a small plate with six
cheese options that she explained - from
the regions to the taste, and accompaniments such as honey and dried fruit. We were able to taste our way around France
with her selections and enjoyed this immensely.
Napkins
were switched for our final course- dessert!
This hazelnut chocolate dish was delightful, and the gold flakes
sprinkled on top added to the decadence of the experience. My favorite part was the cookie texture of
the bottom, but all of us enjoyed this very rich treat.
Several
of my dining companions ordered coffee.
We were informed that Chef doesn’t like for coffee to be served without
a sweet treat and we were offered a variety of chocolate bark pieces with fruit
and nuts, along with small candied cakes and mocha and hazelnut tarts. I think that we were all too full to try more
than a bite, but again they were beautifully presented. Our gluten free friend was offered gluten
free lollipops rather than these chocolate treats.
The
chef himself came out to check on our meal and we shared our compliments. It wasn’t a meal, it was a complete
experience and one like most of us had never had before.
Just
before leaving, our service team offered all of us a small box of house made
chocolates to share as well as a long stemmed red rose. The entire experience was just that – an
experience for the senses. The sights,
smells, sounds, textures, and above all, the tastes were spectacular and far
exceeded my expectations.
If
you enjoy fine dining, Remy is a must try on your next cruise. This can be reserved during your online check
in.
I'd love to help you plan your next Disney Cruise Line adventure. My services are 100% to you and I offer exclusive on board credit to all cruise guests - please contact me for details.
Katie@HiHoVacations.com
7. Availability is best the earlier you book! This is true for rooms and room types, restaurants, and fastpasses. Booking early gives you the best options for your vacation. And extra days to look forward to the magic! 
3. Anticipation makes the trip sweeter! According to the Huffington Post, "Plan ahead. If you want a happy vacation, check spontaneity at the door. Our new research revealed that the best - and happiest - vacations for 90 percent of people were those planned more than one month in advance. Planning ahead reduces stress and increases the opportunity to anticipate the getaway." They also remind you that planning is the most stressful part of the vacation, and "In our study, 74 percent find the most stressful aspect of travel to be figuring out the details: travel uncertainty, transportation, wasting time figure things out on the trip, and being unfamiliar with the location. Instead of suffering, ask for help. Find a good travel agent to plan some of this for you." At Hi Ho, we agree. :) 
1. Stay inside the magic. When it comes to Disney World, many of you have heard me say that staying on site makes a huge difference. From service to convenience, this is one area that skimping isn't the way to go. Transportation couldn't be easier, and if something goes wrong, Disney will make it right. Be in the parks early, enjoy complimentary Magic Bands, Book your dining, fastpasses, and special events before anyone else. This one is worth it, friends.
