If you like meat, you'll love the Samba Grill, the Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria, that has debuted on Royal Caribbean International's new Allure of the Seas.
Gauchos, well waiters dressed like gauchos (South American cowboys, if you're wondering), come around to the table with meat on huge skewers and carve pieces off for you.
Once you switch on the green light, service starts. And it's fast. I hadn't even managed to pick up my knife and fork to try the first bits of beef before a second gaucho appeared, brandishing a different cut of beef. And then another gaucho came with chicken wrapped in bacon.
It was time to switch on the red light to show we were taking a break. But as soon as we had cleared what was on out plates, we went to green again.
So then came sausages, lamb, a top up of fries and fried plantains. There are nine different meats but I'm afraid we gave up at that point.
The food was very tasty and well worth the $25 per person 
cover charge (but I'm not convinced many veggies will take up the $15 option given this is such a meat fest), but they seriously need to do something about the atmosphere. Or rather lack of it.
I had expected a live band, South American rhythms and colourful dancers. What we got was one scantilly-clad young lady who managed to keep smiling while the rest of us - and the place was less than half-full - managed a rather embarassed applause every now and then.
It has to get better if it's going to succeed.
Jane Archer
