Ventura Entertainment & Buffet Questions

[WATB]

Hi everyone, I'm ploughing my way through the Ventura reviews finding out lots of info but I've just a few questions about the entertainment and evening buffets please...we've opted for 8.30 sitting dinner so wanted to check the start time of the entertainment that doesn't take place in the theatre ? Does this have a couple of start times or is it just one show a night ? What time do the bars and casino close ?

 

We were sort of planning later dinner to allow us time to get ready leisurely after returning from excursions but don't want to miss out on the evening entertainment. Does the buffet have reduced choice late at night (ie after the shows) should we choose to eat then ?

 

From what I've read, I'm a little worried that the buffet option is very crowded and its difficult to get a table.......is this just at peak times ?

 

I'm wondering if we should switch to freedom dining, although I believe this has its drawbacks too :s

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.....only 4 months of chopping and changing my mind to go, LOL !!! :D

[u2cruiser]

Hi everyone, I'm ploughing my way through the Ventura reviews finding out lots of info but I've just a few questions about the entertainment and evening buffets please...we've opted for 8.30 sitting dinner so wanted to check the start time of the entertainment that doesn't take place in the theatre ? Does this have a couple of start times or is it just one show a night ? What time do the bars and casino close ?

 

We were sort of planning later dinner to allow us time to get ready leisurely after returning from excursions but don't want to miss out on the evening entertainment. Does the buffet have reduced choice late at night (ie after the shows) should we choose to eat then ?

 

From what I've read, I'm a little worried that the buffet option is very crowded and its difficult to get a table.......is this just at peak times ?

 

I'm wondering if we should switch to freedom dining, although I believe this has its drawbacks too :s

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.....only 4 months of chopping and changing my mind to go, LOL !!! :D

 

Don't worry WATB, there is so much going on all the time on Ventura, you'll be spoilt for choice. We had 2nd sitting and we had plenty of choice for entertainment after dinner.

 

The casino is one side of a large bar and there was always something going on in the bar late on, though I never saw the casino very busy. Same in all the other entertainment areas, there was plenty happening late. There was always a late show in the theatre, for 2nd sitting people. We never saw anything close before we went to bed! :D

 

The buffet was never crowded at night, and is so big you will always find a table somewhere. Dining there at night isn't as special as being served in the main dining room but is ok for a change. Each evening there is a themed buffet if you wish to have a change from the dining room. The Indian night is excellent. Menus are posted up outside the buffet.

 

We've opted for Freedom Dining next cruise, purely because we don't like being stuck to times. You will have a great cruise and you won't miss a thing :)

[WATB]

Cheers U2......that's very reassuring, don't want to miss a thing, hee hee !! I'm far too excited about this trip already.......we've already bought my hubby a new suit and his very first non-flashing bow tie.......all very grown up, LOL !!! :D

[Thejuggler]

After about 9.30pm the specialist buffet food will be limited - this is changeover time for the 'through the night' buffet.

[WATB]

Cheers for that snippet of info TJ..........we're so looking forward to our cruise and don't want to miss a thing but its seems there is so much going on we're going to be spoilt for choice :)

 

Does it go to burger and chips type food for the night time or a bit more involved than that ? I guess there will more to choose from than the room service menu ??

[u2cruiser]

WATB, there is a charge for room service items after 11pm eg £1 for soup and £1.50 for a baguette. There are some charges for certain items during the day too, but plenty of complimentary items to choose from in the daytime.

 

I have pics of the room service menu, but can only post them here as thumbnails and they are hard to read even at full size, without zooming. If you want me to post them so you can right click and save, you could zoom them and read all the items. Let me know :)

[BrianI]

The self service is open all night. Late on there is choice from snacks like sandwiches, cheese & biscuits, muffins to hot meals.

Brian

[WATB]

WATB, there is a charge for room service items after 11pm eg £1 for soup and £1.50 for a baguette. There are some charges for certain items during the day too, but plenty of complimentary items to choose from in the daytime.

 

I have pics of the room service menu, but can only post them here as thumbnails and they are hard to read even at full size, without zooming. If you want me to post them so you can right click and save, you could zoom them and read all the items. Let me know :)

 

Righty-o.......that took me by surprise :eek:, I had read there was a charge for some items on the Room Service menu but not about a charge after midnight, so thanks for the tip........its not likely we'll be eating that late but will make a stop off at the buffet on the way back to the cabin if we're starving as you never know when the munchies will strike :D

 

If you wouldn't mind posting the menus please, I'll give the zooming a go....might be very handy for early brekkie. Thanks very much for this :)

[BrianI]

You can see the room service menu and prices in the Ventura Cabin Service directory, see page 14 onwards

https://ask.pocruises.com/resources/carnivaluk/fleet/CSDVentura

Brian

[WATB]

The self service is open all night. Late on there is choice from snacks like sandwiches, cheese & biscuits, muffins to hot meals.

Brian

 

Thanks Brian, Sounds like a bit of everything.......its not for me you understand ;) (mind you cheese and bickies sounds alright), more for my hubby........he's worried he won't be able to get his kebab after a night out :eek: ..........(sorry, only teasing :D)

[u2cruiser]

Righty-o.......that took me by surprise :eek:, I had read there was a charge for some items on the Room Service menu but not about a charge after midnight, so thanks for the tip........its not likely we'll be eating that late but will make a stop off at the buffet on the way back to the cabin if we're starving as you never know when the munchies will strike :D

 

If you wouldn't mind posting the menus please, I'll give the zooming a go....might be very handy for early brekkie. Thanks very much for this :)

 

You are welcome! I need to set up an online photo album so that I can post full pics rather than silly thumbnails. I notice in the breakfast menu it says not available on disembarkation day. We had a room service breakfast standing order every day including the last day. :)

[geecee1]

Hi everyone, I'm ploughing my way through the Ventura reviews finding out lots of info but I've just a few questions about the entertainment and evening buffets please...we've opted for 8.30 sitting dinner so wanted to check the start time of the entertainment that doesn't take place in the theatre ? Does this have a couple of start times or is it just one show a night ? What time do the bars and casino close ?

 

We were sort of planning later dinner to allow us time to get ready leisurely after returning from excursions but don't want to miss out on the evening entertainment. Does the buffet have reduced choice late at night (ie after the shows) should we choose to eat then ?

 

From what I've read, I'm a little worried that the buffet option is very crowded and its difficult to get a table.......is this just at peak times ?

 

I'm wondering if we should switch to freedom dining, although I believe this has its drawbacks too :s

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.....only 4 months of chopping and changing my mind to go, LOL !!! :D

 

We had club dining at 8.30 and found time to go to the late show. We also used the buffet on numerous occasions as we found the menus in the MDRS quite limited, with virtually no salads and often only one veg!!

Try the "Beach House" for a different dining experience.You may have to wait for a table as it has a limited number of covers and is quite popular with some of the ships officers. Open until 9.30pm, and featuring, stir fry,steaks,surf and turf,pasta etc.

[WATB]

Hi Geecee............The Beach House sounds good to me........its a casual venue is it ?

 

Our cruise info says there are 2 formal nights and 5 smart casual. I'm guessing the formal nights are similar to gala nights and would have the better menu on these nights rather than the casual nights or doesn't it work like that ??

 

We would like to have a bit of a mix, don't really want to do formal dining more than a couple of times on our trip.........or does the quality of food in the casual dining options not really compare to the Club Dining Rooms ??

 

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

[jodanuke]

Don't suppose anyone knows what the entertainment is like at the moment?

 

Such a comedians, groups, singers etc

[geecee1]

Hi Geecee............The Beach House sounds good to me........its a casual venue is it ?

 

Our cruise info says there are 2 formal nights and 5 smart casual. I'm guessing the formal nights are similar to gala nights and would have the better menu on these nights rather than the casual nights or doesn't it work like that ??

 

We would like to have a bit of a mix, don't really want to do formal dining more than a couple of times on our trip.........or does the quality of food in the casual dining options not really compare to the Club Dining Rooms ??

 

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

 

Beach House is informal even on formal nights. The food across the ship is fine, particularly when you consider the number of meals they have to prepare.

East is very good and we heard excellent reports of Ramblas.

The food in the Club Dining Rooms is nothing special, the sort of meal you might expect in a Gastro Pub or decent hotel restaurant.

The theme nights in the Buffet are pretty good as an alternative.

The great thing about Ventura is the amount of dining options.

[geecee1]

Beach House is informal even on formal nights. The food across the ship is fine, particularly when you consider the number of meals they have to prepare.

East is very good and we heard excellent reports of Ramblas.

The food in the Club Dining Rooms is nothing special, the sort of meal you might expect in a Gastro Pub or decent hotel restaurant.

The theme nights in the Buffet are pretty good as an alternative.

The great thing about Ventura is the amount of dining options.

 

P.S Forgot to mention that some dishes in the Beach House attract a small surcharge c.£4.50/6.50 depending on the dish.