Seabourn Odyssey - Restaurant

[Harvey2442]

jeni - I agree entirely that this is an operational cost issue by Seabourn but the per diem rate has recently increased significantly and what I expect from a 6 star luxury line is choice and not having to cram into an overcrowded Colonnade on sea days.

 

Whether the extract you published from a brochure means what it it implies is interesting - it seems to suggest that Keller's speciality restaurant debuts on the Quest followed by the Encore with perhaps Sojourn and Odyssey following that - if so maybe it's to do with their next refits or maybe the drafting is incorrect.

[wripro]

And what if they decode to close the spa during port days because of cost and staffing? Or close the pool area at 4PM because not enough people are using it? Or stop room service at 11PM because not enough people are ordering? What it costs SB to keep all venues open is not my business or concern. It is a luxury product and after paying what I pay, if I want to have lunch in the MDR I should be able to. End of story. Period!!!!!

[travelingduo]

Completely agree with wripro! ALL services should be available . This is why we pay for a 'premium' cruise. Yes, End of story Period!

[jenidallas]

Whether the extract you published from a brochure means what it it implies is interesting - it seems to suggest that Keller's speciality restaurant debuts on the Quest followed by the Encore with perhaps Sojourn and Odyssey following that - if so maybe it's to do with their next refits or maybe the drafting is incorrect.

 

Quest drops off the schedule from April 15-23 after the transatlantic. I'm guessing that a retrofit will be done at that time.

 

It may make sense for Seabourn to launch on one of the established ships to work out any kinks before launching on Encore. That does appear to be different than the original announcement but perhaps they realize change is needed sooner than later?

[jenidallas]

Has anyone actually discussed the MDR concerns with corporate? We e discussed it for over a year now on Cruise Critic bug it seems like if enforcement of change is going to come, it will come from Seattle.

 

Then again, I was on Odyssey last summer when the MDR was closed on port days and there were F&B folks from Seattle onboard. I'd think if it was an issue from the corporate perspective, the MDR would be open.

 

I still have yet to experience the MDR being closed on a sea day. Perhaps my transatlantic will be lucky enough not to experience this.

[lincslady]

Being a Brit I was writing a bit 'tongue in cheek' about what is written in the newest full brochure and brandishing it once on board. Of course Seabourn can say exactly what they like about eating in the main restaurant once you are on board, but should take more care when producing their brochures.

 

However, I still feel that although we personally do not want it, there should be breakfast and lunch available in the restaurant for those who do, on any day, at these prices.

[jenidallas]

However, I still feel that although we personally do not want it, there should be breakfast and lunch available in the restaurant for those who do, on any day, at these prices.

 

We are still on the same side of this debate.

 

Re-reading this thread was enlightening. No one has changed their opinions... and Seabourn has done nothing to address 15 months of chatter. (Not unless you count that revised marketing text!)

[Emperor Norton]

Has anyone actually discussed the MDR concerns with corporate? ...

 

The HM and corporate via the end of cruise survey. Maybe they ignored me as I was writing from the then sold little sisters.

[lincslady]

Just to reiterate what I reported before - the large full cruise book (172 pages in the UK edition) does not just mention 'dining' in the main dining room, but actually states at the end of the section on the restaurant .. 'The room is beautiful, the cuisine is exquisite at BREAKFAST, LUNCH and dinner'... This is the clearest indication there has been, to my knowledge, that the restaurant is supposed to be open for all meals.

 

It also goes on to say that 'the new signature restaurant will be revealed on Seabourn Quest in Spring 2016, followed by Seabourn Encore when she debuts later that year. All Seabourn ships will have the new dining concept by early 2018 with the launch of Seabourn Ovation.' I have typed all these quotes accurately.

 

I have no idea whether the open for all meals will be honoured, but this is certainly what is suggested in this, the latest, full brochure - known if our house as the Bible.

[PaulaJK]

Thank you Liclady. I am among those that feel it is wrong to close an advertised service, be it gym, MDR, casino, card room, sauna,etc. Imagine if they closed the Colonnade for lunch and everyone had to go to the MDR. However, I am doubtful that the catalog will influence onboard behaviors.

 

 

 

 

I am curious why te new restaurant is not being established sooner in the current ships ,meaning Odyssey and Sojourn. Of course one anticipates that new builds will have it.

[jenidallas]

I am curious why te new restaurant is not being established sooner in the current ships ,meaning Odyssey and Sojourn. Of course one anticipates that new builds will have it.

 

Are Sojourn and Odyssey scheduled for dry dock before Encore comes online? I imagine that's the driving factor if there are retrofits needed to convert the decor.

[jenidallas]

Just to reiterate what I reported before - the large full cruise book (172 pages in the UK edition) does not just mention 'dining' in the main dining room, but actually states at the end of the section on the restaurant .. 'The room is beautiful, the cuisine is exquisite at BREAKFAST, LUNCH and dinner'... This is the clearest indication there has been, to my knowledge, that the restaurant is supposed to be open for all meals.

 

It might be a matter of interpretation - I don't read that to be "always open". Then again, I've only been sailing Seabourn since 2013 and the main dining room has never been open on port days on my cruises and has always been open on sea days. That includes two Ofyssey sailings since this thread was started.

 

I still have not seen reports of the MDR being closed on sea days - every time we have a burst of "the MDR was closed every day" reports, it has been on the shorter port intensive itineraries.

 

I do absolutely believe the MDR should always be open for breakfast. I do wish it were always open for lunch as well but I don't know that it's reasonable when the ship is in port.

[wripro]

It was reasonable a couple of years ago. Why shouldn't it be reasonable now?

[jenidallas]

More analytic data?

 

We're running, what, three full years of having three large ships operating?

 

That's more than enough solid data to analyze daily utilization, cost of food spoilage (ie entrees prepared for fulfillment of the menu but not served since there is a certain amount of pre-prep needed for many), number of passengers on/off the ship on port days (ie bodies actually eating), and staffing utilization (not just to cover dining services themselves but also how many of those forward-facing staff need to get pulled out to go accompany tour groups, need to rotate through time off while in port, etc.)

 

I fully understand that it's desired that the MDR be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on every single day the ship carries passengers. I don't agrue with that desire or individual definitions of what luxury is or is not.

 

But absent any explanation from corporate - not even individually to those on this forum who have those connections at the highest levels - it's not unreasonable to formulate a business case for why Seabourn management might have decided to do this.

Edited September 29, 2015 by jenidallas

[Host Dan]

It was reasonable a couple of years ago. Why shouldn't it be reasonable now?

I agree.

[pdx13]

Seems to me that it is a question of allocation of resources and how those resources can be directed towards optimizing the experience for the greatest number of passengers. If there is not sufficient demand to justify keeping the MDR open for breakfast and lunch every day, then I would imagine the management believes the resources necessary to accomplish this are better utilized in areas where there are more passengers so they can be provided an appropriate level of service. As another poster mentioned the companies have this down to a science, they know very precisely what the expected demand will be at any given time, and it probably just doesn't make sense to have the MDR open and staffed if only for a handful of passengers. Although we have yet to sail our first cruise on Seabourn it seems that there are plenty of options available, and if eating every breakfast and lunch in the MDR was a priority we probably wouldn't choose to sail with them. I do think they should make it clear that the MDR will not always be open for breakfast and lunch however.

[Daneite]

I still have not seen reports of the MDR being closed on sea days - every time we have a burst of "the MDR was closed every day" reports, it has been on the shorter port intensive itineraries.

 

 

We were on Odyssey this month on a 7 day cruise we had a full day at sea and a part day at sea and the dining room remained closed.

It affects me as a vegetarian as in the MDR there is always a vegetarian dish on the menu that I can fall back on if I cannot find anything suitable on the buffet.

[vistaman]

And what if they decode to close the spa during port days because of cost and staffing? Or close the pool area at 4PM because not enough people are using it? Or stop room service at 11PM because not enough people are ordering? What it costs SB to keep all venues open is not my business or concern. It is a luxury product and after paying what I pay, if I want to have lunch in the MDR I should be able to. End of story. Period!!!!!

 

i agree with you in full!!

closing MDR can be done once a week when nearly everybody is on tours

i complained once very roughly and the hotel manager simply laughed at me - and made silly jokes about my comments

[jenidallas]

I never sailed on the little sisters - what were the breakfast and lunch options on those ships? Did they have a Colonade equivalent?

[galeforce9]

I never sailed on the little sisters - what were the breakfast and lunch options on those ships? Did they have a Colonade equivalent?

 

 

Yes

[markham]

"Equivalent"? Not quite.

 

The veranda restaurant was not equivalent since it was much smaller for the number of passengers that those ships carried, thereby necessitating the opening of the MDRs. And the interior area was very noisy with an open kitchen and cramped common areas around its few tables.

 

For those who remember those ships and have never been on the Odyssey class ships you will find the Colonnade a welcome change.

 

Happy sailing!

[nolatravelgirl]

Wow would love to see the Herald from the sea day that showed that the MDR was closed for both breakfast and lunch.

 

I know that everyone is all up in arms about this but I think some folks here really should take a mainstream cruise to gain a better understanding of what is a typical cruise buffet and realize just how different the experience in the Colonnade really is in comparison.

[lincslady]

We too did not like the indoor part of the veranda restaurant on the small ships - noisy and usually crowded, and you had to go outdoors to get there! Not much fun in wind and rain. Outside was nice enough.

 

We very much prefer the Colonnade, and like the fact that you can have everything served if you wish. However, it can get crowded, and I can see why some people would prefer to have the option of the dining room, though we have only had breakfast there once or twice, and lunch only on galley lunch day.

[galeforce9]

We too did not like the indoor part of the veranda restaurant on the small ships - noisy and usually crowded, and you had to go outdoors to get there! Not much fun in wind and rain. Outside was nice enough.

 

We very much prefer the Colonnade, and like the fact that you can have everything served if you wish. However, it can get crowded, and I can see why some people would prefer to have the option of the dining room, though we have only had breakfast there once or twice, and lunch only on galley lunch day.

 

 

I find the inside of the colonnade very oppressive with a low ceiling. The outside is better but there are few tables for two.

[wripro]

It was completely possible on the triplets to have waiter service in the Verandah Cafe, either inside or outside. You never had to go to the buffet if you didn't want to. Yes, the inside was crowded and noisy, yes, you had to go outside to get there but those were the quirks of the triplets and part of their charm. Much as I like the larger ships, and I obviously do like them a lot, they will never equal the intimacy and allure of the triplets. They were what made Seabourn Seabourn. End of reminiscence!