Oriana buffet closed

[rainbowhays]

I have received an email from P&O stating that for our cruise the starts Thursday the buffet restaurant will be closed for the duration of the cruise for maintenance. To say we are not very happy about this is an understatement. What are our options?

[P&O SUE]

I have just received this e-mail too! Is it the main buffet because it says "Alfresco" restaurant - I wondered if it was like the pizza places out by the pool?

The e-mail says we can use the Ocean Grill for breakfast and lunch but it doesn't say if there is a charge...

[P&O SUE]

I have just looked up the deck plans and the buffet is the Conservatory so we should be ok :)

[indiana123]

AlFresco is the smaller buffet up high.... and excellent it was too.

[P&O SUE]

AlFresco is the smaller buffet up high.... and excellent it was too.

 

Thank you - the e-mail said the same menu would be in the Ocean grill.

[richleeds]

Sounds more like an issue than planned maintenance.

[jeanlyon]

Well as our cruise had noro and we were served in the Conservatory instead of helping ourselves and the same for the cruise after that, I would suspect it's the same reason.

[majortom10]

Alfresco is the very small buffet that is only open for breakfast and lunch and not the main buffet restaurant that is virtually open all day. Unless you knew Alfresco you wouldnt really know it was there and cannot imagine it would make a lot of difference to the cruise.

[tartanexile81]

We were on Oceana a couple of years ago and the buffet was closed for several days whilst "maintenance" was carried out. Definitely not noro. I think it was something to do with new ovens and dish-washers - or so I was told in the laundrette :D!

[P&O SUE]

Alfresco is the very small buffet that is only open for breakfast and lunch and not the main buffet restaurant that is virtually open all day. Unless you knew Alfresco you wouldnt really know it was there and cannot imagine it would make a lot of difference to the cruise.

 

Thanks for that - it's only 4 days anyway so should be fine :)

[Brayman]

Thanks for that - it's only 4 days anyway so should be fine :)

 

Ha ha, only four days, you'll never find it in that time.

 

It's a bit cramped in there anyway so I reckon you will be better off in the Ocean Grill.

[jeanlyon]

That's confusing, why would you be told that the buffet was closed and you could use the Ocean Grill if it was only Al Fresco that was closed? The MDR is always available for breakfast.

[lake5298]

Alfresco is the very small buffet that is only open for breakfast and lunch and not the main buffet restaurant that is virtually open all day. Unless you knew Alfresco you wouldnt really know it was there and cannot imagine it would make a lot of difference to the cruise.

 

When we were on Oriana, AlFresco was also open for late supper - but while it was lovely, it is so small that there was often a queue to get in.

[P&O SUE]

That's confusing, why would you be told that the buffet was closed and you could use the Ocean Grill if it was only Al Fresco that was closed? The MDR is always available for breakfast.

 

The OP hasn't come back but my e-mail only said "Al fresco" and didn't say it was the main buffet. I was planning on trying the MDR for breakfast anyway.

[Scriv]

I always like the MDR for breakfast :)

[Sea Green]

MDR breakfast on the Oriana was good.....but the coffee was vile. We ended up going to the buffet for coffee after breakfast. Shame OP wont get to try AlFresco, its a hidden gem.

[Scriv]

Yes, coffee and indeed tea was better in Alfresco - I guess because it was continually being refreshed and produced in small doses.

[jeanlyon]

I'm afraid I find the coffee dreadful everywhere. In Al Fresco, it was stewed and horrible. I now take coffee bags with me.

[P&O Lynn Knickers]

I'm afraid I find the coffee dreadful everywhere. In Al Fresco, it was stewed and horrible. I now take coffee bags with me.

 

Oh dear, nothing as bad as dreadful coffee, especially in the morning.

Great idea to bring your own.