ISO opinions on how you like the buffets.

[KatieBelle]

Our experience in general has been that the Terrace has "rush hour" about 0700-0730 for those getting off on Oceania excursions, and again about 1215-1300 when those same excursion begin to return.  Our strategy is to have breakfast at Waves or even the Grand Dining Room (as we usually travel in B1-3).  On the rare occasion we are in A1 or above, room service is also an option.  I do enjoy the Terrace and their daily offering of a special egg dish.  You can also get eggs benedict to order.

 

Although my DH would likely choose the Terrace for most meals even for dinner,  I prefer not to carry food around and search for a table.  At Waves you find your table and place your order.  Food and drinks are then served to you at your table.  So a lot less hectic.  GDR for breakfast and lunch-even better!

 

However, when we do eat in Terrace, I do appreciate the effort to keep a multitude of hands out of the buffet items.  Overall it seems much more civilized.   

Katie

[clo]

1 hour ago, KatieBelle said:

Our experience in general has been that the Terrace has "rush hour" about 0700-0730 for those getting off on Oceania excursions, and again about 1215-1300 when those same excursion begin to return.  Our strategy is to have breakfast at Waves or even the Grand Dining Room (as we usually travel in B1-3).  On the rare occasion we are in A1 or above, room service is also an option.  I do enjoy the Terrace and their daily offering of a special egg dish.  You can also get eggs benedict to order.

 

Although my DH would likely choose the Terrace for most meals even for dinner,  I prefer not to carry food around and search for a table.  At Waves you find your table and place your order.  Food and drinks are then served to you at your table.  So a lot less hectic.  GDR for breakfast and lunch-even better!

 

However, when we do eat in Terrace, I do appreciate the effort to keep a multitude of hands out of the buffet items.  Overall it seems much more civilized.   

Katie

Great info.  Thanks for taking the time and spending the energy.

[1985rz1]

2 hours ago, Rob the Cruiser said:

 

That would be nice but no amount of courteous comments relative to health risks are going to change those "adults" who don't wash their hands after using the restroom, refuse to use the sanitizers and touch food at the buffet. They should have been taught proper hygiene as a child. Chances are they would respond to your thoughtful suggestions in a negative manner. 

 

Agreed.  But the education I was thinking of was a strong rap to the knuckles by with a serving spoon by the server.😉😈

 

[pinotlover]

How about a manager summoned to explain policy for the first offense, permanent expulsion from the Terrace on the second? If they must act like children, then send them to timeout like children! ☺️

[CintiPam]

We always have breakfast at the Terrace Cafe and try to eat outside if the weather permits, a lovely way to start our day.  On our last few cruises, we enjoyed some dinners there because the fresh-grilled meats and seafood are so very good.  

 

Unfortunately on our cruise last month on Marina the grill line was so long that when, after a 20-minute wait in line, my husband was told they had just run out of the ribeye steak he planned to order, we never returned for dinner there on that 14-night Mediterranean cruise.  We were told by others that the grill line was long most evenings; I do not know why.

[Kingofcool1947]

On 6/17/2019 at 10:39 AM, clo said:

(If there's a thread on this I couldn't find it.  Can one search within a particular board?)

 

I saw a thread on a general board about cutting in line at buffets and commented that I was looking forward to O's buffets not being self-serve.  Someone commented that they experienced it on another line and didn't like it.  It slowed down the line and it was hard to get just which 'piece of fish' or just a small serving of something.  Would you please talk to me about this?  I don't anticipate any/many buffets but would be curious what you think of them.  TIA.

 

Not much of a line if you have a small passenger count like Oceania.  

IMO, Much ado over nothing.   Just ask and you will be served.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Kingofcool1947

[Kingofcool1947]

On 6/17/2019 at 4:12 PM, Shawnino said:

 

Our experience similar.

 

Also detailed (in separate thread) how the servers rather refused to give us more than two pieces of sushi roll at once. F&B Mgr. asked us how things were going one day and that was mostly sorted thereafter.

 

And Pinotlover is correct--place can be like the Sahara Desert.

 

Given that O's clientele is sufficiently midbrow, I think self serve would be fine.

Agreed, the mass-market lines are buffets to avoid.

 

Seriously?  So, you think all Oceania clientele mid brow PAXs are not filthy?   Then, why do you see Oceania PAXs stick their fingers/hands under the sneeze guards?  Or sneeze/cough without covering up,  or sneeze/cough into their hand, instead in the crook of their arm?  Or not use the hand sanitation stations?

Low brow,  mid brow, or high brow, makes no difference.  Filthy behavior is present across all demographics.👎👎 Oceania is not immune to Noro.

JMO.

[welshfamily]

The buffet is well run most days. Being served the food adds to a already pleasant experience. As with all things new staff with only a small amount of English can take a little time to ‘catch on’ to portion size. We found the ladies were perfectly happy with the one scoop but the gentlemen wished for more. My son , who has been taught manners, struggled to a) not let the lady behind him get served first and b) ask for a larger helpings. It took him a few days to adapt. 

Table cleaning, water service etc excellent 

However the wine/bar service was poor. This was the only place we received poor service. On several days there seemed to be very few bar staff and it was true we often finished our lunch with just water. We did speak to the FM and put this on our comment cards. We wondered if this was due to a promotion of o life drinks packages which  allow drinks at meal times. We always have the upper beverage package when we cruise  and meet some experienced O cruisers who suggested going to the pool bar and carrying a drink into the restaurant but then could not use the hand sanitizer without much passing of glasses and blocking  up of the door way. 

Suggestions for our August cruise would be much appreciated.

 

[pinotlover]

Welshfamily;

 

I have only one solution to the continual poor beverage service in the Terrace. The Terrace is for Teatotallers. We now avoid the Terrace except for an occasional breakfast. Oceania’s senior management has made a decision to understaff adult beverage servers in the Terrace. They appear to have no desire to correct the situation. Food is never in short supply on the ship, eat elsewhere. I certainly haven’t lost weight or gone hungry by doing so. 

Edited June 23, 2019 by pinotlover

[Sny]

Because Terrace is generally crowded (by O standards) at breakfast, I have found the MDR to be an excellent option.  They are never busy at that time; so service is excellent.  There are plenty of wonderful choices.  Also, I have always been able to get a window table.  Of course, if you're in a hurry to make a shore ex, it's not a good choice.

[LHT28]

the terrace grill is usually lined up because people  promote  the fresh made to order items   so now more people are eating there

on a recent cruise we saw one lady with 2 plates of lobster tails   so it does take more time  to have them all done  at the same time

I just hope she was sharing 😁

[Fredalyn]

As a celiac, I am so thankful that the buffet at the Terrace is not self serve. I have little fear of cross contamination. It has given me greater freedom with more choices. I love the variety and daily themes. All the staff their could not have been more accommodating. 

Thoughtless people are everywhere. It is unfortunate that some do not even wash their hands after using the lav. As a HS teacher, I will point out, in the most polite way, they may have "forgotten" to wash up. I can't help myself. Comes out of my mouth automatically. 

[Nachosdelux]

Personally I find the Oceania buffet to be excellent, both in terms of food quality, and service.

 

If you want more, just ask for more.  The lines/crowding are no worse than any other cruise line.

 

I prefer the full-service method because it is more sanitary.

[EasyGoingGuy]

May I suggest, and this isn't a solution to the real problem of slow beverage service at Terrace, that prior to going into Terrace you stop at the Waves bar and get your beverage. Then go find a table in Terrace, leave the beverage (and whatever else you're carrying) and get your meal. The short time your beverage sits usually will do it no damage. It reduced my stress level and didn't really inconvenience me (much).  Enjoy.

[EasyGoingGuy]

delete please

Edited June 24, 2019 by EasyGoingGuy
multiple post

[EasyGoingGuy]

delete please

Edited June 24, 2019 by EasyGoingGuy
multiple post

[Paulchili]

30 minutes ago, EasyGoingGuy said:

May I suggest, and this isn't a solution to the real problem of slow beverage service at Terrace, that prior to going into Terrace you stop at the Waves bar and get your beverage. Then go find a table in Terrace, leave the beverage (and whatever else you're carrying) and get your meal. The short time your beverage sits usually will do it no damage. It reduced my stress level and didn't really inconvenience me (much).  Enjoy.

Also a good way to “reserve” your table while you are getting your food without anyone having to guard it.

[ORV]

9 hours ago, EasyGoingGuy said:

May I suggest, and this isn't a solution to the real problem of slow beverage service at Terrace, that prior to going into Terrace you stop at the Waves bar and get your beverage. Then go find a table in Terrace, leave the beverage (and whatever else you're carrying) and get your meal. The short time your beverage sits usually will do it no damage. It reduced my stress level and didn't really inconvenience me (much).  Enjoy.

Just a couple of thoughts on this. If you have the standard beverage package where you get beer and wine with meals it is NOT valid to use in Waves, Martinis, Casino bar, or Horizons. You have to be in a food venue and order from a server. Also Waves bar is not likely to have the wines that are on the Wine by the Glass list. 

 

Another thing you'll notice in the evenings is that Waves closes quite early, so if you're a late eater then that will not be an option for you. 

 

Of course if you have the Prestige Package you can get whatever you want anywhere. 

 

If you're drinking soda or anything non alcoholic then it's a great idea, but for the most part getting those in Terrace is not a real problem. Getting someone authorized to serve alcohol is the problem in Terrace. 

 

The answer simply is for Oceania to put more alcohol servers in the Terrace during meals. I feel it's a real passive aggressive move on their part to reduce the amount of wine and beer served during meals. It could backfire on them. 

[pinotlover]

Easy going;

 

One of my great enjoyments in life is eating great food and drinking wine with it.  Teaching wine tasting classes and food pairing classes I recoil when people say stupid stuff such as “ drink what you like “ and “ pairings don’t matter “! I like a wide variety of wines, doesn’t mean any of them might go well with what I’ve chosen to eat!

 

That said, my preference is to decide what I want to eat from the menu or buffet line, then order a wine I believe that best compliments it. Taking a wine in from Waves ( which I have done) means I’m doing it in reverse order. I’ve chosen the wine, now what is the buffet offering that pairs with it? Not my preferred methodology.

 

In the past, on nice sea days, a favorite of mine at lunch was to choose a selection of cheeses along with a couple of sliced meats and the wonderful breads and sit outside in the Terrace. The cheeses are always way to cold for immediate consumption or enjoyment so I’d order a glass of wine to enjoy while the cheeses warm in the sunshine. Then I’d enjoy my meal with probably a second glass. Last couple of cruises I was lucky to get even the first glass. Complaining to managers get you nowhere. Miami has already decided the issue. Solution: just eat elsewhere and enjoy great food and service. The cheese plate can be had at home or ashore another day. 

Edited June 24, 2019 by pinotlover

[ORV]

Another consideration is to make sure that when the term Waves is used would be to specify whether we're talking Café or Bar. In the Café you can get drinks with your basic drinks package, at the Bar you can't. 

[clo]

35 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

a favorite of mine at lunch was to choose a selection of cheeses along with a couple of sliced meats and the wonderful breads

One of our fave meals.

[Winters Gate]

On 6/24/2019 at 4:54 PM, pinotlover said:

Complaining to managers get you nowhere. Miami has already decided the issue. Solution: just eat elsewhere and enjoy great food and service. The cheese plate can be had at home or ashore another day. 

This might be a good solution in the short run to get what you want. But in the long run it´s just really bad, a behavior like that will only have the effect that Miami or the managers think that they can get away with any changes they want with out any complaining from the guests.

No the right way to go is to complain to managers, complain in the midcruise card and to do it strongly, I mean a cruiseline should not get away with selling packages like "Unlimited wine at meals" and then not provied any wine in the most popular lunch venue, thats just a fraud!

[pinotlover]

Winters Gate;

 

I wrote rather scathing mid cruise and end of cruise comments on the issue on both of my last two cruises. Never heard a word back from them.

 

We’ll be on the Nautica again in 5 weeks. That cruise has six sea days. Trying to decide whether to try the Terrace again to see if anything has changed. Most likely result will be like self flagging, just tormenting myself for no good reason! Perhaps I’ll just ask some of the other passengers first.

[babysteps]

Insignia January 2019 didn't notice an issue in Terrace for beverage service - as this itinerary had some "weather" and ended in NYC for the worldies to board, we weren't in Terrace for dinner as much as some other trips.

 

Marina March 2019 wine service was slow the first day in Terrace, but since we tended to sit in a similar spot outside when at Terrace for dinner (and usually right when they opened), staff quickly learned to find us and offer us some wine.  The one night we sat inside and more during 'rush' hour, it *did* take a while to get beverage service.

 

As always, ymmv...here's hoping the beverage service finds you promptly!

[Hawaiidan]

On 6/24/2019 at 7:54 AM, pinotlover said:

Easy going;

 

One of my great enjoyments in life is eating great food and drinking wine with it.  Teaching wine tasting classes and food pairing classes I recoil when people say stupid stuff such as “ drink what you like “ and “ pairings don’t matter “! I like a wide variety of wines, doesn’t mean any of them might go well with what I’ve chosen to eat!

 

T

I used to feel that way  but after some 25 years living in the Napa valley and having an over familiarity with wine, wineries and vintners, I got over it.     I find its more important    of who your your drinking wine with than what your drinking.    There is really no bad wine.... only bad attitudes.      I am glad you are so enthusiastic about your wine experience..    I now drink wine for fun ... I evolved.