‘The Grill’/Buffet

[Tigrou]

Yesterday I looked at MDR menu, didn’t fancy it so in the evening went to The Grill buffet. Only to find it was effectively the same menu as MDR. So it seems to be just an alternative venue rather than a genuinely alternative dining option. There is nowhere in the evening to get a quick or simple meal except perhaps room service. But why should I have to eat in my cabin just because I only want a burger or sandwich?

 

I also think Saga needs to make it clearer that the  The Grill is a self service buffet. Many passengers obviously don’t realise, and (mostly but not always, it’s very inconsistent) being greeted and shown to a table adds to the confusion. With such a proliferation of mobility aids being used, negotiating the buffet is tricky for everyone, a constant series of trip hazards. Although fully aware it is the buffet, to me ‘The Grill’ as a name does sound as if either it would be a fast food venue or possibly a steakhouse. I think a different name could help but mostly it needs to be advertised clearly as being self service, for instance on the daily programme.

 

Whilst I have no real problem with the dress code, I do think it unreasonable that there is no dining option where it doesn’t apply. Again, why should people be confined to their cabins after 6pm just because they don’t want to dress up? Last night in The Grill there was a wide mix of attire with many obviously choosing not to comply with the dress code. I did comply but felt a little overdressed for a the venue.  Despite what is stated by Saga, the dress code was not being enforced so why not make it easier for everyone and officially relax it for the buffet?

 

 

[Jammy Bun]

Totally agree with what you've written.

I'm interested to know the opening hours of the various dining venues.  Cinnamon has said, on another thread, that the MDR stops serving breakfast at 9:00am and the Grill/Buffet closes at 9:30am... but then what?  We often like to have a late breakfast/brunch before heading off the ship to explore.  Would we be able to do this on a Saga ship?

 

[Glenndale]

24 hour room service.

[Tigrou]

4 minutes ago, Jammy Bun said:

Totally agree with what you've written.

I'm interested to know the opening hours of the various dining venues.  Cinnamon has said, on another thread, that the MDR stops serving breakfast at 9:00am and the Grill/Buffet closes at 9:30am... but then what?  We often like to have a late breakfast/brunch before heading off the ship to explore.  Would we be able to do this on a Saga ship?

 

 

Short answer for Discovery, no.

Today’s breakfast hours were MDR 0800-0930, The Grill 0730-1000.

Yesterday (Bergen) was MDR 0700-0900, The Grill 0700-0930.

 

Not that I necessarily want to eat constantly but I do think dining hours are restrictive.

Rest for today are:

 

Lunch MDR 1200-1330, The Grill 1200-1400

The Verandah & The Lido (ie outside) 1200-1500 (weather permitting - which it did, but it was very chilly)

 

Afternoon tea MDR 1600-1645, The Grill 1600-1645

 

Dinner MDR 1830-2100, The Grill 1830-2100, specialty restaurants 1845-2100

 

The Living Room has some snacks until 1730, presumably from when they open at 0730. Haven’t investigated closely but from passing glance is a cabinet with cakes and possibly wraps.

 

No late breakfast/brunch. No evening snacks. And as I mentioned before, no ‘fast food’ or real alternative to MDR dinner menu other than the specialty restaurants. 

 

Presumably this works for the current Saga demographic but if they want to change their image then I believe it’s one of the many issues which need addressing. I’m at the low end of their age requirement and if they were to ask me right now if I want to cruise Saga again I’d say ask me in about 30 years. They can call it ‘Boutique cruising’ until the cows come home but it’s just marketing hype. It’s still a floating nursing home, albeit with new infrastructure.

 

 

 

[Bell Boy]

I expect the inconsistency in dining times on 'Port Days' are to give crew members some extra free time to go ashore. 

I expect the 'majority of guests' are eager to get off early for tours etc.  Perhaps the rational is, why hang back and keep the Dining Room open for a few guests who opt to disembark later  😉   

[cinnamon]

Yesterday breakfast seemed to be finished early as the crew had their emergency training at 10.00 am. 

If I’m honest I think the times should be for the convenience of the guests, not the crew. Whilst it’s reasonable (and usual on other lines) to have a shorter opening for the MDR I do think the buffet times should be longer. Other lines perhaps close one side but keep half open. 

 

Yesterday, the Captain’s voice was piped loudly into all cabins at 8.00 am and today it was 8.15 am. Anyone in their 50s and 60s who is not retired and wanting a relaxing holiday with a slower start to the day would not book again!

[Ergates The Ant]

I was getting quite excited at the sound of the new Saga ship, and already looking at the itineraries.

However, I’m now getting a bit concerned at reports about the self service buffet.

We are not big foodies, rarely eat starters, and like a fairly relaxed meal.

We usually eat in the buffet, as we can pick a table for two, preferably with a view, choose a selection of the food on offer ( my OH and I have very different tastes) and leave promptly when we are finished.

The seemingly very restricted opening times sound very tiresome indeed.

Someone mentioned being escorted to a table. Does this mean one can’t choose where to sit, one of the reasons we don’t enjoy the MDR?

If the food is the same as the MDR, ie only 3 choices and only one vegetarian offering, it can hardly be described as a buffet. Maybe better described as a DIY version of the MDR!  Does this mean I can’t have my usual medley of a variety of things to try?

[Tigrou]

15 hours ago, cinnamon said:

Yesterday breakfast seemed to be finished early as the crew had their emergency training at 10.00 am. 

If I’m honest I think the times should be for the convenience of the guests, not the crew. Whilst it’s reasonable (and usual on other lines) to have a shorter opening for the MDR I do think the buffet times should be longer. Other lines perhaps close one side but keep half open. 

 

Yesterday, the Captain’s voice was piped loudly into all cabins at 8.00 am and today it was 8.15 am. Anyone in their 50s and 60s who is not retired and wanting a relaxing holiday with a slower start to the day would not book again!

 

I agree with you Corinne. I know the crew work long hours but there has to be a middle way. After all if there were no guests there’d be no crew. I did wonder if the shorter restaurant hours are one of the reasons crew reportedly love working for Saga.

 

Ref the Captain’s early broadcasts, I wake early so they don’t bother me but I do think it’s unreasonable that people should be disturbed so early when on holiday.  

 

I also think its it’s unreasonable that the daily movie isn’t shown until 11pm. I usually enjoy seeing some new(ish) movies on a cruise but that’s far too late for me. Between that and the early PA broadcasts I’m beginning to wonder if ‘Saganauts’ ever sleep!

 

[Tigrou]

34 minutes ago, Ergates The Ant said:

I was getting quite excited at the sound of the new Saga ship, and already looking at the itineraries.

However, I’m now getting a bit concerned at reports about the self service buffet.

We are not big foodies, rarely eat starters, and like a fairly relaxed meal.

We usually eat in the buffet, as we can pick a table for two, preferably with a view, choose a selection of the food on offer ( my OH and I have very different tastes) and leave promptly when we are finished.

The seemingly very restricted opening times sound very tiresome indeed.

Someone mentioned being escorted to a table. Does this mean one can’t choose where to sit, one of the reasons we don’t enjoy the MDR?

If the food is the same as the MDR, ie only 3 choices and only one vegetarian offering, it can hardly be described as a buffet. Maybe better described as a DIY version of the MDR!  Does this mean I can’t have my usual medley of a variety of things to try?

 

I’m afraid you’ll find it very different than you’re used to and somewhat restrictive, as I have. Sometimes you may be able to seat yourselves, if you happen to arrive when crew are busy or distracted, but mostly you’ll be escorted. And even if the place isn’t busy they seem determined to put people together. Don’t think there are many 2-tops, mostly 4-tops. Even if you are seated alone at a 4-top, chances are you’ll come back from buffet to find someone else has been seated there even if you can see plenty of empty tables.

 

You can still have your medley of things to try but only from the same menu as MDR, whether at breakfast, lunch and dinner. By the way, if you like waffles for breakfast you’re out of luck but you can get as much porridge as you like!

 

I suspect the food situation is like everything else on here, designed exclusively for current Saga cruisers and not for future ones. From what I’ve heard, they consulted their long-standing customers but not their potential future market.

 

They need to get their act together, decide what kind of cruise line they want to be and advertise accordingly. I didn’t necessarily believe all the hype, I thought I was prepared for the reality, but I wasn’t. Doing my best to ‘make lemonade’ as they say but it’s hard going, especially as I’m on my own and have no one to ‘laugh it off’ with. Someone with a different disposition could find it rather depressing, and it’s a lot of money to spend on a holiday from which I’ll be glad to get home.🙁

[sweep]

50 minutes ago, Ergates The Ant said:

I was getting quite excited at the sound of the new Saga ship, and already looking at the itineraries.

However, I’m now getting a bit concerned at reports about the self service buffet.

We are not big foodies, rarely eat starters, and like a fairly relaxed meal.

We usually eat in the buffet, as we can pick a table for two, preferably with a view, choose a selection of the food on offer ( my OH and I have very different tastes) and leave promptly when we are finished.

The seemingly very restricted opening times sound very tiresome indeed.

Someone mentioned being escorted to a table. Does this mean one can’t choose where to sit, one of the reasons we don’t enjoy the MDR?

If the food is the same as the MDR, ie only 3 choices and only one vegetarian offering, it can hardly be described as a buffet. Maybe better described as a DIY version of the MDR!  Does this mean I can’t have my usual medley of a variety of things to try?

Actually I didn’t think the buffet was too bad.  On other ships we never choose to eat in the buffet in the evening but we did a couple of times on SOD. 

Yes the menu is the same as the MDR but with the addition of a carvery option which was advertised in advance.  We worked out where the tables for 2 where and just took ourselves there. On the sail away from Stockholm we actually sat on the verandah to eat as we wanted to watch the scenery.  

You could just eat as much or as little as you wanted.  It was easy to mix and match and, invariably, your plate was carried to your table for you.  There were always salads available too. 

[cinnamon]

I agree that it’s odd waiting to be seated in the buffet.  It only happens I think when you arrive at a busy time. The main offerings are the same as the MDR but you choose your quantity of each item, unlike ordering downstairs when you get what you’re given. This is the one area I find much worse than Azamara and it feels crowded up there, the only place on the ship that does. 

As for waffles, I think that Saga is only trying to appeal to Brits and they are not British. European or American, yes. 

 

Im sorry you’re not enjoying your cruise Tigrou. I did encourage you to get in touch but you haven’t. 

 

Also Ergates, there are more than 3 choices plus 1 vegetarian, both at lunch and dinner.  

[Mrs Miggins]

I am on this cruise too.  Staff are wonderful, food plentiful and good.  Weather has been beautiful.  We are very lucky.  Plenty of entertainment .  We have met some wonderful, interesting people.

Some of the excursions require hiking, RIB outings, so not all for the oldies. Yes they need to encourage new cruisers from other lines.

we love Azamara and Viking but Saga may be on the list too.

 

 

[Tigrou]

5 hours ago, cinnamon said:

 

Im sorry you’re not enjoying your cruise Tigrou. I did encourage you to get in touch but you haven’t. 

 

Hi Corinne. Thank you, I do appreciate it, but I’m not a social animal. I realise many solo travellers cruise hoping for company but for me the chats I have with people at meals are (sometimes more than!) enough.

 

Whilst I can’t honestly say I am enjoying the cruise as much as I’d like to, I have seen the places I wanted to and I always love being at sea. Perhaps it’s better described as not being to my taste.

 

I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone but it’s the demographic I find difficult, I’m used to more diversity. I’ve met some very pleasant people but I am weary of hearing a constant mix of praise about how wonderful Saga is and complaints about how things have changed on the new ship. Also conversations about how youngsters today don’t know how good they’ve got it, today’s TV shows are all rubbish, everything was so much better in ‘our day’ etc etc, are frankly depressing. Although most passengers appear to be my parents age, the attitude is more that of my grandparents generation.

 

Tonight I did meet a lady who most definitely is not from the usual Saga ‘mould’ and enjoyed an excellent dinner in her company. We covered a wide range of subjects, some shared experiences, and the fact we’re from different generations was completely irrelevant. Indeed if it wasn’t for my encounters with other passengers this week I wouldn’t have given a thought about age, we were just 2 women chatting. It was very refreshing.

[trams]

18 hours ago, Tigrou said:

 

I’m afraid you’ll find it very different than you’re used to and somewhat restrictive, as I have. Sometimes you may be able to seat yourselves, if you happen to arrive when crew are busy or distracted, but mostly you’ll be escorted. And even if the place isn’t busy they seem determined to put people together. Don’t think there are many 2-tops, mostly 4-tops. Even if you are seated alone at a 4-top, chances are you’ll come back from buffet to find someone else has been seated there even if you can see plenty of empty tables.

 

You can still have your medley of things to try but only from the same menu as MDR, whether at breakfast, lunch and dinner. By the way, if you like waffles for breakfast you’re out of luck but you can get as much porridge as you like!

 

I suspect the food situation is like everything else on here, designed exclusively for current Saga cruisers and not for future ones. From what I’ve heard, they consulted their long-standing customers but not their potential future market.

 

They need to get their act together, decide what kind of cruise line they want to be and advertise accordingly. I didn’t necessarily believe all the hype, I thought I was prepared for the reality, but I wasn’t. Doing my best to ‘make lemonade’ as they say but it’s hard going, especially as I’m on my own and have no one to ‘laugh it off’ with. Someone with a different disposition could find it rather depressing, and it’s a lot of money to spend on a holiday from which I’ll be glad to get home.🙁

 

[trams]

1 minute ago, trams said:

Always remember "one man's meat is another man's poison" and "you can't please all of the people all of the time"

 

[Ergates The Ant]

Ok, I’m a little concerned. I know there is no chance of starving, but it does seem as if the menu is fairly restricted, and being on a ship, there isn’t the option of popping out somewhere for a quick takeaway if the main menu doesn’t appeal!

Only one vegetarian option is very surprising in this day and age! We don’t really eat red meat, not keen on fish, so won’t be taking advantage of the specialty restaurants - leaves some room for other passengers!  

We tend to end up having some form of chicken, of which most cruise line buffets have at least a couple of variations each meal, with pasta as an additional option. And my OH loves his chips - are these only available when they actually are part of the evenings menu?

Does anyone have a pic of the room service menu they could post? I’d be very grateful.

[Tigrou]

You may not be able to please all of the people all of the time, but some cruise lines definitely try harder than others. 

[Tigrou]

Trying to upload photos of room service menu, not sure if it will work.

[Ergates The Ant]

Thanks for the room service menu. Quite a few possibilities on there, so that’s a relief. 

I do hate using room service though, adds a lot of delays, getting through to order, then waiting for delivery. I do prefer the relative spontaneity of a buffet, and of course, it helps  to be able to actually look at the food before making ones choice.

The Grill certainly seems an odd concept to me, not actually a grill, and not even an alternative food offering to the MDR, just a ‘flat pack’ version!

[Tigrou]

10 hours ago, Ergates The Ant said:

Thanks for the room service menu. Quite a few possibilities on there, so that’s a relief. 

I do hate using room service though, adds a lot of delays, getting through to order, then waiting for delivery. I do prefer the relative spontaneity of a buffet, and of course, it helps  to be able to actually look at the food before making ones choice.

The Grill certainly seems an odd concept to me, not actually a grill, and not even an alternative food offering to the MDR, just a ‘flat pack’ version!

 

I used room service yesterday because it was my only option after getting back from an afternoon excursion, having not had lunch beforehand as it was too early. Although when I ordered they said 20 minutes it was quicker. Chips undercooked but burger was very good, and at least for once I could eat alone! 

 

This cramming everyone together at every meal is becoming extremely irritating. This morning at breakfast in ‘The Grill’ there were plenty of empty tables, I said I wanted to sit on my own, but was shown to a 4-top with 2 others already there and a 4th soon arrived.  So yet another meal having to smile and be polite when all I wanted was to eat in peace.

 

[Glenndale]

You should have insisted on a solo table and also ensured that the waiter removed any other place settings.

 

[Tigrou]

59 minutes ago, Glenndale said:

You should have insisted on a solo table and also ensured that the waiter removed any other place settings.

 

 

Impossible to do without appearing rude. I’ve encountered more than enough ‘entitled’ behaviour this week without adding to it.

[cinnamon]

On the good weather days the Verandah at the aft of the buffet is available. Apparently they do burgers, fish and chips and have a salad bar, plus you can walk back to the main buffet for other items if you wish. It’s not been well advertised but on our sea days it’s either been too cold or too wet to be open. It looked very nice as we came into Geiranger and was well used yesterday for lunch when we were ashore, our friends have told us. 

[Mrs Miggins]

I have some sympathy with the enforced sharing problem although thus far we have enjoyed our table companions.  I noticed today that there appear to be only 16 two top tables in the grill.   These were all occupied (today is a sea day) and the occupants were all talking away to their immediate neighbours very happily.  On other cruises we often choose to share but sometimes this means slower service.

There are many singles onboard and Saga make extra efforts to ensure they are well looked after and that is often the reason for solos to book.

It must be difficult to remain ‘alone’ although of course room service is available.

 

However if I wanted to be left entirely alone I don’t think I would book a cruise with 900 plus other people.  

 

 

.

[Tigrou]

1 hour ago, Mrs Miggins said:

I have some sympathy with the enforced sharing problem although thus far we have enjoyed our table companions.  I noticed today that there appear to be only 16 two top tables in the grill.   These were all occupied (today is a sea day) and the occupants were all talking away to their immediate neighbours very happily.  On other cruises we often choose to share but sometimes this means slower service.

There are many singles onboard and Saga make extra efforts to ensure they are well looked after and that is often the reason for solos to book.

It must be difficult to remain ‘alone’ although of course room service is available.

 

However if I wanted to be left entirely alone I don’t think I would book a cruise with 900 plus other people.  

 

 

.

 

I don’t want to be left entirely alone, I simply want to have the choice. Quite content to always share at dinner but sometimes would prefer to eat alone at other meals, especially breakfast. I have very much enjoyed the company of a few people I’ve met but I’m afraid with others it’s similar to sitting with people who don’t speak the same language. I am not comfortable with the attitude and outlook of what appears to be the majority of my fellow passengers. 

 

I have been on cruises with far more people without this issue. But perhaps that’s part of the problem, I’m used to a much more diverse range of passengers rather than this very insular group from Planet Saga. 

 

You may well have seen me apparently chatting happily to my table mates but appearances can be deceptive. In my head I could be screaming in frustration!