How is the food? Any cutbacks?

[LHT28]

31 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Hopefully by the time you cruise  they will have soured  salmon again

 

sorry  that should  be sourced  not soured  .. LOL

[terrydtx]

10 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

sorry  that should  be sourced  not soured  .. LOL

Yes I figured as much, who would want soured Salmon?

[Robjame]

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

What is Brill?

Known as barbue in France.  Halibut family. Sweet white fish and one of our favourites. Found in deep N. Atlantic waters

[Sebbiesgrammy]

11 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Have you asked to speak to the Exec  Chef  ?

Usually the salad station has all sorts of items to add to the greens

Could be supply issues  but they should be able to have tomatoes/bacon bits/eggs

make  a comment in the mid cruise  survey

I did mention the salad bar in my mid cruise survey. I'm really trying not to be nitpicking but the salad thing really got me.  Last night we ate in Polo. Our apps and main courses were very good but creme brule with a soft lid and apple pie with a soggy crust??  There were absolutely wonderful tomatoes on our appetizer so no tomato shortage.  These are not supply issues. Thinking maybe I expected too much from the finest cuisine at sea??  This ship has had some heightened cleaning and transmission avoiding  protocols because if cases of acute GI illness which had not been helped by the fact that we missed 2 ports.  Day 2 was cancelled because of "traffic congestion" at Bantry Bay, South Africa, a tender port and yesterday, French Comoros, to avoid a cyclone (thank you Capt. DeCeasere and crew). Even these issues don't explain poor execution of dessert standards. No salt or sweetener at the tsble, annoying but not disqualifying but at Baristas sugar packet bowls are on all the tables. In the dining venues, you get handed one or two packets on request. And we actually had one waiter come with a salt shaker to personally salt our food?? It was really funny but the inconsistencies I chalked up to trainng and it's a tiny thing.

 

We chose O for 2 reasons: first and always, the itinerary above all else. Second was all the raves about the food.  I'm still hoping to be amazed.  

[Maverick Cruiser]

11 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Have you asked to speak to the Exec  Chef  ?

Usually the salad station has all sorts of items to add to the greens

Could be supply issues  but they should be able to have tomatoes/bacon bits/eggs

make  a comment in the mid cruise  survey

Got off of Riviera on the 14th and the salad bar was the most sad thing. They never had eggs, never had bacon, radishes, or any other things to change it up. They had the power bowls, but they really lessened the salad bar used to love to have a salad in there. They do have tomatoes and shredded carrots, and sometimes Thinly chopped cucumber but that’s it. 

[terrydtx]

7 hours ago, Robjame said:

Known as barbue in France.  Halibut family. Sweet white fish and one of our favourites. Found in deep N. Atlantic waters

Sounds good, I will have to try it if available.

[ruthnlarry]

On 1/26/2023 at 10:37 PM, Sebbiesgrammy said:

I did mention the salad bar in my mid cruise survey. I'm really trying not to be nitpicking but the salad thing really got me.  Last night we ate in Polo. Our apps and main courses were very good but creme brule with a soft lid and apple pie with a soggy crust??  There were absolutely wonderful tomatoes on our appetizer so no tomato shortage.  These are not supply issues. Thinking maybe I expected too much from the finest cuisine at sea??  This ship has had some heightened cleaning and transmission avoiding  protocols because if cases of acute GI illness which had not been helped by the fact that we missed 2 ports.  Day 2 was cancelled because of "traffic congestion" at Bantry Bay, South Africa, a tender port and yesterday, French Comoros, to avoid a cyclone (thank you Capt. DeCeasere and crew). Even these issues don't explain poor execution of dessert standards. No salt or sweetener at the tsble, annoying but not disqualifying but at Baristas sugar packet bowls are on all the tables. In the dining venues, you get handed one or two packets on request. And we actually had one waiter come with a salt shaker to personally salt our food?? It was really funny but the inconsistencies I chalked up to trainng and it's a tiny thing.

 

We chose O for 2 reasons: first and always, the itinerary above all else. Second was all the raves about the food.  I'm still hoping to be amazed.  

We’re on the same cruise.  Yesterday, I ordered a Reuben for lunch at Waves.  My Reuben had no corned beef.  Instead, there was leftover roast beef on my sandwich.  Not good.

Edited January 28, 2023 by ruthnlarry

[janecambridge]

This was the non crispy, non ginger fatty chicken in Red Ginger ! Delivered on soggy pak Choi  

Edited January 28, 2023 by janecambridge

[Sebbiesgrammy]

3 hours ago, ruthnlarry said:

We’re on the same cruise.  Yesterday, I ordered a Reuben for lunch at Waves.  My Reuben had no corned beef.  Instead, there was leftover roast beef on my sandwich.  Not good.

PLEASE be extra cautious because I'm very concerned after my TC lunch today. Missing or swapped items are tolerable but today I was served an undercooked turkey burger and immediately showed it to the dining manager who concurred with my assessment,apologized, and offered to get me another. No thanks as I was already skeeved by it and had already taken one bite.  Not to be ignored, but this ship has had people in quarters with acute gastro infection (the captain's term, not mine) and library and launderette are closed for the second time in 8 days. Extremely diligent, but sometimes baffling, cleaning protocols are in place. It began within 48 hours of boarding in Cape Town and could have been present in earlier leg --I don't know.  They thought it was under control but optimism was pre mature. Even the cruise director is "under the weather" for the last 2 days. Could they possibly be actually serving us pathogens?? All the hand sanitizing and hand washing, as recommended, can't compete with raw poultry.  I'm prepared to be swiped by devoute O enthusiasts but this is my experience in real time so unless you are on this cruise, your past experience will not help😑

[ruthnlarry]

3 minutes ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

PLEASE be extra cautious because I'm very concerned after my TC lunch today. Missing or swapped items are tolerable but today I was served an undercooked turkey burger and immediately showed it to the dining manager who concurred with my assessment,apologized, and offered to get me another. No thanks as I was already skeeved by it and had already taken one bite.  Not to be ignored, but this ship has had people in quarters with acute gastro infection (the captain's term, not mine) and library and launderette are closed for the second time in 8 days. Extremely diligent, but sometimes baffling, cleaning protocols are in place. It began within 48 hours of boarding in Cape Town and could have been present in earlier leg --I don't know.  They thought it was under control but optimism was pre mature. Even the cruise director is "under the weather" for the last 2 days. Could they possibly be actually serving us pathogens?? All the hand sanitizing and hand washing, as recommended, can't compete with raw poultry.  I'm prepared to be swiped by devoute O enthusiasts but this is my experience in real time so unless you are on this cruise, your past experience will not help😑

Our friend developed this “acute gastro infection” within 48 hours of boarding. His wife didn’t.  They reported his condition to medical, and both were quarantined.  Very curious that only 1 developed the condition.

[janecambridge]

Wondering if gym and casino opened? When we had norovirus onboard a few years ago, It was paper tablecloths, paper menus, sachets of everything. No quiz or fun, but both casino and gym ( one of the most virus spreading areas anywhere) , were  open! 

[Sebbiesgrammy]

1 hour ago, janecambridge said:

Wondering if gym and casino opened? When we had norovirus onboard a few years ago, It was paper tablecloths, paper menus, sachets of everything. No quiz or fun, but both casino and gym ( one of the most virus spreading areas anywhere) , were  open! 

Yes, gym and casino are open as is the spa.  No paper or plastic so far in the dining venues, silverware changes with each course handled with bare hands of wait staff. I actually saw a woman wiping down her silverware before using. Not a bad idea but wondering if all the fork and knife changes could be curtailed during this challenging time. Maybe it has to get worse before they resort to more stringent methods. Just hoping that the cruise doesn't get cut short if it can't be resolved. This leg ends in Mumbai on 2/5. Some get off, some new get on.  Some of us get off in Bangkok, some stay on until Tokyo. This could go on for awhile.

 

They are offering a "discount" of $25 for a bag of laundry, 20 piece max, to try and help people who rely on the self serve laundry that has been closed for much of the cruise.

[LHT28]

3 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

PLEASE be extra cautious because I'm very concerned after my TC lunch today. Missing or swapped items are tolerable but today I was served an undercooked turkey burger and immediately showed it to the dining manager who concurred with my assessment,apologized, and offered to get me another. No thanks as I was already skeeved by it and had already taken one bite.  Not to be ignored, but this ship has had people in quarters with acute gastro infection (the captain's term, not mine) and library and launderette are closed for the second time in 8 days. Extremely diligent, but sometimes baffling, cleaning protocols are in place. It began within 48 hours of boarding in Cape Town and could have been present in earlier leg --I don't know.  They thought it was under control but optimism was pre mature. Even the cruise director is "under the weather" for the last 2 days. Could they possibly be actually serving us pathogens?? All the hand sanitizing and hand washing, as recommended, can't compete with raw poultry.  I'm prepared to be swiped by devoute O enthusiasts but this is my experience in real time so unless you are on this cruise, your past experience will not help😑

Sorry to hear 

it maybe NORO  is back  but sounds more like  poor cooking skills & cleaning in the kitchen

 DH  was served raw chicken in RG  one year   pre covid   so  bad Kitchen staff can ruin your vacation

JMO

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

They are offering a "discount" of $25 for a bag of laundry, 20 piece max, to try and help people who rely on the self serve laundry that has been closed for much of the cruise.

This  is  a normal special

 

Usually the staff wear gloves when they exchange the silverware during the meal 

I would ask the Maitre D  to change that bare hand procedure 😲

[Mrs f.]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

This  is  a normal special

 

Usually the staff wear gloves when they exchange the silverware during the meal 

I would ask the Maitre D  to change that bare hand procedure 😲

Don't remember staff wearing gloves when taking away silverware and setting out next course silverware.  Will have to email friends who are on Regatta for one more day and ask them. Maybe they did.....it's that CRAFTS disease again. 

[terrydtx]

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Sorry to hear 

it maybe NORO  is back  but sounds more like  poor cooking skills & cleaning in the kitchen

 DH  was served raw chicken in RG  one year   pre covid   so  bad Kitchen staff can ruin your vacation

JMO

Noro Virus has been on most ships since Covid restarts, but it was not talked about with all the Covid cases. The people in the Celebrity Reflection Sky Suite next to us got it last August and spent 2 days in quarantine with all the Covid patients in Covid cabins. We thought they had Covid when they were led away by ship's staff but the notice on their door said they were quarantined for gastrointestinal reasons. They returned in 2 days and then 3 days later they did come down with Covid.

Edited January 28, 2023 by terrydtx

[ruthnlarry]

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Sorry to hear 

it maybe NORO  is back  but sounds more like  poor cooking skills & cleaning in the kitchen

 DH  was served raw chicken in RG  one year   pre covid   so  bad Kitchen staff can ruin your vacation

JMO

The none of food in Terraces is hot except for freshly grilled items and the pasta.  The food is sitting at room temp.  
The other day, I had the first portion of lasagne that was just brought out from the kitchen, and it was room temperature.  So was my wife’s.  Told the chef.  He said that he would heat mine.  What about the entire tray?  IMO a possible health violation.  

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Mrs f. said:

Don't remember staff wearing gloves when taking away silverware and setting out next course silverware.  Will have to email friends who are on Regatta for one more day and ask them. Maybe they did.....it's that CRAFTS disease again. 

For dinner the wait staff in the GDR & Specialties  wore white gloves  pre covid  you would think  that would still be the case

maybe more cost cutting

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, ruthnlarry said:

The none of food in Terraces is hot except for freshly grilled items and the pasta.  The food is sitting at room temp.  
The other day, I had the first portion of lasagne that was just brought out from the kitchen, and it was room temperature.  So was my wife’s.  Told the chef.  He said that he would heat mine.  What about the entire tray?  IMO a possible health violation.  

Yes  not good  that is another reason I do not like the buffet

even the supposedly hot trays  do not have the pans under them  with hot water  to keep the food warm

 

[ruthnlarry]

On 1/28/2023 at 2:38 PM, LHT28 said:

Yes  not good  that is another reason I do not like the buffet

even the supposedly hot trays  do not have the pans under them  with hot water  to keep the food warm

 

We have eaten in Terraces during our numerous past cruises.  Have not experienced this problem til our present Nautica cruise.

[Sebbiesgrammy]

We are avoiding Terrace as much as possible until AGI cases are gone.  We have 20 more days on board and I'm not liking the trajectory right now. The newly recovered CD informed us today that cases are still rising at the same time he announced specials for services at the spa but a cancellation of the "crossing the equator" ceremony today. Crew member advised me that when cases rise to a certain level, whatever that is, more extreme measures, as defined by the CDC, could be implemented.  I guess the only way to be 100% sure of avoiding is to put nothing in your mouth or touch nothing?

[Mrs f.]

On 1/28/2023 at 1:33 PM, LHT28 said:

For dinner the wait staff in the GDR & Specialties  wore white gloves  pre covid  you would think  that would still be the case

maybe more cost cutting

I've  been querying people I know on our cruise. Nobody remembers staff wearing gloves when putting new silverware out.  Terrace Cafe  had partitions and all staff behind the counter were plastic  gloved.  Servers/cleaners were not.

[LHT28]

7 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

We are avoiding Terrace as much as possible until AGI cases are gone.  We have 20 more days on board and I'm not liking the trajectory right now. The newly recovered CD informed us today that cases are still rising at the same time he announced specials for services at the spa but a cancellation of the "crossing the equator" ceremony today. Crew member advised me that when cases rise to a certain level, whatever that is, more extreme measures, as defined by the CDC, could be implemented.  I guess the only way to be 100% sure of avoiding is to put nothing in your mouth or touch nothing?

when the cases get to 2-3 %  then you will see  the condiments removed  from the tables  paper menus that are thrown away

They will start wiping chairs & tables  as soon as people leave that table 

washing the walls  & surfaces with a special cleaner 

yellow hazzard bags  will be more noticeable outside cabins of the infected

You will know  😉

 

[LHT28]

3 hours ago, Mrs f. said:

I've  been querying people I know on our cruise. Nobody remembers staff wearing gloves when putting new silverware out.  Terrace Cafe  had partitions and all staff behind the counter were plastic  gloved.  Servers/cleaners were not.

not seen the gloves in the Terrace  but other restaurants  did  but  this was pre covid  so maybe  things have changed

Do the servers wear white gloves at Tea time?

 

[ORV]

5 hours ago, LHT28 said:

You will know  😉

This, it's very obvious if you're paying attention