Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #101 Share Posted January 19, 2023 15 minutes ago, grapau27 said: I have posted plenty of very tasty and quality food pictures from Epicurean. Sindhu. Glass house. But they are all extra pay and subject to booking availability Graham. I have booked 7 out of 14 nights already for speciality on the basis of poor reports about the MDR. We will give it a try for the first few days and if we don’t like it try the Keel and Cow or Glass House which are walk ins. The point is that quality should be available in every venue, not just those at £28 extra pppn surely? 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom10 Posted January 19, 2023 #102 Share Posted January 19, 2023 (edited) 46 minutes ago, grapau27 said: I have posted plenty of very tasty and quality food pictures from Epicurean. Sindhu. Glass house. Not denying that you haven't but also some pictures of meals on P&O seem recently have been very poor in quality and portion size. But like Eglesbrech has said they are all extra cost speciality restaurants where you should expect good standard of food. I am referring to meals served in MDR. Edited January 19, 2023 by majortom10 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #103 Share Posted January 19, 2023 25 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said: But they are all extra pay and subject to booking availability Graham. I have booked 7 out of 14 nights already for speciality on the basis of poor reports about the MDR. We will give it a try for the first few days and if we don’t like it try the Keel and Cow or Glass House which are walk ins. The point is that quality should be available in every venue, not just those at £28 extra pppn surely? I absolutely agree. It is the more intimate atmosphere, no queuing and more attention to detail service by the servers that also appeal to us in the speciality restaurants. Graham. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom10 Posted January 19, 2023 #104 Share Posted January 19, 2023 Just now, grapau27 said: I absolutely agree. It is the more intimate atmosphere, no queuing and more attention to detail service by the servers that also appeal to us in the speciality restaurants. Graham. Yes but not everyone wants or can afford to dine in speciality restaurants every night. They should expect a good standard in MDR and not have to pay extra. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #105 Share Posted January 19, 2023 5 minutes ago, majortom10 said: Not denying that you haven't but also some pictures of meals on P&O seem recently have been very poor in quality and portion size. But like Eglesbrech has said they are all extra cost speciality restaurants where you should expect good standard of food. I am referring to meals served in MDR. It is very disappointing to hear so many people criticising MDR food which always used to be very good. When we were on Iona in March for 14 nights when embarkation was very late we had nice fish and chips in the Quays for dinner. We had 7 nights in Epicurean but did have 6 nights in the MDRs visiting all 4 and we enjoyed our dinners. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #106 Share Posted January 19, 2023 6 minutes ago, majortom10 said: Yes but not everyone wants or can afford to dine in speciality restaurants every night. They should expect a good standard in MDR and not have to pay extra. I absolutely agree Tom. For most of our 28 P&O cruises we went to the MDRs every night. Now tips are included our significant OBC goes towards paying for the speciality restaurants where I do tip every night and the service,better food,no queuing and more intimate dining experience is worth if for us. Graham. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardennais Posted January 19, 2023 #107 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 hour ago, grapau27 said: I have posted plenty of very tasty and quality food pictures from Epicurean. Sindhu. Glass house. True, but there are only two of you. Different story when you’re travelling with 3 hungry teenagers as we once did! It would have been far too dear. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #108 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 minute ago, Ardennais said: True, but there are only two of you. Different story when you’re travelling with 3 hungry teenagers as we once did! It would have been far too dear. We used to travel as a party of 6 before Pauline's lovely dad died in 2008 and always went to the MDR. It is because it is only 2 of us and getting a table for 2 in the MDR meant long waits we decided to do more specifically restaurants on P&O and Royal Caribbean. My severe arthritis in both knees and both hips badly affects me by standing in queues. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha whiskey Posted January 19, 2023 #109 Share Posted January 19, 2023 (edited) 39 minutes ago, majortom10 said: Yes but not everyone wants or can afford to dine in speciality restaurants every night. They should expect a good standard in MDR and not have to pay extra. The Olive Grove on Iona is a nice alternative to the MDR, and is included with the cruise fare. I would recommend booking in advance as walk ups could leave you disappointed. Edited January 19, 2023 by alpha whiskey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #110 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 minute ago, alpha whiskey said: The Olive Grove on Iona is a nice alternative to the MDR, and is included with the cruise fare. I would recommend booking in advance as walk ups could leave you disappointed. I have tried. It lets me book a date and time, go to the basket then says. “Oops, issue with booking - cancelled” I have tried for days now. Funny how the free restaurants have an IT issue but not the paid for ones. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha whiskey Posted January 19, 2023 #111 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 minute ago, Eglesbrech said: I have tried. It lets me book a date and time, go to the basket then says. “Oops, issue with booking - cancelled” I have tried for days now. Funny how the free restaurants have an IT issue but not the paid for ones. That's a real shame. We managed to successfully book prior to boarding. I hope they sort the glitch out soon as it is worth it. 🤞 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardennais Posted January 19, 2023 #112 Share Posted January 19, 2023 23 minutes ago, grapau27 said: We used to travel as a party of 6 before Pauline's lovely dad died in 2008 and always went to the MDR. It is because it is only 2 of us and getting a table for 2 in the MDR meant long waits we decided to do more specifically restaurants on P&O and Royal Caribbean. My severe arthritis in both knees and both hips badly affects me by standing in queues. I don’t blame you at all. It’s a shame that there are long waits and reports of mediocre food in the MDR. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #113 Share Posted January 19, 2023 35 minutes ago, grapau27 said: We used to travel as a party of 6 before Pauline's lovely dad died in 2008 and always went to the MDR. It is because it is only 2 of us and getting a table for 2 in the MDR meant long waits we decided to do more specifically restaurants on P&O and Royal Caribbean. My severe arthritis in both knees and both hips badly affects me by standing in queues. One should not have to stand in long queues on holiday surely? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #114 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 minute ago, Eglesbrech said: One should not have to stand in long queues on holiday surely? Unfortunately sometimes it is unavoidable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #115 Share Posted January 19, 2023 3 minutes ago, grapau27 said: Unfortunately sometimes it is unavoidable. Funny that’s never mentioned in the brochures. Come on holiday - stand in long queues at every meal or pay up to avoid them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted January 19, 2023 #116 Share Posted January 19, 2023 2 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said: Funny that’s never mentioned in the brochures. Come on holiday - stand in long queues at every meal or pay up to avoid them. Queues never used to bother me until my arthritis got really bad. I don't mind paying if it enhances our cruise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #117 Share Posted January 19, 2023 21 minutes ago, grapau27 said: Queues never used to bother me until my arthritis got really bad. I don't mind paying if it enhances our cruise. I have always hated queues with a passion. I don’t mind paying to enhance my cruise as long as it is my choice to do so and not the only way to get a decent meal and avoid a long wait. Unfortunately not everyone is in the position to do so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy v Posted January 19, 2023 #118 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Eglesbrech said: I have tried. It lets me book a date and time, go to the basket then says. “Oops, issue with booking - cancelled” I have tried for days now. Funny how the free restaurants have an IT issue but not the paid for ones. I don't know for definite but when I was booking limelight for our cruise it showed this. I tried a different date and managed to book. So I think it may be full. You could try a different time/date to see if that works. Apart from the first night we didn't have to queue to get in MDR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eglesbrech Posted January 19, 2023 #119 Share Posted January 19, 2023 1 minute ago, happy v said: I don't know for definite but when I was booking limelight for our cruise it showed this. I tried a different date and managed to book. So I think it may be full. You could try a different time/date to see if that works. Apart from the first night we didn't have to queue to get in MDR Thanks but I have tried several dates and get the same message. Even tried some lunch times. Good to know re the MDR, thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy v Posted January 19, 2023 #120 Share Posted January 19, 2023 23 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said: Thanks but I have tried several dates and get the same message. Even tried some lunch times. Good to know re the MDR, thanks for that. Well there goes my theory 😅 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkypete Posted January 19, 2023 #121 Share Posted January 19, 2023 On 1/18/2023 at 1:11 PM, Tablelamp said: Sarah, please let me know how things go on. I am a big fan of shellfish. I do feel that P and O may be trying to push us into the Speciality restaurants as they make more money. I don’t want to be pushed and will complain if necessary to the Maistre D (but nicely and respectfully). You get nowhere by being rude. They are pushing people into the extra charge restaurants. On Iona the Horizon was chaotic due to the Beach House occupying up to 3/4 of the Horizon areas. One night we were escorted through the BH to the Horizon which was half of one side only. Big queues. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Megabear2 Posted January 19, 2023 #122 Share Posted January 19, 2023 4 minutes ago, Yorkypete said: They are pushing people into the extra charge restaurants. On Iona the Horizon was chaotic due to the Beach House occupying up to 3/4 of the Horizon areas. One night we were escorted through the BH to the Horizon which was half of one side only. Big queues. Britannia they were using only one half except for the breakfast time. Late lunch, tea and evening were never more than half with them literally closing down while you were queuing. However in the evenings this didn't appear to be a problem as it wasn't busy, at least on the occasions we either ate there or passed through. Are you saying large numbers were using Horizon buffet in the evenings rather than the MDR or other options? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkypete Posted January 19, 2023 #123 Share Posted January 19, 2023 30 minutes ago, Megabear2 said: Britannia they were using only one half except for the breakfast time. Late lunch, tea and evening were never more than half with them literally closing down while you were queuing. However in the evenings this didn't appear to be a problem as it wasn't busy, at least on the occasions we either ate there or passed through. Are you saying large numbers were using Horizon buffet in the evenings rather than the MDR or other options? It always seemed to be fairly full especially early on, say between 6 and 7pm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tablelamp Posted January 20, 2023 Author #124 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Friend of mine is on the Iona. If you want a banana from the buffet for breakfast, you need to ask. It sounds as thought P and are trying to see how far they can cutback without causing a riot and I can see that coming. I am happy to try the speciality restaurants but I object to being forced to do so because of poor quality food and long queues in the inclusive restaurants. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobstheboy Posted January 20, 2023 #125 Share Posted January 20, 2023 An excellent meal in the Olive Grove last night, small supplement for some items but most are included. The resident group in the Club House are very good, different era each night. The times are 2000, 2130 and 2300, with each set lasting about 50 minutes. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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