Food and dining on P&O ships

[Eglesbrech]

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?

 

[majortom10]

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

[grapau27]

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.

[majortom10]

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.

[grapau27]

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.

[grapau27]

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.

[Ardennais]

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. 

[grapau27]

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.

[alpha whiskey]

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

[Eglesbrech]

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.

[alpha whiskey]

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. 🤞 

[Ardennais]

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. 

[Eglesbrech]

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?

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Eglesbrech said:

One should not have to stand in long queues on holiday surely?

Unfortunately sometimes it is unavoidable.

 

 

 

[Eglesbrech]

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. 

[grapau27]

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.

[Eglesbrech]

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.

[happy v]

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

[Eglesbrech]

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.

[happy v]

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 😅

[Yorkypete]

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.

 

[Megabear2]

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?

[Yorkypete]

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.

 

[Tablelamp]

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.

[bobstheboy]

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.