keeven2

The problem is I can go to the main dining room for free. There was not much difference in terms of food. Epicurean was just slightly better. That's why I felt like a waste of money and efforts.

If missing port due to weather conditions, is it covered by travel insurance which covers cruise? We skipped Porto last month due to strong wind. I did not buy cruise insurance this time so I didn't ask for a statement from the ship.

Yes, I think my expectation was too high. It was just ordinary in terms of food. We found out that we were very happy with the Beachhouse.

Frozen is fine. The problem for these lobsters did not taste right. I don't know how to describe that feeling exactly, the texture felt loose. At home if the prawn from fishmonger is not very fresh, you put it into the freezer, after defrost and cook, it will taste like that.

We were on Ventura to Portugal during half term holiday. This was the second time with P&O. The first time was on Iona last year to Norway. Due to the post Covid shortages, the Epicurean restaurant was closed on Iona. This time I was keen to try Epicurean because it was often mentioned as "Amazing". However it turned out to be quite disappointed. Firstly about the reservation. We are a party of 7 so we went to the restaurant to make the reservation. However the lady at door told us it was fully booked for the whole cruise. I showed her that there are availability on the "My Holiday". She still insisted that it was fully booked, nothing (no matter of the table size) was available. If we book on "My Holiday", it might get cancelled. She even asked the restaurant manager came over to convince us. So we left and booked it online, a table of 5 and a table of 2. We did this on Iona and it worked out perfectly. After a few days, the booking reminder was delivered to our cabins. I went up to the restaurant to tell them that we are a party of 7. Another lady said it is no problem. Secondly, about the food. I'm gonna laugh. One of the main course on the menu is literally Fish and Chips. It might be some fancy Cod or Haddock. I only can say it would be a British fine cuisine. Some of us ordered the "whole" lobster. It turned out very small, and without claws. I don't know if it the definition of "Whole" lobster. The lobsters were all over cooked, the meat is loose, like being frozen for a very long time. The other starters and main courses were just so so, nothing to highlight. The only good thing was the service was good. So in general, I feel it was completely waste of £30 per head. The beach house was much better.

I booked a MSC cruise at end of a school holiday, now it looks like we need to disembark one day earlier and go home due to other arrangement. So is it ok that when we are onboard we inform the ship reception to clear the bills and walk off one day earlier? TIA.