calicakes

From what I have heard, edge class has better food than s or m class.

Just back from an Oceania Insignia cruise( Bermuda). The food was worse than our first O cruise in 2022. Each night, they served the same overcooked steamed veggies( broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) and then on the last night, they shoved them all between noodles( no ricotta or cheese) and called it lasagna. Inedible. The pastries were amazing in 2022, this time much smaller and not as good. The lobster was overcooked. The eggs on the buffet were either powdered or liquid. Oceania is supposed to be " The finest cuisine at sea". We paid close to 6k for a week cruise that missed on stop in Bermuda because of wind. We were docked in Hamilton for 3 nights. I was looking forward to the food. After this cruise, I cancelled the other O cruise we had booked.

Ship: Eclipse Length of Cruise: 9 nights Cruise Sail Date: October 28, 2023 Date email offer received: August 31st Captain’s Club Tier: Select, Elite after this sailing Booked through TA Current Cabin: OV Bid? Yes/No: Yes Cabin Category: Veranda min. $110 ; Concierge Class , minimum $165; Aqua Class , minimum $275 Bid Offer: Veranda. 185, Concierge. 285, Aqua 360 Notification Date: 10/2/23 Accepted / Rejected: Accepted - Veranda 185PP.

We did that

This was horrible clam chowder.

Omg. Did I say that? I live in LA. I can have Mexican food whenever I want. My point is this. I'm able to have a different meal on shore vs same food different day.

Photo dump now that I have cell service. 20230926_144922.mp4

What can I say? I've spent the majority of the day rocking back and forth. My brain is a bit jumbled. Changing subjects. The pastries. I remember from our first O cruise in Feb 2022 that the croissants and Danish were so fresh and really delicious. The pastries are not as fresh or delicious this time. I actually think I've lost weight on this cruise.

We're on Celebrity Eclipse on October 28th. That overnights in Cabo.

Where are you going?

We have 2 more booked on X and 1 more on O. I might see if I can get a refund on the X cruise, which is next September on Beyond. The next O is Mexican Rivera from LA and since we live in LA, easy to get to the port. We overnight in Cabo and we'll go out for Mexican food in a few of the ports. That should break up the monotony of the food onboard. People cruise for a lot of reasons, food isn't the most important reason to us. I've had weight loss surgery and my appetite is reduced. Food doesn't hold the same pleasure as it once did.

We did a whole lot of nothing today. Our bags are packed and are outside the door. We did venture out to the buffet at 7pm. Pretty empty. There were a lot of repurposed foods. For instance, yesterday at lunch they had polenta. Today it was made into triangles, grilled and topped with sausage. There was a lot of veal at the buffet. A veal stir fry( weird), veal with some sauce and another veal dish. There was a veggie lasagna that had all of the mixed steamed veggies included. No ricotta filling. There was no chicken at all. Don't shoot the messenger, just reporting what I observed. I tried the lasagna, but I couldn't stomach it. Partially due to the way the ship is rocking back and forth. Julie had pasta with red sauce.

We're fine with smaller ships as we usually skip evening entertainment. This itinerary had a lot of sea days and today was ROUGH.

Currently on Insignia. The pastries are NOT as good as they were on our first O cruise in Feb 2022. They seem smaller and not as tender. Desserts have not impressed me. My wife had steak in Polo grill and it was tough and overcooked. I had lobster in Polo grill. So dry and tough. The soups have been horrible. I haven't tried the lobster bisque. The soups are seriously underseasoned. The clam chowder would be an insult to anyone from New England.

The first O cruise was great, it was Feb 2022 with only 338 passengers on board. It was a Caribbean cruise. We do have another O cruise booked, April 2024 from Los Angeles. We also have 3 upcoming X cruises. I might cancel the Sept X cruise. We're taking a Mexican Riviera. from LA on Eclipse next month, a Great Barrier Reef in Feb 2024, the 3rd X cruise is on Beyond from Ft. Lauderdale. I prefer more port days than sea days. I'm 56 and Julie is 61. We're pretty energetic as well. Julie plays pickleball 5x a week. I'm active as well. This cruise was rather boring.

I forgot to mention. Our cabin was decorated with pink/white balloons and 2 towel swans. The TA must have told them it was our anniversary. While at the pool yesterday, I walked over to Waves to grab some fruit. I was wearing a one piece bathing suit and was scolded by a manager for not having a shirt on. Yeah, ok. I wasn't sitting in the restaurant, I was grabbing the fruit and taking it back to the lounge chair.

The seas are getting rougher. We ordered room service for lunch. Turkey club and french onion soup. The club came with 1 slice of turkey and about 5 slices of roast beef. Roast beef was not mentioned on the menu and I don't eat beef. I removed it, but it touched the bread and I won't eat bread soaked in meat juice. The soup was missing the melted cheese. It was also pretty bland, I never salt my food and I've had to numerous times. Julie lost her footing and fell into the soup which splashed on my clothes. We're now doing wash. LOL. Internet is going in and out. We're hanging out in the cabin, watching movies and planning excursions for our Celebrity cruise next month.

We're experiencing very rough seas. They've closed all the outside decks. They removed the cushions from the balcony furniture. Both Julie and I are feeling sick to our stomach. We're wearing the sea sickness patch, I wonder how much worse it would be if we didn't have those on. The captain says the weather will be this way for the remainder of the cruise. Uggggg.

I enjoyed my chicken Kiev and my wife enjoyed her cannelloni. I almost ordered the pad thai. Glad to hear it was great.

I went into the buffet to grab a latte and it was not crowded at all. The least crowded I've seen the buffet since we set sail.

Here is a menu photo. we are in the grand dining room tonight. I have chicken Kyiv, Julie had them cannelloni. I have the orange soufflé Julie had the chocolate cake it was supposed to be molten it was not. Dinner was good.. probably the best dinner we’ve had on the ship.

British Bermuda menu was fish cakes, calamari, a seafood pizza, bread, and butter pudding, I didn’t see any typical British food

We are on the way back to New York, we left Hamilton at 6 AM. They are expecting some rough weather, maybe that’s why we’re going so slow. I observed barf bags by all the elevators. Personally, I wish we could get back today and have an extra day in New York City. Tonight’s buffet dinner is the same as yesterday.. British Bermuda theme. Everything is exactly the same. They told me it is so all passengers can experience it. thankfully, the weather is nice, and we are laying out by the pool.

Thankfully, food is not the number one reason that we cruise. And I did mention it on the survey that Hass to be filled out before you leave, in order to be eligible for the drawing.