calicakes

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. 

15 minutes ago, rjcook9 said:

If you open your suitcases & slide them under the bed in the open position they fit easily 

We did that

10 hours ago, rbtan said:

We're from New England & the "Chowdas" on board were excellent, but the Oysters Rockefeller were horrid. Food is subjective. Overall the food on O has been better than any line with the exception of the Grills on Cunard. Thee it's a tie.

This was horrible clam chowder.

11 hours ago, osandomir said:

I think that Oceania would be very expensive means of transportation from LA to Cabo if you just want to get there and eat Mexican food ashore. 

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.

8 minutes ago, ORV said:

I sure would have thought from this statement you meant the O Mexican Riviera overnights in Cabo. It all seemed to be in the same thought. 

 

 

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. 

1 minute ago, ORV said:

If it's the Regatta cruise on the 20th that you started a Roll Call for it doesn't overnight in Cabo. Did you change to another one?

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

2 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Yes   hard to  pick a good time during hurricane season

 We board  Vista on Friday & hoping  no  storms but  we are OK with some sea days

 

Where are you going?

2 hours ago, EJL2023 said:

Back to X I assume? Not sure why you would book another O cruise based upon your dissatisfaction, which is understandable. 

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.  

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Sounds like  you should  stick with  cruises that are more intensive  & on the larger  ships

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.  

6 minutes ago, dock said:

Being as this  is your second O cruise, I assume you enjoyed the first one enough to book a second. 
 

This cruise though does not seem to  be that exciting or am I over analyzing your posts?

Food seems ok but not finest at sea! 

 

Im curious as we’re usually on X .We have our first O cruise next year and I’m looking at Iceland for next fall so I’m trying to decide if O would be a good fit. We enjoy good food. Don’t go to the Broadway type shows but do enjoy good music in the different venues on X.
We are energetic 60 year olds ( well

 still 59) who still think we’re 40 lol! 
 

I realise we could have very different wants and expectations ,but just curious if you’d book O again. 
Thank you.
 

 

 

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. 

6 hours ago, seachelt said:

Today is day 7 and I haven’t seen any comment cards. I’ll go to guest services and ask for one. Many of us have been having an unfortunate time with food. However we had excellent meals last night in the Grand dining room, more like what we were expecting from Oceania. My pad Thai and salad were delicious, and husband enjoyed his lobster bisque and beef Wellington. 

seachelt

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

57 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see two night worthy in this menu for a 7 night itinerary. Maybe I am in the minority and it appeals to a broader audience than I am thinking. 
Glad that you are enjoying your cruise, but it’s too bad that food hasn’t been at the level you had hoped for. 
We all have different tastes. There may be people lined up for this two night special fare!

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.

2 hours ago, ToxM said:

As I said earlier i am sorry you are having an unfortunate time with the food. I hope you have or will mention something on the midcruise comment card. 

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.

@takemewithyou

I ordered the lobster gratined? It was split open with breadcrumbs, herbs and garlic.  It could also be ordered steamed.  The server came over and removed the shell after it was presented.  He had a very difficult time getting it out of the shell.  LOL.  He was trying for about 5 minutes.  I almost said " Just let me do it", but I did not.  

The crab cake is supposed to be lump crab.  It was not. It was tiny little shreds of crab.