GETAWAY my opinion

[pjfromuk]

Having read several threads over the last few days it appears that every one is happy about this boat. Sorry to rock it (pun intended) but my experience was different. I joined on Jan 14th for a overnight. I invited 2 couples who had not cruised before and we had 3 cabins together on deck 10. I will not list all the past cruises I have taken but it is over 20 with various different cruise lines including once on the Jade. There are many good things about this ship let down by the food quality in the restaurant's that fell well below par. I ate in the Savour for lunch which although limited was just acceptable. Evening in the Tropicana which took nearly 3 hours to be served , my first 2 courses were inedible and cold ( sent back) and finally back to the Savour for breakfast next day . Ordered the Express meal which took over one hour to arrive then was totally wrong, cold and you could have used the scrambled eggs as door stops. The serving staff were at all times very nice,helpful and I believe as embarrassed as I was disappointed. I spoke to the maître-d' once again very pleasant who had a long written list of other peoples comments. I just hope they get their act together before they start to cruise for real: Now I await the storm to come!!

Edited January 20, 2014 by pjfromuk

[roger001]

I guess that's what those 1 and 2 night shakedown cruises are about. Sounds like the crew took the problems seriously. And problems are what they are looking for....to make a list and fix it. As you say, hope the fixes are there by the first cruise out of Miami. I think that is the first one where I would have expectations. Will be anxiously awaiting reports of cruises further along the schedule. I have a family member sailing on that first Miami cruise. Thanks.

Edited January 20, 2014 by roger001

[SeaShark]

Having read several threads over the last few days it appears that every one is happy about this boat. Sorry to rock it (pun intended) but my experience was different. I joined on Jan 14th for a overnight. I invited 2 couples who had not cruised before and we had 3 cabins together on deck 10. I will not list all the past cruises I have taken but it is over 20 with various different cruise lines including once on the Jade. There are many good things about this ship let down by the food quality in the restaurant's that fell well below par. I ate in the Savour for lunch which although limited was just acceptable. Evening in the Tropicana which took nearly 3 hours to be served , my first 2 courses were inedible and cold ( sent back) and finally back to the Savour for breakfast next day . Ordered the Express meal which took over one hour to arrive then was totally wrong, cold and you could have used the scrambled eggs as door stops. The serving staff were at all times very nice,helpful and I believe as embarrassed as I was disappointed. I spoke to the maître-d' once again very pleasant who had a long written list of other peoples comments. I just hope they get their act together before they start to cruise for real: Now I await the storm to come!!

 

Having been on over 20 cruises with various different (is that repetitive?) cruise lines, I'm certan that you are aware that food is one of the most...if not THE most...subjective things onboard a ship. You can give 10 people the same meal and get back 10 different opinions. What one likes, another hates, and everything in between.

 

I have to say that if your only issue is that the food wasn't in line with your personal tastes, then overall it looks like the Getaway is in great shape.

[SteveH2508]

OP, I was on that same cruise and can agree with some of your comments. We had lunch in Savor and felt that it was very good. The Calamari was lovely and I took a chance on the fish and chips. It was actually very good: decent batter and the fish was cooked perfectly.

 

We also had breakfast there the next morning and would agree that the service was sloooow. I think they had some real issues with breakfast - there seemed to be a lot of supervisory-type people running around looking harassed.

 

We did not eat in the MDR for dinner - we went to the Illusionarium, where the food was just OK: good starter; main was OK - steak was good but the rest was not so brilliant; the dessert was OK.

[dalgirl]

I expect that they will have their act together by the time we sail in September - shakedowns for any product are learning experiences. Sorry that you had to be the "gunea pig" but someone has to do it;)

[smeck]

Those experiences the op experienced are to be expected on a brand new ship. One with 20 plus cruise under their belt should of expected it.

[MADflyer]

I was on from Rotterdam and was able to try more of the venues.

 

I was extremely pleased with Moderno Churrascaria and liked that I had views down on the Tropicana Room. The Filet Mignon and the lamb chops were exceptional among the 8 to 10 meats circulated. The salad bar and soups there were simply incredible. I had made sure to not eat anything after boarding that first day so I would be able to enjoy this specialty restaurant.

 

As these one night cruises were both disembarkation breakfast menus in the dining room, it was actually much better up at the Garden Café. As we arrived later to Southampton after the crossing from Rotterdam, I actually walked the buffet to just see how it was and then waited an hour before Savor opened. I had seen the breakfast menu posted the night prior had my favorite, Eggs Benedict. I was surprised to see that this was not on the menu as I was seated.

 

Well, I ordered a juice and French Toast and it was delivered quickly and was ok, but I headed up to the buffet and went there directly the next morning.

 

I really liked that they had a 'Specialty' section right at the front of the Garden Café and they had exactly what I wanted, Eggs Benedict, fresh fruit and bircher muesli. While not of interest for me, I was happy to see that they had 3 stations with cold meat and salmon along with very elegant accompaniments.

 

I am not a big fan of buffets, so I did go to Savor for lunch and none of the main entrees appealed to me. I ordered 3 appetizers. The calamari was excellent, the crab salad very good and the spinach Caesar salad average. The orange slice and raspberry sorbet dessert was very fresh and extremely well presented.

 

I attended 'Legally Blond' and was very pleased with drink service and the quality of the show. I had planned to do the Prime Rib special in O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, but then noticed it was only served until 9 pm and I would feel rushed.

 

I was surprised that I could be seated at 9:45 in the complementary Taste. I was very happy with the venue and it fully met my expectations. It did not compete with my experience from the night before, but everything was just fine. I was dining solo and was out before 10:45 having a four course meal.

 

I did not sample anything, but also really liked that they had a buffet (sandwiches) in the Casino that was maintained all throughout the evening and late into the night.

[cruiseclues]

Thanks for calling it as you see it. :):):):)