What do you think of the new dining without silver service?

[alvin moondust]

Having just returned from a week on Azura (our third cruise all with P&O) we felt a little disappointed that the service has changed in the Main Dining Rooms. The lack of silver service of the vegetables and accompaniments made it seem a bit less special. Dont get me wrong the food was very good but delivering the whole meal ready plated meant you did not get to choose what you wanted, We were very disappointed on several occasions to be served the main course with a scoop of Mcdonalds style Frozen fries.:mad:

 

It also meant picking out veggies that you didnt like or would choose.

 

The cruise was very enjoyable as ever but the dressing for dinner and the atmosphere and service in the MDR is an important factor for us when choosing P&O, and I can only assume this is a cost saving exercise??

 

Does anyone feel the same way or are we just being too critical. It seems trivial but we are considering looking elsewhere for our next trip.

[majortom10]

P&O are only falling into line with all other major cruise lines in serving plated meals and IMO its about time. We always have a table for 8 and by the time they have served the meal and gone round with the vegetables when you start your meals it is sometimes cold. Also hopefully the vegetables will be served plated to match the meals and not at present when you order a curry or spaghetti bolognese they ask you if you want sprouts or cauliflower :eek:

Edited May 12, 2014 by shilly3191

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Alvin

We were on Ventura in March and I thought the plated meals system was an improvement on the old system,the meals were served quickly and on all occasions were hot, I am not a vegetable fan and very rarely did I take them when offered previously. Extra vegetables were available and each night they were offered by our waiter as part of his service. I had also read that portion sizes had gotton smaller I certainly didn't notice any change and I like my food.

[ParCan]

I like and probably prefer the new preplated service.

Your meal is nicely presented and hot. Veg is still separate so you can still chose.

Your Table staff also have that little bit extra time to have a chat as well.

[the english lady]

just returned from Arcadia. We liked the new way. food always hot ,and what I did not wish to eat I left on my plate....only the odd thing here and there. Portion size, well after I had ordered a starter, soup and main, I did not always have space for the desert....so sizes were ok for us.

[kersh]

I much prefer the new plated meal service. Hot tasty food well presented. The waiters have more time to socialise but apparently will soon be serving the wine as well. Works for me.

 

Sue

[Pinkbelle's Blue]

We prefer the plated meals, service is quicker, and the variety better in my opinion.

[Presto2]

We were on Oceana over Easter and we actually liked the plated meals - surprisingly. They were well presented and the meals looked attractive. Compared to Celebrity the meals seemed to be more about quality than quantity and we loved our evenings in the MDR on most occasions.

 

The only think we disliked was the fact that there was no procession of the waiters --- but that is another thread.

[alvin moondust]

Guess we are in the minority then:D and to be fair the food was always served hot. However we were never offered or told about extra veggies!

[Denarius]

I much prefer the plated meals. Meals are served quickly which means you get to eat them whilst they are still hot. Vegetables are presented to complement the meat or fish ordered, not just the roast. An altogether better system.

[DolphinWatcher]

I think I'm in the minority too. Preferred silver service, but not a huge issue. Just need to remember to read what the meal comes with & request extra veggies!

[daiB]

Guess we are in the minority then:D and to be fair the food was always served hot. However we were never offered or told about extra veggies!

 

 

Yes it is amazing how many things you do not get by not asking. ;)

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[asda]

Alvin. I see what you mean . It's nice going into a resteraunt and be served by waiter doing silver service , but I think they are serving so many guest all at once it was taking to long. And now that they have freedom dining ( guest arriving a different times ) it must be hard.

I'm not sure if the speciality resteraunts do silver service but it would be nice if they had a small resteraunt onboard that does.

[Ecuador]

Hi Alvin

 

Agree with your comments.We were never offered extra vegetables by our waiters and noted portions were smaller.Wine service was slow and sometimes glasses not refilled. Had to ask.

[Presto2]

Hi Alvin

 

Agree with your comments.We were never offered extra vegetables by our waiters and noted portions were smaller.Wine service was slow and sometimes glasses not refilled. Had to ask.

 

Looking back it was the same here - not too worried about portion sizes as they suited me, and I passed 'extras' on to hubby! Wine service was very slow and we too had to wait for glasses to be refilled. :)

[Sanjam cruisers]

May I ask why does anyone require a waiter to refill a wine glass, I am quite capable of deciding if I want a glass refilled and doing it myself. If there was a wine waiter serving perhaps four tables I could see the point but as they serve substantially more it is totally impractical.

[Denarius]

May I ask why does anyone require a waiter to refill a wine glass, I am quite capable of deciding if I want a glass refilled and doing it myself. If there was a wine waiter serving perhaps four tables I could see the point but as they serve substantially more it is totally impractical.

 

I agree, and do so when the wine is red and the bottle is sitting on the table. Not so easy when it is white and is whisked off to a cooler you know not where, perhaps (it seems) never to be seen again.

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi Denarius

My better half and I are normally red wine fans but on the occasions we have had white the waiter has been kind enough to leave the cooler within reach to allow me to serve myself.On all our cruises I have always built a rapport with all the waiters serving our table and have never experienced any problems with service.

[dgs1956]

Hi Denarius

My better half and I are normally red wine fans but on the occasions we have had white the waiter has been kind enough to leave the cooler within reach to allow me to serve myself.On all our cruises I have always built a rapport with all the waiters serving our table and have never experienced any problems with service.

 

Ditto

I've only ever had one wine waiter who was a bit stroppy. The rest have all been excellent and very good fun too. In my experience its only been Seventeen where the waiter insisted on pouring.

David

[Sanjam cruisers]

Hi dgs1956

You are quite correct the waiters in seventeen tend to keep an eye on the wine, also in the glasshouse where we tend to treat ourselves to a bottle of Pellar Ice Wine the waiters always keep their eye on you and make sure your glass is refilled. I have a surname beginning Mc which the waiter sone times have difficulty in pronouncing and it becomes a point of conversation between us as a result they get to know us and have a good relationship.

[dgs1956]

Sanjam

Like yourself I found all the waiters liked a bit of a laugh. You reap what you sow I suppose.

David

[Sanjam cruisers]

Very much so David civility costs nothing , we have had a number of cruises and have never had unfriendly or surly staff as described on some of the posts.Some are more reserved than others but I have never had reason to complain about any service provided.Happy cruising to you, you never know we might meet on a cruise.

 

Jim

[dgs1956]

..... you never know we might meet on a cruise.

 

Jim

 

I'd be happy with that.

David

[NSWP]

Recently off Arcadia, in my view no problems with no silver veggie service. At least one can start dinner quicker without waiting. Anyone want my broccoli, oh dear broccoli every night on Arcadia J402, yuk.

[nelderwoman]

We prefer the plated meals' date=' service is quicker, and the variety better in my opinion.[/quote']

 

Hi. This question nothing at all to do with this post. I just see on another post you were in cabin A725 on Azura. We have just been allocated this cabin, could you tell me what you think of it please. Was there much noise from the back and was it rocky.

I hope you see this

Many thanks