Food in the MDR on Aurora

[Fionboard]

Been on Aurora twice this year. Food and service excellent. Currently on Arcadia and food and service not as good. Enjoying it though. 

[Mollag]

45 minutes ago, Dinglebert said:

Our experience from April on Azura were that the choices available in MDR are much reduced from pre-covid.  We did have to send back 3 meals to be reheated.   The cheese plate was frankly pathetic.  Oddly there was more choice of cheese in the buffet than in the mdr.

 

It was the shortages we found odd.  No orange juice for breakfast one morning.  Couple of cereals have also disappeared.   The most constant shortage was butter.   They were very reluctant to give guests any.   If ther were say eight of us at a table then there were seven bits of butter.  Once you notice the great butter shortage it becomes almost funny.  It was definately being rationed for some reason.

Same for us fed up of sending meals back on Azura you must have been lucky with the cereal at one point they only had cornflakes another morning they served Jalepeno sausages for breakfast 

[Britboys]

56 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Still sounds more than my memory of what used to be served, but I suppose that would have depended on the generosity of the waiter.. 

I will just have to fill my pockets at the buffet😂

Andy 

Please don't get excited about the 'Cheese Plate'. It really is pathetic if my experience last summer is anything to go by. As Waju said, it is three tiny slithers of rather unexciting, run of the mill cheese.

[Angel57]

1 hour ago, Waju said:

We got back from the Aurora Baltic cruise on Thursday and I have to say we thoroughly enjoyed our meals in the MDR.  I would agree the choice isn't as great as it used to be but I only struggled to choose something I fancied on the last night, but by that time I was so full I probably just wasn't hungry 😁

 

I wouldn't rate any of the meals (lunch or dinner) lower than 8/10 indeed most were 10/10 and I'm back on the diet already 😲

 

 

I’m very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your food as I’m back on Aurora next month.

I’ve been cruising with P&O cruising for over 30 years - including two full world cruises and two half ones, but this will be my first since Dec 2019. I must admit I’ve had very few meals in the MDR that have been sent back or not eaten, but my current expectations are significantly lower than previously. 🤞

 

[Britboys]

2 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Genuine observation/question

 

Does the overall improvement in cuisine on offer in UK over the years which is huge?

 

The improvement in quality full stop of restaurants in the UK

 

The huge range of food choices in UK

 

Make eating MDR in a standard restaurant on a cruise ship start to feel a bit bland anyway in comparison

 

If a large MDR tries to do an Italian dish in bulk or a spicy Indian dish for example. Or a roast. 

 

How can it really compare with a good standard Italian restaurant dish or Indian dish or even higher quality carvery or Sunday roast restaurant catering for far fewer guests and specialising in what they do

 

What I am basically saying is we have all had so many great meals in our lives by now it's very hard for a MDR to compete with these day in day out for 14 nights plus

 

And seem bland in comparison. Perfectly edible but bland or boring compared to speciality restaurants. In terms of the food if nothing else.

 

Surely that's inevitable. Jack of all trades master of none comes to mind a little bit.

 

Does that make sense?

 

I think that's why MDRs don't tempt us compared to the specialist restaurants to be honest?

 

It takes a really great meal to blow us away nowadays. We've all had so many?

Not for me. I am comparing it to what I have experienced previously with P&O. My main issue over the food is the current menu. I guess some would call me a picky eater, even though I enjoy varied cuisines such as English, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Turkish and Chinese. There are however some commonly used things I don't like such as tomato, (excessive) onion, mayonnaise (unless a strong garlic aioli) and hot spice such as chilli. The starter courses for me are now very limited, often only one I would choose and on three nights none. Fortunately, the waiter offered and found some melon for me. A number of the soups were spicy too. I found my choice of main course quite limited too but only had to resort to the steak once I think. Dessert choice is now very limited, particularly if you exclude the 'on every night' dishes ice cream and bread & butter pudding. As has been said above, the cold desserts generally are tasteless - and as I don't eat spicy foods, my taste buds haven't been blunted and I don't have false teeth either (which I understand reduces your available taste buds). As I said in my review of the last cruise, I was really looking forward to a Lemon Panna Cotta one night. It was absolutely tasteless.

I do eat out at home but not at high end restaurants so not making such comparisons with P&O. As I have previously said, they have combined the vegetarian menu that used to be separate as well incorporating dietary restrictions such as gluten-free and sugar-free all into the main menu. There is no reason that some things could be offered in 'standard' form with the option to have them without gluten or sugar. That's why I feel that this is also a cost-cutting measure.

I never had this issue pre-Covid. I always enjoyed a choice of at least two starters plus soup, two or three main courses and several desserts.

[mercury7289]

4 hours ago, Happy afloat said:

We're really surprised to read this tbh.

We were on Aurora in April for the first time and never had a bad meal in the mdr (freedom dining). Full plates of hot food every time, served on hot plates. Puddings were good in the mdr,  cold desserts a bit tasteless.

Sindhu and glasshouse both very good also, though the service in the glasshouse was a bit slow once, when they were particularly busy.  

Never had to fall back on the steak as a standby once.

Wonder what's changed?

Full plates! your having a laugh! not that I require that amount of food, My expectation on mass catering is at the school dinner level of the late 50s and early 60s slightly enhanced by more adult type food.

Edited May 20, 2023 by mercury7289
clarity

[Cruisemeister2002]

On 5/19/2023 at 1:57 PM, Scorpio41 said:

Very disappointed in the food on offer in the MDR. P&O catering for the cruising minority. 

Very repetitive, bland and tasteless. Too many vegan, vegetarian and GF options.

 

We found the choice very limited for us that enjoy fish and meat. My table companions also found themselves ordering the same dishes night after night. Cruisers we shared breakfast tables with passed comments too.
The deserts were lacking something, but I can’t quite say what. Maybe being all vegan options, gf made them more tasteless. Certainly less sugar.

 

What happened to the Stilton? Some nights the waiters managed to find some but not often. I would have Stilton every night instead of desert.

 

For those of you who love green beans, I am pleased to say the bean bushes are doing well and there is an abundance of possibly even a glut of them and they are harvested daily. 😁

 

This is my opinion and views, feel free to express your own findings. 🙃

On Ventura in March/April had the same problems, this time brocolli with everything. Got to the stage where some of it had a brown tinge to it. Obviously past it's sell by date. Desserts were bland. If it said rum cake or pina collada cheesecake I reckon the dessert had a cork waved above it as no distinct taste of any alcohol. My wife had what they described as a trio of chocalate. It was impossible to see more than two. She has had this on previous cruises and loved it, not so on this one. Also no Opera cake of sassha torte. Not sure really if it mattered as it wouldn't have been very nice judging on the rest that was dished up. Breakfasts were generally o.k. apart from the odd eggs benedic being cold and the burgers, pizza and chips were all good on deck. The buffet was so, so, some days very good, some days not so good and no curry nights on the buffet, which are usually good. Sindu was superb and the Beach House good. But then you pay extra for these. Our four best meals were 3 x sindu and 1 x Beach House.

[Harryjacobs]

My I enquire as to what is wrong with the sirloin steak?

[Scorpio41]

16 minutes ago, Harryjacobs said:

My I enquire as to what is wrong with the sirloin steak?

Nothing. Cooked perfectly each time.
 

The only problem was that was an option every night along with chicken breast and one other meat or fish dish. The other choices were vegetarian. 

[Happy afloat]

6 hours ago, mercury7289 said:

Full plates! your having a laugh! not that I require that amount of food, My expectation on mass catering is at the school dinner level of the late 50s and early 60s slightly enhanced by more adult type food.

No I'm not.

I'm commenting, genuinely, on our experiences. If you say yours was different then I will take what you say at face value and not disbelieve what you say as I wasn't there to bear witness. 

[mercury7289]

57 minutes ago, Happy afloat said:

No I'm not.

I'm commenting, genuinely, on our experiences. If you say yours was different then I will take what you say at face value and not disbelieve what you say as I wasn't there to bear witness. 

 Your experience was not the point of the post. The OP gave there opinion of there experience, and being on the same cruise and at the same time,I whole heartily agreed with them,Twas you that queried OUR experience 

[Happy afloat]

2 hours ago, mercury7289 said:

 Your experience was not the point of the post. The OP gave there opinion of there experience, and being on the same cruise and at the same time,I whole heartily agreed with them,Twas you that queried OUR experience 

I didn't query your or anyone else's experience, what I said was we were surprised that you had the experience you did given that ours was at the other end of the scale. As I said in my follow up post, we weren't on your cruise so can't comment on the quality or lack thereof. In no way was I contradicting your findings, merely pointing out that ours differed.

As for our experience not being the point of the post, can I take it that this forum is now no longer a platform for  members to share our findings and opinions?

[mercury7289]

8 minutes ago, Happy afloat said:

I didn't query your or anyone else's experience, what I said was we were surprised that you had the experience you did given that ours was at the other end of the scale. As I said in my follow up post, we weren't on your cruise so can't comment on the quality or lack thereof. In no way was I contradicting your findings, merely pointing out that ours differed.

As for our experience not being the point of the post, can I take it that this forum is now no longer a platform for  members to share our findings and opinions?

Cannot speak for the forum above my pay grade,suggest you ask them

[daiB]

10 hours ago, mercury7289 said:

Full plates! your having a laugh! not that I require that amount of food, My expectation on mass catering is at the school dinner level of the late 50s and early 60s slightly enhanced by more adult type food.

I dont think he is “having a laugh” we had very good meals on Aurora last October and at Christmas including full plates.

[daiB]

22 minutes ago, Happy afloat said:

I didn't query your or anyone else's experience, what I said was we were surprised that you had the experience you did given that ours was at the other end of the scale. As I said in my follow up post, we weren't on your cruise so can't comment on the quality or lack thereof. In no way was I contradicting your findings, merely pointing out that ours differed.

As for our experience not being the point of the post, can I take it that this forum is now no longer a platform for  members to share our findings and opinions?

I am with you after our experience on Aurora in Oct. and Dec. The food was plentyful, hot and of a good standard.

[daiB]

2 hours ago, mercury7289 said:

 Your experience was not the point of the post. The OP gave there opinion of there experience, and being on the same cruise and at the same time,I whole heartily agreed with them,Twas you that queried OUR experience 

Sorry you cannot dertermin what the point of a post is. once it has been posted it can go in many directions.

[Scorpio41]

The Caribbean lunch during the cruise was very good. The best meal I had onboard.

The arrival buffet was dismal, but the glass of fizz and wine made all the more enjoyable. 😁

 

 

[Selbourne]

22 minutes ago, Scorpio41 said:

The arrival buffet was dismal, but the glass of fizz and wine made all the more enjoyable. 😁

 

It’s usually the freebie fizz and wine that puts a downer on the arrival buffet for us 🤢 😂 

[Scorpio41]

The P&O questionnaire email landed today. Nice big box for typing comments. ‘ Big mistake P&O’. I let them have it. Moans, constructive criticism all with a dash of humour.

It’s a shame there is no tick box for the performers on the cruise. I cannot remember the names of all the various acts and it would have been nice to show our appreciation. 

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, Scorpio41 said:

The P&O questionnaire email landed today. Nice big box for typing comments. ‘ Big mistake P&O’. I let them have it. Moans, constructive criticism all with a dash of humour.

It’s a shame there is no tick box for the performers on the cruise. I cannot remember the names of all the various acts and it would have been nice to show our appreciation. 

Was it a detailed questionnaire you were sent or just the Feefo one?

[peajay]

Just returned from R307 Baltic 16 nights. MDR food was hit and miss. My biggest gripe is they should provide what they advertise. For instance the Bramley apple crumble definitely did not use Bramley apples, the desert apples used were also unfortunately half raw and not a hint of juice. I tried pheasant that was a disaster on Iona and again on Aurora it was too tough to cut, when I complained the waiter asked did I want a steak knife ?

The late buffet on the night before our Kiel stop had curry wurst on the menu so we ate little early and looked forward to our curry wurst. The reality was the counter that was labelled curry wurst actually had a large pile of the usual breakfast pork sausages ?  My wife asked where the curry was (obviously we were not getting any wurst) and he went looking for some but never found any.

If you are not able to offer an acceptable portion of what you advertise, no problem don't try, offer something else.

I do agree that cold deserts in MDR and  buffet are tasteless. The cherry sponge cake had tiny red flecks in it with absolutely no taste of cherry. Looked like they only used one cherry for the complete batch.

 

There was definitely some good food, although not much variety in the buffet, but attention to details and enhancement of flavours needs attention.

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, peajay said:

Just returned from R307 Baltic 16 nights. MDR food was hit and miss. My biggest gripe is they should provide what they advertise. For instance the Bramley apple crumble definitely did not use Bramley apples, the desert apples used were also unfortunately half raw and not a hint of juice. I tried pheasant that was a disaster on Iona and again on Aurora it was too tough to cut, when I complained the waiter asked did I want a steak knife ?

The late buffet on the night before our Kiel stop had curry wurst on the menu so we ate little early and looked forward to our curry wurst. The reality was the counter that was labelled curry wurst actually had a large pile of the usual breakfast pork sausages ?  My wife asked where the curry was (obviously we were not getting any wurst) and he went looking for some but never found any.

If you are not able to offer an acceptable portion of what you advertise, no problem don't try, offer something else.

I do agree that cold deserts in MDR and  buffet are tasteless. The cherry sponge cake had tiny red flecks in it with absolutely no taste of cherry. Looked like they only used one cherry for the complete batch.

 

There was definitely some good food, although not much variety in the buffet, but attention to details and enhancement of flavours needs attention.

I don't know how they can make so many things tasteless. Sounds like things haven't improved significantly since I was aboard last summer. There is definitely something not right with their food strategy at the moment...

[Waju]

1 hour ago, peajay said:

Just returned from R307 Baltic 16 nights. MDR food was hit and miss. My biggest gripe is they should provide what they advertise. For instance the Bramley apple crumble definitely did not use Bramley apples, the desert apples used were also unfortunately half raw and not a hint of juice. I tried pheasant that was a disaster on Iona and again on Aurora it was too tough to cut, when I complained the waiter asked did I want a steak knife ?

The late buffet on the night before our Kiel stop had curry wurst on the menu so we ate little early and looked forward to our curry wurst. The reality was the counter that was labelled curry wurst actually had a large pile of the usual breakfast pork sausages ?  My wife asked where the curry was (obviously we were not getting any wurst) and he went looking for some but never found any.

If you are not able to offer an acceptable portion of what you advertise, no problem don't try, offer something else.

I do agree that cold deserts in MDR and  buffet are tasteless. The cherry sponge cake had tiny red flecks in it with absolutely no taste of cherry. Looked like they only used one cherry for the complete batch.

 

There was definitely some good food, although not much variety in the buffet, but attention to details and enhancement of flavours needs attention.

 

33 minutes ago, Britboys said:

I don't know how they can make so many things tasteless. Sounds like things haven't improved significantly since I was aboard last summer. There is definitely something not right with their food strategy at the moment...

Just goes to show that it's all a matter of taste (pun intended!) as we enjoyed all of our meals in the MDR on the same cruise.

 

I think the apple crumble was the last or next to last night and we loved it.

 

 

[Britboys]

2 hours ago, Waju said:

 

Just goes to show that it's all a matter of taste (pun intended!) as we enjoyed all of our meals in the MDR on the same cruise.

 

I think the apple crumble was the last or next to last night and we loved it.

 

 

Absolutely. Food quality and taste is very subjective and very personal.

[zap99]

On 5/20/2023 at 2:48 PM, Harryjacobs said:

My I enquire as to what is wrong with the sirloin steak?

Not posh enough.🤣