Returning to P&O

[Interestedcruisefan]

3 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Yes it does it’s called Murano’s.

A bit expensive but people say it’s the best dinner they have ever had,,,only done it once,a bit fussy for me.

I'm sure Celebrity will describe it as fine dining?

 

But I'm also sure not everywhere you dine on Celebrity is fine dining?

 

[daiB]

1 hour ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Hi

I was just taking the lead from P&O’s own publicity….

 

“Discover P&O Cruises' fabulous onboard restaurants to suit every mood. Fine dining, room service, kids' menus & more”
 

So is P&O in cloud cuckoo land?

There are fine dining rooms on all but one ship. So you can return to cuckoo land. It does not say or claim the MDR is fine dining. NO cruise line would claim that. Fine dining is a small restaurant, serving high end food sometimes with a celebrity chef and costing a fortune. All MDR’s are mass catering.

[JeanieC,Aston]

21 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

I have sailed with P&O, Princess and Cunard since COVID and no doubt Celebrity are the same but they have all sadly the quality has gone down. I have over the 23 years of cruising with P&O been as critical as many so no lover of P&O at any cost but things have to be put into perspective. Returned last weekend from Arvia, not my favourite ship, but having had a balcony cabin with free parking and over £250pp OBC and good in MDR while not fine dining perfectly acceptable and superb good on Epicurean and Sindhu there can be no complaints overall.

I think we can all quote good prices paid.

Iona I believe is charging low prices to try to fill the ship,,,not so other ships,,Aurora or Arcadia demand high prices,,,I don’t know why.

My 10 nt Silhouette cruise in May in a midship hump balcony with AI included came at a cost of £3800 for 2 of us,,,,that included £800 OBC,,,,my wife bought a iPad mini and a nice ring.

Similar Aurora at the time was more for cruise only.

 

Alas Celebrity pricing next year is of no value to me so a change of favourite is coming.

I am trying Marella Voyager next month,,,,see how that goes.

 

I can never understand the ‘My P&O good or bad’ posters.

 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

8 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I'm sure Celebrity will describe it as fine dining?

 

But I'm also sure not everywhere you dine on Celebrity is fine dining?

 

Never said it was,,,Celebrity MDR choice and quality fas also gone down hill since restart.

But I would say Murano’s is fine dinning.

[daiB]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

Celebrity Eclipse pre 2017 came very close to fine dining in their MDR, their rack of lamb was delicious. But that was probably because the lamb chops were huge and not the minuscule ones that P&O offer.

Furthermore at that time the cruise prices were very similar, and I have the spread sheet that confirms that.

 

John a fine dining room would not serve Huge lamb chops. Or huge anything. Usually you are looking hard at your plate to find the food.

 

You are not describing fine dining. You are describing good mass catering.

[JeanieC,Aston]

4 minutes ago, daiB said:

There are fine dining rooms on all but one ship. So you can return to cuckoo land. It does not say or claim the MDR is fine dining. NO cruise line would claim that. Fine dining is a small restaurant, serving high end food sometimes with a celebrity chef and costing a fortune. All MDR’s are mass catering.

Dai,Dia…..

You asked me to show you where it said fine dining in regard P&O.

I showed you where it said it……..end of.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

Celebrity Eclipse pre 2017 came very close to fine dining in their MDR, their rack of lamb was delicious. But that was probably because the lamb chops were huge and not the minuscule ones that P&O offer.

Furthermore at that time the cruise prices were very similar, and I have the spread sheet that confirms that.

 

Yes but we are talking now and not in 2017 cruising has changed since then including Celebrity. No good comparing P&O now with Celebrity in 2017 as I am sure like all cruise lines things are very different now.

[daiB]

2 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Never said it was,,,Celebrity MDR choice and quality fas also gone down hill since restart.

But I would say Murano’s is fine dinning.

So you do know what fine dining is?

[daiB]

1 minute ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Dai,Dia…..

You asked me to show you where it said fine dining in regard P&O.

I showed you where it said it……..end of.

End of what, it says P&O has fine dining, which is correct, the Epecurian.

[JeanieC,Aston]

3 minutes ago, daiB said:

So you do know what fine dining is?

Those of us who live in cuckoo land obviously don’t.

I did say in a recent post Murano’s on Celebrity is fine dining.

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by JeanieC,Aston

[Interestedcruisefan]

13 minutes ago, daiB said:

John a fine dining room would not serve Huge lamb chops. Or huge anything. Usually you are looking hard at your plate to find the food.

 

You are not describing fine dining. You are describing good mass catering.

Agreed

 

In the real world also Epicurean wouldn't remotely approach Michelin star dining

 

It's just a very nice, calm restaurant with more personal service and higher end meals on a cruise ship

 

It's all about levels of dining

 

The best restaurants in the  UK 30 years  ago wouldn't come remotely close to the best restaurants in the UK now

 

But look at the prices now in comparison as well 

 

A one Michelin star meal paired with  wines and gratuities is going to be 200 to 250 pounds ish per person nowadays

 

Two michelin star 250 to 350 pounds ish

 

Three michelin star 350 to 500 pounds ish per person

 

On average 

 

When we pay 20 ish pounds upgrades for Epicurean we are on a winner but we aren't getting anything remotely like the experience the best UK restaurants are now offering

 

But it's still a lovely experience 

 

For pennies in comparison to the real world

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[JeanieC,Aston]

6 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Yes but we are talking now and not in 2017 cruising has changed since then including Celebrity. No good comparing P&O now with Celebrity in 2017 as I am sure like all cruise lines things are very different now.

Hi

I agree

I did say in post#81 that Celebrity had also gone downhill since restart.

[lancashire_cruisers]

1 minute ago, daiB said:

John a fine dining room would not serve Huge lamb chops. Or huge anything. Usually you are looking hard at your plate to find the food.

 

You are not describing fine dining. You are describing good mass catering.

I’d agree with that. To me fine dining means Michelin star standard which you’d be hard pressed to find on any mass market cruise line, which is what P&O, Celebrity, Cunard etc. are.

 

I’d describe huge lamb chops as good quality Gastropub type catering and there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

To the OP I would say go with an open mind and judge for yourself, which is what I’m intending to do on my next couple of cruises on Iona which has been getting an absolute pasting on here recently.

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, lancashire_cruisers said:

I’d agree with that. To me fine dining means Michelin star standard which you’d be hard pressed to find on any mass market cruise line, which is what P&O, Celebrity, Cunard etc. are.

 

I’d describe huge lamb chops as good quality Gastropub type catering and there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

To the OP I would say go with an open mind and judge for yourself, which is what I’m intending to do on my next couple of cruises on Iona which has been getting an absolute pasting on here recently.

Iona is a lovely ship. Loads of options for every taste.  Don't worry

 

Just go to the places you like on the ship. Don't even worry about the other places. 

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[JeanieC,Aston]

1 minute ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Iona is a lovely shop. Loads of options. Don't worry

Is it Tesco or Waitrose?

[lancashire_cruisers]

Just now, Interestedcruisefan said:

Iona is a lovely shop. Loads of options. Don't worry

Thanks. I’m not at all worried I’ve cruised enough to know that all new ships are always ripped apart on here. I remember well enough the outrage and pearl clutching when Ventura and Azura were launched 😂😂

[Megabear2]

12 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Agreed

 

In the real world also Epicurean wouldn't remotely approach Michelin star dining

 

It's just a very nice, calm restaurant with more personal service and higher end meals on a cruise ship

 

It's all about levels

I doubt anyone on a non exclusive cruise lines would expect Michelin star quality so that really is a fatuous observation.

 

However if anyone has a genuine interest in a Celebrity cruise's current opinion have a look at this thread - you'll need to go to about page 23 for the cruise to star.  These guys are high end Celebrity cruisers very highly regarded and respected who travel very many times a year.  Some of this "comparison" makes interesting reading.

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

9 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Is it Tesco or Waitrose?

 

Lol

 

These parts are Waitrose:

 

Epicurean

Limelight Club

710 Club

Crows Nest

Anderson's Bar

Headliners Theatre

Gymnasium

Spa

Cinema

Retreat

Casino

Sindhu (although not spicy enough for many)

Olive Grove

Keel and Cow

Glasshouse

 

MDR above Tesco but below waitrose. Is that somewhere like Morrison's? Lol

 

These parts are Tesco:

 

The Quays 

Buffet

Clubhouse Bar

American Diner

Skydome

 

These parts are Aldi:

 

Brodies

 

 

(No disrespect to Aldi because even though I don't use Brodies apart from watching sport I do shop at Aldi)

 

By the way has anyone shopped at Booths supermarkets in the North West?

 

They make waitrose look like Aldi!

 

Lol

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[JeanieC,Aston]

I live in the NW and never seen Booths.

I believe the nearest one is Burscough.

 

ps I thought Brodies was the only decent bar on Iona.

The Limelight club was best after the paid for dinner show was finished.

As for Crows Nest,,,on all ships,,is somewhere to go for a sleep.

Same with Anderson’s.

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

15 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

I live in the NW and never seen Booths.

I believe the nearest one is Burscough.

 

ps I thought Brodies was the only decent bar on Iona.

The Limelight club was best after the paid for dinner show was finished.

As for Crows Nest,,,on all ships,,is somewhere to go for a sleep.

Same with Anderson’s.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a Booths in Lytham and also one in St Annes

 

They target affluent neighborhoods apparently

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Interestedcruisefan]

4 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

I live in the NW and never seen Booths.

I believe the nearest one is Burscough.

 

ps I thought Brodies was the only decent bar on Iona.

The Limelight club was best after the paid for dinner show was finished.

As for Crows Nest,,,on all ships,,is somewhere to go for a sleep.

Same with Anderson’s.

 

The bottom 3 can't be described as Tesco though? More refined locations with live music except Andersons

 

Brodies is just a pub effectively . Which can be described as Tesco IMO

 

Im assuming that's what you meant when asking the question?

 

Bascially my answer is on the big ships you can either choose to go to the higher end places or choose to go to the  lower end ones according to your preferences 

 

And there's enough higher end places on Iowa and Arvia to have an waitrose experience rather than a Tesco one

 

But something for everyone

 

And it's all at Aldi prices !!!

[Interestedcruisefan]

9 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

 

There was a Booths in Lytham and also one in St Annes

 

They target affluent neighborhoods apparently

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Megabear2]

9 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

And it's all at Aldi prices !!!

Only in your opinion as you are happy with an Aldi level cabin whereas some are paying for a Waitrose experience and in the case of Suites your Booths.  

 

 

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Only in your opinion as you are happy with an Aldi level cabin whereas some are paying for a Waitrose experience and in the case of Suites your Booths.  

 

 

 

 

 

My cabin had a huge TV, nice suite. All well designed.  The price is certainly Aldi. The quality inside is Marks and Spencers! Lol

 

The drinks and gratuities and speciality food upgrades would all be described as Aldi price compared to the other cruise lines though

 

And we al benefit from those regardless of cabin choice

 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[FangedRose]

23 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

I live in the NW and never seen Booths.

I believe the nearest one is Burscough.

 

ps I thought Brodies was the only decent bar on Iona.

The Limelight club was best after the paid for dinner show was finished.

As for Crows Nest,,,on all ships,,is somewhere to go for a sleep.

Same with Anderson’s.

 

There is one in Keswick, and another in Penrith. That is the true north west. From where I am Manchester is considered the beginning of the Midlands.