| Food |
Well we didn't starve by a long shot, but I have to say the food was not as good as our recent RCI cruise. P&O
don't compare with RCI in their buffet or dining restaurant in my personal opinion but I am sure othes will
disagree ... but IMHO there is still no comparison at all on choice, quality, service, presentation or taste. RCI
win hands down on this one. We'll take the eateries one at a time and will start with the buffet restaurant which
happens to be split into two...so we'll begin with The Beachouse and cover The Waterside second.
don't compare with RCI in their buffet or dining restaurant in my personal opinion but I am sure othes will
disagree ... but IMHO there is still no comparison at all on choice, quality, service, presentation or taste. RCI
win hands down on this one. We'll take the eateries one at a time and will start with the buffet restaurant which
happens to be split into two...so we'll begin with The Beachouse and cover The Waterside second.
| The Beachouse |
The beach house is one part of Ventura's buffet restaurant choice. This is where we
headed when we boarded Ventura as our cabin was not ready. We sat at a table
outside (see photo below) but watch out if you sit under the stairs as the water drips (or
should I say pours) off the steps onto your head! Anyhoo...having travelled down to
Southampton that morning without first having breakfast we were now hungry for lunch
so we thought we'd have something whilst waiting until we could get into the cabin.
headed when we boarded Ventura as our cabin was not ready. We sat at a table
outside (see photo below) but watch out if you sit under the stairs as the water drips (or
should I say pours) off the steps onto your head! Anyhoo...having travelled down to
Southampton that morning without first having breakfast we were now hungry for lunch
so we thought we'd have something whilst waiting until we could get into the cabin.
My friend and I headed to the serving area where we soon experienced the bottlenecks
that such small narrow walkways caused. If someone is standing helping themselves
from the buffet there is not enough space for someone to walk behind and past them
with their tray etc. Both parties have to breath in, twist sideways and exchange the
usual British apologies. Another brilliant design from someone who probably has
design degrees up the ying yang!!!! You should see what I mean from the photo below.
The food was nothing to write home about either. None of it was labelled so I asked
the server what was in the pies. He looked at me blankly and said nothing. As we
have "pot luck pies" from the butcher at home, I thought I'd have one anyway and see
for myself. It turned out to be steak pie. I served myself some carrots which when I
tasted them seemed to have been cooked in orange!!!!! (you're guess is as good as
mine but they were horrible).
There was a small salad station, the exit next to which served as exit and entrance to
the buffet so that was rather congested. There was some sort of curry and rice, cold
meats and various oddments of veg and a peculiar mash type affair. If I didn't know
any better I would have said some of it had been left overs - they had had journalists
onboard the night before.
Carrying my tray out of the bun fight area, I passed the hand sanitiser that I had failed to
see before - more on this later...but why they don't put it by the door in the middle of the
entrance doors for all to see AND USE I'll never know.
Anyway - I headed to the drinks station in desperate need of a soft drink. All that was
available was water, tea or coffee. I asked the girl if there was any cold drinks
available. "The waiter will come and take a wine order". I told her I didn't want wine
just a soft cold drink. "Oh well you have to order that too".... I had water! It just seemed
so much easier!
In for a penny in for a pound we decided to have pudding as treacle sponge and
custard was available - unfortunately the chef is obviously unaware that treacle sponge
should actually have some treacle in it so I gave my dry tasteless sponge to my
husband - he'll eat anything! Our friends had some of the other puds available but said
they were tasty enough but a bit synthetic.
In all not a good start on the food stakes.....we awaited our evening meal with
anticipation. Follow link for MORE PHOTOS
that such small narrow walkways caused. If someone is standing helping themselves
from the buffet there is not enough space for someone to walk behind and past them
with their tray etc. Both parties have to breath in, twist sideways and exchange the
usual British apologies. Another brilliant design from someone who probably has
design degrees up the ying yang!!!! You should see what I mean from the photo below.
The food was nothing to write home about either. None of it was labelled so I asked
the server what was in the pies. He looked at me blankly and said nothing. As we
have "pot luck pies" from the butcher at home, I thought I'd have one anyway and see
for myself. It turned out to be steak pie. I served myself some carrots which when I
tasted them seemed to have been cooked in orange!!!!! (you're guess is as good as
mine but they were horrible).
There was a small salad station, the exit next to which served as exit and entrance to
the buffet so that was rather congested. There was some sort of curry and rice, cold
meats and various oddments of veg and a peculiar mash type affair. If I didn't know
any better I would have said some of it had been left overs - they had had journalists
onboard the night before.
Carrying my tray out of the bun fight area, I passed the hand sanitiser that I had failed to
see before - more on this later...but why they don't put it by the door in the middle of the
entrance doors for all to see AND USE I'll never know.
Anyway - I headed to the drinks station in desperate need of a soft drink. All that was
available was water, tea or coffee. I asked the girl if there was any cold drinks
available. "The waiter will come and take a wine order". I told her I didn't want wine
just a soft cold drink. "Oh well you have to order that too".... I had water! It just seemed
so much easier!
In for a penny in for a pound we decided to have pudding as treacle sponge and
custard was available - unfortunately the chef is obviously unaware that treacle sponge
should actually have some treacle in it so I gave my dry tasteless sponge to my
husband - he'll eat anything! Our friends had some of the other puds available but said
they were tasty enough but a bit synthetic.
In all not a good start on the food stakes.....we awaited our evening meal with
anticipation. Follow link for MORE PHOTOS
