PO changes

[Onelife]

I was watching a P&O cruise blog today where two guys were talking about the club dinning menu. They were expressing their thoughts about how the menu displayed both an inclusive menu and a pay extra for menu on the same menu…they thought it looked a little inappropriate.

Not something I think should be on a club dinning menu…what say you?

[Stephen]

And it’s becoming more and more of doing it all yourself be it supermarkets or anything else.

[towny44]

I was watching a P&O cruise blog today where two guys were talking about the club dinning menu. They were expressing their thoughts about how the menu displayed both an inclusive menu and a pay extra for menu on the same menu…they thought it looked a little inappropriate.

Not something I think should be on a club dinning menu…what say you?

Many cruise lines have introduced pay extra special dishes on their MDR menus, and some passengers like it, and since it increases revenue the cruise lines are more than happy to oblige.

[jacksparrow]

It makes you wonder what inclusive meals will be by the time I get on there. When you pay £5k for a cruise not everyone can afford all the extras.

[Onelife]

It makes you wonder what inclusive meals will be by the time I get on there. When you pay £5k for a cruise not everyone can afford all the extras.

Hi Sparrow, in fairness the two guys did say the quality of the food served from the inclusive side of the menu was of a good standard (Aurora)

[Onelife]

I was watching a P&O cruise blog today where two guys were talking about the club dinning menu. They were expressing their thoughts about how the menu displayed both an inclusive menu and a pay extra for menu on the same menu…they thought it looked a little inappropriate.

Not something I think should be on a club dinning menu…what say you?

Many cruise lines have introduced pay extra special dishes on their MDR menus, and some passengers like it, and since it increases revenue the cruise lines are more than happy to oblige.

I don’t think it is a case of “the cruise lines are happy to oblige” it’s more about what precedent it is setting with regard to club dinning and where the cruise lines are taking it.

[CaroleF]

I'd never thought of that, the future I mean. Could it even be vaguely possible that Club Dining could turn into a Pay for Dining, in other words if you want Club Dining it would be that you pay extra for it? If so it wouldn't be Club Dining as it means to many of us 'seasoned' cruisers as if this happened it would have to be tables for two. I can't see people paying extra to dine with say a table of 6 or 8 as happens now. Maybe I'm off beam but that's what Onelife's post made me think.

[david63]

I'd never thought of that, the future I mean. Could it even be vaguely possible that Club Dining could turn into a Pay for Dining, in other words if you want Club Dining it would be that you pay extra for it? If so it wouldn't be Club Dining as it means to many of us 'seasoned' cruisers as if this happened it would have to be tables for two. I can't see people paying extra to dine with say a table of 6 or 8 as happens now. Maybe I'm off beam but that's what Onelife's post made me think.

I've been saying that for years. The only included dining would be the buffet and if you wanted "club" then it would be an additional charge, or included as part of the fare in higher grade cabins - not unlike some land based holiday hotels in the Med.

[barney]

I was watching a P&O cruise blog today where two guys were talking about the club dinning menu. They were expressing their thoughts about how the menu displayed both an inclusive menu and a pay extra for menu on the same menu…they thought it looked a little inappropriate.

Not something I think should be on a club dinning menu…what say you?

It's options and you can mix and match.

I like the idea of more options.

[Portsmouth]

That would make me think very carefully about cruising again. For me one of the pleasures of cruising is going into the restaurant for an evening meal. I don't mind paying for specialty restaurants for a special occasion but paying extra to dine in the main restaurant might make me think again about a particular cruise.

Regarding the options suggestion...isn't that what you get with the specialty restaurants ?

[barney]

I'd never thought of that, the future I mean. Could it even be vaguely possible that Club Dining could turn into a Pay for Dining, in other words if you want Club Dining it would be that you pay extra for it? If so it wouldn't be Club Dining as it means to many of us 'seasoned' cruisers as if this happened it would have to be tables for two. I can't see people paying extra to dine with say a table of 6 or 8 as happens now. Maybe I'm off beam but that's what Onelife's post made me think.

I've been saying that for years. The only included dining would be the buffet and if you wanted "club" then it would be an additional charge, or included as part of the fare in higher grade cabins - not unlike some land based holiday hotels in the Med.

I'm pretty sure that this will come in the future.

A bit like the airlines do.

As you say, it's quite normal in decent hotels now to have the buffet included but extra pay for dining options.

We've stayed in a few in the Canaries who offer that.

[Onelife]

I think I’m right in saying some cruises charge extra to see better artists/cabaret acts…so where does it stop Barney? It’s starting to feel like the Titanic e.g. those who pay extra get the lifeboats.

[barney]

On Arvia and Iona, they offer the Limelight that has an up charge. But it’s optional.
Choose to go there or not. We did and very much enjoyed it.
I believe RC have chargeable venues as well but as I say, it’s up to you if you want to go there.

Even Ambassador has a couple of extra charge restaurants.

It’s quite normal on holidays now.

People clearly want options or they wouldn’t offer them.

I’m glad that the days of the MDR or buffet are over.

On our last cruise, we ate in the speciality restaurants for six out of the fourteen nights.
2x Sindhu
2x Epicurean
1x Beach house
1x Glass House

All good

[Onelife]

I doubt the majority of cruise passengers would be able to afford all the extras you enjoyed barney, but I can see that it is a way of making a cruise feel more up market… at no cost to the cruise line.

[barney]

I doubt the majority of cruise passengers would be able to afford all the extras you enjoyed barney, but I can see that it is a way of making a cruise feel more up market… at no cost to the cruise line.

Less than a couple of hundred quid.
Have you been out for a meal lately?

[Onelife]

£200…. You tight git Barney, fancy letting your wife slum it in the MDR while you eat in the posh restaurants

[david63]

I doubt the majority of cruise passengers would be able to afford all the extras you enjoyed barney

I think that you would be surprised at what the "majority" of passengers are willing to spend these days.

With many cruise lines the nature of cruising has changed considerably over the last 10 years and more so since the restart after Covid. There is a definite move towards a cheaper base product with more add-ons.

[Ray B]

To me, the MDR is included in the price and majority of passengers I would think book a holiday knowing no further cost is going to be incurred . You have the choice to then go to the speciality restaurants if that is what you want.
How would it work on a table of eight when some have the set menu and others all have different dishes. Would the extras have to be cooked and cause a delay in service or would extras be ready to serve until they run out.
I do think that club dining, which we prefer, will eventually dissappear to be replaced by the likes of Avia into the future.

[Ray B]

£200…. You tight git Barney, fancy letting your wife slum it in the MDR while you eat in the posh restaurants

In a nice restaurant, you would be lucky to get away with that price.

[david63]

£200…. You tight git Barney, fancy letting your wife slum it in the MDR while you eat in the posh restaurants

In a nice restaurant, you would be lucky to get away with that price.

And in a Michelin restaurant you would be more than doubling that for one meal.

[Onelife]

£200…. You tight git Barney, fancy letting your wife slum it in the MDR while you eat in the posh restaurants

In a nice restaurant, you would be lucky to get away with that price.

If I paid £100pp in a restaurant, I would want the plates and cutlery to go with it.

[Onelife]

£200…. You tight git Barney, fancy letting your wife slum it in the MDR while you eat in the posh restaurants

In a nice restaurant, you would be lucky to get away with that price.

And in a Michelin restaurant you would be more than doubling that for one meal.

Anyone who can afford to pay those prices aren’t being taxed enough.

[barney]

In a nice restaurant, you would be lucky to get away with that price.

And in a Michelin restaurant you would be more than doubling that for one meal.

Anyone who can afford to pay those prices aren’t being taxed enough.

Thank the Lord for ISAs
Squirrel away £40k a year tax free and no limit.

[Onelife]

Whilst ISAs are the sensible choice for nearly risk free savings (We have them) I just love the second working day of every month…it must be the gambler in me

[barney]

Whilst ISAs are the sensible choice for nearly risk free savings (We have them) I just love the second working day of every month…it must be the gambler in me

What’s a ‘working day’ ?