Travrat

How many days into the cruise are you? Where did it originate?

Can you please give me information about your private tour. I can’t seem to find anything that leaves out of Le Verdon with the exception of one company that charges $1500-1900 for up to 7 people. I would love if you could give me the tour operator’s name and contact info

We docked in Bordeaux overnight on the Marina in 2017. Not sure why they are docking at Le Verdon other than because it is probably cheaper for them.

Yes. This is exactly where the Blu menus can be found

Thank you

How can you get to the railway station if there is no public transportation or taxis at the dock?

On our upcoming Marina cruise we are unfortunately docking in Le Verdon instead of Bordeaux. It is in the middle of nowhere with no public transportation or taxis available. Has anyone recently had any experience with tours or drivers from this port other than those Oceania offers. We would just like transportation to Bordeaux(not a tour)or possibly wine tasting in Medoc. The free shuttle list says there is a shuttle to Soulac sur Mer from Le Verdon. Does anyone know if this is still offered?

I think if you ask in advance for the GF muffins they can get them for you. I would sometimes see they had them at OV at the very small GF station. If you want GF pasta you need to ask in advance. I asked the Maitre D for it the day before we ate at Tuscan Grill. They have it every day at the pasta station in OV but it is only available elsewhere by request in advance. It was very good with the lobster Alfredo sauce at Tuscan Grill. If you like crackers with your cheese bring your own- no GF crackers on the ship.

I brought my own GF bagels and stored them in my cabin fridge. I would bring one with me to breakfast in Blu and have them toast it for me. I also brought a nice loaf of hard crusted multigrain bread that I buy at Whole Foods and pre-sliced it so I could have decent bread at dinner. All they have is GF sandwich bread which is fine at breakfast as toast not for dinner

There are definitely many naturally GF items-meats,salads, cheese, eggs, rice, etc. However, it would be nice if they had GF hamburger and hotdog rolls at Mast Grill, something other than GF sandwich bread ie. Bagels, English Muffins, dinner rolls in other venues. You must ask in advance for GF pasta to be made available to you at Tuscan Grill or Blu(not sure about main dining room)as it is only at the pasta station in OV

I think it might have been available Port and sea days. We ate there on a sea day. They make it difficult to get a reservation They day it’s booked when you call reservation # on cruise but it is half empty. I guess they just don’t have enough staff which is not right seeing as though there are so few sit down lunch options Try making reservation on app prior to your cruise

I also bring my own GF bagels to have with breakfast and good GF bread to have at dinner when everyone else is indulging in the lovely bread basket. I will have ice cream, creme brûlée or cheese plate for dessert as their GF desserts are not edible

It cost $30 pp + $15 additional for the seafood tower. $15 for 2 not per person. I thought it was well worth it for a nice leisurely sit down lunch on a sea day.

Just wanted to share a great experience we had at lunch in The Porch. Numerous appetizers and raw bar items to choose from. Excellent service and a beautiful view overlooking the sea made it that much better. Highlights were the snapper ceviche, Piri Piri shrimp (just delicious) and the branzino with capers, olives and tomatoes. My husband enjoyed the tuna tartare and lobster roll. Lobster bisque not as good as the one at Murano.

Just having GF muffins and cookies doesn’t make them taste good. I prefer savory breads rather than sweets. I ate in Blu as we were in Aqua Class and many appetizers and entrees were NOT GF. I had plenty to eat but having GF hamburger rolls or English Muffins are much more appealing than eating a burger on sandwich bread or eggs Benedict on sandwich bread or smoked salmon on sandwich bread

I did not eat at OV every day but never saw any Mexican or taco station

I am just off a 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Reflection. I am gluten sensitive but not celiac. I found the GF offerings were very weak. They had one type of sandwich bread available at every meal along with small, extremely dense rolls sometimes available in OV. The rolls were awful. They have GF pasta in OV and I requested it be available to me the day before I dined at Tuscan Grill. They have GF pizza that I did not try in OV- it takes 15 minutes to make so order in advance. There are no GF hamburger or hot dog rolls, English muffins or bagels. All of these are readily available on Holland America at the buffet(in a GF dedicated area of buffet) and hamburger rolls available at their out door grill. The GF desserts were so unappealing, other than pot de creme that they sometimes had at lunch in OV. Creme brûlée, ice cream and fruit are pretty much your GF options for dessert. My suggestion to you is to bring your own bread and crackers. Trader Joe’s has great GF bagels, English muffins and hamburger rolls. They did lose my GF bread in the kitchen one day in Blu when I asked for them to toast it. The GF pasta was OK but you have to ask a Maitre D’ for it the day ahead if you want it in any of the dining rooms. A few times I saw a GF muffin available and a GF cookie in Spa Cafe. All in all I was quite disappointed with their GF offerings.