Anyone been on the new Arcadia?

[Vampire Parrot]

Much as I enjoy the lobster on a P&O ship (and by golly, I do enjoy it...) I have to say that the lobster on a Holland-America ship is significantly better. The food on HAL is better than P&O, but most of the time there isn't much to choose between them. Usually, dinner on P&O varies from very good (most of the time) to truly excellent (once or twice per cruise).

 

My favourite meal on a P&O cruise is Beef Wellington, which I always ask to be rare and lean. So far I haven't been disappointed, it's usually excellent.

 

There have been two occasions where dinner in a P&O main restaurant just wern't up to standard, and in each case I've informed the waiter and very quickly been brought a replacement.

 

VP

[LibraLass41]

My favourite meal on a P&O cruise is Beef Wellington, which I always ask to be rare and lean. So far I haven't been disappointed, it's usually excellent.

 

There have been two occasions where dinner in a P&O main restaurant just wern't up to standard, and in each case I've informed the waiter and very quickly been brought a replacement.

 

VP

 

 

Agree the Beef Wellington is good, mine was cooked as requested too, amazing how they do this will 1000 per sitting. Ofcourse it will never be fine dining , but its not bad considering how many people they cater for at once. If you want a 1* better service and food go to Arcadian Rhodes ever night, and is cooked to order with many waiting staff to attend to you. But the main restaurant is very acceptable.

[Johnthed0g]

Sue ..did I say AR was fine this cruise? anyway I doubt if anyone would want to go there every night...just too much. We were getting a bit fed up with the main rerstaurant though, not the food or the company just the surroundings. We would welcome another sit down waiter served venue.

[luv2krooze1791]

Courtesy of "The Fish Society" website:

 

FOOD OF THE GODS! Also known as crawfish, the rock lobster has no claws, so we sell just the tail. Unless you're dead set on the visual spectacle of a traditional lobster with claws, rock lobster is the best way to enjoy this fish. About 90% of the weight is meat, whereas in a clawed lobster, you only get about 33% meat. And the meat is much easier to deal with, being in a single substantial piece rather than divided up between the tail and claws. The shell is easy to remove following the instructions included on our label. Saver packs contain 4 tails unless otherwise specified

 

Carol x

 

So it is easier? So what?

 

The real thing tastes better.

 

Remember they are trying to sell the stuff to you.

[marlin48]

STARTERS

Ballotine of Scottish smoked salmon and seafood with lemon and caper oil.

Steamed asparagus timbale with a herb and truffle creab(V)

Course game terrine with sour apple chutney, cumberland sauce and oat cakes.

SOUP.

Sweet potato & prawn veloute witg nutmeg cream.

Wild mushroom consomme(V)

MAINS.

New england lobster thermidor with saefood risotto

Roast rack of New Zealand lamb

Slow pot roasted venison haunch

Carved breast of Gressingham duck

Steamed mushroom and puy lentil pudding(V)

SWEETS.

Hot dark chocolate and orange fondant with vanilla white chocolate sauce

Strawberry parfait with shortbread biscuits

Vanilla and mocha creme brulee with sesame crackling

Varius ice creams

cheeses

This an abridged version

[Norfolk Brit]

Yes, it looks very nice. So have menus I've seen in NHS hospital wards: sadly, the reality often bears absolutely no resemblance to the menu.

 

In fact, the menu would probably taste better than the food.

 

Sir Martin

[Johnthed0g]

STARTERS

Ballotine of Scottish smoked salmon and seafood with lemon and caper oil.

Steamed asparagus timbale with a herb and truffle creab(V)

Course game terrine with sour apple chutney, cumberland sauce and oat cakes.

SOUP.

Sweet potato & prawn veloute witg nutmeg cream.

Wild mushroom consomme(V)

MAINS.

New england lobster thermidor with saefood risotto

Roast rack of New Zealand lamb

Slow pot roasted venison haunch

Carved breast of Gressingham duck

Steamed mushroom and puy lentil pudding(V)

SWEETS.

Hot dark chocolate and orange fondant with vanilla white chocolate sauce

Strawberry parfait with shortbread biscuits

Vanilla and mocha creme brulee with sesame crackling

Varius ice creams

cheeses

This an abridged version

I was on this cruise J916 we ate most of that very nice too!!

[thranite]

I was on this cruise J916 we ate most of that very nice too!!

 

What is a "too"? If it tastes better than the food in the Meridian, I'd like to try some.

 

:)

[Glenndale]

Yes, it looks very nice. So have menus I've seen in NHS hospital wards: sadly, the reality often bears absolutely no resemblance to the menu.

 

In fact, the menu would probably taste better than the food.

 

Sir Martin

 

Have sailed on P&O and many other cruise lines, and for me the P&O food is poor, although I did enjoy the meal I had in Arcadian Rhodes.

[Norfolk Brit]

Have sailed on P&O and many other cruise lines, and for me the P&O food is poor, although I did enjoy the meal I had in Arcadian Rhodes.

 

Couldn't agree more. Arcadian Rhodes is absolutely superb.

 

Mary

[LibraLass41]

Sue ..did I say AR was fine this cruise? anyway I doubt if anyone would want to go there every night...just too much. We were getting a bit fed up with the main rerstaurant though, not the food or the company just the surroundings. We would welcome another sit down waiter served venue.

 

 

Well there is The Orchid. Arcadia as you know has two supplement restaurants which is not bad. The main restaurant has the same menu as other ships so on a longer cruise its always going to get a bit boring sitting down to 4-5 courses every night. We did 16nights last year and my hubbie had enough by then and wanted to go home! The Belevedere ofcourse do specialist evenings which they say are very good - mexican, curry nights, seafood nights, so there is always that choice too.

[luv2krooze1791]

Well there is The Orchid. Arcadia as you know has two supplement restaurants which is not bad. The main restaurant has the same menu as other ships so on a longer cruise its always going to get a bit boring sitting down to 4-5 courses every night. We did 16nights last year and my hubbie had enough by then and wanted to go home! The Belevedere ofcourse do specialist evenings which they say are very good - mexican, curry nights, seafood nights, so there is always that choice too.

 

I have done nineteen nights, and twenty nights twice without beginning to get bored.

 

But that clearly wasn't P&O.

[stopgo]

I don't think anybody said they were bored, just you can have too much of a good thing.

[luv2krooze1791]

I don't think anybody said they were bored, just you can have too much of a good thing.

 

Well, I didn't find that on my longer trips.

[stopgo]

Yes, but as I have said umteen times before everybody's different, not right or wrong just a different opinion.

[Norfolk Brit]

Yes, but as I have said umteen times before everybody's different, not right or wrong just a different opinion.

 

No you haven't. Who are you, where is Stroppers, and what have you done with her?

 

Sir Martin

[stopgo]

I sure most of my posts on P&O dining reflect that view, they are all on here for public viewing.

 

A respectful Stopgo

[Johnthed0g]

I said we were getting a bit fed up in the Belvedere. We went in the Orchid twice, one menu we don't like, so that was that out, & the Tandoori night. Pity, the 2nd time was the last formal night (Beef wellington..Grrrr) but we had been trying to tie up a date for dinner with one of our officer friends, due to shift patterns that was the only date. I would have done AR again, but we need company in there as it is such a long dinner, our whole table went 1st time. We were fortunate to be on the Exec. purser's table, we asked him to join our group but he said it was just too long for him as he had to be up early..he was right we left at 12-30.

When I said I would like another venue, I do realise that the Belvedere is open in the evening & do have specialist themes but we are lazy & like waiter service..more of an occasion too. There are such things on Ventura I gather & will be on Azura too.

[terrierjohn]

Thinking of booking a cruise on Arcadia from Brisbane to Hong Kong.

 

I see some bad reviews on this ship.

Can anyone please tell me how Arcadia compares to the Sapphire Princess?

Thanks.

We have sailed both Arcadia and Sapphire Princess, our own preference would be for the SP mainly for the ship's layout and venues, and we quite enjoy American's company. But food quality is very similar, but slanted more to UK tastes on P&O, entertainment in the main theatre we found was better on Arcadia but it lacked the variety of venues that SP has.

The main difference is the Atrium where Arcadia lacks the "wow" factor that the Grand Princess ships have.

But the balcony cabins on Arcadia are bigger with a tub and shower over it, and a small sofa by the balcony, and we would not hesitate to book another cruise on her if the itineray and price were favourable.

[rtdiva]

Hi! We are from Fairfield!

We are looking forwards to that beautiful view from the ships's deck with the wind blowing, the waters filled with sail boats( haha) while passing under the Golden Gate.:)

We will be in Sydney for four days after disembarking. There will be Chinese New Year's celebrations with Dragon boat raceing! I didnt read anything about Mardi Gras. Where are you going after Sydney?

Ann

[rtdiva]

oops! I forgot to mention to our British cruise critics , that Fairfield, California is an hour north of San Francisco. We live in the city that manufactures Jelly Belly Candy and Budwieser beer, plus any number of wineries are within a 3 mile radius. A military base is a few miles away.

Yes, we hope to bring some Napa Valley wines onboard!

Ann