Allura…is it too late to add Jacques and la Reserve ?

[clo]

1 hour ago, Snaefell3 said:

Libraries, ashore and afloat, are getting a lot less vital because of internet, browsers, and ebooks, so IMNSHO can go the way of buggy whips, encyclopedias, and landlines.

 

I worked in a library and supported them. There are still people, esp. children, who don't have access to computers. Amazing, I know. But as far as a cruise ship I just find them a quiet place to go.

[sunlover12]

2 hours ago, Snaefell3 said:

My 2¢:

Libraries, ashore and afloat, are getting a lot less vital because of internet, browsers, and ebooks, so IMNSHO can go the way of buggy whips, encyclopedias, and landlines.

I disagree.  My community just opened a beautiful new public library last week that is twice the size of the old library.  Libraries are equipped with so much more than books nowadays. They will always be needed and welcomed. 

[clo]

11 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

I disagree.  My community just opened a beautiful new public library last week that is twice the size of the old library.  Libraries are equipped with so much more than books nowadays. They will always be needed and welcomed. 

**************************THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our local country library branch offers help with homework. I know - off topic. Sorry.

[Tranquility Base]

I spent a week in a Library one day.

[clo]

35 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

I spent a week in a Library one day.

💖

[Jim_Iain]

On 1/15/2024 at 8:39 AM, Vallesan said:

 
I’m sure that they would both have more success on Oceania because as you say they would be ‘included’, unlike on Celebrity.

Luckily in Royal Suites and above it is included.  Also Elite and above get 1 scoop for free

[pinotlover]

3 hours ago, clo said:

**************************THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our local country library branch offers help with homework. I know - off topic. Sorry.

Yep, people needing help with homework abound on Oceania! 😂

 

Evidence being often the ship’s math Mensa questions are simple Algebra 1 questions. Mensa? Really? 😂

 

Back to the issue at hand, remove the afternoon nappers, and library usage aboard Oceania plunges.

[clo]

1 minute ago, pinotlover said:

Yep, people needing help with homework abound on Oceania! 😂

 

Evidence being often the ship’s math Mensa questions are simple Algebra 1 questions. Mensa? Really? 😂

 

Back to the issue at hand, remove the afternoon nappers, and library usage aboard Oceania plunges.

And chair hogs?

[AMHuntFerry]

I love the libraries on O! However, combining the books with the puzzles/games and also computers (now just monitors?) seems like compatible activities (although a soundproof room may be needed for mahjong).

[basor]

15 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

I love the libraries on O! However, combining the books with the puzzles/games and also computers (now just monitors?) seems like compatible activities (although a soundproof room may be needed for mahjong).

The room on Vista where they were talking would no longer have computers, they would only be in the Internet room next door.   Presently that room has many long tables with shelves with games, etc. around the side.  I believe the intended use was for private meetings by a group onboard but never saw it used for that purpose

[Snaefell3]

On 1/16/2024 at 12:36 PM, sunlover12 said:

I disagree.  My community just opened a beautiful new public library last week that is twice the size of the old library.  Libraries are equipped with so much more than books nowadays. They will always be needed and welcomed. 

Is this a fair rephrase?  We call it a "library", but it's valuable because of it's ancillary services rather than its book-lending function or its reference section stuffed with sometimes decade-old material.

 

In any event, more and more pax treat shipboard libraries as book-decorated lounges rather than places to borrow books, and use internet-at-sea for better and fresher port-of-call information.

 

[FetaCheese]

On 1/16/2024 at 7:48 PM, pinotlover said:

Yep, people needing help with homework abound on Oceania! 😂

 

Evidence being often the ship’s math Mensa questions are simple Algebra 1 questions. Mensa? Really? 😂

 

Back to the issue at hand, remove the afternoon nappers, and library usage aboard Oceania plunges.

At risk of appearing less than intelligent, I found the mensa quizzes very difficult. Others at our trivia group, Regatta 07 Sept, were much more adept at the answers.

 

[ORV]

49 minutes ago, FetaCheese said:

At risk of appearing less than intelligent, I found the mensa quizzes very difficult. Others at our trivia group, Regatta 07 Sept, were much more adept at the answers.

 

Intelligence is a funny thing. I find many of the questions simple, others I'd never get, but my wife does. I certainly don't consider ourselves genius level, but generally between the two of us we can answer most of those questions. So I tend to agree with Pinot on this. 

[AMHuntFerry]

2 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

At risk of appearing less than intelligent, I found the mensa quizzes very difficult. Others at our trivia group, Regatta 07 Sept, were much more adept at the answers.

 

That cruise were heavy on the words/trivia, low on the math/logic...so annoying and not much fun.

[Libra10]

Agree with the Ember critics.  Very LOUD in there, unfocused menu, and just bad food.  Shopping mall restaurants do better.  We gave it three opportunities to convince us, but on our fourth trip on Vista, we canceled Ember.

Oceania, please bring back Jacques and some elegant and carefully crafted dining!

[kibutzer]

11 hours ago, Libra10 said:

Agree with the Ember critics.  Very LOUD in there, unfocused menu, and just bad food.  Shopping mall restaurants do better.  We gave it three opportunities to convince us, but on our fourth trip on Vista, we canceled Ember.

Oceania, please bring back Jacques and some elegant and carefully crafted dining!

Food is subjective, for use Jacques no longer represents the French food of today. Yes it is classic culinary techniques but glad to see it go. As to Ember nice to have casual food that is served. Know it may not be everyone's choice. 

[ORV]

11 hours ago, Libra10 said:

 

Oceania, please bring back Jacques and some elegant and carefully crafted dining!

From some information I recently found out there are going to be some very disappointed “legacy” guests. 

[IDL]

I enjoyed Embers on the Vista though my wife did not care for it.  We are booked on the Allura and I plan on eating in Embers again and it’s fine with that’s it’s not everyone’s cup of tea as they creates opportunities to go there more times if desired. 

[Harters]

4 hours ago, kibutzer said:

Jacques no longer represents the French food of today. Y

I agree with this. From my experience on Marina, I reckon it represents a traditional view of what a French restaurant should be, rather than what it actually is these days. Pepin is little known outside of North America - I had never heard of him until we were considering our 2017 Marin a cruise - and, now an old man, is probably not well known amongst a younger generation of Americans. That recognition will further decrease with time. 

 

As to whether I prefer the food in Jacques or the food in Ember, if I have to make a choice then I opt for Ember. I can readily find the Jacques food style  at home, whereas the "Modern American" food of Ember is novel and delicious. And I loved the room - it manages to combine modern and elegant. And having the open kitchen is an inspired decision by the designers. 

[Redtravel]

On 1/12/2024 at 7:45 PM, Redtravel said:

After reading the negative comments on this board, I was not expecting a great dinner. However, we ate there last night. It was very good.  Best steak on a cruise. I understand you like Jacques. I like it too. Like the variety on the ships.  Haven’t tried Aquamar. It has been very crowded most days.

Update….i have eaten at Aquamar on Vista and on Marina. I like it. It is a better use of space compared to La Reserve.   On that January cruise, we got a second reservation at Ember. Ate different things. Still good.  While you may miss Jacques, give Ember a try.  It’s different, but very good.

[iowananny]

I have never been to a La Reserve meal but on our cruise on Vista last January we attended the Wine Experience Lunch.  It was wonderful.  I prefer a wine pairing at lunch rather than a late night dinner.  Yes, it was expensive, $150 plus 20% service fee but we felt it was well worth it and much less than a La Reserve meal   We have another Vista cruise booked in April, and I hope the lunch will be an option then.  Highly recommended for those who like wine.

 

We also enjoyed Aquamar very much.  We ate there several times and everything was delicious.  It's so nice to have a sit-down restaurant for lunch when the dining room is not open on a port day.  

 

We only ate at Ember once and were very happy with our meal.  We never thought Jacques was that good.  I know many do but if O wants to have a French restaurant they need to come up with some new ideas.  I would guess that Jacque Pepin has had not had anything to do with menu development in years as most of the specialty restaurants haven't changed their menus in years.

 

 

[Harters]

6 minutes ago, iowananny said:

if O wants to have a French restaurant they need to come up with some new ideas.

Although with O moving back to a time not only before Simply More but even before OLife, then maybe they should just put Jacques in, as it presumably appeals to the demographics of twenty years ago. 

[alibaba1]

On 8/31/2024 at 7:07 AM, IDL said:

I enjoyed Embers on the Vista though my wife did not care for it.  We are booked on the Allura and I plan on eating in Embers again and it’s fine with that’s it’s not everyone’s cup of tea as they creates opportunities to go there more times if desired. 

 

Loved the gigantic panko shrimp and beet/feta salad.

[alibaba1]

beet/goat cheese salad.
The bone-in rib eye is gigantic!

 

[alibaba1]

10 hours ago, alibaba1 said:

beet/goat cheese salad.
The bone-in rib eye is gigantic!