The Polo Grill Aboard Oceania Marina

We have eaten at the Polo Grill on the Marina and Riviera cruise ship several times each cruise and have had in-​suite dining experience three times. It is wonderful from soup to prime rib, lamb or steak. I alway have green beans and my husband has a baked potatoe. The service is wonderful and attentive. The in-​suite dining was great served by our butler. The kids screaming next door was dreadful had to call security to help. So that experience was awful but it had nothing to do with the food or the service.

We were onboard Oceania’s Marina earlier this month on our honeymoon in French Polynesia, and I was on a mission to try as many new dishes as possible. (Mission succeeded: I think I gained 10 lbs or so!)
We had reservations at the Polo Grill on the second last night, during which my husband was unfortunately ill and confined to our stateroom for 24 hours.
We were in a concierge level veranda room, so we didn’t have a butler like the suites, which would have allowed us to have course by course dining in our stateroom.
I went to the restaurant anyway and spoke with the Maitre’D, explaining our dilemma. I was basically asking him to go against protocol (only butlers can serve specialty restaurant food in room) and I’m sure there were politics at play also. But he was sympathetic and said «I’ll ask and just tell them you’re on your honeymoon» (which we were lol).
He called his superior and got the go-​ahead, but to check with the chef. Chef also gave his approval, so he took my order, suggesting dishes that my husband could eat.
In a little bit, there was a knock at the door followed by an immense amount of food.
Colossal Chilled Shrimp Trio with Spicy Cocktail Sauce — delightful!
Lobster Bisque Topped with Morsels of Roasted Lobster — intensely flavourful, but I thought it could’ve used more lobster chunks
Rib Eye — Strangely, I found the rib eye overly chewy and not as flavourful as some of the steaks I’d had at the buffet. This went mostly uneaten :(
Whole Maine Lobster Steamed with Drawn Butter or Gratinated with Breadcrumbs, Olive Oil, Garlic and Parsley — I don’t know if it’s possible to mess up a steamed lobster, but either way, it was perfectly divine, leaving me wishing for more
We also ordered the chocolate cake (which seemed to be like it was supposed to be a molten lava cake) which I didn’t think was great, apple pie (which was great) with Tahitian Vanilla ice cream on the side (delightful!)
All in all, the food wasn’t perfect, but I know it was meant to be enjoyed hot and fresh, course by course in the dining room, so Polo Grill gets stars from me for being outstandingly accommodating and stellar customer service!

Two years after my last visit I found Polo to once again be a fine steak house dining experience at sea.
My first dinner consisted a meaty and tasty Colossal Chilled Shrimp Trio with Spicy Cocktail Sauce, followed in succession by a bowl of cheesy Baked Onion Soup with a bit bitter Gruyère Cheese crust; a smooth and creamy Timbale of Heart of Palm Remoulade with a slight crunch; and a very good Classic Caesar Salad that was not prepared tableside, even though the menu said it would be.
This time Polo Grill Surf & Turf included a Florida Lobster Tail that was excellent in all respects, as well as a buttery prime Filet Mignon medium rare as ordered, along with superior Bearnaise Sauce. By special request I received fresh Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, and Blueberries to complete the meal. Water refills were provided without request, and service was excellent.
For my second dinner at Polo while cruising the South Pacific, I began with a great and mild Chesapeake Bay Lump Crab Cake with Pommery Mustard Sauce and another great Colossal Chilled Shrimp Trio with Spicy Cocktail Sauce. A bowl of off-​white New England Clam Chowder, including many bits of vegetables, was serviceable. And, a Waldorf Salad set down before me reflected a beautiful presentation that was matched in taste.
Lobster Mac & Cheese prepared in a Dutch Oven arrived late. The hot side dish tasted very good but did not contain much lobster or sauce. On the other hand, Potatoes Au Gratin were well prepared and well received. An enormous cut portion of Pancetta Wrapped Filet of Veal with Bay Lobster Tail Oscar Style was satisfying but too massive and rich for a single diner to reasonably finish.
A slice of Seven-​Layer Belgian Chocolate Fudge Cake was smooth and creamy, but not sweet. It was accompanied by a scoop of No Sugar Added Raspberry Ice Cream. An initial cup of Decaf was barely warm, but this minor lapse was quickly made up for by a new and piping hot cup of Decaf upon notification to our server. Otherwise service was exemplary, and the ambiance that of a classy and clubby steak house.
Again, 4−½ stars overall!

I’ll keep this short: I am stingy with my stars, so to get 5 really means something. Escargot, foie gras, porterhouse steak, lobster, between-​course fruit jellies, dessert sampler… all perfect. «Classic steakhouse» may typically conjure memories of family dinners in swiss-​chalet styled restaurants (or somewhere with a dark, low ceiling and padded booths). Don’t be fooled by this label: Polo Grill’s food transported me to Delmonico in the Gilded Age, where I imagined myself eating like a robber baron, minus the cigars and pocket watches.