2ladies

I agree, and I have no doubt that by next year, As You Wish Dining will be offered as an option on just about all HAL ships, with the possible exception of the Prisendam because of their smaller dining room. Prisendam will probably have to either stay totally traditional, or go 100% As You Wish. I can't see how they could offer both.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

Interesting - we are booked on the Prinsendam next July. The cruise is certainly not selling well yet but we are on waiting lists for both early and late. Probably it will just all be open seating - suits us fine!!!

Did it for the first time on the Navigator a few weeks ago. The shop staff were very nice and I had no complaints. Had no difficulty seeing the name tag and I did look at it and call her by her name when we were talking and discussing colour - but I often do that!!! That's how I knew her name.

As far as I am concerned, it makes no difference how much she is paid. If you are not paid enough to do the job properly, you leave!! If you want the job, you do it according to instructions, which are obviously, in this case, to be friendly towards the customers!!!

It is very nice when they hand your card back and call you by your name - prefix and last name!! Today a card was handed back by a server in a restaurant who called me by my first name - I actually don't go for that!!!

By the way, thank you Shops People on RCCL - I purchased a new 'polymina'

shawl for the evening which is always useful on the airconditioned ships!! Exactly $10!!!!

Is a 'Get out there' night an improvement on a 'Caribbean' night? Where are we supposed to get out to?!:D Oh, I see, probably out on deck!! Betcha there is still that good ol' Caribbean band playing away up there!!! Or is it ........ a foam party???

Spill the beans 'someone'!!! Never heard of a style of food called 'Get out there'!!:eek:

We are on the Radiance on Sunday for some New Year's Eve high jinks:eek:. Maybe we will have a 'Get out there' Menu!!

Many many moons ago when I was 21, my parents took me on a world cruise. The P&O Oriana. In those days it was a two-class ship - I was the only 'young' person upstairs. The Captain was consulted and I was given a dispensation to be escorted each evening 'downstairs' and allowed to enjoy the great time being had there!! It was a total blast - every night!!

At that time, things were a little 'freeer' and a blind-eye was turned to pax/staff fraternisation to some extent. I can only say that on those ships at that time, the staff accommodation was more like you find in the navy!!! And so was some of the cheaper passenger accommodation!! And yes, I was recently invited for a meal on a frigate and shown around, so I can compare!!

I have seen various Captain's and senior officer's quarters - they don't seem to have a balcony!! So I won't swap:D.

Another point is that staff romance is actively encouraged on the ship. If a couple wish to share a cabin, that is permitted. A case of almost anything to keep our staff happy. I reckon that such small cabins must certainly test a relationship!!

Another officer told me that he had recently come off cargo ships and was appalled at the passenger accommodation on the cruise ships. Said the staff cabins were huge on the cargo ships!

We have just come off the Infinity and my mother was talking about how gorgeous the Mariposa was!! Coincidence, as I had not heard anyone mention this ship for years. According to her, the cabins were all done out in white leather!!

Those were the days my friends .............

Anyone on this thread know where Nickos Batistatos is? Was on the Constellation and my e-mails are being returned by RCCL

On a posh Radisson cruise we met a couple - he short, thin, old - her younger and rather overweight. They had met when she saw him drive into Publix car park in a convertible Merc and she went over and 'pulled' him!! By the time of the cruise they lived together.

He paid for the cruise they were on, but apparently she snored so badly, he couldn't sleep. So the next night he slept on the floor in the bathroom - marble and very cold of course!!

The following night he decided he had had enough, so he put her mattress outside in the hallway, where she went to sleep. People coming to bed late had to step over her. At about 3.00am in the morning the security man found her and woke her up - however, her 'gentleman' friend, refused to allow her back in.

The security man had to wake the Hotel Manager and they decided she would have to have her own cabin (stateroom) for the rest of the cruise. Problem was, the story flew round the ship and wherever they went, both staff and passengers, giggled!!

On another cruise a lady at our table complained that her steak was neither hot enough or large enough. The waiter brought another one, which she didn't eat, but asked him to pack it!!!! No-one on the table dared to look at one another for fear of hysterics.