Harters

I can understand the possible appeal of this. I've said before that I think the menu at Jacques represents the sort of dishes that tourists would expect to find in France, rather than the menu of an actual restaurant in a French town, that is catering almost exclusively for the local population. Something like this favourite place of mine - https://aquaraile.fr/

I don't have sufficient insight into American culture to hazard a guess. As reasonably well known, we Europeans tend to eat later, although there's a fairly wide spread of timings across the continent. I reckon Southern Europe generally eats later than Northern Europe. It's about temperatures - who wants to sit down and eat a big meal when it's still really hot. Most fellow Britons I know tend to eat dinner at around 7.30 - 8 unless work commitments interfere with that - my brother in law used to drive a taxi mainly working a night shift, so they would have an early dinner and he'd start work about 7. . Many years back, I worked with a much older guy who arranged his working day so he was usually home for 5 and would be eating dinner shortly after. Of course that was back in the days when the housewife wasnt out at work and would have dinner ready for when the man got home.

I agree. Capture them when they are younger so you can keep them longer. The greater inclusivity into the price of Simply More is part of that. As is the "almost retirement" for Pepin which in turn is related to the replacement of Jacques on Vista with Ember and the expansion of the Waves service into the evening. Whether it works or needs further adjustment is another question

I remember stopping overnight somewhere in coastal Mississippi and going in to the sports bar (and restaurant) next to the hotel for dinner. They had peanut butter as a burger topping which I'd not seen before. Had to try it. And it was very tasty. Surprise, surprise. Dessert was a Mississippi Mud Pie which I'd heard of but never come across before. It was OK but I'd be in no rush to try it again. Just too sickly sweet for me.

Thanks for the link, EJL. If I've read that thread correctly, the whole ship had been booked for the swingers. That's something of a relief that I'm not likely to be propositioned in Baristas on our next cruise.

Now, I really have to wonder if "swinger" in American English is the same as in British English. If so, then I guess a younger demographic for those cruises than the O cruises I've been on. But very, erm, progressive thinking on O's part.

No. As others hope, I would expect O to cater to a majority demand. There is clearly more demand from Americans who want to eat early, than there are Europeans, like me (and others), who want to eat later. Adjust the times so you cater to your customer base and tell folk like me to like it or lump it I would, in all probability choose to lump it - but then we Europeans are a very small percentage of the customer base, so O probably wouldnt care too much about the loss of our business if the change was appealing to more potential American customers. Alternatively, they could do what land based restaurants, which open long hours, do - just stagger the workforce's hours. This really isnt that difficult to achieve if O had the will to do it.

I agree about 9031. We were in 9063 and I recall the entrance being at "far end" of the room as we walked to it. Coffee set-up to your right as you walked in. Concierge desk on your left. And the seating area further to your left.

The more I've read this thread, the more I become surprised that O doesnt open its dining earlier. I see it like this:- The overwhelmingly number of O's cruisers are American. Many Americans clearly wish to eat at what I would consider a very early time, so opening dining would satisfy demand. And, if that happened, it would free up competition for tables for those of us who want to eat later at, say, 8pm Seems that everyone becomes a winner. I can't see a downside.

No, it's more important than that. The wrong dinner time can ruin a cruise. Many years back, when P & O had fixed sittings for dinner, we found ourselves allocated to the first siting at something like 6.30 which, to our mind, is still pretty much afternoon. Straight away after boarding, we went to see the restaurant manager to see about a swap to later. No joy, in spite of the offer of, ahem, a financial "thank you" if he was able to help us out. We were already becoming disenchanted with P & O's formality but this was the final straw and we didnt cruise with them again.

There are entrances both sides. I can't currently open the deck plan page so can't give you cabin numbers.

I think you're right.

Seen it happen, albeit on Norwegian. Couple came running down the pier in the Bahamas, frantically waving their arms. But we'd already moved off. My partner plays on an O Facebook group. Some weeks back, there was a post from someone whose flight to Miami had been delayed. Got to the ship just before it was due to leave, but the gangplank was still in place. They were denied boarding (which does seem unduly harsh).

You still have hair? 😁

It was ones with Charlie Windsor when we went to the ATM a few days back.

Thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone has said about me for ages. 😀

I play on a food/restaurant forum where most of the contributors are American and asked about rye bread there. For info, here's the thread https://www.hungryonion.org/t/onion-rye-bread-wot-that/39495/9

I've never had a significant timings issue in the specialities. Never felt rushed, never felt we were waiting overly long for something to happen. Usually a 7.30 or 8.00 reservation. Three or four courses, then coffee. The only issue, such as it was, was once we had to make the decision about whether to have dessert or pass on that and make the start of the show. We had dessert

That's been our experience a well.

That's actually now illegal in the UK.

That's also the legal position in the UK. However, the law about tipping is due to change in the autumn and I think (but am not sure) that part of the changes is that the full amount of the tip is passed along, in accordance with whatever tipping policy applies in that business (businesses will be required to have a written policy about how tips are divided amongst employees).

Yes, the consistent "money saving" advice is always to pay in the local currency. The card machine will spot your card is "foreign" and it (or the server) may well ask if you want to pay in local currency or your home currency. Always, but always, choose the local currency. That way, the conversion is at the "official" international interbank rate, rather some rip-off rate the restaurant has dreamed up. Certainly in Spain, where I have most "foreign" experience, ATMs will also ask the same question and the same decision applies. FWIW, we visit Spain once or twice a year. We take a small amount of Euros - maybe €100 - €150 - just to get us started, then withdraw from ATMs (using a card which doesnt attract overseas fees from our bank).

The "merchant service fee" is generally a percentage and I'm sure that most businesses build that into their pricing, as with all other expenses. That said, maybe there's a fixed minimum charge which means it's uneconomic for the likes of cafes to take cards for small amounts. AMEX has always been an outlier on this and I know many restaurants simply won't take it

It was only yesterday that I stopped at a cafe that had a sign up saying card/phone payments would only be accepted for orders over £5. Havent seen that sort of restriction anywhere for many months. Fortunately, I wanted a slice of cake with my coffee so was over the five, otherwise it would have been no coffee as I had no cash with me.

Don't be so silly. I think we're done here. But when you've sailed on Vista and actually have some experience of Ember, I look forward to you popping back for a chat. And, when you do, please try not to be offensive about how I judge restaurants.