Interestedcruisefan

That's good I assume you eat early or late?

A pager you can keep in your pocket or on a table and ignore till it buzzes and then hand back It removes some of the complaints about phones above If they don't want a pager I guess they have to accept the existing queuing ? But can't then really complain about those queues to be fair. (Finally from what I understand people who want to walk in sometimes even when they get to the front of their queue can't get a table and have to take a pager regardless!)

Hence the alternative of a pager that can be issued to avoid having to queue for walk ins at busy times Or simply continue to physically queue. But ensure those who choose to virtual queue are not impacted by those who don't want to virtual queue The suggestion of a dedicated restaurant for virtual queuing only sounds appealing to me

The big ships offer far greater VALUE cruises than ever before The price of cruising for Auntie Ethel have dropped so much in real terms over the last 50 years plus Auntie Ethel will have got used to paying so much more in comparison of her money for cruises in the past The old fashioned way of cruising still exists on other cruises and can still be paid for at the more expensive price Can't it? It's a valid choice to choose to pay more money for a more traditional and old fashioned cruise I like tradition myself but there's a limit to what I am prepared to pay for it. The one UK tradition I don't like is queuing for things So I prefer cheaper more modern cruises and embrace the app myself But there are choices for all of us At the prices we pay on Arvia many of the traditional things that happened on cruises simply cant happen Smaller ships with less people they can happen but expect to pay far more (You will also still get shellfish for lunch, clotted cream, chocolate mints with coffee and chocolates in the cabin. I'm sure if you are willing to pay more)

So Phil you would honestly rather waste time queuing up for dinner in a corridor than carry your phone?

I bet a lot of people who complain about the app have probably never even tried it Before using it for the first time on Britannia I was wary of it But wouldn't want to do a cruise without the app now I abhor queuing for anything on my holidays

I would rather have the phone on the table next to my Cocktail. Than be stood in a queue for 20 minutes plus And it's only a brief time at the start of the evening you need to check your phone. It's not constant all night Dobbers?

But they cannot possibly complain if they are having to queue for things at busy times then? But I guarantee most of them still do

I've made my suggestions In summary To banish queues everybody either needs to use the app or else be given a pager that allows them to join the virtual queue (and be given them away from the entrance to the restaurant) So nobody queues for the restaurant any more Walk ins don't happen at busy restaurants in the real world. We book tables in advance and go at the time we booked. That's how the civilised world works. Surely nobody really does want to queue for things in person when they don't need to?

So you have tried the app and it didn't work for you Phil?

Fair enough you are entitled to continue to queue for things in person But IMO you and anybody else is not entitled to then complain about the queues. No disrespect. Anyone who refuses to use the virtual queue and insists on still doing walk ins IMO shouldn't complain about the queues . As they are helping to cause them. Unnecessarily And I mean that with all due respect intended. The only people who have a valid complaint about queuing IMO are the ones who are in the virtual queue who are being slowed down by the walk ins Or people who don't have smart phones or the signal has failed. They will be in the minority People who choose to do walk ins when they COULD have used the app to join a virtual queue can't then complain about physical queues.

Very simple have a separate area on the ship where if you don't want to use the app or can't use the app or don't have a smart phone You head to when you want to dine where they give you a pager Anybody who chooses to do that because they simply don't want to use the app then more fool them IMO. But that's their choice. Anybody who HAS to do that should hopefully be able to receive that pager far quicker than having to queue at an entrance to the restaurants as in the picture and wait to be shown to a table So they can then stop queuing for anything go and get a pre dinner drink. Go back to the civilised world and head to the restaurant when their table is ready Allowing people to walk in and queue alongside a virtual queue is making it worse for all concerned They could even set areas up in bars where people who can't use the app or get the app to work can get a pager for their restaurant booking. The pagers could even be served to the tables at the same time they serve your pre dinner drinks Nobody should be queuing more than 5 mins for anything in this day and age But us Brits sure like to queue!! (Ps in the real world very few restaurants at busy times can EVER accept walk ins. We can't do walk ins in the real world for busy restaurants. Why should we expect to do them on a busy ship?)

My theory on this is the mistake is having an app for a virtual queue but still allowing walk in Every person on the right needs customer service when they arrive Which in turn means staff who could be seating the virtual queue on the left are needlessly having to serve the queue on the right The queue on the right then get a pager and have to come back again? That's madness. This is 2023!! Just have a virtual queue. Help people use the app. Everyone in the virtual queue stay in your favourite bar with your favourite drink until you are called by the app Nobody need queue at all? What am I missing? Virtual queues are brilliant. Providing everyone uses them together. They were invented to stop physical queues ever being needed? Not only are walk ins having to queue but the walk ins mean the virtual queue have to wait as well? What a waste of everybody's time Virtual queues for all are the answer. Physical queuing is so old fashioned and no longer needed. The world has moved on

Did somebody do something wong?

I wouldn't trust a second, third or even fourth cruise tbh We manage staff at large hospitality events across the UK We always get new staff to manage every event (alongside experienced staff of course) We put them with experienced staff to shadow when really they are allocated to work alone. It's less risk than leaving them on their own!! Probably takes a month or so before we really class them as experienced staff and can rely on them to make good decisions with customers and say the right things etc They learn more in the first months than they will in their entire careers. And the good ones become great and reliable etc As such in an ideal world. From business experience I wouldn't book a new hotel, restaurant or cruise ship until 3 months after its opened We are cruising Arvia approx 2 months after it launched. So I've gone against my own advice. But it's the latest we could leave it It's much less of a risk of teething problems after two months But they will still be learning, improving and gaining experience even then But I'm sure we will enjoy it regardless

You see that's inexcusable though And had I been on that maiden cruise that would really upset me to read Honesty is a better policy A statement like that can ONLY be financially motivated Otherwise just hold your hands up - admit the mistakes and promise to improve Gain some respect back from the customers you have let down. Say sorry and improve. Simple as that

We used to book the retreat on previous cruises. We started to realise it simply wasn't worth the money. Food options way better outside of the Retreat We just find the best spot on the ship for us and get up early On a Caribbean cruise with so few sea days even less reason to use the Retreat IMO Prefer to spend the money on cocktails and speciality restaurants

We are booked on Arvia for 14 nights Caribbean 18th Feb Really looking forward to it. First Caribbean cruise without the kids I sympathise with those guests who didn't enjoy the maiden cruise and had a poor Xmas and New Year To me it's just like booking a new Hotel that's just opened I would never ever dare risk it myself. Huge new cruise ship entire new team of staff working together for the first time. Huge learning curve. Then throw in Xmas and New Year and a full ship. Wow that's really asking for trouble IMO. I feel sorry for the staff as well as the guests taking on that challenge together TBH Probably the hardest challenge the staff will ever face on that ship And I realise this want planned to be the maiden cruise was it? Regardless I think a couple of months are needed at new hotels and on new cruise ships to be confident that staff will know what they are all doing together and for faults to be ironed out I'm hoping 2 months in the staff have bedded in and got used to the new ship etc and created a routine that works The price we've paid providing we stay healthy for the 2 weeks we will have an great time and overcome any issues/niggles I'm sure There's too many good and great things to do and see in 14 nights to worry about the negatives IMO If I report a negative cruise then it seriously will have to have been bad!!

They will want compensation for using the photo no doubt as well

Xmas menu likely had more courses than normal Could well have been a kitchen issue getting the courses out quick enough to turn tables round on time We work at big events in big venues in London and across the UK which involve upto 1200 guests served 3 or 4 course dinners Almost every issue we've faced with slow service have come as a result of issues in the kitchen leading to big knock on effects front of house I hazard an educated guess kitchen issues were significantly involved in the long delays Power outages etc can have huge knock on effects all day The kitchen only needs to go down for 30 mins on a busy day and you take hours to recover and pick up the pieces. Chaos and carnage all day

Depends how much?? Lol

I'm the same as you I've had balconies before cruise ships and hotels. Quite simply never used them anywhere near enough to justify the extra cost. You guys who like balcony cabins. When do you use your balconies?

That's good for Cornwall

I class MDR meals as 3 course meals you would be happy to pay £25 to £30 per head ish for when staying in a hotel in UK. I think that's what we get. Always a decent choice. Bread included as well. No complaints from me. You need never go hungry on a cruise Breakfast worth £12.50 per head Burgers/Pizza and fries. Worth £12.50 per head Lunch Buffet. Worth £20 per head Afternoon Tea worth £15 per head MDR dinner at worth £25 per head After dinner late night pizza etc worth £10 per head Thats my evaluation Food worth £90 per head per day if you can eat that much!!! Plenty of choice. Something for everyone IMO

Agreed