What do you think HAL should do about the Master Chef Dinner (MCD)?

[AlexandNessa]

Yes, but here's where things get interesting (and prepare to put your flak jackets back on)...

 

What if the roughly 2/3's of the people who voted in this poll to get rid of the MCD are the customers HAL actually wants to get rid of anyway? Maybe (I'm just sayin'), they've figured out that the kind of customer who doesn't like the MCD has other traits that make them undesirable. Use your imagination, but it could be that the cheaper the cabin booked, the more likely to hate the MCD. Or the less likely to spend at the spa. Or the less likely to lose at the casino. Or the more likely to bitch & moan about every little thing. Or, simply, the more closed-minded and therefore likely to complain about every change HAL makes to try and keep themselves competitive for the future.

 

What if?

 

I can see your point, and I know this wasn't directed at me in particular, but we hate the MCD but are pretty much the opposite profile you describe. We are in our late 30s/early 40s and looking at all our previous shipboard bills and accommodations booked, one would think that HAL would be very interested in keeping us as clients. I think the vast majority of those who want to ditch the MCD would simply like a more refined dinner to celebrate the last night of their cruise in the MDR. I hardly think that is worth wanting to ditch us as clients, especially in this economy as Peaches mentioned.

I have chatted with a few servers about the MCD. The predominant response is that they would rather not dance me my dinner, but since they like their job, they do as they are told.

[m steve]

I know English isn't your first language but what is that "pants" thing you wrote about. I wa sreally confused. I think all the waiters wore pants.

[JonV]

I don't like my napkin whirled about someone else's head and then slapped on the bannister, their workstation, the table, the chair, back around their head, then being put in my lap.

[Two@Sea]

I don't like my napkin whirled about someone else's head and then slapped on the bannister, their workstation, the table, the chair, back around their head, then being put in my lap.

 

I could not possibly agree more!

[aaerobear]

Come on Jon, I don't like the MCD either, but your description of the napkin "waltz" is a bit of an exaggeration, at least from the 5 times we have been to the MCD.

 

Ed

[iceman93]

What do you expect them to say to a client:rolleyes: They are hardly going to go around saying it's pants are they...maybe get back to the bosses. I saw the look on some of the wait staff faces and it was apparent they were NOT enjoying the experience, neither was I and I was paying for it!

 

I would certainly agree with you, except for two things:

 

1) Other posters here have claimed that they spoke to the MDR staff who did in fact complain to them about the MCD.

2) This basically sets up a specious argument with which no one can disagree, since the basis of it is some mystical mind-reading of the staff's attitudes. Essentially, all evidence to the contrary, one can claim that the staff hates it.

 

Just to set the record straight, I don't completely agree with the strawman I set up in my previous post. I don't think HAL is trying to chase away loyal customers. But I do think they must have gotten enough positive feedback from new customers, or at least they think so, or else they would have gotten rid of the MCD by now. As an experiment, it has certainly run its course and now appears to be a baseline part of the HAL experience.

 

And I'll also state that I don't think the last night of a cruise is the right timing for the MCD. Ideally, I think it should come midway through a cruise, when the standard MDR service has become old hat. It could serve as a refresher of sorts, since we all know that as those last few days of a cruise creep up on us we start getting excited again if only to enjoy everything we love about cruising before it's too late. In that sense, I can certainly agree that the MCD is anticlimactic and probably counterproductive on the last night of a voyage.

[amster65]

bring back Dutch night. The food choices were much better.

 

I guess I am prejudiced because I'm Dutch Born, but that MCD really is to much.

[docksider21]

 

What do you expect them to say to a client:rolleyes: They are hardly going to go around saying it's pants are they...maybe get back to the bosses.

 

 

 

I know English isn't your first language but what is that "pants" thing you wrote about. I was really confused. I think all the waiters wore pants.

 

 

M Steve - I think that "it's pants" is a British colloquial expression for "it's lame." I didn't understand it either, so I ran Google, and that's what I've turned up. It's likely that the wait staff could say "It's pants" to the guests, and by the time it works around they have thought they said "from France".;)

[FrankNJ]

On the last night of the 3/15 Noordam Wayfarer the MCD was very entertaining . The crew and the diners seemed to genuinely enjoy it . I know we did.

The Noordam is a happy ship.

[taxmantoo]

Since this poll was started on March 23, 339 persons voted. During the same period, if we assume all HAL ships were sailing at full capacity, approximately 21,381 persons would have had an opportunity to sample a Master Chef Dinner. That represents 1.58 %, so draw your own conclusions.

 

I have not seen that many, but the wait staff on the Westerdam in January seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves and so did the majority of the passengers.

[moniquet]

M Steve - I think that "it's pants" is a British colloquial expression for "it's lame." I didn't understand it either, so I ran Google, and that's what I've turned up. It's likely that the wait staff could say "It's pants" to the guests, and by the time it works around they have thought they said "from France".;)

 

Sorry about the "pants" I often post without thinking about the words I use:o I am English but spend a lot of time in Spain so sometimes speak a bit of Spanglish;) There is a female spanish singer in Spain called La Pantoja and we ex-pats call her "Pants" and as you will gather she is talentless and sounds awful.

[cantw8togo]

I too voted to scrap the MCD. I would think that cruiselines would grab at an opportunity to cut costs, what with not having to supply chef's hats, glow sticks and other things. The service that we had was quite rushed and was not up to their usual standard, in part because they were too busy doing the entertainers job. I felt embarrassed for the servers.

[jmps]

We just got off the Westerdam and experienced the MCD for the first time. We liked both the menu and the little bit of "show" going on. It was fun. I guess we are in the minority on this.

[doctork]

I voted "Other" and my choice for "other" would be to have Dutch Night again. Wasn't that the one where they offered the Indonesian Riijstaffel? I loved that!

 

On my recent cruise, I was allowed to order one course from the "Always available" menu in place of a MCD menu item, but it took so long to get it that I felt bad for the others at my table who were waiting for me to receive my serving, while theirs got cold. I told them to go ahead, but then I still held everyone else up when my order finally arrived. If I had only known, I'd have just skipped that course.

 

The first time at MCD it was mildly entertaining and was fun. But this time, it wasn't new & entertaining, plus it was unfair for my tablemates to have to wait for me.

[bepsf]

...the wait staff on the Westerdam in January seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves...

 

They're paid to smile - Even when they don't want to.

No smile = "Bad Attitude" = No contract for a job next year.

[m steve]

but could do w/o the parades, etc. I love mushrooms.

[parrotfeathers]

Based on this thread I have already made reservations at the pinnacle for that night. I probably can have my meal eaten and then if I really want to see the "show" I can sit with my tablemates in the MDR while they wait for their food.

[kyriecat]

What is "Dutch Night"? I've noticed several references to it, but I don't remember having one last year on Maasdam. Hubby and I may have missed it since we ate in port one night and at Pinnacle another night.

 

I didn't like MCD being on the last night. I would prefer to have a relaxing final dinner with my table mates rather than a long, noisy extravaganza. On RC cruises, the staff usually had a farewell song the last night but that's it.

[NileQueen]

We DO NOT LIKE Master Chef dinner. We enjoyed the old dutch night though and were sorry to see that replaced by this monstrosity. (forgive the misspelling)

[serendipity1499]

Based on this thread I have already made reservations at the pinnacle for that night. I probably can have my meal eaten and then if I really want to see the "show" I can sit with my tablemates in the MDR while they wait for their food.

 

You will only be able to see the show if you eat dinner in the Pinnacle early & then get in the MDR before 8:15...They close the doors 15 min after your assigned seating & in the any time dining that night is only two seatings..

If you have never experienced it before, you might enjoy it..

I don't like the iidea that they have it on the last night..I voted to have it on another night...Then we can either skip if we feel like it..Once you've seen it, it can get booring after that..

cheers...:)Betty

[realnurse2]

I voted to can the MCD but please keep the baked Alaska!

[Cruiseguy00]

It should be dropped. The menu is limited and after 6 nights of great food, it is a letdown. Throwing the napkins around and forcing the waiters to act silly does nothing to enhance the cruise, and on the last night! Whoever thought of this needs to go back to the drawing board.

[kelmac]

During the MCD show we sneak out of the dining room (we warn our waiters first) and go have some desert up in the Lido. Cute for the first couple of times, but it gets old fast. We do the same on Celebrity for their baked Alaskan parade.

Looks like 2/3rds of CC'ers would like to see it go!

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[odd man out]

I'm planning our first ever cruise for late July (Alaska). How soon should I (or can I) book a night at the Pinnacle for the last night, assuming I want to avoid the MDR "show"?

 

Also, the itinerary says "College Fjord Cruising" from 5 PM to 8 PM that last evening. As this takes place right over the primary dining hours, is the alternative dining room a good place to view the glaciers from? Other options/suggestions?

[iceman93]

Since it's your first cruise, I would definitely recommend giving the MCD a chance.