Were We Late For Dinner?

[EVALUATOR]

Just off the Monarch on Friday. On the second evening, it was formal night.

 

In order to fulfill other's "fantasies", and comply with the "host's" requirements for strict formal wear in the MDR, we left the ball caps, tee shirts, and tattered jeans in the cabin and dressed in our best formal wear.

 

While we fully intended to be at the table at 5:45:02 p.m. (2 seconds after the MDR doors opened) things didn't go quite as planned. We didn't make it to the table until 6:14:07.

 

So, were we late for dinner? Should we just have gone to the Windjammer instead of joining other diners late and disrupting their dinner? Was our late arrival going to cause their desserts to be late and possibly make them miss part of a show or event?

[johneeo]

While we fully intended to be at the table at 5:45:02 p.m. (2 seconds after the MDR doors opened) things didn't go quite as planned. We didn't make it to the table until 6:14:07.

 

So, were we late for dinner?

 

Yes.

[funfamilyfun]

If the dining room doors open at 5:45, I would assume being seated by 6 would be "on time." (Everyone can't walk through the doors at 5:45.)

 

So...I guess you were 14 minutes late?

 

Like you, I would have still come to the main dining room.

Did you table mates get upset? Or the wait staff?

[Mgobluefan]

You worry too much. The next seating isn't until after 8. Plenty of people come a little late, and most don't really need over an hour and a half to eat. Assuming yours was a MDR regular reservation throughout the cruise, that was your table and they wouldn't seat anyone else there. As long as you finished in time for the next seating, I can't see the problem.

[cruisinfanatic]

Just off the Monarch on Friday. On the second evening, it was formal night.

 

In order to fulfill other's "fantasies", and comply with the "host's" requirements for strict formal wear in the MDR, we left the ball caps, tee shirts, and tattered jeans in the cabin and dressed in our best formal wear.

 

While we fully intended to be at the table at 5:45:02 p.m. (2 seconds after the MDR doors opened) things didn't go quite as planned. We didn't make it to the table until 6:14:07.

 

So, were we late for dinner? Should we just have gone to the Windjammer instead of joining other diners late and disrupting their dinner? Was our late arrival going to cause their desserts to be late and possibly make them miss part of a show or event?

How many cruises have you been on?

 

Seems the OP wants to start something. They know very well

[BND]

How many cruises have you been on?

 

Seems the OP wants to start something. They know very well

 

You asked what I wanted to ask. OP definitely knows. I guess OP is bored.

[English_in_Spain]

Were you at a table on your own or were you sharing with others?

[EVALUATOR]

How many cruises have you been on?

 

Seems the OP wants to start something. They know very well

 

37 but should that make a difference.

 

You asked what I wanted to ask. OP definitely knows. I guess OP is bored.

 

Not bored. There is more to come.

 

Just need to let a few offer opinions first. So far you have heard what others might have witnessed or perceived.

 

Two people showing up late for dinner? Or did they?

[galavant3]

We prefer to wait until the entire table is seated before ordering. Was the rest of the table waiting for you to arrive? Did you offer an apology for arriving late?

[mamapan]

If you received an invitation to a wedding, got tickets to a concert or something else that specified a time to be there and you were not there at that time you would be late - so how is this different?

 

Of course when doors open at 5:45 not everyone can be seated in 5 minutes so I feel like if you can't be there by 6 at the outside - you are late.

[Cruzaholic41]

Don't care.

[EVALUATOR]

OK here is a little more information.

 

Mrs E's cancer has progressed. It has now eroded the wall of her stomach. On 8/12/2011, the cancer treatment center recommended 5 weeks of daily radiation treatments, and stomach bypass surgery. The radiation is supposed to start on Monday.

 

We haven't been on a cruise since the Jewel in December 2010. So, at the last minute, on Saturday p.m. we booked a cruise departing the following Monday. Monarch was the only one we could take, and we booked the last cabin available.

 

Even though we booked inside 72 hours, we were still able to do the online check in. We selected main dining. When checking in, the sea pass cards had main dining printed on them. But as anyone that books that close to sailing knows, a table is not assigned. You have to see the MDR managers upon boarding to get a table assigned. We did that and were assigned a table on deck four. We even ate there the first night. A very interesting dinner to say the least. That's a whole other topic.

[CruiseLover15]

OK here is a little more information.

 

Mrs E's cancer has progressed. It has now eroded the wall of her stomach. On 8/12/2011, the cancer treatment center recommended 5 weeks of daily radiation treatments, and stomach bypass surgery. The radiation is supposed to start on Monday.

 

We haven't been on a cruise since the Jewel in December 2010. So, at the last minute, on Saturday p.m. we booked a cruise departing the following Monday. Monarch was the only one we could take, and we booked the last cabin available.

 

Even though we booked inside 72 hours, we were still able to do the online check in. We selected main dining. When checking in, the sea pass cards had main dining printed on them. But as anyone that books that close to sailing knows, a table is not assigned. You have to see the MDR managers upon boarding to get a table assigned. We did that and were assigned a table on deck four. We even ate there the first night. A very interesting dinner to say the least. That's a whole other topic.

 

I hope you wife's cancer goes into remission!!

[phoenix1181]

So sorry to hear your DW is not doing well. Cancer in a mean disease. I wish you well..........

[marci22]

I think you were late, but not 'too late'. I would have gone to the MDR also.

[EVALUATOR]

Now, looking at Mrs E. most would never know there is anything wrong with her.

 

On the inside she is loaded with cancer tumors. On the outside, she is a smiling, happy, beautiful person.

 

Without going into all the medical details, even the Doctor's are amazed when they see her. They use her as an example as why you never quit the fight.

 

But breathing, eating, sleeping, walking, and almost everything she does is a slow and painful process.

 

Oh yeah, she was the one crawling on my back on that white floor mat they take the casual photos on.

 

On the second night, formal night, we dressed (as usual mind you) in our very best. Took two hours to get ready. I strapped Mrs E's favorite dragonfly sandals on her feet, gave her the maximum pain medications I could for the MDR formal night expedition and we headed for the dining room.

 

Time 5:40:00 (ok give or take a minute)

 

We waited for the stampede to enter the MDR and at about 5:46:09 went in to our table. This was not MTD, and it was the same table we ate at the night before. It was a table for four.

 

Now when we got to the table, the two people that were there the previous night were not there. But three different people were. Since Mrs E. was with me, and the table now had three people already there, something was obviously wrong. 3 plus me and Mrs E. = 5, and the table was a four top.:confused:

[Aquahound]

Even without knowing all the circumstances, 15 minutes isn't too bad. Heck, if I wasn't there to enforce time, my wife would always be that late on formal night.

 

It's tough to read your story and imagine what you two are going through. So sorry. :(

[EVALUATOR]

So, as we approach the table, we saw our waiter and asked what was up. He asked to see our sea pass card to confirm the table was ours. He looked at the card, and with the no table printed on it, said we needed to get a table assigned.

 

Oh yeah, did I mention we ate there the night before????

 

The table was in the middle of the MDR, and as painful as it was for Mrs E. we walked back to the entrance of the MDR to find out what was going on. A waiter at the entrance asked if they could help us. We explained that we needed to find out where our table was for the night. He looked at the card and didn't understand why there wasn't a table number on it. We explained booking late and getting a table number. He then asked why we didn't write the number on the card so we wouldn't forget it.:rolleyes:

 

Again we explained we had a table, but now there were people sitting there.

 

Finally a head waiter showed up, and we explained what happened. He said we must be mistaken and "escorted" us to the table. Of course when we got there, the other people were still there. DUH. Back to the MDR main entrance.:(

 

He looked through all the available seats and informed us the only table that had room was a table for ten. I expressed dismay that it was now after 6 p.m. and didn't want to disrupt the other table. He said not to worry and "escorted" us to that table. This time the ten top table had...you guessed it, ten people seated at it.

 

He told us to follow him back to the entrance and he would find a different table. I stopped him, and explained that walking was very painful for Mrs E.

 

Anyways we walked back to the entrance, and he found a different table. This time a table for two. But it was on deck 3. I was getting angry now. I told him to go to that table, make sure there was room, and then come back to the fourth floor and get us when he was sure there was an open table.

 

He refused, and said we needed to follow him. At this point Mrs E. was in tears form the pain. I told him she needed to take the elevator down one flight. He insisted the stairs would be fine, it was only one flight down.

 

We followed him down the stairs and to the new table.

 

Proudly Mrs E. walked to the new table. Tears pouring down her face from the pain.

 

We finally got seated at 6:15 and as we sat down, a person at the table next to us looked at us, then their watch, then at us again, and shook their head.

 

To those already seated at the adjoining table, we appeared late.

 

WERE WE?????

[goouchjac]

So, as we approach the table, we saw our waiter and asked what was up. He asked to see our sea pass card to confirm the table was ours. He looked at the card, and with the no table printed on it, said we needed to get a table assigned.

 

Oh yeah, did I mention we ate there the night before????

 

The table was in the middle of the MDR, and as painful as it was for Mrs E. we walked back to the entrance of the MDR to find out what was going on. A waiter at the entrance asked if they could help us. We explained that we needed to find out where our table was for the night. He looked at the card and didn't understand why there wasn't a table number on it. We explained booking late and getting a table number. He then asked why we didn't write the number on the card so we wouldn't forget it.:rolleyes:

 

Again we explained we had a table, but now there were people sitting there.

 

Finally a head waiter showed up, and we explained what happened. He said we must be mistaken and "escorted" us to the table. Of course when we got there, the other people were still there. DUH. Back to the MDR main entrance.:(

 

He looked through all the available seats and informed us the only table that had room was a table for ten. I expressed dismay that it was now after 6 p.m. and didn't want to disrupt the other table. He said not to worry and "escorted" us to that table. This time the ten top table had...you guessed it, ten people seated at it.

 

He told us to follow him back to the entrance and he would find a different table. I stopped him, and explained that walking was very painful for Mrs E.

 

Anyways we walked back to the entrance, and he found a different table. This time a table for two. But it was on deck 3. I was getting angry now. I told him to go to that table, make sure there was room, and then come back to the fourth floor and get us when he was sure there was an open table.

 

He refused, and said we needed to follow him. At this point Mrs E. was in tears form the pain. I told him she needed to take the elevator down one flight. He insisted the stairs would be fine, it was only one flight down.

 

We followed him down the stairs and to the new table.

 

Proudly Mrs E. walked to the new table. Tears pouring down her face from the pain.

 

We finally got seated at 6:15 and as we sat down, a person at the table next to us looked at us, then their watch, then at us again, and shook their head.

 

To those already seated at the adjoining table, we appeared late.

 

WERE WE?????

 

This is how I feel,,,I wouldn't give it a second thought,,if your late, your late...I'm very sorry to hear about Mrs.E's cancer,,it is without a insidious disease and I will keep her in my prayers...God Bless her that she has the stamina to go on a cruise and enjoy herself...

[ilovesassy]

You and Mrs. E are strong and wonderful people. Who cares what anyone else thinks. God bless you both.

[marci22]

To those already seated at the adjoining table, we appeared late.

 

WERE WE?????

 

I vote no.

[Shippy]

We have been on many cruises on many different lines & the doors always opened at the assigned time.

If the doors opened at 5:45, I would assume that is the assigned dining time not 6.

Hasn't anyone be caught in the crowds outside the doors, even on formal night, where they wait for the last second to open the doors?

[INKaren]

Table for two? Who else cares but your waiter? We've slid in about 10 minutes late when an excursion got us back to the ship late. Told our wonderful waiter (son wanted to bring him home) we would skip the appetizer - he said don't worry, have the whole dinner.

[mirgloin]

I am so sorry to hear about your unpleasant dining experience.

Were you late getting to dinner? No. Did it seem to the people around you at the table you were finally able to get that you had arrived late? Yes. People's perceptions are based upon what they see. Should someone give you grief based upon their perception of your behavior? In a perfect world, No.

I hope I'm not coming across as being snarky here. That is absolutely not my intention. You had a very bad experience, made worse by Mrs. Evaluator's condition. To top it off, someone who had no idea what you'd just gone through made the situation worse by their reaction to their assumptions about the situation. This is a lesson to all of us not to jump to conclusions.

This is probably "Monday morning quarterbacking" here, but I hope you included your experience in your comments on your cruise evaluation. The Maitre d' should also know what happened. (If the Maitre d' was involved and didn't respond properly, his or her supervisor should be told.) If someone doesn't know that they made an error, they have no chance of avoiding repeating it.

I hope you and Mrs. Evaluator will be able to cruise again soon. If you are able to do so, maybe the department that assists passengers with disabilities could help make her experience easier.

My thoughts and prayers are with you both.

 

m.

[smltwngrl76]

Of COURSE you weren't late, and this story is a perfect example of why you should never judge others! You have no way of knowing their story, background, or circumstances.

 

I wish you and your wife the very best. I applaud you both for carrying on with what you want to do, in the face of this miserable disease. Please don't let the ignorance of others stop you.