Nasty Emerald experience

[rundent]

Recently returned from an eastern Carib. cruise on the Emerald [1/6 - 1/16].

Had good weather, seas, excursions, etc. The food was generally up to Princess standards [i consider it very good].

However, the specialty restaurants were worse than a waste of money. Went to each of them once each, as we have in the past. The Italian was fancy, but the food was no better than that from the MD. Now the Grill was a different story. Our waiter, when asked how the medium steaks were coming out, told me that I will cut into it when presented and if not to my liking he'd send it back. I tried to get a better answer but this was his solution. Sure enough medium came out way too red for me. After a nice wait he came out with a new steak that I accepted. This wouldn't seem like too much of a bad experience except for the horrible cough that the waiter had. Each, and I assure you every, time he came out of the kitchen carrying food on the tray before him he managed to cough directly on it.

Why didn't I just get up, leaving this fouled food, and tell the Maitre'd to wake up and hear what's resounding throughout the room? Still can't figure it out. I actually ate the food. On the good side, no symptoms yet.

[Pam in CA]

Sounds nasty. What did they say at the Passenger Services Desk when you reported it? You should have at least done that even if you didn't want to talk to the Maitre d'.

[TracieABD]

Ew... I would have left. Sorry this was not a good experience for you.

[paul929207]

I am with the others - leave. Sounds like you have been lucky and not gotten sick, but you could have.

[stoneharborlady]

I would not like to get anyone in trouble, but I dont think I could have eaten that meal.

[highheel girl]

Very nasty. :eek:

[Astro Flyer]

Princess wants to know about problems or anything not up to standard while onboard so they have an opportunity to correct it. There's no way to correct things post-cruise & I would have informed them about a problem. I rarely have to do it but each of us decides when to tell them about a problem.

[akeasley]

I would have said something to someone...maybe the poor waiter would have had a few nights off to recover.

[ONT-CA]

Princess wants to know about problems or anything not up to standard while onboard so they have an opportunity to correct it. There's no way to correct things post-cruise & I would have informed them about a problem. I rarely have to do it but each of us decides when to tell them about a problem.

 

Princess should not rely on it's customers to be its Quality Control department that is what the table captains, headwaiters and maitre d' are for. From this description the employee should not have been on duty at least not in this capacity and as such management is at fault.

[Astro Flyer]

Princess should not rely on it's customers to be its Quality Control department that is what the table captains, headwaiters and maitre d' are for. From this description the employee should not have been on duty at least not in this capacity and as such management is at fault.

True...however when it's not dealt with onboard then waiting until post-cruise won't correct the problem.

 

Maybe it was the waiter who wanted to go to work despite being sick or he was told to report to work by a supervisor. Either way if upper management is not made aware of this problem there's no way to correct it.

[mellon1]

Recently returned from an eastern Carib. cruise on the Emerald [1/6 - 1/16].

Had good weather, seas, excursions, etc. The food was generally up to Princess standards [i consider it very good].

However, the specialty restaurants were worse than a waste of money. Went to each of them once each, as we have in the past. The Italian was fancy, but the food was no better than that from the MD. Now the Grill was a different story. Our waiter, when asked how the medium steaks were coming out, told me that I will cut into it when presented and if not to my liking he'd send it back. I tried to get a better answer but this was his solution. Sure enough medium came out way too red for me. After a nice wait he came out with a new steak that I accepted. This wouldn't seem like too much of a bad experience except for the horrible cough that the waiter had. Each, and I assure you every, time he came out of the kitchen carrying food on the tray before him he managed to cough directly on it.

Why didn't I just get up, leaving this fouled food, and tell the Maitre'd to wake up and hear what's resounding throughout the room? Still can't figure it out. I actually ate the food. On the good side, no symptoms yet.

We are going on the Emerald in February. Can you tell me if the noro was still on board? What about the terrible cold/coughing that was posted, is that gone. We are hoping to stay healthy this time around. Hopefully the entertainment will be good.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Ugh...we get on the Emerald this coming Saturday and our group always eats at the Crown Grill, sometimes twice on a ten day cruise!

 

If I saw a waiter coughing or sneezing anywhere near my food, I think I would speak to the head waiter or maitre d' immediately!!

 

So glad you didn't get ill!! I have my Lysol wipes packed!!

[ONT-CA]

True...however when it's not dealt with onboard then waiting until post-cruise won't correct the problem.

 

Maybe it was the waiter who wanted to go to work despite being sick or he was told to report to work by a supervisor. Either way if upper management is not made aware of this problem there's no way to correct it.

 

The Buck stops at the Food and Beverage Manager and before getting there there are at least three levels of management to contend with. If they cannot see that an employee is not fit for his station then we telling them such is of no avail.

[fishywood]

If you see an obviously symptomatic crew member on duty--especially in food service--just pick up the nearest telephone and dial 911 or 999 and tell the medical centre exactly where you are. A member of the medical staff, probably escorted by a security officer, will be there in minutes. No need to cut through the heirarchy of management that may be ignoring the situation.

[Astro Flyer]

The Buck stops at the Food and Beverage Manager and before getting there there are at least three levels of management to contend with. If they cannot see that an employee is not fit for his station then we telling them such is of no avail.

That's your prerogative but mine is to not assume anything because it doesn't solve a problem while onboard. When the system breaks down then passengers informing the F&B manager is their best option onboard. Saying they should have known & to 'assume' they knew of this situation & then complaining post-cruise solves nothing.

 

I'm not being critical of the OP but just saying in general there are other options to ensure that a problem is solved while still onboard. It's the reason Princess has forms at the PSD to fill out to address problems the passengers experience but they have no way to do that if they're not told about it.

 

I prefer to give them the option to correct the problem while still onboard and not to merely ignore it by assuming they should've known about it which solves absolutely nothing. :rolleyes:

[Nebr.cruiser]

I hope this isn't the case, but I bet the waiter was afraid to say he was sick because of possible repercussions. However, his immediate superior should have noticed and dealt with it. I would not have wanted to get him in trouble either.

 

This was years ago, on the old Golden Princess, but we got to know fairly well one of the dancers, who also conducted some of the exercise classes. This was her first contract.

 

She sprained her ankle rather badly one night, but tried to hide it as best she could. She told us that 'they' (whoever managed the dancers, I guess) were very strict about missing performances and she feared she would be fired and let go at the next port.

 

She made it through the cruise and we didn't hear the after story--still hoping she was not let go.

[dot73]

We are going on the Emerald in February. Can you tell me if the noro was still on board? What about the terrible cold/coughing that was posted, is that gone. We are hoping to stay healthy this time around. Hopefully the entertainment will be good.

I was on the same cruise as the OP. The noro on the Emerald was during the holiday cruise. There was no mention of it and no restrictions in place so I assume there was no problem. The ship is absolutely gorgeous and the public areas were spotless. As for entertainment, there was a lot of it going on every night and many choices. Do no miss the Beatles show. They had people singing along with them and dancing in the aisles.

[itravelalot]

That is awful!!:( I am glad you did not get ill....yet...;)

[davekathy]

Sooo you had a nasty waiter experience on the Emerald and not a nasty Emerald experience. Other than that and I agree you did have a very nasty and disgusting waiter experience how did you like the Emerald Princess?

[rundent]

Still not sick. Want everyone to know how difficult it was for me to report this to you since I am a retired dentist and certainly should have walked away. In my recounting of this story I was running on too long to really finish. I did get a phone call from the second in command of the specialty restaurants the next day and was told that the incident would be communicated to the home office. I had the feeling, as one poster postulated, that the waiter felt compelled to work. My MD waiter told me not so, but who knows.

Since I didn't finish my steak, plus the nasty stuff, my wife felt I should have demanded that I not be charged for the meal - they didn't offer, and I didn't want to seem small so let it slide. But they should have offered.

Yes the noro was gone and other than some passengers coughing too, all seemed healthy.

[ONT-CA]

That's your prerogative but mine is to not assume anything because it doesn't solve a problem while onboard. When the system breaks down then passengers informing the F&B manager is their best option onboard. Saying they should have known & to 'assume' they knew of this situation & then complaining post-cruise solves nothing.

 

I'm not being critical of the OP but just saying in general there are other options to ensure that a problem is solved while still onboard. It's the reason Princess has forms at the PSD to fill out to address problems the passengers experience but they have no way to do that if they're not told about it.

 

I prefer to give them the option to correct the problem while still onboard and not to merely ignore it by assuming they should've known about it which solves absolutely nothing. :rolleyes:

 

But the problem should not have existed in the first place if management had been doing its job. My criticism is of management. The steak had already been contaminated. And when Princess no longer cares about such things then it is time to take our business elsewhere.

[Astro Flyer]

But the problem should not have existed in the first place if management had been doing its job. My criticism is of management. The steak had already been contaminated. And when Princess no longer cares about such things then it is time to take our business elsewhere.

Enjoy your next cruise on another cruise line...ciao! :rolleyes:

[ONT-CA]

Enjoy your next cruise on another cruise line...ciao! :rolleyes:

 

And we wish you a full and speedy recovery from yours.