Have you ever been ignored at a bar because they know you have bottomless bubbles?

[mousey]

People, including children, that feel they are being ignored need to speak up. A simple, polite 'excuse me' should work. Sometimes there are so many people at the bar that I am sure the bartenders have no idea who was there first.

 

As for the waiters taking forever in the lounge, on the Lido, in the MDR etc, I have had that happen ordering alcoholic beverages. They get busy. It takes time to make all those drinks. Just because one person just ordered a coke, doesn't mean that the waiters don't have to wait for the bartender to make a lot of other drinks first.

 

 

My experience is that children do get ignored and others are put before them. The bartenders know that kids are not going to tip so unless the poor kid speaks up (mine always did) they will wait awhile before they get served. That's a fact! After this happening to my DS when he was 9...he came to us and asked us what he should do. We told him to speak up for himself and if anyone ever was rude to him to let us know. We never had to intervene for him as he was able to handle things himself once he knew he had the right to speak up. At about 12 he usually became buddies with the bartenders and never had a problem. I remember one cruise I saw him and a new friend he had made sitting in the Atrium bar. I went up to them and said, "What's up!" The bartender was giving them free drinks (non-alcoholic of course) because the kids were running errands for him. They had gotten him a burger from the lido deck, desserts from the buffet, etc.:eek: They were also getting a lot of free fruit smoothies from this guy when he was working at other places on the ship. Even though they are not free with the BB card. My kid always was and is a charmer. :)

Edited March 6, 2014 by mousey

[Carnival_Brides]

I've never had any issue in the dining room (usually a soda is waiting for me), but we have had issues with some of the bars. The show lounge is always slow for drinks regardless of how they're paid for.

[ETHS1965]

Never had a problem. Some of the bartenders would see me approaching and get my diet coke ready. Obviously, I tipped those persons extra towards the end of the cruise.

[christmas]

People, including children, that feel they are being ignored need to speak up. A simple, polite 'excuse me' should work. Sometimes there are so many people at the bar that I am sure the bartenders have no idea who was there first.

 

As for the waiters taking forever in the lounge, on the Lido, in the MDR etc, I have had that happen ordering alcoholic beverages. They get busy. It takes time to make all those drinks. Just because one person just ordered a coke, doesn't mean that the waiters don't have to wait for the bartender to make a lot of other drinks first.

 

That shouldn't need to happen! My son spoke up and nothing happened. When I got my husband involved he got service.

[Sarah@Sea]

I think I'll be more aware of kids at the bar, and do as I would do in any "line" like at the deli when they aren't using numbers......ask the others "have you been waited on?"...to make I'm next and not "cutting" in front of others. And bartenders shouldn't assume a kid isn't going to tip. FIRST of all 15% tip has already been added on to the BB package...and 2nd I know kids who tip, parents have given them some singles just for that purpose...but I wouldn't tip extra if I were being ignored!

[mousey]

Exactly, that's what we did with our DH and told him exactly what you said, "Don't tip them if you have to speak up for service." I've always made good manners a top priority with the DS. I've also made sure that he knew that, though he is a kid, he deserves respect and shouldn't take crap from anyone, including adults. I've must have done a good job because I've gotten tons of compliments over the years, from family, friends, and strangers about what great manners my DS has. I'm really proud of him.:D

 

No kid should have to be dissed by any waitperson under the presumption that they're not going to get a tip.:mad:

[JustCruiseMe]

My 14 yo nephew just off the Liberty had no problems getting soda.

[wannagonow123]

I had no trouble if we went to the bar, but the wait staff did roll their eyes numerous times, and yes, I do tip.

 

Worst part is we earned "Drinks on us", and were ignored also. I think out of the last 2 days, my husband got 3 free drinks total. ( I only drink soda, so the award was worthless, as I had BB)

[rdler]

Sigh. My son has always had trouble. It really irritates me. The bartenders usually know who is next, and my son is always respectful.

 

When I am at the bar (and I am frequently) and I see a kid there before me, I always make sure that kid is served before me.

[shipty2]

I have seen this happen too many times to count. Once while cruising with my diabetic nephew his blood sugar went low and he went to the bar to get a soda to raise it quickly . He had his card out where they could see it. He was the only one waiting to be served and it took so long that his mother ran to lido and got a juice and ran back before the bartender served him. We complained at guest services and they acted all shocked like no one had ever experienced this before.

[riclop]

Never had a problem and was never ignored.

[Ryancoke]

This is sad. Servers have to understand that youngsters are the paying cruisers of tomorrow and that nothing makes a young person feel more special than to be treated as an actual human being. No more, no less.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

They might take a long while to get to you if it's a busy bar at a busy time but they will almost always get to everyone sooner or later. It also kinda depends on how pushy you are with regards to how quickly you get helped - if you wait for them to come to you, it could take much longer than if you push your way up to the front. Sometimes they act a little perturbed if all you want is a bottomless soda but I have never not gotten served sooner or later. It's understandable also as they get nothing extra to pour a soda but get a commission from alcoholic beverages sold. Just go to a not so busy bar and there will be no problem. At least that's my experience.

[Disconnections]

They might take a long while to get to you if it's a busy bar at a busy time but they will almost always get to everyone sooner or later. It also kinda depends on how pushy you are with regards to how quickly you get helped - if you wait for them to come to you, it could take much longer than if you push your way up to the front. Sometimes they act a little perturbed if all you want is a bottomless soda but I have never not gotten served sooner or later. It's understandable also as they get nothing extra to pour a soda but get a commission from alcoholic beverages sold. Just go to a not so busy bar and there will be no problem. At least that's my experience.

 

They get a 15% gratuity upfront. Personally, I wouldn't care how busy the bar is. If I go there, I expect to be served in a timely manner. Since I have started cruising a different line, I have never waited more than two minutes from a waiter and never more than a minute at a bar.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

The best bars to get a bottomless soda are usually aft lido or the bar right outside the comedy lounge. The atrium bar is hit or miss as is the pool bar on most ships. When I go to the comedy shows I get a soda before going into the show and if I want an alcoholic drink I go and get it myself unless the server walks right past with a freshly made version of what I wanted. Yeah I have to walk 50 feet to get what I want :eek: but as long as I'm with someone at the show I won't lose my seat or miss any of the entertainment. Mdr beverage service is almost always good and quick in my experience, and I always take a little extra care of the bar guys at dinner. They usually remember what you want after the first night and always have your soft drink of choice waiting at the table when you arrive for dinner. Btw another decently quick bar to get a bottomless soda is at the promenade bar right next to the casino. They are usually pretty efficient and attentive.

[christmas]

They might take a long while to get to you if it's a busy bar at a busy time but they will almost always get to everyone sooner or later. It also kinda depends on how pushy you are with regards to how quickly you get helped - if you wait for them to come to you, it could take much longer than if you push your way up to the front. Sometimes they act a little perturbed if all you want is a bottomless soda but I have never not gotten served sooner or later. It's understandable also as they get nothing extra to pour a soda but get a commission from alcoholic beverages sold. Just go to a not so busy bar and there will be no problem. At least that's my experience.

 

Whether a bar is busy or not I expect do be served in a timely manner and I shouldn't have to tip to be served faster!

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

They get a 15% gratuity upfront. Personally, I wouldn't care how busy the bar is. If I go there, I expect to be served in a timely manner. Since I have started cruising a different line, I have never waited more than two minutes from a waiter and never more than a minute at a bar.

 

True but it's just human nature to take care of the people who will probably bring them more in tips first. It's totally wrong to not serve a younger person simply because they are young though. If that is a trend among certain bartenders it should be stopped immediately. I usually get service pretty quickly when going to a bar for a soda but I am understanding when I go to a crowded bar and don't get taken care of immediately also. Sometimes I just have to fight my way to the front to get faster service if I feel I'm getting ignored.

[Disconnections]

Whether a bar is busy or not I expect do be served in a timely manner and I shouldn't have to tip to be served faster!

 

Not to mention, you already tipped when purchasing the bottomless bubbles package.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

Whether a bar is busy or not I expect do be served in a timely manner and I shouldn't have to tip to be served faster!

 

I consider getting service within a few minutes to be acceptable during busy times. Longer than that and we're gonna have issues. I have actually left the bar and gone to another bar on the very rare occasion that I couldn't get service no matter what I tried to do to get their attention. But that's rare. Bottomless bubbles is actually one of the things carnival does well and should not change. And I am very vocal about my issues with a lot of what they have been doing lately. I almost never tip at a regular bar either as I save that for the mdr bar guys, who usually go well above and beyond in their jobs.