No Dining Room Lunch for Embarkation?

[hawkeyetlse]

If the cruise line does not want to offer a sit down lunch, that is their choice. But if they are going to offer it, then lying about not having one is unconscionable. If I were CEO for a day, I would fire every employee who lied to passengers about having an MDR lunch available on the first day.

What a bizarre fantasy. Please don't take it out on the employees (even in your imagination). I'm pretty sure they're just following instructions.

[BEAV]

We boarded the Star on Nov 14 along with friends who were on board for the BVE program. We were sent to Portofino Dining Room for lunch. The staff at the entrance asked if we were BVE as we arrived, and we were escorted to a table.

 

My guess is that Princess intends to only open the dining room for the BVE program. But having said that, they didn't ask for PROOF that we were on BVE, but rather just asked as we approached the podium. I have a feeling throwing the BVE term around at the proper place and time will probably land you a table for lunch. ;)

Edited November 27, 2014 by BEAV

[critterchick]

On our Golden cruises, lunch in the DR has been advertised in the Patter. Sometimes ships go rogue - I would hope that people mention the lie on their comment cards - I don't know how else it would be corrected.

[cvpends]

We boarded the Star on Nov 14 along with friends who were on board for the BVE program. We were sent to Portofino Dining Room for lunch. The staff at the entrance asked if we were BVE as we arrived, and we were escorted to a table.

 

My guess is that Princess intends to only open the dining room for the BVE program. But having said that, they didn't ask for PROOF that we were on BVE, but rather just asked as we approached the podium. I have a feeling throwing the BVE term around at the proper place and time will probably land you a table for lunch. ;)

 

 

As far as I can tell, it is only Star that is being difficult about offering first-day MDR lunches. It is advertised in the Patter and freely offered on other ships.

[caribill]

Which dining room is it on the Emerald?

 

DaVinci, mid-ship deck 6.

 

And it was listed in the Patter when we embarked a couple of weeks ago.

 

I think about 50 people ended up eating there that day.

[Nancyquilts]

On the Star on November 14 th there was a woman outside the dining room to tell us that it was only for a special party. We said that we always enjoyed the embarkation lunch in the dining room, she checked with the headwater, and he let us in. There were less than 20 passengers on our side of the room. I asked him several days later if this was going to be a problem, and he said that it had been a mistake and shouldn't happen again.

[cvpends]

On the Star on November 14 th there was a woman outside the dining room to tell us that it was only for a special party. We said that we always enjoyed the embarkation lunch in the dining room, she checked with the headwater, and he let us in. There were less than 20 passengers on our side of the room. I asked him several days later if this was going to be a problem, and he said that it had been a mistake and shouldn't happen again.

 

 

Star is still the only ship on which I have had this problem .

[dfields1814]

We just given up trying. Last time we tried was out of LA the MDR was closed due to a cooperate Christmas party in that location.

[dchip]

On the Star on November 14 th there was a woman outside the dining room to tell us that it was only for a special party. We said that we always enjoyed the embarkation lunch in the dining room, she checked with the headwater, and he let us in. There were less than 20 passengers on our side of the room. I asked him several days later if this was going to be a problem, and he said that it had been a mistake and shouldn't happen again.

 

We had the exact situation on October 1, 2014 on the Star. This is NOT a one time situation. I said exactly what you did and we were allowed to enter. We were "in transit" on October 11 and the same thing happened to other passengers attempting to have lunch. Both times there were less than 25 people in the MDR. Also, there is no mention in the Patter of lunch in the MDR.

 

This isn't the usual go to the Horizon Court. This is a person stationed outside closed doors letting you know dining is only for BVE and " in transit" passengers.

 

Cheers, Denise

[cflutist]

We had the exact situation on October 1, 2014 on the Star. This is NOT a one time situation. I said exactly what you did and we were allowed to enter. We were "in transit" on October 11 and the same thing happened to other passengers attempting to have lunch. Both times there were less than 25 people in the MDR. Also, there is no mention in the Patter of lunch in the MDR.

 

This isn't the usual go to the Horizon Court. This is a person stationed outside closed doors letting you know dining is only for BVE and " in transit" passengers.

 

Cheers, Denise

 

I was pretty upset about this since the Star Princess didn't seem to be following what was printed in the Cruise Answer Book, nor what the rest of the fleet was doing. I wasn't getting anywhere with Customer Relations so I emailed Alan Buckelew, President & CEO of Princess:

 

This was the response from Customer Relations after that email was passed down to them:

 

Dear Mrs. xxxxxxxx,

 

As we discussed I have heard back from the Star Princess Maitre' d and front desk supervisor regarding the possibility of lunch in the main dining room on embarkation day. Both advised me that indeed it is offered in Portofino's and Horizon Court. Guests are more than welcome to join them, although availability may be limited as they only open one dining room due to the busy embarkation day.

 

Front desk supervisor Edgar Dominguez asked that I send him your name and booking number so he will know to expect you.

So who knows, I'm taking this email with me when I sail in January 2015.

 

Edited December 10, 2014 by cflutist

[LewesBeach]

I was on the star in May as well, and we most definitely had lunch in the dining room. It was not advertised but we walked in and got seated approx noon. They did close the doors promptly at 1:30.