Crew dining and drinking in uniform

[mith]

The Fitness, Spa, and Children care staff can be found eating in a quiet corner of the Horizon court or at a table by the pool in the evening. It does not bother me.

[pablo222]

Guess how long a crew member let alone an officer would last if found on duty with alchohol smell on them?

 

I know two crew members who were terminated for failing a breathalizer,

and they never went anywhere near the bridge.

 

One was after an overnight in St. Petersburg.

 

One waiter explained to me -- when you're young you go

out all night, and then come back to the ship to serve breakfast.

[blueseas4me2]

This is simply my opinion. Americans have more hangups about drinking than other places do. I'm a Christian and many of my church friends are appalled that some Christians have a glass of wine or a beer. Meanwhile, go to Europe and everyone has a beer or some wine-- even kids! We need to relax and stop being so flippen uptight every time someone has a drink.

 

Again...this is just my opinion.

Edited March 24, 2016 by blueseas4me2

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Watching Princess just now on TV one of the things employee of the month gets

 

is a diner.

 

Anyway do captains drink or other senior officers yes, but very little, but next time I have breakfast, lunch or diner with one I will ask them to cover up their whites.

 

yours Shogun

[windsurferfirst]

Please don't generalize for all Americans if u mean U.S., poster is from Canada. I looked for that first. However, I am smiling seeing u are from Texas, Im from Politically Correct CA.

 

Actually crew does if u want to call the casino workers crew, they eat at the international Cafe so do other late night shift employees. I've seen it first hand.

 

I live in Canada but I am British.

[Melcoug]

A couple years ago I was in Vines while the Captain was there with his girlfriend. It didn't occur to me to pay attention if he was having a glass or if it was just his girlfriend. We were in open ocean and he wasn't on the bridge, so why not?

 

The US Navy does carry beer on board. After being at sea for 45 continuous days and with more than 5 days left before coming into port, each sailor 21 years and old receives 2 beers. It's called a Beer Day.

[EightFurryPaws]

I've seen the Cruise Director late in the evening having a drink with the Casino Manager at the Casino Bar.

 

I say good for him, everyone needs to take a break, and at least he won't be

drinking and driving!

[windsurferfirst]

Ok, Ok, Ok. I am waving a white flag.:eek: My intentions were never to suggest they shouldn't eat with passengers, I was happy to see them there. This was my first cruise so I did know it was the norm.

 

I am a Brit living in Canada I am in no way prudish about alcohol believe me.

 

Perhaps its time to move on and forget I mentioned it.:)

 

 

 

 

I think the OP is concerned about the image that is presented when officers are seen drinking in the guest areas wearing the company's uniform.

 

 

This is exactly it.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Put it another way, only by crew eating and drinking with passengers will they

 

understand what we get, only by mixing with passengers informally will they get

 

true feed back on the passenger experience,

 

was once drinking with a ships Captain who was travelling as a passenger,

 

he got a massive shock when he went and signed for drinks did not know actual costs of various drinks, but then again no reason why he should.

 

yours Shogun

[ggprincess2004]

Ok, Ok, Ok. I am waving a white flag.:eek: My intentions were never to suggest they shouldn't eat with passengers, I was happy to see them there. This was my first cruise so I did know it was the norm.

 

I am a Brit living in Canada I am in no way prudish about alcohol believe me.

 

Perhaps its time to move on and forget I mentioned it.:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is exactly it.

 

OK, now that you surrender, peace is declared. I wish you many more cruises, and hope you have the pleasure of having a drink and conversation with an officer from time to time. We've enjoyed cruises where the CD and Captain's Circle Hostess made a point to be in the E,S,P lounge each evening chatting with passengers (not bridge officers but officers none the less), been asked to dine with a bridge officer - wine was served, and of course, wine is poured quite freely at the MTP luncheon/and or cocktail party, where a whole lot of officers are present. So it really isn't remarkable.

 

Sobriety on the bridge of course, but these folks have some great tales to tell, so do not hesitate when you have the opportunity to have a chat and a drink.

[Vexorg]

I rarely visit the specialty restaurants while aboard, but in my experience it's quite common to see various staff members (bridge crew, cruise director's staff, entertainers, etc.) in the Horizon Court, especially if you go later in the evening.

[cruisequeen4ever]

I think I the OP is concerned about that the people who hold our safety in their hands drinking while they appear to be linked to work, in their uniforms. It's viable since the Costa Concordia captain was drinking in a specialty restaurant when the incident began. I do believe princess requires staff and crew to be in uniform when in pax areas. To me, as long as it's not during or right before their shift, it's their business what they do in their off time.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi All

 

Put it another way, only by crew eating and drinking with passengers will they

 

understand what we get, only by mixing with passengers informally will they get

 

true feed back on the passenger experience,

 

was once drinking with a ships Captain who was travelling as a passenger,

 

he got a massive shock when he went and signed for drinks did not know actual costs of various drinks, but then again no reason why he should.

 

yours Shogun

 

What?

The OP never mentioned crew eating with passengers. :confused::confused:

[Shogun]

Hi colo,

 

OP said they were in Crown Grill, to me there is a big difference between crew having a drink with a meal, and standing at a bar downing drinks.

 

yours Shogun

[SteveH2508]

<snip>

The US Navy doesn't allow liquor onboard their ships but I'm pretty sure the Brits aren't so uptight about it. Princess definitely allows liquor onboard their vessels (:rolleyes:) and I don't see any reason they should restrict their officers (or crew) from having a drink when off duty.

 

Considering Britannia ruled the waves for a couple of hundred years, fuelled by a daily rum issue (grog) and 'gunfire' (tea laced with rum), I would say we were 'relaxed' about it:D. The daily rum issue was stopped in the 1970s IIRC - however I have had rum issued during foul weather in the British Army after that:D:D.

 

Would you go up against the Bismarck in a destroyer unless you were a bit squiffy?:eek:

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi colo,

 

OP said they were in Crown Grill, to me there is a big difference between crew having a drink with a meal, and standing at a bar downing drinks.

 

yours Shogun

 

 

Are you reading a different version then I am??

Who said they were at the bar downing drinks?

[smslms]

We were on the Regal in February in the Crown Grill having dinner. A couple of groups of crew all dressed in their whites came. They ordered dinner wine and other drinks. As I was eating I got to thinking about it and thought is it right that crew who must of been off duty as they were drinking, should wear their uniform while drinking. I wondered what Princess's stance was on this and what sort of impression it gave the passengers. Princess must think it's OK or the crew wouldn't do it.

 

It still kinda niggles me. I wonder what you you guys think about it.

 

I grew up in he business community in the good old days before everyone and everything had to be politically correct.

 

There were a lot of deals consummated over a meal and a few drinks. At the time I was wearing my uniform, it was called a business suit.

 

We've seen senior officers dining and having a drink in the specialty restaurants on virtually every ship and cruise line on which we have sailed. Can't even begin to imagine why one would be offended.

[Cruisin' Chick]

If they were in whites, they were probably officers - not crew. Crew are not allowed to eat in passenger spaces.

 

Officers may be required to be in uniform when they are in passenger spaces.

 

Europeans are not as uptight about drinking as Americans. Wine with meals is standard. I would not expect to see the bridge officers drinking immediately prior to going on duty, but other officers would be allowed to have a drink with their meals.

 

A couple of cruises ago on New Years Eve, the captain, some other officers, and spouses were seated at the next table from us at dinner. Of course they were in their uniforms as that's standard. I didn't check to see what they were eating or drinking, but I wouldn't have been disturbed by it. The officers usually are on 8-hour shifts, BTW.

 

We've seen crew members such as the kids' program staff in the Horizon Court.

[OzKiwiJJ]

"A meal without wine is like a day without sun" - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

[GUT2407]

I don't see what the issue is.

[Tripper10]

What the crew does is thier business. You don't know if they are off the next morning or what have you. They live there, surely they are allowed to eat and drink at appropriate times.

[caribill]

Guess how long a crew member let alone an officer would last if found on duty with alchohol smell on them? Most Captains would not hesitate to immediately remove the offender from duty and at the next port from his ship. They were obviously off duty and their position allowed eating and drinkng with the passengers. No problem what so ever. If the OP was so worried about it hey should have filed a complaint with the passenger services desk. Not here

 

But what about the Captain whose position means he could be called to the Bridge anytime?

 

Would you be worried if you saw him having a cocktail or two?

[movc]

There are three main ranks each with their own messes and rules for access to passenger dining areas. Officers (anyone with stripes, dept managers, pursers, cruise staff) can eat at specialty restaurants. Staff (youth staff, spa, dancers, musicians, photographers, casino) and officers are allowed in the buffet at non-peak times. Crew (waiters, stewards, cooks, everyone else) are not allowed to eat in any passenger area. Staff and officers eating in passenger areas need to be in uniform and not take away seats from passengers.

 

European officers tend to have wine with their meals which is their culture. The blood alcohol limit rule is in place because every crew member is assigned an emergency duty though enforcement will depend on the situation.

Edited March 25, 2016 by movc

[Gwendy]

I don't see what the issue is.

 

Me either.

[Costascruise]

I think the issue that concerned the OP, and me come to that, is that when one sees a crew member in uniform on the ship, wherever they may be, it is natural to presume that they are on duty and working.

Many places of work where employees wear uniforms, ask that they cover up or change out of uniform if they are in the workplace whilst off duty. For example, in Asda, colleagues have to cover up their uniform when in the store when they are off duty so it is very clear to customers that they are not at work.

Therefore, to see ships crew, especially those in white uniforms which always appear to denote responsibility, drinking alcohol and seeming to be on duty because they are in uniform, would quite rightly raise alarm.

I don't think the original poster was suggesting that the crew should be denied a lovely meal and a drink to go with it. But I agree with them, that when a Princess Crew member is in uniform, in a passenger area, it is very natural to presume that they are at work. That means our safety, indeed our lives are in their hands. I would not like to see them drinking alcohol whilst at work. And if they are in uniform, it's impossible for a passenger to know if they are at work or not.