Lil2Angelic Posted May 7, 2016 #251 Share Posted May 7, 2016 They are eliminated them in the on the steakhouse as well. The Sunshine has had that way (in the Steakhouse) since she came over. Same for Breeze, it's nice! Did the Breeze with American Table and did not have any sliding plates. Sure alcohol was not a factor? Nope sorry..nice try though Jimmy! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailincajunns Posted May 7, 2016 #252 Share Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) I am one of those 'don't care' folks when it comes to this topic.............however............. a related but different topic regarding the MDR experience............. I'd be THRILLED to have the level of service and the choices and quality of the offerings that were 'normal' when we began cruising with Carnival. I know Carnival is the 'value brand' for Carnival Corp..........but since none of their other lines home-port OR visit our 'local' port in New Orleans.......... and airfare $$$$$, we lack those options. I'd take a 'fare hike' to restore the MDR to what it was, even 10 years ago. Just one man's opinion. It's American, I have a RIGHT to be wrong :cool: Edited May 7, 2016 by sailincajunns grammar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin Dave Posted May 7, 2016 #253 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I voted for table cloths. Why? If you go to a nice 3 & 4 course restaurant, you will find tablecloths. If you go to Del Friscos, you will find tablecloths. If you want the Denny's experience then don't have the tablecloths and let everyone wear shorts and tank tops. I want fine dinning and people dressed appropriately. It's not hard to at least wear a sport coat and a nice pair of slacks on elegant night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTravelista Posted May 7, 2016 #254 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Bring back the chocolates. You mean the fruit punch ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorncroft Posted May 7, 2016 #255 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I voted for table cloths. Why? If you go to a nice 3 & 4 course restaurant, you will find tablecloths. If you go to Del Friscos, you will find tablecloths. If you want the Denny's experience then don't have the tablecloths and let everyone wear shorts and tank tops. I want fine dinning and people dressed appropriately. It's not hard to at least wear a sport coat and a nice pair of slacks on elegant night. Too late for that. The Carnival demographic wants casual, and that's what they got. Next up, cafeteria style dining in the MDR. No more waiters; incredible savings. Can you say Golden Corral? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Kat Posted May 7, 2016 #256 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Have land-based restaurants had so much discussion amongst their customers when they've retired tablecloths? Do people stop going to those restaurants because there are no tablecloths anymore? Every nice restaurant we go to has tablecloths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil2Angelic Posted May 7, 2016 #257 Share Posted May 7, 2016 I find myself totally surprised that the "many" who think eating without tablecloths is unsanitary and unhealthy and that the washing of uncovered tables is akin to sloshing bacteria around ever, ever, ever eat in all the other food venues on Carnival. Tablecloths on the lido deck, never seen them; tablecloths at the out door venues, ain't happenin'; tablecloths at the bars, can't remember them. If someone is going to present an argument they need to think it out more thoroughly. If you only eat in the MDR with tablecloths you have a point, if you sit at a table with food (including your private patio) you have invalidated your own point. Better think of a better argument. Also, if plates aren't endlessly falling off the lido deck tables why are they suddenly swimming around the table in the MDR? It's more stable at the bottom of a ship then it is 8 decks up. We were in the MDR on deck 8 mid ship on the Inspiration..Fantasy class..but the sea was very calm for our entire cruise. It was definitely the tables and condensation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinHelloKitty Posted May 7, 2016 #258 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Somebody told me about this so I came back just to vote ! Too late the poll is now closed ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted May 7, 2016 #259 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Less things to wash. As a native of Southern California I'm happy to see that Carnival has reduced water usage by no longer using tablecloths on many of its ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakesregion Posted May 7, 2016 #260 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Hey, I'm on a cruise after all!!! WOOHOO!! Heading out tomorrow on a Free cruise - no dress code, no table clothes, just lots of fresh air, scenery and lots of down to earth folks having a great day. Come join me, the Staten Island Ferry has lots of room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted May 7, 2016 #261 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Too late for that. The Carnival demographic wants casual, and that's what they got. Next up, cafeteria style dining in the MDR. No more waiters; incredible savings. Can you say Golden Corral? Nope, but I can say bull. When and if you want to throw money on that, look me up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakesregion Posted May 7, 2016 #262 Share Posted May 7, 2016 After reading through many many posts of people who state they will put up with most any and everything lower in quality and service just for the ability to set foot on a cruise ship, I have to credit Carnival for being the bottom of the feeding chain of cruise lines. Not quite as low as that single ship that did the 3 day cruises out of FL somewhere but close. NCL used to be the bottom but they must have realized that once they had cut everything that could be cut, they had to slowly bring back a few nice things to fill the mega ships. So congratulations to the Carnival Marketing department you have a lock of the bottom of the market, hang on, but remember the Wal-Mart model requires huge volume to make a profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorncroft Posted May 7, 2016 #263 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Nope, but I can say bull. When and if you want to throw money on that, look me up We'll gather back here in 5-10 and see what shook out. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted May 7, 2016 #264 Share Posted May 7, 2016 We'll gather back here in 5-10 and see what shook out. ;) That could work, or sail on a Carnival ship and experience it and compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
declansdad Posted May 7, 2016 #265 Share Posted May 7, 2016 One more vote for "yes" here. On our last cruise, I inadvertently bumped my plate. Not even super hard. It was like the plate turned into a hockey puck, loudly sliding into and hitting another plate..."CLANG"!..That plate in turn started to careen off the table:eek:. Luckily, my husband quickly reacted and caught it before it fell to the floor :D..Great save Babe! The new tables are without a doubt quite slippery. The plates were moving on the table very easily even with calm seas, so we were frequently readjusting them. I can only imagine what it would be like if the seas were rough. IMHO the MDR has been downgraded. Trying to cut a food item on your plate and hold the plate steady at the same time is not "fun". It's annoying! I can only speak of our experience. Maybe these "other restaurants" that members here are speaking of don't have slippery table tops that could be likened to the surface of bowling lanes. Carnival is quickly going forward with the reputation of being the "Casual Cruise Line", which isn't necessary bad if that's the experience they wish to market and the demographic they are targeting has no problem with the cutbacks. As guests we just have to decide what's preferable to us. We can vote with our voices and our dollars. That being said, I don't see Carnival bringing back the nightly tablecloths. After looking at some pics of the Vista, it looks as though the steakhouse tables didn't have tablecloths either...someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Do you think Carnival is also going to do away with the nightly tablecloths in the steakhouses on all the ships? My thought on this is..yes..if the demographics allow it then they will. You must have been seated at the greased lightning table. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted May 7, 2016 #266 Share Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) After reading through many many posts of people who state they will put up with most any and everything lower in quality and service just for the ability to set foot on a cruise ship, I have to credit Carnival for being the bottom of the feeding chain of cruise lines. Not quite as low as that single ship that did the 3 day cruises out of FL somewhere but close. NCL used to be the bottom but they must have realized that once they had cut everything that could be cut, they had to slowly bring back a few nice things to fill the mega ships. So congratulations to the Carnival Marketing department you have a lock of the bottom of the market, hang on, but remember the Wal-Mart model requires huge volume to make a profit. Lol, now there you go bottom of the barrel and Walmart in one post. You might want to check some of the "facts" but why bring reality into it. You are a funny guy Edited May 7, 2016 by jimbo5544 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil2Angelic Posted May 7, 2016 #267 Share Posted May 7, 2016 You must have been seated at the greased lightning table. :rolleyes: I'm sorry, could you elaborate? I don't get what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakesregion Posted May 7, 2016 #268 Share Posted May 7, 2016 We'll gather back here in 5-10 and see what shook out. ;) Doubt it will take that long. I am betting two - three at most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretzellover Posted May 7, 2016 #269 Share Posted May 7, 2016 There is a whole atmosphere that has changed. It is not just about table cloths. On elegant night I do not want to see yoga pants and bath robes. Any other night I don't care. It's also about behavior. Tired of curse wars over lounge chairs and line jumping. Nobody is privileged. Nobody's kids are better than others. Cruising will be better when people stop thinking rules don't apply to them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorncroft Posted May 7, 2016 #270 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Less things to wash. As a native of Southern California I'm happy to see that Carnival has reduced water usage by no longer using tablecloths on many of its ships. It's good that Carnival doesn't have to rely on rainfall and a melting snow pack for their water supply. They just make their own as they go. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachChik Posted May 7, 2016 #271 Share Posted May 7, 2016 After reading through many many posts of people who state they will put up with most any and everything lower in quality and service just for the ability to set foot on a cruise ship, I have to credit Carnival for being the bottom of the feeding chain of cruise lines. Not quite as low as that single ship that did the 3 day cruises out of FL somewhere but close. NCL used to be the bottom but they must have realized that once they had cut everything that could be cut, they had to slowly bring back a few nice things to fill the mega ships. So congratulations to the Carnival Marketing department you have a lock of the bottom of the market, hang on, but remember the Wal-Mart model requires huge volume to make a profit. You know instead of being saracastic and condescending maybe understand that ,for some people, they prefer simplicity. It's ok for some to prefer a more upscale environment just as it is ok for some to prefer a more casual environment. I spent 15k to go on vacation to Tahiti one year. One of the most popular restaurants encouraged you to take off your shoes. And staying in a hotel where the room was almost $800 a night, not a single onsite restaurant had tablecloths. All were extremely casual. Point being that just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's fancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted May 7, 2016 #272 Share Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) You know instead of being saracastic and condescending maybe understand that ,for some people, they prefer simplicity. It's ok for some to prefer a more upscale environment just as it is ok for some to prefer a more casual environment. I spent 15k to go on vacation to Tahiti one year. One of the most popular restaurants encouraged you to take off your shoes. And staying in a hotel where the room was almost $800 a night, not a single onsite restaurant had tablecloths. All were extremely casual. Point being that just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's fancy. This poster likes Cunard as their line of choice, nuff said. Edited May 7, 2016 by jimbo5544 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted May 7, 2016 #273 Share Posted May 7, 2016 There is a whole atmosphere that has changed. It is not just about table cloths. On elegant night I do not want to see yoga pants and bath robes. Any other night I don't care. It's also about behavior. Tired of curse wars over lounge chairs and line jumping. Nobody is privileged. Nobody's kids are better than others. Cruising will be better when people stop thinking rules don't apply to them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Interesting. I don't really care what people wear. I am approving of comfortable clothes and letting people vacation how they like. I see zero reason to participate in formal evening where waiters dress in costumes during servivce and dance to gangnam style. Tacky and reduces the quality of service. Why do I need to dress up in formal wear on a short cruise where they replaced lobster with ravioli? But I like the table cloths because they appear neater to me. And that is pleasing. They also do slightly dampen noise. That is pleasing to me. And as some pointed out they provide traction for dishware in pitching see. So that is practical which I also find pleasing. I also believe fresh laundered tablecloths are cleaner than a table that may or may not have been sanitized properly. So to me tablecloths and formal wear are completely mutually exclusive. Maybe if they had placemats that provided grip I would be agreeable to that. Sent from my B1-730HD using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachChik Posted May 7, 2016 #274 Share Posted May 7, 2016 This poster likes Cunard as their line of choice, nuff said. Good point. It appears based on their posting history that they go from board to board telling people how to dress and behave. They also said children should be seen and not heard and only speak when spoken to. :rolleyes: I'll take "bottom of the barrel" carnival over a ship that has people on it with that attitude any day of the week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jimbo5544 Posted May 7, 2016 #275 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Good point. It appears based on their posting history that they go from board to board telling people how to dress and behave. They also said children should be seen and not heard and only speak when spoken to. :rolleyes: I'll take "bottom of the barrel" carnival over a ship that has people on it with that attitude any day of the week. Amen, or book the rooms around them with my grandkids. That would be entertaining to watch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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