Rude people at International Cafe. Help us Princess!

[Loreni]

I think Princess should line up all the thermoses and blow them up. Problem solved.. No more cheap selfish people drinking items that weren't purchased and sitting in the entitled persons seat.

 

It always amazes me how impacted people are by others actions when they are just going about their day minding their own business. I think you have described the wrong individuals as selfish. Look deep.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Let me know what you think would happen, if everyone brought thermoses to the cafe? Would we still have a cafe?

[OzKiwiJJ]

Not too far from the IC is the Wheelhouse Lounge. You can go there and sit where it is quiet. There's tables close by the window on the Promenade deck in front of the Wheelhouse Lounge. Or, you can head to the aft of the ship on Deck 7 and find all kinds of seating there. I've never been hard pressed to find some place to sit, you just have to know where to look. Ports days are better than sea days in finding a place to sit. However, on port days people are coming back on board and are starved. So,they'll head to the closest venue which is the IC for a quick snack. Patience grasshopper.

 

So those people who want their quick snack should line up to get it, then carry their food and a drink up two decks and along past the Explorers Bar to the Wheelhouse Bar, which is what you would have to do on Golden? :rolleyes:

 

Again, you are missing the point. All I am saying is that the tables surrounding the IC should be used for those wanting drinks and snacks, not for other leisure activities that can be carried out in places like the Wheelhouse Bar.

 

Unlike those people, we are considerate and when fortunate enough to obtain a table to enjoy our coffee we do move on elsewhere once we are finished.

Edited July 7, 2016 by OzKiwiJJ

[Reader0108598]

So if they do not see your bad knees how are they to know you have them. As the insulting continues by calling people campers, hoggers and other names it just goes to show how inconsiderate othets are. To bad they can not be as considerate to othets as they demand othets benro rhem. Apparently they think their fares entitle them to something that others must, I repeat must, give rhem. And that is where the problem is and they are wrong according to the provider. Time to get over it.

 

Exactly the people name calling is uncalled for.

 

Play nice!!

 

Good night all ,morning comes early, and so does work:(

 

Reader

[riclop]

I like to have tea or coffee at the IC and I am more than willing to try the for-a-fee Norman Love treats. But I need a place to sit. On my last cruise many people camped out for hours between breakfast and lunch at the IC (I mean specifically at the IC tables) even when many people were milling around with their coffees and food looking for a place to sit.

 

And what were these "campers" doing? Playing cards. For hours. Continued this obnoxious behavior for 28 days. Did they even order one cup of coffee? No. Maybe they think they are sticking it to Princess by having access to the entertainment in the piazza without paying a dime. Some had even brought thermoses with them. They are also hurting their fellow cruisers. Princess had opened up the beautiful Crown Grill as a game room. Why didn't they go there? No free entertainment, I guess.

 

I am willing to pay for quality coffee and tea and treats, but I won't eat them standing. So I sat right next to one of the campers who was on the padded bench across from her husband seated in a chair. I came very close to simply putting my coffee and plate on the edge of their "card table," but didn't want to start the first day of a long cruise this way. Princess needs a hostess to seat people here, I think. Or get rid of the entertainment. It is obviously intended to reward patrons of the IC, but this is not what is happening. Instead, due to rude selfish people, it is driving people who are willing to pay away from the venue.

They do this all the time and it's beyond me how people pay a good dollar to sit on a ship a play cards all day long.

[moki'smommy]

PLEASE do not ever make assumptions about someone's physical abilities or disabilities. My 25 year old has a progressive, degenerative disease. She had to drop out of grad school as she physically couldn't handle it, despite all "honors" as her grades. She cruises with me--it is a great way to see part of the world while minimizing the hassles of travel. But to look at her, you wouldn't see her issues....mostly because you don't know what you are seeing, but in part because she is doing everything possible to minimize what you see.

 

You won't see the leg braces under her pants...and she will rarely wear anything else because she isn't ready to "go public" with her "bionics." You won't see the shoulder dislocations, the chronic pain, the neck instability, etc. You won't see the very poor balance.

 

MOST people are lovely and helpful. But there have been some...the wheelchair pusher at JFK who remarked "I'm twice your age. Why do I have to push you?" She's been told that she needs to stand in a bus "Because I'm older than you are." Most of the time we take those as teachable moments and explain her issues, but.....

 

No, she is no more entitled to a seat somewhere than anyone else. But she is no less entitled to a seat either.

 

Hidden disabilities abound--heart or lung issues, bad knees, ankles, and many others. As long as one is healthy enough to travel, it is no one's place to make judgements or assumptions.

[Reader0108598]

I hear you! DH has massive blood clots on his lungs. He's been out of the hospital for a week now and feeling much better. BUT, where did they come from? I got him walking a mile day and he's improving each day. I do feel for you, and you should not give up your seat just because someone else wants your seat....because they believe that they are entitled to it. He had a knee replaced also, so I fully understand. I'll send good thoughts your way. Elliaire

 

Oh Elliair!!!

 

Hugs to you and your husband :( Blood clots scary as hell!

 

My 36 year old (son) gym rat, state trooper, has factor five, clotting disorder :( :(

My last Mother's day gift, was he promised to see a vein specialist :(

 

 

Keeping you in my thoughts!

 

Reader

Edited July 7, 2016 by Reader0108598

[mek]

I don't expect able-bodied people who are also enjoying coffee etc to move for me. I have never said that.

 

What I, and others like the OP, are objecting to are people who hog table space, in an area used primarily as a cafe, when those people do not need those tables for coffee etc. In other words, people who are using cafe tables as a lounge.

 

Also on some ships there aren't a lot of somewhere elses to go to, especially when carrying a full cup of coffee. And please don't suggest getting takeway coffee. The reason I go to the IC for coffee is so I can drink it out of a decent cup/glass, not out of a cardboard container.[/quote

 

 

 

All I can say is life isn't always fair. Personally, I thank my blessings that I can travel frequently and despite my knee and hip issues, I enjoy good health and really don't have any problems in my life. Finding a seat in the IC seems pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Edited July 7, 2016 by mek

[Reader0108598]

PLEASE do not ever make assumptions about someone's physical abilities or disabilities. My 25 year old has a progressive' date=' degenerative disease. She had to drop out of grad school as she physically couldn't handle it, despite all "honors" as her grades. She cruises with me--it is a great way to see part of the world while minimizing the hassles of travel. But to look at her, you wouldn't see her issues....mostly because you don't know what you are seeing, but in part because she is doing everything possible to minimize what you see.

 

You won't see the leg braces under her pants...and she will rarely wear anything else because she isn't ready to "go public" with her "bionics." You won't see the shoulder dislocations, the chronic pain, the neck instability, etc. You won't see the very poor balance.

 

MOST people are lovely and helpful. But there have been some...the wheelchair pusher at JFK who remarked "I'm twice your age. Why do I have to push you?" She's been told that she needs to stand in a bus "Because I'm older than you are." Most of the time we take those as teachable moments and explain her issues, but.....

 

No, she is no more entitled to a seat somewhere than anyone else. But she is no less entitled to a seat either.

 

Hidden disabilities abound--heart or lung issues, bad knees, ankles, and many others. As long as one is healthy enough to travel, it is no one's place to make judgements or assumptions.[/quote']

 

 

Soo Well said! :)

[broberts]

So those people who want their quick snack should line up to get it, then carry their food and a drink up two decks and along past the Explorers Bar to the Wheelhouse Bar, which is what you would have to do on Golden? :rolleyes:

 

Again, you are missing the point. All I am saying is that the tables surrounding the IC should be used for those wanting drinks and snacks, not for other leisure activities that can be carried out in places like the Wheelhouse Bar.

 

Unlike those people, we are considerate and when fortunate enough to obtain a table to enjoy our coffee we do move on elsewhere once we are finished.

 

So where should people go who want to spend an hour or two over some coffee and perhaps some pastries or sandwiches? Is there a special place for them or does everyone have to snarf and run?

 

Why is it inconsiderate of people to savor their drinks and company?

[RDC1]

So those people who want their quick snack should line up to get it, then carry their food and a drink up two decks and along past the Explorers Bar to the Wheelhouse Bar, which is what you would have to do on Golden? :rolleyes:

 

Again, you are missing the point. All I am saying is that the tables surrounding the IC should be used for those wanting drinks and snacks, not for other leisure activities that can be carried out in places like the Wheelhouse Bar.

 

Unlike those people, we are considerate and when fortunate enough to obtain a table to enjoy our coffee we do move on elsewhere once we are finished.

 

Except quite often the entertainment is in the piazza, not in the wheelhouse.

[Cruise2End]

The OP also assumed that passengers with their own thermos have not purchased anything. I am a coffee lover, so I bring my own stainless steel thermos and purchase or use a coffee card to obtain coffees and the staff puts the drink in my thermos. It's not a good idea to assume they have not purchased their drink just because they're using a personal thermos...just saying...

[OzKiwiJJ]

So if they do not see your bad knees how are they to know you have them. As the insulting continues by calling people campers, hoggers and other names it just goes to show how inconsiderate othets are. To bad they can not be as considerate to othets as they demand othets benro rhem. Apparently they think their fares entitle them to something that others must, I repeat must, give rhem. And that is where the problem is and they are wrong according to the provider. Time to get over it.

 

And perhaps you should read other people's posts more carefully before making such comments. You seem to think that because someone has expressed a wish that they would like to be able to have a table to sit down at for a short while enjoying a coffee that they are demanding other people MUST move for them.

 

There is a problem on some ships where tables in the IC are being commandeered for long periods of time by people who are obviously not using the cafe and, are therefore, blocking those tables from being used by other passengers who would use them in a more considerate manner.

 

Incidentally the term "hog" is commonly used on this forum to describe people who unfairly block others from being able to use certain facilities of the ship, usually sunloungers or theatre seats, and I see no difference with people who use cafe tables for lengthy periods of time when there are other places around the ship that they could sit.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Except quite often the entertainment is in the piazza, not in the wheelhouse.

 

Um, if they're playing cards, they aren't going to be taking any notice of the entertainment. :confused: :confused: :rolleyes:

[iceleven]

I think it is. IMO of course.

 

I agree with you. People sometimes chose to have a light lunch, sometimes including a bowl of soup (IC offers hot soups, as well). Not sure how one is expected to eat a hot bowl of soup, a salad, and a hot beverage while standing.

[Loreni]

The OP also assumed that passengers with their own thermos have not purchased anything. I am a coffee lover, so I bring my own stainless steel thermos and purchase or use a coffee card to obtain coffees and the staff puts the drink in my thermos. It's not a good idea to assume they have not purchased their drink just because they're using a personal thermos...just saying...

 

Valid point. I myself carry water to the promenade. But do you bring your thermos to the cafe and also bring cards and also stay for hours at a time? The only way the IC really works out well for everyone, is if people don't camp out there for hours and hours at a time whether or not they buy a cup of something.

 

One way to help the situation would be to have the IC waiters stop turning over their tips. My understanding is that they don't get to keep their tips. If they did, they would make things a bit less comfortable for the campers, I think. It would be a pretty cold-hearted person who would play cards for hours while denying the waiters a chance to earn their livings. Princess would gain revenue. And many more paying passengers would have an opportunity to enjoy the cafe. A few selfish card-players would need to move to the lovely Crown Grill. They could return to the Piazza to view the entertainment, they might need to stand, but they were OK making others stand, so this is not a bad thing.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Loreni

[OzKiwiJJ]

Just out of curiosity I checked back through the patters from my Golden cruise.

 

We had 12 sea days. Musical entertainment in the Piazza on those days never started until noon at the earliest.

 

However on seven of those days there were events in the Piazza in the morning such as: Giant Jenga Challenge, 60 Second Frenzy, Giant Four in a Row, Fruit and Vegetable Carving Demonstration, Norman Love Chocolate Demonstration, and Martini Demonstration.

 

I would happily lay a bet that none of those people playing cards, or reading or knitting over by the windows close to the IC (marked Lobby Bar on the current deck plan), would take any interest in any of these events, especially as the demonstrations would not have been visible from where they were sitting.

[Brisbane41]

Perhaps you should "accidentally" take a tumble and spill your coffee on these people forcing them to retreat to their cabin!

 

 

Seriously I have noticed this extremely disturbing and mentally unstable behaviour. I kid you not. Passengers are up at 4am reserving seats at the international cafe on ships and they are playing tag teams with their partners. I know this because I am into photography and decided to do a photography session inside the ships public rooms when no passengers were around. I got myself up early on a part morning and noticed that these passengers were reserving seats from 4am. I wonder what kind of life it is for them just to spend the entire cruise sitting at the international cafe.

[Loreni]

Um, if they're playing cards, they aren't going to be taking any notice of the entertainment. :confused: :confused: :rolleyes:

 

Who knows, maybe they can multi-task. Or maybe not, they do seem pretty oblivious to all the people who can't find a table.

[OzKiwiJJ]

All I can say is life isn't always fair. Personally, I thank my blessings that I can travel frequently and despite my knee and hip issues, I enjoy good health and really don't have any problems in my life. Finding a seat in the IC seems pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

 

Very true, however when the rest of the cruise experience is near perfect it's the silly little things like this that niggle.

 

In my local shopping centre if one cafe is full, I just go to another. You can't do that on a ship when there is only one cafe, and that's when the niggle becomes an issue worth discussing. :(

Edited July 7, 2016 by OzKiwiJJ

[rvmike]

We where having lunch in the buffet and 4 lady's came to our table and told us we had to leave because that is where they play cards in the afternoon. Just ignored them and they left in a huff!!

[CZEE]

Very true, however when the rest of the cruise experience is near perfect it's the silly little things like this that niggle.

 

In my local shopping centre if one cafe is full, I just go to another. You can't do that on a ship when there is only one cafe, and that's when the niggle becomes an issue worth discussing. :(

 

I've given up on the IC. I like to get some food with my coffee served in proper cup, not a to go cup. But on the last cruises, I've never been able to sit down at the IC. So, I grab a to go coffee and head for someplace else and take what I can in my hand. It's a shame. The same people always seemed to be in the same seats every day. So, it's not a fluke that they're there. We also gave up on the shows when people were saving seats and we had to stand. I might be more proactive on our next cruises at the shows. Not sure what to do at the IC other than ignore it.

[mek]

On our RCI cruise last month, we asked a couple who was seated by the window in the Windjammer at breakfast if anyone was sitting in the vacant seats(4 empty seats.) They responded that the seats were vacant but we couldn't sit there because it would block their view. The place was packed so we just told them, "sorry" and sat down. They got up in a huff.

[moki'smommy]

We where having lunch in the buffet and 4 lady's came to our table and told us we had to leave because that is where they play cards in the afternoon. Just ignored them and they left in a huff!!

 

That sort of people are not even worth dealing with. I'm one of those snitty people who would have replied with something like, "I didn't see a 'reserved' sign on the table," and maintained my seat.

[myfuzzy]

WOW, some hostility and some humor.....

 

The OP has a valid point, as others have pointed out the same issues.

 

I, myself, have often wanted to partake food and drink from the IC, but the lack of seating, has deterred me.

 

I carry a cane for support, just in case, one time I did get a plate of salad and a desert. I turned around and saw the nearby tables full, just people sitting, so I started to circle the area looking for an available seat. By the time I got to the elevator, I said "nuts" on this, I just balanced my food and went back to my cabin, I was unable to enjoy the area which "I paid for too"

 

It has been suggested that the IC be separated from the rest of the atrium seating, I think thats a great idea. A cafe, is just that, a cafe, a place to get food and drink, sit down, enjoy it and leave. (I also like the idea of balcony chairs brought down LOL)

 

So, unless it is an "off" time, where there are empty tables, then I will get something and sit down, otherwise, I guess the table "hogs" win.

[GranJean]

Maybe they should put the new balcony furniture in the International Cafe seating area. That should help solve the problem .,. except for me 'cause I don't have a problem with the new furniture.