International Cafe

[majortom10]

What really gets me annoyed is the sit down area of the International Cafe is always very busy and is often difficult to get a seat. Many sit there playing cards/ reading or on their tablets for considerable time without purchasing or ever intending to purchase anything or use International Cafe. It is bad mannered when there are plenty of areas around the ship where they can sit and read etc.

Edited July 30, 2019 by majortom10

[bemis12]

Dang them for being in your way!

[Jeter02]

I don't let the Small things ruin my vacation, as I'm just genuinely happy to be onboard. I just me and around and I usually find a spot with in The Piazza area or vines if you're looking to sit down and order some coffee and have a like a little light snack. 

[Potstech]

2 hours ago, majortom10 said:

What really gets me annoyed is the sit down area of the International Cafe is always very busy and is often difficult to get a seat. Many sit there playing cards/ reading or on their tablets for considerable time without purchasing or ever intending to purchase anything or use International Cafe. It is bad mannered when there are plenty of areas around the ship where they can sit and read etc.

Sorry they annoy you but that is not anyone else's problem. Nowhere does it say that an IC item must be purchased in order to sit in that area. I am one who often goes there to read and people watch.  Why is it bad mannered to do this? There are also many areas around the ship where you can take your purchase to enjoy it.  Nnot a big item in the total scheme of things.

[Robinsoncruiseso]

I like to visit IC then take food to the future cruise computers and plan my next while I nibble

[Paula_MacFan]

This is one of my pet peeves too!  For those that say 'I like to sit and read and/or people watch' -- there are many comfortable chairs, some with tables, around the Piazza area, that are perfect for this.  But it seems the limited number of bistro tables with chairs immediately adjacent to the IC are intended for people eating the items they have just acquired there.  

 

Last year on the Regal we couldn't find a place to sit and eat our dessert that we'd picked up at the IC because people were just sitting there in all the tables playing games.  So we took our plates up a level, and a waiter approached us and said we weren't supposed to bring food to that level and asked if we could quickly consume our dessert.  So yep, the people sitting there taking up all the tables playing games DID impact me.  Was it a vacation-killer?  No, of course not.  Was it annoying?  YES

 

I think the point is  most people who would sit there and consume food would only be there a few minutes, thus the tables would turn over quickly and everyone could use them.  But when people sit there for HOURS playing games etc. then no one else can use them.  And there are many other venues around the ship to play games or read.  

Edited July 30, 2019 by Paula_MacFan

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, Paula_MacFan said:

This is one of my pet peeves too!  For those that say 'I like to sit and read and/or people watch' -- there are many comfortable chairs, some with tables, around the Piazza area, that are perfect for this.  But it seems the limited number of bistro tables with chairs immediately adjacent to the IC are intended for people eating the items they have just acquired there.  

 

Last year on the Regal we couldn't find a place to sit and eat our dessert that we'd picked up at the IC because people were just sitting there in all the tables playing games.  So we took our plates up a level, and a waiter approached us and said we weren't supposed to bring food to that level and asked if we could quickly consume our dessert.  So yep, the people sitting there taking up all the tables playing games DID impact me.  Was it a vacation-killer?  No, of course not.  Was it annoying?  YES

 

I think the point is  most people who would sit there and consume food would only be there a few minutes, thus the tables would turn over quickly and everyone could use them.  But when people sit there for HOURS playing games etc. then no one else can use them.  And there are many other venues around the ship to play games or read.  

If they weren't supposed to "just sit there" a waiter would (in your words) approach them and ask...

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, Potstech said:

Sorry they annoy you but that is not anyone else's problem. Nowhere does it say that an IC item must be purchased in order to sit in that area. I am one who often goes there to read and people watch.  Why is it bad mannered to do this? There are also many areas around the ship where you can take your purchase to enjoy it.  Nnot a big item in the total scheme of things.

But if you want to sit down and order a specialist coffee in a cup and not walk round with it in a cardboard cup then it is very selfish sitting in the coffee area, which has coffee drinks menus on all the tables, and sit there and people watch. In the big scheme of things I bet you dont go in a coffee shop at home and go sit inside read a book and people watch without oredering a coffee they would soon ask you to leave and quite right too. I am sorry but I couldnt sit there reading or people watching when I can see people hanging around looking for a seat so they can purchase a coffee.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, Paula_MacFan said:

This is one of my pet peeves too!  For those that say 'I like to sit and read and/or people watch' -- there are many comfortable chairs, some with tables, around the Piazza area, that are perfect for this.  But it seems the limited number of bistro tables with chairs immediately adjacent to the IC are intended for people eating the items they have just acquired there.  

 

Last year on the Regal we couldn't find a place to sit and eat our dessert that we'd picked up at the IC because people were just sitting there in all the tables playing games.  So we took our plates up a level, and a waiter approached us and said we weren't supposed to bring food to that level and asked if we could quickly consume our dessert.  So yep, the people sitting there taking up all the tables playing games DID impact me.  Was it a vacation-killer?  No, of course not.  Was it annoying?  YES

 

I think the point is  most people who would sit there and consume food would only be there a few minutes, thus the tables would turn over quickly and everyone could use them.  But when people sit there for HOURS playing games etc. then no one else can use them.  And there are many other venues around the ship to play games or read.  

I agree 100% and if a waiter approached me and told me to hurry up and eat because you are not supposed to eat there I would have told him why I was doing it was because of lack of tables in coffee shop area of IC because selfish people are sitting reading or people watching and would have asked to see his manager.

[majortom10]

Cannot believe how people can openly admit that they sit in the area reading, people watching or playing games and are stopping people who genuinely want to sit down and purchase a coffee. I am sorry I was bought up with better manners than that and not to be so selfish.

[mdpseattle]

I wonder if I went to the dining room on formal night (in shorts and tshirt no less) and proceeded to setup my monopoly board game in a dining room table and proceeded to play without ordering food, occasionally ordering a water?  I bet I could do it, but everyone would be like *****.  I think the OP is getting at the same thing, there is a time and place for everything.  The screw everyone else attitude is a major problem today and just isn't good manners nor neighborly.

[Paula_MacFan]

22 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

I agree 100% and if a waiter approached me and told me to hurry up and eat because you are not supposed to eat there I would have told him why I was doing it was because of lack of tables in coffee shop area of IC because selfish people are sitting reading or people watching and would have asked to see his manager.

We did!  We explained that there was no seating available at the IC and he was very nice and sympathetic.  We weren't upset with him at all -- it wasn't his fault and he was probably just doing what he was told.  We took a table between the bar and the shops on the second level of the Piazza, ordered drinks, and quickly ate our desserts.  

[Paula_MacFan]

9 minutes ago, mdpseattle said:

I wonder if I went to the dining room on formal night (in shorts and tshirt no less) and proceeded to setup my monopoly board game in a dining room table and proceeded to play without ordering food, occasionally ordering a water?  I bet I could do it, but everyone would be like *****.  I think the OP is getting at the same thing, there is a time and place for everything.  The screw everyone else attitude is a major problem today and just isn't good manners nor neighborly.

THIS!  hahaha I'm sure so many are going to respond all indignantly, but it's the truth!  It's always amazed me how people will take up tables in the buffet area too,  right at busy meal times with their board games and just watch people wander helplessly around with a full plate of food and no empty tables.  

[Paula_MacFan]

24 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Cannot believe how people can openly admit that they sit in the area reading, people watching or playing games and are stopping people who genuinely want to sit down and purchase a coffee. I am sorry I was bought up with better manners than that and not to be so selfish.

In our view, the bistro tables are CLEARLY set up for a small plate of food and/or coffee.  Not to sit and play games all day.  It seems like common courtesy to me......but apparently not to everyone.

[LSGDRG]

This is one of the irritating things about cruising, along with chair hogs and saving a row of seats in the theater. I tend to go to the IC during less busy times so that I can find a seat.

 

Edited July 30, 2019 by LSGDRG

[mdpseattle]

2 minutes ago, LSGDRG said:

This is one of the irritating things about cruising, along with chair hogs and saving a row of seats in the theater. I tend to go to the IC during less busy times so I can find a seat.

 

It's not just cruising, It's kind of the irritating thing about life now. I guess I'm old enough to remember when doing impolite things you would get the serious stink eye from an older person and we respected them to not do it again. There was just social structure and rules to keep things civil for everyone, a sharing mentality, politeness. Today, it's all about doing what and when you want and could care less about anyone else - being empowered, being your own individual, doing what makes you happy.  It's a race to the social bottom.  Soon, we will be acting like cavemen and dragging women around by their hair again.

[stoneharborlady]

It would be appropriate for Princess to have a small sign on these tables,  designating their use for IC patrons.  The Library should be the place for game players.  Do the newer ships have libraries anymore?

 

[Potstech]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

But if you want to sit down and order a specialist coffee in a cup and not walk round with it in a cardboard cup then it is very selfish sitting in the coffee area, which has coffee drinks menus on all the tables, and sit there and people watch. In the big scheme of things I bet you dont go in a coffee shop at home and go sit inside read a book and people watch without oredering a coffee they would soon ask you to leave and quite right too. I am sorry but I couldnt sit there reading or people watching when I can see people hanging around looking for a seat so they can purchase a coffee.

Then you now know that people are different from each other. Am I being selfish? By your definition I am and so what. By Princess's idea of what it us to be used for I am not.  Life is full of contradictions.  By the way did you not start this discussion a few months ago with basically the same results.

[Potstech]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Cannot believe how people can openly admit that they sit in the area reading, people watching or playing games and are stopping people who genuinely want to sit down and purchase a coffee. I am sorry I was bought up with better manners than that and not to be so selfish.

So now it is bad manners to not do what you want othets to do.  Sorry but many will disagree with you. I will continue to sit there and read until Princess indicates otherwise.  And I will enjoy myself.

[Potstech]

1 hour ago, mdpseattle said:

I wonder if I went to the dining room on formal night (in shorts and tshirt no less) and proceeded to setup my monopoly board game in a dining room table and proceeded to play without ordering food, occasionally ordering a water?  I bet I could do it, but everyone would be like *****.  I think the OP is getting at the same thing, there is a time and place for everything.  The screw everyone else attitude is a major problem today and just isn't good manners nor neighborly.

Please let us know how that works out. 

[snowskier]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

In the big scheme of things I bet you dont go in a coffee shop at home and go sit inside read a book and people watch without oredering a coffee they would soon ask you to leave and quite right too. I am sorry but I couldnt sit there reading or people watching when I can see people hanging around looking for a seat so they can purchase a coffee.

 

I see people doing this all the time in resort / vacation venues. They sit at the tables in the coffee shop, play games and socialize and never spend a penny for coffee, tea or food. They spend a heck of a lot of money at the resort but may not buy a cup of coffee. Guest Service is the name of the game for us and if someone wants to enjoy the venue without purchasing something, no problem. 

 

This is a no win battle -- there are those that want a restriction for "paying Guests" and those that want to enjoy the venue. Both are welcome. I find it hard to judge people's "manners" just because they don't do things the way I do.

[Jeter02]

If you think about it, if there's an event going on in the Piazza most people look around to grab a chair to sit down so they can enjoy themselves with whatever activity is going on there at the moment. So as some have already said, you kind of can't judge others and what they're doing. As really everybody is a paying customer to be on board to use the same venues and amenties. I'll be honest I sit around the Piazza area or in Vines just to sit down and read or even at crooners, and I don't order drinks. if there's an open spot next to me or within the area I'm sitting and people ask if I'm using the chair, I tell them they're more than welcome to it. So in my honest opinion, I feel like you can't judge someone based off of how they would like to relax and enjoy themselves.

Edited July 30, 2019 by Jeter02

[Paula_MacFan]

15 minutes ago, snowskier said:

I find it hard to judge people's "manners" just because they don't do things the way I do.

 

Apparently like the OP, I was raised to let others sit if I am done.  I would behave the same way in a restaurant, and have in fact gotten up to give our table to someone who needed it when we were done eating.  Just like my husband and I wouldn't take up a 4 or 6 top table for 2 people, and then watch people who needed the table wander around looking for a spot to sit.  Not sure why this seems like such a difficult concept to grasp, just be courteous.

[Sailfly]

The Golden Rule is no longer recognized by these people. The other night at a small restaurant we were waiting for a table to open up so that we could have dinner. We waited over an hour. We thought that it would be a short wait because the hostess pointed  to a table and told us they had finished their meal and we would be seated at their table shortly. It was obvious that we were waiting for them to leave to be able to sit down and eat. These people sat there for over an hour talking while we waited. They did not have drinks, so it was not like they were buying anything else. I guess I am too courteous-I would never sit and linger in the International Cafe, as described above, in a million years.

[karatemom2]

Boy do I understand the frustration. Many a time have my DH and I wandered aimlessly through the Piazza, food in hand, seeking a place to sit. It is frustrating. On the other hand, the Piazza is a gathering place and offers ongoing entertainment that people come to watch. They want seats as well, even if they aren’t eating. Many times I see people just sitting and enjoying the music, reading, chatting and yes, even playing games. I can’t really begrudge them as Princess has not just designated this an eating area - it is an open lounge, bar, coffee shop, cafe and entertainment venue all in one small area. And in the evening it becomes a waiting area for those Anytime Diners with buzzers waiting for a table. I guess my point is, it is a multipurpose space and it is just going to be crowded. Some people probably do abuse the privilege of planting themselves there for hours, but most seem to come and go. If we can’t find a seat we usually sit on the edge of a planter by the staircase or head to another area to eat - sometimes even back to our room to sit on the balcony. But more often than not, if we are a bit patient, something opens up. I agree with others taking the live and let live approach - it’s not the best set up but I’m not going to let it make me cranky.