CorvetteLady Posted September 3, 2019 #1 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Do they no longer use tablecloths in the MDR every night? Someone posted that they liked the 80's night because they used tablecloths, fancy glasses and silverware in the MDR like they use too. Now we haven't been on Carnival since 2012 but we've been on Royal and NCL and they still use that stuff every night in the MDR, so just curious if Carnival has stopped doing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Organized Chaos Posted September 3, 2019 #2 Share Posted September 3, 2019 No, they no longer use tablecloths on cruise casual nights. They're now only used on elegant nights (formerly known as formal nights). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotRob Posted September 3, 2019 #3 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Honestly? I just got off a seven night cruise and I could not even tell you what, if any, evenings featured a tablecloth and which did not. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSHLOT Posted September 3, 2019 #4 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Just another little cutback, nothing new. Like the above cruiser, we never even noticed them gone. Not a big deal at all. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotRob Posted September 3, 2019 #5 Share Posted September 3, 2019 16 minutes ago, FSHLOT said: Just another little cutback, nothing new. Like the above cruiser, we never even noticed them gone. Not a big deal at all. Just because something's a change I wouldn't call it a "cutback". Wouldn't a "cutback" entail removing something with some sort of value? What value are they taking away by changing the way tables are dressed? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSHLOT Posted September 3, 2019 #6 Share Posted September 3, 2019 7 minutes ago, ParrotRob said: Just because something's a change I wouldn't call it a "cutback". Wouldn't a "cutback" entail removing something with some sort of value? What value are they taking away by changing the way tables are dressed? Lets see, how about the cost of cleaning them everyday and the time it takes to replace them all. That all COSTS money and time. Pretty simple really. It's a cut back, imo. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted September 3, 2019 #7 Share Posted September 3, 2019 LOL.....now a tablecloth has 'value'. Carnival is matching the new norms in society. Table cloths are no longer commonplace. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillBilly Bob Posted September 3, 2019 #8 Share Posted September 3, 2019 We always enjoyed a "white linen" breakfast in the MDR. There are some traditions that I will be willing to pay for. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSHLOT Posted September 3, 2019 #9 Share Posted September 3, 2019 18 minutes ago, ray98 said: LOL.....now a tablecloth has 'value'. Carnival is matching the new norms in society. Table cloths are no longer commonplace. Are tableclothes cheap? I dont think so when you have hundreds of tables to do. Besides that, i hear people saying only CCL doesnt do them every night. I havent sailed another line in a few years so i cant say for sure if they use them or not. It's really not a big deal though. I'm just saying it is a cutback,imo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick93 Posted September 3, 2019 #10 Share Posted September 3, 2019 28 minutes ago, ParrotRob said: Just because something's a change I wouldn't call it a "cutback". Wouldn't a "cutback" entail removing something with some sort of value? What value are they taking away by changing the way tables are dressed? Don't know if it’s a cut back or an environmental decision but I will make one point -if you spill on the table - you pants will get the brunt of it. Nowhere for the liquid to go on the table but down. I am not not a fan of the no tablecloth because it makes the feels cheaper and less sanitary eating on the bare table - but it doesn’t change the cruising experience too much. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted September 3, 2019 #11 Share Posted September 3, 2019 4 minutes ago, FSHLOT said: Are tableclothes cheap? I dont think so when you have hundreds of tables to do. Besides that, i hear people saying only CCL doesnt do them every night. I havent sailed another line in a few years so i cant say for sure if they use them or not. It's really not a big deal though. I'm just saying it is a cutback,imo. I still don't see this being about $$$. The cruise industry is changing. When we started cruising the industry still held on to many of the traditions from a century earlier. They wanted to an environment to model the transatlantic voyages of the past from times when passengers were still divided into classes. Now the feel on a cruise ship is meant to be a floating Caribbean resort that moves you from place to place. If it is a common practice that sundresses and shorts are acceptable to be worn when dining then the white table cloth atmosphere clashes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottacruises Posted September 3, 2019 #12 Share Posted September 3, 2019 3 hours ago, ParrotRob said: Honestly? I just got off a seven night cruise and I could not even tell you what, if any, evenings featured a tablecloth and which did not. You probably need a sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizergal70 Posted September 3, 2019 #13 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Plenty other cruise lines use tablecloths for the evening MDR. Feel free to try them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted September 3, 2019 #14 Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 hour ago, ray98 said: I still don't see this being about $$$. Everything about a cruise is always about money. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted September 3, 2019 #15 Share Posted September 3, 2019 10 minutes ago, LMaxwell said: Everything about a cruise is always about money. As a business owner I can tell you everything comes with a price but not every aspect of the customer experience is based solely on financial considerations. I may decide to remove an aspect like table cloths but choose to add a carafe and serving dish to the table to create the desired atmosphere. Not everything exists in a vacuum and you can't always focus only on one aspect.. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted September 3, 2019 #16 Share Posted September 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, ray98 said: As a business owner I can tell you everything comes with a price but not every aspect of the customer experience is based solely on financial considerations. I may decide to remove an aspect like table cloths but choose to add a carafe and serving dish to the table to create the desired atmosphere. Not everything exists in a vacuum and you can't always focus only on one aspect.. It's all about the money. I didn't say they haven't "changed" "added" "replaced" "substituted" one item for another. I am just saying it is all about cost. In this case they determined guests aren't willing to pay additional; therefore they can reduce costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing985 Posted September 3, 2019 #17 Share Posted September 3, 2019 When they first got rid of the tablecloths except for the "formaI" nights I was devastated and had to receive counseling for a bit. Some here reported the water condensation from drinking glasses was a problem but there weren't any reported drownings in the MDR so I guess they figured out how to deal with it. Honestly, the way most of us dress for dinner makes tablecloths look out of place. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted September 3, 2019 #18 Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, LMaxwell said: It's all about the money. I didn't say they haven't "changed" "added" "replaced" "substituted" one item for another. I am just saying it is all about cost. In this case they determined guests aren't willing to pay additional; therefore they can reduce costs. Is that what they determined, or did they determine their business model and the mainstream industry itself is trending in a direction where the average cruiser prefers meals served in a more casual atmosphere similar to land based restaurants where 99% of the public choose to dine on a daily basis. Eliminating table cloths in no way correlates with reduced cost unless you can see the overall cost of the service environment. Edited September 3, 2019 by ray98 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indygirl76 Posted September 3, 2019 #19 Share Posted September 3, 2019 35 minutes ago, Cushing985 said: When they first got rid of the tablecloths except for the "formaI" nights I was devastated and had to receive counseling for a bit. Some here reported the water condensation from drinking glasses was a problem but there weren't any reported drownings in the MDR so I guess they figured out how to deal with it. Honestly, the way most of us dress for dinner makes tablecloths look out of place. This is true - the water pitcher makes a drippy mess. I'm hoping to remember to snag a bunch of drink napkins from the nearest bar on my next cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted September 3, 2019 #20 Share Posted September 3, 2019 34 minutes ago, ray98 said: Is that what they determined, or did they determine their business model and the mainstream industry itself is trending in a direction where the average cruiser prefers meals served in a more casual atmosphere similar to land based restaurants where 99% of the public choose to dine on a daily basis. Eliminating table cloths in no way correlates with reduced cost unless you can see the overall cost of the service environment. Both; following trends has decreased their costs and increased their audience. So...all about money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted September 3, 2019 #21 Share Posted September 3, 2019 2 hours ago, FSHLOT said: Are tableclothes cheap? I dont think so when you have hundreds of tables to do. Besides that, i hear people saying only CCL doesnt do them every night. I havent sailed another line in a few years so i cant say for sure if they use them or not. It's really not a big deal though. I'm just saying it is a cutback,imo. I think the question is do the table clothes add value to the customer, not whether or not they cost the company money. I can't remember the last land based restaurant that I went to that had table clothes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted September 3, 2019 #22 Share Posted September 3, 2019 22 minutes ago, indygirl76 said: This is true - the water pitcher makes a drippy mess. I'm hoping to remember to snag a bunch of drink napkins from the nearest bar on my next cruise. The staff did a nice job of keeping things clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indygirl76 Posted September 3, 2019 #23 Share Posted September 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, sparks1093 said: The staff did a nice job of keeping things clean. I'm glad to hear that! I've been on two cruises since the no tablecloth thing went into effect, and the staff totally ignored the problem. So if they're now staying on top of it, that's great!! (Still going to bring drink napkins, just in case...) Please note, I have no problem with it other than the mess. I can't think of a local restaurant that still has tablecloths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted September 3, 2019 #24 Share Posted September 3, 2019 10 minutes ago, indygirl76 said: I'm glad to hear that! I've been on two cruises since the no tablecloth thing went into effect, and the staff totally ignored the problem. So if they're now staying on top of it, that's great!! (Still going to bring drink napkins, just in case...) Please note, I have no problem with it other than the mess. I can't think of a local restaurant that still has tablecloths. It is possible that some wait teams are better at it than others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted September 3, 2019 #25 Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 hour ago, LMaxwell said: Both; following trends has decreased their costs and increased their audience. So...all about money Yet the price of a cruise adjusted for inflation is 1/2 of what it was 2 decades ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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