Tipping the Maitre d - now known as Director of Restaurant Operations

[Coral]

15 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

Yes, but you can write your own note and turn it in to Guest Services.  On Holland America, within a few hours that compliment was passed around to all the brass AND to the employee him/her self.  The staff really appreciates the comments, and it's used as a motivational/inspirational tool for other staff members besides.

I was not prepared with any empty notes. I really expected them to have them.

 

I did tell the head waiters and Matride how impressed I was with the employees.

Edited January 9, 2022 by Coral

[12cruise2]

1 minute ago, Coral said:

I was not prepared with any empty notes. I really expected them to have them.

Plain paper will do.  Get some from the public computer with printer area if you need to.  Or ask the Guest Relations desk for a couple of pieces of paper.

Edited January 9, 2022 by 12cruise2

[Coral]

2 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

Plain paper will do.  Get some from the public computer with printer area if you need to.

I really did not have any. I even had problems getting a copy of my bill from the self kiosk. I did not want to steal paper from the printer area. When I was in that area - it was staffed by a computer tech. Heck - I even struggled to find a pen to fill out a customs/immigration form. The rooms no longer have pens.

 

Glad it worked for you on HAL.

Edited January 9, 2022 by Coral

[MrsFops&FopsC5]

I remember several years ago we got to know Generso well,  we brought him a bottle of port and a couple nice cigars as we remember him telling us after work he loved to relax with a wine and a cigar.   He was so appreciative that someone would remember.   Best part getting the wine on the ship because we were limited to 2 bottles was comical until we told that staff who it was for😂

[MustangGT]

2 hours ago, Coral said:

I was so glad to not have so munch "other paper" but I did miss these cards also.

Yes - I admit I don’t miss all of the Spa and Art Auction flyers! 😁

[MustangGT]

2 hours ago, pms4104 said:

Personally, I am curious what exactly your first nite dining snafu involved ... must have been a super-duper doozy for the (formerly known as Maitre 'd) to be so solicitous.

I mentioned it on another thread but the Reader’s Digest version is as follows:

Pre-cruise we were able to reserve a private table for 2 since we had booked for Traditional Dining.  First night we went to Concerto per our reservation and had to stand in line and were not asked about our reservation.  Had a chat with HD waiter, he informed me that reservations meant nothing and we would need to stand in line each night.  I let him know we were disappointed.

Thinking reservations meant nothing, we headed to the Allegro DR.  The friendly host greeted us and asked, “Do you have a reservation?”  Hmmmmm….

Long story short, a conversation with HD waiter, Winston erased all problems!  We were promptly seated at a table for two.  The next night, Winston greeted us with enthusiasm, escorted us to a very quiet table at a window and assured us, if this table was satisfactory, it would be our table each night.

Nicola Furlan - Maitre d in the “olden days”, now Director of Restaurant Operation is now our best friend!  He stops by to check on us, has had a bottle of wine waiting for us at our table and sent another bottle to our room with a huge fruit basket and chocolate strawberries!

He recognizes us with our masks on around the ship and we chat about what to do in ports, etc.  We have never experienced such attention.  We are spoiled for life!

[pms4104]

14 minutes ago, MustangGT said:

I mentioned it on another thread but the Reader’s Digest version is as follows:

Pre-cruise we were able to reserve a private table for 2 since we had booked for Traditional Dining.  First night we went to Concerto per our reservation and had to stand in line and were not asked about our reservation.  Had a chat with HD waiter, he informed me that reservations meant nothing and we would need to stand in line each night.  I let him know we were disappointed.

Thinking reservations meant nothing, we headed to the Allegro DR.  The friendly host greeted us and asked, “Do you have a reservation?”  Hmmmmm….

Long story short, a conversation with HD waiter, Winston erased all problems!  We were promptly seated at a table for two.  The next night, Winston greeted us with enthusiasm, escorted us to a very quiet table at a window and assured us, if this table was satisfactory, it would be our table each night.

Nicola Furlan - Maitre d in the “olden days”, now Director of Restaurant Operation is now our best friend!  He stops by to check on us, has had a bottle of wine waiting for us at our table and sent another bottle to our room with a huge fruit basket and chocolate strawberries!

He recognizes us with our masks on around the ship and we chat about what to do in ports, etc.  We have never experienced such attention.  We are spoiled for life!

Thank you for sharing.  No excuse for your treatment in the Concerto DR.

[MustangGT]

1 hour ago, MrsFops&FopsC5 said:

I remember several years ago we got to know Generso well,  we brought him a bottle of port and a couple nice cigars as we remember him telling us after work he loved to relax with a wine and a cigar.   He was so appreciative that someone would remember.   Best part getting the wine on the ship because we were limited to 2 bottles was comical until we told that staff who it was for😂

Love Generoso!

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, MustangGT said:

@Steelers36 - Bingo!  Nicola Furlan!  He has been amazing!

In my somewhat limited/average Princess experience (150+ days), he and Generoso are the super-stars at their jobs - in so many ways.

[c-boy]

6 hours ago, Bgwest said:

Americans are always ready to spread money around almost without provocation. 
never ceases to amaze me. 

🤣 well ya can't take it with you when you go, might as well spread the wealth.

[Rick&Jeannie]

4 hours ago, Coral said:

I took a picture of the paper so that I wouldn't lose it on the way home.

Good idea!  I always struggle to remember the names to include in the survey.

[PRNole47]

So, the Maitre 'D is now Director of Restaurant Operations, or DRO for short. When I was in the US Army in the mid 60s, the DRO was short for Dining Room Orderly, which was a fancy name for those assigned to KP duty (Kitchen Police or Patrol duty).

Edited January 10, 2022 by PRNole47

[MustangGT]

18 hours ago, MrsFops&FopsC5 said:

I remember several years ago we got to know Generso well,  we brought him a bottle of port and a couple nice cigars as we remember him telling us after work he loved to relax with a wine and a cigar.   He was so appreciative that someone would remember.   Best part getting the wine on the ship because we were limited to 2 bottles was comical until we told that staff who it was for😂

What a great idea!  We only have a few days left onboard and I’m wondering how to find out a favorite wine of Nicola’s. Wish me luck!

[Bwana Tom]

On 1/9/2022 at 11:37 AM, Coral said:

I was told there are no crew comment cards anymore.

That is right; they have eliminated the actual "comment cards", but I believe what was met was to provide credit to the good service in the survey that is sent to all the cruisers upon the completion of the cruise. Unfortunately they limit you to about six comments and my wife and I always seem to have more people we would like to provide good comments on. Truly the Princess staff are some of the best in the business.

[MustangGT]

@Bwana Tom - I agree with you!  I miss the comment cards and always have a long list of crew I want to commend in the survey.  Now I try to get some of those names into the comments related to specific departments.

Princess crew rocks!!

[KLM3164]

22 hours ago, MustangGT said:

I mentioned it on another thread but the Reader’s Digest version is as follows:

Pre-cruise we were able to reserve a private table for 2 since we had booked for Traditional Dining.  First night we went to Concerto per our reservation and had to stand in line and were not asked about our reservation.  Had a chat with HD waiter, he informed me that reservations meant nothing and we would need to stand in line each night.  I let him know we were disappointed.

Thinking reservations meant nothing, we headed to the Allegro DR.  The friendly host greeted us and asked, “Do you have a reservation?”  Hmmmmm….

Long story short, a conversation with HD waiter, Winston erased all problems!  We were promptly seated at a table for two.  The next night, Winston greeted us with enthusiasm, escorted us to a very quiet table at a window and assured us, if this table was satisfactory, it would be our table each night.

Nicola Furlan - Maitre d in the “olden days”, now Director of Restaurant Operation is now our best friend!  He stops by to check on us, has had a bottle of wine waiting for us at our table and sent another bottle to our room with a huge fruit basket and chocolate strawberries!

He recognizes us with our masks on around the ship and we chat about what to do in ports, etc.  We have never experienced such attention.  We are spoiled for life!

Your experience is very interesting and now I’m thinking I should change our reservation for April. I booked a table for 2 in Concerto at the same time each evening. Not happy to hear that reservations mean nothing in that dining room. Since Allegro has a different approach I think I’ll move our reservations to that dining room instead. Although I guess I don’t understand why they would treat guests with reservations differently in Concerto vs. Allegro.

[Bwana Tom]

3 hours ago, MustangGT said:

@Bwana Tom - I agree with you!  I miss the comment cards and always have a long list of crew I want to commend in the survey.  Now I try to get some of those names into the comments related to specific departments.

Princess crew rocks!!

@MustangGTI do exactly the same thing. I slip some comments/compliments in throughout the survey. I hope those comments reach the right parties to provide some benefit for those fine employees. 

Interesting, but a little off topic, we talked with a lot of the staff on a recent B2B cruise on the the Regal Princess and on many occasions we were told that Princess really took great care of them during the height of the pandemic. They continued to pay them until their contract ended and went out of their way to get them back to their home countries. In some cases those countries stopped them from getting back in and even then Princess took care of them. We heard roomers that some of the other cruise lines simply cut ties with their staff, telling them they were essentially on their own. Those comments make me even more faithful to Princess.

Good Cruising.

[Coral]

3 hours ago, Bwana Tom said:

That is right; they have eliminated the actual "comment cards", but I believe what was met was to provide credit to the good service in the survey that is sent to all the cruisers upon the completion of the cruise. Unfortunately they limit you to about six comments and my wife and I always seem to have more people we would like to provide good comments on. Truly the Princess staff are some of the best in the business.

I realized that. In the past I had done both.

 

My comment was in reference to someone who said to fill out a crew card and I indicated they were gone now.

Edited January 11, 2022 by Coral

[Coral]

27 minutes ago, Bwana Tom said:

@MustangGTI do exactly the same thing. I slip some comments/compliments in throughout the survey. I hope those comments reach the right parties to provide some benefit for those fine employees. 

Interesting, but a little off topic, we talked with a lot of the staff on a recent B2B cruise on the the Regal Princess and on many occasions we were told that Princess really took great care of them during the height of the pandemic. They continued to pay them until their contract ended and went out of their way to get them back to their home countries. In some cases those countries stopped them from getting back in and even then Princess took care of them. We heard roomers that some of the other cruise lines simply cut ties with their staff, telling them they were essentially on their own. Those comments make me even more faithful to Princess.

Good Cruising.

I heard from a crew member that he was confined to his room for 4 months until he could get home. Food was dropped off. He indicated he gained weight because he couldn't exercise.

 

I heard from others non-positive things about how they were treated.

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by Coral

[Luckiestmanonearth]

On 1/9/2022 at 5:53 PM, SinbadThePorter said:

Tipping management is grotesque.

 

Save your dollars for the people who need it.

I agree with you.  Seems odd to tip someone that makes a good salary.  Would rather give it to those that need it more 

 

Plus we’ve always been low maintenance when it comes to dining so to me, the Maitre D is simply someone that you wave and say hello to when you enter the dining room

Edited January 11, 2022 by Luckiestmanonearth

[MustangGT]

4 hours ago, KLM3164 said:

Your experience is very interesting and now I’m thinking I should change our reservation for April. I booked a table for 2 in Concerto at the same time each evening. Not happy to hear that reservations mean nothing in that dining room. Since Allegro has a different approach I think I’ll move our reservations to that dining room instead. Although I guess I don’t understand why they would treat guests with reservations differently in Concerto vs. Allegro.

After conversations with Nicola, I have the impression that guests should be treated the same regardless of the dining room they have chosen.  When we were able to reserve a dining time pre-cruise, Concerto was the only choice.

I think things will improve fleet wide once each ship gets all crew on the same page,  many crew members are new to Princess so time will tell.

We have had outstanding service from all crew except the one HW the first night.

 

[Lucky TGO]

On 1/9/2022 at 5:23 PM, MustangGT said:

@Steelers36 - Bingo!  Nicola Furlan!  He has been amazing!

The first time I met Nicola I was checking on my dining arrangement he was so helpful!! He made sure I was satisfied. He also came by my table often just to say hi and see if everything was ok.
 We became good friends from that time on. Now should you tip the maître d’? I believe you should if he does anything to help you. 
Tony

 

 

[CRLess]

A bottle of a nice Red goes a long way as a Thank You.  I almost always bring a few bottles aboard, not for me, but for crew that stand out.  We sail on the Regal in 12 days and I will certainly be bringing a bottle of something special for Nicola and/or other crew that assist us with our dining experience.  If not, I have something great to drink on board.

[mellon1]

On 1/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, MustangGT said:

We are having the best time on the Regal Princess!  After a dining snafu the first night of our B2B, we have been spoiled by so many people!  My question is - do we tip the Maitre d?  We have never made acquaintance with one before but Nicola has been outstanding!!  Always stopping by to check on us at dinner, chatting about upcoming ports and acknowledging us about the ship when we are masked. He has sent bottles of wine and other goodies to us. 
I do not want to commit a faux pas by extending a tip but we want him to know how much we appreciate his generosity and attention. 
Help!!  Thanks 

So glad you are having a great time.  Nicola is an outstanding Maitre D!  We would definitely tip.  Tell him Mary & Gordie from the last cruise in 2020 on the Crown before covid started to rear its ugly head.  He got my husband, who had cancer, a table in the corner and a table for 2.  We truly appreciated his efforts as we were on for 30 days.  Please tell him hello for us.  He actually trained many of the Maitr' D's like Generossa, who also is outstanding.  

[mellon1]

On 1/9/2022 at 7:51 PM, Steelers36 said:

In my somewhat limited/average Princess experience (150+ days), he and Generoso are the super-stars at their jobs - in so many ways.

Nicola told us that he trained Gereroso!  That's why they are both so wonderful