Quest Montreal to New York Oct4-Oct16

[Viking1966]

Great start to our cruise. Arrived 3 hours before our assigned boarding time. On board and thru the various check points in about 20 min. Then to the Colonnade for lunch and a glass of wine. A short walkabout the ship, reservations made at Thomas Keller for 2 nights. Check in at the muster station. Onward to our cabin for a little unpacking, so good to be back.

Our room requests made and a promise all will be ready when we return from dinner. We have decided if we are going to make up the future, we will make it positive and see what happens. A little relaxing time before we head to the Observation bar for a cocktail, followed by dinner in the restaurant. All is well on the Quest. 

Spoke to soon the fridge door just fell off LOL.  For a split second I thought to endeavor to fix it and remembered where I was. Should be an easy fix with a phone call.

My better half informed me no night cap tonight as we got up at 6 am. A story for another day. I am going with the flow, maybe a night cap will be in my future. Time will tell.

[nancygp]

all sounds great and thanks for the info regarding boarding.  will be following along and getting on when you get off.

 

Can't wait for the rest of the story!!!!😁

 

Have a wondeful evening and enjoy your cruise.

 

Nancy

[rkacruiser]

Good wishes for a safe and pleasant cruise!  

[Emdee]

Looking forward to the next episode!

[Mr Luxury]

Have patience,the nightcap will reappear 😉

[Viking1966]

The rest of the story! Centuries ago travel involved the risk of bandits. Today we have to navigate a myriad of ever changing apps and electronic forms that need to be filled out. My father got tripped up on the Canada ETA which he forgot to fill out. Denied boarding and a day of stress and anxiety ensued. Got the form completed and flights rebooked for the next day. Then the flight to Montreal had to return due to landing gear issues.

 

Thanks to German efficiency a new plane and crew was made available. A smaller plane, so the usual bribes of free hotel and $$$ ensued and 6 hours later the flight was on its way. Arrived in Montreal around 11pm. My dream of sleeping inn the next morning shattered by my parents not adapted to the time change. A small price to pay. My father's relief was palpable as he enjoyed lunch at the Colonnade. Good to be back!

[Viking1966]

Dinner in the Restaurant last night was good. Service was good. First night we stayed with the complimentary wine offerings. Obtaining the list today to find our favorites. 

Have we stumbled on a good section in the Restaurant? We shall attempt to confirm tonight by sitting in the same area.

I will only talk about this hot 🔥 topic issue  once. If you have a dress code, enforce it. Many jeans 👖 observed last night in the Restaurant. Humanity seems to be involved in a race to the bottom of what is considered Elegant Casual. 🤔 Tomorrow is formal night🙏🤣

[Vineyard View]

Thank you for taking the time to post for all of us. Glad your Father was able to join you for this itinerary and I hope that the Quest takes long term turn for the best in service and food. Your first night in the restaurant is promising! Looking forward to your experiences onboard. Enjoy!

[jsiegel]

Our experience last night in The Restaurant was awful. We were seated a little after 7 pm. Our water glasses were filled and bread brought over and then we waited and waited and waited for our order to be taken.  Eventually the waiter appeared and took our orders. It was after 8 pm before our appetizers were served.  They were small and quickly consumed and we waited another half hour before our mains came. In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. 

 

We wish we had the option to try out Earth and Ocean but it continues to be closed.  Tonight is formal night and we anticipate slowdowns in service again and we have an early excursion tomorrow so don't want to be still eating dinner at 9 pm.  The menu in the Collanade tonight is very limited, only three choices for appetizers and two for the main courses. Is that normal? I believe on our last Seabourn cruise in the before times there were more entree options.

 

Other than The Restaurant, we're impressed with the service and friendliness of the staff in the other venues. 

 

Jackie

Edited October 6, 2022 by jsiegel
Typo

[lincslady]

Mention it again to the Maitre'd when you go in - hopefully he/she will place you at an efficient waiter station.  If others are getting served quickly then  where you were probably had new or insufficient staff.

[Viking1966]

Good morning. We had a day with beautiful weather yesterday and the good weather continues today. We spent a leisurely day walking around in Trois Rivieres. Today we are doing the hop on hop off bus in Quebec.

Service in the Restaurant did indeed start off slow. Just about every guest on the Quest arrived at the same time. We were seated last in our area and expected a wait. After the first course arrived everything was on point. We are very happy with service in our section and now laid claim to our table for the rest of our cruise besides days we plan to eat in TK and the Colonnade. 

All in all I think the staff handled the rush very well. There is just no way the kitchen could produce food to every table at once. Some of us unfortunately had to wait. Told 385 pax on this cruise. Look forward to our day in Quebec. Arriving a couple of hours late due to river traffic. 

[Catlover54]

3 hours ago, Viking1966 said:

Good morning. We had a day with beautiful weather yesterday and the good weather continues today. We spent a leisurely day walking around in Trois Rivieres. Today we are doing the hop on hop off bus in Quebec.

Service in the Restaurant did indeed start off slow. Just about every guest on the Quest arrived at the same time. We were seated last in our area and expected a wait. After the first course arrived everything was on point. We are very happy with service in our section and now laid claim to our table for the rest of our cruise besides days we plan to eat in TK and the Colonnade. 

All in all I think the staff handled the rush very well. There is just no way the kitchen could produce food to every table at once. Some of us unfortunately had to wait. Told 385 pax on this cruise. Look forward to our day in Quebec. Arriving a couple of hours late due to river traffic. 

It's nice that you had a good experience and that somehow you can lay claim to 'your' table for the rest of the cruise.  I am not sure how that would work unless you always arrive promptly when the dining room opens, maybe that is the plan.  Will they hold your table open until you come if you do not?

 

Also

1.  that approach (and as repeatedly suggested by lincslady and others as a simple solution)  does not scale well, e.g., if everyone lays "claim" to the decent  service area, this means then others, perhaps Jsiegel, presumably paying the same price per diem, have to settle on the service dregs  when the ship is near capacity,  because the Quest is understaffed, despite being marketed as "luxury" ( presumably for all who pay).
 

2.  You also say you think "the staff handled the rush well."  Certainly it sounds like it did for you. 

But jsiegel noted, 

". . . .  In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. . . . "
 

If the problem was handled well, then people who came long after dsiegel should have been served after dsiegel, not before, IMHO, and everyone would have equally long waits for the limited kitchen staff. Someone needs to be coordinating the timing to be fair, but is not, because of lack of management staff -- that is not a "luxury" experience for those who pull the short straws.

 

 

 

[Catlover54]

5 hours ago, jsiegel said:

Our experience last night in The Restaurant was awful. We were seated a little after 7 pm. Our water glasses were filled and bread brought over and then we waited and waited and waited for our order to be taken.  Eventually the waiter appeared and took our orders. It was after 8 pm before our appetizers were served.  They were small and quickly consumed and we waited another half hour before our mains came. In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. 

 

We wish we had the option to try out Earth and Ocean but it continues to be closed.  Tonight is formal night and we anticipate slowdowns in service again and we have an early excursion tomorrow so don't want to be still eating dinner at 9 pm.  The menu in the Collanade tonight is very limited, only three choices for appetizers and two for the main courses. Is that normal? I believe on our last Seabourn cruise in the before times there were more entree options.

 

Other than The Restaurant, we're impressed with the service and friendliness of the staff in the other venues. 

 

Jackie

Yes, the Colonnade menu is always limited, that is normal now.  
 

As for the Restaurant and not wanting to be still eating at 9 tonight, either be first in line when they open ( see if they open at 6:30 instead of 7 as they did on the last cruise sometimes), e.g., skip the talk before the dinner.  
You can also   pre-eat some food in your suite or SB Square ( cheese plate, caviar, room service salad) and then skip the DR appetizer, or skip DR dessert, as a compromise -- not luxury, but a way to deal with tonight.

 

Meanwhile introduce yourself to Omar, ( assuming he stayed on to be the maitre d') because those who are proactive on the Quest are a bit more likely to be properly attended to.

Edited October 6, 2022 by Catlover54
Typo

[SLSD]

I see there is a problem if some "are properly attended to" and others are not.  Not an inducement to sail with Seabourn at this time.  

[SDuckers]

6 hours ago, jsiegel said:

Our experience last night in The Restaurant was awful. We were seated a little after 7 pm. Our water glasses were filled and bread brought over and then we waited and waited and waited for our order to be taken.  Eventually the waiter appeared and took our orders. It was after 8 pm before our appetizers were served.  They were small and quickly consumed and we waited another half hour before our mains came. In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. 

 

We wish we had the option to try out Earth and Ocean but it continues to be closed.  Tonight is formal night and we anticipate slowdowns in service again and we have an early excursion tomorrow so don't want to be still eating dinner at 9 pm.  The menu in the Collanade tonight is very limited, only three choices for appetizers and two for the main courses. Is that normal? I believe on our last Seabourn cruise in the before times there were more entree options.

 

Other than The Restaurant, we're impressed with the service and friendliness of the staff in the other venues. 

 

Jackie

I am curious why Earth & Ocean is closed?  Inadequate available staff?  Also, usually the Colonnade has the "traditional" menu that is the same every night that is always available, in addition to the specials of the day.  Is that not an option on your cruise?  If not, that is very disturbing.

[Catlover54]

1 hour ago, SDuckers said:

I am curious why Earth & Ocean is closed?  Inadequate available staff?  Also, usually the Colonnade has the "traditional" menu that is the same every night that is always available, in addition to the specials of the day.  Is that not an option on your cruise?  If not, that is very disturbing.

I just got off the Quest, and it was explained that staffing shortages ( e.g., at least  a couple dozen crew out with Covid) required closing or limiting some dining options.

They reportedly even considered closing TK Grill, but central command said no.

 

Choices from the traditional menu were not easily available in Colonnade.  When I ordered the consomme from there, to replace the Colonnade miso I did not like, the waiter sternly warned me it has to come from the lower galley and would take a very long time because people then have to go get it ( plus the Restaurant staff are also very busy).   It was 20 minutes for soup replacement , which arrived cold.  If in a hurry to get to sleep, like dsiegel tonight,  I would not recommend that approach on a ship this full with many restaurant staff out.

 

I also read elsewhere ( a prior recent cruiser) he was told he could not do it, but when he fussed, they "made an exception" for him.  
There is official policy, and then there are disincentives.

 

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Catlover54
Typo

[Catlover54]

1 hour ago, SLSD said:

I see there is a problem if some "are properly attended to" and others are not.  Not an inducement to sail with Seabourn at this time.  

This is the Quest.  Other SB ship reports ( the bigger newer ones) look better online, and I would still consider them again even though I was unhappy with Quest dining room services.).  My TA claims that they overall get better staff there ( unclear if fact).

 

And of course perspective matters -- are you or your DH an assertive, or passive person, when on vacation? Some people actually like or do not mind assertion games even when traveling   ( carried over from work styles and personalities).  To me, it is too much like work.

Edited October 6, 2022 by Catlover54
Typo

[florisdekort]

3 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

It's nice that you had a good experience and that somehow you can lay claim to 'your' table for the rest of the cruise.  I am not sure how that would work unless you always arrive promptly when the dining room opens, maybe that is the plan.  Will they hold your table open until you come if you do not?

 

Also

1.  that approach (and as repeatedly suggested by lincslady and others as a simple solution)  does not scale well, e.g., if everyone lays "claim" to the decent  service area, this means then others, perhaps Jsiegel, presumably paying the same price per diem, have to settle on the service dregs  when the ship is near capacity,  because the Quest is understaffed, despite being marketed as "luxury" ( presumably for all who pay).
 

2.  You also say you think "the staff handled the rush well."  Certainly it sounds like it did for you. 

But jsiegel noted, 

". . . .  In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. . . . "
 

If the problem was handled well, then people who came long after dsiegel should have been served after dsiegel, not before, IMHO, and everyone would have equally long waits for the limited kitchen staff. Someone needs to be coordinating the timing to be fair, but is not, because of lack of management staff -- that is not a "luxury" experience for those who pull the short straws.

 

 

 

Wow. Someone is having a good time. Clearly that’s not allowed. 

[Viking1966]

Jackie

I would recommend arriving early for dinner, skip the Cap reception.  Communicate upon your arrival your expectations for dinner. 

[Viking1966]

Tables can be reserved in the Restaurant for groups 5 or larger. The MD suggested the approach said he would set table for 5 even though we are 4. My parents have hearing issues in large crowds; so a quit area of the restaurant is important. We have made a connection with some of the staff  and enjoy spending time with them. 

[jsiegel]

19 minutes ago, Viking1966 said:

Jackie

I would recommend arriving early for dinner, skip the Cap reception.  Communicate upon your arrival your expectations for dinner. 

We plan on doing that as one can get champagne or a drink anywhere, anytime (within posted hours) and hors d'oeuvres right before dinner is too much food for us. I don't want to miss the twice baked goat cheese souffle tonight.  Our dining companions eat multiple appetizers so we'll be asking the wait staff to serve us the next course without waiting for them.  Our friends are agreeable to this, we'd done this successfully on another cruise line. 

[Viking1966]

16 minutes ago, jsiegel said:

We plan on doing that as one can get champagne or a drink anywhere, anytime (within posted hours) and hors d'oeuvres right before dinner is too much food for us. I don't want to miss the twice baked goat cheese souffle tonight.  Our dining companions eat multiple appetizers so we'll be asking the wait staff to serve us the next course without waiting for them.  Our friends are agreeable to this, we'd done this successfully on another cruise line. 

Hope you have a splendid evening.

[nancygp]

46 minutes ago, Viking1966 said:

Tables can be reserved in the Restaurant for groups 5 or larger. The MD suggested the approach said he would set table for 5 even though we are 4. My parents have hearing issues in large crowds; so a quit area of the restaurant is important. We have made a connection with some of the staff  and enjoy spending time with them. 

great service,.enjoy 

 

nancy

[ivyleaguegent]

13 hours ago, jsiegel said:

Our experience last night in The Restaurant was awful. We were seated a little after 7 pm. Our water glasses were filled and bread brought over and then we waited and waited and waited for our order to be taken.  Eventually the waiter appeared and took our orders. It was after 8 pm before our appetizers were served.  They were small and quickly consumed and we waited another half hour before our mains came. In the meantime they were turning tables around us, people who arrived long after us finished their desserts before we received our main courses.  We did not finish until 9 pm. We did complain and they stated the kitchen couldn't keep up. 

 

We wish we had the option to try out Earth and Ocean but it continues to be closed.  Tonight is formal night and we anticipate slowdowns in service again and we have an early excursion tomorrow so don't want to be still eating dinner at 9 pm.  The menu in the Collanade tonight is very limited, only three choices for appetizers and two for the main courses. Is that normal? I believe on our last Seabourn cruise in the before times there were more entree options.

 

Other than The Restaurant, we're impressed with the service and friendliness of the staff in the other venues. 

 

Jackie

Ask to be seated in Vanessa's section.

[Viking1966]

Service for formal night was good, not perfect. The food was great. Do question Rigatoni as the Chef Special, but I had the lobster.