Are You Seeing Any Improvements Recently

[highscar]

I did not say anything about choosing bad service.  With anytime dinning it is your choice to go at your leisure during the open hours.  At times more people show up than are available tables.  Therefore you have to wait. Fixed dinning is fixed time and assigned table for length of cruise.  That is the reason for the two levels.   One open and one fixed.  

[Florida_gal_50]

38 minutes ago, FrankieSue said:

So you are saying that if you choose one of the dining options offered by Holland, ie “anytime dining” you choose to have bad service and long delays? I would beg to differ and say that passengers who choose any time dining deserve the same attention and service as all other passengers… 

No you must choose set otherwise you deserve what you get 😛😉.  I’m with you 100 percent.  

[Harboursiders]

14 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

 

We were on the 3/25/23 Eurodam Sunfarer and share your positive observations.  But the best thing:  A lovely library has been installed!  Whoever designed this room and chose the volumes, should be commended.  There were about ten categories with many books having multiple copies.  Fiction, non-fiction, historical, romance, short stories (I picked up a recent publication of Daphne DuMaurier's short stories), nature, etc.  Everyone I talked to who had been in the library was delighted with it.  Hope the next Oosterdam drydock will include one as good.

Library return is to be expanded to all ships along with artistic classes.  Currently on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the Library Grand opening was on Monday.  Great to have them back.

Food has been great. no long lines, and service has been excellent. 

Definite reduction in cleaning staff.  Stairway bannisters definitely need some maintenance. 

Overall great to be back to cruising.   

[Iamthesea]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

  I don’t think anyone would think there would be a line up for fixed but there is probably someone.

I have seen lines for "fixed seating" on all cruiselines.  This mostly occurs on the first sailing night when passengers wait to be shown to their table.  Most do not check out their table number ahead of time.  Others wait in a line each evening wanting to be escorted.    Then there are the lines waiting for the dining room to open up for the fixed seating times.   

 

We checked for our table on our last HAL cruise soon after embarkation.  That evening, we marched right pass the line and to our table only to find someone else sitting there. 🤪  Those passengers had decided that they liked our table over their own assignment.

[electro]

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I wouldn’t know these people from Adam.  I’m just not that interested in knowing who the upper management of the ship is. I just don’t fawn over people.

Same, I wouldn't know the hotel manager or F&B manager if I tripped over them.

[3rdGenCunarder]

3 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I wouldn’t know these people from Adam.  I’m just not that interested in knowing who the upper management of the ship is. I just don’t fawn over people.

 

38 minutes ago, electro said:

Same, I wouldn't know the hotel manager or F&B manager if I tripped over them.

 

I wouldn't know them, either. But if I had a problem, I would make my concerns known. If you don't know to whom you should address your complaint, the Navigator app has a way to send a message/question/complaint. Or leave a note at the front desk. 

 

If it's an issue in the MDR, start with the Matire d'. On QM2 last fall, we were the slow table. We would get menus and sit for at least 20 minutes before a waiter came back to take our orders. Long gaps between courses. it was getting to the point that the only way to make the show was to skip dessert. We asked to speak to the assistant Maitre d' and explained our issues. Service got better. If he hadn't resolved it, we could have complained to a "higher up," but we had no need to escalate. 

 

Before anyone starts saying that service should be good to start with, yes, that's true. But in the real world, things aren't always as we would like them to be--and not just on cruise ships. So you can sit and grumble and stew, or you can try to do something about it. 

 

[0106]

@FlaMarinerI will be on the Oosterdam in January for the South America & Antarctic cruise.  Were there any guest lecturers or cooking demonstrations?  We board in Buenos Aires.Where did you board?  Any issues with boarding?  Any outstanding tours you would recommend in Argentina or Chile?  Thank you for your insights.

[cruisemom42]

16 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

 

We were on the 3/25/23 Eurodam Sunfarer and share your positive observations.  But the best thing:  A lovely library has been installed!  Whoever designed this room and chose the volumes, should be commended.  There were about ten categories with many books having multiple copies.  Fiction, non-fiction, historical, romance, short stories (I picked up a recent publication of Daphne DuMaurier's short stories), nature, etc.  Everyone I talked to who had been in the library was delighted with it.  Hope the next Oosterdam drydock will include one as good.

You are lucky if the Eurodam truly had a History category. On Westerdam it is mostly fiction — everything from Young Adult to short stories to sci fi but precious little space devoted to non-fiction (less than 10% of shelf space, and there is definitely NO history section). I’ve walked around twice and only saw two books I’d consider even mildly interesting…. ( one of them being the same du Maurier volume you mention, but not really relevant to this trip so I passed).

 

So glad I have my Kindle!

[albingirl]

4 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

You are lucky if three Eurodam truly had a History category. On Westerdam it is mostly fiction — everything from Young Adult to short stories to sci fi but precious little space devoted to non-fiction (less than 10% of shelf space, and there is definitely NO history section). I’ve walked around twice and only saw two books I’d consider even mildly interesting…. ( one of them being the same du Maurier volume you mention, but not really relevant to this trip so I passed).

 

So glad I have my Kindle!

Having a kindle is insurance that you will have enjoyable reading at hand.  I don't think I go anywhere without a book or a kindle. I have a friend who would swim out to her floating dock with a book in a zip lock bag.  Now, that's extreme! Enjoy your cruise; very enjoyable thread, thank you.

[badtwin]

4 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That’s not always a choice available.  You have to book early to get that.  I have an equal amount of days on hal.  I don’t think anyone would think there would be a line up for fixed but there is probably someone.

 

I am curious about the comment that you have to book early (to get late fixed.)  We prefer late fixed at a table of 6 to 8 other people.  On our cruise in  February we got a two top so switched to eat with our friends at early although we never got a fixed table so we were sort of this hybrid seating.  We are on a waitlist for fixed late on Rotterdam in the fall and are a little worried we will get another two top.  Is fixed seating at bigger tables a thing of the past?

 

More on topic, we did notice service in the main dining room could be a little slow and there was a line at times (not sure of wait) for freestyle.  I can't help but think this push to freestyle is part of the problem.  With fixed, everyone showed up more or less near the same time, seated themselves and so staff could focus on service.  It may also help the kitchen to have most people eating starters then mains and then desserts at similar times instead of plating everything during the entire time the dining room is open.  When you get the same waiter every night, they know if you want a drink or the wine list and get a feel for how fast your table can decide what to order. There is also more incentive to provide good service for a good tip.  We had one excellent waiter in the MDR several nights and went back to find him for a tip the last night.  And told the head of the dining room and mentioned him in our review.  I waited tables at one point in my life and it was easier to provide better service to the regulars. So while freestyle diners do deserve good service, I can see why those who opt for fixed may have fewer complaints.

 

.

[Bostonjetset]

4 hours ago, FrankieSue said:

So you are saying that if you choose one of the dining options offered by Holland, ie “anytime dining” you choose to have bad service and long delays? I would beg to differ and say that passengers who choose any time dining deserve the same attention and service as all other passengers… 

Same attention and service yes. Same wait times, no. It’s akin to having a reservation at any restaurant on land and being sat immediately vs showing up at 7.15 on a Saturday evening with no rez, when everyone else wants to eat, and complaining of a long wait. 

[FrankieSue]

14 minutes ago, Bostonjetset said:

Same attention and service yes. Same wait times, no. It’s akin to having a reservation at any restaurant on land and being sat immediately vs showing up at 7.15 on a Saturday evening with no rez, when everyone else wants to eat, and complaining of a long wait. 

Lower level of the dining room is specifically designated for any time dining and HAL also knows in advance how many of their guests opted for any time dining. A little planning in the dining room would go a long way to alleviate any unpleasant long wait,

Edited April 12, 2023 by FrankieSue

[3rdGenCunarder]

53 minutes ago, badtwin said:

 

I am curious about the comment that you have to book early (to get late fixed.)  We prefer late fixed at a table of 6 to 8 other people.  On our cruise in  February we got a two top so switched to eat with our friends at early although we never got a fixed table so we were sort of this hybrid seating.  We are on a waitlist for fixed late on Rotterdam in the fall and are a little worried we will get another two top.  Is fixed seating at bigger tables a thing of the past?

 

More on topic, we did notice service in the main dining room could be a little slow and there was a line at times (not sure of wait) for freestyle.  I can't help but think this push to freestyle is part of the problem.  With fixed, everyone showed up more or less near the same time, seated themselves and so staff could focus on service.  It may also help the kitchen to have most people eating starters then mains and then desserts at similar times instead of plating everything during the entire time the dining room is open.  When you get the same waiter every night, they know if you want a drink or the wine list and get a feel for how fast your table can decide what to order. There is also more incentive to provide good service for a good tip.  We had one excellent waiter in the MDR several nights and went back to find him for a tip the last night.  And told the head of the dining room and mentioned him in our review.  I waited tables at one point in my life and it was easier to provide better service to the regulars. So while freestyle diners do deserve good service, I can see why those who opt for fixed may have fewer complaints.

 

.

 

 

You're right, fixed dining is easier on the kitchen. They can focus on one course at a time. I took a kitchen tour on the Norway. Old ship, designed for fixed dining. "Freestyle" on NCL was just starting then. Someone on the tour asked when Norway would go freestyle, and we were told that it wasn't possible. Open seating requires a larger kitchen, partly because so many different items would be prepared at the same time, and partly because of the need for more and separated serving stations so waiters could get what they need quickly. Norway had two dining rooms with the kitchen in between. No way to expand the kitchen, so they decided to keep Norway on traditional fixed dining. 

 

[atexsix]

6 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That’s not always a choice available.  You have to book early to get that.  I have an equal amount of days on hal.  I don’t think anyone would think there would be a line up for fixed but there is probably someone.

We always have late fixed dining, usually in the upper MDR and it's never full.  Of course to get there we have to enter from the lower level which is also not full at the 8:00 or later hour.  5:00 however there's always a line.

 

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

 

You're right, fixed dining is easier on the kitchen. They can focus on one course at a time. I took a kitchen tour on the Norway. Old ship, designed for fixed dining. "Freestyle" on NCL was just starting then. Someone on the tour asked when Norway would go freestyle, and we were told that it wasn't possible. Open seating requires a larger kitchen, partly because so many different items would be prepared at the same time, and partly because of the need for more and separated serving stations so waiters could get what they need quickly. Norway had two dining rooms with the kitchen in between. No way to expand the kitchen, so they decided to keep Norway on traditional fixed dining. 

 

In reading a lot of live threads I've noticed open dining is still a mess on many ships, after all these years they just can't get it right, I think you've hit it on why, many ships just aren't designed for it.  

[highscar]

@atexsixjust curious. Why do you have go through the lower level to go up to fixed dinning ? Lower on deck 2, fixed on deck 3.  Elevators on both levels.  

[mcrcruiser]

31 minutes ago, atexsix said:

We always have late fixed dining, usually in the upper MDR and it's never full.  Of course to get there we have to enter from the lower level which is also not full at the 8:00 or later hour.  5:00 however there's always a line.

 

In reading a lot of live threads I've noticed open dining is still a mess on many ships, after all these years they just can't get it right, I think you've hit it on why, many ships just aren't designed for it.  

imo the   best  way ships can accommodate dinner times could then be 5:30 PM .then 7:00 PM & finally 8:30 PM  . Why wouldn't they try that instead of early late & any time dining .Makes it easier on the kitchen & wait staff 

[CruiserBruce]

21 minutes ago, highscar said:

@atexsixjust curious. Why do you have go through the lower level to go up to fixed dinning ? Lower on deck 2, fixed on deck 3.  Elevators on both levels.  

Not always true. The ships can mix fixed and open on either deck, if the demand for one is greater. See it on several cruises.

[badtwin]

2 hours ago, FrankieSue said:

Lower level of the dining room is specifically designated for any time dining and HAL also knows in advance how many of their guests opted for any time dining. A little planning in the dining room would go a long way to alleviate any unpleasant long wait,

 

Agreed to some extent but you have at least two choke points for freestyle - someone has to optimize the seating - this group wants a two top, this group wants a four and someone else is demanding a window.  And the maître d'  should also try to allocate seating among waitstaff - so the front desk has to sort this out before assigning tables.  Then you need a lot of people to show everyone to their table.  That is a lot of staff just to organize things. 

.

 

[atexsix]

28 minutes ago, highscar said:

@atexsixjust curious. Why do you have go through the lower level to go up to fixed dinning ? Lower on deck 2, fixed on deck 3.  Elevators on both levels.  

That came out wrong.  The first few days we were open dining, but we showed at the same time every night, always taking us upstairs to the same table, so they changed us to fixed dining for the 2nd half of the cruise, and at that point we could show up through either entrance.

[highscar]

@CruiserBruce thank you did not know this.  

[highscar]

@atexsix  that makes sense. 

[Tampa Girl]

7 hours ago, Harboursiders said:

Library return is to be expanded to all ships along with artistic classes.  Currently on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the Library Grand opening was on Monday.  Great to have them back.

Food has been great. no long lines, and service has been excellent. 

Definite reduction in cleaning staff.  Stairway bannisters definitely need some maintenance. 

Overall great to be back to cruising.   

 

Wonderful!  Thank you for letting us know.

[Tampa Girl]

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

You are lucky if the Eurodam truly had a History category. On Westerdam it is mostly fiction — everything from Young Adult to short stories to sci fi but precious little space devoted to non-fiction (less than 10% of shelf space, and there is definitely NO history section). I’ve walked around twice and only saw two books I’d consider even mildly interesting…. ( one of them being the same du Maurier volume you mention, but not really relevant to this trip so I passed).

 

So glad I have my Kindle!

 

I thought that I had seen a "History" section, but the history volumes might have been included in the non-fiction section.  DH read a very interesting history of the Vikings, and one World War II book.  He reads only non-fiction and was able to find and finish two very interesting volumes.  You appear to have been looking for something relevant to your trip, which could narrow your choice a bit.  Had you considered loading your Kindle with books relevant to your cruise?  I am just delighted to find something which intrigues me.  I had loaded our ebooks with sufficient material to carry us through a 30-day cruise.  Never touched them during this 10-day cruise.  So glad to have a library back!

[badtwin]

2 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

imo the   best  way ships can accommodate dinner times could then be 5:30 PM .then 7:00 PM & finally 8:30 PM  . Why wouldn't they try that instead of early late & any time dining .Makes it easier on the kitchen & wait staff 

I assume this would require bigger dining rooms because I do not believe you could get three seatings from each table but would instead get two seatings from some (a 5:30 and an 8:30) and then a single 7:00 from the other tables.  You are only allowing an hour and a half for each seating which would mean something closer to an hour and a quarter to eat and 15 minutes to clear and reset tables.  At home I admit we inhale our food, but on a cruise we love a leisurely pace, conversation, an extra starter sometimes and maybe coffee at the end.  I would hate to be hurried to make way for the next seating.

 

I am curious if anyone knows what is the "usual"  capacity of the MDR compared to the capacity of the ship.  (I googled without much luck) One would guess around half but then with specialty restaurants and alternative venues like the lido, it could be smaller but that is why I ask.

 

 

[washiotter]

17 hours ago, SumoCitrus said:

You’ll have to scroll a bit to get a genuine answer to your important question. You see, this Board is very much a HAL fan club. There are many people who check this board every day to see where HAL ships are and to fantasize about their next cruise (or reminisce about a HAL cruise they took 30 years ago). Nothing wrong with that. But if you stopped by an Elvis fan club and asked if he’d put on weight, they’d chase you out.

Wow, that is not my experience of this board at all! I am gearing up for my first cruise in June and have found this board pretty daunting with all of the complaints. If this is a fan club, I'd hate to see the critics.