More Cut Backs

[Barocl]

Krazy Kruisers

 

We returned from the Zaandam in February and we had the new table setup. The soup spoon arrived with the soup if you otdered it. We never saw a fish fork or fish knife serve with a fish order. All the tables within our sight were place set the same. I mentioned the change to my other half, the minute I sat down on our first evening. Take care.

[taxmantoo]

Here you go. This should make everyone happy.

 

[9876]

I prefer the well dressed table. I've never been on a HAL cruise so I won't miss the extra flatware but when I dine in an elegant setting I like to have to remember the order of the silverware - when I eat at the Outback I expect a fork and a knife. Small difference but a difference just the same. Oh well, no big deal.

 

 

I agree!! Could not have said it better myself. (and I am from Woodbridge also!)

[Krazy Kruizers]

That explains it then, I guess. There were only 20 or so doing the b2b we did.

 

We had about 280 Intransit passengers.

[jtl513]

I for one would love to have less silverware on the table. It makes me nuts with the wait staff putting down and picking up the silver ware. I guess I'm more focused on the food. Sue

Ditto. I've always thought the amount of silverware used ... or rather not used by most people ... was pretty silly.

[innlady1]

Ditto. I've always thought the amount of silverware used ... or rather not used by most people ... was pretty silly.

 

Superfluous comes to mind. Especially when they can save water by using less. And with everyone going green, I'll bet that's the answer to the question.

[sallycruiser06]

On our recent Noordam cruises, we noticed in the dining room at dinner there we had just the minimal amount of silverware.

 

Gone was the soup spoon, the extra fork, knife and spoon that was always above the plate area.

 

Granted if you ordered soup, a spoon arrived with it.

 

Has anyone noticed this on the other ships?

On the Eurodam at Christmas I noticed that there was a knife and 2 forks at the place setting, and the extra spoons and forks,etc were brought to you as needed. Wasn't inconveneient as I recall, just different.

[leoandhugh]

Cutback??? really this seems so petty but it obviously upset the OP who went so far as to check the tables on the lower level which could be seen from his rail-side table. And as for dining in an "elegant" setting?? Pinnacle maybe yes; main dining room with all those people, I certainly never considered that "elegant":)

[serendipity1499]

I honestly don't recall. I guess I focused on the food...not the flatware.

 

If they cutback on the number of pieces, perhaps they decided to make more room on the table for plates, glasses, etc., and set the table with only what people used most often. Kinda makes sense.

 

I agree with you 100%..Also in this day & age it makes no sense to waste Water, washing the unused place settings! And it does make more room for other utensils..

 

For the record, we had full flatware settings in December on OOSTERDAM.

 

But - does anyone else think that folks are getting a bit carried away

complaining about the most minor changes and referring to them all as

"cutbacks" - therefore part of an insidious plot to downgrade the HAL experience?

 

If this was a complaint I agree with you, but don't believe the OP meant this as a complaint..However don't agree with others who think the table should be "well dressed"..

Come On, we are wasting so much of our natural resources ie: oil to heat water, water & oil to heat the dishwasher dryer, to dry the utensils..Having an "undressed" :rolleyes: table is one way to conserve! I applaud HAL:)..They are doing a great deal to conserve!

 

Really, how does NOT setting extra silver items (that are already bought

& paid for and sitting in their racks) save HAL any measurable amount of

money?

 

Every piece of silver on the table, whether used or not must be washed, dried & polished..Haven't you ever seen the Stewards polishing the Silver that came out of the Dishwasher & then taking the time to set up the tables..Not only does it save a great deal of our natural resources (hot water) it also saves the Stewards time! You figure it out!

 

 

I for one would love to have less silverware on the table. It makes me nuts with the wait staff putting down and picking up the silver ware. I guess I'm more focused on the food. Sue

 

Agree 100%

Betty

[casavaha]

I have noticed some stewards melting the silverware. With the high price of silver,

this should be worth something.

 

Seriously, there are cutbacks everywhere in society. Cruising is still the best deal.

 

Give me 10 or 15 sea days in a row. At slow speed. No port fees, little fuel.

[Hlitner]

Oh my goodness! Cut-backs on silverware. I will immediately e-mail my TA and cancel our upcoming 26 day Noordam cruise. There is no way I could cope with not having all that wonderful silverware (I think its really stainless) on the table.

 

Hank

(Are you kidding me?)

[RuthC]

It's perfectly correct to set a table without the dessert serviceware. It's also correct to set the table with the necessary pieces for the dessert service.

It's one of the "choice" things in table settings (and there's very few of them.) It's all there in my copy of Emily Post.

[foodsvcmgr]

As a further frame of reference, in the hotel/casino where I am employed,

place settings for banquets (where everyone is eating the exact same menu) contain every utensil for the entire meal.

 

Place settings in our a la carte restaurants include flatware for salad

and entree only, plus b&b knife. Utensils for soup and dessert are provided

only if the individual orders those courses.

 

Flatware in HAL's dining rooms is "silver plated", 18/10 grade stainless in

the Lido.:)

[casavaha]

Uh Oh! I guess my carry on full of flatware is worth nothing. Maybe Ebay?

[swedish weave]

Uh Oh! I guess my carry on full of flatware is worth nothing. Maybe Ebay?

 

This whole problem can be solved very easily. PLEASE give it back to them !!!!!!!

[Carolinetucson]

It's not just a saving of hot water and staff drying/polishing time. If the ship can reduce its gross weight by putting 20% of its flatware in storage on shore, wouldn't this save at least a tiny bit on fuel use? Even a little bit on each cruise adds up in the end.

 

This might apply to the issue of trays in the Lido, substitution of plastic dishes in some venues (if this is being done), etc. We all (the planet) benefit when fuel use is reduced. In addition to reducing the gross weight of the ship, reducing the tableware or eliminating trays reduces not just the need for heated water, but for water period. Maintenance of the ship's water supply is neither easy nor cheap.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people complaining are the same ones relentlessly bargain-hunting in this cruisers' market!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cutback??? really this seems so petty but it obviously upset the OP who went so far as to check the tables on the lower level which could be seen from his rail-side table. And as for dining in an "elegant" setting?? Pinnacle maybe yes; main dining room with all those people, I certainly never considered that "elegant":)

 

Upset -- No way!!

You obviously do not know me or my postings.

I have a habit -- as do others here -- who sailed on HAL for years -- and all their ships -- to make it a point when we notice something different happening on the ships.

[jhannah]

They're probably not putting it out because they see so much of it on ebay! ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

It's not just a saving of hot water and staff drying/polishing time. If the ship can reduce its gross weight by putting 20% of its flatware in storage on shore, wouldn't this save at least a tiny bit on fuel use? Even a little bit on each cruise adds up in the end.

 

This might apply to the issue of trays in the Lido, substitution of plastic dishes in some venues (if this is being done), etc. We all (the planet) benefit when fuel use is reduced. In addition to reducing the gross weight of the ship, reducing the tableware or eliminating trays reduces not just the need for heated water, but for water period. Maintenance of the ship's water supply is neither easy nor cheap.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the people complaining are the same ones relentlessly bargain-hunting in this cruisers' market!

 

Just for your edification -- I have not been complaining on this thread -- just noticing a change after having sailed on HAL for quite some time.

Oh Yes -- there are NO discounts for those of us who book SA suites all the time.

Have a good day.

[RuthC]

substitution of plastic dishes in some venues (if this is being done),

Plastic??? PLASTIC!!! :eek:

Sacré Blu! :rolleyes:

[cactuslady]

The Gentle Reader may find a description and picture of Miss Manners's "Nightmare Service" (which "the rules of etiquette even for pig-outs prohibit") here:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ju1XvqoMookC&pg=PA248&lpg=PA248&dq=miss+manners+silverware&source=bl&ots=5GyfGID5AT&sig=QTD1iljAxnoYItlxP-IbXNkMNNg&hl=en&ei=QSLISdymGYmMsAPhuNiAAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA250,M1

[Copper10-8]

Time to learn how to eat/drink soup from a plastic straw!:rolleyes:

[pipedreams62]

Time to learn how to eat/drink soup from a plastic straw!:rolleyes:

 

 

I'll loan you my ladle if you promise not to "Slurp"

[kryos]

Just like with the trays being discontinued in the Lido, the paper documents being discarded in favor of electronic ones ... I don't see this as a problem, and if HAL can save a few bucks by not putting a lot of generally unnecessary silverware on the tables in the dining room, then I say all the power to them. I'd rather see cutbacks in these areas than in something truly important ... something that could negatively impact my cruise experience.

 

Frankly, most of those pieces of silverware that are on the table never get used. A soup spoon if you don't order soup ... a salad fork and you don't order salad. If HAL put every conceivable piece of silverware on the table that someone could possibly use for their meal, it would take them until midnight to finish washing everything! And that's not to even mention all the wasted water, etc.

 

So, fine. Just give me a soup spoon with my soup and a dessert fork or spoon with my dessert ... and I'm happy.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[gophercruiser]

Recently completed the 20 day BTB Feb 22-Mar 14 on the Noordam, table for two # 79 along the upper railing for 8:00 main dinner and had total silver settings for all 20 days,(including butter fork).