Dining Service Issue

We have just returned from 16 fantastic days on the Odyssey.

Chef Kurt was very visible throughout the ship and the food in all the venues was excellent.

The Colonnade was particularly good this time because Antonio was in charge!

The only issue that we had was the "hostess" in the main dining room. A new experience for us and one we hope will disappear although our understanding is that it is a "Holland America" thing. We were told later that our hostess had been transferred over from Holland America and was not trained in the Seabourn "can do" attitude.

The Dining Room Manager left the table allocations to the hostess and she was very inflexible about which tables she allocated. We took up the matter after the first couple of evenings on unsatisfactory tables and the problem was sorted out for us but we noticed that whilst she was very bright and cheerful when escorting people to the table of her choice, if they said they were not happy her attitude changed completely.

I feel that the Dining Room Manager should still greet guests at the door and allocate the tables leaving the hostess then to show the way! She was however quite good at escorting the guests back from the restrooms during the meal!!

Not a problem for those guests who know what to expect and what to ask for but a new cruiser on Seabourn could be very disappointed with this new system as it is not the luxury experience we have come to expect.

On our Christmas Sojourn cruise we also had a hostess. I'm struggling for the the right words here but she scrubbed up very well. Formal evenings were made all the merrier :)

I can see the need for her services (in allocating tables not triggering pacemakers and waking up all the old boys). We are very lucky in cruise terms in being able to turn up at dinner when we want and with whoever we want. It is one of the best things about Seabourn particularly when I compare it to my native Royal Caribbean where they now want to know every mouthful of food 6 months in advance. And then change your requests anyway!

But it does require a bit of managing in terms of not overloading service stations, timing tables so that food comes out promptly and the serving staff are not over worked.

You know where in the dining room you want to sit or who you want to be served by but sometimes that causes a problem. You, like us will have no doubt given advance notice and enjoyed a pre-planned table in the past. Once again the hostess can work around that. A table of 10 or 12 puts strain on a service station so to load them up with another table or 8, 10 or 12 might cause problems.

What ever we can do to help those looking after us.

As you point out if someone puts their foot down the staff will generally say yes and then worry about how they are going to cope afterwards so for those with specific needs I think SB still delivers.

Henry :)

A little confused here. Does 'hostess' mean that there o konger is a restaurant manager e.g. as in Nick Botha? Or is this an additional person?

Yes there is still a restaurant manager although on this cruise not as professional as Nick Botha!

We miss the Maitre'Ds who treated everybody as valued guests. On the formal nights they looked great in their tails. Sadly no longer!

We just returned from an 18 night cruise on the Sojourn. This was our first time with a hostess instead of a maitre d' and I must say it was a very refreshing experience. The reason? our hostess, Diana, was a gem. She greeted us by name every time she saw us around the ship from day one, she always put us at well located tables where we felt very comfortable with or without company, and called us twice during the cruise to invite us to hosted tables.

I guess titles don't matter nearly as much as the person doing the job and Diana is doing splendidly on the Sojourn.

We also experienced the Hostess on our recent Seabourn cruise. I can not say I'm a fan of this new experience. To me being asked my cabin number every evening made me feel like there was now some tier system in place and you were seated at premium table according to your cabin allocation. This is probably not the case but the whole system did not feel as personal as it use to. Our group had an issue with our table one evening and her handling of the situation was poor.

We also experienced the Hostess on our recent Seabourn cruise. I can not say I'm a fan of this new experience. To me being asked my cabin number every evening made me feel like there was now some tier system in place and you were seated at premium table according to your cabin allocation. This is probably not the case but the whole system did not feel as personal as it use to. Our group had an issue with our table one evening and her handling of the situation was poor.

The reason for your cabin number request is nothing to do with table placement hierarchy. It is primarily there so any dietary requirements follow you seamlessly to your table. You won't have to constantly remind staff, in fact they will confirm with you as they start service.

Just to add that restaurant managers are still on hand to ensure all goes well and in some cases the relationship between hostess and manager / maître d is very close.

Henry :)

I have celiac disease and have been on Seabourn for over 160 days. When our waiter comes to the table he knows beforehand that I cannot have gluten and then brings gluten free bread sticks and keeps track of what I order. Seamlessly done. We will be on the Quest from 5/12 until 6/8.

Will report.:)

We just returned from an 18 night cruise on the Sojourn. This was our first time with a hostess instead of a maitre d' and I must say it was a very refreshing experience. The reason? our hostess, Diana, was a gem. She greeted us by name every time she saw us around the ship from day one, she always put us at well located tables where we felt very comfortable with or without company, and called us twice during the cruise to invite us to hosted tables.

 

I guess titles don't matter nearly as much as the person doing the job and Diana is doing splendidly on the Sojourn.

I agree Diana was fantastic. She was charming, friendly and professional. I'm not sure whether I want to marry her or adopt her. :)

I still don't understand how the MDR hostesses do what they do nor who supports them with what particular policies.

When we were on the Sojourn for a 40 day cruise we learned from her that certain tables were reserved for other specific couples all the time, that some tables are reserved some of the time and some not at all.

In our case, I did not want to do an audit of what this departure means in practice vs what I always thought of Seabourn's anytime/anywhere dining means i.e. what it says. But one night I asked the hostess if we could sit at a particular table and was told it was reserved for the segment we had just started. About another table I was told Yes provided we arrived early the next night. We got there then at 19:15 and lo and behold: no deal as we were apparently beaten to the post by a couple that from that point on sat there every night.

So... What's the deal, Seabourn? Is there a first class only diner's list and/or is the hostess on the (tipping) game? This just doesn't smell right.

This hostess service is a bit of a mess, obviously, since it causes confusion and sometimes worse outcomes that no one desires.

Happy sailing!

I think there is probably a difference between people like myself who turn up on spec and dine in different venues as the mood suits on the day - the most delightful part of a SB cruise, and people who want to dine the main restaurant every evening at the same time.

I can accept that those guests with a "standing order" are allowed "their" table. If it makes them happy anything for a quiet life.

I can also accept that the dining room may be filled in a particular order to help the waiting staff go about their jobs. I imagine it also allows the different dining venues to balance out resources. If I don't know where I'm going to take dinner how can the staff? If the colonnade gets super busy then borrow staff from the restaurant and visa-versa. There are a finite number of staff.

Large, pre-arranged groups have to be worked around. I have never yet been refused a large table for a gathering of friends given a days notice.

Then there is the issue of table size. Some guests crave a table for two, I love company. Again there are a finite number of options available and they have to be managed. I have absolutely no doubt that SB regulars, particularly those of a generous disposition get a little special treatment every now and again when it comes to being seated. I haven't been invited to dine with the captain for example, but that's life. Ultimately it's his loss 'cause I'm a bundle of joy, wit and scintillating conversation :)

There will be times when the restaurant is full to bursting and all tables have to be used, other times when it is less busy, but even then a service station covering your choice of table might not be operational (because staff are deployed elsewhere).

Are there "bad" tables in the dining room? Maybe I'm just too easily pleased, either that or being the hansom devil I am I've always been located front & centre for the visual delight and titillation of other guests :)

One of those first world problems.

Henry :)

I have never had a problem with seat placement in the MDR.

I do think that if you're in a Wintergarden suite or Owber's suite and you want a specific table they will accommodate you. It rarely effects everyone else though.

I do think that if you're in a Wintergarden suite or Owber's suite and you want a specific table they will accommodate you. It rarely effects everyone else though.

I always have the same V5 suite and never have a problem getting a table that is just right.

Usually it is the same table with the waiters that we know and they also know what we like.

We dine at 20.30 when in the MDR

I think there is probably a difference between people like myself who turn up on spec and dine in different venues as the mood suits on the day - the most delightful part of a SB cruise, and people who want to dine the main restaurant every evening at the same time.

 

I can accept that those guests with a "standing order" are allowed "their" table. If it makes them happy anything for a quiet life.

 

I can also accept that the dining room may be filled in a particular order to help the waiting staff go about their jobs. I imagine it also allows the different dining venues to balance out resources. If I don't know where I'm going to take dinner how can the staff? If the colonnade gets super busy then borrow staff from the restaurant and visa-versa. There are a finite number of staff.

 

Large, pre-arranged groups have to be worked around. I have never yet been refused a large table for a gathering of friends given a days notice.

 

Then there is the issue of table size. Some guests crave a table for two, I love company. Again there are a finite number of options available and they have to be managed. I have absolutely no doubt that SB regulars, particularly those of a generous disposition get a little special treatment every now and again when it comes to being seated. I haven't been invited to dine with the captain for example, but that's life. Ultimately it's his loss 'cause I'm a bundle of joy, wit and scintillating conversation :)

 

There will be times when the restaurant is full to bursting and all tables have to be used, other times when it is less busy, but even then a service station covering your choice of table might not be operational (because staff are deployed elsewhere).

 

Are there "bad" tables in the dining room? Maybe I'm just too easily pleased, either that or being the hansom devil I am I've always been located front & centre for the visual delight and titillation of other guests :)

 

One of those first world problems.

 

Henry :)

Bravo!!!!

Well put Henry. We are in the same boat as you! Or should it be on the same ship?

Big ship problems.:rolleyes:

;)

I always have the same V5 suite and never have a problem getting a table that is just right.

 

Usually it is the same table with the waiters that we know and they also know what we like.

 

We dine at 20.30 when in the MDR

Neither have I.