Table for two sir?

As some of you may remember the MDR experience on Oriana on my last cruise was tarnished somewhat by some of my fellow diners on a table for six.

I was a suite passenger for my cruise on Britannia having booked in early January 2015. I didn't purchase a suite just for a table for two in the MDR of course, but in all honesty I did fully expect to get it. Because the booking system will not let you request a table for two I had to state a table for four with a preference for a table for two.

Did I get a table for two? No.

Did I get a table for four? No.

I was allocated a table for six. I was not a happy bunny.

Anyway, I duly went to the MDR to see what our fellow diners would be like. One couple were ten minutes late and to be honest I didn't feel like either couple would be enjoyable company for fourteen dinners.

The MDR on Britannia is a big let down too in my opinion. No high ceiling, plastic seat covers and no atmosphere. I was also on a table bordering the main corridor. The starter was okay, the pork in the main course was so tough it was inedible and the hot dessert was cold!

So, we spent the next morning booking dinner at the alternative restaurants around the ship. Three in Epicurean, three in Sindu and an Olly Smith hosted one in the Glass House. I planned one dinner out in Madeira as it was a 9.30 pm sailing and the others either the Glass House or the Beach House.

I removed the auto-gratuity from my on board account.

In order not to inconvenience my previous fellow diners, I went to the MDR in the afternoon to notify them we would not be dining there again. They asked why and I advised it was because I wanted a table for two and had expected to get it for the cruise price I paid. I later received a telephone call from the restaurant manager responding to my visit to the MDR to request a move to a table for two. I explained that I had not done so and merely notified them we would not be dining there again to avoid delays to our previous fellow diners, and had already made alternative dining arrangements for the rest of the cruise. He stated none were available anyway as they allocated them on a first come basis and passengers who booked before me had all taken those available. Fair enough I thought. However .....

The next day we had a card left for us stating we had now magically been allocated a table for two. Where did this suddenly materialise I wonder? Needless to say, we did not use it.

But the story does not end there. At the Olly Smith dinner we were pared with a lovely couple who were also in a suite. Apparently they had also requested a table for two and got a table for six, but, they had pre-booked the cruise and chose the cabin immediately P&O opened the booking system for them to do so some fifteen months ago. They also were unhappy with that and were largely dining elsewhere on the ship as a result.

Now I will be the first to admit I am somewhat of a sceptic on all things P&O. I am not keen on the way they appear to do business and like it less and less the more I discover.

Could it be I was lied to by the restaurant manager?

Could it be that they look at your previous willingness to pay for select dining on previous cruises and then deliberately allocate you a table in the MDR that they know you don't want?

Finally, the food in all the specialist restaurants is excellent and we enjoyed them all. Although I am unlikely to book another P&O cruise in the short term, if I ever do again I will go saver fair and just use the select dining options instead of the MDR.

The next day we had a card left for us stating we had now magically been allocated a table for two. Where did this suddenly materialise I wonder? Needless to say, we did not use it.

Not sure why having been offered what you wanted you declined to use it.

Britannia has only one club dining restaurant (out of 3) therefore there is going to be more pressure on table allocation choices. Did you ask if you could switch to freedom dining instead?

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I don't know the answer to your question but I see cruising as a social sort of holiday and its a shame that you only want a table for two.

First night is a bit quick to "dismiss" your fellow diners and say they would not be enjoyable company. Everyone has something interesting about them and it may take a night or two to get to know them. The couple who were late may have been struggling to get a lift as we have read about Britannia.

I understand that some couples may want some "together time" (I don't usually travel as part of a couple myself), but surely lunches plus a few speciality nights would give you this ?

Of course this may not be you but how often do you look round the MDR at couples on their own eating in silence and then see the buzz of the tables for 6 and 8

I know some people want to eat as a couple because of extreme shyness or hearing loss but otherwise I think its nicer to be sociable

Kevin has hit the nail on the head. If a ship has majority freedom dining use it. On Grand Princess and Celebrity we have never failed to get a table for 2-3 in freedom, both have large numbers of tables for such requests.

Princess allow you to book even in Freedom and you aren't allocated a restaurant. If one is busy they just send you up or down the staircase to the other one.

Celebrity Eclipse has lots of tables in rows. The larger round tables are generally for parties who want to be together.

As some of you may remember the MDR experience on Oriana on my last cruise was tarnished somewhat by some of my fellow diners on a table for six.

 

I was a suite passenger for my cruise on Britannia having booked in early January 2015. I didn't purchase a suite just for a table for two in the MDR of course, but in all honesty I did fully expect to get it. Because the booking system will not let you request a table for two I had to state a table for four with a preference for a table for two.

 

Did I get a table for two? No.

 

Did I get a table for four? No.

 

I was allocated a table for six. I was not a happy bunny.

 

Anyway, I duly went to the MDR to see what our fellow diners would be like. One couple were ten minutes late and to be honest I didn't feel like either couple would be enjoyable company for fourteen dinners.

 

The MDR on Britannia is a big let down too in my opinion. No high ceiling, plastic seat covers and no atmosphere. I was also on a table bordering the main corridor. The starter was okay, the pork in the main course was so tough it was inedible and the hot dessert was cold!

 

So, we spent the next morning booking dinner at the alternative restaurants around the ship. Three in Epicurean, three in Sindu and an Olly Smith hosted one in the Glass House. I planned one dinner out in Madeira as it was a 9.30 pm sailing and the others either the Glass House or the Beach House.

 

I removed the auto-gratuity from my on board account.

 

In order not to inconvenience my previous fellow diners, I went to the MDR in the afternoon to notify them we would not be dining there again. They asked why and I advised it was because I wanted a table for two and had expected to get it for the cruise price I paid. I later received a telephone call from the restaurant manager responding to my visit to the MDR to request a move to a table for two. I explained that I had not done so and merely notified them we would not be dining there again to avoid delays to our previous fellow diners, and had already made alternative dining arrangements for the rest of the cruise. He stated none were available anyway as they allocated them on a first come basis and passengers who booked before me had all taken those available. Fair enough I thought. However .....

 

The next day we had a card left for us stating we had now magically been allocated a table for two. Where did this suddenly materialise I wonder? Needless to say, we did not use it.

 

But the story does not end there. At the Olly Smith dinner we were pared with a lovely couple who were also in a suite. Apparently they had also requested a table for two and got a table for six, but, they had pre-booked the cruise and chose the cabin immediately P&O opened the booking system for them to do so some fifteen months ago. They also were unhappy with that and were largely dining elsewhere on the ship as a result.

 

Now I will be the first to admit I am somewhat of a sceptic on all things P&O. I am not keen on the way they appear to do business and like it less and less the more I discover.

 

Could it be I was lied to by the restaurant manager?

 

Could it be that they look at your previous willingness to pay for select dining on previous cruises and then deliberately allocate you a table in the MDR that they know you don't want?

 

Finally, the food in all the specialist restaurants is excellent and we enjoyed them all. Although I am unlikely to book another P&O cruise in the short term, if I ever do again I will go saver fair and just use the select dining options instead of the MDR.

I also cannot understand , why if you did not get your table for 2 the first night, you did not speak to the RM on your way out and request what you wanted. Maybe book a select dining for the next meal and see what appeared.

You got what you actually wanted and then declined to use it...

Somebody else has posted that there is only one club dining room, so why did you not request freedom, or ask to transfer to that.

A bit far fetched to think that the RM can see your previous bookings and base what you are given on that.

From past experience they allocate the tables for one cruise, on the cruise before, so not a lot of time to look back over 3000 peoples previous bookings to base where you are going to put them on their cruise.

We always request a table for 2 now, but have had some lovely tables for 8 in the past. I never base my assumptions on the first meal, when most people are tired, and maybe not want to talk a lot.

OH well.

Could it be that they look at your previous willingness to pay for select dining on previous cruises and then deliberately allocate you a table in the MDR that they know you don't want?

Hi purplewoman, i do believe sis that you hit the nail on the head.

They know who spends money on board the boat, and yes I believe you.

Its a scam i say, its a scam.

I work so hard for my holidays, I work overtime at weekends also, to make money for my cruise. And i spend money and i look after myself on a holiday.

Your bestie

Three reasons for not using the table for two.

1. If there was one available why was I lied to and why was it not already allocated to someone who had requested one on their booking? Passengers should not have to complain to get what they asked for if it was available.

2. We had already made the effort to arrange dining elsewhere.

3. The food was crap!

Maybe the people who had been allocated the table for two had not turned up and after being contacted, had decided on another form of dining. But the RM would have had to follow that one through before allocating to somebody else?

Maybe the people who had been allocated the table for two had not turned up and after being contacted, had decided on another form of dining. But the RM would have had to follow that one through before allocating to somebody else?

Possibly, but that would be stretching coincidence to far for me to believe I'm afraid.

Three reasons for not using the table for two.

 

1. If there was one available why was I lied to and why was it not already allocated to someone who had requested one on their booking? Passengers should not have to complain to get what they asked for if it was available.

Don't forget you are not the only passenger on board and I guess the RM gets a large number of requests.

2. We had already made the effort to arrange dining elsewhere.

I'm sure if you had asked him nicely the RM would have cancelled any you no longer wanted.

3. The food was crap!

No one should make a judgement on one meal, on our recent Britannia cruise we thought the food in the MDR was excellent.

When we have issues on holiday we take them up, politely, with the staff or customer service and they are normally remedied promptly.

Hi purplewoman, i do believe sis that you hit the nail on the head.

They know who spends money on board the boat, and yes I believe you.

Its a scam i say, its a scam.

I work so hard for my holidays, I work overtime at weekends also, to make money for my cruise. And i spend money and i look after myself on a holiday.

 

Your bestie

As I posted I know from when we have done our B2B that they allocate the dining tables the one before you are going on.

You really really really believe that they sit there with over 3000 people to sit, looking at what cruising those people have done before, and what they have spent, before they decide -no they didn't spend enough ,we will not give them what they want. PLEASE ...climb down and go an lie down in a dark room and think up some other scams you think they do.

They will start of with the select fare payers, and allocate what they require by date of booking. If there is only one club dining and a lot of select fare payers on that cruise and a lot of them want tables for 2, it follows not everyone will get them.

As I posted I know from when we have done our B2B that they allocate the dining tables the one before you are going on.

You really really really believe that they sit there with over 3000 people to sit, looking at what cruising those people have done before, and what they have spent, before they decide -no they didn't spend enough ,we will not give them what they want. PLEASE ...climb down and go an lie down in a dark room and think up some other scams you think they do.

They will start of with the select fare payers, and allocate what they require by date of booking. If there is only one club dining and a lot of select fare payers on that cruise and a lot of them want tables for 2, it follows not everyone will get them.

But they don't have 3000 to allocate, they only have the ones in the one and only MDR.

I could believe the first come first served principle, but that doesn't appear to hold water either based on what I was told by another passenger who booked as early as humanly possible.

As with everything to do with P&O, they appear to either deliberately manipulate it to their perceived advantage or leave it to a complete lottery but let passengers state a preference to fool them into believing there is some method and fairness to it all when there isn't.

But they don't have 3000 to allocate, they only have the ones in the one and only MDR.

 

I could believe the first come first served principle, but that doesn't appear to hold water either based on what I was told by another passenger who booked as early as humanly possible.

 

As with everything to do with P&O, they appear to either deliberately manipulate it to their perceived advantage or leave it to a complete lottery but let passengers state a preference to fool them into believing there is some method and fairness to it all when there isn't.

We are talking of the first day of booking or the first day or priority booking? The bookings for Britannia on the first day were very large and it is quite conceivable that all the two person tables were allocated before the people you met. It is true the allocation only happens about 2/3 weeks before the cruise but they are taken in booking order. For this very early Britannia cruise I would not be suppressed if the tables for 2 were taken.

We are talking of the first day of booking or the first day or priority booking? The bookings for Britannia on the first day were very large and it is quite conceivable that all the two person tables were allocated before the people you met. It is true the allocation only happens about 2/3 weeks before the cruise but they are taken in booking order. For this very early Britannia cruise I would not be suppressed if the tables for 2 were taken.

Working on the theories on this thread, can anyone explain to me how for the last 3 cruises we have had we have had a table for 2.

We are not top tier, so do not have priority booking. We are not in a suite.( in a mini suite). We did not book as soon as bookings opened.

We didn't just have a table for 2, we managed to have the same table for 2, for all 3 cruises, as we liked it so much.

Destinations for the 3 cruises-Eastern Med(inc Venice), April 2014, Iberia May 2015, Caribbean transatlantic-Nov 2014.

Three reasons for not using the table for two.

 

1. If there was one available why was I lied to and why was it not already allocated to someone who had requested one on their booking? Passengers should not have to complain to get what they asked for if it was available.

 

2. We had already made the effort to arrange dining elsewhere.

 

3. The food was crap!

So if I am reading this correctly, you ate in the MDR for one night, unhappy at not being on a table for 2 and feel it is reasonable to describe the food as 'crap'. Surely, your very limited experience of the MDR (1 meal at which you were unhappy with the seating arrangements) does not constitute sufficient evidence for such a judgement. On the maiden cruise, I ate in the MDR several times and enjoyed every meal. No dish I was served, or have ever been served on a P&O cruise could be described as 'crap'. It was good of you to explain to your fellow diners why you would not be eating with them again. From the tone of your post, I think they may have been quite relieved.

So if I am reading this correctly, you ate in the MDR for one night, unhappy at not being on a table for 2 and feel it is reasonable to describe the food as 'crap'. Surely, your very limited experience of the MDR (1 meal at which you were unhappy with the seating arrangements) does not constitute sufficient evidence for such a judgement. On the maiden cruise, I ate in the MDR several times and enjoyed every meal. No dish I was served, or have ever been served on a P&O cruise could be described as 'crap'. It was good of you to explain to your fellow diners why you would not be eating with them again. From the tone of your post, I think they may have been quite relieved.

I'm glad you enjoyed your meals, I did not.

It is not my custom to return to restaurants that serve me inedible and cold food.

I'm glad you enjoyed your meals, I did not.

 

It is not my custom to return to restaurants that serve me inedible and cold food.

Have not sailed Britannia but I have to agree with you about the P&O MDR food on others. On Adonia recently there were a few mains that were just OK but boy there were some stinkers, particularly in the Gala dinners. P&O need to give up trying to produce "gourmet" meals and concentrate on simpler menus using quality ingredients.

We escaped to Sorento a few times where we got superb service and food: for a fiver a head cover charge.

But then to most, who shovel mounds of food down both in the MD and and the self service quantity seems to win over quality so why should they bother.

David.

Three reasons for not using the table for two.

 

1. If there was one available why was I lied to and why was it not already allocated to someone who had requested one on their booking? Passengers should not have to complain to get what they asked for if it was available.

 

2. We had already made the effort to arrange dining elsewhere.

 

3. The food was crap!

Sorry PurpleMoonlight but I think it is you that is talking crap. We cruised on Britannia maiden and thought the food in MDR was as good as we have ever had over the nearly 40 cruises we have done with P&O,Cunard and Princess over the years. Its obvious that you think because you book a suite you should be given priority over everyone else whenever they have booked or whatever stateroom they are in beneath you. I am sure you will not cruise with P&O again and will be made very welcome back on Cunard with all the rest of the cruise snobs that look down on other cruisers as if they are inferior. I am sure P&O and ALL its cruisers will not miss you.

Sorry PurpleMoonlight but I think it is you that is talking crap. We cruised on Britannia maiden and thought the food in MDR was as good as we have ever had over the nearly 40 cruises we have done with P&O,Cunard and Princess over the years. Its obvious that you think because you book a suite you should be given priority over everyone else whenever they have booked or whatever stateroom they are in below. I am sure you will not cruise with P&O again and will be made very welcome back on Cunard with all the rest of snobs that look down on other cruisers as if they are inferior. I am sure P&O and ALL its cruisers will not miss you.

You need to undertake better research. I have never cruised with Cunard or any other cruise operator besides P&O.

I'm glad you enjoyed the food on offer in the MDR though. We all have different tastes and expectations I guess.

You need to undertake better research. I have never cruised with Cunard or any other cruise operator besides P&O.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed the food on offer in the MDR though. We all have different tastes and expectations I guess.

Well I am sure you will be made very welcome on Cunard because you will not be on your own when you book a suite and think you should get priority over everyone else who hasnt booked a suite and look down on them. I think the 4 on the table on Britannia in MDR had a very lucky escape.

Well I am sure you will be made very welcome on Cunard because you will not be on your own when you book a suite and think you should get priority over everyone else who hasnt booked a suite and look down on them. I think the 4 on the table on Britannia in MDR had a very lucky escape.

You do realise that suite passengers have paid for the priority and privileges they receive, don't you?

I still dont get it. After their first meal they asked to change to the table for two they requested and then after getting a table for two declined it and described the food as crap. Why push for a table for two after your first meal if the food was crap? We were on the second maiden cruise on Britannia and the food was amongst the best we have had in any main dining room afloat.

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I still dont get it. After their first meal they asked to change to the table for two they requested and then after getting a table for two declined it and described the food as crap. Why push for a table for two after your first meal if the food was crap? We were on the second maiden cruise on Britannia and the food was amongst the best we have had in any main dining room afloat.

 

 

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Incorrect.

I notified the MDR that we would not be attending any further sittings, twice in fact - a personal visit and on the telephone. The purpose of doing so was so as not to delay the other diners meals. The next day the restaurant manager took upon himself to somehow allocate us a table for two that he claimed was not available the previous day, even though I had never specifically asked to be moved to one.

I'm just amazed at the energy some people put in to having a horrible holiday experience. You get out of life what you put into it!

I'm just amazed at the energy some people put in to having a horrible holiday experience. You get out of life what you put into it!

I don't follow that, please explain.

We put a lot of energy into quickly arranging alternative dining, at significant cost, that suited us so as not to have a 'horrible holiday experience'. You think that is wrong?