Maybe table clothes will be back.....

[Blk_Amish]

Wow you are truly an anomaly in today's cruising world. Since you have to pack so much with all those dresses, maybe you could add a tablecloth ;)

 

Seriously, I don't see it as a cutback. They are a making an investment in new tables that can be without a tablecloth. They might save a little over time with washing the tablecloths, but still have the time to continually clean the table tops.

 

It's more about changing with the times. We have become a more casual society.

 

With this changing times I am going to inform DH that it's no longer to have dinner cooked and on the table by 5 pm.. No longer greeting him at the door with a cold beer and forget the 15 minutes rule of no beetching about anything within 15 minutes of him getting home. It has been 20 years of being stuck in the wrong era.

 

Dressing up is fun, different from the everyday. I would like to see them keep them for dinner. We sit down and eat as a family with place mats and at least a table runner.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Tutankhamen]

Not offended by anything you said Tut.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

 

Glad to hear! Now, will the queen of my castle be offended if I said "Sweet pea, your caboose is getting a tad wide and your front is starting to resemble a set of wet socks?"

Edited December 15, 2013 by Tutankhamen

[Tantra1]

What's the deal on this board with all the photos of New York eateries?

The second photo is of a tavern, if you look in the back, the restaurant portion does have tablecloths.

The third photo looks like a cheap take-out place near a bus station or truck stop. Gross.

 

The third photo is Birreria. It's a brewery in NY that serves food. If you go to their website you will see the waiters are dressed in red T-shirts. I guess for some that might be the hallmark of a fine dining restaurant. :rolleyes:

 

What I haven't seen yet is anyone saying that having table cloths is a bad idea that would make them consider taking their cruise dollars elsewhere. Neither have I read that having tablecloths would make their dining experience less enjoyable. So if it doesn't make any difference why defend their removal when so many others appreciate them. :confused:

 

Cheers!

[Tutankhamen]

Tablecloths, tanks, fine dining, elegant night, formal night, ribs, not enough choices, no soup for us,,,,,,,,,,,I don't have a dog in the fight.

 

Now where did I put my tux banana hammock?

[Tantra1]

Glad to hear! Now, will the queen of my castle be offended if I said "Sweet pea, your caboose is getting a tad wide and your front is starting to resemble a set of wet socks?"

 

:eek: Be carefull. lol

 

Cheers!

[Tutankhamen]

:eek: Be carefull. lol

 

Cheers!

 

I guess you are right. I will stick with "Honey, you are looking more and more like your mother. "

Edited December 15, 2013 by Tutankhamen

[cruizinisthebest]

Glad to hear! Now, will the queen of my castle be offended if I said "Sweet pea, your caboose is getting a tad wide and your front is starting to resemble a set of wet socks?"

 

Lol. Cute:p

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[Bobug]

Wow...I am floored why people care about a tablecloth on casual nights...LOL. Be ready to make a change somewhere else if they keep them. And possible cut somewhere else. To me it is such a small thing to be so torn up about...pick your battles I always say. To each his own I guess...there are many other things I would rather them bring back than a tablecloth!

Happy Cruising!!

[ccruisequeen]

I saw a photo of the MDR from the newly remodeled ship. It looked more like a dormitory or high school cafeteria. Not my idea of fine dining.

 

 

[Crusin6]

Hopefully they listen. Yes, a good portion of cruise pax on carnival are not opting to go to the mdr and a greater portion wants to dress down if they do go. But an even greater amount wants the mdr experience to be more special than your typical trip to applebees.

 

Most companies strive to retain their most loyal and high spending return customers. For some reason carnival does its best to alienate many of its best customers, instead aiming to go for more first timers who might not spend as much and won't be as brand loyal.

 

I hope carnival management listens to those of us who are unhappy with these changes and reverses course before it is too late and they lose us to other lines.

 

One thing I think you have wrong here is that seasoned return cruisers are the ones that don't spend so much. The newbie cruisers are sometimes so overwhelmed and uninformed that they spend way more than anyone else.

 

Case in point. I know how expensive bingo is and that the chances of winning the top prize are close to zero so I don't go to it and pay for expensive cards. Whereas a newbie thinks bingo is all just part of the cruise experience and willingly overpays for the experience of it

 

Same for the casino. Same for the photos. Same for the alcohol

 

 

Newbies spend more and don't realize all the costs

 

Seasoned cruisers have had their share of excessive sign and sail bills and know when to not overspend

 

Just my 2 cents but I really don't think seasoned cruisers are still spending a fortune on photos every time the leave and return to ship at the various ports. However I still get a chuckle at the newbie pax who think taking those pix are mandatory. We just walk to the side when others just think they can't say no. Or maybe they really want the pix. Lol

Edited December 15, 2013 by Crusin6

[smc0320]

It makes sense to not gave them for breakfast if lunch, but probably should keep them for dinner. But it would not ruin my cruise.

[arush5268d]

Maybe the no-table cloths was part of a modernization effort by CCL. BUT if that IS the case, then why are they putting them in the Steakhouse? Why would they take the paid venue back in time? That isn't logical - neven by CCL standards.

 

This is clearly a cost cutting effort.

[davids68girl]

I could care less. No tablecloth would be just fine with me.

[seannyice81]

I think we need a poll

[Fla Senior]

With this changing times I am going to inform DH that it's no longer to have dinner cooked and on the table by 5 pm.. No longer greeting him at the door with a cold beer and forget the 15 minutes rule of no beetching about anything within 15 minutes of him getting home. It has been 20 years of being stuck in the wrong era.

 

Dressing up is fun, different from the everyday. I would like to see them keep them for dinner. We sit down and eat as a family with place mats and at least a table runner.

 

Like!

[Max Circus]

It doesn't matter to me honestly whether there are tableclothes or not. I respect Carnival for trying something different. And of course with change, comes controversy.

 

My thoughts on why Carnival did this? I think they are trying to get more people in the dining rooms. Last few cruises I have been on there were many empty or half-filled tables. Has to be expensive to plan for a "full" dining room (thinking about the weekly provisions also) and then less than half of those expected show up.

 

Also, I think they see the need to attract a more youthful passenger. This may come as a shock, but like most companies, tracking your "net adds" is very important.

[CRJ700]

I think we need a poll

 

You mean kinda like this one?

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1954864

[babsee101]

Again, I couldn't care less one way or the other. Do something and stick with it. Some people will never be satisfied, and they should gauge feedback over a period of time instead of knee jerk reactions.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

I agree. Most if not all of the people griping haven't been on the Glory since they made the change to the American Table and American Feast. Carnival should give it some time and monitor feedback as more and more people ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE the new dining changes.

[babsee101]

Maybe the no-table cloths was part of a modernization effort by CCL. BUT if that IS the case, then why are they putting them in the Steakhouse? Why would they take the paid venue back in time? That isn't logical - neven by CCL standards.

 

This is clearly a cost cutting effort.

 

The steakhouse on the Magic does not have tablecloths.

[arush5268d]

The steakhouse on the Magic does not have tablecloths.

 

You are correct, as of today. But It will soon. Carnival is going to start using table cloths in the steak houses, fleet wide.

[Aldeya]

You don't say. I packed 7 gowns and 7 cocktail dresses for nothing. Now I understand the incredible strange looks and smiles:D:)

This is not all about tablecloths but another cutback to bare bones cheapness. The rate of cheapness and decline is overwhelming, in a relatively short period of time.

Carnival was never a lesser product than RCL and Princess but one to be enjoyed differently, but now they are not in the same category in my mine.

 

In a nutshell. Well said. Exactly like many of us feel.

[JMAE]

I'm ok with no tablecloths for breakfast, lunch and casual nights in the MDR with a resort dress code. On formal nights they should have a strict dress code. During our Pride cruise in Oct 2013 on formal nights some wear the same things and they would wear on casual nights, jeans, golf shirt, shirt without a tie and shorts.

 

Formal nights have lost the luster of the past.

[babsee101]

You are correct, as of today. But It will soon. Carnival is going to start using table cloths in the steak houses, fleet wide.

 

I did not know that. Oh well, table cloth or no table cloth it doesn't matter to me. I didn't feel the lack of tablecloth cheapened it one bit when I dined in there on my last cruise.

[arush5268d]

I did not know that. Oh well, table cloth or no table cloth it doesn't matter to me. I didn't feel the lack of tablecloth cheapened it one bit when I dined in there on my last cruise.

 

The decor of the steakhouse was designed to have a bare table. But a table cloth works well as well.

 

The MDRs look very strange with bare tables. Plus they serve food more traditionally associated with table cloths.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

One thing I think you have wrong here is that seasoned return cruisers are the ones that don't spend so much. The newbie cruisers are sometimes so overwhelmed and uninformed that they spend way more than anyone else.

 

Case in point. I know how expensive bingo is and that the chances of winning the top prize are close to zero so I don't go to it and pay for expensive cards. Whereas a newbie thinks bingo is all just part of the cruise experience and willingly overpays for the experience of it

 

Same for the casino. Same for the photos. Same for the alcohol

 

 

Newbies spend more and don't realize all the costs

 

Seasoned cruisers have had their share of excessive sign and sail bills and know when to not overspend

 

Just my 2 cents but I really don't think seasoned cruisers are still spending a fortune on photos every time the leave and return to ship at the various ports. However I still get a chuckle at the newbie pax who think taking those pix are mandatory. We just walk to the side when others just think they can't say no. Or maybe they really want the pix. Lol

Yeah newbies may spend more in the short term but how many of them cruise often and become platinum and diamond? Repeat customers spend more over the long run and are the company's bread and butter.

 

In addition to the steady revenue we bring them, people like me are always spreading the good word to others about how awesome cruising is. Happy customers bring companies more new customers and the reverse is also true.

 

So yes, we are smarter than the average cruiser when we sail but over a lifetime we will still bring a company like carnival more direct and indirect revenue than most other people.

 

Carnival needs to realize this and take care of its best customers.