Emerald Princess dining shambles

[Murphey]

How would anyone know if a TD diner is in the AT dining room??:confused:

 

What I meant was, there seems to be a lot of assumptions that TD people cross over to the AT dining rooms on a whim. How does anyone know that this is indeed happening.

 

BTW, if a TD diner wants to switch to AT, the Maitre D will usually pull someone off the waiting list and move them to the TD.

[JohnS43]

I was on the cruise in question as well, so let me add my two cents. First, I was traveling solo in a suite, so my room was actually UNDER capacity. I hope that made up for some of the overcrowding elsewhere!

 

But as for dining-- I had anytime dining, and preferred to dine alone at a two-top. The first few times I tried this at popular dining times (say, after 7PM), there was a line in both the anytime dining rooms (one of them converts from Traditional to Anytime at 7:30, I think.) Twice, I had to use a pager, but was seated relatively promptly (under 15 minutes.) But later on in the cruise, I tried showing up at around 5:30 and was always seated immediately-- even having to pass through a line of unoccupied servers who all greeted me as I was shown to my table in an 80% vacant dining room. So really, it's no different from any restaurant-- if you show up at a popular time without a reservation, you're going to have to wait.

 

I will say that I DID experience a problem with the DINE line -- not with respect to anytime dining, but in trying to get a reservation at the Crown Grill on one of the formal nights. I called the number repeatedly for several hours in the morning and it was always busy or "no one present to answer." FINALLY, I got through one time when I called from a house phone instead of my room. (Supposedly suite passengers are provided with a dedicated person or line for dining reservations, but I never found out how to access this feature.) But when I got into the automated menu, which said to press "3" for the Crown Grill, it kept dumping me into an FAQ about Anytime Dining. I tried several times and finally ended up going to the front desk to see if they could get through (which they did, eventually.)

 

Let me add that the specialty restaurants (especially SHARE) seemed to be fairly empty most of the time. But when I called for my Crown Grill reservation, they only had very late seating times available, despite the fact that the restaurant was FAR from full when I got there at 9:30. Perhaps it was a staffing issue.

[Colo Cruiser]

I was on the cruise in question as well, so let me add my two cents. First, I was traveling solo in a suite, so my room was actually UNDER capacity. I hope that made up for some of the overcrowding elsewhere!

 

But as for dining-- I had anytime dining, and preferred to dine alone at a two-top. The first few times I tried this at popular dining times (say, after 7PM), there was a line in both the anytime dining rooms (one of them converts from Traditional to Anytime at 7:30, I think.) Twice, I had to use a pager, but was seated relatively promptly (under 15 minutes.) But later on in the cruise, I tried showing up at around 5:30 and was always seated immediately-- even having to pass through a line of unoccupied servers who all greeted me as I was shown to my table in an 80% vacant dining room. So really, it's no different from any restaurant-- if you show up at a popular time without a reservation, you're going to have to wait.

 

I will say that I DID experience a problem with the DINE line -- not with respect to anytime dining, but in trying to get a reservation at the Crown Grill on one of the formal nights. I called the number repeatedly for several hours in the morning and it was always busy or "no one present to answer." FINALLY, I got through one time when I called from a house phone instead of my room. (Supposedly suite passengers are provided with a dedicated person or line for dining reservations, but I never found out how to access this feature.) But when I got into the automated menu, which said to press "3" for the Crown Grill, it kept dumping me into an FAQ about Anytime Dining. I tried several times and finally ended up going to the front desk to see if they could get through (which they did, eventually.)

 

Let me add that the specialty restaurants (especially SHARE) seemed to be fairly empty most of the time. But when I called for my Crown Grill reservation, they only had very late seating times available, despite the fact that the restaurant was FAR from full when I got there at 9:30. Perhaps it was a staffing issue.

 

 

I have had the same issues with the DINE line. I just end up walking to the restaurant and speaking with the manager/hw.

[JohnS43]

I have had the same issues with the DINE line. I just end up walking to the restaurant and speaking with the manager/hw.

 

How do you do that when the restaurant is closed most of the time?

[Colo Cruiser]

How do you do that when the restaurant is closed most of the time?

 

 

I will go down as soon as possible in the cruise when they are open if I know which nights I want.

[TracieABD]

I will go down as soon as possible in the cruise when they are open if I know which nights I want.

 

Yep. The desk at the restaurants are normally open around 2 or 3 on embarkation day. I find that I can save a big bunch of aggravation if I talk to a human-- face to face.

[Brisbane41]

I was on the cruise in question as well, so let me add my two cents. First, I was traveling solo in a suite, so my room was actually UNDER capacity. I hope that made up for some of the overcrowding elsewhere!

 

But as for dining-- I had anytime dining, and preferred to dine alone at a two-top. The first few times I tried this at popular dining times (say, after 7PM), there was a line in both the anytime dining rooms (one of them converts from Traditional to Anytime at 7:30, I think.) Twice, I had to use a pager, but was seated relatively promptly (under 15 minutes.) But later on in the cruise, I tried showing up at around 5:30 and was always seated immediately-- even having to pass through a line of unoccupied servers who all greeted me as I was shown to my table in an 80% vacant dining room. So really, it's no different from any restaurant-- if you show up at a popular time without a reservation, you're going to have to wait.

 

I will say that I DID experience a problem with the DINE line -- not with respect to anytime dining, but in trying to get a reservation at the Crown Grill on one of the formal nights. I called the number repeatedly for several hours in the morning and it was always busy or "no one present to answer." FINALLY, I got through one time when I called from a house phone instead of my room. (Supposedly suite passengers are provided with a dedicated person or line for dining reservations, but I never found out how to access this feature.) But when I got into the automated menu, which said to press "3" for the Crown Grill, it kept dumping me into an FAQ about Anytime Dining. I tried several times and finally ended up going to the front desk to see if they could get through (which they did, eventually.)

 

Let me add that the specialty restaurants (especially SHARE) seemed to be fairly empty most of the time. But when I called for my Crown Grill reservation, they only had very late seating times available, despite the fact that the restaurant was FAR from full when I got there at 9:30. Perhaps it was a staffing issue.

 

I believe the issue that is present on the Emerald Princess does not exist on ships like the Grand, Golden, Star, Diamond and Sapphire Princess which are all exactly the same design and dimensions yet the Emerald and its sisters has that extra deck pushing capacity from 2,600 to over 3,400 which in my opinion causes problems that veteran cruisers knew never existed in the very recent past.

 

I have sailed on a version of that ship and was not all that impressed with the crowding myself and have my favourite ships. A ship like the Emerald would be my last choice to sail on with Princess. Perhaps if I knew there would be no families with children on board I might go and try my luck again. I work with children so it is good to have a holiday away from them.

[hpeabody]

I believe the issue that is present on the Emerald Princess does not exist on ships like the Grand, Golden, Star, Diamond and Sapphire Princess which are all exactly the same design and dimensions yet the Emerald and its sisters has that extra deck pushing capacity from 2,600 to over 3,400 which in my opinion causes problems that veteran cruisers knew never existed in the very recent past.

 

I have sailed on a version of that ship and was not all that impressed with the crowding myself and have my favourite ships. A ship like the Emerald would be my last choice to sail on with Princess. Perhaps if I knew there would be no families with children on board I might go and try my luck again. I work with children so it is good to have a holiday away from them.

 

Sapphire and Diamond were built in Japan, not by Francantieri in Italy. They have a different dining set up than any other Princess ships.. They actually have four smaller size dining rooms mid ship on decks 5 & 6 and the International dining room deck 6 aft for traditional dining.

 

I tend to agree that the number of passengers has a lot to do with dining issues

Edited August 12, 2016 by hpeabody

[Colo Cruiser]

Sapphire and Diamond were built in Japan, not by Francantieri in Italy. They have a different dining set up than any other Princess ships.. They actually have four smaller size dining rooms mid ship on decks 5 & 6 and the International dining room deck 6 aft for traditional dining.

 

I tend to agree that the number of passengers has a lot to do with dining issues

 

 

 

Not a fan at all of those 4 DR's. :(

Always had long lines and confusion at the doors to all of them at dinner.

Edited August 12, 2016 by Colo Cruiser

[Brisbane41]

Sapphire and Diamond were built in Japan, not by Francantieri in Italy. They have a different dining set up than any other Princess ships.. They actually have four smaller size dining rooms mid ship on decks 5 & 6 and the International dining room deck 6 aft for traditional dining.

 

I tend to agree that the number of passengers has a lot to do with dining issues

 

They are exactly the same size as the existing ones on the Grand, Golden and Star except there is a wall down the centre line making one restaurant two restaurants. Back then when they were built Princess had some tacky motto "Big ship choice, small ship feel" not my idea of a good motto that confuses the hell out of people and come to think of it why would someone want a big ship to feel like a small ship.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

Duplicate post.

Edited August 12, 2016 by SoCal Cruiser78

[Lucky TGO]

My experience has been that when we sit at a table for two, in an area of other "two-tops", the MDR seems to be quieter. When seated with a larger group, in an area of larger tables, things seem to get noisier. So the noise factor may vary from one area of the MDR to another.

 

I have also noticed that when large groups are sailing, they tend to take over the MDR (and other public spaces) and things tend to get louder as they talk back-and-forth between tables, etc.[/quote

 

Yes your right I can agree with you on that large groups are louder.

Tony

[kruisey]

Anytime and I had to wait.Its my vacation and I solved that question by going Traditional at least that made one wait time less on my holiday..:):)

[easyboy]

We were asked our cabin number EVERY night in ATD so presumably they could check everyone was in the right dining room...

Us too on the Emerald last May.

[caber]

We have had the complete opposite experience on Regal Princess. We got off on Monday past. The cruise didn`t have the same amount of children as it was a Baltic cruise but we never queued to get into the restaurant. We went in usually around 8 but sometimes earlier. We could even get able for two without waiting. The service was excellent also, maybe because the waiters were not under the same pressure, although hey did seem to have a lot of tables to cover.

[floridalover5623]

We were asked our cabin number EVERY night in ATD so presumably they could check everyone was in the right dining room...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Us too on the Emerald last May.

 

We've run across those hostesses before (on the Emerald) who insisted on seeing your card even though she knew us from the previous 20 some odd days. You would think after more than 20 or 25 nights she would get to know us. ;)

[rbt001]

I was on the cruise in question as well, so let me add my two cents. First, I was traveling solo in a suite, so my room was actually UNDER capacity. I hope that made up for some of the overcrowding elsewhere!

 

But as for dining-- I had anytime dining, and preferred to dine alone at a two-top. The first few times I tried this at popular dining times (say, after 7PM), there was a line in both the anytime dining rooms (one of them converts from Traditional to Anytime at 7:30, I think.) Twice, I had to use a pager, but was seated relatively promptly (under 15 minutes.) But later on in the cruise, I tried showing up at around 5:30 and was always seated immediately-- even having to pass through a line of unoccupied servers who all greeted me as I was shown to my table in an 80% vacant dining room. So really, it's no different from any restaurant-- if you show up at a popular time without a reservation, you're going to have to wait.

 

I will say that I DID experience a problem with the DINE line -- not with respect to anytime dining, but in trying to get a reservation at the Crown Grill on one of the formal nights. I called the number repeatedly for several hours in the morning and it was always busy or "no one present to answer." FINALLY, I got through one time when I called from a house phone instead of my room. (Supposedly suite passengers are provided with a dedicated person or line for dining reservations, but I never found out how to access this feature.) But when I got into the automated menu, which said to press "3" for the Crown Grill, it kept dumping me into an FAQ about Anytime Dining. I tried several times and finally ended up going to the front desk to see if they could get through (which they did, eventually.)

 

Let me add that the specialty restaurants (especially SHARE) seemed to be fairly empty most of the time. But when I called for my Crown Grill reservation, they only had very late seating times available, despite the fact that the restaurant was FAR from full when I got there at 9:30. Perhaps it was a staffing issue.

 

I'm disappointed to learn of the what I'd call "substandard" attention given to you as a suite guest. I've only sailed in a suite once, and it seemed to me that we were prioritized and given preferential treatment. One would think that with the upcoming Club Class, which is more about better service and better treatment, that there would be an elevated awareness of respecting premium guests and pampering them to ensure all your needs are addressed.

 

And on the other hand, I was glad to see another perspective regarding this particular cruise, which differs from the OP's.

[Bocagirl1]

Does anyone know what rate of exchange is given in casino when changing Sterling to US Dollars please

[rbt001]

Does anyone know what rate of exchange is given in casino when changing Sterling to US Dollars please

 

It depends on how many guests are sailing on a holiday cruise on the Emerald Princess and how guest perceive the wait times to be for anytime dining during peak dinner hours.

 

That's what we've been discussing here, and your question was answered a couple of pages ago in this thread. Didn't you see it?

[caribill]

Does anyone know what rate of exchange is given in casino when changing Sterling to US Dollars please

 

A poor rate.

 

Before Brexit when the Interbank rate for the Pound was $1.45352 for one British pound, Princess was paying $1.321, about 9% less.