Dining room PA and music

[cruzincurt]

Well, we just got off the Mariner last week. You would think that on a $Billion plus ship, they could find music recordings for the waiters to march or sing to that don't sound like they have been played a milllion times and are as distorted as if played using soup cans as speakers.

[Cincy-David]

Well, we just got off the Mariner last week. You would think that on a $Billion plus ship, they could find music recordings for the waiters to march or sing to that don't sound like they have been played a milllion times and are as distorted as if played using soup cans as speakers.

 

I was on Mariner last week (11/27 departure) also and I completely agree. The Ole Solo Mio recording sounded like it was being played on the original long play LP that has 50,000 scratches on it and was being played on my old GE portable phonograph. This was one of my only negative comments about the whole week.

[CAT GIRL]

I agree about the poor sound quality. At least we don't have to

suffer through the Macarena anymore!

[Jazzfman]

VOS has the same problem in the dining area, a PA that sounded like the old yankee stadium!! they should can the staff sing along as many looked bored and some didnt even lip sync!!....also band at pool was very distorted thru some pool speakers....it drives me nutz....does not seem to bother most I guess

Windjammer speakers were beraking up only when certain people talked (like calling people to customs before disembark)

Sound in theater however was top notch....took the backstage tour on a rainy sea day...waves hitting bow of boat backstage were LOUD!!

[Nancyquilts]

What was even more annoying during dinner was when the wife of the cruise director got on the loudspeaker to announce Bingo after dinner - wouldn't you think that those who want to play are smart enough to read the schedule? Nancy

[JCSM-Mom]

At least we don't have to

suffer through the Macarena anymore!

 

Last week on the VOS, they did the Macarena......

 

It was amusing!

[beachchick]

Someone please explain to me how waiters singing and dancing to a horrible quality recording contributes to the "fine dining" and refined, formal atmosphere that we are supposed to expect in the dining room?

 

Honestly, I'd be thrilled if they did away with the whole production nonsense.

 

beachchick

[Max Circus]

I'd be thrilled if they did away with the "singing" and "dancing" by the waiters. Many of them look embarassed and I feel badly for them. Doesn't do anything for my enjoyment of the meal. I'm not a long-time cruiser but perhaps this is a tradition from the "old days" that the cruise ships think they need to maintain because people expect it.

 

Here's one cruiser that votes: EXIT - STAGE RIGHT!!!

[stargate fan]

Not me! I don't want to waste a second of my day reading a schedule. I read enough schedules during the other 51 weeks of the year. I'd much rather have announcements tell me when some event is about to take place.

 

What was even more annoying during dinner was when the wife of the cruise director got on the loudspeaker to announce Bingo after dinner - wouldn't you think that those who want to play are smart enough to read the schedule? Nancy

[cruzincurt]

I perfer no announcements, I'll find my way to where and when I want to attend something. If I miss something, it's my fault. It's just more "advertising" trying to trump up profits at art auctions and such.

 

As for waiters dancing and singing, I agree, I can do without it. It comes off as sort of a carnival side act. I feel embarassed for the waiters having to act like a "trained monkey next to the organ grinder" for my additional entertainment (not to mention it holds up getting dessert!).

[JCSM-Mom]

(not to mention it holds up getting dessert!).

 

That was my main beef with it! I really wanted to get out of there and to the Casino! :o

 

We only had limited time to give our money away and they were infringing on it!:rolleyes:

 

Actually, due to a lucky 4 Jacks we broke even this trip!!!!:D

[FJTinSC]

Sounds to me like more petty complaining.....

[beachchick]

I don't think it's petty complaining. I think it's personal preference. I would prefer that they not have the servers sing and dance. I think it detracts from the dining room experience and it's obviously embarrassing to many members of the staff. Why subject them to such embarrassment anyway?

 

beachchick

[cruzincurt]

It's not petty complaining. It is simply an observation that getting rid of the "circus act" in the dining room would, IMO, lead to a nicer dining experience. I seem to recall that they stopped doing it on HAL on our last HAL cruise.

 

Petty compaining would be compaining that there was no pepper shaker on the tables in the Windjammer because someone ordered pepper that was too coarse for the shakers. We had to use the packets of pepper. Now that's "petty".

[cruisin from florida]

I'm in the "stop the singing and dancing" group. It does seem silly, the waiters don't seem to enjoy it, it doesn't contribute AT ALL to an elegant atmosphere, and I just don't see the point. If they did want to add entertainment at dinner, they could have strolling musicians, or a piano area. The service stops when the singing starts, and I'd rather have my coffee refilled, than watch the poor service staff grimace through a lip synced show.

 

As for the announcements, you'll notice that ONLY events where the cruiseline makes money (bingo, art auctions and the like) are announced. Many other fun activities (various sports competions, trivia contests, etc.) where the cruiseline doesn't make money are not announced. So I say drop the announcements as well. I'll check my cruise compass and get where I want to go.

 

And, of course, neither of the two issues above seriously detract from the wonderful vacation that we enjoy on the ship, and won't impact our future cruise plans.

 

:-)

[Cruising89143]

Someone please explain to me how waiters singing and dancing to a horrible quality recording contributes to the "fine dining" and refined, formal atmosphere that we are supposed to expect in the dining room?

 

Honestly, I'd be thrilled if they did away with the whole production nonsense.

 

beachchick

 

I agree 100%. The worst was on Carnival when the crew was made to sing God Bless America. No of them being from our country and none of them looked to happy to be singing this. It should be done away with IMHO or at least on RCI.

[Cruising89143]

What was even more annoying during dinner was when the wife of the cruise director got on the loudspeaker to announce Bingo after dinner - wouldn't you think that those who want to play are smart enough to read the schedule? Nancy

 

I was on the Navigator last week and the announcements were kept to a minimum. I too think that if you're going to print and deliver the Compass to the cabins each night then they should keep the announcements to just the stuff that we need to know and not the bingo schedules.