At Dinner, Do You Wait To Eat Till Everyone Is Served?

[Marobarb]

Luckily, this has not been a problem we have encountered thus far. We have had people at our table tell us the night before that they will not be there the next night, so we knew not to wait. I would say if this happened, we would go with what the waiter deemed appropriate to do. It would be more a problem for him/her it seems to me. (And I could always consume some breadsticks while we waited.)

[tadjr]

I usually wait until everyone is served. If you see someone not served and they dont advise its ok to eat, I usually just ask, did you order a salad, etc. Often times they are so into the conversation that they didnt even notice everyone was waiting for them to start.

I would not have a problem waiting 5-10 minutes for someone to show up, but once that time frame has passed, I would say begin. I cant believe that the cruise line allows 30 minutes until the doors are closed. If I am running later than that, I wouldnt expect everyone to wait for me to start their meal. I'd just catch up and skip the appetizer or soup to get up to speed. It isnt like there isnt enough food around to miss a course or two.

It is also rude to not show up at the table and not tell anyone you wont be there if you know in advance (specialty restaurant, tour or casual dining). I've always made it a point to let the table know that tomorrow night we will be absent so dont wait for us. If its a last minute deal, you can always drop by the table or dining room and let your table or server know that you wont be joining them tonight.

[jpcruiseguy]

My mother always taught me via Mrs. Vanderbilt (i think it was), you are to begin eating when served. The chef has made an effort to serve you hot food, so that is when you begin eating.

[Danno]

I wait until everyone is served...unless someone indicates they are not having a given course.

 

I was always taught this was right...HOWEVER, I do not wait for people who are late...if they had any manners they would be on time. They won't notice my lack of manners, when they have none of their own.

[FrogCruiser]

This is why I always request a table for 2... my DW is used to my eating before she sits down..... :)

[C 2 C]

"Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners."

 

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's Little Instruction Book)

[dmarch@islc.net]

I'm amazed we need to have this conversation......what is wrong with us! LOL

[flagger]

Flagger you are kidding, right?

Nope I am not. I prefer my hot food hot and my cold food cold. I see no sense in waiting for everyone else. I am there to eat not socialise. Get me in and get me out. If I want fine dining, I will go to the speciality restaurant alone.

[DonLou]

Nope I am not. I prefer my hot food hot and my cold food cold. I see no sense in waiting for everyone else. I am there to eat not socialise. Get me in and get me out. If I want fine dining, I will go to the speciality restaurant alone.

 

LOL. :D Flagger, the waitstaff are pretty savvy. Once they know your routine of eating as soon as you are served, you may find that you will be the last one at the table to receive the food. :) But I absolutely love your attitude.

[flagger]

Once they know your routine of eating as soon as you are served, you may find that you will be the last one at the table to receive the food.

And if hot food does not come out as hot food, it will be sent back. And my comment card at the end of the cruise will be reflective of such "service".

[greeneg]

I'm amazed we need to have this conversation......what is wrong with us! LOL

Now, David, surely you know the answer to that one......

 

Best of the Season, My Friend.

[dmarch@islc.net]

Now, David, surely you know the answer to that one......

 

Best of the Season, My Friend.

I know....we have issues. LOL

 

Same to you buddy

PS

Ed, what's your avatar? Miss the 747.

[DonLou]

And if hot food does not come out as hot food, it will be sent back. And my comment card at the end of the cruise will be reflective of such "service".

 

Guaranteed hot food hot and cold food cold. They look forward to your kind "service" comments and overly generous tip. :D

[Ericknow32]

And if hot food does not come out as hot food, it will be sent back. And my comment card at the end of the cruise will be reflective of such "service".

Just a question, What motivation does the waiter have to give you great service if you don't plan on tipping them.

 

Next question. Do you ever worry that you will have the same waiter again and that they will want to get even with you for stiffing them the last time.

 

Flagger you are definitely an interesting person.

[Ma Bell]

And if hot food does not come out as hot food, it will be sent back. And my comment card at the end of the cruise will be reflective of such "service".

 

We are all quaking in our shoes!

[tadjr]

 

Next question. Do you ever worry that you will have the same waiter again and that they will want to get even with you for stiffing them the last time.

 

 

 

It does happen. We had an assistant waiter on Horizon Oct '02 (DaDang) who was great. We cruised Horizon again in January '03 and saw him on the ship (although we did not have him this time, we still saw him at the buffet, etc.) Imagine my surprise when in May '05 on the Millie TA crossing the first night my friend nudges me and says "Look who the assistant is, DaDang!". He remembered us from the previous cruises (we had a wild group the first time so it would be hard to forget). It was a fantastic 2 weeks on the crossing.

[Danno]

Flagger you are definitely an interesting person.

 

It must be Christmas....

[tadjr]

And if hot food does not come out as hot food, it will be sent back. And my comment card at the end of the cruise will be reflective of such "service".

 

Just curious how long you have to wait for your food? I've never had a cold served hot or hot served cold. Is this happening to you a lot on cruises?

Also regarding waiting for everyone at the table to be served before eating, how long are you really having to wait? Rarely have I had to wait more than a minute or more (at a large table for 10 the waiter can only carry so many plates at once.) Everyone is making it sound like they are starving while waiting for everyone at the table to be served and your food is going to be ice cold. Next time just eat another breadstick while you're waiting for everyone to get their food. It really shouldnt be this big a deal should it?

[flagger]

Just a question, What motivation does the waiter have to give you great service if you don't plan on tipping them.

By definition, great service is going beyond what is expected. Going beyond what is expected is my threshold for tipping. Besides if they expect a tip, they are waiting on the wrong person.

Next question. Do you ever worry that you will have the same waiter again and that they will want to get even with you for stiffing them the last time.

I never worry about it. I could care less if I ever see them again and if someone were to "get even" they would be dealt with for any implied health violation.

[Ma Bell]

You'd never know if they did anything.

[cusyl]

Yes, I wait. I have to see what utensils to use for that course.

 

 

I assume you are kidding, LOL....but in case you aren't always start from the outside, and the utensils at the top of your plate are for deserts.

[greeneg]

I know....we have issues. LOL

 

Same to you buddy

PS

Ed, what's your avatar? Miss the 747.

 

Still available, but it IS Baskeball Season, I live in North Carolina, and am a Duke Alumnus.......

[tuggers]

Posted earlier:

 

I am there to eat not socialise. Get me in and get me out. If I want fine dining, I will go to the specialty restaurant alone.

 

What a terrible experience dining must be for and with this cruiser! The dining room has always been, for me, a time to meet and enjoy new people, expand ones horizons and, lastly, have a good meal. For people who just want to hit the food trough why not eat at an alternative venue where politeness and decorum are a little more relaxed?

 

And to go eat at the specialty restaurant alone? How boring. So much nicer to share the experience with someone!

[PhoenixCruiser]

Just a question, What motivation does the waiter have to give you great service if you don't plan on tipping them.

 

Next question. Do you ever worry that you will have the same waiter again and that they will want to get even with you for stiffing them the last time.

 

Flagger you are definitely an interesting person.

 

Agreed!

 

When I was a server, I quickly found out which customers did not tip. It's amazing what powers a server has when "trying to provide a pleasant dining experience". LOL

 

It's a good thing laxatives come in several forms. And do you know what a few drops of Visine in a beverage can do to your system OUCH :eek:

 

To the non-tippers: While being cheap you can demand a good time, but when the evening is over, I was the one LMAO and experiencing a good time ;)

 

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[susan196222]

He brings this on himself.

 

What goes around comes around.