The differences between cruisers from different countries

[Floridiana]

I prefer being around people who speak my language, let alone cultural differences, which I have little patience for. The issues of ice, etc. are of no concern to me, but I also have little patience with the clichéd ugly American (U.S.) myth (lie). I shy away from cultures that are foreign to my own to such and extent that I avoid them.

 

Do you ever get out of Texas? ;)

[Philob]

I have discovered them to be very community centred especially when eating so they will share food rather than have their own dish and if they find something completely amazing they will make sure the rest know.

 

At home each item of food is placed in large bowls or plates and is shared by the family. Example: a whole chicken may be cut up and plated in the center where each person will take a piece or two. Traditionally the youngest will serve the oldest first or at least let them have first choice.

 

When we dine out at a western restaurant my MIL will always declare her main course "too much" and will try to make us take some of hers while at the same time she'll want some of whatever we were having. So I usually get to eat about 4 oz of my 16 oz New York steak :rolleyes::(

[jamessemaj]

Do you ever get out of Texas? ;)

 

I have traveled all over the world but my first (out of 6) cruise was a reposition from Galveston to Barcelona. It was about 70% Texans and was my favorite. My second favorite was a reposition from Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale which was about 70% Californians. My favorite land tour was to Russia. Love Texans, love Californians, love Russians. Have no idea what my point is, just responding to your kind response.:p

[lisiamc]

I am so relieved to hear this. DH and I were raised that way and continue to do it. We often feel anachronistic at a shared dinner table (y)

 

I am also used to breaking off a piece, butter it, eat it, next piece same procedure.

 

On a related note, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had one table neighbour who knows which bread and butter plate is theirs, and one neighbour who doesn’t, and uses mine instead. Those are the meals where I do without the bread. I don’t really need it, and I don’t want to make anyone feel awkward. The confused ones are usually American, but not always! :)

[John Bull]

On a related note, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had one table neighbour who knows which bread and butter plate is theirs, and one neighbour who doesn’t, and uses mine instead. Those are the meals where I do without the bread. I don’t really need it, and I don’t want to make anyone feel awkward. The confused ones are usually American, but not always! :)

 

Yes, it happens, I too can survive without a side-plate.

But when that happens with wine glasses :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

JB :)

[navybankerteacher]

Yes, it happens, I too can survive without a side-plate.

But when that happens with wine glasses :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

JB :)

 

Just because you can survive without a "side-plate" *,

you should not accept encroachment. Common tables are slippery slopes: eternal vigilance is an essential down payment if you expect to retain your wine glass.

 

* It is assumed you mean butter plate, or bread and butter plate.

[Velvetwater]

At home each item of food is placed in large bowls or plates and is shared by the family. Example: a whole chicken may be cut up and plated in the center where each person will take a piece or two. Traditionally the youngest will serve the oldest first or at least let them have first choice.

:rolleyes::(

 

I really like that style of eating much in the same way I like Tapas,Mezze and the like.

 

I also like how my two Chinese friends (one is from the North and the other South) will see something that looks amazing on stranger's table in an Asian restaurant and just go straight up and ask them what it is.

 

They have introduced me to Hot pot too which is also a delicious sharing activity :)

[lisiamc]

Yes, it happens, I too can survive without a side-plate.

But when that happens with wine glasses :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

JB :)

 

Yes, especially if there’s wine in the glass. Drinking my wine would be a step too far - I’d have to speak up! :D

[John Bull]

 

* It is assumed you mean butter plate, or bread and butter plate.

 

No, I mean side-plate.

Same as the Oxford & Cambridge dictionaries and most Brits. ;)

But yes, aka bread & butter plate.

Put that down as another of the "differences between cruisers from different countries".

'Though if we're to include language it's gonna be a very very very long thread. :D

 

JB :)

[mafig]

I'm left-handed, so I have to think before reaching for my bread plate and wine glass.

 

:o

[julie3fan]

I'm left-handed, so I have to think before reaching for my bread plate and wine glass.

 

:o

I'm right-handed, so I have to think before reaching for my bread plate and wine glass. 😁

[GermericanDream]

I'm an American living in Germany, and I can't wait for my Norwegian Fjord cruise in May! We chose Royal Caribbean instead of any European lines because I am so sick of being "the American". I haven't been back to the States in almost four years, an American cruise out of Copenhagen is the closest I can get for now. I can't wait for ice cubes, English, and being able to smile without people thinking there's something wrong with me.

 

But if I were on a German cruise, I would imagine lots of nudity, good bread, lounge chairs being reserved with towels at the crack of dawn, no air conditioning, no one able to stand on a line to save their lives.

[navybankerteacher]

I'm right-handed, so I have to think before reaching for my bread plate and wine glass. 😁

 

I'm right-handed, but I do not feel it makes a difference: I just like to think --- regardless.

[Floridiana]

 

But if I were on a German cruise, I would imagine lots of nudity, good bread, lounge chairs being reserved with towels at the crack of dawn, no air conditioning, no one able to stand on a line to save their lives.

 

No nudity, excellent bread, I have no idea about lounge chairs, but they are always packed, air conditioning not cranked to ice cellar temps, lines but line skippers as well. I never tell other TUI passengers we are Americans because I don't feel like discussing politics.

[2016USAHoliday]

On a ship, the biggest difference we found was the casino and kids clubs.

 

On our Caribbean and Alaska cruises we were shocked that people were sitting at the machines in port, waiting to leave so they could start playing! The casinos were always full. Cruises out of Australia were pretty much empty.

Kids clubs always had a lot of kids on them in the US and not as many in Australia. We asked the crew about this and was told that Americans utilise the clubs more whereas Australians tend to hang out together.

 

It was an eye opener to do a US cruise followed directly by a transpacific to Sydney. The changes were very obvious.

[CruiseGal999]

We were also taught to not butter the whole roll at once.

 

When I was a kid in a foster home, the dad of the house told me to "break my bread". There were 5 kids at the table, including me. I did not understand him. I asked him "what"? He must have said it 4 times before I heard him. Then ... I asked "why"? OMG ... forks dropped onto plates, jaws dropped, eyes were huge and staring at me. He gritted his teeth, inhaled deeply and growled ... "because I said so!". NONE of those kids or his wife for that matter, had EVER seen/heard anyone ask for an explanation or not immediately obeyed the second his will was made clear.

[CruiseGal999]

Us Brits are also a bit obsessed with queuing and get all passive agressive and tut and such when people cut lines. There were a few instances on the Carnival Vista where quite a few Italians weren't into the whole queue thing and things were said...ah well.

 

I have never found Eastern Asians take over an area on a cruise or otherwise. I have discovered them to be very community centred especially when eating so they will share food rather than have their own dish and if they find something completely amazing they will make sure the rest know.

 

I was in line at Logan Airport. In front of me was a 30ish Type A personality man in a suit. In front of him was a young, college age looking man with a duffel and backpack. Next was called, the young man bent down to pick up his duffel and the jerk in the suit walked around him and took his spot at the counter! OMG I was SO mad. Seriously ... how long does it take to bend down and grab a duffel!

[SPacificbound]

This is a difference I have always noticed also.

 

I was born to a French mother who came to the US at 9, and an American father.

 

I grew up hearing what I was supposed to do as per Emily Post. Proper way to eat, proper way to set table, and don't forget to walk back and forth across the room numerous times a day with books on your head for proper posture. etc, etc, etc.

 

Cut meat one bite at a time, fork in left hand, knife in right and then switch. Left (non dominant hand) always held in lap. Never rest arm on table. Break off small piece of bread in your bread platter and apply butter to only that small piece at a time.

 

As I watch those who cut and eat with the same hand it seems so much easier to do that. Why don't I try that? But then an arm would certainly rest on the table at some time. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Floridiana]

Our guide in Beijing explained the pushy behavior of mainland Chinese. She said that they lived through such difficult times where there was never enough food, never enough busses for transport, not enough of anything to the point where this behavior was necessary for survival. She also had an example of her mother's life in a northern Chinese coal town. It's an explanation not an excuse.

All large groups of any nationality tend to be too loud and oblivious of people around them.

[whogo]

I grew up hearing what I was supposed to do as per Emily Post...

 

Cut meat one bite at a time, fork in left hand, knife in right and then switch.

Seventy years ago this was listed as an outdated, but perfectly acceptable, dictum. "Both are perfectly good usage, but it is now axiomatic that whenever food is cut with a knife, the left hand can quite naturally carry it up to the mouth." Vogue's Book of Etiquette, Simon & Schuster, 1948, p. 53.

[champagne123]

I always enjoy Europeans eat certain foods, that a finger food in the US, with knife and fork.

 

BTW, my SO is European.

I always SMH when I see someone eating pizza with a knife and fork. (no matter what the nationality)

[VennDiagram]

Hands vs cutlery.... I let the other diners at our table take the lead. Then do what they are doing. I would never want someone to think that I was correcting them by doing something different.

[davekathy]

I always SMH when I see someone eating pizza with a knife and fork. (no matter what the nationality)

...and french fries.

[cruisemom42]

Hands vs cutlery.... I let the other diners at our table take the lead. Then do what they are doing. I would never want someone to think that I was correcting them by doing something different.

 

^^

The true definition of good manners.

[lisiamc]

I always SMH when I see someone eating pizza with a knife and fork. (no matter what the nationality)

 

I have an acquaintance who eats his pizza with his hands. He surrounds it with his forearms, picks up big pieces, folds them up, jams them into his mouth, and chews vigorously. He doesn’t actually growl when he does this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did one day. I go to some effort never to sit across the table from him. Give me the knife and fork pizza eaters any day! :D