Live from the Majestic Princess - August 8, 2021

[CineGraphic]

1 minute ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

You’re right, they can’t, but it is a waste when they sit empty.

 

I don't think this is anyone in the dining room's fault.

My guess is that it was a guest with a reservation who ended up being a no-show.

[Jeter02]

11 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Most talk presentations can not be recorded due to copyright laws.  

 

Chocolate covered strawberries?  Formal Night?  Not requested?  Suite?  Good to see them again.

 

I'll wait for New England to get a lobster roll.  I saw lots of bread exposed (not enough filling).  The claw was a nice touch.  But it is expensive.

 

Is there an elite/suite line at customer service desk?

Yes there is a line for the elite and suite guests at guest services

[milogurd]

6 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

I don't think this is anyone in the dining room's fault.

My guess is that it was a guest with a reservation who ended up being a no-show.

She said that: "We asked for this table for the rest of the cruise but couldn’t be accommodated."

I'm now confused...can you get a reservation for a table or not?

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

No, and this is creating some major heartburn for DH. We are accustomed to meeting with the maitre d’, and getting a table for two generally next to a window which we never miss without notifying them in advance. 
 

DMW (DH calls it Dine the computer’s way) simply assigns a table. Last night we were seated in a traffic zone with possibly the worst service we’ve ever had. It took an hour to get our first course. Tonight we went early and asked for a different table and server, preferably by a window. We were begrudgingly assigned a two top just one table away from the window. Those people never even showed up. But our service was fantastic. We asked for this table for the rest of the cruise but couldn’t be accommodated. So tomorrow we may be back to the bad table/ bad server.  No one seems  to care that we are really displeased. I can’t face going through something similar for the entire time we’re doing extended cruising in the future. 

OMG... this doesn't make sense.  What the heck happened to TD?  Princess has marketed that it will be preserved.  I had presumed by now you would be at a set table with same waiters.  Surely you will seek out the MD/DRO, or at least a HW, and inquire?  I cannot imagine going through this nonsense for a long voyage.

 

Please, anyone who speaks to MD/DRO or a HW about TD seating, I would appreciate the feedback.

 

[Steelers36]

43 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I seem to have to go to Guest Services daily to get our PBP charges fixed. I’ll ask when I am there tomorrow. 

Have you tried the Chat feature in the App?  There have been good reports on service response using that to resolve a small issue like an incorrect charge.  Avoids taking time waiting in line - which can take a while even for Elites.

 

[KLM3164]

5 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

We have been immediately seated in club class and the service has been outstanding. We just show up whenever we want and they take care of us. 

Thanks so much for confirming that seating has been available and service is outstanding for those with club class dining. I’ve canceled our reservation in DMW for our upcoming cruise and look forward to the club class experience for the first time.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, CineGraphic said:

 

Plain and simple: They can't give window seats to everyone who wants one.

It's not so much the window seating.  It's the fact that people who want to be at the same table with same waiters each night don't seem to be getting even that.

 

[Steelers36]

5 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

In past discussions some posts indicated the 10% Elite discount would be a non-refundable OBC and would appreciate getting a definitive answer from you about how you received the discount…thanks.

 

50 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I seem to have to go to Guest Services daily to get our PBP charges fixed. I’ll ask when I am there tomorrow. 

 

I'm not sure I saw a post stating that for excursions, but it has to be wrong.  It's the same idea as internet discount.  If you book an excursion on board, you pay 90% of the cost.  When pre-ordering, the folio credit has to be refundable OBC for equal treatment.  Nothing in Princess document indicates the credit is non-refundable.

 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Steelers36

[Steelers36]

46 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

You’re right, they can’t, but it is a waste when they sit empty. We always appreciated when we had one, and made a point of either being there or canceling in advance. The real issue is that we are all just a number to the DMW system, and are treated that way. Unhappy?  Sorry, that’s just the way DMW works. 

When on board, does DMW tell you what DR and table number you have, or you only find out the table number upon arrival at DR entrance?  (I presume you guys booked same time every night for entire voyage in DMW - i.e. the only thing they have right now that is close to TD).

[Steelers36]

43 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

I don't think this is anyone in the dining room's fault.

My guess is that it was a guest with a reservation who ended up being a no-show.

And it's a shame if they let it sit too long to replace the no show's that they know the table has to be free later for another party.

 

OTOH, if a guest doesn't really know where being seated until show up at DR door, then why wouldn't they just seat someone else at the empty table and whoever shows up later gets seated elsewhere? 

 

Anyway, they need to be taking better care for those that want TD and it seems almost abandoned.

[azbirdmom]

2 hours ago, osofish2 said:

Hi Julie-hope you are having fun, and winning big in the casino!  Is there a live craps table, and do you know who the casino hosts are? Everyone sounds positive and seems to be having a great time; it's been a pleasure to read the "live froms"  Thanks so much.  Linda 

Hi Linda!  Luisa is onboard for the VIP event. I don’t recognize the other hosts. They have added a live craps table and now have draw poker machines but no PokerPro or similar machines to Henry’s chagrin. We were kind of hoping they would add one but nope. Tonight being formal night it was no smoking so I was hoping the machines would be kind but no luck so we moved on. 

[Jeter02]

12 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

It's not so much the window seating.  It's the fact that people who want to be at the same table with same waiters each night don't seem to be getting even that.

 

As long as you ask your waiter or head waiter, they really were very accommodating at least for me, and the couple who was sitting at the table next to me when they saw that you can request it. Grant you I did tell them that I had booked reservations through DMW for the same dining room and same time for the whole cruise. So technically I should be in the system where it shouldn't be an issue.

Edited August 10, 2021 by Jeter02

[SaltwaterDaffy]

2 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

No, and this is creating some major heartburn for DH. We are accustomed to meeting with the maitre d’, and getting a table for two generally next to a window which we never miss without notifying them in advance. 
 

DMW (DH calls it Dine the computer’s way) simply assigns a table. Last night we were seated in a traffic zone with possibly the worst service we’ve ever had. It took an hour to get our first course. Tonight we went early and asked for a different table and server, preferably by a window. We were begrudgingly assigned a two top just one table away from the window. Those people never even showed up. But our service was fantastic. We asked for this table for the rest of the cruise but couldn’t be accommodated. So tomorrow we may be back to the bad table/ bad server.  No one seems  to care that we are really displeased. I can’t face going through something similar for the entire time we’re doing extended cruising in the future. 

You know when the B2B cruises are available the MD will get you a table. Hope to see you in Mexico next year.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Just to clarify, we have been assigned a specific table and waiter. That’s where we sat last night. We waited an hour to get served our first food, and were never offered coffee and dessert. Maybe the issue is us; maybe it’s the waiter. Either way, in the past, a quiet word with a head waiter would have gotten us moved for the duration of the cruise. Tonight we told the restaurant manager we really wanted a different table, and were given an excellent one with an excellent waitstaff, but it was made clear that it was just for tonight, that our DMW table is still the one we were originally assigned. I mentioned the window table only because one sat empty next to us.  In the past, when the people assigned to that table were no shows, others could be seated at it. Not any longer. DMW is now in charge, not the restaurant manager.  
 

The table numbers are no longer on the tables, and we have no way of knowing our table number. DMW tells a waiter which table we’ve been assigned to, and we are led there. 

[Steelers36]

13 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

As long as you ask your waiter or head waiter, they really were very accommodating at least for me, and the couple who was sitting at the table next to me when they saw that you can request it. Grant you I did tell them that I had booked reservations through DMW for the same dining room and same time for the whole cruise. So technically I should be in the system where it shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for posting your experience.  Perhaps it depends on which DR and to whom you speak.  Should be more consistent.  Hopefully, better service will ensue and the DMW will get the additional functionality it needs.

[Steelers36]

5 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Just to clarify, we have been assigned a specific table and waiter. That’s where we sat last night. We waited an hour to get served our first food, and were never offered coffee and dessert. Maybe the issue is us; maybe it’s the waiter. Either way, in the past, a quiet word with a head waiter would have gotten us moved for the duration of the cruise. Tonight we told the restaurant manager we really wanted a different table, and were given an excellent one with an excellent waitstaff, but it was made clear that it was just for tonight, that our DMW table is still the one we were originally assigned. I mentioned the window table only because one sat empty next to us.  In the past, when the people assigned to that table were no shows, others could be seated at it. Not any longer. DMW is now in charge, not the restaurant manager.  
 

The table numbers are no longer on the tables, and we have no way of knowing our table number. DMW tells a waiter which table we’ve been assigned to, and we are led there. 

Thanks, J, for reporting the details.  I guess the staff have all the tables memorized?  I never would have guessed the numbers are gone.  Who knows how DMW actually records a res in the system?  Has to have an inventory code of some sort.  Has to be a notation in the system of which table.

 

So it seems the DRO has no sway or control over arrangement of guests at tables?  Very strange.  Hard to believe they no longer have the flexibility to re-arrange folks to suit requests. 

 

If this is the case, I think Princess has really missed the mark.  And the marketing BS ... oh I will stop now before I get myself in trouble.

 

 

[Steelers36]

43 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

Hi Linda!  Luisa is onboard for the VIP event. I don’t recognize the other hosts. They have added a live craps table and now have draw poker machines but no PokerPro or similar machines to Henry’s chagrin. We were kind of hoping they would add one but nope. Tonight being formal night it was no smoking so I was hoping the machines would be kind but no luck so we moved on. 

So, they have removed the Poker table?  Hopefully temporary.  Perhaps they couldn't figure out how to install plexiglass dividers.  These tables seat up to 10 and if they only seated 5, wouldn't be able to sustain a game likely.  That's too bad.  I gather they are running BJ and other card games???

[Kay S]

5 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

That is really small and I doubt that I would purchase it but it does look good.

I'm going to cough up the $15 and try it once.  Thanks for the photo!

[caribill]

4 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

No, and this is creating some major heartburn for DH. We are accustomed to meeting with the maitre d’, and getting a table for two generally next to a window which we never miss without notifying them in advance. 
 

DMW (DH calls it Dine the computer’s way) simply assigns a table. Last night we were seated in a traffic zone with possibly the worst service we’ve ever had. It took an hour to get our first course. Tonight we went early and asked for a different table and server, preferably by a window. We were begrudgingly assigned a two top just one table away from the window. Those people never even showed up. But our service was fantastic. We asked for this table for the rest of the cruise but couldn’t be accommodated. So tomorrow we may be back to the bad table/ bad server.  No one seems  to care that we are really displeased. I can’t face going through something similar for the entire time we’re doing extended cruising in the future. 

 

Sounds like it is time to seek out the Maitre d'.

 

If you do, please let us know how it turns out.

[caribill]

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Most talk presentations can not be recorded due to copyright laws.  

 

In the past presentations have been recorded and played back on cabin TVs. It should not be a problem as they are not being recorded for use away from the ship.

 

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Is there an elite/suite line at customer service desk?

 

A post on one of the two previous "live from" threads says the line exists.

[cr8tiv1]

32 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

In the past presentations have been recorded and played back on cabin TVs. It should not be a problem as they are not being recorded for use away from the ship.

 

None of the port talks or naturalist presentations for (the many) Hawaii cruises have ever been recorded for playback in the room.  Personal preference of the lecturer?  

[LAHAPPY13420]

Hello!

I have a question. I know someone mentioned that the Gong Cafe was removed. But is Crooners and the Bellini Bar still there?

[mellon1]

9 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

No, and this is creating some major heartburn for DH. We are accustomed to meeting with the maitre d’, and getting a table for two generally next to a window which we never miss without notifying them in advance. 
 

DMW (DH calls it Dine the computer’s way) simply assigns a table. Last night we were seated in a traffic zone with possibly the worst service we’ve ever had. It took an hour to get our first course. Tonight we went early and asked for a different table and server, preferably by a window. We were begrudgingly assigned a two top just one table away from the window. Those people never even showed up. But our service was fantastic. We asked for this table for the rest of the cruise but couldn’t be accommodated. So tomorrow we may be back to the bad table/ bad server.  No one seems  to care that we are really displeased. I can’t face going through something similar for the entire time we’re doing extended cruising in the future. 

I am so sorry to hear that.  It can be very very painful.  We know first hand unfortunately.  I would press the matter if I were you and ask to see him directly ASAP as he is causing a "medical issue."  You guys are like a part of the Princess ships you have been on so many times and well known.  Shame such a simple request cannot be taken care of.  We are like you, we enjoy the staff and interacting and getting to know them, especially being on for a longer time.
 

Neville is the Maitre' D or now they call it the dining room manager.  We had him a few years ago and my husband was recovering still from cancer and could not eat some things from the menu and he would not allow anything other than what was on the menu and we were in a full suite.  First day we went to see him and asked for a table like you guys get, out of the way of everyone in a corner and he said no, I mentioned we were in a suite, although did not feel I had to do that, and he said to eat in club class, you know you can.  We did not want club class, we wanted to have the same waiter and assistant each time so we didn't have to go through the who explanation of needing his water/tea filled all the time so he could eat, etc. etc.  Our head waiter apologized over and over and said he tries, but gets a no each time.  And we were not asking for anything fancy as we don't eat that way at home.   Finally, he left and we got a different Maitre' D who understood the situation.  I don't care for Neville myself.  I understand he is the only Maitre' D who did not get hired from amongst the ranks and never worked on the ship as a waiter.  He went to school and Princess hired him.  My opinion is he works the staff to the bone.  We were in Sabatini the one night and it was crazy busy, and there was no extra help.  Any other ship we have been on they got help from other areas when it got busy.  Same with the Crown Grille.  He did not.  

 

I wish others would say how it is on the other ships.  I think your situation is all Neville, based on our experience with him.  Hopefully when you go on the Caribbean you will change your mind and blog.  We miss seeing you and that yellow shirt of G's.

[mellon1]

5 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Sounds like it is time to seek out the Maitre d'.

 

If you do, please let us know how it turns out.

Good luck on that.

[Jeter02]

7 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Just to clarify, we have been assigned a specific table and waiter. That’s where we sat last night. We waited an hour to get served our first food, and were never offered coffee and dessert. Maybe the issue is us; maybe it’s the waiter. Either way, in the past, a quiet word with a head waiter would have gotten us moved for the duration of the cruise. Tonight we told the restaurant manager we really wanted a different table, and were given an excellent one with an excellent waitstaff, but it was made clear that it was just for tonight, that our DMW table is still the one we were originally assigned. I mentioned the window table only because one sat empty next to us.  In the past, when the people assigned to that table were no shows, others could be seated at it. Not any longer. DMW is now in charge, not the restaurant manager.  
 

The table numbers are no longer on the tables, and we have no way of knowing our table number. DMW tells a waiter which table we’ve been assigned to, and we are led there. 

All I can say is make sure to mention that and those feedback surveys. I know that was one thing I did keep saying on there is bring back traditional dining. I am so terribly sorry that you're struggling to get a proper resolution. These temporary fixes are temporarily but if you're unsatisfied and unhappy they need to fix it definitely not your fault. 

 

On a brighter note, I really do hope you're enjoying yourselves in every other aspect on your cruise. 🤗