Faster to use waitstaff or Ocean Now (in app) to order drinks at a show?

[CenTexan]

First time to have Plus package. I have never used the Ocen Now feature in Princess app on previous cruises.

 

So if I am in the theater waiting for a show, should I flag down a waiter to order drinks - or just do it through the app?

 

What about for sitting at the pool?

 

Thanks.

[Knickearth]

21 minutes ago, CenTexan said:

First time to have Plus package. I have never used the Ocen Now feature in Princess app on previous cruises.

 

So if I am in the theater waiting for a show, should I flag down a waiter to order drinks - or just do it through the app?

 

What about for sitting at the pool?

 

Thanks.

Having recently gotten off the Emerald, depending on where and what time, it could take 45 mins or more on ocean now.  Many times certain bars were closed even with a lot of people in the lounge so ocean now had to go the other end of the ship.  If there is a wait staff available use it.

[dreaminofcruisin]

33 minutes ago, CenTexan said:

First time to have Plus package. I have never used the Ocen Now feature in Princess app on previous cruises.

 

So if I am in the theater waiting for a show, should I flag down a waiter to order drinks - or just do it through the app?

 

What about for sitting at the pool?

 

Thanks.

 

Our last few cruises we haven't seen any wait staff in the theater. Sometimes they set up a little portable bar at the entrance. We usually either pick up drinks on the way to the theater, or go get our seats and DH goes out and gets us each a drink....since we usually have to show up 30 minutes early at a minimum anyway.

[david63]

In my opinion drinks should not be allowed in any theatre (on land or sea) if for no other reason than that of safety - if there needs to be an evacuation then the last thing that you want around is glass, or what happens if you drop your glass in the dark?

Surely you can go for 45 minutes without a drink.

[GateGuardian]

My experience is they do not do OceanNow deliveries to the theater (it's not an option in the app) but you can always have it delivered outside of the theater. I would personally just get a drink at the bar (or casino bar if it's an older ship) and just walk in with it.

[memoak]

Just off the Ruby. There was a portable bar outside entrance on Deck 6 on deck 7 you can go out to Wheelhouse bar. Best to get all you want when you enter. Never saw a full house

[skynight]

By the pool it's faster to walk up to the bar. It's a toss up with Ocean Now and the roving waiters. Waiters place orders in their hand helds and mostly others deliver the order. I did not think the system was very efficient.

I did not see bar waiters in the theater on a recent Ruby cruise. 

[annmarz]

In the very crowded  Club Fusion for the comedy shows on Caribbean Princess, the only way to get a drink was via Ocean Now because the bartenders and waiters were so busy that they ignored you..  It worked brilliantly on this cruise.  

[FancyPants21]

Just off Sky... OceanNow was taking 45mins - 1hr to deliver so pointless even if you could.

 

After day 2 we gave up using OceanNow. Drinks either didn't arrive at all, were delivered to the wrong location or taking so long that it was simply pointless. IMO OceanNow is a great idea but staffing levels at the moment means it just isn't fit for purpose. 

[Potstech]

On our recent Enchanted  cruise there were no wait staff at all in the theatre.  If you want anything bring it with you.  On the Lido deck around the pool area there were very few wait staff and it took almost 30 minutes to get a table cleaned of the previous occupants dishes. Princess service is way down hill due to lack of staff.

Edited May 6 by Potstech

[555]

5 hours ago, Potstech said:

On our recent Enchanted  cruise there were no wait staff at all in the theatre.  If you want anything bring it with you.  On the Lido deck around the pool area there were very few wait staff and it took almost 30 minutes to get a table cleaned of the previous occupants dishes. Princess service is way down hill due to lack of staff.

On the Enchanted, service was so slow at noon that each day we would order dessert when first arriving at the buffet (things that weren't in the pastry Shop) and it would never arrive when we were finished with our meal. The head waiter would see us each day waiting & proceed to get our order for us. 

Their lack of staff is minimal at busy hours. 

[Hillmom]

On the Sapphire now. The "Now" service is WAY over promised. I didn't try to order to my room, but gave up trying since I tried 8 different locations and each time it said can't deliver there. Theater was one place. Basically if you are at a bar it may work.....but if I'm standing at the bar I can order my own drink.

[suekel]

On 5/2/2024 at 8:45 AM, CenTexan said:

First time to have Plus package. I have never used the Ocen Now feature in Princess app on previous cruises.

 

So if I am in the theater waiting for a show, should I flag down a waiter to order drinks - or just do it through the app?

 

What about for sitting at the pool?

 

Thanks.

Neither.  There are no waiters in the theater and you cannot use the app for delivery in the theater.  Take a drink in with you.  

Pool, it's faster to flag down a waiter.  In my opinion.  But it's even faster to walk 50 feet to the bar.  

[CenTexan]

Thanks for all the input!

[karatemom2]

We have not seen waitstaff in the theatres since prior to COVID. It used to be so nice on the older ships that have the foldout table in the armrest to order a cocktail prior to the show from one of the waiters wandering around taking and delivering orders. Just another relic of past times on Princess. 

[PATRLR]

On 5/2/2024 at 10:31 AM, david63 said:

Surely you can go for 45 minutes without a drink.

Of course most people can, including me.  I prefer not to.  

[cruisequeen4ever]

If I see a server and can get their attention, I order through them. If not, though, I order via the app. If a server then comes up to me while I’m waiting for the drink and it has been a while, I let them know. If I ordered on the app, and a server ends up coming by, they usually very kindly offer to go check on the status and then bring me the drink. I also sometimes just go up to the bar because that’s generally the very fastest way of getting a drink. 
 

as for the theater, though, like others have said, drinks have not been delivered there since before Covid. If I want one for the show, I go get it somewhere else and take it into the theater with me.