As You Wish Dining - What and How

[nho9504]

Whatever the Moniker is, it is NOT working on HAL.

They have plenty of empty tables but also plenty of irritated passengers waiting outside the dining room - the process is excruciatingly slow, and the services in the dining room are also very slow. The upstairs/downstairs approach is a failure - they need to have more space dedicated to the Open Dining folks and SPEED up the process of making up tables, seating people, serving people within reasonably time. The whole dining room experiences at HAL is several grades lower than that at Princess. Though the upstairs buffet area is several grades above that at Princess - so they even each others out.

One thing I DONT understand that is, HAL blocks off a full side of the buffet dining area to the staff dining during the peak dining hours. While on Princess, the staff do NOT have a dedicated area to themselves - they dine in the same area as other passengers at the Caribe Cafe on the Super Grand Class. They also DONT come in hoards during the peak hours.

HAL needs to rethink its Open Dining arrangement to make it a more tolerable experience to the passengers.

Frankly, as a passenger, I dont care what "correct" name the cruiseline gives it to the no pre-set time dining. All I care is the arrangement should work better. That is the bottom line.

We will try to walk in at 7 to 7:30 during our upcoming April Transatlantic to see if this makes any difference.

[GeriatricNurse]

[quote name='nho9504']Whatever the Moniker is, it is NOT working on HAL.

[B][U][SIZE=3]They have plenty of empty tables but also plenty of irritated passengers waiting outside the dining room[/SIZE][/U][/B] - the process is excruciatingly slow, and the services in the dining room are also very slow. The upstairs/downstairs approach is a failure - they need to have more space dedicated to the Open Dining folks and SPEED up the process of making up tables, seating people, serving people within reasonably time. The whole dining room experiences at HAL is several grades lower than that at Princess. Though the upstairs buffet area is several grades above that at Princess - so they even each others out.

One thing I DONT understand that is, HAL blocks off a full side of the buffet dining area to the staff dining during the peak dining hours. While on Princess, the staff do NOT have a dedicated area to themselves - they dine in the same area as other passengers at the Caribe Cafe on the Super Grand Class. They also DONT come in hoards during the peak hours.

HAL needs to rethink its Open Dining arrangement to make it a more tolerable experience to the passengers.

Frankly, as a passenger, I dont care what "correct" name the cruiseline gives it to the no pre-set time dining. All I care is the arrangement should work better. That is the bottom line.

[B][U][SIZE=3]We will try to walk in at 7 to 7:30 during our upcoming April Transatlantic to see if this makes any difference[/SIZE][/U][/B].[/quote]

[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Did you ask the DRM why "they have plenty of empty tables" with "plenty of irritated passengers waiting outside the dining room"? If you did ask him, what was his response?[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]
[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Whenever, I (rarely) dine in the MDR with "Open Dining", I am at the door by 1730 (5:30), and am seated immediately at my table size of choice!:) I would highly recommend that you "walk in" no later than 1830 (6:30) if you expect to be seated immediately, without a reservation on your upcoming April Transatlantic!:)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]
[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]As an aside, I always book "Open Dining" with HAL, but usually dine in the Lido for dinner, where the service is faster, (with a buffet line), & you indicate the "quantity" of the food portions!:) [/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]

[cruzincurt]

[quote name='GeriatricNurse'][B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Did you ask the DRM why "they have plenty of empty tables" with "plenty of irritated passengers waiting outside the dining room"? If you did ask him, what was his response?[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]
[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]Whenever, I (rarely) dine in the MDR with "Open Dining", I am at the door by 1730 (5:30), and am seated immediately at my table size of choice!:) I would highly recommend that you "walk in" no later than 1830 (6:30) if you expect to be seated immediately, without a reservation on your upcoming April Transatlantic!:)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]
[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]As an aside, I always book "Open Dining" with HAL, but usually dine in the Lido for dinner, where the service is faster, (with a buffet line), & you indicate the "quantity" of the food portions!:) [/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B][/quote]
Our experience on HAL is their idea of mytime dining is "their time" dining. They want to seat people at large tables at 6:30 and 8:00 to probably better utilize the waiters. They don't want to waste time resetting tables more than once a night apparently. Walk in any other time and ask for a table for two and they look at you like you have two heads. They made us wait for 30 minutes while we could see into the dining room where many tables for two were unmade. We were finally seated in a far back corner behind a column after walking past many unmade twos. After waiting another 30 minutes for a waiter's attention, we left and went up to the Lido only to find it "closed for staff dining only." What???? Who are the paying passengers on this tub? We are. ....we were, never again.

[GeriatricNurse]

[quote name='cruzincurt']Our experience on HAL is their idea of mytime dining is "their time" dining. They want to seat people at large tables at 6:30 and 8:00 to probably better utilize the waiters. They don't want to waste time resetting tables more than once a night apparently. Walk in any other time and ask for a table for two and they look at you like you have two heads. They made us wait for 30 minutes while we could see into the dining room where many tables for two were unmade. We were finally seated in a far back corner behind a column after walking past many unmade twos. After waiting another 30 minutes for a waiter's attention,[B][U][SIZE=3] we left and went up to the Lido only to find it "closed for staff dining only." What????[/SIZE][/U][/B] Who are the paying passengers on this tub? We are. ....we were, never again.[/quote]

[B][I][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4]From my experience, I have never known the entire Lido to be "closed for staff dining only"!:confused: As a rule, only one side of the Lido, usually the starboard side, is reserved for staff dining!:)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]

[Krazy Kruizers]

[quote name='cruzincurt']Our experience on HAL is their idea of mytime dining is "their time" dining. They want to seat people at large tables at 6:30 and 8:00 to probably better utilize the waiters. They don't want to waste time resetting tables more than once a night apparently. Walk in any other time and ask for a table for two and they look at you like you have two heads. They made us wait for 30 minutes while we could see into the dining room where many tables for two were unmade. We were finally seated in a far back corner behind a column after walking past many unmade twos. After waiting another 30 minutes for a waiter's attention, we left and went up to the Lido only to find it "closed for staff dining only." What???? Who are the paying passengers on this tub? We are. ....we were, never again.[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]Only one side of the Lido is closed for "staff only" -- it can be either side -- port or starboard -- depends on which side the Canaletto is on.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]Why didn't you walk over to the other side?[/SIZE][/FONT]

[cruzincurt]

Only one side of the Lido is closed for "staff only" -- it can be either side -- port or starboard -- depends on which side the Canaletto is on.

 

Why didn't you walk over to the other side?

We did, only one side was open. This was also the night of the "barbecue" held out on deck which we missed as we were trying to have sit down dinner at 8:00pm in the MDR, not 5:00 on deck holding plates in our hands. By the time we were done with the nonsense in the MDR, the barbecue was over.

 

When we've done anytime dining on Princess, they turn the two tops over more than twice a night, even the head waiters were clearing and resetting tables; on HAL, two times and they are done...their way or no way.

[Krazy Kruizers]

A couple of years ago HAL started to have the BBQ on the first night of the Caribbean cruises as well as a couple of other cruises. When there is a BBQ HAL does not open the Lido for dining - which also has limited hours -- 5:30 - 8 PM.

HAL is known for not resetting tables.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

[azcruiser5]

This is our first HAL cruise. Is the Lido a buffet? And, its hours are only to 8 pm? Where does one go to have a snack and cup of tea later than 8 pm? Just wondering .....

- Lianne

[RuthC]

This is our first HAL cruise. Is the Lido a buffet? And, its hours are only to 8 pm? Where does one go to have a snack and cup of tea later than 8 pm? Just wondering .....

- Lianne

Yes, the Lido is the buffet. It's open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snack. Dinner hours end at 8:00. If you need to eat after that, you can wait until the late night buffet at 11:00, or call room service.

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate are available there 24 hours a day.

[ColumbiaSC]

Does one have a choice between "As You Wish" Dining in the MDR and "Traditional Sitting" in the MDR on a WORLD CRUISE on the ms Amsterdam or does it change to a set early and late sitting arrangement only?

[RuthC]

Does one have a choice between "As You Wish" Dining in the MDR and "Traditional Sitting" in the MDR on a WORLD CRUISE on the ms Amsterdam or does it change to a set early and late sitting arrangement only?

"As You Wish" dining includes fixed seating, open seating, Lido dining, Pinnacle, Tamarind (on ships with that restaurant), and Canaletto, so you still can dine as you wish on the World and Grand cruises.

The open seating portion, however, is not available on those cruises.

[ColumbiaSC]

Thanks RuthC. So the answer is that in the Main Dining Room (MDR) on a World Cruise there is no "open seating" and only "fixed seating" --- which is assigned seating at a table with from 2 to 8 people for either early or late dining. I understand that one can choose the Lido, and other venues.

 

Lord Kay of Shandon.

[Thoth]

Here's my answer to "as you wish dining".....I'm confirmed for early seating.

At least I know I have a table ready every night at 6.

[piscesgal223]

Lido=the best thing ever,IMO. :)

 

 

I liked the As You Wish dining-we went to dinner in the MDR pretty much the same time every night and it worked really well for us.

[Bippie]

If I have a fixed dining time, am I free to eat at the Lido or one of the specialty restaurants on nights I don't want to eat in the MDR?

 

Also, someone posted a few pages back that passengers typically tip the servers each time they bring food to the room. How much is the typical tip for this service?

 

Thank you in advance for the answers!

[andeesue]

You're free to eat at your choice of venue, but it's considerate to let the MDR staff (and your tablemates) know so no one waits for you.

 

As far as tipping for room service, that's up to you to decide. A few dollars unless you're ordering up a storm...

[Seabreeze8]

Can someone tell me the hours that Lido is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night buffet? Is it room service for any other times then?

 

Also does Canaletto serve only italien food? I seem to recall that there is no charge for this restaurant. What hours would they be open?

 

My in-laws will be on Statendam next month for the first time and they are foodies and I want to make them as happy as possible. Thanks very much! :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Can someone tell me the hours that Lido is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night buffet? Is it room service for any other times then?

 

Also does Canaletto serve only italien food? I seem to recall that there is no charge for this restaurant. What hours would they be open?

 

My in-laws will be on Statendam next month for the first time and they are foodies and I want to make them as happy as possible. Thanks very much! :)

 

 

you should ask these questions on the main section of hal

[atraveller2]

"As You Wish" dining includes fixed seating, open seating, Lido dining, Pinnacle, Tamarind (on ships with that restaurant), and Canaletto, so you still can dine as you wish on the World and Grand cruises.

The open seating portion, however, is not available on those cruises.

 

I guess I will be enjoying the same tablemates for 75 days....sheese! :D

What to wear...what to wear...I only have two ties!

75 pillow chocolates isn't all bad.

Rudy

 

Epirotiki - Atlas 1983 - 7 days - Med. East - 5 day Greek landtour

SunCruises -Carousel 1998 - 7 days - Carib. South

SunCruises Carousel 2001 - 14 days - Med. West

SunCruises Sundream 2004 - 7 days - Carib. West

Celebrity Zenith 2007 – 7 days – Carib. East

HAL Rotterdam 2007 - 27 days – Baltic to Med.

HAL Rotterdam 2008 - 17 days - Panama Canal

HAL Maasdam 2011 - 25 days - Carib. South

Booked - Sept. 2012:

HAL Amsterdam – 75 days Grand Asia / Pacific

[Thoth]

I guess I will be enjoying the same tablemates for 75 days....sheese! :D

What to wear...what to wear...I only have two ties!

75 pillow chocolates isn't all bad.

Rudy

 

Epirotiki - Atlas 1983 - 7 days - Med. East - 5 day Greek landtour

SunCruises -Carousel 1998 - 7 days - Carib. South

SunCruises Carousel 2001 - 14 days - Med. West

SunCruises Sundream 2004 - 7 days - Carib. West

Celebrity Zenith 2007 – 7 days – Carib. East

HAL Rotterdam 2007 - 27 days – Baltic to Med.

HAL Rotterdam 2008 - 17 days - Panama Canal

HAL Maasdam 2011 - 25 days - Carib. South

Booked - Sept. 2012:

HAL Amsterdam – 75 days Grand Asia / Pacific

A day day cruise ? I could deal with that.

Rotate the ties and then claim that "all my ties are the same colors".

[RonLankshear]

Four of us are booked for AS you Wish.

What I read is when we can turn at Lido or Canaletto whenever we like.

Except do they close at 8pm and re-open at 11pm?

So if we come between 6 and 7 does that work....

Does LIDO serve exactly the same menu as MDR? Five courses?

If we Wish MDR - do we ring first or can we just turn up - what times...

 

HAL makes it sound like you just turn - is that not what you do!!!

[RuthC]

Four of us are booked for AS you Wish.

What I read is when we can turn at Lido or Canaletto whenever we like.

Except do they close at 8pm and re-open at 11pm?

So if we come between 6 and 7 does that work....

Does LIDO serve exactly the same menu as MDR? Five courses?

If we Wish MDR - do we ring first or can we just turn up - what times...

 

HAL makes it sound like you just turn - is that not what you do!!!

Are you on open seating, or fixed? If at open seating you can arrive any time you wish during the hours the dining room is open. You can make reservations, but they aren't required. If at fixed seating, you arrive at your assigned table at your assigned time.

You can go to the Lido for dinner any time while it's open. You don't make reservations---just arrive.

Reservations for Canaletto are not required, but they are recommended strongly. If you arrive without pre-planning there may not be space for you.

For either of the above, you should let your tablemates or table steward know you won't be there, if you're on fixed seating.

[Mary Ellen]

Everyone on HAL has "As You Wish Dining". That is their generic term of all food service on board the ships. For dinner, some wish the 'traditional' dining experience and have a fixed time/table in the MDR. Some don't want this and have the 'open' seating. Either of these groups can eat in the Lido during the hours they are serving. Both groups can make the required reservations for any of the specialty restaurants (Pinnacle Grill, Canneletto, and Tamarind if on a Signature Class ship).

 

If one has open seating, for dinner they would just show up at the appropriate level of the MDR (on all ships but the Prinsendam where there is only one level) any time during the hours dinner is served. They can make reservations that morning, if they wish, but it isn't required.

 

Breakfast and lunch are both served 'open seating' style in the MDR. They will also be available in the Lido. Some gays the Pinnacle Grill is also open for lunch.

 

The hours each venue is serving will be found in each day's daily program.

[Boytjie]

Some gays the Pinnacle Grill is also open for lunch.

 

We also go there for dinner. LOL

[janneke]

AWWD :

This is how we called the HAL's AYWD (as WE wish dining) with WE for HAL's choice.

Indeed i found it a confusing description.

As i forgot to reserve a seating when i booked our cruise back in nov 2010 for the Rotterdam, i was assigned the "open seating" by our TA and later with my insistence put on the waiting list for the late seating. On board there was of course no room in the late seating, so they told us to go in the open seating. The first night we showed up at 8 pm and without a problem had a table in the late seating on deck 5 (so there was room for 3 people after all) . The second day at 8 pm we were again directed to a table in the fixed seating on deck 5. Waw , apparently there were still tables free. When i asked how i could book a table in open seating for the rest of the cruise , i was told to call during day time number 88 who would then take note of my prefered seating, but only for max three days in a row. We did this a couple of times and each time were directed to a table on deck 4, the deck in the MDR that is for open seating solely.

Then one day i met a guy with stripes at the MDR entrance and i asked him if he could investigate what had happened with our waitlist for the late MDR seating. He promised to follow up on that. That night we were again seated at a table on deck 4 as we had booked a table as usual. We barely had opened our menus, or another high ranking Dutch hotel officer plucked us from our open seating table and escorted us to a nice window table on deck 5 which is the fixed seating part of the MDR. And by all this, it was a nice window table with a huge round floor to ceiling window with a magnificient ocean view. And we sat at this table for the remainder af the cruise. I should have asked sooner for this waitlisted table.

All this to prove that it pays off to follow up on a waiting list.

JP