Staff Hierarchy and Waiters?

[filadin]

I have been cruising on and off for a little more than 20 years, and I just noticed something for the first time. When I first started cruising, it seemed to me that waiters in the dining room enjoyed a particular status and were essentially professionals. They worked some at lunch and breakfast (lunches were never attended by more than half the passengers, breakfast even fewer) and all the dinners. They were assisted by stewards who helped with the more mundane aspect of service, but clearly the waiters were the highest profession of the staff.

 

I just recently left the Statendam, and I noticed for the first time that the waiters were working in the Lido. They were carrying trays for passengers, helping with coffee and tea, and most surprisingly were busing tables. It seems to me that having the waiters perform the more menial tasks is somewhat of a downgrade in their status.

 

Are my perceptions off? Has anyone else noted this? Do you think this damages the overall level of service?

 

Reading over my message I sound like kind of a snob, but I feel bad for a waiters who worked for decades to rise to waiter status only to find themselves busing tables in the Lido.

[dakrewser]

A little confusion over terms, in the dining room you are served by a steward and an asst. steward. The assistants will act as stewards at breakfast & lunch, but so will some of the newer stewards. Some of both groups wil also draw service in the Lido - there are only so many personnel, and lots of tables! ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

When HAL began cutting staff after 9?/11, we noticed that many of the waitstaff were doing all types of jobs that they hadn't done before.

 

On one of our cruises, we were doing back-to-backs, our dining room waiter on turn-around day was delivering flowers to suites!!

[jtl513]

I've seen d.r. waiter/stewards delivering room service carts, and on one cruise (on the Westerdam) we were escorted from the terminal waiting room to the gangway by a white-gloved d.r. "area supervisor" (aka head waiter).

 

As Dave said there's only room to carry "so many personnel" and if some of the normal Lido staff is sick then others must fill in. Besides, why should a d.r. waiter be required to work just a 5-hour day (5:30p to 10:30p) when many others must work much longer hours?

[Jsipes]

You probably had breakfast in the Lido the morning you docked....as the dinning rooms are either closed, or serve a very limited breakfast on the day you debark. So most of the dinning room staff report to the Lido to assist in the rush of feeding 1200 + pasangers who are determined to get their last breakfast :)

[sail7seas]

HAL serves full breakfast in the dining room every morning including disembarkation day.

 

As long as I can recall, stewards who work in the dining room at night can be seen working in Lido during the day. Not all and not all the time but some, some of the time. Definitely Assistant Stewards are also there. They serve 'food service' wherever it is needed.....including at HMC and the evening on deck barbeque during the cruise. They are hired to 'serve' food and are assigned where needed. I don't think any of them take offense to whatever assignment they are given.

 

The infamous Hunky Dory so many are so fond of provided dining room service for dinner in spite of all the energy he has expended during the day in Lido. More tips. :)

 

 

 

 

[jtl513]

The infamous Hunky Dory so many are so fond of ...

Infamous? What did he do to become infamous? :D :D

 

Main Entry:in·fa·mous Pronunciation:\ˈin-fə-məs\ Function:adjective Etymology:Middle English, from Latin infamis, from in- + fama fameDate:14th century1 : having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil <an infamous traitor> 2 : causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful <an infamous crime> 3 : convicted of an offense bringing infamy

— in·fa·mous·ly adverb

[hammybee]

As long as I can recall, stewards who work in the dining room at night can be seen working in Lido during the day. :)

 

Like you, I do not recall a time when the dinner wait staff did not also work the LIDO or the dining room during breakfast or lunch. Perhaps those who did not notice this were never in the same place at the same time.

 

They have been putting in 12 hour+ days since forever.

[sail7seas]

Infamous? What did he do to become infamous? :D :D

 

Main Entry:in·fa·mous Pronunciation:\ˈin-fə-məs\ Function:adjective Etymology:Middle English, from Latin infamis, from in- + fama fameDate:14th century1 : having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil <an infamous traitor> 2 : causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful <an infamous crime> 3 : convicted of an offense bringing infamy

— in·fa·mous·ly adverb

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I certainly won't call him disgraceful, criminal or evil. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

You probably had breakfast in the Lido the morning you docked....as the dinning rooms are either closed, or serve a very limited breakfast on the day you debark. So most of the dinning room staff report to the Lido to assist in the rush of feeding 1200 + pasangers who are determined to get their last breakfast :)

 

There have been a couple of times on different ships when the Pinnacle wasn't open for breakfast and we chose to eat in the dining room.

It was very crowded -- nearly all the waiters and assistants were there and the menu was not limited. Same menu as every other day.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Like you, I do not recall a time when the dinner wait staff did not also work the LIDO or the dining room during breakfast or lunch. Perhaps those who did not notice this were never in the same place at the same time.

 

They have been putting in 12 hour+ days since forever.

 

You are so right!!

They have VERY Long working days.