Re: Eliminate dining rooms

[gottacruz]

Hi guys,
Just wondering if the new cruise ships that are coming out, they should eliminate the dining rooms and install cabins, that way nobody has to rush back from shore excursions, get showered, changed to rush to dinner in the dining room, just have the buffet open, so one can run in and eat and get on with their life, no need for maitre'd or the waiters either, as they are a waste of time. What are your thoughts of this subject?

gottacruz

[Marc]

I think that this is absolutely the worst idea that I have ever heard!!!!

Now that I have done my Simon Cowell impression, let me provide the specifics.

We find fine dining with great friends one of the highlights of cruising. The ambiance, the quality of the food, the wonderful wines, and the great service all add to a wonderful experience. We have been known to sit and talk over dinner for three hours or more. In fact, we have found that leisurely lunches can also last a couple of hours when combined with great friends.

Although cruising is a wonderful way to see the world, it shouldn't necessarily involve non-stop activity. Of course, "different strokes for different folks." There are cruise lines (e.g. Easy Cruise IIRC) where dining is as you described. However, for me, your idea is the worst that I have ever heard.

Moderators: I have said nothing negative regarding the poster; just the idea. Please do not edit.

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

gottacruz,

I do not think your idea is gonna find favor with 99.9999999999999999% of cruisers.


Captain

[Kuki]

Well.. just imagine the lines at the buffet..... more people on the ships and one buffet are to go to.

Guess you've never been in line for lunch at a buffet on a ship

Those who want to simply go to the buffet, without ever visiting the dining room can do so now on the majority of the ships. The dining rooms are really optional

So there's really nothing to change to do what you want to do.

[Delft]

Since we only go freestle type cruising now, no need to rush back to get to dinning room on time.........and dinners have been one of the highlight of the cruise. Not because of the food either, but because we are all together! ( loved ones that is ) No for us, we like the dinning room, and we never eat buffet for dinner.

[LibraLass]

Dressing up and dinner is one of our highlights too.
I would never spend one dining night out of my cruise in the self service buffet - unless i was on a world cruise!!! - WELL, 92x 5 course meals in a row would probably be tooooooooooo much....

Sue

[Cruznut2]

Why do that? Most of us enjoy the dining room and the chance to make new friends. For me it is a wonderful part of the whole cruise experience. I do the buffets most lunch and breakfasts. I look forward to the chance to enjoy the dining room in the evening.

Laura

[skymaster]

NEVER NEVER NEVER! I agree 100% with Marc,,,the dining experience with great new friends, or excellent old ones, is one of the MAJOR highlights of the cruise. We almost never leave the ship anymore anyway,,,and when we do we absolutely don't rush back to the ship for a meal,,,,we plan ahead.

Ken
"Sky"

[DougR.]

I am trying to be polite here . Lets just say this suggestion has the least amount of merit of any I have seen on this board.

[thecruisequeen]

That would make me stop cruising and pick other vacation spots!

[kryos]

Originally Posted by gottacruz

Just wondering if the new cruise ships that are coming out, they should eliminate the dining rooms and install cabins, that way nobody has to rush back from shore excursions, get showered, changed to rush to dinner in the dining room, just have the buffet open, so one can run in and eat and get on with their life, no need for maitre'd or the waiters either, as they are a waste of time. What are your thoughts of this subject?

I don't know if you intended this post to be tongue in cheek or not, but interestingly, I see just this sort of thing coming in the future. I'd be willing to bet that with all the cost-cutting taking place with the cruise lines today, and the need to generate more revenue, that maybe five years from now you will have to PAY for a seat in the formal dining room. Yes, your base cruise fare will still entitle you to all the food you can eat onboard, but that food will only consist of the offerings at the buffet. There will be a premium to dine elsewhere, including both the specialty restaurants and the regular dining room.

That's my prediction anyway.

And, do I like it? No.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Kryos,
You may be on to something there but please, DO NOT give the cruiselines any more indeas.


Captain

[dina]

Originally Posted by kryos

I don't know if you intended this post to be tongue in cheek or not, but interestingly, I see just this sort of thing coming in the future. I'd be willing to bet that with all the cost-cutting taking place with the cruise lines today, and the need to generate more revenue, that maybe five years from now you will have to PAY for a seat in the formal dining room. Yes, your base cruise fare will still entitle you to all the food you can eat onboard, but that food will only consist of the offerings at the buffet. There will be a premium to dine elsewhere, including both the specialty restaurants and the regular dining room.

That's my prediction anyway.

And, do I like it? No.

Blue skies ...

--rita

Isn't that already happening with the pay to get in Supper clubs?

[Kegan36604]

Originally Posted by gottacruz

Hi guys,..........way nobody has to rush back from shore excursions ............ rush to dinner in the dining room, just have the buffet open, ....................... What are your thoughts of this subject?

gottacruz

Seems to me that is an option now. Just eat at the buffet and skip the dining room altogether. Why deny the folks who like to eat sitting down the chance to do so?

Better yet, why not skip the dining room and buffet completely and just eat on land? To me, eating locally, and I don't mean at the local TGIFriday's or Carlo's & Charlie's franchise is one of the great treats of going into port.

Give your taste buds a chance to taste some local cuisine. Even upscale restaurants in port can often be had a small price.

While I resist the urge to eat from street vendors, picking up some local fruit (that I can wash and peel myself) can be a treat.

Maybe I'm just getting picky here, but I try to resist the urge to do everything the ship offers- and that includes ensuring I make every meal, every buffet, every show, etc.

[Donna]

Having a meal served to me in the dining room is one of the highlights of cruising for me. I would also not wish that to happen, have many great memories of tablemates/food, etc...I just don't see that happening. Its still your choice to have meals in the buffet if you wish, another great feature of cruising, you can do what you want, when you want.

[Luanne Russo]

I agree with others that the dinning room is part of the cruise experience. I can't picture a day where it wasn't available.

[Trip]

So many of us now, eat on the run, don't sit down with the family, to eat as a family,or pick up fast food, on the way home to work some more, as we eat:(

The value of the sit down meal, in a beautifully appointed dining room, on a wonderful ship, is worth it to many of us. Taking time, to luxuriate, in just taking time. Conversations with old friends, learning about new friends, it would be sad to have that rug pulled out from underneath us:(

[CruisinK n J]

What with the formal dining room; the buffet; alternative restaurants; in-cabin service; assigned seating; or eat when you want; dress up and dress down; sit with two people; or sit with eight on ships these days, it seems to me that the cruise lines are giving us every kind of option they can think of, rather than eliminating them.

Judy

[katlady]

I have to say I agree with everyone I like the dining rooms. That is a great thing about cruising, you feel like you are going out to dinner everyday of the cruise. I don't know about everyone else but I can't afford to eat out everyday so this is special to me.

[arkiegal]

I HATE buffets and never go to one voluntarily! My #1 pleasure on a cruise is eating in the dining room 3xaday. The only exception is the occasional room-service breakfast. Any attempt to do away with the dining room or make it pay only will insure that I never cruise again.

[Kuki]

I don't know about everyone else but I can't afford to eat out everyday so this is special to me.

Yup!! I think the better question might be... Do you appreciate how lucky you are to be able to take a cruise vacation, and everything that goes along with that?

[venice]

original post may not be far off...benchmark this thread and let's revisit it 3-5 years from now as the next generation of 5,000 + passenger ships are starting to roll online..the groundwork is being laid out now..NCL has freestyle dining with a variety of places to eat on it's newest ships that are outside the main dining rooms, some charge, some still are free..Royal Caribbean has Johnny Rockets...virtually every mass cruise lines has super clubs for a premium charge

most posters who have responded to this think in the present tense..Cruiselines are thinking 5-10 years down the road and how to maximize revenue within a limited space and by cost center and keep the "base fare" low and keep crew ratios as a % of revenue generated favorable ..you don't change patterns over night, you slowly change passenger's habits in little doses, which IMHO they are doing

With these mega liners on the drawing boards...can you franchise out to chains (Apple Bees, McDonalds etc) and perhaps create a "food court" deck...will there be more overnight in port calls (like when cruise ships call on Bermuda) where you can sell vouchers for island dining places for lunch and dinner

you keep the traditional dining room experiences but downsize them so folks have an option...there is a parallel experience in the airline business..when the airlines decided to transistion from paper tickets to e-tickets there was an uproar..now the majority are e-tickets..they have food onboard for sale..passengers balked at that because they felt it was in the price of the ticket..now they like it..they are starting to charge for the 2nd extra bag..they have kioshes(sp) to cut down on staffing..in other words the flying experience has changed from 10 years ago..the cruising experience will change and food (a cost center) and space have to be looked at..they think how many more high end revenue cabins can I build in place of the traditional large dining venues..can I franchise out my dining experience for a profit..what will my labor cost be 10 years from now and how can I reduce headcount without causing perceived dis service to my customer ?I bet they are doing intense focus cost studies right now as we speak

I love the formal dining experience, it is one of the highlites of my cruising experience..however younger folks value different experiences..most of us over 30, grew up with the traditional family dining experience..most under 30 think the only time families eat together is on holidays..cruise lines know that and are planning for it in the future..just my 2 cents

[Phyllbo]

NO NO NO!!!!!!!!! Please say it isn't so. I hope the person who started this is just pulling our chain. I'm glad there is the choice for those that want it to have this style of cruising, but it sure isn't for me or for many of you. Let's hope the mob prevails.

Phyll

[gottacruz]

Hi guys,
Sorry didnt need to make anyone mad, it was just a thought, it wont happen again.

Gottacruz

[Cruznut2]

I cannot imagine going on a vacation to eat the inedible stuff that places like McDonalds serves. Give me traditional dining please!

Laura

[Trip]

gottacruz,
I don't think one poster was upset..Your question was a good one, as you can see by the responses, it was spirited...That's the point here, to get conversation going..no one will always agree with everyone, but that adds to the interest of the thread..It also gives us another way to look at things we sometimes, just do by habit...No right or wrong answer here:):)

I would hate to think you would not post again, because of this...

[Phyllbo]

Virginia, don't worry about sharing an idea around here even if it wasn't met with a lot of positive affirmations. One of the best things about cruising is that there is so much variety. You can pretty much select a cruise that gives you what you are looking for.

Hope you continue to post. I think you just touched on a subject that is near and dear to many of us cruisers.

Phyll

[LGriggs548]

I agree with the majority. I prefer going to the dining room for the lovely sit down meal and the companionship of the table mates. I frequently will go to the dining room by myself for breakfast as my DH likes to go on Lido to have his breakfast. A few years back I said I wouldn't partake of the supper clubs because I felt if they caught on, the dining room service may well be in jeopardy. Well, I still think (but not hope) that may happen somewhere down the road but I did have to eat a little crow as I will now go to the supper club whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Linda

[Inis46]

I am FAR from being a frequent cruizer but my thoughts are, if the cruise lines decide to keep down-sizing here and down-sizing there, eliminating this, eliminating that, eventually the thrill of cruising will be gone for me. I'll no longer think that taking a cruise is such an afforable bargain and will be happy just staying at home and watching Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel.


Keep posting gottacruz...you'll miss us too much!

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Originally Posted by Inis46

I am FAR from being a frequent cruizer but my thoughts are, if the cruise lines decide to keep down-sizing here and down-sizing there, eliminating this, eliminating that, eventually the thrill of cruising will be gone for me. I'll no longer think that taking a cruise is such an afforable bargain and will be happy just staying at home and watching Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel.


Keep posting gottacruz...you'll miss us too much!

Yeah, don't leave OP, I'd hate for you to lose on some posters' "bright ideas " or some great "intuition " post. Those are the real
hilarious stuff ya wanna hang around for and just forget cruising topics.



Captain