Do servers know when you request them?

[sailingby]

I know that our server from the Baltic is currently on the Dream, and I'd love to request him for our Dream cruises at the end of February, but DH is being weird about it... He thinks that our server wouldn't remember us and he would feel obligated to be "extra nice" and try too hard to please us. He thinks it will be awkward, but I think the server would appreciate that his work was so well-received last time that we chose to have him again. Anyway, on DH's behalf, would our server KNOW that we requested him without us telling him?

 

[Disneyelf10]

I have requested my previous waiter and I think he was flattered, did remember us (or at least he seemed to) and we are now friends on FB. So, it's all good. We have had longer chats at dinners and here and there. I think he would like to see you again for the reasons you mentioned.

Also, many has posted they have requested their waitstaff. Enjoy!

 

[mickeyluv]

I think you should! We requested the server for our 2009 Magic cruise who we had on our 2008 cruise and he was very impressed & happy that we did that. I think that the head team of the serving staff keeps up with that sort of thing and servers are rewarded in some way for actually being requested time and time again. I am FB friends with him to this day and am hoping that he will be on the Dream in March! He says he put in a request to go to the Dream but I've not heard yet so I'm hoping he has been so busy over on the Dream getting ready for the MV that he hasn't had time to let me know yet. Good luck & happy cruising!

 

[kcashner]

Being requested is one of those little things that results in "goodies" for a CM--they may get some extra time off while in port, etc., and it is noted in their employment file. So, by all means, request him!

Even if he is on vacation at the time you sail, it is a little extra for him when he returns.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Back in July 2008, we had a server that we really liked and requested for our March 2010 cruise and got her and now am friends with her on facebook and also talked with her more on the second cruise at dinner

 

[jamielynn]

We are planning on requesting IF he comes to the Fantasy from the Dream. How far ahead have you requested??

 

[dursin]

I know that our server from the Baltic is currently on the Dream, and I'd love to request him for our Dream cruises at the end of February, but DH is being weird about it... He thinks that our server wouldn't remember us and he would feel obligated to be "extra nice" and try too hard to please us. He thinks it will be awkward, but I think the server would appreciate that his work was so well-received last time that we chose to have him again. Anyway, on DH's behalf, would our server KNOW that we requested him without us telling him?

I would go ahead and request your server if you really liked him. Just don't feel bad if he doesn't really remember you. You have to realize that the average server on a ship that does the 3/4 day itineraries probably serves close to 1,000 different families in a years time.

 

[sailingby]

Okay, so this means he'll be aware that we asked to be put on his service? Guess I just won't tell DH.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

Thanks for sharing that k. I already planned to request our previous serving team, but it is great to know that they will benefit from the request.

 

[kcashner]

You can put in a request any time after you have made a reservation. DCL will sing you the song about "this is only a request and cannot be guaranteed...." In addition, they cannot tell you whether the person you have requested will be on the ship. However, they will note the request. After you board, go to "dining changes" and ask if you got the person you wanted. If not, ask if you can be moved to his/her station. The head servers at dining changes WILL know if your person is on the ship, etc. Again, if they are not on the ship, they may not be able to tell you where they are (usually they can tell you if they are on vacation, but may not know if moved to another ship, etc.).

 

[jamielynn]

Good to know... Thanks!!! It is the Head Server we want to request LoL He made our Wedding and Honeymoon cruises so special. We had over 35 people with us for the wedding cruise and he made sure we were all together and at the early seating since we had small kids in the party, then for our Honeymoon cruise Wira decided we needed a break from crowds. He was so right! He gave us great tables by ourselves each night. Cant wait to see him again if he is on the Fantasy!

 

[HallsofVA]

We haven't yet requested anyone in particular, but we plan to on our next cruise.

But I wouldn't be so sure that a server won't remember you. Our assistant server on the WBTA was actually our assistant server on our very first DCL cruise back in 2005, 5 years earlier, before we even had our daughter. The first night at dinner, she took a look at us, and said - I've had you before, recognizing my husband and his father and mother first, then me. It was very strange, but given that she was brand new when we first had her, I was glad to find she'd improved greatly in the 5 years since.

 

[kcashner]

Oh, they remember us...even from years ago. We had a favorite server for many years (he's no longer with DCL). YEARS later, we will have servers come up to my daughter and say, "You're Mitcho's girl, aren't you?" He used to joke with her that he had sons at home, but had never had a daughter, and she replied that she'd be happy to be his "ship daughter." Of course, the fact that she threw him a birthday party was a bit memorable too.....Hey, kids on DCL basically get what they want if they know who to ask and how to ask it!

 

[lbgraves]

The servers always seem to remember us by name. In fact last week a server was walking by & I told DH it looked like our assistant in 2006. I called his name and he smiled and said that he thought we looked familiar and how much the kids had grown. I am always amazed at that.

 

[emma'smom]

We requested our assistant server from the EBTA for our cruise in March. She was hoping to move over to the Wonder for its West Coast cruise season. We loved Stephanie from New Zealand!

 

[sues14]

Everyone likes a little recognition for a job well done.

If a server is requested for a subsequent cruise, I'm sure they are flattered that they were valued enough to be a preferential request! And if they get employer recognition as a result, that's a bonus (pun intended).

Our servers were beyond AWESOME and are Facebook friends today. They amazed me with what they picked up on, such as my son's preference to plastic cutlery. By the end of the first day, they were accommodating him at every meal.

We renewed our vows on the ship....and our servers brought us a wedding cake with a white chocolate topper that had the image of the Magic on it. Very special.

They knew my drink preference, sweetener preference, etc. I know they are tasked with doing all of this, but what intrigued me was how good they were at it!

Sooooooo....if they go out of their way to make us feel special, I see no harm in reciprocating!

 

[Angie_Ohio]

We did not request our server from our first cruise because he didn't think he would be back. Well, he was training others for the new ship and WAS on our cruise. Unfortunately, we didn't ask and felt rude about changing after one night had passed. Sooo we just met up with him at lunch times and got pictures etc... My sons felt like we were old friends. He had made a great impression on them.

 

[simbasmom2]

Our server from our first cruise remembered us. Right after we boarded for our second cruise I heard "Jennifer is that you?" It startled me at first "who is on here that I know?". I was so surprised he remembered me from the year before. They must be sprinkled with "good memory dust"

 

[bats]

Having read this thread, I've just emailed DCL asking if we could be assigned to Head Server Mario for the upcoming MV of the Dream!!

Hope we get him, he was super helpful.

 

[tinkmom2]

Our server Ganesh we had on our first cruise so I requested him for our second cruise. A member of the waitstaff usually directs you to your table. I didn't see Ganesh and was a bit disappointed. He was playing a joke on me! He was standing behind me when I sat down and was making the shush sign to my DH across the table not to tell me but my little one loves him and yelled his name and gave him a big hug. We still keep in contact with him on facebook and requested him for the Dream in October. Hope we get him!