Any one else have a mediocre server in Palo?

[hoffman1]

We have done the Palo brunch several times and dinner twice over the 4 cruises we have been on.
Up until our last cruise, we have always enjoyed an outstanding server and that has really added to the enjoyment of our meal. We were fortunate enough to have Amanda twice and she was great! (we requested her this time but she is now a server in the MDRs)
This time we had Boris. He was ok at best. At brunch he forgot our drinks until we mentioned it to him about half way through. Once we got our drinks, they were not refilled. He wasn't overly friendly or helpful. He didn't make any recommendations. He wasn't rude--just not the standard of service we had before. Of course, when we had dinner later in the week, we were assigned Boris again.
Of course, someone else on here may have had him and their service was exceptional. Maybe, we just didn't "click". Or maybe he was just having an off week.
Overall, it was just disappointing.
If it had been our first time dining there, I doubt we would go back.

 

[Trera]

We had one a few years ago but when we returned on a later cruise............we were told she didnt work there anymore.

 

[Birdie dog]

We had a server in December I wasn't fond of. He wasn't terribly friendly and was a bit condescending. It was my first experience like that.

 

[dclpluto]

On the wonder during the may Panama Canal cruise he wasn't that good. Not like you should get at palo. All the other times I been maybe around 10 times the service has been excellent. It was on Mother's Day maybe they booked more tables that day to try to fit in more people for Mother's Day so the service was lacking. I don't know just a guess

 

[wcw57]

I would have a condescending waiter for about 2 minutes....
Then, the extra cost, upscale poop would hit the fan

 

[Quellman]

Question, though I think I know the answer. Did you ask to speak to the head server or visit guest services after the fact?
I assume you got the same server twice just like you would at the MDRs because you already 'had' a relationship with them from the brunch.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Here's a question; We have always tipped our Palo server... but then I read that's what the upcharge is for.... Is that correct?

 

[AshleiCal]

We had Boris in December. I wasn't impressed at all. I thought he had an attitude and everything we asked seemed to be a big deal.

 

[dclpluto]

We had Boris in December. I wasn't impressed at all. I thought he had an attitude and everything we asked seemed to be a big deal.

What ship was this on?

 

[amberwc]

We had a so-so experience at Palo. Our main issue came from an allergy in our group (onions)--therefore I assume that it was more the kitchen's fault as opposed to the server. The funny thing is that our normal server dealt with the allergy much better than Palo. Would we go to Palo again, probably not. It just wasn't special enough to make it worth the extra money.

 

[wcw57]

What ship was this on?

 

[Dug720]

We have done the Palo brunch several times and dinner twice over the 4 cruises we have been on.
Up until our last cruise, we have always enjoyed an outstanding server and that has really added to the enjoyment of our meal. We were fortunate enough to have Amanda twice and she was great! (we requested her this time but she is now a server in the MDRs)
This time we had Boris. He was ok at best. At brunch he forgot our drinks until we mentioned it to him about half way through. Once we got our drinks, they were not refilled. He wasn't overly friendly or helpful. He didn't make any recommendations. He wasn't rude--just not the standard of service we had before. Of course, when we had dinner later in the week, we were assigned Boris again.
Of course, someone else on here may have had him and their service was exceptional. Maybe, we just didn't "click". Or maybe he was just having an off week.
Overall, it was just disappointing.
If it had been our first time dining there, I doubt we would go back.

I'm seconding the "What ship?" question. I'd like to in-person request not him if he's on my ship...

 

[hoffman1]

It was on the Fantasy. Dec 10th sailing.

 

[wcw57]

OY! We're on the Fantasy in 44 days and Palo in 49 days!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have done the Palo brunch several times and dinner twice over the 4 cruises we have been on.
Up until our last cruise, we have always enjoyed an outstanding server and that has really added to the enjoyment of our meal. We were fortunate enough to have Amanda twice and she was great! (we requested her this time but she is now a server in the MDRs)
This time we had Boris. He was ok at best. At brunch he forgot our drinks until we mentioned it to him about half way through. Once we got our drinks, they were not refilled. He wasn't overly friendly or helpful. He didn't make any recommendations. He wasn't rude--just not the standard of service we had before. Of course, when we had dinner later in the week, we were assigned Boris again.
Of course, someone else on here may have had him and their service was exceptional. Maybe, we just didn't "click". Or maybe he was just having an off week.
Overall, it was just disappointing.
If it had been our first time dining there, I doubt we would go back.

One question - did you mention it on your ship survey at the end of the cruise? DCL can't do anything about bad servers if they don't get the information.

 

[hoffman1]

One question - did you mention it on your ship survey at the end of the cruise? DCL can't do anything about bad servers if they don't get the information.

I did include it on the survey

 

[Steve Dexter]

Our first time ever at Palo the server kept going on and on about how hard he has to work, the long hours, on and on. We couldn't get out of there fast enough, it really tainted our experience. I also work hard and sometimes extreme hours, like 100 hours per week, but would never look for sympathy from a paying customer or make them feel guilty.

 

[moosecrouse]

I had the opposite occur on my most recent cruise. Our first brunch and dinner we had an excellent server who we am had actually had on a cruise 4 years prior. The 2nd brunch and dinner we had a server who was actually way over the top with the niceness and constantly hovered around our table during the meals trying to strike up a conversation. After the second meal was so uncomfortable we mentioned it our MDR servers the last night. They actually guessed who we were talking about and laughed about with some of the other servers. He had a reputation among the MDR servers.

 

[timrousbeastie]

We have done the Palo brunch several times and dinner twice over the 4 cruises we have been on.
Up until our last cruise, we have always enjoyed an outstanding server and that has really added to the enjoyment of our meal. We were fortunate enough to have Amanda twice and she was great! (we requested her this time but she is now a server in the MDRs)
This time we had Boris. He was ok at best. At brunch he forgot our drinks until we mentioned it to him about half way through. Once we got our drinks, they were not refilled. He wasn't overly friendly or helpful. He didn't make any recommendations. He wasn't rude--just not the standard of service we had before. Of course, when we had dinner later in the week, we were assigned Boris again.
Of course, someone else on here may have had him and their service was exceptional. Maybe, we just didn't "click". Or maybe he was just having an off week.
Overall, it was just disappointing.
If it had been our first time dining there, I doubt we would go back.

Sorry that you had a bad experience. We've had Boris as our waiter twice, in 2014 and '15, and been very happy with him on both occasions. Just wanted to add a dissenting opinion since several posters have shared negative feedback. Perhaps he had a bad week(?). He must have done something right to have stayed a Palo for over 2 years... Personally, I'd request him if we were to dine at Palo again.

 

[cheermom2four]

I will have to look in my notes when I get home. We were on the Fantasy and had a male server when we dined for brunch and dinner at Palo and liked him. He wasnt over the top and hovered over us but was attentive and explained things as it was the first time we had eaten there. We were pleased and will request him again if we go on the Fantasy in the future.