Crew dining with passengers

[eyesing4u]

I was reading a discussion on FB about passengers on another line being upset because they had to dine at the buffet with crew members. I was just wondering how people here on the DIS would feel if Disney started doing this.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was reading a discussion on FB about passengers on another line being upset because they had to dine at the buffet with crew members. I was just wondering how people here on the DIS would feel if Disney started doing this.

There are DCL CMs that dine at the guest venues. We've seen mostly entertainment people doing it, but I don't know for sure if the other CMs can or not.

As long as they are behaving themselves, what's the problem?

 

[Dug720]

There are DCL CMs that dine at the guest venues. We've seen mostly entertainment people doing it, but I don't know for sure if the other CMs can or not.

As long as they are behaving themselves, what's the problem?

 

[woody73]

I've sailed on several other cruise lines where select crew members are allowed to dine in the buffet. These were typically entertainers (production and guest performers), officers, and the spa staff. They were always courteous in the buffet lines, and their presence in the buffet dining room was never an issue.

I suppose it is no different than on my Disney cruises where we were seated at dinner with Disney guest lecturers. Or when we dine at Palo and officers are seated at the next table.

It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

Woody

 

[Meghatron]

As long as they are behaving themselves, what's the problem?

The CM lunch in Triton's was a highlight of our last cruise. We loved being able to talk with staff and find out about their lives, like we do with our dining team. We saw another CM at Ariel's tea party with what looked like his mother and some other family (the cruise was over Mother's Day). And I saw two of our favorite CMs dressed to the nines when they got special permission to eat at Palo one night (one of them was at the end of his contract and disembarking after this cruise). It's my experience that CMs are far better at following the dining rules and dress codes than most passengers.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[darkwing818]

When we sailed on the Fantasy in June, Captain Marco & a couple of other officers dined (MDR late seating) at the table next to us. They caused quite a stir among the wait staff, it was a hoot to watch. We also saw him a couple nights later having diner with some guests, at Palo's.

 

[tripletsmama]

If you personally know a CM, they can dine with you in the main dining rooms. As long as their schedule is clear and the head waiter approves it, they're good to go. Your wait staff will just add another chair to your table and they will be treated as a guest. This was a wonderful way for us to spend time with a friend who was working onboard. It also let her feel like she was having a mini vacation. They work so hard, they definitely deserve it! I see no problem with this policy.

 

[socababy]

I don't see any problem with that at all!

Last month on the Fantasy, we were riding the aquaduck with the crew! It was a port day and they were letting crew ride the aquaduck for the first hour or so it was opened. The CM at the bottom gave us a heads up that we might see our server in line right behind us.

 

[PrettyPrincessJen]

I agree! I bet the CM's behave better than some of the guests! I think they should be able to enjoy the ship.

 

[m&m's mom]

Just out of curiosity, what were their complaints w/ eating w/ the crew?
Please tell me it was not a "class" issue.

 

[truck1]

I was reading a discussion on FB about passengers on another line being upset because they had to dine at the buffet with crew members. I was just wondering how people here on the DIS would feel if Disney started doing this.

Personally I think its a good thing. Especially if there job entails dealing with guests onboard. They can experience first hand what a guest goes through during the normal cruise, and can get first hand info. Disney as a whole encourages it.

If I had to guess, the reason that some people that got upset, is that they are the same people that think that certain things are below them, and certain people also. This would be in the same grouping of people that consider themselves entitled. They paid there money and someone should be at there beck and call regardless of what actually happens.

Heres another example. One of the engines in my department, went to a new grocery store one day about a month ago. All they picked up was a package of bacon and went to get in line. A woman walked by and kind of sneered and made the comment, Shouldnt you be at the firehouse? (The fact that we are on duty for 24 hours a shift and still need to eat didnt make a difference to her) Then cut in front of them, with a full cart of groceries. The check out woman didnt say a thing. (That was the last time we or the PD when they found out about it ever went back there), even though the crew was there first and only had 1 package of bacon.

 

[cgolf]

I think this would be a positive not a negative. We actually enjoy when we get a chance to chat with our servers and other cm's, they are pleasant and always have a good story or ten. One trip we got our mdr server serving us at a sit down lunch and it was great because we were one of only a few there. We had a great time learning about who our server was as a person, because he had the time to talk with us because he wasn't rushed.

The only downside I could see is space during busy times, but I am sure they would set off peak times for the cm's to eat. Also this last cruise we went concierge and found the hosts to be awesome to sit and talk with. We actually skipped a show just to sit and talk about this that and the other thing with them. I would guess that the cm's probably enjoy having real conversations with guests too and be able to talk about their lives, instead of the DCL life is wonderful spiel they have to sell 99% of the time.

cgolf

 

[SuperDry]

I've seen several situations where CMs can use guest areas: I've seen an officer with what looked like his family traveling on board at the buffet. I've sat next to a non-Disney entertainer at the buffet. I've seen the Captain and some fellow officers eating table service lunch. I've seen a concierge running laps on Deck 4. I've seen a regular CM watching a movie in the Buena Vista Theater. I've chatted with a CM one evening as a fellow patron at the Cove Bar, and learned that off-duty CMs can be guests at the regular bars, but may not consume any alcohol (there is a CM-only bar down below or their staterooms for that). If they're not working, they can use Castaway Cay (although they do have their own private beach where probably most of them go), and they can go ashore for the day when in port.

So, there's a lot that off-duty CMs can do both on board and in port that are the same as guests. For the most part, they wear street clothes and you'd never know they were CMs from the ship unless you recognized them.

 

[Heyriddle]

I've seen several situations where CMs can use guest areas: I've seen an officer with what looked like his family traveling on board at the buffet. I've sat next to a non-Disney entertainer at the buffet. I've seen the Captain and some fellow officers eating table service lunch. I've seen a concierge running laps on Deck 4. I've seen a regular CM watching a movie in the Buena Vista Theater. I've chatted with a CM one evening as a fellow patron at the Cove Bar, and learned that off-duty CMs can be guests at the regular bars, but may not consume any alcohol (there is a CM-only bar down below or their staterooms for that). If they're not working, they can use Castaway Cay (although they do have their own private beach where probably most of them go), and they can go ashore for the day when in port.

So, there's a lot that off-duty CMs can do both on board and in port that are the same as guests. For the most part, they wear street clothes and you'd never know they were CMs from the ship unless you recognized them.

We saw our serving team in Cabo. It was fun.

 

[lilpooh108]

I wouldn't mind if they were well behaved. There's a TR that's ongoing right now discussing bad entertainment CM behavior that negatively affected passengers. (Partying in the hot tub, being loud on deck 9, disrupting the Princess Tea Party.) If I had to eat with those CMs, I'd be pretty annoyed. If they are regular people, it'd be fun to ask about their jobs, etc.

 

[anniemck]

No big deal as far as I am concerned... I have seen this on Carnival, Royal, Disney, Norwegian and Princess over the years.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

When we ate dinner in Cabana's there were a few tables with officers (in white uniforms) - 2 with families and 1 table of just officers.

Didn't impact our experience at all.

I don't get why it's an issue - it's not like they are pushing us out of the way to get to the chow.....

 

[wendyoconnor]

Last year Captain Marco was sitting one table over from us on Castaway Cay at the eating area on Serenity Bay. We've run into CMs on shore while in port. It's good to know that CMs can get some time off while in port too, they work such long hours.

It's no different then running into people outside of their job at home. My DH sees the local news anchors at his Walmart all the time and he used to see the Univ of KY women's basketball coach there too. Or seeing a high up elected official at my doctor's office. When you work with the public, your private life tends to be a bit more public, especially on a confined area like a cruise ship.

 

[over50visits]

I was reading a discussion on FB about passengers on another line being upset because they had to dine at the buffet with crew members. I was just wondering how people here on the DIS would feel if Disney started doing this.

Was the FB discussion about random CMs eating, or did they mean the crew dining room was gone and crew and passengers all shared the same buffet?

 

[mmouse37]

I've seen several situations where CMs can use guest areas: I've seen an officer with what looked like his family traveling on board at the buffet. I've sat next to a non-Disney entertainer at the buffet. I've seen the Captain and some fellow officers eating table service lunch. I've seen a concierge running laps on Deck 4. I've seen a regular CM watching a movie in the Buena Vista Theater. I've chatted with a CM one evening as a fellow patron at the Cove Bar, and learned that off-duty CMs can be guests at the regular bars, but may not consume any alcohol (there is a CM-only bar down below or their staterooms for that). If they're not working, they can use Castaway Cay (although they do have their own private beach where probably most of them go), and they can go ashore for the day when in port.

So, there's a lot that off-duty CMs can do both on board and in port that are the same as guests. For the most part, they wear street clothes and you'd never know they were CMs from the ship unless you recognized them.

Ditto all of the above....we have also seen off-duty stage performers hanging out by the adult pool.

MJ