Dining experience... am I the only one? (Long)

[SweetSpot]

I had expected so much after reading here about the service at dinner and although it wasn't horrible it was nothing like I expected.

We were early seating at a table for six, just my family. Our server wasn't especially nice. I am VERY allergic to shellfish which is on every menu and what my server recommended to me every night even after I told him every night that I cannot eat shellfish. Shouldn't he have remembered this? I don't normally eat very much and I was eating 3 meals on the ship. I never was very hungry because my stomach couldn't handle anymore. My husband also doesn't eat very much and when he is done he's done. I told my children they could live on ice cream all week and didn't have to touch a vegetable if they didn't want to. Their vacation, my decision, I needed a week off from trying to get picky eaters to eat. My one son and DH tried different foods but many they didn't like. They weren't especially hunger and took a chance which I was hoping they would do, isn't that okay? He wasn't happy if we didn't clear our plates or order adventurous food, especially the shellfish. My children used ketchup everyday and had to wait and wait or the table next to us to get served every night before they ever go any, if they got any. He was so obnoxious to my husband that I had to find him at lunch and try to explain nicely to leave him be that his is a 39 yearsold, I think the man knows what he wants to eat and when he will be done. I was very polite but he was obnoxious to us the rest of the cruise until Thursday when he wanted to make sure that we would give him an excellent rating.

Dinner was very stressful because I needed to act as if nothing was bothering me because I know my husband was trying so hard to check his temper for me.

I was also surprised that we were required to wait for the other tables they served to come to dinner and order so that we could all be served at the same time. They were never on time and ordered many different dishes and we found that if we wanted dessert it was over 30 minutes from when we were done our dinner before we could even order dessert. He also forgot my daughters dinner completely on formal night, she ordered steak, and finally brought it when he was ready to take a dessert order. She was nearly in tears and luckily the Asst. Server saw this and ran and got her chicken fingers but it was horrible timing because it was the day they were to sing her Happy Birthday, (which they forgot until I reminded them). That was also not great. They came over and sang but were so rushed the Head Server sang Happy Birthday using her last name.

Later in the week he brought her the wrong meal and she had to wait again until he corrected it and the following night he brought my son the wrong meal and having seen his sister wait the other two nights almost broke down in tears of frustration.

Our Assistant Server was extremely sweet but so rushed, we really did love him. There was no special treatment. Noone entertained our kids much less paid any attention to them. We were lucky if they got crayons, we had to ask several time many nights.

Was I expecting too much? I have gotten much better service at the local diner or Friendlys than I did on the ship. We were very polite, never complained (guess I should have), dressed as we should have and our children had perfect manners and were polite and well behaved. I looked around and saw people being treated so well and feel I missed out on something.

Was I expecting too much? Has anyone else experienced anythign like this? What would you have done in this situation? It's not like you can complain without it becoming awkward and you can't easily switch seats, servers or restaurants. I was on a rotation and seating I had asked for and loved I didn't want to change so never bothered complaining.

Thank you for letting me vent. The cruise was magical the meals definately weren't.

 

[tbuot]

WOW! That is awful!! I sure hope we don't get him on our cruise. Sorry you had a bad experience. It is so stressful when your kids get wrong orders and then have to wait.

 

[4crusinransiers]

Wow, thanks for posting . I'am so sorry to hear of your dining room service .
Our service and treatment was totally the oppisite
I'am sure this is not the norm. Did you tip the reccomended amount? Did you fill out the comment card at the end of your cruise?

 

[Michelle]

Unfortunately there are some less-than-stellar servers and it sounds like you got one.

On our last family cruise last December we had NICE servers but very overbearing. I don't eat dessert, ever. I don't like to pig out with three appetizers and two entrees. Unfortunately our server did NOT get the message despite me repeatedly telling him not to bring more food. I think he expects most people like to eat as much as possible on a cruise. I do not. It reached the point where we went to Topsider's a couple of evenings (a VERY nice alternative to the dining room) just to escape him.

On other cruises I have had absolutely FABULOUS servers who remembered everyone's preferences to a T and never tried to push extra food on me.

So no, SweetSpot, you're not the only one, it does happen from time to time. Hopefully next time you will get one of the great servers.

 

[Target]

We are traveling on the Dec 14th cruise. This is one of my fears (it is our first cruise and I want it to be fun, not stressful). What was the name of your server and assistant server? I hope I don't get them....sorry to hear about your service. I hope the next cruise is more pleasant.

 

[mmouse37]

That service was defintely not typical of a DCL dining experience. It sounds like you got a server who wanted to run his tables on his time, not yours.

On our 6 DCL cruises we have never had to wait for other tables to come to dinner before ordering. Each table was treated individually and all our servers have been fantastic. And yes, any good server would have remembered your allergy to shellfish and not kept offering you that on the menu. They also should not have harrassed your hubby about his eating. I feel so bad that you had these experiences, what a let down for you.

But just so that you know, if you were not happy you could and should have talked to the head server immediately and asked to be switched to another table. Though it may seem awkward at first, you would have had a better time the rest of the trip.

Again, so sorry you had to deal with that nonsense. Definitely write a letter to DCL and document every instance you felt was inferior. List the server name as well. How dare he ask you to give him an excellent rating, I hope you did not.

MJ

 

[SweetSpot]

We did tip the about 20 over the recommended amout for the server and matched the tip, about $60 over minimum for the asst server because he did try so hard but he couldn't compensate for how terrible the server was. I didn't want to be horrible with tipping because we are cruising the Magic again next year and didn't want to take a chance at being remembered for tipping horribly.

The comment card at the end is useless because it rates the team not the individual servers. I left those two spaces blank because I wasn't going to let one server get any credit for the server who was trying. I did mention the asst servers name on the back so that he would at least be recognized for being so good. I also check the area that asked if you had a problem and will tell them if they contact me but again I am going next year on the same boat and don't want to have a horrible time because I complained this time.

Thank you Michelle for letting me know it has happened to someone else. I understand that people go on cruises to eat and eat but my appetite and stomach wouldn't allow me.

 

[Susan in Maine]

OK, so I've never been on Disney. But I have been on Carnival, RCL, and Princess. I can guarantee you that I would NOT have put up with a waiter that treated me and my family that way.

Cruises cost a lot of money, and one of the best parts of the experience should be the dining room! Unless the passengers let the head waiter, and if need be the cruise director and dining manager know how you were being treated, then they can't resolve the problem. And not taking care of a poor employee means that other passengers ill have the same experience. I would have started out by telling the head waiter that I wanted a new table, and I would tell him exactly why. I would also have written on my comment card about the experience.

I can't imagine that any passenger would be retaliated against because they were unhappy with service. Usually it works the other way - they try very hard to make sure the rest of the cruise goes really well.

 

[vicnmickey]

Could you have gone to someone when the problem was happening and try to get it solved. There should be someone to talk to at the time and tell them the situation. You should not have to be stressed the whole time your at meals. People pay for the DCL cruise because they want a magical cruise. The being pushy with food, is very offending to me, if you don't want to eat then you shouldn't be pushed too.

Sweetspot, you never mentioned his name. Would you share it with us so we could have a heads up!!!

 

[psimon]

Your experience is 180° out from what we just had. Our servers were the best. The kids meals or starters always came out VERY quickly. Our servers very quickly learned our likes/dislikes and after 2 days we never had to order drinks (soda, iced tea, etc) ... they just appeared! They also never ran out, as they were always replaced before the glasses were empty. If our server noticed I was torn between 2 different starters, he would bring me both so I could sample!

Sounds like your experience was atypical. I would certainly contact DCL and tell them of your experience. They NEED to know these things to really make the cruise a magical experience.

By the way, our servers were Aron and Teddy at table 18..... who were yours?

Paul

 

[mickeymom629]

That really was a horrible experience and I feel so badly for your daughter. I hope that your next cruise is more magical in every way.
I do agree that you should tell DCL in a letter. One thing about Disney is that they usually try to do something wonderful to make up for your bad experience if they can. I think Susan in Maine is correct in thinking that they would have tried to make the rest of your trip wonderful if you had mentioned this on the cruise. At least, I would hope so.

I hope that doesn't happen to us . . .

 

[thebecka]

Sorry to hear about your wait staff...we've had both good and bad experiences with our cruise wait staff. On RCL we actually had our table switched because we asked for a large table and we're eating alone as the other families ate elsewhere...we never met them...it was rather embarassing to run into our original wait team but their service was poor and we wanted the larger table. We got what we wanted-afterall we were paying for the trip. On our trip last year we had a great server - although by the end of the trip he needed a shower and DD didn't like the smell...it was difficult to get her to keep her mouth shut! Wow I'd forgotten about that part. But he was still an excellent server and I would love to have him again. When our dinner companions went on another cruise they told us that he remembered all of us by name! It's just luck of the draw but I would have spoken up while on ship as well as send a letter now that you are home. Don't let this experience disuade you from planning another cruise.

 

[alexandrew]

I guess the servers you get are really luck of the draw

 

[SweetSpot]

psimon: I rather not say who the server was because he's worked there for 3 years, he must be doing something right. It might not have been his week and I don't want to trash him personally. I just needed to see if my expectations were too high. I kept wondering if maybe I was expecting too much from what I read here. I will say our Asst. Server was Boban and he was wonderful, very sweet. He did talk to us a little about himself and you could see that he absolutely loved children. Unfortunately, he was so rushed he couldn't compensate for all the mistakes.

I did pull the Server aside when I saw him working lunch on day 3 and asked him very nicely to let up on my DH. He made a couple comments that night and after that he stopped harrassing my DH about his meals, he didn't let up on the kids though. I have to give him credit for at least trying to change.

I never complained to the Head Server because I had specifically requested our dining rotation, time and size table and was very happy and didn't want to change any of that. If any changes were made it would mean I would have to eat every night in the same dining room with servers who I complained about. It would have just made a different stressful situation. At the time it seemed as if there was no easy solution. It truly is the luck of the draw. Next time I could get wonderful servers. If not, I'm heading to Topsiders.

Also, I don't think writing to DCL will help. I've already rebooked so they aren't worried about losing a customer and what would I say? I think I was expecting perfection and when mistakes happened, even if the were big and blatant mistakes, it pretty much killed the dining experience. I could have complained onboard and I didn't. In the end it is luck of the draw, personalities and my wanting to stick it out rather than complain that was at fault.

Everyone cross your fingers for a better experience for us next year.

 

[lUVTOGO]

Hi Sweetspot,
Hope you had a great time on the cruise otherwise? I have to say I thought our server seemed rushed all the time also. She did not push food on us, in fact my husband had to always ask for another entree because he is a big eater. But sometimes i felt that we were rushed giving our orders, or maybe she wasn't really listening when we gave our orders, because more than once she brought out the wrong entrees. One time my daughter ordered ravioli without sauce, and it came out twice with sauce. I thought that they would like you to hurry out so they can get ready for the second seating. But the food was good and our kids loved our server because she was French and they liked to hear her accent!When did you rebook for next year?

Maryann

 

[SweetSpot]

LUVTOGO:

What rotation were you on? It did seemed rushed and I did wonder if maybe they were short on staff that week. There were empty tables so it didn't appear as if the ship was more crowded than usual.

Yes, we did have an amazing week and in no way did dinner ruin the trip because there was too much fun to be had. We booked for November 1st which hopefully in NJ's week again. It's hard not to wish your year away but I can't wait to go again.

Did you enjoy your trip? Rebook?

 

[lUVTOGO]

We had Aplapla, table 33. Yes we did enjoy ourselves. Our first day started out hectic, but quickly turned into a fun time! We didn't do much, only saw two shows, 2 movies, never even made it into the nightclubs at night. We were up early in the a.m., did see some wonderful sunrises, and my 7 yr old didn't like the clubs the first few days. Brunch at Paolos was wonderful, and so was dinner. I met c-u-soon on the Golden Eagle Catamaran trip, and also my daughters gym teacher was on the cruise. We ran into her after dinner Monday Night. No, we didn't rebook (yet). I have to get over the sticker shock first.Lol Are you going on the Western next year?We really enjoyed our verandah, so I know we would definatley do a Cat 6 again. I think after all the wonderful posts about the servers and meals, maybe our expectations were high. I would definetley go agin. Did you see the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? I loved it.

Maryann

 

[Wishing on a star]

I know I am joining this thread late... But I wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth here, and say that I would definately write DCL about your dining experience! Here is why... I am planning a cruise, and I would not want to go though this if I get this server!

I have heard of servers pouring the kid's ketchup in the shape of Mickey Mouse... telling stories... doing tricks.... parading around with the kids, as well as catering to the adults every desire, etc.. etc.. etc.... This is the service that Disney is expecting from their waitstaff. Believe me, the waitstaff are NOT going out of their way to work double hard to do these things without being asked/encouraged...... Sounds like this server is just not capable of performing his basic duties of taking orders, and bringing the requested dishes, in the requested quantity!! I would feel that this is completely unacceptable. This does not sound like "maybe he had a bad night...."

This server saying he has been there for 3 years, that cuts no slack with me either... Just the opposit. Here is why - I could understand a brand new asst. server not immediately being up to par. But a main server?? No way.... Did he say he had been a server for three years, or just 'onboard' for three years? Sounds a little like the "Please give me an excellent rating" speil that some other posters have written about.

Sounds like becoming a main server, with a good number of tables, along with the big tips $$$, is a coveted position on these cruises. DCL servers should earn praise, accolades, and tips, not PITY... That is not what DCL cruisers are paying for. We all know that DCL cruises do not come cheap... If I want to pay that kind of money out of pity, I will make a sizeable donation to my favorite charity.