childrens meal times AGAIN

[kaseyoz]

I posted something similar to this after our last cruise last oct, but decided to post it again.

Please check your child's cruise card as soon as you board if you are expecting your children to eat with you. Even if you have confirmed booking for dining times.
we learnt from our last cruise and this time our friend had a daughter who was 12. We had requested and got confirmation from P and O 4 times that we had early seating( they still do not know there is 4 times, even after i told them they said it depends on what restaurant is ready first!!!WHAT!!
anyway we checked her card on boading and lo and behold , no restaurant time meaning she as was in kids dinner at 5pm. We went straight down to see Matre D" who like last time was not interested in helping, he just kept saying ALL children have to go to kids dinner at 5pm no matter what! He did check and found she could fit on our table and her card was changed.
After we had finsihed eating our dinner the first night there was still a queue of families waiting to try and fix up their kids dinner. So folks please check and get there early or you will be disappointed.

[karmac]

Also, if you are travelling with teenagers be sure to request 1st sitting. We requested 2nd sitting (and booking so far in advance I'm sure we would have got what we asked for) but it wasn't until we got on board that we found out that major teenagers stuff happens at 8.30-10.00pm (right when 2nd sitting eaters are having dinner). The next morning we went & saw the Maire d' and it wasn't a probpem changing, it just meant that we had 3 people at a table meant for 2. It wasn't that crowded but we just didn't get to meet anybody else. We just thought it was the right thing to do by our teenager. How did you go with your son Karon?

Karen

[Skyrules]

I posted something similar to this after our last cruise last oct, but decided to post it again.

Please check your child's cruise card as soon as you board if you are expecting your children to eat with you. Even if you have confirmed booking for dining times.
we learnt from our last cruise and this time our friend had a daughter who was 12. We had requested and got confirmation from P and O 4 times that we had early seating( they still do not know there is 4 times, even after i told them they said it depends on what restaurant is ready first!!!WHAT!!
anyway we checked her card on boading and lo and behold , no restaurant time meaning she as was in kids dinner at 5pm. We went straight down to see Matre D" who like last time was not interested in helping, he just kept saying ALL children have to go to kids dinner at 5pm no matter what! He did check and found she could fit on our table and her card was changed.
After we had finsihed eating our dinner the first night there was still a queue of families waiting to try and fix up their kids dinner. So folks please check and get there early or you will be disappointed.

Was it the same Maitre 'd? Fabio Marcotti?? He doesn't seem to want to do anything for anyone. The Maitre 'd on Star was excellent - lots of fun - and while we didn't have any problems this time, I'm sure if we had, he would have been much easier to deal with.

[Fortknox]

Hi Karon
I have asked my TA re Dinner sittings - she has informed me there is only 1 in each dining room:confused: .
Can you please tell me what the 2 times are for each sitting.
We are booked for the first sitting & want to allow plenty of time to get ready each day as mostly leaving the islands around 5pm - not to mention getting our son to the kids dinner - that is if there is one as P&O have advised kids dinner will not go ahead if low numbers of kids. This is not a concern to as they have assured us the kids will be catered for.
Hopefully the right timing will allow us to see the sailway (definately a must do:p ) & still get to eat dinner - what do you advise?
Great to hear another wonderful time was had.
We still have just over 4 months to go:( .
Regards Deb

[karmac]

Hi Deb. One of the other Karens here.

We booked 2nd sitting dinner purely because we didn't want to rush around particularly when being in port (never want to miss sailaway). However, after the 1st night we changed to 1st sitting for the sake of our teenage son. As we left most ports at 6pm I would go & get ready beforehand so I was on deck for sailaway ready for dinner. A bit uncomfortable at times as there is nothing worse than being dressed up in hot weather as it still was as we were leaving but it's better tham missing sailaway.

Karen

[karmac]

In my opinion, if there is only one sitting (presumably due to the fact that the cruise isn't sold out) they would be better having it at maybe 6.45/7.00 instead of 6.15.

It looks as though the Dawn will have open sitting.

Karen

[Tropicalshowers]

Also, if you are travelling with teenagers be sure to request 1st sitting. We requested 2nd sitting (and booking so far in advance I'm sure we would have got what we asked for) but it wasn't until we got on board that we found out that major teenagers stuff happens at 8.30-10.00pm (right when 2nd sitting eaters are having dinner). The next morning we went & saw the Maire d' and it wasn't a probpem changing, it just meant that we had 3 people at a table meant for 2. It wasn't that crowded but we just didn't get to meet anybody else. We just thought it was the right thing to do by our teenager. How did you go with your son Karon?

Karen

Hi Karen....we are booked :rolleyes: first dinner sitting (6pm) on Star, & have 2 boys aged 12 & 15yrs. We are cruising in sch. holiday time so it's very likely that there will be a kids dinner at 5pm. I know our 15yo would be very reluctant to eat with the 'little kids' at 5pm (as Kaseyoz's Maitre d' insisted!) not to mention that it's not a time he is used to anymore!
Our 12yo probably wouldn't care. We would like the kids to eat with us. When P&O says 'kids' at kids dinner,do they really mean older teenagers too? It's good to hear that they have teenage activities going on in the evening. What other activities are there for the older ones throughout the day?
Cheers!

[aussiedisneyfan]

If the kids dinner is served up on deck 10 buffet then you don't actually have to eat at their allocated table. We often got their food and then sat out in the pool area so they could have dinner and we could still participate in beer quoits etc. That way your teenages wouldn't feel like they were sitting with a bunch of little kids.

[Tropicalshowers]

If the kids dinner is served up on deck 10 buffet then you don't actually have to eat at their allocated table. We often got their food and then sat out in the pool area so they could have dinner and we could still participate in beer quoits etc. That way your teenages wouldn't feel like they were sitting with a bunch of little kids.

Good idea Aussiedisneyfan. Thanks!

[karmac]

If the kids dinner is served up on deck 10 buffet then you don't actually have to eat at their allocated table. We often got their food and then sat out in the pool area so they could have dinner and we could still participate in beer quoits etc. That way your teenages wouldn't feel like they were sitting with a bunch of little kids.

On our cruise, kids dinner was always in the dining room. Personally, I think it would have been better on deck 10.

Karen

[karmac]

Hi Karen....we are booked :rolleyes: first dinner sitting (6pm) on Star, & have 2 boys aged 12 & 15yrs. We are cruising in sch. holiday time so it's very likely that there will be a kids dinner at 5pm. I know our 15yo would be very reluctant to eat with the 'little kids' at 5pm (as Kaseyoz's Maitre d' insisted!) not to mention that it's not a time he is used to anymore!
Our 12yo probably wouldn't care. We would like the kids to eat with us. When P&O says 'kids' at kids dinner,do they really mean older teenagers too? It's good to hear that they have teenage activities going on in the evening. What other activities are there for the older ones throughout the day?
Cheers!

According to P & O's policy your 12yo should eat at kids dinner & your 15yo with you. However if you ask for your 12yo to eat with you I'm sure it should be ok. Our 10yo son & 11yo daughter ate at kids dinner and I honestly believe it was the best thing for them (especially the 10yo - he would have starved if he ate at our dinner coz he's such a fussy eater). Our 15yo son ate with us. We're planning on doing another cruise in about 18mths-2yrs and our daughter will eat with us. Our son will be 12 so I will ask him if he prefers to eat with the kids or with us and leave it up tp him to decide.
As for teenagers activities, we hardly ever saw our son. There are planned activities but also, you know what teenagers are like - they like to just hang out together & chat. He had a ball. I was worried beforehand as to whether he would be occupied & also as to how much freedom we should give him. Once on board I felt so much better about the whole thing & he had lots of freedom. He alwasy did the right thing and so he was able to keep that freedom. On the last night most of the teens stayed up all night. We were lucky in that they were all a great bunch of kids. I often heard older people commenting on the good behaviour of all the kids & teens on board.

Karen

[Rallo]

Tropical Showers is going on Pacific Star which apparently doesn't do a kids dinner. I'm sure you won't have a problem having your kids dine with you at the early sitting. Some of the activities for teens listed in the 'Teen Daily's' which my girlfriend loaned to me to look at include:- Ship Tour, Golf Chipping, DJ Lesson, Hot Potato Ball Game, Teen Dance, Soft Drink Quoits, Celebrity Heads, Dodgeball Challenge, Table Tennis, Bingo, Crab Soccer, Rotate Ball, Hibiscus Making, Golf Putting, Karaoke, Playstation Contest. Hope that is of assistance.

[karmac]

Sorry Nerissa, didn't check to see that you were on Star. Thanks Rallo for pointing that out.

Karen

[newbie_sailor_88]

wow this topic seems to be one of uncertianity

[Rallo]

It certainly is an issue of concern for us parents and not knowing for sure if Star will do a kids dinner in school holidays or not is very annoying. Hopefully everything will just fall into place and work out fine once we are on board and into the swing of things - I probably worry too much about it.:confused:

[newbie_sailor_88]

its a shame there is so much inconstancy

[Skyrules]

Pacific Star doesn't have a kid's dinner sitting unless there are a large number of children travelling.

Our cruise didn't have one as there was a very small number of children on the cruise.

Dinner sittings on Star, which only has one restaurant, are 6pm and 8 pm. Except the day we were in Noumea when they were later (because of our late arrival I think).

However, our waiter was telling us that the cruise following ours (school holidays) was going to have 300 kids, and he was relieved to have been told by the Maitre 'd that there would be a seperate sitting for them in the Buffet on the Lido Deck.

[kaseyoz]

On the sun there was kids dinner at 5pm in dining room. Then dinner at 5.45pm, 6.15pm then around 8.15 and 8.30 i think for the late ones.
We were ok with 13 year old on our table. We weretold that all children under 13 had to eat at kids sitting regardless of what P and o told you. We were also told by p and o only one seating at 6pm and kids could eat with us.

On the main dining menu is always fries, plain chicken and fish and ice cream. My son is very fussy and always found something he liked.
After the first sailaway from sydney (not to be missed) the other was very low key, no music or anything.we just left....

Just double check your cruiecards when you get on board and follow up right away if not correct so you dont get caught in the queue at meal times.

[Rallo]

Pacific Star doesn't have a kid's dinner sitting unless there are a large number of children travelling.
Our cruise didn't have one as there was a very small number of children on the cruise.
However, our waiter was telling us that the cruise following ours (school holidays) was going to have 300 kids, and he was relieved to have been told by the Maitre 'd that there would be a seperate sitting for them in the Buffet on the Lido Deck.
Sounds like our cruise in September school holidays will probably have a kids sitting then for 12 years and under. Can my 15 yr old do that as well if she wants? I must admit this is the one thing that concerns me about the whole cruise. Like what do our kids do while we are at the late sitting. What if they don't like the kids club scene?

[karmac]

After the first sailaway from sydney (not to be missed) the other was very low key, no music or anything.we just left....



I enjoyed sailaway all the time. Wala especially was great, very much like Sydney with the music etc (not quite as good as Sydney though). For some reason the music was usually played at the midship pool but most people seemed to be at the aft pool. I actually commented on my card at the end that all sailaway parties should be at the aft pool. The atmosphere was so much better there & would have been even better had there been music etc.

Karen

[kaseyoz]

at pur sailaway from sydney there wastn any music either but i assumed it was because of the drizzle. Very much more lowkey than our last cruise. Maybe they didnt have a DJ organised. DAN where were you????

Karen, I too loved the sail away from wala especailly as all the other little local boats left too and all the kids were waving to each other. I felt sad to leave there!

[karmac]

I took a photo of one of those little boats with my digital camera & when I was looking at it the other day, I zoomed right in & it was amazing how many people were in that thing.

Karen

[aussiedisneyfan]

Rallo, if the kids dinner is in the buffet then there shouldn't be a problem with your 15yo just helping herself. If it is in the dining room it might be more difficult as that usually is allocated seating.

[Rallo]

Thanks Aussie. It's all up in the air on Star. Will just have to wait and see what the go is when we get on.

[cjc23]

Is this policy of kids under 12 eating in the kids area, and not in the main dining restaurant, just for P&O ships outside the UK?
I am sailing from Southamton,UK and nothing is in the brochure and I assumed our 11yr old would eat with us each evening - I wouldnt want her to eat in the kids area!
Confused
CJ

[karmac]

Sorry CJ, can't help you on that one. Our brochures are purely for Aussie ships. You'd have to ask yout TA. Maybe check out the P&O website.

Karen

[Skyrules]

I took a photo of one of those little boats with my digital camera & when I was looking at it the other day, I zoomed right in & it was amazing how many people were in that thing.

Karen

It's pretty amazing watching those little boats at Wala from high up on the front viewing deck of Sun - they look so small out there on the water, and as you say Karen, some of those outriggers were pretty loaded up, both with people and goods.

[bigpud]

We have just done the Asia cruise.Had 1st diner sitting with our 12 and 17 yr old.Would definately sit them with us.Only children up to 11ish tend to go to kids sitting and menu is the same every night but they can chhose from different things.Our twin 8 yr olds had kids dinner was 4.45 which was a bit rushed but then we dropped them at the kids club at 5.30 and had 30 mins to get ready for ours.!st dinner suits the teenagers as they are starving but we missed the sailaways.2nd dinner didnt finish until 10.00 and some people said they were to full to dance!All the teenagers stuff is between 7.30 and 10.00 so if they go to 2nd sitting they will miss that. Pippa

[Tropicalshowers]

Sounds like our cruise in September school holidays will probably have a kids sitting then for 12 years and under. Can my 15 yr old do that as well if she wants? I must admit this is the one thing that concerns me about the whole cruise. Like what do our kids do while we are at the late sitting. What if they don't like the kids club scene?

Hi Rallo!
I haven't had a chance to get back on line for a few days! I guess we shall have to wait & see what happens once we board (& check our cruise cards!). We will leave the meal decision up to the boys if they do have a choice. Both my boys are excellent eaters (beware P&O!) so choice of food won't be an issue!
Thanks for all the teen info too....apparently the teens are catered for until at least 10pm, so you should be able to eat & not worry.I'm sure we're both overly concerned! Still, the thought of possibly 300 kids on board is rather daunting though! Do you have a 'row' of cabins for your group on the one deck?

[karmac]

Still, the thought of possibly 300 kids on board is rather daunting though!

We would have had more than that on our cruise & they were never a problem. You hardly ever see them. It wasn't until the last sea day when we went to the kids talent show that we knew so many were on board. We were amazed when they brough them all into the lounge & they just kept coming & coming. Everbodys reaction was "where have all these kids been for the past 11 days?". There would have been at least 150 each in the 3-6 & 7-12 yo and my teenager said there were 87 teenagers on board.

Karen

[Rallo]

Hi Rallo!
I haven't had a chance to get back on line for a few days! I guess we shall have to wait & see what happens once we board (& check our cruise cards!). We will leave the meal decision up to the boys if they do have a choice. Both my boys are excellent eaters (beware P&O!) so choice of food won't be an issue!
Thanks for all the teen info too....apparently the teens are catered for until at least 10pm, so you should be able to eat & not worry.I'm sure we're both overly concerned! Still, the thought of possibly 300 kids on board is rather daunting though! Do you have a 'row' of cabins for your group on the one deck?
Hi Tropical Showers

Yes it is a matter of waiting and seeing and not worrying so much I agree. It was interesting to read Karmacs post about the kids on their cruise. Cabins are still undecided as far as I can gather. I don't have a cabin number yet and most of the others in our group have been too slack to have a look at the Cruise Personaliser. Still hoping for those upgrades! Have you heard about yours yet?

[Tropicalshowers]

Still hoping for those upgrades! Have you heard about yours yet?

Hi Rallo,
My TA hasn't told me of any upgrade yet, but I will make an effort to see him thismorning. I have tried to use the P&O Personalizer to no avail. Do I need a booking no.? There isn't one on my documents and yet we have a cabin no. listed. (Tried to put that in but it didn't work.).

[Rallo]

Hi Rallo,
My TA hasn't told me of any upgrade yet, but I will make an effort to see him thismorning. I have tried to use the P&O Personalizer to no avail. Do I need a booking no.? There isn't one on my documents and yet we have a cabin no. listed. (Tried to put that in but it didn't work.).

Must enter your P&O booking number into Cruise Personaliser - should be on your paperwork from TA - mine is six characters numbers and letters.

[LiSsMe]

Was it the same Maitre 'd? Fabio Marcotti?? He doesn't seem to want to do anything for anyone. The Maitre 'd on Star was excellent - lots of fun - and while we didn't have any problems this time, I'm sure if we had, he would have been much easier to deal with.




..Maitre D’ Fabio Marcotti presides over the best run dining rooms and most pleasant and knowledgeable waiter service we have ever seen on a cruise ship. There are 3078 passengers to be served on the Diamond Princess, and the service was superb. All of the headwaiters and the wait staff have a great “can do” attitude without being obsequious. Fabio Marcotti seems to be everywhere. We saw him moving from dining room to dining room each evening quietly making sure all was well. We dined with many different waiters and enjoyed it. Our friend Mark and his wife Nin and daughter Marisa joined us most evenings. Nin is from Thailand, and we were able to reserve a table each evening where there was a Thai waiter. The headwaiters in each restaurant went out of their way to make sure we got a Thai-speaking waiter on the team that served us.

We took the kitchen tour conducted by Fabio Marcotti, and we learned a lot. The kitchen is very modern, and it is contiguous to the dining rooms. There are many streamlined devices where waiters can automatically pick up salads, appetizers etc. without having to wait on each order. The next salad just pops into place like the old automats of years ago. The kitchen is very clean, even cleaner than the one we saw on the Crystal Harmony. There are small sinks everywhere--next to stoves, cutting tables etc. There is always a place for kitchen workers to rewash their hands or to rerinse what they are prepping or cooking at their work stations. I toured the kitchen with Mark, who was a restaurateur some years ago, and he marveled at the kitchen.

Fabio explained that every Thursday he receives a passenger list for the next Saturday’s sailing on the Diamond, and he and his staff assign 1200 seats in the traditional dining room based on requests, dining needs, groups etc., and then on Saturday they try to make any changes they can to accommodate late-running passenger requests. The headwaiters at the personal choice venues are taking reservations at each dining room as people board, and there is a central number that spells “dine” that you can use for reservations by telephone. We did a modified personal choice on the Coral Princess, but there was only one personal choice dining room, not four. We think this is the future of cruise dining, and the automatic tip added daily to your bill covers those who serve you well. Complain to a headwaiter if there is a problem, and reward those servers who really get it with a few singles at the end of the cruise.


Is ENOUGH? He's the BEST.;) :cool: :rolleyes:

[karmac]

Talk about dragging up the past:eek: . The last post on this thread was over 2 years ago:confused:
Also, I think it's unfair (and certainly un Australian-which we are on the P&O Aust boards) to call someone a liar for voicing there opinion.

[icemaiden2310]

Maybe it has taken 2 years to translate it from italian:D Join date may and 1 post obviously just soeone who wants to stir up trouble for no reason . Another one for the ignore list:cool:

[arxcards]

Is ENOUGH? He's the BEST.;) :cool: :rolleyes:
I am glad he was able to provide you service to your satisfaction.

You won't make friends here by calling an experienced, helpful and reliable poster a liar. :mad:

To make such a comment about two passengers observation of him on a different ship and fleet two years ago is ridiculous. :mad:

[kaseyoz]

well, I was wondering why my very old thread was up there.
I wonder how that was found

Is he a relative of yours lissme?

[CruiseKidz]

well, I was wondering why my very old thread was up there.
I wonder how that was found

Is he a relative of yours lissme?
probably his mum;)

[Creeky]

probably his mum;)

Well it is Mothers Day? -- (maybe we should let her say whatever she wants today http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon12.gif)

Peter & Cheryl

[LiSsMe]

Maybe it has taken 2 years to translate it from italian:D Join date may and 1 post obviously just soeone who wants to stir up trouble for no reason . Another one for the ignore list:cool:



Sorry,but i find this words about Fabio last week,I don't call Liar the person who write that word but the word.Because I know very very very very well Fabio,about 23 years,So,I'm disappointed.Sorry for my english,but i undersand very well.THANKS for your NICE words..:confused: ..uhm..

[LiSsMe]

probably his mum;)





IT SEEMS to you THAT a MAN CAN BE MY MOTHER.? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[arxcards]

Sorry,but i find this words about Fabio last week,I don't call Liar the person who write that word but the word.Because I know very very very very well Fabio,about 23 years,So,I'm disappointed.Sorry for my english,but i undersand very well.THANKS for your NICE words..:confused: ..uhm..

Lost in translation of the language perhaps.

The word of untruth = LIE

Person who write an untruth = LIAR

So it goes to prove you are biased in your opinion of Fabio. The person that you accused of lying has been able to compare his actions as a maitre'd with others on cruise ships before commenting here.

(Another comment made was referring that YOU could be Fabio's mother)

[LiSsMe]

Lost in translation of the language perhaps.

The word of untruth = LIE

Person who write an untruth = LIAR

So it goes to prove you are biased in your opinion of Fabio. The person that you accused of lying has been able to compare his actions as a maitre'd with others on cruise ships before commenting here.

(Another comment made was referring that YOU could be Fabio's mother)


Ok,I'm sorry.I do not use translators.
I wrong word,I'm not Australian or english..And,I'm not Fabio's mother..First because She's died,and second because I have 23 years.

As it has commented this, based on that lived approval and, also I have the right to make it, in order to have lived sure actions and in order to know in every day the person. He terribly gives annoyance to me that slightly says disagreeable things also on the persons who I love. (Love that I mean is not brace love.)
How it would give annoyance to all, not?


However, I did not want to offend the person that this has written and if I have made,I make excuses.:o

[kaseyoz]

Sorry,but i find this words about Fabio last week,I don't call Liar the person who write that word but the word.Because I know very very very very well Fabio,about 23 years,So,I'm disappointed.Sorry for my english,but i undersand very well.THANKS for your NICE words..:confused: ..uhm..

so who wrote your first post. That was very good english, well done on that one

[LiSsMe]

so who wrote your first post. That was very good english, well done on that one


The things written in the first post are not mine, I was trying information on Fabio in Internet and they seemed the more appropriate and beautiful words about he.
However, I try to make of my best with english.:o

[Creeky]

Hi LiSsMe - I understand what you are saying and you did not mean to call someone a liar - you were just very hurt when you read something that was said about a close friend and you were just trying to defend your friend - No Problems Mate! anyone who stands up for their mate is ok with me - Good Luck and i am sorry about the Mothers Day joke lol

Peter & Cheryl

[LiSsMe]

Hi LiSsMe - I understand what you are saying and you did not mean to call someone a liar - you were just very hurt when you read something that was said about a close friend and you were just trying to defend your friend - No Problems Mate! anyone who stands up for their mate is ok with me - Good Luck and i am sorry about the Mothers Day joke lol

Peter & Cheryl

I am raised, I did not want to offend nobody.
If he were only a friend I would defend, it, obvious, but since he's my Dad, it has hurt to read those words to me.
About Mothers Day..nothing has gone to happen:)

Thanks,
Melissa

[icemaiden2310]

might be an idea to look at the date next time before u put ur foot in your mouth and call someone a liar from a post that was made two years ago. Maybe he was having a bad day as most people do he is after all human isnt he:mad:

[LiSsMe]

might be an idea to look at the date next time before u put ur foot in your mouth and call someone a liar from a post that was made two years ago. Maybe he was having a bad day as most people do he is after all human isnt he:mad:



Maybe you not understand..I apologize for this incomprension,I don't want to call nobody Liar.and i not offend nobody.ok?
bye