Return from Triumph, thoughts and tips for alternative dining

[golfadj]

Just came back from a Canadian cruise on the Triumph.

We are former NYers and it was great sailing down the Hudson.

Offered upsell of aft wrap a few weeks before the cruise and grabbed it.

Great cabin and wonderful balcony but due to the weather did not use the balcony as much as we would have liked. Will have to consider if it is worth the extra money for future cruises. Not sure right now.

We hosted a wine and cheese party on it for our roll call and unfortunately it was in the middle of a storm but 25-30 people fit nicely in our cabin.

Head waiter and waiter were outstanding and hope to see them again. CD was Jorge Solano and very funny man. Had the chance to have a couple of chats with him and really enjoyed speaking to him.

Only complaint was service on lido deck. We had about 10 meals up there and not once were we offered a refill on a drink. Other than occasionally removing plates from our table (and not very often) saw no degree of service.

As a result we removed the $ 1 per day tip for alternative dining and gave it to our waiter team, who was much more deserving.

OJ as still very much watered down but the pineapple juice still very good.

One major surprise was the pizza. For the past year or so we thought the pizza was awful and so this cruise up to the 5th day avoided it. Than we had it and shockingly it was very good. Thank you Carnival.

Comedians were very good but one was outstanding. Had a Vietnamese comedian named Jet (do not remember his last name) and he was hilarious.

Ports were good but the best was St Johns. Arranged private tour from Freedom Tours and had one of the best tours ever.

Capt's party was kind of a waste but farewell party had drinks flowing. For our next cruise would probably skip the Capt's party if same foremat.

All in all another outstanding cruise.

[jacketwatch]

Originally Posted by golfadj

Just came back from a Canadian cruise on the Triumph.

We are former NYers and it was great sailing down the Hudson.

Offered upsell of aft wrap a few weeks before the cruise and grabbed it.

Great cabin and wonderful balcony but due to the weather did not use the balcony as much as we would have liked. Will have to consider if it is worth the extra money for future cruises. Not sure right now.

We hosted a wine and cheese party on it for our roll call and unfortunately it was in the middle of a storm but 25-30 people fit nicely in our cabin.

Head waiter and waiter were outstanding and hope to see them again. CD was Jorge Solano and very funny man. Had the chance to have a couple of chats with him and really enjoyed speaking to him.

Only complaint was service on lido deck. We had about 10 meals up there and not once were we offered a refill on a drink. Other than occasionally removing plates from our table (and not very often) saw no degree of service.

As a result we removed the $ 1 per day tip for alternative dining and gave it to our waiter team, who was much more deserving.

OJ as still very much watered down but the pineapple juice still very good.

One major surprise was the pizza. For the past year or so we thought the pizza was awful and so this cruise up to the 5th day avoided it. Than we had it and shockingly it was very good. Thank you Carnival.

Comedians were very good but one was outstanding. Had a Vietnamese comedian named Jet (do not remember his last name) and he was hilarious.

Ports were good but the best was St Johns. Arranged private tour from Freedom Tours and had one of the best tours ever.

Capt's party was kind of a waste but farewell party had drinks flowing. For our next cruise would probably skip the Capt's party if same foremat.

All in all another outstanding cruise.

We too just got off that ship yesterday and I pretty much agree with everything you said. Even in the MDR refills on water and juice could have been better. We used it for breakfast too and sometimes they forgot to offer pastries. Not a biggie really as you just had to remind them. Otherwise it was overall very good. The OJ early on was pretty good but on day 5 or 6 it was dilute and switched to pineapple juice which was great. Also the coffee was awful. On Princess its weak and terrible and on CCL its strong and terrible. Why can't they do like RCI and offer some good coffee? I know money is a reason but good God it can't be that much.

[jayscore]

"Only complaint was service on lido deck. We had about 10 meals up there and not once were we offered a refill on a drink."

Of all the CCL ships I have been on, I wasn't aware that the staff up by the buffet area were supposed to refill your drinks.
Maybe I'm missing something here.

[KroozFoolz]

Originally Posted by golfadj

Just came back from a Canadian cruise on the Triumph.


Ports were good but the best was St Johns. Arranged private tour from Freedom Tours and had one of the best tours ever.

All in all another outstanding cruise.

I believe you went to Saint John, New Brunswick, not St Johns.

[golfadj]

I stand correct we went to Saint Johns New Brunswick.

Service for dinner in the DR was outstanding. I do believe our head waiter will be promoted to asst MDR in near future and our asst waiter will be a head waiter soon.

In the past we would occasionally get refills on lido deck but not this cruise.

Service for breakfast was merely adequate as the people serving you were not being tipped by you directly so they have no reason to go out of their way and provide superior service.

Did find out you can ask for cranberry juice in the DR for breakfast.

[jacketwatch]

Originally Posted by golfadj

I stand correct we went to Saint Johns New Brunswick.

Service for dinner in the DR was outstanding. I do believe our head waiter will be promoted to asst MDR in near future and our asst waiter will be a head waiter soon.

In the past we would occasionally get refills on lido deck but not this cruise.

Service for breakfast was merely adequate as the people serving you were not being tipped by you directly so they have no reason to go out of their way and provide superior service.

Did find out you can ask for cranberry juice in the DR for breakfast.

I made this mistake too. Its easy. So for the record its St. John New Brunswick and St Johns (with an "s") Newfoundland.

[CenTexGal]

Originally Posted by jayscore

"Only complaint was service on lido deck. We had about 10 meals up there and not once were we offered a refill on a drink."

Of all the CCL ships I have been on, I wasn't aware that the staff up by the buffet area were supposed to refill your drinks.
Maybe I'm missing something here.

I agree, I have never been offered refills on Lido Deck. I was under the impression it was all Self Serve, so, never expected it

[Crazeecat5]

Hi there,
Could you tell me which tour you took with Freedom Tours? I am looking for something in St. John that can accomodate a group. Thanks!

[golfadj]

Originally Posted by Crazeecat5

Hi there,
Could you tell me which tour you took with Freedom Tours? I am looking for something in St. John that can accomodate a group. Thanks!

Sherry

I do not know the name of the tour someone else set it up. We went to the reversing falls (2X) sea caves and lots of other places.
If you email Heather at Freedom tours tell her the one their tour guy Mike did on October 6 for a party of 6. They will know which one that is.
They rented a van to accomodate us.

[The Klev]

WE visited you while you were in Boston! Here are some pics from your stay here...

[The Klev]

You had the QM2 behind you...she was suppsed to leave at 6 but stayed here a few extra hours...

[Bunkie103]

What is it with storms as you mentioned. We did this cruise last year with NCL and ran into the remnants of a hurricane which the NCL captain did nothing to avoid. Tiny ship...20 foot waves....need I say more?

[Bunkie103]

Originally Posted by The Klev

You had the QM2 behind you...she was suppsed to leave at 6 but stayed here a few extra hours...

I LOVE your pictures!

[Traveler353]

On my last Fantasy cruise they did have a cart that went around and offered drink refills in the buffett. That service is not offered on the Holiday. Worth stopping the auto tips for, I don't think so. OP, bad form. The auto tips go to all the people that work their tails off for you. You stiffed the hard working staff that clean your tables and work the serving line making sure that your have the food that you and your family ate.

[Crazeecat5]

Originally Posted by golfadj

Sherry

I do not know the name of the tour someone else set it up. We went to the reversing falls (2X) sea caves and lots of other places.
If you email Heather at Freedom tours tell her the one their tour guy Mike did on October 6 for a party of 6. They will know which one that is.
They rented a van to accomodate us.

Thanks, golfadj. Just sent her an email.

[golfadj]

Originally Posted by Traveler353

On my last Fantasy cruise they did have a cart that went around and offered drink refills in the buffett. That service is not offered on the Holiday. Worth stopping the auto tips for, I don't think so. OP, bad form. The auto tips go to all the people that work their tails off for you. You stiffed the hard working staff that clean your tables and work the serving line making sure that your have the food that you and your family ate.

On dry land I tip the people that bring me my food and drinks and then offer me refills.

I saw the cart that they use to offer drink refills. I also say many of the "hard working people" that should be offering refills standing around talking amongst themselves when I got my own drink refills.

The people that work behind the buffet generally do not get tipped on dry land and I do not see why they should be tipped at sea.

Sorry my tips go to the people that offer me good service. If you think I am wrong you are entitled to your opinion but bad form? Do not think so.
Waitstaff in MDR did great job so they were tipped accordingly.

[jacketwatch]

Speaking of tips according to CCL of the $10.00 pp per day $3.50 goes to the steward. So for the two or us that came to $49.00 for our 7 day cruise. I asked him how many cabins he had. He told me 20-25 usually so multiply that X 49 and that X 4 and for one month these guys, who do work their tails off I agree, are doing pretty well I think. Then add whatever the cruise co. gives them and extra tips like from us and it seems they are doing well, especially when you convert this to what they could be making at home (most are from underdeveloped economies). I mean they are doing much better that what I thought. Good for them. They are away from home alot and work very hard.

[golfadj]

Originally Posted by jacketwatch

Speaking of tips according to CCL of the $10.00 pp per day $3.50 goes to the steward. So for the two or us that came to $49.00 for our 7 day cruise. I asked him how many cabins he had. He told me 20-25 usually so multiply that X 49 and that X 4 and for one month these guys, who do work their tails off I agree, are doing pretty well I think. Then add whatever the cruise co. gives them and extra tips like from us and it seems they are doing well, especially when you convert this to what they could be making at home (most are from underdeveloped economies). I mean they are doing much better that what I thought. Good for them. They are away from home alot and work very hard.

I agree they work very hard but they do have an assistant who gets some portion of the tips. Also some portion of the passengers will give them less than suggested amounts.
They are there as they are making much more money than they would make at home which is worth it to them or they would not be there.

[ILov2cruise]

I was on the Triumph in June, there was no alternative dining. The buffet is not alternative dining (is it). Alternative dining on other cruises were different resturants.
Buffet is self service but there were carts with drinks on them.

When you get off the ship in St John there are tours sold right outside.

The cruises to Canada are always foggy.

Tip was a $1 a day? I would not have removed the $5-7.
You said they occasionally removed plates from your table, did you clean your own table when you were finished??
They do clean up after you. I don't think a $1 a day was alot.

[yogi2929]

Originally Posted by Traveler353

.........staff that clean your tables and work the serving line making sure that your have the food that you and your family ate.

Don't forget the ones who roll the silverware in the napkins. My idea of torture!

On the Paradise and Elation I have only seen the cart during breakfast.