Cookies aren't missing in the Lido

Hi,

On our recent cruise on Queen Victoria, we noticed that there were no longer cookies that we could help ourselves to in the Lido.

We thought that they stopped doing them, but then found out that you need to ask for them.

The best place to get them is by the sandwich station.

Just wanted to let everyone know, to save anyone missing out on cookies!

Gee and I thought the whole idea of the Lido is that you just walk in and help yourselves.!

Wonder what bright up and coming "moron" in Marketing thought up making the passengers ask for them was a way to please passengers

Those cookies are worth asking for!:D

If the cookies aren't put out for everyone there's a better chance that you're the first person to touch them.

Gee and I thought the whole idea of the Lido is that you just walk in and help yourselves.!

 

Wonder what bright up and coming "moron" in Marketing thought up making the passengers ask for them was a way to please passengers

I have to ask you.

If you think there are 'moron's' in marketing, company members who take no notice of experienced passengers' wishes, too many non English speakers on-board, cruises on sale you object to, passengers you object to etc etc etc then

WHY are you still booking cruises with such a dreadful cruise line?

If the cookies aren't put out for everyone there's a better chance that you're the first person to touch them.

Which was the explanation I got when I asked if there were any cookies available, two years ago. They've been my illicit under the counter treat since then. :)

I often order my cookies through room service when I get a late-night hot drink after dancing. My favourite are the cranberry cookies. The room service staff often go and check to see just what cookies are available. They have been known to send me a plate with the last cranberry cookie on it and three chocolate ones, and apologise that there were no more cranberry. (It's just a pity that I only asked for 2 cookies! Do they want to get me fatter?)

I think the reason they did it was due to hygiene.

There have been cruises when there have been a higher than normal number of guests suffering from stomach problems.

When this happens, the ship goes into heightened hygiene and all the food and drinks in the lido have to be served by the staff.

I have to ask you.

 

If you think there are 'moron's' in marketing, company members who take no notice of experienced passengers' wishes, too many non English speakers on-board, cruises on sale you object to, passengers you object to etc etc etc then

 

 

WHY are you still booking cruises with such a dreadful cruise line?

I am getting very tired of people who constantly ask this question, having explained it over and over again. However here goes

1/ I am VERY SENIOR 2/ I travel solo 3/ Flying is difficult so have to keep it short

4/ Because of 3 have to fly out of NY 5/ Because of mobility difficulties I cannot do

ports so Transatlantics round trips are really my only choice for cruising.

QM2 is really only ship doing a cruise with no ports .

One day you too will have to walk in my shoes.

In July I booked 22 days on a supposedly English run ship. Putting up with 80% non English passengers, where so much (incl menu's ) were non English was in my opinion "bad marketing" .

When the Captain has to APPEAL PUBLICALLY over the address system for passengers to show courtesy to others, you know there is a great deal of "bad behavior " happening.

Have you ever know that to happen on Cunard before?

As for the cookies (which is the subject of the posting). The idea of a buffet is TO HELP YOURSELF. Therefore if a passenger goes to the buffet, they should be able to do just that.

If the Kings Court is to be an area where you have to stand in line and ask for each item, then there will be no reason to have a Buffet.

...As for the cookies (which is the subject of the posting). The idea of a buffet is TO HELP YOURSELF. Therefore if a passenger goes to the buffet, they should be able to do just that.

If the Kings Court is to be an area where you have to stand in line and ask for each item, then there will be no reason to have a Buffet.

Asking might be necessary if there is a boatload of inconsiderate passengers who might handle cookies or other food items. One would think that common sense hygiene would be understood universally. One manners commentator had this quote regarding wasted food: "When feeding pigs don't let them help themselves - serve them."

Hi,

 

On our recent cruise on Queen Victoria, we noticed that there were no longer cookies that we could help ourselves to in the Lido.

 

We thought that they stopped doing them, but then found out that you need to ask for them.

 

The best place to get them is by the sandwich station.

 

Just wanted to let everyone know, to save anyone missing out on cookies!

You have to ask on QM2 as well. Total PITA to hunt for a "suit" and ask him/her for cookies, then watch the "suit" find a waiter to send off to the secret stash, then stand around waiting for the cookies to emerge. And nobody knows what kind will appear. I gave up when we were in Australia and went to a supermarket in port to buy my own cookies.

WARNING! Here comes a QE2 was better comment: It made me nostalgic for the Christmas cruise on QE2 when there were cookies 24/7!!!!

You have to ask on QM2 as well. Total PITA to hunt for a "suit" and ask him/her for cookies, then watch the "suit" find a waiter to send off to the secret stash, then stand around waiting for the cookies to emerge. And nobody knows what kind will appear. I gave up when we were in Australia and went to a supermarket in port to buy my own cookies.

 

WARNING! Here comes a QE2 was better comment: It made me nostalgic for the Christmas cruise on QE2 when there were cookies 24/7!!!!

This posting hits the spot, it says exactly why I used the term "marketing moron" to describe whom so ever thought up the ide a of having to ask for cookies..

Having to ask for something which should be visibly available defeats the concept of a buffet.

I am getting very tired of people who constantly ask this question, having explained it over and over again. However here goes

1/ I am VERY SENIOR 2/ I travel solo 3/ Flying is difficult so have to keep it short

4/ Because of 3 have to fly out of NY 5/ Because of mobility difficulties I cannot do

ports so Transatlantics round trips are really my only choice for cruising.

 

QM2 is really only ship doing a cruise with no ports .

 

One day you too will have to walk in my shoes.

 

In July I booked 22 days on a supposedly English run ship. Putting up with 80% non English passengers, where so much (incl menu's ) were non English was in my opinion "bad marketing" .

 

When the Captain has to APPEAL PUBLICALLY over the address system for passengers to show courtesy to others, you know there is a great deal of "bad behavior " happening.

 

Have you ever know that to happen on Cunard before?

 

As for the cookies (which is the subject of the posting). The idea of a buffet is TO HELP YOURSELF. Therefore if a passenger goes to the buffet, they should be able to do just that.

If the Kings Court is to be an area where you have to stand in line and ask for each item, then there will be no reason to have a Buffet.

No I have never heard a Captain appeal to the better nature of the passengers, on any cruise.

Points 1 through 5. You don't have to travel with Cunard. No one is forcing you to.

I might have to walk in your shoes one day and I might be still contributing to the equivalent of CC but I won't be posting with the almost bitterness you have been doing recently.

If travel with Cunard continues to give such misery, I'd give it up.

On a lighter note, you are obviously well travelled and would be a delightful dinner companion. Try and put your grievances with the line aside because you won't change it, and move on.

I think that possibly they prefer to keep the cookies limited to cabin service lately.....and reluctantly only pull them out when asked. In the past, I've seen too many people bag them up for cabin stash.

If they were simply worried about hygiene, they would have to eliminate utensils, condiments, fruit, cups, plates, the cheese trough, crackers and anything else that passengers helped themselves to......because too many passengers just don't care.

Factual not bitter. There is a difference. You can carry Chanel #5 to a land fill but you will still have to admit that the landfill has an odor.

That is the difficulty some posters have with Cunard, they refuse to believe that the staff are NOT ALWAYS FABULOUS/ WONDERFUL /EVERYTHING 5*+

The staff are people, they change, some are great, some indifferent, some are bad, same with each cruise, the experience can be good , bad or medium.

Shows grow old, travel often and you grumble you want newer shows.

A tough steak is a tough steak. A wrong meal is a wrong meal, you cannot pretend it does not happen.

That is the reason for CC , to tell the truth, good or bad.

I was on board for 22 days, first 7 were the usual TA, as were last 7 days, but the middle 8 were definitely NOT CUNARD, and each day most certainly the Captain did publically

ask passengers to behave with more consideration towards their fellow passengers!

THAT should NEVER happen on Cunard. but it did and that is FACT.

How do you know to ask for it if you never knew it existed in the first place?

I feel like I've been missing out on these cookies :D

Perhaps I should just go to the buffet and ask them for a plateful of whatever it is they are hiding.....:rolleyes:

How do you know to ask for it if you never knew it existed in the first place?

 

I feel like I've been missing out on these cookies :D

 

Perhaps I should just go to the buffet and ask them for a plateful of whatever it is they are hiding.....:rolleyes:

I complained to one of the "suits" supervising Kings Court. I asked why they never had any cookies at lunch. He replied, "Oh, we do have cookies. You just have to ask." Then he sent a waiter to get some cookies for me. I waited several minutes and got a plate with a few cookies. Oatmeal, which I don't even like. DH was happy to have them, so it wasn't a total waste. The next day we were in Freemantle, and I went shopping in the supermarket near the pier.

That is the difficulty some posters have with Cunard, they refuse to believe that the staff are NOT ALWAYS FABULOUS/ WONDERFUL /EVERYTHING 5*+

I think that possibly they prefer to keep the cookies limited to cabin service lately.....and reluctantly only pull them out when asked. In the past, I've seen too many people bag them up for cabin stash.

 

If they were simply worried about hygiene, they would have to eliminate utensils, condiments, fruit, cups, plates, the cheese trough, crackers and anything else that passengers helped themselves to......because too many passengers just don't care.

I have noticed this phenomenon on several different cruise lines I have recently sailed on. Especially for chocolate chip cookies. Not so much for oatmeal or sugar cookies. People take plateful's back to their cabin's, and as soon as they put them out, they are gone in a flash.....:)

I have noticed this phenomenon on several different cruise lines I have recently sailed on. Especially for chocolate chip cookies. Not so much for oatmeal or sugar cookies. People take plateful's back to their cabin's, and as soon as they put them out, they are gone in a flash.....:)

Thank you....me too. Personally, I make amazing chocolate chip cookies at home, so I go for the more elegant desserts on a cruise. :D

Factual not bitter. There is a difference. You can carry Chanel #5 to a land fill but you will still have to admit that the landfill has an odor.

 

That is the difficulty some posters have with Cunard, they refuse to believe that the staff are NOT ALWAYS FABULOUS/ WONDERFUL /EVERYTHING 5*+

 

The staff are people, they change, some are great, some indifferent, some are bad, same with each cruise, the experience can be good , bad or medium.

 

Shows grow old, travel often and you grumble you want newer shows.

 

A tough steak is a tough steak. A wrong meal is a wrong meal, you cannot pretend it does not happen.

 

That is the reason for CC , to tell the truth, good or bad.

 

I was on board for 22 days, first 7 were the usual TA, as were last 7 days, but the middle 8 were definitely NOT CUNARD, and each day most certainly the Captain did publically

ask passengers to behave with more consideration towards their fellow passengers!

 

THAT should NEVER happen on Cunard. but it did and that is FACT.

The land fill might have an odour and if it did, once bitten, I wouldn't go there again.

Cunard isn't perfect and I know it but we have wonderful holidays on her ships even so. one or two shows are repeated so much I think I know the script of some. We don't bother with them.

Staff can have their off days but the majority surely totally outweigh the indifferent, if there are any? I have no problem with non-English speakers [yes we have been on a cruise in a similar situation to yourself] because who are we to dictate who dares to book the same cruise as us?

I have had meals I thought indifferent and have had them changed, with fulsome apologies from the wait staff.

You say you are giving us facts, your experience, and I suppose you are but you give them with almost bitter glee at times these days. I see occasional blips too, but the difference between you and me is that I try and see the best of a situation.

If this is how you want to remember your holidays, then go ahead. If I had such an impression of a holiday, I would do my best to avoid it next time.

... Personally, I make amazing chocolate chip cookies at home ... :D

 

One day you too will have to walk in my shoes.

 

In July I booked 22 days on a supposedly English run ship. Putting up with 80% non English passengers, where so much (incl menu's ) were non English was in my opinion "bad marketing" .

OK I can't resist. 'bad marketing"??? Was the ship empty, if that were the case then I guess you could say yes it was very bad marketing. However from your description of the situation, it sounded to me like the ship was pretty full, which would mean Cunards marketing department had actaully done it's job and well at that. Business 101, Cunard is a business and it exsists for ONE REASON, making money.

I'll leave your Moron reference, because I've not personally met anyone in cunards marketing department so I cannot judge thier intellect. Much like I cannot judge you as someone who doesn't appreaciate they are other cultures in this world and they all have their own cultural norms. Norms that someone from another culture would find rude or inconsiderate. Have you ever walked in thier shoes?????

Gentlemancruiser,

I have lived in several different countries, and in many different areas, I have lived in the most primitive areas (what is now known as the Tribal area) to a large house luxury with staff.

I have mixed with the very poor and the very rich. I am fortunate I have had a very interesting and very varied life.

To me the reason for having CC pages is to assist and inform other passengers. Like all of life we have the "armchair experts" , often someone who has never cruised with Cunard (or just done one trip and so knows it all), and we have people like myself who have done many trips, and seen many changes, (not always to the advantage of the passenger).

As I have said :- "a tough steak" is a tough steak. it does not matter how many times you say how wonderful the waiter is or the ambience of the dining room, the steak will not become "melt in the mouth", it is still a tough steak.

When writing a review it is necessary to tell it how it is or was. It is also necessary to inform if you are Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill or Queens Grill.

A writer may praise the fact that you can order whatever you wish "off menu", but that is only true in the Grills. if the writer does not reveal this fact then their comments are misleading.

My steward in July, took away the "do not disturb " sign on the last night, (not usual I know), Next morning he knocked on my door at 6.30 A.M. saying he needed to be in to clean for new passengers(again not usual) Should I not mention this event ? Does mentioning it make me "bitter" or is the fact that it happened something that should be known?

I am going again in Sept, and I will make sure POLITELY that my steward knows to leave the "do not disturb" notice in the room, and NOT knock on my door at 6.30 A.M. and that I will be out of the cabin as asked by 8 A.M.

Marketing:- 10 months ahead of a date you cannot know how many cabins will be sold. Selling at "Flash Sales" 89 days out is good business, selling at "Flash sale" price 10 months ahead is NOT.

Cunard sold these cheap short trips, in a particular area of the world 8-10 months ahead of sailing date. Flash sales are usually with the number of cabin controlled, but in July it was 80% of the total ship.

Think about that, if you had cabin #1 of 100 cabins , then of the remaining 99 cabins, 80 will be occupied by non English, no behavior code, pushing , shoving , on board for just 2 days so lets raise hell crowd.

Very different from the normal Cunard cruise clients. This also affected the staff .

They were harassed beyond tolerance.

Normally at breakfast and lunch in Britannia , passengers go in the main door, pause at the Maitre D's desk for a table number, before being escorted to a table. In July, there were passengers doing this but a very large number, went in the side doors, chose a vacant table, and sat there, and demanded service, throwing everything into confusion, any staff who tried to re direct them , were pushed to one side.

Not usual on QM2.

The morale is chose your cruise carefully, unfortunately for Sept, I booked relying on Cunard's itinerary a 7 day Eastbound, and a 12 day Westbound cruise.

Only in August , long after full payment did I find out that my trip is not as Cunard advertised ( as per a Cunard Brochure sent to me in the mail) but is 7 days East TA, 4 days English channel "short break special price" and 7 days West TA.

I of course did not get the special price for those 4 days short break, I paid the normal full price . My fault for actually believing Cunard's written word.

I will not make that mistake again.

BTW Cunard Meet/transport package, I booked this but I was stranded - Cunard have refunded me the money I paid - as I reported PROMPTLY on CC.

In July the package cost $590 . for Sept same package Cunard asked $790.

Because of the July problem I have now arranged my own arrival, same hotel, a cab from JFK, cab to ship. $430 total inclusive cost.

$360 LESS than Cunard's asking price. I am sure you will disagree but IMO that is knowledge CC readers need to know, the information then is theirs to accept or reject.

Jimsgirl - There are usually two sides to every story.

By poor behaviour, I'm assuming you were not talking about calling someone working for Cunard a Moron??