BringMeTheHorizon

Do you introduce yourself to your server in a land based restaurant after they tell you their name? The answer to my question is the answer to OP's question.

First of all, I don't appreciate your tone. Even if you find my question stupid and/or bizarre, there's no need to let me know exactly how stupid you think I am. A simple "I don't think that's necessary" would have sufficed.

Second of all, if you had read my initial message carefully, you would have seen that I wrote: "...maybe that's the proper thing to do on a long cruise?", (obviously) implying that this is not a regular server-customer situation. At least not in my opinion, seeing as in a regular "land based", as you call you, restaurant I'm there for one evening and that's it. Even if I'm a regular there, I'm not there every single night, whereas on a cruise I will be there every single night for 12 night, so I thought that maybe the polite thing to do would be to introduce myself, as they introduce themselves. That is all. I'm sorry if you find that reasoning idiotic.

Oh OK, that actually make sense. Thanks!

We haven't been to the MDR in quite a while, but on our upcoming cruise we plan on going there every night, so here's my (silly, I presume) conundrum: I remember the waiters introduce themselves on the first night (you know, "Hello, my name is... I'll be your waiter"). Am I supposed to introduce myself and my family, as well? (As in, "Oh great I'm Ellie and this is... and...") I'm thinking, no... , but who knows, maybe that's the proper thing to do on a long cruise? I mean, we'll be seeing them every night for 12 nights..... :confused:

We are helping you. By going to the River Cruises section, you will get more and better answers.

I think he was referring to navybankerteacher's comment...

This is my first experience with cruise critic. I thought the purpose of posting here was to be helpful, not critical.

I completely agree, that response was uncalled for. Now, to the point: did you try looking up dress code info on Avalon's website? I haven't cruised with them, but with the companies I have cruised before, I always found guidelines as per suitable attire on the company's website.

How dreadfully, dreadfully snobbish. Don't stress - Maitre D does it every time. Those guys are wonderful - they can make it happen.

More than one way to skin a cat. :D:D:D

I personally wouldn't even contact Costa again until you are onboard - they will only keep winding you up. Not the easiest "Company" to deal with. They have a problem with left and right hands.

Obviously, there's no reason to contact them... this whole thing simply doesn't make any sense to me! :confused:

Hopefully, no skinning will be necessary, but if things get ugly... :D:eek:

When all the parties have booked, you can ask Costa (or via your TA) to link all the booking numbers so that you can be seated together in the MDR. Also at the same time request the size of table, i.e. 6, 8, or 10 seats.

Thank you for replying and thanks for the advice.

I actually called Costa (since all the parties have already booked) and I was told that since two of the parties don't have premium cabins, they cannot link the booking numbers. Apparently, sitting together is a "privilege" reserved only for premium cabin holders. Ridiculous. Yet another way to make money off people. We all found it completely insane to overpay hundreds of dollars just to be sitting together, so we will simply turn to the Maitre D. It's not as important that the two friends of the family sit with us, but it is important that I sit with my parents, especially, since they don't know a word in English (only Russian), and unless Costa wants to provide them with an interpreter for the nine nights of the cruise, they will simply have to sit us together.

Oh dear - don't know what to say - living in the land down under - we have done and are doing another... Princess Cruise. Alas - sadly the - general atmosphere is going more casual. Getting dressed up for dinner - seems to be on the slide these days. A sign of the times I suppose - nothing is as constant as change. Costa doesn't come down our way - and we enjoyed our Costa Cruises - they were from Singapore but alas Costa doesn't come down this way - so we grab what we can. If we ever get North of the Equator again - Costa would be our Cruise Line of choice. :):D

Sadly, you are right. Personally, I enjoy getting dressed up and I love the formal atmosphere with tuxedos and evening gowns. Especially on a beautiful, luxurious cruise ship; it just seems so... appropriate! Wondering around these gorgeous vessels in shorts and flip-flops (outside the pool area) simply doesn't seem right to me. Alas, that's only me... and I'm part of a dying breed... :(

Costa doesn't come our way either (we live in Israel), so we come to Costa! :D We choose the cruise we like, take a flight to the city it embarks from, and spend a few extra days in that city, too, so it's a win-win situation :) We've cruised with an Israeli cruise company for many years because we didn't want the hassle of flying somewhere, but it became TOO awful to bear, so we decided to try flying+cruising, and so far it has worked out wonderfully!

Maitre d every time - don't worry - go straight there. You'll be good to go:D Bearing in mind - it is some while since we did a Costa Cruise Cruise.

Well, hopefully, not much has changed since you've cruised with Costa :)

May I ask with which company(is) you've been cruising? Any companies resembling Costa in terms of the less casual dress code and general atmosphere? For instance, we've cruised with RCCL this year and didn't like it as much as Costa; too casual for our taste.

Going on past experience - contact the Maitre d as soon as is practicable when you get on board - or go early to dinner on the first night - and ask them to seat you all together. You could do it through your booking agent if you are using one - and best of luck doing it online.

Thank you for replying! We'll do just that. Common sense tells me that they will at the least allow a daughter to sit together with her parents, so hopefully this will not be an issue.

Unfortunately, there is no option to "connect" different bookings online (well, at least I hadn't found such an option).

Hello to all fellow cruisers!

First, an introduction/explanation to the question to follow:

In the summer of 2013 I've cruised with Costa Fortuna to the Norwegian Fjord - gorgeous ship, great ports, wonderful food, crew, entertainment; loved everything about it! Anyway, I cruised with my father, we were in one cabin, as we completed the web check-in we chose one of the two restaurants on board and the early sitting option. On the first night on board we simply went to the restaurant we've chosen at the time for early sitting. We were greeted at the entrance and one of the waiters (or perhaps it was the maître d, I can't remember) led us to a two-person table. I cannot recall whether he asked us anything or asked to see our Costa Cards. My father seems to remember he only asked how many we were, we obviously said 'two', and were led to the table.

Second, the conundrum:

Next year we'll also be cruising with Costa Fortuna, only this time my father and mother will be in one cabin, I'll be occupying a different cabin, and then we also have two friends of the family going on the same cruise in another cabin. At dinner we would all love to sit together. Question: how do we make it happen?

Thank you greatly in advance :)