Drink Servers

[jrtmouse]

I sailed on the Vision of the Seas a few months back and thought the drink servers scattered everywhere you went were absolutely obnoxious and practically in your face about it. Did anybody get the same feeling? Within 5 minutes in the pool area we'd have 3 different servers ask us. Yeah, not a big fan of that! Yes, I think the fact that drinks are readily available is fantastic, but they were pretty obnoxious.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

~~
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Star Princess 01/05
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[DedeM]

They were always there, asking, but in a general way, not in my face. They were entertaining, singing, dancing, whistling like a bird, whatever. I thought they were adorable and appreciated them walking around in circles for hours on end in the heat. Especially when I didn't feel like getting off my lazy arse to get my own drink.

Then I see them walking around all night long in the bars! They work SOOO hard!

To answer your question, no, they didn't bother me at all - I loved them. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Navigator of the Seas 5/04

[GreggNKara]

mmmmmm sippin time...


No problems here


G-

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[BEVEROO]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DedeM:
They were always there, asking, but in a general way, not in my face. They were entertaining, singing, dancing, whistling like a bird, whatever. I thought they were adorable and appreciated them walking around in circles for hours on end in the heat. Especially when I didn't feel like getting off my lazy arse to get my own drink.

I agree with you 100% Dedem!
Bev

Then I see them walking around all night long in the bars! They work SOOO hard!

To answer your question, no, they didn't bother me at all - I loved them. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Navigator of the Seas 5/04
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Legend - Panama Canal - 10/17
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Past Cruises:

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Splendour OTS - 11/2000
Radiance OTS - 05/2001
Radiance OTS - 09/2001
Infinity (Celebrity) - 10/2002

[BEVEROO]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DedeM:
They were always there, asking, but in a general way, not in my face. They were entertaining, singing, dancing, whistling like a bird, whatever. I thought they were adorable and appreciated them walking around in circles for hours on end in the heat. Especially when I didn't feel like getting off my lazy arse to get my own drink.

Then I see them walking around all night long in the bars! They work SOOO hard!

To answer your question, no, they didn't bother me at all - I loved them. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Navigator of the Seas 5/04
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oops! Sorry, DedeM, I didn't scroll all the way down on your message. I agree with you that they work REALLY hard - day and night.
Bev

Legend - Panama Canal - 10/17
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Where The Ocean Meets The Sky I'll Be Sailing!!!!!

Past Cruises:

Majesty OTS - 06/1999
Splendour OTS - 11/2000
Radiance OTS - 05/2001
Radiance OTS - 09/2001
Infinity (Celebrity) - 10/2002

[Nitra]

They push the drinks because the tips they get are the only money they make. My hubby was a bar server on the Rhapsody and his paycheck for one week was 8 dollars.. if he was not good at pushing drinks he never would have made a dime. Those that ask and ask and ask are the ones that make the money. Most of them have families back home they are supporting. My hubby used to send his money home to his mom to help her out.

I dont find it obnoxious to do your job. They stand around and dont ask.. they dont make money and they also get in trouble. They are expected to keep moving. Part of their reviews is how much they sell. Also they make the drinks themselves.. just an FYI.

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Voyager of the Seas!



Voyager 10/04
Rhapsody 10/02 03/02 1/02 11/01
Elation 10/99
Grandeur 09/97

[KellyJean]

I don't mind getting asked left and right if I want a drink. If I do, I say yes. If I don't, a polite "not right now thank you" does the trick.

What gripes me is when you get asked once, you give that polite "not right now thank you" and they never ask you again. Happened on the Sovereign last September. Server walked our area of the lounge a half dozen times and never stopped again. He must not have needed the money too bad.

Kelly

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Brilliance of the Seas, Cabin #8670 - 11/09/2002
Paradise, Cabin E194 - 09/01/2001
Atlantic, 12/1991

[Island Dreamer]

The servers do work extremely hard. From my experience, they have been exceptional. It must be difficult to interrupt people when they are on vacation to ask them if they want a drink after they have said no. Body language is a key aspect. If you want or need something, many times, they will pick up on it right away.

They do work extremely hard. I know that we became acquainted with the waiters at the tables near ours. They would go out of their way to say hello in passing or during lunch. One of them even brought my son his favorite cup of hot chocolate.

Fantasy 5/01

[GaryWT]

We loved them on all our trips, Somebody must be ready now is our favorite cruise saying. Once on CocoCay a waiter went out in about 4 feet of water to deliver a cocoloco.

3/98 Grandeur of the Seas
4/00 Grandeur of the Seas
2/02 Enchantment of the Seas
04/16/05 Navigator of the Seas

[KellyJean]

Don't get me wrong...my experience on the Sovereign last year was not ordinary. The server never even looked in our direction again. That was the only night it happened too.

Kelly

My Cruise Pics: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5"]http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5[/url]

Cruise Critic Partae Pirates Cruise
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Carnival Miracle 02/13/05
Sovereign of the Seas, Cabin #4057 - 9/21/03
Brilliance of the Seas, Cabin #8670 - 11/09/2002
Paradise, Cabin E194 - 09/01/2001
Atlantic, 12/1991

[perk21]

As i was reading these posts a question came to mind. Do these wait people have certain sections they work, or should you tip each time a drink is brought to you because you might get served by someone else later? I am assuming that the pool, private island, bar and lounge wait people would not be included in your end of week tipping. How would you remember each of them and make sure they all got a good tip?

[Nitra]

15 percent is added to your drink order every time.

They do work sections, such as pool bar and then they may work the show or they may work the lounge and a show etc. You can actualy ask for a waiter if you have one you like. If you find one you like and that seems to be around where you are all the time, then feel free to tip them extra. Some will really go out of the way to give you that extra special treatment and deserve to be given a bit of thanks over and above. You can do it on the spot or you can wait till later in the week and give them something.

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Voyager 10/04
Rhapsody 10/02 03/02 1/02 11/01
Elation 10/99
Grandeur 09/97

[Alexis]

Hi,
We always try to sit in the same place in the shows and most of the time we have the same server. Also, most of the time the same server is in the dining room for the after dinner shooters.. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] We had the pleasure of the same two servers on our last two week cruise.
At the end of the cruise we tip them a good bit in cash for their great service.
On our last cruise, no server even came in the dining room, and they were all different in the shows.. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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[Adventure Girl]

The bar servers usually walk around the pool deck saying "Bar Service", not getting up in your face. Just announcing their availability. And, yes, they count on serving as many drinks as they can because that is their bread and butter. You can tell who the ambitious servers are and who is just along for the ride.

We usually make friends with one or two of the bar servers and then everytime they see us up on deck, they come running to serve us all afternoon. And, then we see them again in the dining room and at the evening activities. They work hard, all day and all night. And, all of the bar servers that I have made friends with actually want to get to know me and what my life is like. We discuss our families, jobs, interests, etc.

I have no problem at all with the servers on a cruise ship. They are part of the entertainment.

Remember to tip your favorite bar servers a little extra at the end of the cruise. They have worked hard all week to make your cruise enjoyable. They deserve a little extra. The servers on the ship have a very low monthly stipend and depend on making money on tips.

Kimberly
Monarch of the Seas 4/02
Disney Wonder 11/02
Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04

"Girl's Getaway" on Mariner of the Seas 11/7/04 !!