Just back Zuiderdam 3/29 - 04/08

[Laminator]

 

As for seeing the Captain, would you recognize the Captain of the ship if you fell over him? I was waiting for the elevator one day and a very nice gentleman said hello as he walked by me. If I didn't know it was the Captain, I would have just thought it was another officer. All those stripes kind of gave it away. (Hint, it looks like the cover picture on "Driving the Hotel".) Because my dh and I were on the same deck as the bridge, I happened to see the Captain a lot because he spends most of his time on the bridge in between Mariner lunches and Welcome Aboard toasts and posing for pictures at the entrance to the Main Dining Room.

 

 

As I stated earlier I thought the Captain was great. Plus we met a pax with over 5000 cruising days in HAL. A very nice lady. We had a wonderful time on the cruise and met some great people.

[RuthC]

How about eating in the crew mess?

The Lido is the designated crew mess for American/Western style food. The staff you saw eating there were where they are supposed to be.

The Indonesian and Filipino crew have a separate mess that specializes in their customary foods.

[stlouistravelers]

While I think that crew massing at a set of tables is not the best practice I do enjoy when they come and sit with us. I have on many occasions had great conversations with them on their life aboard ship, life in the country or state they were raised in. It is a great PR opportunity for the cruise line.:)

[foodsvcmgr]

My point is not one of prejudice or superiority, just to say that in a large casino hotel such as where I work (the land equivalent to a cruise ship),

employees eat in the Employee Dining Room.

 

No uniformed employee eats in a public area. Executives (Officers) may dine in restaurants.This is the industry norm.

 

I just think it is odd for line level staff to be competing for food & seating with the paying guests.

 

Just for the record, I would rather share a table any day with the waiters, stewards, or engine department who are not allowed in the Lido than the shop staff & entertainers who are!

[Keith1010]

Thanks for taking the time to write and share your review.

 

Keith

[PaulMCO]

We too were on the same cruise.

 

Had some similar experiences and had done the same cruise 3 years back -- but this time we did it for our in-laws.

 

Food -- thought the food in Pinnacle was great. Better than most lines - including our favorite Oceania. From their down hill. Lido was horrible. Food was very salty. Main dining room food was good some nights and horrible others -- as was service. Stewards are overworked. Have 4 per station and there was never enough room to handle all of the tables. And they had MANY tables.

 

Room -- we had both A/C and sewage issues (cabin 5069). Yes it is a ship but it does not have to smell like one.

 

Crew eating in Lido -- saw same thought it was odd. But have no issues with that. Most other cruise lines they would be eating there anyway but not in uniform (certainly not the contracted help - Spa, shops).

 

As the OP had -- same conclusion -- likely won't cruise HAL again unless they have an extraordinary itinerary.

 

My full review --

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=218013

[startwin]

I certainly don't object to any of the crew/staff/officers eating in the Lido at any time. But what did bother me was when they closed off one side of the Lido for them during some meal times, leaving only the other half for the passengers. The crew side was half-empty and the passengers' side was packed, and it was difficult to find a table.

[NickCDN]

We too were on the same cruise.

 

Had some similar experiences and had done the same cruise 3 years back -- but this time we did it for our in-laws.

 

Food -- thought the food in Pinnacle was great. Better than most lines - including our favorite Oceania. From their down hill. Lido was horrible. Food was very salty. Main dining room food was good some nights and horrible others -- as was service. Stewards are overworked. Have 4 per station and there was never enough room to handle all of the tables. And they had MANY tables.

 

Room -- we had both A/C and sewage issues (cabin 5069). Yes it is a ship but it does not have to smell like one.

 

Crew eating in Lido -- saw same thought it was odd. But have no issues with that. Most other cruise lines they would be eating there anyway but not in uniform (certainly not the contracted help - Spa, shops).

 

As the OP had -- same conclusion -- likely won't cruise HAL again unless they have an extraordinary itinerary.

 

My full review --

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=218013

 

Paul,

 

I was also on deck 5. I noticed that in our area the hallways were always cool. Once in the mid ship area (where the ship indents a little) the halls were smoking hot. Is this where your cabin was).

 

Nick

[NickCDN]

I certainly don't object to any of the crew/staff/officers eating in the Lido at any time. But what did bother me was when they closed off one side of the Lido for them during some meal times, leaving only the other half for the passengers. The crew side was half-empty and the passengers' side was packed, and it was difficult to find a table.

 

But according to RuthC this is supposed to happen. So while on HAL, expect to wait for tables, while staff (not crew, staff) eat their meals in peace. Also remember, some of them pay rent!!!!! I wonder if they paid $5000 rent for the week!

 

Nick

[RuthC]

But according to RuthC this is supposed to happen. So while on HAL, expect to wait for tables, while staff (not crew, staff) eat their meals in peace.

Imagine! People who work get meal breaks at regular times. Once a day they even get to eat without having to interact with the public they serve, although they are still on public display.

What a concept. :rolleyes:

[NickCDN]

Imagine! People who work get meal breaks at regular times. Once a day they even get to eat without having to interact with the public they serve, although they are still on public display.

What a concept. :rolleyes:

 

When I worked at a restaurant, I had breaks. I ate in the lunch room, not in the dining room! If I went out an occupied a dining table during the dinner rush, I would be fired. It would never happen at any other dining facility I have been to, including Carnival (which is the lowest of the low) and NCL.

 

Nick

[RuthC]

When I worked at a restaurant, I had breaks. I ate in the lunch room, not in the dining room!

HAL staff don't eat in the dining room. They eat in the Lido---which is their assigned space. They are where they are supposed to be.

 

Once in a while you will see one at dinner in the dining room. They are either hosting a table or have been invited by someone at the table. Permission has to be granted for that.

Or, you may see a crew member in the Pinnacle. But that's not what you're complaining about.

[NickCDN]

HAL staff don't eat in the dining room. They eat in the Lido---which is their assigned space. They are where they are supposed to be.

 

Once in a while you will see one at dinner in the dining room. They are either hosting a table or have been invited by someone at the table. Permission has to be granted for that.

Or, you may see a crew member in the Pinnacle. But that's not what you're complaining about.

 

That's my point. There assigned should be a crew/stuff dining area, not the lido restaurant. When they eat in passenger areas they are taking tabs space away from paying passengers!

[RandyinDEN]

You used the hot tub as a bidet? That is just nasty.