Golden Princess Anytime Dining NOT!

[TWA4Ever]

Definitely not a good thing! I would send an email to customerrelations@princess.com and tell them of your experience. We are seeing this complaint much too often and it really needs to be addressed.

 

I wholeheartedly agree this is poor customer service. I have always avoided this "poor" service by sticking with traditional dining on all cruises. Service in MDR has been sparkling, food superb, you know when dinner is served, there are multiple seatings, and there is no wait.

 

And the problem is ... ?

[STEVENJAN]

Did you know that over at NCL, there is a surprising number of passengers who claim that their understanding of "Freestyle" Cruising means that they do not have to pay for it? It should be "Free".

 

Your understanding of Anytime Dining has similar flaws.

The people who own the ship get to make the rules - not you.

If you don't like those rules, you get to vote with your wallet and your feet.

I helped set up the Anytime Dining program at Princess when I worked there.

The Anytime Dining concept meant that you could either make reservations in advance - just like in a nice restaurant on land - or arrive unannounced and wait for the next available table ("Anytime" it is available) - just like in a nice restaurant on land.

At that time we had opted not to go for those tacky pagers that are used in those awful chain restaurants on land. I hope Princess has not sunk to that level today.

 

Evidently you are saying the title is the sentiment of Princess. That statement you allude to speaks volumes if that is indeed Princess' attitude. I work in the service business and have for over 25 years in my present position. If I had that attitude I should be bounced on my ear and told to leave my employment. Perhaps Princess would like to know that is the perception people have of them and the cruise business in general. Perhaps that is the attitude that Sears has had over the years along with Montgomery Wards, Kmart and all the other merchants that have gone or are going by the wayside.

 

Just to educate yourself, you should know that Princess does have pagers. The first time I encountered them at sea was on the Ryndam ( Holland America) hardly a tacky cruise line.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Who said "Anytime means any time before 6 and after 7:30"? I have never done ATD, partly because DH is the worst when he has to stand in a line. I'm also pretty old school about cruising stuff. However, on our recent little shorty on the Golden (Oct.) with just me and the kids, we requested early TD at 6:00 and ended up on a waiting list. I definitely did not want ATD, but I was nearly forced into it. Luckily, we cleared the waitlist and ended up with the time (and dining room) we wanted. So those of us in Traditional have a beef with the ATD crashers, too. If you don't want to do TD, then don't sign up for it. You take away a spot from someone who does, and then you take another spot from the ATD diner when you crash his dining room. Princess really needs to do a better job managing the whole business.

 

EXACTLY!!! They need to get with the program and quit letting traditional diners to go to ATD, then the issues would go away!:(

 

Unfortunately one time we didn't clear the waitlist. We weren't impressed with AT at all, and in the seven nights (of a 14 day cruise), we had only one major wait, but we were given a pager. That was for our 2010/11 cruise.

 

We would look at the menu and would just decide to eat in the Horizon instead. We don't do that when we have traditional dining (yes, we might check the menu ahead of time, but we would still go to our assigned seating). And we have never ever crashed the AT dining room.

 

I agree with some that it is poor communication and poor enforcement. Maybe Princess needs to make sure TAs are educated (maybe they are giving the wrong info to their clients). Make sure it's made clear in the first day Patter. Make sure all those entering the anytime dining rooms are indeed assigned to anytime.

 

But even then, if anytime diners on a specific cruise are tending to want to eat at the same time, then have pagers available. I think people appreciate those more than being told to come back later.

[Cruisin' Chick]

It seems like one of the huge complaints is the lack of pagers / need to come back and wait again.

 

I get Princess not wanting to hand things out and spread Noro/etc. I actually applaud them for that.

 

But why don't they utilize the Princess messenger? Almost everyone has a smartphone now.

 

When I go to ATD and its full, take my number. Send me a text with a 10 minute window to boogie over to the dining room and just sit right down. Then people can wait for their meal on their balcony / in the casino / in the bar, etc.

 

I also echo the statement that not everyone has a smart phone and that many who do, don't want to carry them around on the ship just in case they run into this situation. I usually use my actual digital camera to take photos as my smart phone's camera doesn't zoom and is 3mp. I use the phone when out in port if we need to call a taxi. My hubby doesn't have his own cell (he has one for work, but usually doesn't take it out of its case to use at home...he forwards his work email messages to his home computer to view). And I imagine that many senior citizens don't have a smart phone unless they're into that type of thing.

[Greyhound3]

We're also just back from the Golden. Canaletto dining room was only about 60% full for second seating TD. Maybe the answer is to return to how things used to be - two seatings for traditional dining only. Adequate seating and the only wait is for the dining room doors to open at their scheduled time.

 

I feel the problem is two-pronged. First, it's simply a matter of logistics. The ships weren't designed for ATD - they were designed for traditional dining. If a thousand pax want to dine between 6:00 and 7:30 pm, someone's going to have to wait because there just isn't the space to accommodate everyone at the same time. Second, in an attempt to cater to the passenger, ATD was instituted in a venue that was not designed to handle it. It's a recipe for failure.

 

Return to shipwide two-seating TD and the problem will no longer exist. For those who must dine at their own time, that's why there's Horizon Court.

 

Now if you'll pardon me, I'll don my flame-resistant undies.

 

 

Grey

Edited December 6, 2014 by Greyhound3

[The Captain90]

On our recent cruise on the Diamond we selected ATD. We chose to eat around 6 and went to all the available restaurants. We elected upon entering to join any table and at no time during our 19 day cruise did we have to wait for a table. On a couple of occasions we even got a table for two.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Merlinite]

Don't forget that those "Anytime Diners" who request/are granted standing reservations in ATD also slow things down.....:):):)

 

That's what we do if we find a location (for 2) and a great wait staff. haven't been turned down yet, just go to the head of the line and get in :D

 

doesn't slow it down THAT much...

[cruzysuzy]

Due to making a later cruise booking, many passengers are forced into ATD. They may request to be waitlisted to TD but never clear it. Thus the reservation line comes into play.

[Colo Cruiser]

Due to making a later cruise booking, many passengers are forced into ATD. They may request to be waitlisted to TD but never clear it. Thus the reservation line comes into play.

 

If the passenger wants traditional dining and talks with the MD on embarkation day at the time and place listed in the Patter he can make the TD setup for them. ;)

Edited December 7, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[shredie]

If the passenger wants traditional dining and talks with the MD on embarkation day at the time and place listed in the Patter he can make the TD setup for them. ;)

 

Probably that's true most of the time (people drop out of TD at the last minute) but I wouldn't want to count on it. If I get stuck on a TD waiting list, I stress about it. Fortunately, I've always managed to clear in time.

[CZEE]

The ship was decorated for Christmas and we upgraded to a full suite and it was really sweet. Just made Platinum for our next cruise in January.

 

You were in a suite and had trouble getting into and/or a reservation for ATD? Suite passengers can make reservations at any time, right? Thought that was one of the suite benefits.

[cruzysuzy]

Probably that's true most of the time (people drop out of TD at the last minute) but I wouldn't want to count on it. If I get stuck on a TD waiting list, I stress about it. Fortunately, I've always managed to clear in time.

 

I agree. This option may not be available 100% of the time. According to some of the posts I have read, it appears that different maitre d's have different standards across the fleet.

[Woobstr112G]

We're also just back from the Golden. Canaletto dining room was only about 60% full for second seating TD. Maybe the answer is to return to how things used to be - two seatings for traditional dining only. Adequate seating and the only wait is for the dining room doors to open at their scheduled time.

 

I feel the problem is two-pronged. First, it's simply a matter of logistics. The ships weren't designed for ATD - they were designed for traditional dining. If a thousand pax want to dine between 6:00 and 7:30 pm, someone's going to have to wait because there just isn't the space to accommodate everyone at the same time. Second, in an attempt to cater to the passenger, ATD was instituted in a venue that was not designed to handle it. It's a recipe for failure.

 

Return to shipwide two-seating TD and the problem will no longer exist. For those who must dine at their own time, that's why there's Horizon Court.

 

Now if you'll pardon me, I'll don my flame-resistant undies.

 

 

Grey

 

 

Well stated.....:):):)

 

Bob

[redtogo]

 

Return to shipwide two-seating TD and the problem will no longer exist. For those who must dine at their own time, that's why there's Horizon Court.

Now if you'll pardon me, I'll don my flame-resistant undies.

 

 

Grey

 

I agree with your entire comment, but this one section speaks volumes. :)

[Colo Cruiser]

Return to shipwide two-seating TD and the problem will no longer exist. For those who must dine at their own time, that's why there's Horizon Court.

 

I agree with your entire comment, but this one section speaks volumes. :)

 

I doubt Princess would ever consider this as it would be taking a step back from the competition.

[sawtooth]

If you sign up for TD and then a couple of nights go to specialty restaurants, do you have to let the dining room know you won't be there.

[shredie]

If you sign up for TD and then a couple of nights go to specialty restaurants, do you have to let the dining room know you won't be there.

 

No, but as a courtesy to your table mates (if you have any) it's nice to warn them.

[caribill]

No, but as a courtesy to your table mates (if you have any) it's nice to warn them.

 

This is so everyone is not waiting for your arrival before ordering dinner.

 

If you can't tell your table mates, tell your waitstaff.

[furb]

Our first three cruises we did traditional dining (which we found tiresome and limiting), and every cruise since has been Anytime dining.

 

The only time we've ever waited for a table has been when we've gotten to the dining room earlier than our reservation. The materials in your cabin indicate how anytime dining works and how to make a reservation.

 

It's a bit ridiculous to think that you could simply walk up and get seated immediately during the old fogey hours (5:30-7) when there are 1,500 to 3,000 other people on the ship wanting to do the same thing.

 

Hence, researvations.

[shredie]

Our first three cruises we did traditional dining (which we found tiresome and limiting), and every cruise since has been Anytime dining.

 

The only time we've ever waited for a table has been when we've gotten to the dining room earlier than our reservation. The materials in your cabin indicate how anytime dining works and how to make a reservation.

 

It's a bit ridiculous to think that you could simply walk up and get seated immediately during the old fogey hours (5:30-7) when there are 1,500 to 3,000 other people on the ship wanting to do the same thing.

 

Hence, researvations.

 

I guess that's why I always do late traditional, to avoid the "old fogey" crowd in ATD. Of course, I find traditional not tiresome and infinitely freeing. (I do have a little bit of trouble with the math: if 3,000 people are the old fogies walking up for immediate seating, who's left? Must be just you! The only young, interesting, free-spirited people on the ship! :p)

[Accessor]

We just cruised the Regal Nov 23rd sailing and had ATD. Other cruiselines we have sailed on Holland, NCL, RCL, DCL, Carnival, etc. none suffer from Princess inept ability to properly manage ATD. We twice were told to wait one hour. No free glass of champs like NCL does (granted it not great, but it's the gesture), and we have cruised every thanksgiving for the last 8 years or so. So yes, the ships are more crowded we get it.

 

It's a brand new ship, so they ample ability to get ATD right (so much for the argument that this ship wasn't designed for ATD. I can honestly tell you they have empty tables when they are telling you wait an hour. I have literally walked in and found them. Yes, they could be held for reservations. But it's a management issue, period. Everyone else knows how to manage ATD without the long "sorry, it's one hour wait" nonsense. Send management from Princess to Royal and use their system.

 

The 1st time we were told to go upstairs ATD was full. Upstairs converts to ATD at 7:30pm. I was not happy, we got seated right away, then waited 1 hour for our apps. So all in all we wasted close to 3 hours for dining. Simply unacceptable, inexcusable, and not a way to spend a vacation. I can tell you stateside we don't eat at places that have more than a 30 min wait.

 

End of rant. I clearly voiced my opinion on the survey emailed. I am sure it's falling on def ears. But in the end, I would highly suggest to never do ATD on Princess. Reservations IMHO are not helpful, at 8am in the morning I won't know what time I will be hungry for dinner.

[pablo222]

Return to shipwide two-seating TD and the problem will no longer exist. For those who must dine at their own time, that's why there's Horizon Court.

 

You could only do that with Grand, Golden, Star ... starting with

Carribbean and an extra deck, there are not enough seats.

[pablo222]

Last 4 day cruise on Golden we were told that close to 70 percent of the passengers on that cruise wanted anytime dining.

 

Wow, this would make it very hard for the traditional diners

who want to use the anytime dining from from time-to-time...

[waltd]

Wow, this would make it very hard for the traditional diners

who want to use the anytime dining from from time-to-time...

 

By the time the TD thought about it the cruise was over.

[bdjam]

Absolutely nothing new. Anytime has been like this since it was first implemented on the Grand Princess years ago. Princess allows Traditional diners to go to Anytime and as long as they allow this, Anytime will be poorly managed when compared to other cruise lines.

 

I think the problem is that to many, 'Anytime Dining' means anytime around 6:00...meaning the dining rooms are slammed at that time. I've done Anytime Dining my last two cruises and made it a practice to arrive at the dining room that had been used for early Traditional just at the time it switched over to anytime...about 7:30-7:45. Never had a wait.