American Table? Not a fan....

[MrSchwump]

We just got off the Breeze on Sunday. This was our 2nd Carnival cruise and 7th overall. The ship was really nice and we had a great time but the American Table did not impress us at all.

 

We have always done Your Time/Anytime dining on all our cruises. We usually ask for a table for 2 and have always been accommodated. We're not foodies by any means. We prefer good, simple meals that are well done with good service. The American Table fell short, in my opinion. So much so that we ate in the buffet 3 times on our 8 day cruise.

 

The selections were not bad. There was always 1 or 2 things that would appeal to us, not counting the 4 standard entrees that are always available (chicken, salmon, steak and something else which escapes me...). The problem was, the service was so slow and indifferent that we felt it wasn't worth sitting through for a so-so selection.

 

There were 2 occasions where no one took our drink order. We had to ask for iced tea and there wait a long time for it. Forget about getting a refill most of the time. One time it was almost a half hour from the time we sat down until our first course appeared. Most nights dinner took 1.5 to 2 hours. That's way too long for 2 people with relatively simple fare.

 

The other irritation was having to wait so long to get a table. Twice we waited 20 to 30 minutes for a table. In past experiences, on Carnival and Princess, we've waited no more that 5 or 10 minutes if at all. Once were were given a pager and told it would be a 45 minute wait and we just gave the pager back and went to Guy's hamburgers.

 

On 2 different nights were were put at a table for 2 that was effectively a table for 6. Three 2 tops were placed within 3-4 inches of one another so you couldn't NOT engage with the other people sitting right next to you. In both cases the people were enjoyable company but I really don't like making small talk with people I don't know for 2 hours.

 

The wait staff in most cases seemed flustered and confused. Twice we followed the hostess from table to table until she could locate the one that was ours. I don't understand how hard it can be to number tables and find them on a layout of the dining room. The waiters seemed very disorganized and confused in most cases. It really seemed like they were struggling to figure things out.

As such, I didn't find them all that friendly and convivial.

 

On our last night in the MDR, we had a great team. Rajesh, Seno and Marcus did a fantastic job and the meal was great. Had all the service been this good we would have found the American Table to be a much better experience. As it was, I was not impressed.

[wikoffclan]

HATED it!! On Carnival Liberty last January (2014) the service was SO slow, the food was SO forgettable that given the choice we will NEVER sail on a Carnival ship with American Table menu in the MDR ever again.

 

Granted at that time the new menu had just been rolled out, but it was so bad my husband describes it as the worst cruise ever! He will never cruise on Liberty again. And I will not book a cruise if American Table is the MDR menu. We had the same problems that you did, including a minimum 1.5 to 2 hour time for a very mediocre meal.

 

I did express our displeasure in our post-cruise survey and also wrote to the company. Thankfully it has not been incorporated in other than the original 4 ships (as far as I know).

 

We just got back from 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise on Carnival Conquest and thoroughly enjoyed our MDR Anytime dining with the regular menu. The bar/drinks staff was a bit limited and seemed to be stretched a bit thin, so waits for ice tea, drinks and coffee were a bit long, but otherwise Great service. Loved our January Cruise again!

[firemanbobswife]

It sounds like you had more of an issue with Any Time Dining vs American Table Menu. The menu had nothing to do with the wait or the slowness.

 

I don't want to wait for a table, want to know exactly where I'm going to sit, and like having the same waiters each night without having to request them so I always have assigned dining. It's also a bonus when they have my drink waiting for me at the table upon my arrival.

 

I actually liked the new menu. Had it twice - last May and October both on the Glory. The one in October was improved over the one in May. Can't wait to try it out again in about 10 weeks!

[firemanbobswife]

I will also add that the slowest service I have had on Carnival was last January on the Conquest - traditional seating, old menu. Oh, and I got food poisoning that cruise. Wasn't a good time.

[wikoffclan]

It sounds like you had more of an issue with Any Time Dining vs American Table Menu. The menu had nothing to do with the wait or the slowness.

 

I don't want to wait for a table, want to know exactly where I'm going to sit, and like having the same waiters each night without having to request them so I always have assigned dining. It's also a bonus when they have my drink waiting for me at the table upon my arrival.

 

I actually liked the new menu. Had it twice - last May and October both on the Glory. The one in October was improved over the one in May. Can't wait to try it out again in about 10 weeks!

 

Have to disagree. Had AnyTime dining on both cruises. Food in Jan. 14 with American Table was below mediocre, service was slow. Service on Conquest Jan. 15 was faster, food was better, rated Much higher than Liberty's American Table.

[firemanbobswife]

I can understand if you liked the menu better, but I can assure you that service and the waiting time for you to get in had probably extremely little to no relation to the actual menu unless it was one of the first cruises with it, then it might have as the staff would still be getting used to it.

 

In all my 13 cruises - 5 on Celebrity and 8 - soon to be 9 on Carnival, I have a pretty wide range of sampling to go off of and I can tell you that the Conquest in January was the worst ever. Now if I were to compare that cruise vs Glory in May, then my conclusion would be total opposite of yours and I would say that the American Table menu had much faster service. Which once again, would be incorrect per my previous statement.

 

The menu alone has no bearing on service or wait time with the exception of if it's something brand new to the staff. It will eventually be rolled out on all the ships, so better get used to it.

[In2why]

I am confused as to why the American Table menu effects your poor service or long wait times to dine?

[LMaxwell]

I am confused as to why the American Table menu effects your poor service or long wait times to dine?

I think they are saying the service issues aren't offset by a great menu worth waiting for.

[MickCruiser]

Uh oh....headed out on the Breeze in two weeks.

 

As Gene Kranz (Apollo13 Mission Commander?) said...."okay, let's look at this from a different perspective. What aspect of the American Dining is good?"

 

This will be our 3rd Breeze spring break cruise in as many years for us. We get it that going to ATD dinner at peak time (6.30pm or so) will result in a wait....so we avoid it. We found if we got there by 6.15 we were in like Flynn. Otherwise we would wait until 7.30.

 

I've heard a few folks mention that the newest version of the new menu is better than the earlier iterations. I am hoping the luck of the St Paddy's Day cruise will bring us luck in the casino and perhaps in the MDR.

 

Bummer to see the new guys hours....open at night (Good) and shorter hours in the afternoon (bad).

 

 

- JPO

Edited February 24, 2015 by MickCruiser

[D4]

We enjoyed the American Table on our B2B cruises on the Glory in May 2014. We had early assigned dining. My favorite part was the gluten free appetizers (calamari, etc,) and I received a huge portion of them each night. Our service was fine on both cruises. We had different wait staff for each cruise.

[love my grandkids]

We have had American table twice once on Liberty and once Glory.

 

Was nice to get some different things not same old again. Thought service both times was fine.

[TerReuv]

I actually am looking forward to the new menus. Per JH they are hoping to have them rolled out to the Conquest by our cruise in October. I do not see how the menu has anything to do with the service. They are not tied together and just seems to depend on all sorts of things. I always like when people complain about the new menus and say they ate in the buffett most of the time. From what I have observered and others have said, the buffett usually has a lot of the same items that are available in the MDR.

 

I have seen the new menus and they have changed quite a bit since they were first rolled out. Also, they are not that much different than the original menus. There are a lot of the same things, but you can order your sides separate than your main dish which I really like.

 

This post is not about the new menus but about slow service. Very misleading title.

[B and B Rookie Cannucks]

We just did a B2B cruise on the Liberty a few weeks ago. After watching the waiters struggle for 15 days with this new menu (we had 2 different sets of waiters) I believe the main reason we are seeing all the complaints of slow service is the fact that all the side dishes are now ordered separately. The waiters must carry more plates+ more trays+ take more orders (for the sides) multiply this out= slower service. A couple of nites if I recall correctly (formal nites) the sides were automatically included and service seemed a little quicker. Just my observations!

[legion3]

Did the food suck? Or was the service slow? or Both?

I would take slow service if the food was good and worth the wait.

 

We are going on the Breeze in late April, early seating, maybe they will shake the kinks out by then but if not we don't do buffet's and won't start on the Breeze.

 

I am interested in some of the new menu choices I saw so am looking forward to giving it a try. And frankly dinner should be a slow affair not the standard gobble it down as my time is to important to be wasted. ;)

[Rochesterboatingdotcom]

Service was fine for us on the Feb 8 cruise on the Breeze with the new menus. We had late seating with an excellent head waiter named Henry. However, bar service was terrible, once we ordered and never got our drinks. We had cheers, so it didn't really matter to us, other than the fact that they still counted the phantom drinks against our count.

[katiel53]

I happen to be one who loves the American table. For wikoffclan who disliked it so much on Liberty, there were many changes to the menu on Liberty by September and it was really good. Lots of old favs were added back into the menu and the for the table items were gone as many complained about sharing with strangers.

 

OP,

The American table menu on Breeze is new and I think the staff is getting used to the new service. I know it is slower because cruisers are able to get their choices in sides rather than having the waiters just bring the pre-plated items. I am hoping that as time progresses and the wait staff becomes more familiar with the system, service will improve.

 

There are tweaks needed for this menu to work and I do wish Carnival would devote the time and effort necessary to make this work so that it can be added to other ships. The new menu, to me, is more like going out to a restaurant, rather than going to a banquet where one night have a choice of steak or chicken, but no choice on what goes with either.

 

I also believe service has to improve for ATD. It doesn't matter what menu is served as there are complaints about slow service almost constantly. I like ATD, but sometimes waiting for a glass of water etc. seems to take forever. Perhaps more people need to be dedicated to the ATD dining room to help speed things up. I think Carnival went into this unprepared and is still trying to catch up. Other lines seem to have this down pat, but Carnival is still floundering.

[Cruisegirl6]

GLUTEN FREE APPETIZERS!!!!! Darn it Carnival PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put the American Table on the Valor in time for my cruise!!!

 

Does anybody have the new menu's to show me?

[ray98]

I loved the new menu, tried it last week.

[bigdog1958]

HATED it!! On Carnival Liberty last January (2014) the service was SO slow, the food was SO forgettable that given the choice we will NEVER sail on a Carnival ship with American Table menu in the MDR ever again.

 

Granted at that time the new menu had just been rolled out, but it was so bad my husband describes it as the worst cruise ever! He will never cruise on Liberty again. And I will not book a cruise if American Table is the MDR menu. We had the same problems that you did, including a minimum 1.5 to 2 hour time for a very mediocre meal.

 

I did express our displeasure in our post-cruise survey and also wrote to the company. Thankfully it has not been incorporated in other than the original 4 ships (as far as I know).

 

We just got back from 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise on Carnival Conquest and thoroughly enjoyed our MDR Anytime dining with the regular menu. The bar/drinks staff was a bit limited and seemed to be stretched a bit thin, so waits for ice tea, drinks and coffee were a bit long, but otherwise Great service. Loved our January Cruise again!

 

Its too bad you will never sail on carnival again after this year. The American table menu is being rolled out to all ships by the end of this year. If you want to sail carnival again, you will need to hurry and get your cruises in.

[D4]

We have noticed Carnival keeps having the dining room staff handle more tables which contributes to slower service.

[Valor2005]

We were on the last sailing of the Breeze before they rolled out the American Table menu. Trust me, the slow service had nothing to do with the new menu. We had assigned early seating and the service was extremely slow. Often times, they were clearing tables as our entree was being served. We felt incredibly rushed to finish and leave so they could get ready for then next seating. I'd thought at the time that maybe Anytime Dining would be faster, but it doesn't sound like that's the case.

[LeisaH3067]

HATED it!! On Carnival Liberty last January (2014) the service was SO slow, the food was SO forgettable that given the choice we will NEVER sail on a Carnival ship with American Table menu in the MDR ever again.

 

Granted at that time the new menu had just been rolled out, but it was so bad my husband describes it as the worst cruise ever! He will never cruise on Liberty again. And I will not book a cruise if American Table is the MDR menu. We had the same problems that you did, including a minimum 1.5 to 2 hour time for a very mediocre meal.

 

I did express our displeasure in our post-cruise survey and also wrote to the company. Thankfully it has not been incorporated in other than the original 4 ships (as far as I know).

 

We just got back from 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise on Carnival Conquest and thoroughly enjoyed our MDR Anytime dining with the regular menu. The bar/drinks staff was a bit limited and seemed to be stretched a bit thin, so waits for ice tea, drinks and coffee were a bit long, but otherwise Great service. Loved our January Cruise again!

 

We had the same experience on the Liberty last April. We liked nothing about the American Table, worst food we ever had on a cruise by far. We purposely booked the Breeze because at the time, it didn't have it. Hopefully we will have a better experience this time. I am actually looking forward to having dinner at the Lido a few times. We have always eaten in the MDR and I am not about all the fuss & time this cruise.

[gone_cruisin]

I agree with many of the other posters....your complaint is with the service, not the menu.

 

However, the OP does mention they are not foodies and enjoy simpler foods. Thus, the buffet is more up their alley.

 

I've said it time and time again.....I don't want buffet food in the MDR. If I crave fried chicken, I will go to the lido deck. I like having different food options in the dining room. There is no need to change it just because someone wants simpler foods.

Edited February 24, 2015 by gone_cruisin

[D4]

GLUTEN FREE APPETIZERS!!!!! Darn it Carnival PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put the American Table on the Valor in time for my cruise!!!

 

Does anybody have the new menu's to show me?

 

Yes, they were AMAZING! And since we were B2B on the Glory, I got to enjoy 2 weeks of awesome gluten-free appetizers!

 

The menu didn't state that those appetizers could be made g-free, but the hostess that took my order each night told me they could make them for me. So be sure to ask!

 

I was super happy because I had so many more g-free options with the new menu. :)

 

I hope it hasn't changed because I want to book another B2B soon. Airfare costs have been so high for us the last couple years which means a B2B makes more sense for us.

Edited February 24, 2015 by D4

[GabbyCooks]

I agree with the OP - not impressed with American Table menu. We sailed Glory over New Years. Interesting enough, our service was also very slow. Maybe it's not the menus, maybe it is, but we have the worst service out of all our cruises. We were very disappointed in dining altogether on this cruise. We even ate on the lido one night for dinner, first time we've ever skipped dinner in the MDR.

 

Disappointed there are no fruit appetizers any longer. We asked for the dessert fruit plate for appetizer, but they would not bring it. My husband doesn't eat shrimp cocktail, which was my go to appetizer, so there were many nights he didn't even order one. The food was just okay in our books.

 

We are going on Elation next month and are thrilled to go back to the old menus.