Should Carnival bring back tablecloths each night?

[Lefty Writer]

I'm firmly in the "Don't Care" camp. I don't get the obsession with tablecloths.

 

Same here. About the only time we are in the MDR is for dinner. The presence or absence of a tablecloth isn't going to affect my cruise.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Yours and many other's sentiments about this are why you now have Denny's At Sea. Keep not caring and see how deep the knife cuts. If the beards think for a second that they're giving more than they have to, they will take even more.

 

Isn't it nice that we have choices of cruise lines...if someone wants the old-fashioned pseudo Titanic experience there are lines that offer that. If someone wants to be treated as pseudo royalty with butlers and one on one service there are lines that offer that.

 

I can't, for the life of me, understand why someone who wants the "finer things on life" on their cruise would continue to cruise Carnival when they "now" know that their on board experience will be far from their expectations.

 

Carnival Corporation has decidedly divided their cruise lines...some are getting more and more casual, are geared more to young families and cost conscious consumers. Some are "high" end, traveling to more exotic locations, offering more luxury ambiance, and the price is totally geared to what is offered.

 

In the last few years I have been on Princess, Carnival, Seaborne and Cunard. Each was a totally different experience and for each I "paid" for the experience and places they offered.

 

As an extended family with members ranging from 10 to 80 we plan our trips on who is going and "how" they like to travel and what they can afford. The kids hate dressing up and couldn't care less about tablecloths, lobster, chocolates on their pillows, evening entertainment. They love Carnival because it is relaxed, has lots of venues for their age groups.

 

The older more sedate members of our group want exotic locations, high end dining, personal service and so we sail Seaborne.

 

I know it is trite to say but if someone wants luxury they need to be willing to pay for it. Why should my cost conscious family members have to pay more for things they could care less about. If Carnival keeps fares affordable they are happy campers. So for those who want "more" they just might need to rethink their Carnival loyalty and spread their wings because we don't want to pay for their experience, we only want to pay for ours.

Edited May 3, 2016 by Sweet Dutch Girl

[reerun25]

Isn't it nice that we have choices of cruise lines...if someone wants the old-fashioned pseudo Titanic experience there are lines that offer that. If someone wants to be treated as pseudo royalty with butlers and one on one service there are lines that offer that.

 

I can't, for the life of me, understand why someone who wants the "finer things on life" on their cruise would continue to cruise Carnival when they "now" know that their on board experience will be far from their expectations.

 

Carnival Corporation has decidedly divided their cruise lines...some are getting more and more casual, are geared more to young families and cost conscious consumers. Some are "high" end, traveling to more exotic locations, offering more luxury ambiance, and the price is totally geared to what is offered.

 

In the last few years I have been on Princess, Carnival, Seaborne and Cunard. Each was a totally different experience and for each I "paid" for the experience and places they offered.

 

As an extended family with members ranging from 10 to 80 we plan our trips on who is going and "how" they like to travel and what they can afford. The kids hate dressing up and couldn't care less about tablecloths, lobster, chocolates on their pillows, evening entertainment. They love Carnival because it is relaxed, has lots of venues for their age groups.

 

The older more sedate members of our group want exotic locations, high end dining, personal service and so we sail Seaborne.

 

I know it is trite to say but if someone wants luxury they need to be willing to pay for it. Why should my cost conscious family members have to pay more for things they could care less about. If Carnival keeps fares affordable they are happy campers. So for those who want "more" they just might need to rethink their Carnival loyalty and spread their wings because we don't want to pay for their experience, we only want to pay for ours.

 

Could not have said it any better myself, my sentiments exactly...

[KatieCharlotte]

We need another choice: Would prefer tablecloths but acknowledge the changing times and can live without them.

 

It's not that tablecloths make it seem like an expensive restaurant. Having no tablecloths is trendy everywhere. Tablecloths are just part of the traditional MDR experience for some of us old-fashioned people of all ages. :D I also wear nice dresses and skirts to the MDR every night, and so does my young daughter. I love that I can have a fun, modern ship and also have afternoon tea and a traditional MDR dinner. It's the perfect balance for me and one reason I love Carnival. But I can see that our society as a whole is moving toward modern and casual. I can live with that, and dream about taking a truly old-fashioned cruise someday, probably as the youngest person onboard.

[Viesczy]

I'm firmly in the "Don't Care" camp. I don't get the obsession with tablecloths.

 

I too don't understand the "OMG" reaction to no tablecloths. You'd think that people are being force to eat standing up over a sink like they always do at home!

 

:D

 

The "justifications" & "excuses" are just laughable.

[declansdad]

I have to laugh at the folks saying how much more environmentally friendly it is not to wash all the table cloths. My god, those ships burn 30-50 gallons of sludge per mile. If you're really worried about the environment, a cruise ship is the last place you should be.

 

 

So because of that they shouldn't look for ways to reduce their impact on the environment?

 

 

Maybe when the Carnival 3.0 upgrades come out they will do away with tables altogether... Just long troughs of food with people crowded around eating with their hands, or face first for the more aggressively hungry.

 

Just because some of you choose to have your meals at home "McDonalds Style" doesn't mean that is the experience we want in the MDR on a cruise!

 

 

So if a high-end restaurants decided to have no tablecloths in their dining rooms they are the same as McDonalds or Denys? That seems to be what your posts are saying.

[declansdad]

Yes, bring them back. I like getting dressed up for dinner and a restaurant without a table cloth is more like a "trattoria" style dining. Nice in some venues, like a Red FRog,Sushi or Luncheonette style dining...but in a nice dining room, I prefer a table cloth and a formal plate setting.

 

Last cruise, every time I picked up the water carafe, water dripped on me...not a deal breaker by any means...but I prefer a dining table WITH tablecloths.

 

 

If there is condensation on the carafe or your glass, it is going to drip. Having a tablecloth will make little difference.

[soccersharon]

Don't care! A table cloth in no way (to me) defines elegance.

 

 

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[BrotherCraig]

I only like the tablecloths for elegant night. Don't care for them really.

[maldenmusic]

Definitely Don't Care!!

[Steve Dore]

Voted don't care - probably should have voted no. Did not even noticed them (or the lack of) during last cruise. Such a minor thing to have a major issue over.

[ImaginationCruiseBride]

I was in the "What the hell is the fuss all about" category until our last cruise in January when we had some wave action happening during dinner and I was distracted and let the bottle of wine slide right off the table and spill all over my clothes. A few water droplets didn't bother me, but a half bottle of wine bothered me a lot. HOWEVER, we had a new bottle of wine each night in the MDR "on the house". No, I didn't complain and no, we didn't ask for it, it was just one of those shrug your shoulders and move on things. The first night after the spill (this spill was on the first night) we tried to send the bottle of wine back because we didn't order it, but they explained to us that it was to replace the spilled bottle from the night before, so we then assumed that would be 1 bottle for 1 spilled bottle....nope, the next night they brought us another bottle. Anyway, my point is that now I'm in the "I would prefer table cloths camp", but hey, at least Carnival more than made up for the little hiccup.

Edited May 3, 2016 by ImaginationCruiseBride

[Thorncroft]

Yea yea yea. According to your type Carnival should have been out of business years ago with the cuts they've made. Yet they are stronger then ever right now. Most people on a cruise don't even know if they had tablecloths or not on their last cruise. And the rest are 1st timers just happy to be on a Carnival cruise.

 

There's more to this big world than just Carnival. You should hop off your stuck record and experience it sometime.

[jimbo5544]

Yours and many other's sentiments about this are why you now have Denny's At Sea. Keep not caring and see how deep the knife cuts. If the beards think for a second that they're giving more than they have to, they will take even more.

 

Don't talk bad about Royal Caribbean like that.....

Edited May 3, 2016 by jimbo5544

[Thorncroft]

I voted No - I don't want the tablecloths back. I much prefer the plain tables - and they are certainly not McDonald's style.

 

Outside of other cruise lines, I can't recall when I've eaten at a restaurant with a tablecloth. We frequent casino restaurants on a regular basis and even the upscale Steakhouses, Asian or Italian restaurants no longer use tablecloths.

 

Tablecloths are passé.

 

Even the buffet at Hard Rock Casino still uses them in the section reserved for Double Plat players and above. I guess they didn't get the memo about how to be cool. Or maybe they still think that a tablecloth adds a bit of class to an otherwise mundane venue. You should be sure to tell them that they've got it all wrong. :p

[Thorncroft]

Don't talk bad about Royal Caribbean like that.....

 

Actually it's true for all cruise lines. If they start making cuts and everyone cheers and says they don't care, they'll keep cutting until they get some pushback. This is not just a Carnival phenomenon. Just don't complain later when you realize that your experience has been diluted.

[jimbo5544]

Actually it's true for all cruise lines. If they start making cuts and everyone cheers and says they don't care, they'll keep cutting until they get some pushback. This is not just a Carnival phenomenon. Just don't complain later when you realize that your experience has been diluted.

If you are going to ruin one of my best lines in days I won't play anymore. ;)On a more serious note, it certainly is interesting times i which we living. One of the by products of having cruise lines build ships that cost billions of dollars and an amazing pace.

[jezthepuff]

I voted "don't care," but I haven't yet been on a Carnival cruise (or any cruise) that didn't have them. But I do go to some very nice restaurants that don't have them, and it certainly hasn't affected my meal.

[Lakesregion]

When in the world did tablecloths, butter knives and salad forks become synonymous with the finer things in life. That lifestyle started dying in the 60s and pretty much has breathed its last breath. I'll make an a** of myself and assume that 95% of households don't set the table (if they set a table) with anything more than a single fork, a single knife, and a single spoon. All the little niceties don't seem to make food taste any better, for me at least.

 

I'll also make and a** of myself and state that a rousing majority of cruisers no longer cruise to play dress-up and psuedo rich....they cruise for fun and enjoyment and activities and relaxation. Most young kids have never seen a table cloth (except maybe for Thanksgiving dinner at Great Grandmas).

 

I will agree with you 100% and would elucidate how all of these "little" things going by the wayside have lead to many many larger issues, but I know that I would get tossed for doing so - so I will let it rest.

[sweetlife]

For some of us, table cloths are a nice addition. I much prefer a dining experience with table cloths and linen napkins.

[It's a Ship!!!]

I'm going to try a little social experiment. My cruising companion has never even heard of cruise critic, and doesn't keep up with Carnival news, so he has no idea that there are not going to be tablecloths when we cruise later this year. I'm not going to tell him so I can see if he notices, and if he even cares or not.

[amyh13]

Good experiment. I have a friend who is 20+ years older than me so he does not typically cruise Carnival but he cruises a lot . He got a deal on Carnival and took it. A ship with the American Table Menu. He said it was the best food on a cruise he has ever had. Carnival is not stupid or cutting corners. They are keeping up with trends and tastes. It's the change that drives people crazy.

 

 

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[rjrice1]

I really don't care... usually spill things on it all the time.

[Computer Nerd]

I'm going to try a little social experiment. My cruising companion has never even heard of cruise critic' date=' and doesn't keep up with Carnival news, so he has no idea that there are not going to be tablecloths when we cruise later this year. I'm not going to tell him so I can see if he notices, and if he even cares or not.[/quote']

 

i don't see what the experiment proves. why would the newbie be expected to notice the lack of a table clothe since he may not know to expect one on the table. now, if he has sailed other lines that had table clothes then he may or may not notice the lack of a table clothe on carnival. of course, it may be that he just isn't observant of such things in general which would only prove a lack of situational awareness. ;)

Edited May 4, 2016 by Computer Nerd

[declansdad]

Even the buffet at Hard Rock Casino still uses them in the section reserved for Double Plat players and above. I guess they didn't get the memo about how to be cool. Or maybe they still think that a tablecloth adds a bit of class to an otherwise mundane venue. You should be sure to tell them that they've got it all wrong. :p

 

 

So all the high end restaurants without tablecloths have it wrong?