Dottie's Infomercials

[minirottie]

We didn't experience this with her, at all, on Alaska 2018 or Cuba Feb 2019. 

[TOLISTravellers]

Sailed with her--and disliked the experience enough to mention it.  I much prefer Leslie's style of sophistication.  I found her intrusive with too much unnecessary over chatter on that PA system.  And yet, she was absolutely silent if something was wrong like delays, tender issues, late porting etc....

 

Considered if I would mention this or not, but it actually bothered me enough to speak of it.  I overheard her make an uncharitable comment about a guest once, and I found this unprofessional--do that complaining in the privacy of your office and not on the floor.

[edgee]

8 minutes ago, TOLISTravellers said:

Sailed with her--and disliked the experience enough to mention it.  I much prefer Leslie's style of sophistication.  I found her intrusive with too much unnecessary over chatter on that PA system.  And yet, she was absolutely silent if something was wrong like delays, tender issues, late porting etc....

 

Considered if I would mention this or not, but it actually bothered me enough to speak of it.  I overheard her make an uncharitable comment about a guest once, and I found this unprofessional--do that complaining in the privacy of your office and not on the floor.

We also some unprofessional conduct. My DW encountered her meanly dressing down a staff member. When Dottie saw my wife she immediately ceased her mean talk and walked away.

[bob brown]

Personally, I would prefer it if the only announcements made, were the Captain's daily weather and navigation briefing at Noon.

The only time I would want to hear the CD, would be if there was a last minute change in the daily program.

 

As far as the promoting of sales goes...I wonder if the CD's get some kind of bonus incentive resulting from increased on board sales?  Perhaps not, as if so, they would all be doing it....

[Shawnino]

39 minutes ago, bob brown said:

Personally, I would prefer it if the only announcements made, were the Captain's daily weather and navigation briefing at Noon.

The only time I would want to hear the CD, would be if there was a last minute change in the daily program.

 

As far as the promoting of sales goes...I wonder if the CD's get some kind of bonus incentive resulting from increased on board sales?  Perhaps not, as if so, they would all be doing it....

 

+1.

The people actually looking to buy the crème-de-la-crap jewelry or the scratch cards where nobody wins can sniff those things out on their own.

[pinotlover]

I don’t mind a little infomercials, just as long as it doesn’t drag out to long. Those shops and the casino pay rents and probably POPs to O. Those revenue streams help meet profit targets meaning it all doesn’t have to come from cabin rates. 

 

Some people just love a microphone and she’s one of them. 

 

It’s both obvious on these threads and aboard ship that some, maybe many, choose not to read the Daily Currents. The CDs feel compelled to ensure one gets the information they refuse to read anyway . Perhaps a question each day from the Currents. Can’t answer the question you can’t get seated for breakfast! Go back to your cabin, read up, come back and try again! That would eliminate the need for a lot of the announcements!

[DrHemlock]

+2 bob brown and Shawnino.  Somebody pull the plug on that microphone, please!

[Floridiana]

On 10/6/2019 at 12:24 PM, pinotlover said:

Some people just love a microphone and she’s one of them. 

I don't remember this from our 28 day cruise with her. I wonder why she changed.

[chivatosteve]

"Some people just love a microphone and she’s one of them."

We just got home from the Riviera "Colors, Coasts, and Coves" cruise Sept. 27 to Oct. 8.  This is our second cruise with Dottie as the CD, and, trust me, she hasn't mellowed.  Her announcements are LOUD and repetitive.  She is especially annoying when she holds Trivia in Martinis at the start of Happy Hour.  She has the PA turned to warp volume and ruins the bar (and takes up space) for those of us that just want to have a cocktail.  

On the day we were the fourth ship to dock (late) in Quebec, and all passengers waited for an hour in rain gear on deck 6 to disembark, there was no attempt to explain the situation or try to get the queue under control.  It was just "We have not been cleared by the port authorities".  I guess being 4th in behind NCL, Silversea, and Celebrity might take some extra time.  Shuttles were used to get Oceania passengers to the main part of Quebec City (where Celebrity and NCL were docked) and they included yellow school buses and local transit buses.  That afternoon the shuttle situation was absolute chaos with traffic, confused passengers and bus drivers, and a wait of an hour before we decided to hop a cab.  There was no one there from Oceania to facilitate the situation.  As we finally boarded very frustrated and thirsty, all we could hear was Dottie holding court in Martinis.  No apology/explanation was ever given.

We have booked two more Oceania cruises, and I hope we do not have to sail with Dottie.

[clo]

3 hours ago, chivatosteve said:

We have booked two more Oceania cruises, and I hope we do not have to sail with Dottie.

I hope all of you are reporting this to corporate. ?

[edgee]

1 hour ago, clo said:

I hope all of you are reporting this to corporate. ?

As noted earlier in this thread, I have complained on mid cruise survey and on end of cruise survey and also have complained to and received feedback from Dottie herself. She says corporate makes her do it, but she takes their directive and complies in an over the top verbose way.  Not sure what else can be done, as corporate chooses not to listen, apparently.

[clo]

2 minutes ago, edgee said:

Not sure what else can be done, as corporate chooses not to listen, apparently.

What I meant is go online and get the contact info for the president, CEO, etc. and write them directly.  

[DeeniEncinitas]

1 hour ago, clo said:

I hope all of you are reporting this to corporate. ?

I agree with you Cath!

If complaining on a board you think that helps the answer is no! The more in numbers get to corporate hopefully a change will happen! I sure as hell don’t won’t to listen to her on our cruise! I spent my money for my test and relaxation on O not to this Dottie!

Denise😊

[clo]

3 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

If complaining on a board you think that helps the answer is no!

I see this regularly on social media.  My attitude is "go big or go home."

[DeeniEncinitas]

Just now, clo said:

I see this regularly on social media.  My attitude is "go big or go home."

Slam dunk!! I did mean rest and regulation🙄

Denise😊

[Cruzin Terri]

Jeepers!  Give the lady a break.   If you don’t want to hear her and you’re in your cabin just close the door and she’s gone.

I was on one cruise with her and frankly I really don’t remember her taking over the mike.  I had a great cruise and found her to be friendly and helpful.  I ran the M&G and she stopped by and asked if we needed anything, spoke for a minute and left.  She greeted me every time we met on the ship and was lovely.

 

I really don’t remember the infomercials at all.  I do remember that I had a lovely cruise.

Terri

[mandys mommy]

1 hour ago, Cruzin Terri said:

Jeepers!  Give the lady a break.   If you don’t want to hear her and you’re in your cabin just close the door and she’s gone.

I was on one cruise with her and frankly I really don’t remember her taking over the mike.  I had a great cruise and found her to be friendly and helpful.  I ran the M&G and she stopped by and asked if we needed anything, spoke for a minute and left.  She greeted me every time we met on the ship and was lovely.

 

I really don’t remember the infomercials at all.  I do remember that I had a lovely cruise.

Terri

I totally agree with you.  Leave her alone, we were just on Riveria with her and I don't remember any infomercials, she is very friendly and helpful.

[edgee]

11 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

Jeepers!  Give the lady a break.   If you don’t want to hear her and you’re in your cabin just close the door and she’s gone.

I was on one cruise with her and frankly I really don’t remember her taking over the mike.  I had a great cruise and found her to be friendly and helpful.  I ran the M&G and she stopped by and asked if we needed anything, spoke for a minute and left.  She greeted me every time we met on the ship and was lovely.

 

I really don’t remember the infomercials at all.  I do remember that I had a lovely cruise.

Terri

Many of us consider her infomercials and lengthy reading of daily schedule we can read for ourselves as an annoyance. Her touting of sales in shops and such are something one would expect on Carnival. They lower the quality of the cruise.  She does not deserve any kind of "break" for continuous obnoxious behavior. 

Edited October 16, 2019 by edgee

[Mura]

Going back a bit ...

 

For those of you who think that posting here is useless when you are unhappy, you are wrong.  It's true that Frank del Rio no longer has time to monitor the board the way he once did, but others do.  I'm NOT saying that you shouldn't try writing directly when you have a complaint or a comment.  That indeed may be more effective.

 

I was on board Marina when we first noticed that the GDR was closed on port visits, and I posted a comment on our roll call ... I was wondering if this had been the pattern because we'd never noticed it before.  This was in November 2017.

 

I had a couple of answers on the roll call thread but I also very quickly received a call from the Concierge who wanted to meet with me.  It turned out that this was in response to my post.  I later met with him and the Restaurant Manager and they discussed why this was happening.  It was a PLEASANT meeting!  Of course, they wanted to convince me that this was an appropriate action they were taking.

 

On this particular cruise we had an overnight in Haifa and the ship was deserted the first day since so many passengers were taking overnight tours to Jerusalem.  Only 80 people were on board which made sense even to me that keeping the GDR open for lunch would be silly.  BUT ... on other port visits, I didn't agree.  I was told they keep track of who is off ship and on board and make decisions on that basis. 

 

Still, there are plenty of times when many passengers may be off-ship but return for lunch.  And we had a few lunches in Terrace on those days which were incredibly crowded.  This was on Marina, NOT on an "R" ship. When I could not walk down the first aisle in Terrace on Marina to see what food was available because people were backed up three deep on each side, then closing the GDR is not a good idea. 

 

But my original point was:  they DO monitor what we say here, even if you don't have an answer.

 

Mura

 

 

 

[TOLISTravellers]

I really really hope not to have Dottie on the AWT 2021 which I'm booked on.  It's not about hiding in the room to escape (thank goodness that's an option), but I really don't want to hear the endless reading out loud of Currents in the public areas. 

[TravelingAngel]

We just came back from the Riviera Fall Foliage cruise with Dottie and we did not experience any of the "horrors" so many are writing about.  She gave the morning and late afternoon reports and that was it as far as I recall.  We were off the ship during most days so I can't comment on what she did then. All I know is that she was not annoying or intrusive, nor did she try to sell merchandise.  She was friendly when approached. She was funny introducing the evening shows.  This was our 2nd cruise with her as the CD and both times we found her to be pleasant and engaged.   I can't imagine not taking a cruise on a ship I love that has a great itinerary simply because of the CD!  Especially if all that CD did wrong is talk too much!  I also think that if Oceania received more complaints about Dottie than compliments, she would not be working for Oceania, so I imagine the majority of people do not find her objectionable.  

[Mura]

Thanks TravelingAngel.  Your experience has matched ours, although we haven't been on a ship with Dottie in quite a while.

 

When we were with her, I was impressed because we were supposed to dock for the final port in Istanbul but we couldn't because a Carnival ship just didn't leave on time.  So we had to wait.  People tendered to shore until we could actually dock, which was a few hours later than scheduled.  I heard someone asking her details about the delay and she was very diplomatic in not saying much of anything.  While I was curious for more details, I appreciated her reluctance to say more than she should have.