As You Wish Dining - Opinions, Comments and Discussions

[hammybee]

Frankly it was disappointing.

The servers were disinterested at best.

The first formal night the server knocked over a glass of water all over Janet.

It was like he didn't know what to do. He barely got napkins to wipe up the spill. He didn't offer to take care of anything.

 

We tried AYWD for the first time, in over 20 cruises where we've always had fixed dining, and it was disappointing. This was on the HAL Zuiderdam this past week. The service was VERY slow. Out of 10 nights, we only ate in the dining room 2 evenings. Both were slow service.

 

We will be going back to fixed dining from now on..

 

SDCruiser

 

The dine as you wish is a joke on the Ryndam. We were on a Thanksgiving cruise and they have a way to go to actaully get it right. If you did not want their standard seating times, you were given a pager and told to wait. This lasted for up to an hour for us and one poor couple wanting a table for 2 had been ther waiting 15 minutes when we got there and were still waiting when we got our table for 8. Maybe HA need to take a look at how NCL does their seating since we have NEVER had more than a 15 minute wait on their ships.

 

All wait staff are rotated between fixed and open seating. That one experiences less than stellar service in one of the venues does not condemn the venue.

 

No dining venue on land or sea can provide instant seating if more people show up than there is space available. Hour waits on NCL are notorious. They are notorious because most people seem to prefer to dine 6:30-7:30.

 

Dining experiences vary sailing to sailing, cruise line to cruise line. Sailing during peak holiday and interim school break times, when every berth is apt to be full, is not the best cruise experience, unless you are darn lucky.

[sassy73]

This thread has convinced me to do fixed dining. I don't have a "set" dinner time at home, and am semi young and semi non traditional, I thought as you wish might be more my style. However, I have no desire to wait a hour for food, and I like the idea of someone getting to know my tastes, and my particular needs. (Like I only like my meat medium rare, and I know the difference!) I decided the late dinner time would work best, since I tend to eat later,and most times we will be departing our port, or we have to be back in the ship, by the late dinner time.

[bksunbuddies]

Although it is decidedly a long cruise, The Voyage of the Vikings isn't considered a "Grand" cruise.

There are no special pillow gifts, nor is there the increased deposit if it's booked on a prior cruise.

 

You are correct. Our next trip on the Amsterdam is a "Grand". I don't think they offer AYWD on a Grand Voyage. Does anyone know for sure? We have Early Lower on the upcoming Australia/South Pacific cruise.

 

Have you always lived in RI? I was born in Providence and stayed in RI until I left for college. We visited last summer.

[pokeyjones]

We are back from our trip to the Panama Canal and other lovely ports of call. We too had the anytime dining. Often the DH was wanting more of a casual atmosphere, so we dined on the lower level Vista Dining Room for only 3 nights (formal), right after the early shows at 7:00 and in the Pinnacle on the last night. Other dinners were taken in the Lido.

 

We were always seated promptly when we were seated with others. Menus were given to us upon arrival, water was poured about 5 minutes after the last seats were taken ordering began about 10 minutes later. While some may find the pace of the dining slow, it was condusive to getting to know something about your tablemates. So, if you like meeting many different people this option may be for you.

 

The quickest meal served was 1 hour and 25 minutes at a table for 4, from the time we approached the M'd. Other meals at tables for 6 were 1 hour 45 minutes & 1 hour and 50 minutes.

 

With the larger tables, I had 1 item per meal served, which I hadn't ordered. A chilled fruit soup was brought instead of a hot soup, and, a blush wine was served when a pinot grigio (my 2nd) was ordered with a wine card. I didn't fuss about my soup, it would have been my other choice, but, I did try to inform the wine steward of the error. One of my tablemates was very firm with the wine steward. I had hoped that the wine steward had not poured from this gentleman's bottle of White Zin (although he had offered me a glass). :eek:

 

All and all, the timing I feel was reasonable. Throughout our experience, language in it's receptive and written comprehension forms, seemed to be the greatest barriers for the wait staff. With conversational and musical tones flooding the air, I feel that it is somewhat overwhelming to the waitstaff, who may not hear or understand your request accurately.

[RuthC]

I don't think they offer AYWD on a Grand Voyage. Does anyone know for sure?

I have read no reports of open seating being offered on a Grand cruise, and have read several reports that it has not been offered. At least so far it seems to be status quo on fixed seating on the Grand cruises. So far.

Have you always lived in RI? I was born in Providence and stayed in RI until I left for college. We visited last summer.

Always. Born in Providence; grew up in Cranston; now live in Warwick. I keep moving south. :D

[Gator83]

I just got back from being on the Oosterdam and had Anytime Dining and we (two people) did not have to wait at all for a table any night. I have no problems with Anytime Dining at all.

[fun_seeker]

This may be our first experience with As You Wish Dining and we have questions for those of you who have experience with this approach.

 

We are going on the Eurodam in May for the Gems of the Baltic cruise. All but two of the ports have tours going off before 8:00AM and all get back about 4:00PM or later. We had requested the late seating, but were wait-listed. Does that mean that we will be consigned to walk-up hell (I understand that people have had to wait 45 minutes for a table)? :(

 

We hope to eat at Tamarind one night and at Pinnacle one night, but don't want to do that every night. Does anyone know how we can make reservations prior to sailing? Our TA did it the last time we cruised with HAL, but this time we are trying to work directly with HAL.

 

Buffets are okay, but not really what we like. Is there any way to make an AYWD reservation other than between 8AM and 4PM? :confused:

 

Please forgive us if these questions have been answered before, but 47 pages of information is just too much to go through.

 

[rpjkw11]

We just sailed on the Zaandam, Dec 7, to Hawaii. We (including another couple we always cruise with) prefer fixed dining. Unfortunately we were assigned AYWD. The first night we found the perfect table for 4 by a window. We talked to our table Steward and the dining room Manager. For the entire cruise, we were 'assigned' the same table at the same time without remembering to call in the morning. Each afternoon a blue table assignment card was given to us. IMHO, the dining room staff went above and beyond in granting our dining wishes.

 

Bob

[raineenyte]

Well, I have to say after reading many of these posts that I think the AYWD or Anytime Dining is getting a bad rap. I've been on 3 cruises - two of which had no choice other than the fixed dining and for us that meant a lot of buffet or room service. The times just really didn't coincide with things we wanted to do depending on the port we were at or activities on board. But, the third was on NCL in May 2002 and the Anytime dining was wonderful... we (a group of 6 travelling together) never waited more than 15 minutes to be seated. The service was always great and we were able to meet several friendly staff. We are now set to cruise again in August on HAL and eagerly chose the AYWD. I hope it goes as smoothly as our experince on Norwegian... but we will like this better either way. I guess we view it like this: if we were doing a vacation other than a cruise and we wanted to go for nice dining... we would either have to book at least a couple of hours early or wait for seating. And it just works so much better for our style!!

[alwaysreadytogo]

I enjoyed As You Wish dining. We never experienced any wait the whole cruise...whether we had reservations or just walked up (and most of the time we just walked up.) When we didn't have reservations, we had an alternative game plan (because from what we had heard, we expected to wait)....for example, when we waited we would go get a drink and have hors d'oerves or go to the casino. Even back home we sometimes have to wait for a table, so if that was the worse case scenario it wasn't a huge deal. We were on vacation....how bad could it be? But like I said we never had to resort to alternate plans....we walked up each night and got a table.

 

We had a great variety of dinner companions and enjoyed the conversations with them. We felt like we had a boatload of friends by the end of the trip and shared meals with a few people a couple of times. I missed having the same wait staff the whole trip, but it probably caused us to focus on our tablemates more than the wait staff, so that wasn't horrible. And the guy that was at the door when we checked in (maitre d'?) floored me when I was joking with him night four that he should know our room number by then and he did. He loved that I was so shocked, and the rest of the trip when he saw me he pointed and said "300" (our room number.) Made me laugh....and feel like more than a number! As usual we had staff members we had good bonds with on ship....it just wasn't our waiters this time. But if I would have had a waiter I loved, I would have had no hesitation about asking for them as the week went on and I am sure it would have been accomodated.

 

While I didn't choose As You Wish this time, I probably would in the future.....I liked eating on my timetable and for me the pluses outweighed the minuses.

[fun_seeker]

To all who have contributed comments concerning AYWD, thank you. The information that you have posted has been quite helpful to us. We wish you all many happy sailings.

 

[SAYHEYRENEE]

I was assigned AYWD. There was me and my husband.

 

Got on the ship and knew to go right there to reserve that night and next. We picked 8pm and asked to sit with others for both. We like to meet others. We are all day togther on the trip and you can only talk amongst yourselves for so long.

 

We rec'd our card by 4pm confirming both days. Went down at 5 of.......what a mess. (it did eventually smooth out the second night) So many people who do not read or know about the boards had no idea that you could make a ressie at a desk. HAL needs to be more informative. They knew they had to call the number on your shipboard card but that number is only open in the morning. Obviously you can not do this the first night. There were suppose to be 2 lines. Left no ressies, right ressies. We were finally seated at 8:20ish. At first the matree'd was going to take us since the seaters were busy but he had to ask a few people where the table was-LOL (and this is his dining room-oh boy). Finally someone returned and he seated us.

 

We loved our tablemates and service for the apps, bread and drinks were fast. There was a very long lag for the meal. But we were chatting and enjoyed. The second night we were with 2 other couples and enjoyed also. Dinner was faster this night. Both nights are staff served well but were not supper friendly-it didnt take away from our experience. The bar person the second night brought the drinks right before dinner -where was he during our soup and salad which was at least 45 minutes long?

 

The third night we had ressies at the Pinnacle which was wonderful.

 

I forgot to make ressies for the 4th night and called down too late (around noon). Thank gosh because we met others we wanted to dine with:

The 4th day we met two other couples on an excursion and had a fab time together the rest of the trip. I called to try to get ressies for 8pm to no avail -5th night (I think because this was a holiday sailing and many young families and couples like us who stay up late so it was harder to get a ressie for anything after 7). They mentioned to come down at 8pm for walk up. This is the part I do not understand. How am I going to get a table then? Do they hope some don't show up? Or other tables clear faster? Rather than get all dressed up, have to wait and miss the show we wanted to see, the 6 of us just decided to go to the buffet instead. (that was the 2nd and last night we did this). The food is just as good. They had a lot of the same things on the menu at the sit down. We enjoyed this and choose another night to do it again. Sometimes you just want to move at your own pace.

 

 

The following 2 days we all ate together by me making ressies the night I called and couldn't get them. We were seated timely.

 

Our staff the last 2 nights were a fun duo. I guess we just got gentleman with a good sense of humor plus they could tell we were having a good time.

 

All in all it went well. I heard many unhappy comments. I honestly couldn't tell you specifics what went on with their experiences.

 

Here is what I would do different:

Hand out some info on how it works (i.e make ressies for 2 nights, you can request same waiters or people) or had someone go through the lines the first few nights to tell people what was going on (i.e. tables getting cleared, does anyone want to sit with others etc)-would have made it much more of a better experience. Be informative how it works. This would take care of most of the problems. HAL can make this work if they try a little harder. I relaly like the idea of being able to sit with people you meet along the cruise. Honestly while you wish should have to be what you decided 2 days ahead. It may not meet your needs that day.

 

I never had a bad meal and was quite pleased. The fish was yum yum.

Edited January 6, 2009 by SAYHEYRENEE

[MissCruiser]

Just returned from our third cruise on the Westerdam-first since AYWD- and the dining was a disaster.

2 caveats first:

1. I believe that a significant part of the problem on this cruise was the high occupancy/different demographics on a holiday cruise.

2. I have been on Norwegian and really enjoyed open seating, thus I don't think that I am biased against the concept, just the was execution by HAL.

 

Our dining experience was a big enough problem for us this cruise that I will not cruise again on HAL unless I am given fixed seating or they make substantial changes to AYWD.

 

My experience:

1. I requested Main Seating, was 'waitlisted' and given AYWD when we boarded.

2. My family has enjoyed dinner and then the show on each of our previous cruises. Since HAL has changed the show times to 7 and 9 to force you to go to the show first or choose open seating, I decided not to press the issue and try open seating. I probably could have complained loudly enough or greased the correct palm and gotten it changed to fixed seating but I mistakenly thought that I would be able to eat dinner a little earlier than previously and still go to the 9 o'clock show.

3. You would think that AYWD would mean that you could look at the schedule of the day's events and talk with your family about when you wanted to eat dinner. It doesn't work this way. You have to make a reservation for the next night shortly after 8 a.m. of the day prior. This means you don't know what events will be scheduled for the next evening. You have to make the dinner time your priority each morning for the next night and schedule everything else around that. That means it is not as you wish at all. Without any flexibility, fixed seating would have at least kept me from worrying about whether I was going to get a reservation for the next night.

4. As unwieldy and inconvenient as the process in #3 was, it turned out to be infinitely better than the alternative. Two days I decided to see the program for the day before asking about reservations. Both days I was told that only reservation time was 5 or 5:15 or I could come as a walk-up. Both of these nights I made the mistake of going to the 7 o'clock show and then going directly to the dining room at 7:50 or so to 'beat the crowd'. The first night we waited 1 hour and 50 minutes to be seated and the second night we would have waited about that same length of time (I was told I was the 39th pager) except I bribed my way in.

5. I checked multiple times for the length of wait if you walked up without reservation (between approx. 7 and 8:30-I didn't check earlier because it's simply not my dinnertime) and without fail the waits were one hour or more.

6. There were always multiple empty tables around us which stayed empty for long periods of time-either dirty and not turned over or set and apparently waiting for much later reservations. There was also plenty of empty space in the upstairs (fixed seating) dining room.

7. It is obvious to me that HAL is trying to force passengers into open seating. If so, why don't they just go to entirely open seating so they can have the extra upstairs space and work on making the process tolerable?

 

I am not saying that this situation exists on all ships and cruises, but I can assure you it was a major issue on a crowded holiday cruise and my recommendation would be to do everything possible to get fixed seating on one of these cruises or come with some extra cash to pass out to get want you want.

[MarciaD]

According to the website, this is available on every ship.

 

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Dining.action

[cruzincurt]

 

My experience:

 

 

6. There were always multiple empty tables around us which stayed empty for long periods of time-either dirty and not turned over or set and apparently waiting for much later reservations.

 

7. It is obvious to me that HAL is trying to force passengers into open seating. If so, why don't they just go to entirely open seating so they can have the extra upstairs space and work on making the process tolerable?

 

 

Our experience as well on the Westerdam. Their AYW dining is still stuck on the mentality that you only use the tables twice each night.

 

If the table is not cleared and/or re-set by 8:30, they don't intend to seat anyone at them, especially the 2's.

Edited January 11, 2009 by cruzincurt

[Dutchwoman]

Within HAL it's called: as WE wish that YOU dine.

It's not for the guests, it started because the Eurodam doesn't hold enough space in the dining room for all guests.

[RuthC]

It's not for the guests, it started because the Eurodam doesn't hold enough space in the dining room for all guests.

Open seating (which most people erroneously refer to as As You Wish) started on the Noordam, long before the E-dam was sailing.

[fun_seeker]

Within HAL it's called: as WE wish that YOU dine.

It's not for the guests, it started because the Eurodam doesn't hold enough space in the dining room for all guests.

These statements are made as though they are facts. Does that mean that you are an employee of HAL? If not, what is the source at HAL for these statements? If they are only your opinions, then please state them that way so as not to mislead people.

 

Thank you.

 

[hammybee]

Just noticed this is no longer a sticky.

 

I suspect this intent is to let this one die a natural death and then do the same with the other AYWD sticky.

 

Makes sense, given AYWD will be two years old, in May.

Edited March 5, 2009 by hammybee

[twinkletoes4445]

Just noticed this is no longer a sticky.

 

I suspect this intent is to let this one die a natural death and then do the same with the other AYWD sticky.

 

Makes sense, given AYWD will be two years old, in May.

 

Hard to believe it's been around that long! And to think I squawked about it for most of that time only to find out we loved it! lol :)

[tuckmics]

I am new here (preparing for an 8 Aug sailing on the Zuiderdam to Alaska) and was confused by much of the terminology so contacted HAL to query them on their dining program. While many probably know this, from many of the posts there seem to be confusion about HAL's "As You Wish" dining program. According to HAL, "As You Wish" is the name of their entire dining program. This program is designed to give maximum flexibility to guests (as many have stated, this may or may not be the case). This flexibility includes eating in the main dining room (either traditional, fixed seating or flexible seating) as well as eating in the Pinnacle Grill, the Lido, the Terrace Grill or room service. There are some other non-meal options as well (snacks and such). What many are calling AYWD is actually the flexible seating in the main dining room, just a component of AYW. As I am sure there are many new to HAL (as I am), wanted to clarify this, as it was explained to me. If I have any of this wrong, I apologize.

[RuthC]

What many are calling AYWD is actually the flexible seating in the main dining room, just a component of AYW. As I am sure there are many new to HAL (as I am), wanted to clarify this, as it was explained to me. If I have any of this wrong, I apologize.

Congratulations! You have it right.

[joramrose]

Can anyone tell me, if you are wait-listed for traditional dining, how likely ae you to get it??

I am like others who find it uncomfortable to eat with different people every night. A highlight of each cruise I have taken has been the dining table experience and the good friends I have made with my tablemates.

 

Is it better to be waitlisted on early or late seating? I remember on previous HAL cruises that early seating was far more popular. Personally, I prefer late, but my friend with whom I travel really likes early. And now they won't waitlist us separately altho on previous cruises we seldom ate together.

 

If the itinerary on this October Rotterdam cruise was not exactly what we wanted, we would cancel booking and find another line.

 

love

joan

[san diego sue]

On our recent 32 day cruise on HAL, appeared as though there were many empty seats at late dining fixed. Your chances are better for late.

we had early seating fixed and changed to anytime. we had met friends we wanted to dine with some nights, sometimes we wanted to sit alone and got that, and other nights we were being more social and made new friends at the dining room table. So anytime for us from now on. Caution, we did eat early on the days we wanted that table for two 6-6:30 was when we showed up. Also we never had a wait even at 7PM.

Never called for reservations ahead as they would only give you 5:45 or 7:45, too restrictive. If we liked a waiter, would ask to be seated in their area and most times got our request.(On the Oosterdam)

San Diego Sue

[hipcouple]

NMNita, I too choose NCL for the anytime dining. However, unless HA comes up with some more dining rooms, it can never approach what NCL has going for it. The typical HA cruiser would probably appreciate some flexibility with dining times on port intensive cruises, but I seriously doubt they are ready to go completely "Freestyle". There is something to be said for the predictibility of the same table, same time, same Indonesian wait staff....which HA has made a success of providing. I, personally, am not anxious to see Holland America headed in this direction.

 

We personally, don't like free-style dining: too many people at the same time, extra cost, line-ups, sold-out times, etc. I like to know that I can have my table at the same time and being served by the same staff. It develops a better relationship. We took our last cruise on The Century of Celebrity Cruises and really enjoyed it. Freestyle is not for us; we'll stick to the dining room.