Carnival Cruise Line faces a key issue in the dining room

If you want to create a raging discussion on a Carnival or Royal Caribbean Facebook group, simply put up a post about how people wear casual clothes in the main dining rooms of the cruise lines.

It’s like throwing a friend into an ocean full of sharks.

People will take the bait every time: some will long for the days when cruises were ball gowns and tuxedos, while others will go for the comfort of their vacations. And some, of course, will jump in with the sage answer and point out that what other people wear doesn’t affect your meal.

Unless someone has grossly neglected their personal hygiene or continues to shoot the formal family portrait, it’s hard to see how someone else wearing shorts or a baseball cap is harming your table.

At the same time, some inconsiderate behavior in the main dining room hurts other people’s experience. This is especially true when unrelated groups share a meal, but even people who eat only with their group can be affected.

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Carnival prefers its main dining rooms to be called restaurants.

Image source: Carnival Corporation.

Carnival Cruise Line asks a question

Carnival offers two set dining times each evening. The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, asked a question about a second main polarizing issue in the dining room on his Facebook page.

In your opinion, if the dining room opens at 6:00 PM and someone arrives at 6:20 PM, is it late for dinner?

Should those guests be invited to the Lido?

Sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that make people late for dinner, but how late is too late?

And as someone asked, are people sharing a table with someone late for dinner expected to wait before they start ordering and eating?

The challenge that affects not only the tablemates of the deceased, but also anyone who is served by the same waiters, is that the dishes are served and prepared in order.

In theory, if a late party skips the opening course, they could match the other diners without any impact. If, however, they want a full dining experience, that could take the waiters off schedule and delay service for everyone.

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Carnival passengers respond to late diners

Most of the Carnival passengers who responded were sympathetic to late diners — up to a point.

“As long as they are there within 40 minutes of the dining hall, serve them, but no one has to wait before being served,” wrote Shelley Maroney Simmons. “The latecomer just doesn’t get the full dining experience. They should also be reminded to exit 15 minutes early for reset. The dining hall has to maintain a schedule.”

Some shared their experiences when other diners were late.

“One of my last cruises, we were seated at a large table with strangers (we didn’t really connect with these people, but they were nice),” Brandi Larocque reported. “They were late every night. It didn’t really matter to us because we didn’t wait for them. The staff served us and we enjoyed our dinner and usually ordered dessert by the time they showed up. I think it’s harder for the staff. so a delay of more than 20 minutes I think is unfair for the staff.”

Many people have a limited tolerance for delay.

“There should be a 15-minute grace period,” added Robin Bookspan Singleton. “Sometimes it takes a bit longer to get dressed or caught in long lines of photos or even at a bar having a cocktail with dinner takes a bit longer. I’ve never been late, but sometimes I stress my family out because I think we’re running. behind.”

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And a few people didn’t tolerate delays at all.

“No one should have to wait for fellow diners who are 20 minutes late,” posted Lori Tiffin Pinion. “Unfortunately, I realize it means extra work for the waiters, but why should part of the table have to wait when someone is late on purpose? We’ve had this happen before and it can be irritating. Especially if you don’t know the people. .”

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