Please explain the dining

B

bcruiser

Guest
Can someone please explain to me how the dining works on the Miracle? Keep in mind I've never been on a cruise and just booked for next week.

The only thing they asked when we booked was do we want early or late booking. We picked late. Am I to understand that we will be seating with strangers (and the same ones every night)? Do they seat you at large tables, just with another couple or what? Can we request dining for 2 instead? I'm not antisocial and like to meet people and party, I'm just concerned if they only seat you with one couple and its the same table for the duration of the trip, what happens if you don't really like them?

Thanks!
 
J

jleq1

Guest
You might get a table for two. Then again, you might get a table for 10. On the afternoon of embarkation, the Maitre'D will be in one of the lounges [the exact location will be in your Capers/daily schedule] to answer questions about your dining seating/make changes. If, after your first meal, you have a problem with your dining companions/wait staff...discreetly go to the Head Waiter's/Maitre'Ds podium. Tell them. He/she will do their best to assist you.
 
J

jcarroll

Guest
The Miracle has only 1 dining room and I believe that late dinner is at 8:15. Early is at 5:30 and reaaly fills up fast. We booked months in advance and were forced into late and could not get moved to early. They will seat you with other similar couple or couples. And they do have tables for two. And many booths for 4. Try to get a large table and you will enjoy the conversation with the others. Dinner takes 1/2 to 2 hours so enjoy the experience.

If there are two entrees you see on the menu, go ahead and order both. For example a fish item and steak. One night my wife had 3 appetizers rather than an entree. The waiters will be most accommodating. The sun dreid tomato bread and the grilled shrimp and wonderful.

If you get good service, I would go above the basic tip for the staff. I prefer to remove the automatic tip from the sign & sail card and tip in cash -- and extra.
 
V

viet630

Guest
JCARROLL
I see that you remove the tip's from your sign and sail.Is this a problem? I would prefer to pay the service people in cash as well. Please advise. We are going on the Legend in march and I am interested in doing thisas well.Viet
 
A

ajax

Guest
go to the Purser's desk with all of your sign & sail cards and tell them to take off the automatic tips. Tell them you want to use the 'traditional' way which is tipping using the envelopes which you should be able to get right there also.....when you go back to your room, check to see that they indeed did take off the auto tips.

gotta go to the purser's desk to do this.....we do it every year.....
 
J

jcarroll

Guest
But do not take automatic tips off the "alternate dining staff", maybe even increase that . Those are people you may never see but once. Carnival's auto tipping for these staff members is $1.00 per day per passenger.
 
J

jleq1

Guest
I kee the tipping on. If staff deserves more, I just hand them an envelope with more...
 
S

serene56

Guest
You can have tips removed. having tips kept on the sign and sail card means the person that served you all week gets to keep that money. Cash is pooled.
Tips on the cards are automatically put into your servers account--like out debit cards here. THere family has immediate access to it. Cash means the server then must visit accounting and get the money deposited into their account.



Dinner on the Miracle is 5:45 and 8:15. Since the dining room is run on a schedule its not polite to be fashionable late. Especailly if you are sharing a table with others.
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
jleq1 Wrote:
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> I keep the tipping on. If staff deserves more, I
> just hand them an envelope with more...
>
>
>


This is what I do also. Saves on the amount of real money I have to drag around.
 
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