Cruise Dining Options: Wait Staff, Requests, Concierge
In parts one and two of this multi-part blog series, we’ve gone over everything you might need to know about the dining options typically available aboard your cruise ship. From the kinds of food typically included to the locations it can be found, hours of operation and several other important factors, it pays to have a basic idea of your options in this simple area when you take any cruise.
At Cruise Lady: Latter-day Adventures, we’re proud to offer a huge variety of cruises and land tours with other members of the Church, including our LDS Israel vacations, Mediterranean cruises and numerous other options around the globe. In today’s final entry into our series, we’ll go over a few additional elements to consider here, including how to make meal requests and utilize the on-board concierge, if one is present.
Be Friendly and Courteous to Wait Staff
For multiple reasons, including simple common decency, it’s vital to be polite to your wait staff while aboard a cruise ship. They’re working hard to provide you with excellent service, and they’re likely under a good deal of pressure – so a little bit of courtesy can go a long way.
If you have any questions or concerns about your meal, the wait staff are usually more than happy to help out. Wait staff are also ideal individuals to ask for recommendations on various dishes, as they’re likely to have tried most of the items on the menu.
One major element here: Tipping. Wait staff work hard for their money, so feel free to include a tip of between 10 and 15% on your bill.
Make Meal Requests Ahead of Time
If you have any dietary restrictions or specific requests, it’s best to make them known to the cruise line staff well in advance. This will help ensure that your needs are properly met and that you’re not left with a limited menu on a particularly busy night.
In order to ensure that your needs are met, be sure to contact the cruise line’s customer service department well in advance of when you’ll be boarding the ship. Remember: A little bit of effort goes a long way in making things better for everyone involved.
On-Board Concierge
In most cruise ship situations, a concierge will be available for your use, whether that’s on the ship itself or through the cruise line’s customer service department.
These individuals can help assist with virtually anything you might need, including restaurant recommendations and making reservations at certain venues such as specialty restaurants (which may require advance booking). They can also provide assistance in a variety of other ways while aboard your cruise. If you have any questions or problems while aboard the ship, always feel free to contact the concierge for help. They’re there to assist you in any way possible.
For more on your dining options while aboard a cruise ship, or to learn about any of our other trips with other members of the Church, speak to the team at Cruise Lady: Latter-day Adventures today.