May 19, 2015
Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook"
provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit 60SecondCruiseTips.com and
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Bad Habits To Avoid : Fixed Dining
If you are on fixed dining on a cruise, there is an etiquette to
follow when it comes to time keeping. Fixed dining is still very
common on most cruise lines. It means you are allocated a set table
and time for your evening meal. You will dine with the same people
and have the same serving team each evening.
It is important to arrive at your table as close to the starting
time for the meal as possible. Some lines offer up to a 15-minute
window before they will, in theory, not allow you to join your
table. If you arrive late you hold up the meal for everyone at your
table. The servers aim to ensure that everyone receives the
starter, main course and dessert together. So they will wait for
everyone to arrive before taking orders or, if they have started
serving, they will then stop serving the courses until everyone has
caught up. This is to make their work load more manageable and
reduce the number of times they have to go to and from the
kitchens.
If you are on fixed dining it is courteous and good habit to be on
time.