It is a considerable time (two years) since we cruised Cunard and since we had satisfaction with dining room seating in the past we thought nothing surer than all would be to our liking this time.
We found differently! We had “wrongly” assumed that seating in the Queens Grill would be on a first come first serve basis and also that tables could be interchanged each evening.
This we had experienced with Princess Cruises with Club Class Dining only recently and in previous years.
On entering the dining room we were shown to a table which was certainly not to our choice.
Far too near to a “serving area”.
We pointed this out to the Maitre De (Sandros) and he said that was all there was.
We waited a few moments and as if by magic he found an alternative table.
We said we would accept that on this occasion but still maintained our dislike in the way it was handled.
We had deliberately gone exactly to the given time in order to procure a table of our choice.
The table was suitable to an extent but we made it known that, in a nice way, we were disappointed to see that a table had already been reserved for us.
We enquired how table allocation took place and Sandros informed us it was his decision.
He said he would look into the situation and get back to us.
The following evening he came to the second table allocated and began to inform us of how table seating is taken care of.
I said to him that I thought this was neither the time nor place to discuss this and it should be handled in a more confidential way.
We did return at a later point and the matter was discussed.
He said he had looked at our records.
The date the cruise was booked.
How long we had cruised with Cunard and some other various points which I did not take in.
I was a bit overwhelmed that this should have taken place.
Overall there was a “not nice feeling” with all this.
The area of the restaurant originally had 5 tables for two persons.
He had decided that as there was another problem with another couple with seating they had been allocated places in the Princess Grill with the result he would re-arrange the seating where we were to be 4 tables x 2 rather than 5 x 2.
The number of tables never even entered into the “equation”.
Rather than have any further hassle with table seating we accepted the second offer and kept it at that for the duration of the cruise.
What we have learned from this episode is that as soon as we board, check table seating and check out in actual restaurant.
The card informing us of seating arrangement was not placed in the suite but in the little placard on the wall outside of our suite.
This was not found until after our first meal! So another lesson learned here.
Check “letter box” on arrival at suite! This matter will be taken up with Cunard at a time suitable to myself.
We have been home one week and it still “wrankles” with me that all that should have happened.
I will leave it at that.
