Singing and dancing in the MDR- who enjoys this?

[TessFromFlorida]

Ok, my inner Karen is going to be let out of her cage for a minute. We are currently on a Norwegian fjords cruise and every single night dinner has been interrupted by an excessively long announcement, but tonight it was the announcement to get your napkins ready for the forced fun you are about to experience. It isn't even day 7 We just bailed - left our half-eaten dinner and left so we would not A. Be trapped and B. Have to suffer through that. 

Who honestly enjoys this?

[OCSC Mike]

10 minutes ago, TessFromFlorida said:

Who honestly enjoys this?

Good question. Kids maybe?

[smokeybandit]

I don't like it just because I'm there to eat, not take in a show. I bet the staff doesn't like it that much either.

[TessFromFlorida]

28 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Kids maybe

My son announced 'I'm out' before I had a chance to roll my eyes... little ones maybe, yeah

[TessFromFlorida]

Maybe we can all develop and submit a skit to SNL given the influx in cruising.... must be relatable

[ChessE4]

I admit I don't enjoy it a lot, but I do tolerate it because it is a cruise ritual. Monthly cruisers might tire of it, but I believe the majority don't cruise more than 1-3 times per year. Therefore, the tacky stuff, be it an art auction, t-shirt sale, or MDR dance is a pleasing reminder one is on a cruise vacation. We all have our vacation rituals, right? Hmm, it's been awhile since I played bingo...

[Ampurp85]

To me it makes the service slow. I loathe it because it is also unsanitary, waving a used napkin in the air 

[amanalo217]

Not a fan of it. 

[melmar02]

We didn't experience the typical song and dance back in April on Harmony, but we had MTD at 6:45 every night... maybe we just got lucky and scheduled dinner between the traditional dining time performances?

[FloatyBoaty]

I also really really hate this. The disruption in service, the very loud announcements, the very very loud music, and the waiters being co-opted into something that not all of them enjoy either. They did this at least 3 times on the TA we were on in April/May and we were just trapped in the corner of the dining room - our entire table scowling and dodging the waving dirty napkins.

[WAYNO]

It's all just part of the experience.  I tolerate it and I don't let such cruise experiences/routines/rituals spoil the experience.  And I wont let the folks that are enjoying it think otherwise.

We've experienced this song and dance, many times.  Recently, we brought our adult son on a cruise.  He was beaming ear to ear during this routine.  Betcher kulo I was not gonna burst his bubble.

Cruisers sure do get spoiled, and want to make sure others are as bored or unhappy as they are.  If I ever sound that way, please kick me.

[TessFromFlorida]

2 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

is a cruise ritual

Maybe because we don't cruise every few months, or maybe because we do not exclusively go on cruises when I take PTO, but I never considered this a ritual- I really didn't consider that. I just know it is disruptive and not my kind of thing. I would go to Dolly's rootin' tootin' whatever in Gatlinburg (which is cool when you know what you're in for) rather than a costly trip to Norway. This didn't happen in Greece and in Alaska it was a night 7 only occurance when the staff are basically begging for a perfect score. Sorry if I sound jaded; I just need to work my way up to Coastal Kitchen  

[smokeybandit]

A couple cruises ago we had a waiter that decided to do his own show before dessert. Guitar and singing. We don't get dessert in the MDR, so we kind of felt held hostage there until he was done since we didn't want to be rude.

He did not get a good review.

[ScottD]

Kids...my kid likes it and if you look around that's who you really see spinning those napkins around. Oh, and there are some older people that really look forward to it. I could live without it, but I see people complain about it on facebook all the time and I'm always thrown back by it.   Apparently on some lines, Carnival maybe, they do it nightly and I've seen first timers on Royal actually complain that it doesn't happen every night. Now THAT would drive me bonkers- I deal with it on the last night, but every night would make me end up at windjammer!!  Once, on the last night-ok.  Any other night or multiple nights, Nah.   I actually feel bad for the staff, they are STILL doing dinner service while this is all being forced on them! 

[Jolly Ogre]

On my last cruise when I had MTD @ 7 PM and I missed the dance. 

Oh happy day!!

[HeWhoWaits]

22 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Good question. Kids maybe?

My kids did not. My grandkids do not.

[Baked Alaska]

This is one reason why we have never eaten in the MDR. We thought it was cute on Disney ships, but We've moved on. Easy to avoid on Royal. Not so much on DCL.

[TexanTwoStep]

On our last cruise, our waiter and assistant waiter came over and apologized beforehand for having to do the dance, and told us exactly when it would happen and told us they'd be gone for approx 10 minutes.  They then asked if we had any requests before they were gone so they could not interrupt our evening.

I thought it was a nice gesture.

[smokeybandit]

5 hours ago, TexanTwoStep said:

On our last cruise, our waiter and assistant waiter came over and apologized beforehand for having to do the dance, and told us exactly when it would happen and told us they'd be gone for approx 10 minutes.  They then asked if we had any requests before they were gone so they could not interrupt our evening.

I thought it was a nice gesture.

Now that's a class act.

[Pattycruise]

Personally I’ve grown quite tired of this.  I’m sure it’s a little too much for me because I cruise frequently and I’m sensitive to loud noise. .  That said, I’ve been on 7 day cruises where 4 nights were “sing and dance”.  That’s A LOT!  Also super annoying is the super loud noise, not passengers, not crew, the music!! No conversation can take place. Then add the announcements asking for a great survey.  How many is enough?

this dance/beg thing took place in the windjammer on a recent cruise, during lunch.  It’s bad enough it’s in the MDR. Will this become a thing at all lunches and breakfast?  Maybe they can have the room service people sing and ask for good survey scores!

[ChessE4]

9 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Personally I’ve grown quite tired of this.  I’m sure it’s a little too much for me because I cruise frequently and I’m sensitive to loud noise. .  That said, I’ve been on 7 day cruises where 4 nights were “sing and dance”.  That’s A LOT!  Also super annoying is the super loud noise, not passengers, not crew, the music!! No conversation can take place. Then add the announcements asking for a great survey.  How many is enough?

this dance/beg thing took place in the windjammer on a recent cruise, during lunch.  It’s bad enough it’s in the MDR. Will this become a thing at all lunches and breakfast?  Maybe they can have the room service people sing and ask for good survey scores!

Agree, that is overkill. I'm guessing you gave feedback on the survey...

[barjpoe]

14 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

Agree, that is overkill. I'm guessing you gave feedback on the survey...

But do they read the surveys? OR understand what you're saying?

[CrimsonCruiser]

I like the little show on the last day but not an everyday thing. I like it for the last day because, often by dinner, I've been cooped up packing and being sad that the trip is winding down and the music and smiles and dancing and embarrassed laughs of the staff that are participating are a nice way to remind me that it's not over yet.

That said, I do wish it was just upper staff or something because I can tell that some waitstaff don't want to do it and those that are too busy or for any other reason not dancing, have a hard time getting through the aisles between conga lines and crowds that stop to watch.

In fact, I don't know if they still do it, but on my very first cruise there was a farewell type of show in the main theater on the last night and they brought out as much as of the staff as they could (room stewards, waitstaff, entertainment, crew, i think even cleaning staff) and gave them big thank yous and cheers and they had show there that the staff did on the stage and we actually got teary-eyed because it was so fun and nice and seeing our room steward up there was so cool and we hooted and hollered in support of how awesome they were....

if this isn't still happening...I want it to happen again. Not just because it would stop the MDR dancing but also because it's a chance to celebrate all the hard working staff areas

Edited July 12, 2024 by CrimsonCruiser
edit to add a suggestion to replace the mdr party

[Pattycruise]

10 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

I like the little show on the last day but not an everyday thing. I like it for the last day because, often by dinner, I've been cooped up packing and being sad that the trip is winding down and the music and smiles and dancing and embarrassed laughs of the staff that are participating are a nice way to remind me that it's not over yet.

That said, I do wish it was just upper staff or something because I can tell that some waitstaff don't want to do it and those that are too busy or for any other reason not dancing, have a hard time getting through the aisles between conga lines and crowds that stop to watch.

In fact, I don't know if they still do it, but on my very first cruise there was a farewell type of show in the main theater on the last night and they brought out as much as of the staff as they could (room stewards, waitstaff, entertainment, crew, i think even cleaning staff) and gave them big thank yous and cheers and they had show there that the staff did on the stage and we actually got teary-eyed because it was so fun and nice and seeing our room steward up there was so cool and we hooted and hollered in support of how awesome they were....

if this isn't still happening...I want it to happen again. Not just because it would stop the MDR dancing but also because it's a chance to celebrate all the hard working staff areas

I’ve seen the farewell show and various staff members.  I often wonder if they really want to be there and if it makes them backed up with their work!

[ScottD]

On 7/12/2024 at 8:46 AM, barjpoe said:

But do they read the surveys? OR understand what you're saying?

Oh, management DEFINITELY reads the surveys.... I had a bartender remember me 8 months after my previous cruise, remembered all of our names, what we did for a living, my sons favorite team... told us he was rewarded for our glowing review about him on our survey on the previous cruise. It left such an impact on him and his manager, that he said he never forgot reading it and was so glad to see us again to thank us. 

[HeWhoWaits]

22 hours ago, ScottD said:

Oh, management DEFINITELY reads the surveys.... I had a bartender remember me 8 months after my previous cruise, remembered all of our names, what we did for a living, my sons favorite team... told us he was rewarded for our glowing review about him on our survey on the previous cruise. It left such an impact on him and his manager, that he said he never forgot reading it and was so glad to see us again to thank us. 

They READ the surveys. They reward those crew called out in POSITIVE reviews. It still isn't clear whether any non-positive comments make any difference in what happens. Surely they've had enough people say "can the ridiculous crew parade and stupid singing/dancing just go away?" that if they had any intention of EVER eliminating it, that would already be gone.

[AlmondFarmer]

On 7/8/2024 at 10:30 AM, smokeybandit said:

I don't like it just because I'm there to eat, not take in a show. I bet the staff doesn't like it that much either.

I sometimes leave specialty dinning before dessert to rush to the dinning room on party nights. I can’t think of a better use of time on a cruise ship than swinging a napkin over my head. 

[CrimsonCruiser]

On 7/12/2024 at 10:32 PM, Pattycruise said:

I’ve seen the farewell show and various staff members.  I often wonder if they really want to be there and if it makes them backed up with their work!

was it in a recent sailing? I really don't remember seeing it in the planner lately.

[Pattycruise]

3 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

was it in a recent sailing? I really don't remember seeing it in the planner lately.

I sail a lot, so not on which ship but I believe a smaller ship-probably out of Baltimore, which would have been Vision in March-the week before the bridge crumbled. 

[TessFromFlorida]

On 7/11/2024 at 11:12 PM, Pattycruise said:

4 nights were “sing and dance”.

This was our experience. It is out of control IMHO. 

[TessFromFlorida]

On 7/18/2024 at 1:41 PM, CrimsonCruiser said:

On 7/12/2024 at 11:32 PM, Pattycruise said:

I’ve seen the farewell show and various staff members.  I often wonder if they really want to be there and if it makes them backed up with their work!

was it in a recent sailing?

They just did this on our Anthem 7 night early July. 

[AandD]

We leave food and drinks on the table and leave. The first night we ask the waiter if they know when the song and dance routine is going to happen and see if they can warn us. It would be nice to set down and eat and have a conversation without loud music and dancing. 

[craftycruiselady]

It's not my thing either. I do appreciate the staff very much and wish they could just do the please clap for the staff and thank them for their service part for a moment and move on. That said, I don't let it ruin my meal and I won't stop eating in the MDR over it, just wouldn't cry if it stopped.

[ScottD]

Well I just got off Liberty yesterday and they did this on the final night, like usual  (I have yet to see it multiple nights).  And as usual, as much as a few people here say they don't like it, the majority of the dining room were standing up, clapping and waving the napkins. SO as much as the frequent cruisers may not like it, the ships are full of newer cruisers....and they love it. 

[barjpoe]

We hope leave just as they start. Though many time we've been at s table near the back of the dining room near the kitchen and were stuck.

[HeWhoWaits]

4 hours ago, ScottD said:

Well I just got off Liberty yesterday and they did this on the final night, like usual  (I have yet to see it multiple nights).  And as usual, as much as a few people here say they don't like it, the majority of the dining room were standing up, clapping and waving the napkins. SO as much as the frequent cruisers may not like it, the ships are full of newer cruisers....and they love it. 

It was fun the first time I experienced it, so the new cruiser experience is a valid concept. It should stay just that - a one-time per voyage experience and the last evening in the MDR is the right time to do so. If there were a consistency to ONLY doing it that night, those of us who want to skip the spectacle could simply cut out early or skip the MDR entirely on that evening. Sadly, the unpredictability is an issue.

[HeWhoWaits]

19 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

We hope leave just as they start. Though many time we've been at s table near the back of the dining room near the kitchen and were stuck.

Stuck isn't a problem I would experience. I'm proficient at "swimming upstream" in a crowd.