No Black Tie? Eat the Cheap Food Then!
The advantages and disadvantages of dressing for dinner as a solo traveller
I paid the same price as everyone else, but am disadvantaged because I refuse to wear black tie for dinner.
Let me explain. Yesterday, I embarked on my second cruise, for a 16 night trip to the Baltic states and parts of Scandinavia. The ship is the Aurora, part of the P&O fleet and almost 2,000 passengers sailed on Saturday evening from Southampton on the south coast of England.
The weather is good and the seas are calm. Our first stop will be Keil, Germany and then onward to Finland.
So far, so pleasant.
On the first night, I opted to dine in the Medina restaurant, on what is called Freedom Dining. Rather than always being on a set table with the same fellow seafarers for the duration of the cruise, freedom dining allows me to share a table with seven different people each evening. It is a great way to meet people and exchange stories. The perfect solo traveller cruise option.
There is full waiter service at the table, with a printed menu and an extra wine list. The food is well prepared and presented.
This evening, Sunday, is the first Celebration Night of the cruise. On this ship, that means the ladies don their best evening dress and the gentleman add a black tie to their fine suits.
So far, so pleasant.
At this point, an interesting divide between the passengers emerges.
For those dressed in their finery, access is available to the main restaurants for a fine three course meal, along with a complimentary glass of bubbly from the captain and crew. Linen napkins and personal waiter service offers a choice of starter, main course and desert, with coffee to follow, all served at your chosen table.
However, for those like me who don’t own a black tie, nor enjoy dressing in that manner, the story is quite different.
Waiters don’t show us to tables and politely help to move chairs for our comfort, laying the napkin on our laps. There is no personal waiter service at table and a lack of menus. Wine lists are non-existent. No glass of bubbly. And no access to several restaurants on the ship.
The only dining option for me this evening, is the self-service buffet.
First up, is the queue to collect a bread roll and butter. Remembers to pick up some cutlery and a napkin from the side, as there is nothing on the bare fake wood tables. The next queue is for a starter, followed by the biggest challenge for the solo traveller, carrying a starter in one hand, with bread roll and cutlery in the other. Finding a table. It is busy here tonight and, out of preference, I would rather sit alone than join others.
Roll and starter consumed, it is off to a second queue to select a main course from the self-service buffet. What are the chances I have lost my table in the process and have to find a new spot? Quite high if you are a solo traveller, unable to leave a partner to guard the seats.
Rinse and repeat this exercise for a desert plus coffee, all without the benefit of trays to carry anything. A glass of wine at the table? Think again!
In itself, the buffet is not as bad I’m making out, as the food is fair. The point is, as a non-black tie wearer, I am denied the luxury of much finer food, table service, the wine list, a free glass of bubbly and not having to table hop between each course.
I almost omitted to mention that several of the bars open for a pre or post dinner drink, are also off limits to me, as a traveller on holiday, in smart casual. Black tie only beyond this point, say the signs.
These benefit are not available to me this evening, yet, I have paid the same price as those who donned their best clothes to dine. This is the first of several celebration nights, so the buffet will be seeing me again.
All of this is, of course, my personal choice, as I don’t own a black tie and if I did, it would be gathering dust, forgotten, in some darkened cupboard.
Being denied the fine-food and waiter service isn’t a hardship of course - but I’d have liked the free glass of bubbly, which I have paid for.
Safe travels!