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Topic: Italian Style ?

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 04-24-2010 09:58 AM

Last Sunday,I took part in shiptour and lunch performed by GSA(General Sales Agent) on COSTA CLASSICA.
Coffee and tea were not served while dessert time.I asked GSA staff why did not waiter serve coffee.GSA staff told me "that's Italian Style".I was looking forward to drink Italian taste coffee.
Is this really Italian style ?
I had taken a cruise on MSC in 1997.I memorize that waiter served coffee or tea while dessert time.
Has the custom changed ?

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 04-24-2010 01:34 PM

That's right Maru; on Costa Classica we had to go to a lounge or the buffet to get the coffee. It's not 'Italian' coffee either, just the norm one gets on any cruise ship - unless you pay for the speciality ones.

On MSC we've had a mix. They don't generally serve it at the table unless you ask for it, but if you have a good waiter who understands that there are some nationalities who enjoy an after dinner coffee then they serve it anyway.

Other lines don't always serve coffee either, but practices change from time to time.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 04-24-2010 05:58 PM

Yes on Costa Romantica they did not serve coffee after dinner. We where told to go to anny of the lounges, bars. Italian style. And on board Classica and Romantica real Italian style

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 04-24-2010 06:55 PM

This "no coffee at the table" practice has been around for a long time on italian ships.

Back in 1959 on Lloyd Triestino's Europa the only meal at which coffee was served in the dining room was breakfast. For all other meals we retired to the lounge for our post-meal coffee: espresso served in demi-tasses.

The rationale seems to be that coffee is part of your breakfast but a only post meal beverage for other meals.

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 04-24-2010 09:11 PM

Thank you everyone.

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

SSTRAVELER
First Class Passenger
Member # 15170

posted 04-24-2010 11:34 PM

I did a visit to the Costa Atlantica and they definitely served coffee at the end of the luncheon .... but maybe that was because they were in New York and the New Yorkers might have rioted if they did not service it!

Posts: 757 | From: New York | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 04-25-2010 12:29 AM

I certainly was served coffee after dinner on COSTA FORTUNA. I suspect that when Costa ships are doing cruises from US ports they do this because it is what Americans expect and attempting to do it "Italian style" would be more trouble than it would be worth. When in Florida, do not do as the Romans do.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 04-25-2010 06:36 AM

I sailed on MSC POESIA last week, from Florida, lots of Americans on board. The menus state that "American-style" coffee will be served upon request. I know and understand that typical Italian style would be to have your expresso or caffe in a lounge after dinner.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 04-25-2010 08:45 AM

I do not think that it is satisfactory to eat sweets (cake and icecream)only by water. As for coffee or tea, because it may not be an Italian taste, I want to be served.

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Conte Di Savoia
First Class Passenger
Member # 1802

posted 04-25-2010 04:19 PM

quote:
This "no coffee at the table" practice has been around for a long time on italian ships.
Back in 1959 on Lloyd Triestino's Europa the only meal at which coffee was served in the dining room was breakfast. For all other meals we retired to the lounge for our post-meal coffee: espresso served in demi-tasses.

I have check my menus from my many voyages on the Italian Line's Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello from the 1960's and 1970's and it was as I remembered: both caffe Italiano and caffe Americano are on the menu and were served in the dining rooms. In general in restaurants in Italy espresso is served after the dessert as if it were a separate course. Some lines no longer serve espresso in the dining room or do so at extra cost, a practice I find particularly loathsome. SilverSea, which markets itself as Italian style cruising, still serves espresso in the dining room....no problem.

[ 04-25-2010: Message edited by: Conte Di Savoia ]

Posts: 64 | From: Bay Shore, NY | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 04-25-2010 04:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Conte Di Savoia:

[...] In general in restaurants in Italy espresso is served after the dessert as if it were a separate course. [...]

This is also my experience. Coffee is served after dinner and of course it's served at the table. Where on earth are you supposed to go to have you coffee after dinner if it's not served on your table?

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 04-25-2010 05:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Conte Di Savoia:
I have check my menus from my many voyages on the Italian Line's Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello from the 1960's and 1970's and it was as I remembered: both caffe Italiano and caffe Americano are on the menu and were served in the dining rooms.

Coffee was on the menus at dinner and lunch on Europa, but it was not served in the dining room, at least in First Class. One had to go to the First Class Lounge, or the bar. However, Europa was built for the Italy to South Africa service rather than service to the USA. So that might explain the difference in practices.

Brian

[ 04-25-2010: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 04-25-2010 06:08 PM

A ship is a different situation than a restaurant (ashore) where one usually does not have a lounge to go to - at least not in Italy. I do not doubt that this practice might be common on some ships and maybe it's called 'Italian Style' in some parts of the world like food vaguely reminiscent of Italian food is called such in many parts of the world. However, I never experienced that in Italy.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Johan C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1201

posted 04-26-2010 08:51 AM

Both Costa and MSC are claiming that they are "Italian style" but Costa is a Carnival company so american style is a better discription and MSC used to be Italian style withe cheerlfull waiters. from Sorrento, but they grew too fast and gone is the style. Now they only want take as much money from the pax as possible

Posts: 256 | From: Ghent, historic city in Belgium | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 04-28-2010 11:01 PM

On our several and memorable voyages on the MM Liners, we enjoyed, and looked forward to our delightful "cafe" in the topside lounge. The coffee was superb. ("Cafe American" was relegated to instant 'Nescafe" - those who wanted it, deserved it! With our "cafe" we had excellent brandy which stimulated conversation and tall tales. A delightful element of the sailing experience.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Johan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4458

posted 04-30-2010 04:35 PM

Coffee is drunk after the dessert, NOT with the dessert, and together with a chocolate or a biscuit or friandises.
I gather it doens't really matter if it is at table or in a lounge, as long it is in pleasant company.

Posts: 1895 | From: Antwerpen, Belgium | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

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