Lee991

Thanks for your thoughts Tranquility Base.  That is most helpful!

Thank you for all the replies!  I think I will skip reserving for dinner and just rock up when aboard in the future.     It also sounds like I should wait until rooms on portside become available or book another cruise.  Will have to think about that one....

The direction it is travelling around new zealand (anti clockwise)  means the cabins I am looking at would be facing open ocean as we sail around nz, as I understand it.

Hi, the ship is the Royal Princess.  

Hi,

I am thinking of  going a cruise that departs Sydney, then goes through Fiordland and then to Dunedin etc, up to Tauranga and Bay of Islands and back to Syd.

1/ I was looking at perhaps booking cabin A727 or near by (port side - which as I understand it, is the left side of the ship when standing looking toward the bow).  However, I think this means our cabin would be on the wrong side of the ship for seeing land and sunsets.  Is this correct?  I love to watch a lot of scenery from the privacy of my balcony rather than elsewhere on deck. 

2/It appears one now has to make dining reservations (DMW) instead of just turning up like we used to for anytime dining. Is there any way around this? I have zero idea of what time I want to dine until I am hungry.   Can you still just turn up to the dining room without a reservation and get a table?  Is that an acceptable practice ?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.