Suite guests - when to book entertainment?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I have read posts where people report showing up (w/reservations) WAY ahead of show times to ensure good seats. Should this be of concern... are there truly "bad" seats?

 

As a suite guest, if I have the concierge make the booking - is it still necessary to go 30-45 minutes early to have a good seat, or is it "open seating" regardless?

 

... any advantages either way (pre-book or wait until onboard)?

 

BTW - I would not consider standing in a line 30+ minutes to fight for a "good" spot!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[HazyDavy]

From what I've read on here in various reviews and comments, you cannot rely on the concierge to book shows for you. You should book shows on line 45 days out. The concierge will meet you 30 minutes before the show and walk you down and into the showroom. People have reported varying degrees of success in getting good seats this way. They do not reserve seats for suite guests and start letting people in the people who have been waiting in line about the same time you'll arrive with the concierge.

 

Doesn't seem like a great system but for now, anyway, it is what it is.

[ascatsob]

I booked our entertainment before our cruise and I was glad I did. Cirque was sold out and the concierge could not get any other tickets. All the seating is open seats...you will meet with the concierge and other suite guests30 minutes before the doors open. You do get preferred entrance so you won't have to wait in the line outside each of the venues. Unfortunately when we went to see the BMG, our concierge was late and we got horrible seats. So my advice, get your reservations ahead of time, and if the concierge is late, run down to get your seats!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I booked our entertainment before our cruise and I was glad I did. Cirque was sold out and the concierge could not get any other tickets. All the seating is open seats...you will meet with the concierge and other suite guests30 minutes before the doors open. You do get preferred entrance so you won't have to wait in the line outside each of the venues. Unfortunately when we went to see the BMG, our concierge was late and we got horrible seats. So my advice, get your reservations ahead of time, and if the concierge is late, run down to get your seats!

 

Ouch.. demerit for the concierge!

 

Perhaps a second line for suite guests, who are admitted first would make sense (easy for me to say of course). That way one does not depend on someone else being there to provide the perk.

 

Tom

[sjbdtz]

You may as well reserve early, since you CAN, and it's easy....

 

On the day-of, on the TA...was confusion. So we waited in line a bit, but we got front & centre for Cirque, and aisle seats for BMG which was all we wanted.

 

We didn't stand in line more than 10 - 15 minutes each time, because the doors opened 15 - 20 mins before showtime.

[ascatsob]

Ouch.. demerit for the concierge!

 

Perhaps a second line for suite guests, who are admitted first would make sense (easy for me to say of course). That way one does not depend on someone else being there to provide the perk.

 

Tom

 

I totally agree... I liked the seperate suite areas on RCCL.

[Zimomiller]

Book your shows online as early as you can.

 

For the shows you cannot prebook, work with the concierge.

 

Note: The concierge staff is very good about escorting you in early to BMG, Legends, Cirque Dreams. Just check with them about when to meet at the concierge desk

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks to all for the tips and suggestions!!

 

Tom

[Porterhouse248]

All is correct about booking ahead. Escorting down varied from 30 minutes to 50 minutes (just ask and they will let you know what time to meet at the concierge desk).

 

You go down an inside staff elevator that's right behind the concierge desk (a cool experience...need to wait for the next one, this one's full of dishes...enough stopping, time for the concierge to use his elevator "priority" key, etc.) and are let off in a service corridor that connects the Cirque and Epic Theater venues.

 

The concierge collects your key cards and goes to check you in at the venue. He returns with your cards and waits for the venue manager to signal that you can be seated and you enter via a staff entrance.

 

In our cases (BMG, Cirque, Legends and Nick) we got in before anyone else and had seats in the front row every time, which was fantastic. Yes, you have to wait a rather long time till the show starts, but the wait staff will keep you "comfortable" and it's much better than waiting in lines.

 

Overall, a great suite perk, IMO.

[WonderMan3]

I'm curious what to do if you are traveling in a suite but have friends who are not. I'm assuming the early entry concierge seating woud not apply to your non-suite friends as there are too many suites on this ship to allow that. So if you can get in early does it mean you can hold a few seats for friends who will enter the theater later? I want to enjoy these shows with friends but I really don't want to wait in line for 20-30 minutes prior to doors opening especially when I have this perk available.

[Porterhouse248]

I'm curious what to do if you are traveling in a suite but have friends who are not. I'm assuming the early entry concierge seating woud not apply to your non-suite friends as there are too many suites on this ship to allow that. So if you can get in early does it mean you can hold a few seats for friends who will enter the theater later? I want to enjoy these shows with friends but I really don't want to wait in line for 20-30 minutes prior to doors opening especially when I have this perk available.

 

You should have no problem holding seats for them once you get settled in the Epic theater with the suite guests, as long as you're not looking to save that many (i.e., more than 4-6) seats.

 

Cirque would probably be more of an issue.