Dinner seating for 12

[ibethenanya]

We are a group of 12 sailing on the Spirit in Feb 2012. We would like to have dinner together each evening in the dining room. Is there a certain procedure to follow to get a table for 12 each evening? Are there tables for 12?

Thanks.

[Cubechick]

You can arrange this with the Maitre'd. However they will only give you the option of two seatings...one early, the other late (I don't know the times off the top of my head).

[rvsullivan]

5:30 and 9-930 will be you choices. I would spit into two groups, but they will accommodate you. Service will be a little slow, probably one maybe two servers.

[oldguysandgalls]

NCL: Guests have the option to choose their dinner companions and request tables of any size from two to 10 each rather than being assigned to a specific table for the length of the cruise. (maybe they can add a table for 2 ?)

In your case, being in a party of 12, I'd suggest you select your table for the same time, every evening of your cruise

 

Here is the link:

 

http://www.ncl.com/csimages/766/711/Norwegian%20Freestyle%20Cruising%20Overview.pdf

 

.

[jimswims]

you can also contact the group events coordiator who can assist you by booking your restaurant reservations before you board. This is what we did with our group on the Spirit in 2009. We chose to only eat 2 dinners together. The rest of the time we ate in smaller groups/families in a few of the many restaurants on the ship.

[rvsullivan]

All of the Freestyle dining info is great, except, if you have a large party they want to seat you either very early or very late. If you just walk up and ask for a table for twelve, you will be waiting for a very, very long time. Talk to the maitre d on the first day and see what he/she can do. They will give you a time.

[monicajay]

My MIL solved this with her group by asking for 2 smaller tables beside each other. To the OP - would to adjacent 6's work for you? You could change up who ate at which table every night.

[cruisendave]

We had a party of 13 on the Jewel last month. We found it to be much easier to split the group in two, the service was much better and we could eat at any time. We were always seated next to each other.

[dasmonkey]

I have been stuck at dinner tables in groups of 12-14 with work and personally loathe the situation.

 

Service is always better with 6 or less. It's not like the people at each ends of the table can have a discussion without hollering across the table.

[ibethenanya]

Thanks everyone. At least now I have some options. We have been seated at a table for 10 in the past and had a wonderful time so if we could get all 12 at the table then we could switch positions each night.

Appreciate the input.

[DAGVBSB]

I have always been with large groups on our cruises. (12, 14, 18). Our group has done it both ways...one long table and two adjacent tables and really much prefer the two tables for two reasons: 1.) the service is always better and quicker. 2.) There is no way for the person at one end to be involved with the conversation of the people at the other end. At two adjacent tables, all could interact better. The long group tables seemed so much like we "weren't together" than the side by sides.

 

The side by sides also gave us better dining times and were not limited to the before 6:00 or after 8:30 that NCL restricts big groups to.