Epic Prebooking Dilema

[Kim2629]

I have a dilema regarding prebooking on Epic that I'm hoping somebody can give me some advice on. I require a gluten free diet. Just as the NCL rep told me, I had that note made to my reservation upon booking. It sounds like NCL accommodates gluten free very well.

 

Unfortunately, there booking system is flawed and due to the fact that gluten free is tagged on my reservation, I could not prebook anything for my husband and I (not even shows!). A rep at NCL was able to get us into Blue Man Group after an hour of going back and forth with the tech desk (she was very helpful). We also intend to go to Cirque and several specialty restaurants. I know some may wonder why I'd pay for specialities with my restriction but to save people from wondering - I'm not a picky eater at all (I'd be happy with a plate of veggies and rice) and I enjoy the atmosphere, themes, and more elegant setting of the specialties.

 

Anyways, normally, I would rest easy knowing that NCL will handle these things for me when I board, given that I was not able to prebook. I am traveling with a group, however, all of whom were able to make their prebookings. Obviously, my husband and I want to participate in these things with the group. We also want a couple of dinners by ourselves at specialties.

 

I emailed the access desk at the advice of the kind NCL rep who helped me initially a few days ago and haven't received a response. Based on a current thread, it sounds like they don't quite have their act together. Does anybody have any other ideas of either who I could contact in advance or how to best handle this?

[sdmike]

You will generally not have issues making reservations once on the ship if you can't get it resolved in advance. Also, they're not so strict that you can't just show up at a specialty restaurant with your friends and see if they can accommodate you. This is pretty easy early (before 6) or after 8.

[Kim2629]

Hi, Mike. Thanks for the feedback. I should have mentioned - part of what I'm concerned about is being limited to what times we eat. Of course, like many, we aim for the 7-8pm time frame. Obviously, not getting the time we want won't devestate us or anything, I'm just feeling a little frustrated by the system and the fact that we couldn't prebook anything.

 

I am particularly concerned about Cirque. All but one member of our group is attending Cirque. I was able to book everyone (9 total) except myself and my husband. Even the NCL rep couldn't get us into the show. All due to my dietary restriction - the system just won't allow me to prebook. The regular seating for that show is no longer available now according to the prebooking feature. I'm hoping that I will be able to speak to someone right away when we board (we aren't doing Cirque until Day 6) and they will be able to add us into that show so that we can be with our family. It would be a disappiontment if we were unable to access something we want to do because of all this :-(. I plan to attend the Meet and Greet and I know that several of the Officers usually go. Last time on Epic, I had mentioned to one of them that I was disappointed that the Posh passes sold out so quickly. A day or two later, he called my room and left a message saying that he had hooked us up with Posh and left passes at the reception desk for us (wow!). I'm hoping that maybe mentioning this in a friendly manner, of course, to an Officer could help? Just not sure who to go to....

[willysgrandma]

They don't allow every dining spot to be prebooked. There will be times available on thecship. Don't worry, just do it as soon as you get on the ship.

[caroleknc]

We just returned from the Epic New Year's cruise and it was great. The shows were sold out (don't know when that happened) and the casino host told me she couldn't even book her good customers into a show. I made all my reservations by phone 3 weeks in advance so I would advise anyone to do that. At the Cirque dinner theater my husband doesn't eat fish or beef an they offered a grilled chicken breast or a vegetable lasgne. Other than that night there is not anyplace that you would have troubles. I would keep trying to get a reservation even if you have to ask for a supervisor.

Have a great time!

Our biggest complaint was not being able to get a chair of any kind on the deck on the days at sea!

[dalgirl]

If you are not booking at a special time during the year - Christmas, New Years, etc. you should have no problem getting into the specialty restaurants. As for the shows, I suggest that you visit the show booth (located in front of the theater and Cirque entrances) as soon as you board (if it is already open for reservations) or guest relations if it is not and explain your situation. I bet you will have no problem booking at the same time as your friends.

 

Please don't stress out over this, I am sure it will work out well for you - the crew on the Epic are wonderful and they will go out of their way to accomodate your needs.

[gupsmom]

I have a dilema regarding prebooking on Epic that I'm hoping somebody can give me some advice on. I require a gluten free diet. Just as the NCL rep told me, I had that note made to my reservation upon booking. It sounds like NCL accommodates gluten free very well.

 

Unfortunately, there booking system is flawed and due to the fact that gluten free is tagged on my reservation, I could not prebook anything for my husband and I (not even shows!). A rep at NCL was able to get us into Blue Man Group after an hour of going back and forth with the tech desk (she was very helpful). We also intend to go to Cirque and several specialty restaurants. I know some may wonder why I'd pay for specialities with my restriction but to save people from wondering - I'm not a picky eater at all (I'd be happy with a plate of veggies and rice) and I enjoy the atmosphere, themes, and more elegant setting of the specialties.

 

Anyways, normally, I would rest easy knowing that NCL will handle these things for me when I board, given that I was not able to prebook. I am traveling with a group, however, all of whom were able to make their prebookings. Obviously, my husband and I want to participate in these things with the group. We also want a couple of dinners by ourselves at specialties.

 

I emailed the access desk at the advice of the kind NCL rep who helped me initially a few days ago and haven't received a response. Based on a current thread, it sounds like they don't quite have their act together. Does anybody have any other ideas of either who I could contact in advance or how to best handle this?

 

When we booked our Epic cruise, our 4 yr old was eating a gluten free diet. We ran into the same thing...not only for dinner but for shows that did not even involve food and a shore excursion that did not involve food. I don't get it?! as it is, our daughter is no longer eating gluten free. So, I called and had the restriction removed from our reservation.

 

The only thing I could think of would be to call and have the restriction removed, boook all your shows/activitie, and then worry about putting the restriction back on. I'm not sure how that would work out for you, or call and try to book all your shows by phone and see if NCL can bypass their own system (which they did for our shore excursion before they removed the restriction from our reservation).

 

Jess

[akupupule]

On our Epic cruise last year, several of the most popular shows were sold out: Cirque, Blue Man, 2nd City. Maybe you should consider removing the block, booking your reservations, then putting back on the Gluten free comment. Reservations for the most popular restaurants for large groups were blocked out to specific times as well. However it appeared there was availability for a limited number of walk-ups at the restaurants. The MDRs were pretty much a no or little wait, even for a large group....and the food was decent.

[sdmike]

Hi, Mike. Thanks for the feedback. I should have mentioned - part of what I'm concerned about is being limited to what times we eat. Of course, like many, we aim for the 7-8pm time frame. Obviously, not getting the time we want won't devestate us or anything, I'm just feeling a little frustrated by the system and the fact that we couldn't prebook anything.

 

I am particularly concerned about Cirque. All but one member of our group is attending Cirque. I was able to book everyone (9 total) except myself and my husband. Even the NCL rep couldn't get us into the show. All due to my dietary restriction - the system just won't allow me to prebook. The regular seating for that show is no longer available now according to the prebooking feature. I'm hoping that I will be able to speak to someone right away when we board (we aren't doing Cirque until Day 6) and they will be able to add us into that show so that we can be with our family. It would be a disappiontment if we were unable to access something we want to do because of all this :-(. I plan to attend the Meet and Greet and I know that several of the Officers usually go. Last time on Epic, I had mentioned to one of them that I was disappointed that the Posh passes sold out so quickly. A day or two later, he called my room and left a message saying that he had hooked us up with Posh and left passes at the reception desk for us (wow!). I'm hoping that maybe mentioning this in a friendly manner, of course, to an Officer could help? Just not sure who to go to....

 

As stated, go visit the show reservation desk outside the Epic Theater & Spiegel Tent and explain what you need to do. I'm sure they will try their best to accommodate you. If not, discuss with the hotel manager at the meet and greet to see what he can do.

 

As for the other shows and specialty restaurants, you generally won't have an issue unless the ship is packed. We had over 4000 on our sailing and could have walked in anywhere to eat, even without reservations. When Epic is quite a bit over double capacity it crowds up noticeably (from what I'm reading), so unless you're going over a holiday you should not have an issue. Keep in mind that the free restaurants (non-pay) are very good overall and there are lots of choices, just in case you do find it difficult to get in somewhere.

 

Have a great time! I'm jealous :)

[Kim2629]

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. I definitely plan to at least mention this to somebody on board at the Meet and Greet so that future cruisers don't experience the same. I will go to the reservation desk outside of the tent on the first day and take it from there. I'm hopeful that they will take care of us.

 

Mike, we are traveling during a "holiday" week - Presidents Day (February vacation for many public schools), as I am a school employee and need to travel during the scheduled vacations (unfortunately). Last year on Epic over this same week things were quite packed. Spice H2O was by far the best place to be and we fell in love with it. What a brialliant idea by NCL to have that large adults only space!! We did get into Posh for one day which was nice but completely dead while we were there. Obviously, the number of kids on the ship will be very high. In my experience last Feb vacation we didn't see tons of families with kids in the specialities, so I agree that we should be Ok getting into those without reservations. Same with Second City and Legends.

 

I'm happy just to be cruising on Epic again - just wish I was able to complete my planned itinerary beforehand. Oh well. I'm just a planner, I suppose. Especially traveling with a party of 12. But, we'll work it all out. 39 days!!