Is this Normal?

[Michelle19]

Hi, just a quick question. Our family of 4 is going to Europe in September 2012 on the Solstice. Is it normal this far out for Celebrity to be totally booked for the Early seating AND the Select seating? My TA said there was nothing she could do. My parents are never going to be able to stay awake long enough to eat at 8:45PM every evening for 2 weeks. We are on the wait list TA said, but that is how it goes she says.. 7 months away? Is there a chance we will get the early seating? Does it magically become available before departure?

[LV2COOK]

A few years ago that happened to me. For medical reasons I cannot eat late either. A letter from my Dr. along with a call to Celebrity took care of the matter. I am surprised that the early seating is sold out...I would think the Europeans onboard would all go for the late seating. Hope you can get this resolved.

[NLH Arizona]

Last two cruises I was on, the early seating booked early. Not sure if there is a waiting list, if so get on it. Also, as soon as you board, go see if you can get on the early seating. One of our tablemates did this and was able to get on the early seating.

[Leibe_]

Hi, just a quick question. Our family of 4 is going to Europe in September 2012 on the Solstice. Is it normal this far out for Celebrity to be totally booked for the Early seating AND the Select seating? My TA said there was nothing she could do. My parents are never going to be able to stay awake long enough to eat at 8:45PM every evening for 2 weeks. We are on the wait list TA said, but that is how it goes she says.. 7 months away? Is there a chance we will get the early seating? Does it magically become available before departure?

 

Why not give Celebrity a call and explain the problem? I have found them to be very helpful with special needs.

Since you are booking with a TA he/she may have to do it for you. "Nothing I can do" is not really a very good answer to a problem.

[tally10]

Hi, just a quick question. Our family of 4 is going to Europe in September 2012 on the Solstice. Is it normal this far out for Celebrity to be totally booked for the Early seating AND the Select seating? My TA said there was nothing she could do. My parents are never going to be able to stay awake long enough to eat at 8:45PM every evening for 2 weeks. We are on the wait list TA said, but that is how it goes she says.. 7 months away? Is there a chance we will get the early seating? Does it magically become available before departure?

 

 

All of the posters are correct. Celebrity and RCI have a special needs department. They will want you to write a letter stating why you need early or select seating. We, too, have special needs and they have always accomodated us. If for any reason that does not work, speak to the maitre 'd on embarkation day. They will usually work with you as well.

[In Range]

Failing any other fix suggested, could discreetly slipping the maitre 'd a $20 bill help in such situations? ;)

[Conshydot]

One reason for the seeming "sold out" early seating is group tours. The groups usually all eat together ----early.

[hancock]

Please keep in mind that your bodies will be used to US time. With the large difference in time, it is possible that the late seating will be better for your family.

[Michelle19]

Thanks everyone..

My parents are not special needs nor would I try to get that as an excuse. However, they are long retired to bed by 8:00 for as long as I can remember. I am just really disappointed that so far out everything is sold out. My TA said she did call and that is why there is nothing else she can do. Think I will call myself too.. I was just kind of wondering that since we are on the wait list would it just happen for us or do I keep calling every single day? Cause I WILL do it!! (heeeehee)

[Michelle19]

So I just called celebrity about 20 or more times.. hubby tried 5 times. Every single time when the choices were "did you book with?" a travel planner? TA? or on web? I choose TA and it hung up. So after an hour I decided to say travel planner.. the lady said to call my TA. ugh.. all i want to know is why are you booked solid 7 months out? And what should i do for the next 7 months to see if I can get us on Select dining or early dining? So I ended up emailing them & maybe this is a better way to communicate with them.. when I told my TA what happened she said, "Yeah unfortunately everyone is understaffed".. Never using my parents TA again..

[Kevnzworld]

I would ask the Celebrity rep to connect you to a supervisor in the resolutions dept. The operators are useless. I would also watch the Tuesday specials as your cruise date approaches. When your cruise goes on sale, many people will grade to AQ, opening up select dining spaces. Then I would try again if you haven't received satisfaction by then.

[alcpa1]

Michelle19,

When you book through a travel agent you MUST use them for all communications with all of the RCI family of ships. This is also true of other cruise lines.

I am sorry for your frustrations but this is cruiseline policy and you are stuck.

While this must be frustrating please be encouraged that things change and seating may open before you sail. If not, visit the maitre 'd as soon as you board and request early seating. It may not happen on the first night but usually by day two you can be accommodated. Board early (11:30 or so) and take care of this issue.

When passengers realize how much time they will need onshore on your itinerary they often want later seating.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Ask your TA to have you put on the waitlist for your preferred time, if they haven't already--maybe waitlist for both Select and Early dining. Chances are probably decent that you will either clear the waitlist or be able to change on board.

 

We're on a wait list for our Equinox sailing too--we'd prefer Select but late would be ok. On this cruise both Select and late are full, probably due to both European eating habits and long days in port.

 

You might be surprised, though, with the time changes and new and different experiences your parents may be fine with staying up until ten or so.

[wurmine]

It happend to us serveral times- as we usually book just a few weeks/months before the cruise, that only one dining option was open. It was always possible to change to selected dining on board.

[compliance]

I just had to respond to this thread! My DH is in bed at home by 7.30pm/8.00pm most nights. (He is 80 years old) When on a cruise he takes a nap from around 5.00pm until 7.00pm so that we can have late sitting dinner. He can manage then to stay awake to hit the casino!;)

[Redtravel]

I booked my family on a cruise almost a year out. I was also told that only 2 of us (elite) could get early seating. The rest of the family would have to eat late. That wasn't an option for us......family includes diabetics and young kids. Also, we want to enjoy dinner together. I refused to book unless I could be assured the early seating. I called Miami. It happened. Never ever book with the promise of " you'll straighten it out on the ship." Insist!!!!

[NewSalt]

We booked a July cruise the beginning of February, and the early seating was booked so we were waitlisted. Our TA advised us to get a doctor's letter (we do have a medical reason for wanting this seating), and we did. We had just received it and had not had not yet forwarded it to X when our TA called to say that the early seating had cleared.

 

I'd just suggest that you ask your TA to keep checking.

[mrsdoc3]

Several years ago, my DH and I sailed on RCL with my mother and two of her sisters. They made their reservations later than we did. My DH and I had late dining, my mother early. When I got on board (an hour or so before my mother), I went to the maitre 'd and asked for them to be moved to late dining, and he said it had already been taken care of.

[jwb3843]

MY DH and I booked a cruise on the Silhouette 7 months out and were told that the late seating was the only one still available. Our TA placed us on the waiting list and assured us that an opening would be available for early seating by the time we sailed. That never happened. The party we were traveling with had medical issues that necessitated the early seating. We spoke with the maitre' d the first day, and he asked us to keep our assigned late seating dining time the first night and he would see what he could do. We had a card posted outside our door the next afternoon advising that we were cleared for the early seating. I wish we had known to address the issue in advance of our sailing, as it added a fair amount of unnecessary stress. There was a long line of people requesting a change to the early seating, and I know it wasn't possible to accommodate them all. Funny thing ~ every time we've waiting until the last minute to book a cruise, we've always been able to get an early seating time with no problem! Go figure!!

[sarahc78]

not sure if it is still happening or not...but several weeks ago when we booked the computer system said the same thing that early dining and select were all taken for EVERY Bermuda sailing. Turned out it was a computer glitch and there was in fact avaiability.

 

Maybe try calling Celebrity to book for that sailing and ask about the dining openings for the sailing. Dont tell them you are already booked.

 

Hope that helps :)

[bigmohes]

We booked 12 months and 2 weeks prior to sailing and early seating was full. we are waitlisted. But same thing this year we booked 3 weeks early and had no problem with getting choice. It is an interesting issue.

[Benjo8]

Booking 7 months in advance there is a lot of turnover and changes. Don't forget only refundable deposits are required until about 60 days out. Cabins open up as people change plans and early seating reservations drop off. You have 5 months for things to change and even then once you get on board there are chances to change, depending on overall booking. As many posters know, being Captains Club, especially at the higher levels, gives you some priority. Don't give up hope; to the contrary you probably will get your first choice. As a longtime cruiser who has always taken late seating and enjoyed the ability to relax at the end of the day, whether touring or beaching, I will deal with early seating if and when that day beckons to me and my wife.

[Michelle19]

I cannot thank you all enough for the Fabulous Ideas. I understand Policy & stuff, I guess we will talk to Maitre D. And yes we do have 7 months, anything could happen.. Still very Strange to me that it's all sold out. But the group thing makes sense. Funny, i suggested naps to my parents so they could stay awake at dinner and my dad said, "A nap? We dont need a nap! That is our "wine" time"!! (no wonder they go to bed so early) hahaha..

 

Thanks again everyone! xoxoxo

[fourk9mom]

In January I booked a November cruise (three cabins, 2 are inside). The website was showing only late seating and that is also what the travel agent said. I made it very clear that we really wanted the early seating. Within three weeks the travel agent was able to confirm us for the early seating. I am not sure what changed, but was glad that it did. I hope that the same happens for you.

[GRBlizz]

I may be wayyyyy out of line here, but it seems to me that if your TA isn't willing to work this issue until it is resolved and you are, maybe you should consider transferring the reservation away from that TA to a different one, or direct to Celebrity.

 

The best answer may simply be to wait until Final Payment date, and then ask your TA to jump on it. But if they won't do so, then why should your hands be tied.

 

Just a perspective.