Converting Specialty Reservations to a Package

[macruisefan]

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm taking my mother on a Silhouette in a few weeks. We are dining in the specialty restaurants all seven nights (some will like this idea, some will think us crazy, either way, it is what it is).

 

Now, I have all the reservations booked for me. Right now, they're all booked for one person. Long story, basically, I booked first and started locking in reservations. I went back later, once her reservation was firmed up, and of course many of the times weren't available when I tried to modify the reservation. I've inquired both here and with Celebrity and was told the same thing. Any table of one can accommodate two, but the reservation system isn't always that sophisticated. As such, I have been reassured that if I simply contact the restaurants once on board, they will have no problem making the reservations for two.

 

Now, Here's my question:

 

Mine are all booked and paid for. Hers, we will pay for once on board. If you were in this situation, what would you do to get the best deal?

 

Can I buy a package for her, and then just use them to pay for the additional reservations she makes when we change the dinners from parties of one to two?

If so, should she book the package now or wait until she boards?

What about mine? Is there any benefit to trying to convert the seven individual reservations made via the website, and paid for months ago, to a package? If so, can I do this once I'm on board?

I'm very reticent to try and change the reservation online because, as I already mentioned, the system isn't that sophisticated (we all know about celebrity's website),and I have the very times we want.

 

I'm okay with leaving mine as they are, as it's money long since already spent. but if I can make some sort of an adjustment and save some $$, I'm all for it.

 

Any thoughts of the best and least labor intensive way to straighten this out?

[BEAV]

Personally, I think you shouldn't have any problem getting it straightened out on board. However, it would be my first item of business when you board the ship! We sailed 15 nights to Hawaii on Century earlier this year and the times/availability for Murano's (that ship's only specialty restaurant) were very, very limited on the Celebrity website compared to what was available by booking directly on board the ship.

 

While no guarantee, it's possible not only to purchase a package for your Mom, but you may also be able to convert your pre-paid bookings into a package for yourself as well.

 

We primarily dine in the specialty restaurants on board and have never had a problem getting reservations. Just our experience. Don't worry about what others may comment about your dining exclusively in the specialty restaurants. It's all in how you choose to spend your vacation $$$. Some people will drop a couple thousand in the casino and never give it a second thought, but poke fun at someone who spends $300 for fine dining!

 

Enjoy your cruise and your dining adventures!

[Onelung]

We pre-booked speciality restaurants on line pre cruise on Silly last year. Once on board there were various stations around the ship (mainly outside the restaurants) offering packages. We were easily able to convert our pre-booked meals and we got a better deal with a package.

[Jetswdo]

I will be on the Reflection in June, 2013. I already knew which days and dining times that I wanted for dh and myself. So we went ahead and paid for the days and 6:30 or 7:00 pm reservations that were desired. Now the package deals are announced. So I called up Celebrity. Naturally, I was told that the availability was for extremely early and extremely late dining times for the package deals. After speaking with different people in customer service, one person said that once on board the ship, there is a good possibility of being able to get the difference of the full price that I paid, converted to the package deals, without having to change my reservation time, but of course, customer service wouldn't guarantee this. Yes, very annoying. But my eating times are more important to me than saving a few bucks. Short of going berserk at guest relations desk on board, I will grovel and hope for the best.

[BEAV]

I will be on the Reflection in June, 2013. I already knew which days and dining times that I wanted for dh and myself. So we went ahead and paid for the days and 6:30 or 7:00 pm reservations that were desired. Now the package deals are announced. So I called up Celebrity. Naturally, I was told that the availability was for extremely early and extremely late dining times for the package deals. After speaking with different people in customer service, one person said that once on board the ship, there is a good possibility of being able to get the difference of the full price that I paid, converted to the package deals, without having to change my reservation time, but of course, customer service wouldn't guarantee this. Yes, very annoying. But my eating times are more important to me than saving a few bucks. Short of going berserk at guest relations desk on board, I will grovel and hope for the best.

 

From years of experience booking specialty restaurants on Celebrity, most recently this year on Century, we have never had any problem getting the times we want by booking on board the ship (7:00-7:30p, timeframe, generally speaking). As I said earlier, the times offered on the website for pre-booking are very, very limited. I wouldn't stress about this if I were you, again, based on our own experience. On our 15 night Century cruise, I didn't book a single dinner on line in advance and wound up booking 8 nights (a 5 night and 3 night package) when we boarded the ship, again, getting all the seating times we requested.

[lhbsurf]

I prebooked online and when we got onboard they were offering a package...we were able to get the credit....but it was a bit of a pain. (We were on Reflection) We were told that Murano could take care if it - but they could only charge us for the new package, and credit back the charge for their restaurant. When we visited the other restaurants, we had to get them to issue credits for their restaurants separately. We were able to get it taken care of, but it was a hassle....in the end, the $50 per person was worth the hassle though.

 

I think I would wait and just purchase hers onboard when you get yours straightened out.

[Jetswdo]

When I called up Celebrity, they couldn't put 6:30-7:30 reservation times for the package deals on Reflection. Again, both on the phone and on line the reservations were 8:30 pm or later. I was told that hopefully, on board the ship my reservations can be worked into the package deals with the times that I booked. Anita

[Presto2]

We'd already booked some speciality meals last year and once on board we purchased the Baccheus Package. The cost of the meals we had already booked was creditted back to us. :)

[Mulege]

How can one eat all of that food each night, just wondering.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

There was a package on the Equinox on the TA , dine every night in a Paid restaurant , lunch on sea days and Bristol on 5 for $30 a day

That may be a good deal for you