Aquaclass permitted to eat in MDR?

[sunset sails]

 

We are traveling with friends who are booked in Aquaclass but we are not. We have gotten conflicting/confusing information on whether they can eat in the MDR with us. We have both booked Select dining. We want to confirm that they have the option to eat in Blu any night, but can also choose to eat in the MDR with us. Thanks!

[cruisestitch]

They definitely have the option for Blu any night -- that is their assigned dining room. Whether they will be allowed to eat with you is dependent on how many others are signed up for Select Dining, if it is sold out or not, what time you want to eat, and perhaps other factors as well. If they do so continuously, their gratuities could be re-assigned to the MDR staff. So discuss this with the Host/Hostess who is doing the MDR Select Dining seating once you are on board.

[Algebralovr]

For your AQ friends to eat in the MDR, they will need to have the M'd of Blu contact the M'd of the MDR. Most of the time, it will not be a problem. Sometimes they send them to traditional dining, sometimes to Select.

 

Whether your friends booked select or not doesn't matter, their assigned dining room is Blu.

 

Since they will be asking to eat with you, and you are in Select, the M'd in Blu just needs to make that request.

[dkjretired]

Just so there is not confusion, when you are in an AQ cabin, Blu REPLACES the MDR, a seat is not assigned in the MDR for anyone in AQ whether you choose Select or Traditional dining. You will probably be able to eat together in the Select dining portion of the MDR depending on availablility.

 

FYI, there are very often very good upgrades to AQ cabins so if you are so inclined check for an upgrade, that would solve your problem.

[cynbar]

It seems to me that I have read here that this sometimes can be an issue. Not always, but sometimes the Select Dining option is fully booked, and tables at peak times can be hard to come by. Seating in the dining rooms is figured according to how many are booked in AQ and thus assigned to Blu, how many are confirmed for Select Dining, and how many are confirmed for the 2 traditional seatings. Of course, this will be easier to arrange if you are quite flexible and willing to dine at off peak times, and I imagine that availability varies somewhat from cruise to cruise. But in general, it's not set up so that AQ cruisers should be able to drop in to Select Dining on a regular basis, especially if this means a wait for those who are confirmed for Select.