Help~ change dinning time

[yitao]

First time booked with Princess, forget to change the dinning time,

Could I change it when I do on-line check in, is that free? When I just tried on princess website to change it , there I'd a reminder message shows: you will forfeit your confirmation number, what does that mean, what confirmation number is that? Please help the first time princess cruiser , thanks a lot .

btw, I booked with agency and final payment have been paid . Sailing date is Mar 06, 2014, the dining time I want is still available on line .

Edited January 11, 2014 by yitao

[paul929207]

How did you book? I would call them (TA or Princess) and ask for a change.

 

If that fails, the day you board, the Maitre 'd will be in one of the MDRs to handle requests for changes. The time and place will be in the Princess Patter which will be in your cabin.

[yitao]

I booked with agency and final payment have been paid . Sailing date is Mar 06, 2014, the dining time I want is still available on line . My travel agency said there is a charge , so I hope I can do it with princess when I do on line check in, seems they allow you to change it , but I just don't know what does " you will forfeit your confirmation number" means .

[Crzn-Life]

I booked with agency and final payment have been paid . Sailing date is Mar 06, 2014, the dining time I want is still available on line . My travel agency said there is a charge , so I hope I can do it with princess when I do on line check in, seems they allow you to change it , but I just don't know what does " you will forfeit your confirmation number" means .

 

It means that you are now confirmed for the dining time listed. When you change it online and there is no availability, you will be waitlisted because you have lost your original confirmed time.

 

It's best to let your travel agent make the change request for you but you can do it online and take the chance of being waitlisted for the new time.

[flamomo]

I see you mention that you booked with an agency.

 

If you are wanting to switch from Anytime to a set time (Traditional), I recommend you call your travel agent and have them make the change while the one you want is still available. Traditional can be more difficult to get into as it tends to get filled up the closer you get to your cruise, and there might not be any slots available if you wait too long.

 

If you want to go from Traditional to Anytime, it's easier ... you can either have your agent make the change between now and the cruise, or wait till you get onboard and see the Maitre 'D on the first day to get it changed. Since it's more flexible, there's always room for a few more!! LOL

[flamomo]

I just noticed that OP said their TA says to make the change in dining type will result in a charge to her. GEEZ!! Anything to make a buck off a client! IMO, that's ridiculous! All it would take is for the TA to make a very quick call to Princess, as a service to a client for whose booking they are getting paid a commission.

 

I will add this to a mental list of several reasons why I prefer to book directly with Princess!

[yitao]

thanks everyone, you all are so helpful, thanks a lot . The dinning time I would like to change to is 8:15 ,and there is no waiting list ( as if I choose 6:15 one， it shows #11 waiting list).

[Gunner22aa]

Princess doesn't charge to change a dining time. Your TA is trying to make some more money off of you. No respectable TA would charge for providing a simple customer service as this request. This is the kind of thing you hired them for in the first place.

[generichandle]

I would drop any TA who did this. Outright lying to you to get money. There is NEVER a fee to change dining times. If it is full, you will be told so, and likely wait listed. But not charged. Drop your TA! JMHO

 

Doug

[elevario]

There is no need for greed. Drop your TA moving forward and tell them you contacted The cruise line directly to make the changes at no charge. Be sure to also let the TA know how helpful the cruise line was and that you will be booking directly on future sailings based on their service they provided.

[skynight]

As stated, no charge, your TA either doesn't know what they are doing, or they are trying to get money from you for no reason. Late traditional fixed seating is not as popular as early traditional seating, so it shouldn't be an issue. You can also select to use Anytime Dining (ATD), just show up at one of the ATD Rooms at 8pm and they will seat you. Or you can call the DINE line in the morning and make a reservation for 8PM. There are lots of options. Last you can just leave everything as it is and after you board go see the head waiter or matrie'd and ask to be switched to ATD. No problem, it's easy.

[eandj]

Can't you change the dining time on line? Even with a TA? Should be in your My Princess info. Maybe? Don't worry about the wait list confirmation. IF it shows openings for late dining, it won't apply to you.

If not, what I would do...call PRincess and explain you want to change. Since there is a waiting list for YOUR assigned time, seems they would want to clear that list and make more people happy. IF not tho, go to the maitre d upon embarkation and switch. It should be no problem.

 

For sure post cruise, let the TA know you won't be using or recommending them in the future. Yes some TA's charge for changes...but I have never heard that done for a simple request like dining time. Is there someone else you could talk to there to make the change with no fee? Maybe you just talked to someone that didn't know the policy. Yes, that's where I would start. Then call Princess if not succesdful with TA...then go see the maitre d.

[caribill]

thanks everyone, you all are so helpful, thanks a lot . The dinning time I would like to change to is 8:15 ,and there is no waiting list ( as if I choose 6:15 one， it shows #11 waiting list).

 

Best bet: Change the requested time online using the Personalizer. No charge to do so. If space is available, you will get confirmed. If not, you will be on a wait list.

 

The TA who would charge you for this would get exactly the same results.

[johnmik1]

I just noticed that OP said their TA says to make the change in dining type will result in a charge to her. GEEZ!! Anything to make a buck off a client! IMO, that's ridiculous! All it would take is for the TA to make a very quick call to Princess, as a service to a client for whose booking they are getting paid a commission.

 

I will add this to a mental list of several reasons why I prefer to book directly with Princess!

 

My TA would never think of charging me for such a change.I booked 2 cruises,directly with Princess and HAL,while she while she was away on a cruise and transferred the booking to her when she returned,resulting in $1000 in savings and OBC over the cruise line pricing.That is why I would never think of booking directly with a cruise line.

[Ethel5]

I agree with the others who advise getting a new TA. Charging for making a simple dining time is bogus!

[lljost]

Best bet: Change the requested time online using the Personalizer. No charge to do so. If space is available, you will get confirmed. If not, you will be on a wait list.

 

The TA who would charge you for this would get exactly the same results.

 

 

As stated above, go ahead and change it online in your Personalizer, especially if it states there is no waiting list. There is never a charge for this. Once you check in and are onboard, it will list your dining time. If what is listed is not what you want, try to find out where the MatreD is and request a change. They are usually available at one of the dining rooms on embarkation day. Another option is to try to call the Dine line on embarkation day but they are usually swamped with calls.

[TERESAh]

you should be able to go to your booking personalizer and change it at no charge. If the time you want is booked, you will be on a wait list. If you don't get the time you want, go to the main dining room when you board and try to get it then. you can always get any time dining.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I just noticed that OP said their TA says to make the change in dining type will result in a charge to her. GEEZ!! Anything to make a buck off a client! IMO, that's ridiculous! All it would take is for the TA to make a very quick call to Princess, as a service to a client for whose booking they are getting paid a commission.

 

I will add this to a mental list of several reasons why I prefer to book directly with Princess!

 

I would drop any TA who did this. Outright lying to you to get money. There is NEVER a fee to change dining times. If it is full, you will be told so, and likely wait listed. But not charged. Drop your TA! JMHO

 

Doug

 

I would definitely call Princess and let them know 1) you would like this change, (and if they say your TA has to do this, 2) your TA wants to charge you to do so -- maybe this kind of charge will be considered unacceptable for anyone selling their cruises). If you're back to dealing with the TA, ask to speak to their supervisor. If you're using one of those online companies, the CSRs basically order takers and not knowledgeable about cruises -- I'm guessing many of them haven't even seen an ocean. It could be that they charge for everything they can, with the hope that you don't know better.

 

Many legitimate cruise specialists will make this change as part of their service, with the hope that you'll be back booking your next cruise with them, as well as recommending them to your friends.

 

BTW, on our last cruise, we had booked around the time of final payment and all that was available was early dining and anytime. Since we absolutely hated anytime (only option booking late again on previous cruise), we grabbed the early seating. Once onboard, we went to see the dining desk (the time and location will be listed in the Patter that'll be in your cabin), asked to switched to our preferred late seating. We were told to go to our assigned seating that night. The next day we got a message with our new seating assignment.:)

[caribill]

Charging for making a simple dining time is bogus!

 

Some legitimate TAs have a charge for any change at all to your booking. This includes:

o Changing bed configuration

o Adding/subtracting transfer from the airport

o Adding/changing the date of an onboard celebration

and, of course,

o Changing dining preference.

 

Usually the charge for making any changes is made known when the booking is first made either obviously or buried in a contract with the TA.

 

These TAs are to be avoided.

[Nancyquilts]

Changing bed configuration? Good grief - I don't see them helping the steward with this.:eek:

[caribill]

Changing bed configuration? Good grief - I don't see them helping the steward with this.:eek:

But some TAs do charge for any change in the booking including that.

[eandj]

Some legitimate TAs have a charge for any change at all to your booking. This includes:

o Changing bed configuration

o Adding/subtracting transfer from the airport

o Adding/changing the date of an onboard celebration

and, of course,

o Changing dining preference.

 

Usually the charge for making any changes is made known when the booking is first made either obviously or buried in a contract with the TA.

 

These TAs are to be avoided.

 

 

Other than the cruiseline transfers, all other items above can be done easily on your own. Except for new cruisers, why would anyone ask to have those done?

I have never run into any agency that has anything in a contract that mentions these as being changes deserving a fee. The contracts pretty well describe what a change is.

[cherylandtk]

Oh, I know of at least two agencies that charge for ANY change to the booking (dining time, bed configuration, anything). I guess they figure it cuts down on the number of times they have to 'handle' the booking....but I declined to book with the first agency because of this policy and stopped using the other when they started with the policy. There are plenty of good to great TA's that are more understanding.

[eandj]

Oh, I know of at least two agencies that charge for ANY change to the booking (dining time, bed configuration, anything). I guess they figure it cuts down on the number of times they have to 'handle' the booking.

 

 

Well it sure would cut down on the the number of repeat clients they'd get! Ridiculous.:rolleyes:

[dorisis]

how did you book? I would call them (ta or princess) and ask for a change.

 

If that fails, the day you board, the maitre 'd will be in one of the mdrs to handle requests for changes. The time and place will be in the princess patter which will be in your cabin.

 

you may have to be put on a waiting list.