Chefs Table and Ultimate Ships Tour sign up?

[Bimmie Girl]

We are ailing on the Emerald Princess in Feb. We really want to sign up for the Ultimate ship tour and the Chefs table.

 

Chefs table: I just read that you "call the Dine Line" when you get on the ship to get your name on the list for the Chefs table? how do you call the Dine Line? from our cabin? Is it a button on the phone called Dine Line or do I have to search for a number?

 

For the Ultimate ships tour: where do we sign up for this? I read that you sign up to get your name on the list but it does not mean you get to do this, it is first come first serve? We will be at the port early just to get a seat closest to embarkation. We would really like to get our names on these list, so really appreciated as much detail and direction as possible, Thanks.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Bimmie Girl

[pathi]

We are ailing on the Emerald Princess in Feb. We really want to sign up for the Ultimate ship tour and the Chefs table.

 

Chefs table: I just read that you "call the Dine Line" when you get on the ship to get your name on the list for the Chefs table? how do you call the Dine Line? from our cabin? Is it a button on the phone called Dine Line or do I have to search for a number?

 

For the Ultimate ships tour: where do we sign up for this? I read that you sign up to get your name on the list but it does not mean you get to do this, it is first come first serve? We will be at the port early just to get a seat closest to embarkation. We would really like to get our names on these list, so really appreciated as much detail and direction as possible, Thanks.

 

Yes, the dine line is marked on your cabin phone. For the ultimate ships tour go to the passenger services desk and ask to sign up. I would do this 1st thing when you board.

[Colo Cruiser]

We head to lunch in the dining room on embarkation day and hit up one of the head waiters to sign up.

UST, passenger services desk.

[pathi]

Also,

 

Don't forget additional luggage space for all the stuff you get on the ships tour. The robe is pretty bulky.

[Bimmie Girl]

Yes, the dine line is marked on your cabin phone. For the ultimate ships tour go to the passenger services desk and ask to sign up. I would do this 1st thing when you board.

 

Thanks for the information................

[Bimmie Girl]

We head to lunch in the dining room on embarkation day and hit up one of the head waiters to sign up.

UST, passenger services desk.

 

we wanted to have lunch in the dining room but read you have to go to your cabin first to see which dining room is serving lunch. IYO which is best to do? call or head to the dining room? or just try both, call if we can't get anyone head to dining?

 

we will sign up for UST as soon as we board.

[shepp]

The Patter in your cabin should have info on which dining room is open, as should staffers. You might be told you can't eat there, in which case insist. However, I notice from your cruise history that you won't have priority boarding. The dining room is only open to new arrivals till 1:30, so depending on how quickly you're onboard, you might not make it.

 

I'm not sure how the Chef's Table list is determined. I'm assuming it's first-come, first-served, not random. So again, if 12 pax who boarded before you have signed up, you may be out of luck unless they add a second night's dinner. Both times we did the CT, we were among the very first onboard, called immediately, and were put on a waitlist, the invitation sent out days later. There are phones in the public areas as well as your cabin, but let's assume you'll have carry-ons you'll want to drop off? The extra five minutes may or may not make a difference. Good luck.

Edited January 14, 2015 by shepp

[pablo222]

I just read that you "call the Dine Line" when you get on the ship

 

Cabin phone has a labeled speed-dial button.

 

Absent that, the number is D-I-N-E

[skynight]

we wanted to have lunch in the dining room but read you have to go to your cabin first to see which dining room is serving lunch. IYO which is best to do? call or head to the dining room? or just try both, call if we can't get anyone head to dining?

You don't have to go to your cabin, but I would not like to lug around my carry ons if I didn't have to. The DR is normally the one on Deck 6 mid ship, but not always.

While many passengers really enjoy the DR on boarding day, we have found that the International Cafe is more to our liking.

[Cruiser Addict]

We finally did this tour on our 18 day cruise in Asia because it is quite expensive and we had plenty of OBC to use up. It was fantastic. We signed up at Passenger Services right away because they take a limited number and it is only offered once during a cruise. There is a lot of walking and stair climbing and lasts about 4 hours but definitely worth it. As mentioned above, you need plenty of space in your luggage to take home the gifts. We did not know this and had to scramble to get everything repacked. The robes are super bulky plus you get picture frames, photos, and other smaller goodies. To tell you the truth I'd rather do with out the gifts and have them lower the price of $150.

 

Bobbie

[shepp]

To tell you the truth I'd rather do with out the gifts and have them lower the price of $150.

 

Because we're two guys, we get a second cookbook at the Chef's Table in lieu of a rose. That was fine for this past Xmas, but we've pretty well run through people to give them to.

[Colo Cruiser]

we wanted to have lunch in the dining room but read you have to go to your cabin first to see which dining room is serving lunch. IYO which is best to do? call or head to the dining room? or just try both, call if we can't get anyone head to dining?

 

we will sign up for UST as soon as we board.

 

We head to the cabin anyway to drop off carryons unless we are pressed for time. DR is open from Noon to 1:30.

Everytime we have sailed the Emerald it has been in either Michelangelo Deck 5 or DaVinci Deck 6. I always find it without looking in the patter. :D

[bob brown]

We are ailing on the Emerald Princess in Feb. We really want to sign up for the Ultimate ship tour and the Chefs table.

 

 

For the Ultimate ships tour: where do we sign up for this? I read that you sign up to get your name on the list but it does not mean you get to do this, it is first come first serve?

We would really like to get our names on these list, so really appreciated as much detail and direction as possible, Thanks.

 

I would like to know the answer to this, too...

I have taken similar on NCL, X, RCI, and Cunard. The first three were on a first come, first served basis, but Cunard said it was a "lottery", and the names would be chosen a couple of days into the cruise. I don't know how they were selected, but I made sure to board the QM2 as early as possible, and make a beeline to guest services to sign up, around 1145. Once there, I was told to go to the shorex desk 45 minutes before its 1500 opening, to be first in line. I got there even earlier...1400, and to my dismay, found it was already open and serving passenger's! I asked to sign up for their "Behind the Scene's Tour", and when they signed me up, I asked how far down the list I was. Fortunately, they said I was the first. I asked if this would assure me a place on the tour, but they said what I had heard...selectee's would be chosen in a couple of day's, and they did not know for sure. I requested they put down on the list that I was the first to sign up. So I was in suspense for a couple of days, until I happily found the ticket and liability waiver to sign on my bed, a couple of nights later....I was just one of 17 chosen on a 12 day cruise.

 

We received a nice apron, and a paper chef's toque, and a group photo on the bridge, as gifts. The plush robe, picture in frame, and "smaller gifts" Princess offers sounds nicer. I will definitely try again when I cruise the new Regal Princess in October....:)

[caribill]

we wanted to have lunch in the dining room but read you have to go to your cabin first to see which dining room is serving lunch. IYO which is best to do? call or head to the dining room? or just try both, call if we can't get anyone head to dining?

 

we will sign up for UST as soon as we board.

 

You sign up for the UST at the Passenger Services Desk, and they will have a copy of the Patter so you can see which dining room is open without having to go to your cabin to find out.

[caribill]

Both times we did the CT, we were among the very first onboard, called immediately, and were put on a waitlist, the invitation sent out days later. There are phones in the public areas as well as your cabin,

 

The phones in the public areas do not have a button marked "DINE", so you would need to know the actual number.

 

Cabin phone has a labeled speed-dial button.

 

Absent that, the number is D-I-N-E

 

On some ships, dialing D-I-N-E will do the job. On many of the ships that will not work.

Edited January 15, 2015 by caribill

[shepp]

On some ships, dialing D-I-N-E will do the job. On many of the ships that will not work.

 

Really? I had no idea; I'd better stop telling people that.

[pablo222]

The phones in the public areas do not have a button marked "DINE", so you would need to know the actual number.

 

 

 

On some ships, dialing D-I-N-E will do the job. On many of the ships that will not work.

 

It has worked for me on many ships. On which ships does it not work?

(I believe you -- just curious)

[Luvmyrotti]

It has worked for me on many ships. On which ships does it not work?

(I believe you -- just curious)

 

I tried it on the Caribbean Princess on our last cruise and it did not work.

[Bimmie Girl]

You sign up for the UST at the Passenger Services Desk, and they will have a copy of the Patter so you can see which dining room is open without having to go to your cabin to find out.

 

thanks, sign up at the passenger service desk AND get a patter........love these boards for finding out information like that. Makes life so much simpler.

[hawkeyetlse]

I'm sure there are sailings where these things fill up by 11:05am on embarkation day, but we are talking about pretty pricey extras that most people on board don't even know about until they are advertised in the Patter later in the cruise (which I assume means that it is still possible to sign up after the first day).

 

Of course you want to maximize your chances of getting a spot, but you're on vacation, not on the Amazing Race. You have time to go to your cabin and relax for 2 minutes!

[floridarob]

Sometimes UST wasn't held because not enough people signed up.... whenever someone came up and asked for ships specs or something technical about engines/thrusters, I knew they'd be interested in this tour. Most have no idea about it and after I explained it to them, they signed up.... after the tour they'd come to see me so excited that I told them about it.... one of the things I liked about working on the ship.... seeing people enjoying themselves having a good time, life is short....

[bob brown]

I'm sure there are sailings where these things fill up by 11:05am on embarkation day, but we are talking about pretty pricey extras that most people on board don't even know about until they are advertised in the Patter later in the cruise (which I assume means that it is still possible to sign up after the first day).

 

Of course you want to maximize your chances of getting a spot, but you're on vacation, not on the Amazing Race. You have time to go to your cabin and relax for 2 minutes!

 

I would imagine it sells out fast when a ship is brand new, especially if it's a new class of ship. Personally, I rarely purchase shore excursion's, or make 'contribution's' to the casino, so it is my one indulgence in on board spending...:)

[mbkerk]

My wife and I will be doing an Alaska cruise on the Grand Princess in June, and were told by Princess to go to the 6th Deck when we boarded to sign up for the ship tour as described elsewhere in this thread.

 

My question is... being new to anything like this, (and a gear head in my normal life) the chance to do this tour and see (particularly) the engine room and the bridge would be the highlight of the 7 day cruise for me.

 

How many actually get selected to go on these tours? Is there a slim chance, or do we have a pretty good shot?

 

Secondly, I am not sure if it is proper or not... but would some sort of gratuity offered to someone improve our chances? I don't want to look like an idiot if pulling our a few 20's (or whatever) would be viewed as improper.

[rdsqrl]

The group size is fairly small (certainly no more than 20), and your odds of making it are incalculable, based as they are on the number of other passengers who also sign up. One thing that might help you is that Alaska cruises tend to attract more first-timers, many of whom won't be familiar with/interested in the tour.

 

Gratuities/palm-greasing of the officers (which is what the pursers are) isn't really appropriate.

 

Good luck!