How easy to get last minute dining reservations?

[burm]

We were thinking of booking a 3 meal specialty dining package, but would like to save those nights for when the MDR menu does not excite us.

 

How easy is it to get last minute dining reservations?

[punkincc]

We were thinking of booking a 3 meal specialty dining package, but would like to save those nights for when the MDR menu does not excite us.

 

How easy is it to get last minute dining reservations?

 

Don't forget that walk ups are also possible. If you call and no 7:00 res is available for that night, that doesn't mean they don't have empty tables. You may still be able to just arrive at 7:00 and be seated as they don't fully book the restaurant. If you are flexible as to dining time and/or do not insist that you must have a reserved time then very likely you will get in.

[SuiteTraveler]

We were thinking of booking a 3 meal specialty dining package, but would like to save those nights for when the MDR menu does not excite us.

 

How easy is it to get last minute dining reservations?

 

It depends on the ship and the restaurant. Le Bistro and the Steakhouse tend to sell out on most of the ships due to the free dining packages NCL has been offering. Other specialty restaurants not quite as much. It is easy to find out what is served in the MDR as the menus are available online. Google them and then figure which nights you want to go to specialty restaurants and make a reservation online prior to your cruise. Otherwise you may be disappointed or have to eat at some odd hour in order to enjoy the specialty restaurants.

[NLH Arizona]

It depends on the ship and the restaurant. Le Bistro and the Steakhouse tend to sell out on most of the ships due to the free dining packages NCL has been offering. Other specialty restaurants not quite as much. It is easy to find out what is served in the MDR as the menus are available online. Google them and then figure which nights you want to go to specialty restaurants and make a reservation online prior to your cruise. Otherwise you may be disappointed or have to eat at some odd hour in order to enjoy the specialty restaurants.

 

Don't forget the Teppanyaki restaurant also usually books up very quick, since there is very limited seating.

[time2cruise1]

As long as you are flexible on the time to eat last minute has never been a problem.

[Planefixer]

Also bring a few pictures of Andrew Jackson to give to the host/hostess. For some reason they appreciate it.

[punkincc]

It depends on the ship and the restaurant. Le Bistro and the Steakhouse tend to sell out on most of the ships due to the free dining packages NCL has been offering. Other specialty restaurants not quite as much. It is easy to find out what is served in the MDR as the menus are available online. Google them and then figure which nights you want to go to specialty restaurants and make a reservation online prior to your cruise. Otherwise you may be disappointed or have to eat at some odd hour in order to enjoy the specialty restaurants.

 

The term "sell out" on NCL does not mean that every available seat is sold out for the entire week. It just means that the number of reservations available for a particular venue are booked for that date/time. They reserve some tables for "walk up" customers. It would not be very Freestyle if they did not, would it;). This is why some who call for a time are told, "We have no "reservation" available, but just show up at the time you requested and you will be seated". No guarantees of course and it depends on how many people decide to walk up when you do, hence the caveat about flexibility. We have always gotten in, either by res or by walk up.

[mypleasure]

We didn't find any problems dining without a reservation at Cagneys or LeBistro. Actually we prefer not to have to book as this is not how we roll. We are true freestylers who decide we want to eat, decide where we want to eat and just do it. I also believe they keep a few tables back for walk ups.

[luv2cruisecats]

We didn't find any problems dining without a reservation at Cagneys or LeBistro. Actually we prefer not to have to book as this is not how we roll. We are true freestylers who decide we want to eat, decide where we want to eat and just do it. I also believe they keep a few tables back for walk ups.

 

Twice now we have been on GA and found that the 6:30 to 7:00 PM time period for Le Bistro tends to book up quickly. If you are a walk up they will offer to seat you in the "courtyard area" next to the hostess stand. While you order off the same menu the overall experience is not the same: can be noisy, curious gawkers walking by, and service not as prompt especially if you have a problem.

[electro]

We were thinking of booking a 3 meal specialty dining package, but would like to save those nights for when the MDR menu does not excite us.

 

How easy is it to get last minute dining reservations?

 

Cruised on the Epic from Rome in May and could not get reservations in any specialty restaurant at any time for the first 3 nights. Tried doing walk up to Cagneys and LeBristro and was not able to get a table.

Was told by the F and B manger that over 1000 people on that sailing had the UDP.

Freestyle is not longer freestyle, it is now "make reservations 3 months in advance" style :( YMMV

 

Lois

Edited July 18, 2015 by electro

[Pamster]

We were thinking of booking a 3 meal specialty dining package, but would like to save those nights for when the MDR menu does not excite us.

 

How easy is it to get last minute dining reservations?

 

It depends on the size of your party, the ship, the restaurant, and what time you want to eat. If you're flexible, with a smallish party, you probably won't have any trouble. A large party at Tepannaki likely will have a problem, since that restaurant fills very rapidly. Our last cruise, Moderno was booked for the last few nights of the cruise, and even walkups and those in suites weren't able to get in. (Although sitting in the Sugar Cane Bar and hoping for a cancellation probably isn't a bad way to spend an evening, either.)

[Pamster]

Cruised on the Epic from Rome in May and could not get reservations in any specialty restaurant at any time for the first 3 nights. Tried doing walk up to Cagneys and LeBristro and was not able to get a table.

Was told by the F and B manger that over 1000 people on that sailing had the UDP.

Freestyle is not longer freestyle, it is now "make reservations 3 months in advance" style :( YMMV

 

Lois

 

Yes, that was our experience. When they give away the UDP it increases the bookings for all the restaurants and makes it harder to get last minute reservations.

 

Since we also had the UDP, we booked everything in advance. But we saw quite a few unhappy people at the Hostess station who weren't able to get in.

[punkincc]

Twice now we have been on GA and found that the 6:30 to 7:00 PM time period for Le Bistro tends to book up quickly. If you are a walk up they will offer to seat you in the "courtyard area" next to the hostess stand. While you order off the same menu the overall experience is not the same: can be noisy, curious gawkers walking by, and service not as prompt especially if you have a problem.

 

I guess if it had been me, I would have politely responded that I did not really care to eat in the courtyard, and then asked how long the wait would be for inside. If not long, a drink and some music somewhere would fill the time. If too long, then a check of the availability board to see where we might get in more quickly.

 

I guess the lesson to be learned is that most people probably want to eat early and then do a show after. If this is you, then reserve well in advance. Or, be a contrarian and go to an early show and have a relaxed dinner at 8:30 when the venue is perhaps much less busy, with reservations and walk ups available. We have made reservations for 5:30 or 6:00 and the place was nearly empty.

[burm]

We are only two, but I have to eat around 6:30 PM.