Best Way to Make Speciality Dining Reservations

[PoohUnderstands]

I know that Princess says to call the dining line from your stateroom upon boarding, but is it better to go to the restaurants themselves upon boarding to make the reservations?

 

Pooh

[GUT2407]

There's always been someone sitting taking reservations when I've boarded, just near the one selling drinks packages.

[reedprincess]

I know that Princess says to call the dining line from your stateroom upon boarding, but is it better to go to the restaurants themselves upon boarding to make the reservations?

 

Pooh

Both work well... We find going to the restaurant to be easier, simply because we're out and about already, rather than being stationary in the cabin... Demand is usually not so high that one is better than the other....

[TracieABD]

I go to the restaurant go make my reservations. It works like a charm.

[Colo Cruiser]

I know that Princess says to call the dining line from your stateroom upon boarding, but is it better to go to the restaurants themselves upon boarding to make the reservations?

 

Pooh

 

 

 

Just go to the restaurant on embarkation. There is someone there, usually the restaurant manager (head waiter). I find the phone hit and miss. Most of the time they don't answer until late that first day.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Colo Cruiser

[partzguy]

I went to Sabatini's on the Grand to make a reservation. The Maitre D handed me a cordless phone and had me call the Dine line to make it.

 

 

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[cflutist]

I must be in the minority.

Called the DINE line upon boarding to make reservations at the Crown Grill on embarkation evening for the last three cruises and they answered immediately.

[Lucky TGO]

I always go to the restaurant it works for me. :)

Tony

[jackieo]

I always go to the restaurant. We have found the DINE line always give us odd options for timings. Whereas at the restaurant they give us whatever time we want

 

 

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[aquilegia]

I've only ever used the DINE line and have never had any problems.

[mmckm]

Never gone to the restaurant, Always call and no problem. Just find it easier. We book Share or Sabatinis depending on the ship, Crown Grill, and will confirm our UBD date and time all in a few minutes. then we wander the ship.

[Steelers0854]

We had issues with the DINE line when we boarded the Royal in Feb. long wait times and when we did get someone it took a while to get and confirm our reservation time. From reading this thread I think we will just go to the restaurant to make the reservation going forward.

[AlanFromFL]

We make a reservation in person on embarkation day, to ensure that we get our preferred date and time. (I wish that Princess would implement online pre-booking of the specialty restaurants.)

[pris993]

I went to Sabatini's on the Grand to make a reservation. The Maitre D handed me a cordless phone and had me call the Dine line to make it.

 

 

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He is/was an idiot...

[Happy2cruise]

I must be in the minority.

Called the DINE line upon boarding to make reservations at the Crown Grill on embarkation evening for the last three cruises and they answered immediately.

I'm with you! We always call the dine line when getting to our cabin and have always had someone answer and take the reservation:)

[IECalCruiser]

The bottom line is that neither option is the "Best Way" [emoji848] We have had cruises where The DINE line didn't answer for hours and others when they answered as soon as we boarded. We have not had any problems when going to the table set outside one of the specialty restaurants. That table is a stop on the "Treasure Hunt" and we have been able to make reservations at the specialty restaurants and Ultimate Balcony Dining there.

Edited July 31, 2016 by IECalCruiser

[OCruisers]

I went to Sabatini's on the Grand to make a reservation. The Maitre D handed me a cordless phone and had me call the Dine line to make it.

 

Basically, the same here. The Maitre 'd called Dine Line and handed us the phone.

Seems all specialty dining reservations are now done on DINE Line.

Probably it actually works out better that way. :)

[Astro Flyer]

The bottom line is that neither option is the "Best Way" [emoji848] We have had cruises where The DINE line didn't answer for hours and others when they answered as soon as we boarded. We have not had any problems when going to the table set outside one of the specialty restaurants. That table is a stop on the "Treasure Hunt" and we have been able to make reservations at the specialty restaurants and Ultimate Balcony Dining there.

I agree...we call the DINE line when arriving in our cabin & if there's no answer will find the specialty dining room set up to make a reservation.

 

We generally board early enough to have lunch in the MDR and calling the DINE line is usually the faster option than locating which dining room is taking reservations.

[Astro Flyer]

Basically, the same here. The Maitre 'd called Dine Line and handed us the phone.

Seems all specialty dining reservations are now done on DINE Line.

Probably it actually works out better that way. :)

Like other things on Princess, the procedure may vary from ship to ship. ;)

 

On the Crown in April at the CG they took reservations during embarkation for the CG but don't know if they were accepting reservations for Sabatini's or if the headwaiter (maître d' was in a dining room making MDR adjustments) would have handed us the phone to make a DINE line reservation.

[JanetMarie]

We go to the restaurant directly because DH and I prefer a table for two on that night. We attempt to make it a special night for us, dining alone.

[Colo Cruiser]

We go to the restaurant directly because DH and I prefer a table for two on that night. We attempt to make it a special night for us, dining alone.

 

We make a reservation in person on embarkation day, to ensure that we get our preferred date and time. (I wish that Princess would implement online pre-booking of the specialty restaurants.)

 

 

 

Exactly. :)

[MrMan]

I wish Princess would do like NCL and allow us to make reservations on line before the cruise. It sure makes life easier

[Colo Cruiser]

I wish Princess would do like NCL and allow us to make reservations on line before the cruise. It sure makes life easier

 

 

IMO......We like it the way it is and hope they don't do that. :(

We have no issues making reservations onboard.

[Astro Flyer]

IMO......We like it the way it is and hope they don't do that. :(

We have no issues making reservations onboard.

Since you only commented "exactly" on another post about making reservations in advance, I thought you had changed your opinion about the procedure. ;)

 

I also prefer the Princess procedure and not like on cruise lines that allow pre reservations. RCCL required full payment to pre reserve specialty restaurants & would charge a fee to cancel within 24 hours of the reservation time.

 

I've never been unable to make a specialty restaurant reservation on Princess & feel that the system isn't broke so there's no reason to fix it.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[riclop]

I know that Princess says to call the dining line from your stateroom upon boarding, but is it better to go to the restaurants themselves upon boarding to make the reservations?

 

Pooh

 

We went there when we boarded and there no one there to take reservations.