Restaurant Bookings, SDP and Platinum meals - A guide

[KeithJenner]

Isn't Modero a $27 charge per person? It is not ala cart right? So if I choose this as a Platinum perk dinner, we have to pay a $7 upcharge cause the certifacate states this $20 only?

 

 

 

No. The $20 refers to the cost of an entree in the a la carte places. Moderno is no extra charge.

[asubaru]

Curious, Keith, have you ever been charged for coffee? I'm referring to a regular (non-specialty) coffee. I don't think I have ever looked at the menu for coffee prices. Now I am curious; maybe I have been charged and didn't notice!?!

 

If they charge you then it won't be awful, it would be one of the lavazza ones, which are very good in my opinion.

[KeithJenner]

Curious, Keith, have you ever been charged for coffee? I'm referring to a regular (non-specialty) coffee. I don't think I have ever looked at the menu for coffee prices. Now I am curious; maybe I have been charged and didn't notice!?!

 

 

 

The only time I've ever ordered a regular coffee was in o'Sheehans at lunchtime (and breakfast). No charge.

 

After a meal in the evening I order espresso and sometimes get charged. Those are certainly chargeable, but they often don't bother.

 

My understanding is that regular coffee isn't chargeable anywhere, but that's not from experience.

Edited February 19, 2017 by KeithJenner

[tbae]

A regular topic which raises questions on this forum is the booking of speciality restaurants, and whether payment is required at the time of booking, especially if you have a dining package or vouchers for meals due to latitudes status.

 

Rather than keep answering the question, I thought I would try to summarise the position in one post that can be linked to. I hope it helps.

 

Obviously, this relates to the position as of December 2016, and things can change. This is particularly likely to be the case with the Platinum meal as changes to the latitudes reward scheme are due in early 2017. The current situation is that platinum latitudes members get a meal for two in Le Bistro (or La Cucina, but no longer in Moderno) with a bottle of wine. This is per person, not per cabin, as is sometimes mistakenly stated.

 

Bookings for restaurants open up 90 days out (100 if in a suite). Whilst you can prebook MDR’s, I have never seen the reason to do so and this guide is specifically for the speciality restaurantts.

 

If you have no dining package then you are required to pay for the meal when booking. However, for those restaurants which are a la carte, the prepayment required is zero (they don’t know how much you will spend). That’s really all there is to it.

 

This means that you can now book your platinum latitudes meal before boarding. When there was a cover charge for these restaurants, you had to pay the cover charge when booking and then try to get it back onboard. What most of us ended up doing was not prebooking and then doing so as soon as boarding. This is no longer necessary.

 

A question which is often asked is how you make bookings for meals if you intend to eat with friends who are staying in other cabins. Some people have gone to the effort of linking bookings in order to be able to do this, but it is not necessary. When you make a booking you just state the number of people, but don’t have to say who they are. You can book for more people than you have in your room. You can make a booking for yourselves and your friends in a different cabin easily, although if it is somewhere with a cover charge then you will be charged for everyone in the booking.

 

If you have the dining package then the system will be aware that you do. Therefore, someone with a three meal SDP will not get charged when booking for the first three meals they book, even if there is a cover charge. Again, this is fairly straightforward.

 

One thing to note here is that the system assumes that if the person who is making the booking has a SDP credit for the meal then so does everyone they are booking for. So, if we take the example where you are booking for yourself and friends in another room, no payment will be required when booking, regardless of whether your friends have the package or not. For this reason, make sure that the booking is done by someone with the SDP if possible. Anyone without the package will be charged after the meal.

 

Things get a little more complicated when you book more meals than you have the SDP for. This could be because you decide to have 4 meals but only got the 3 meal promo for example. Perhaps the most common cause of this would be when you have platinum meal vouchers as well as the SDP.

 

In these situations, it is important to remember a couple of things.

 

Firstly, the system knows you have the dining package. However, it doesn’t know about any platinum vouchers you may be entitled to.

 

Secondly, whilst the system assumes the first meals you book will be covered by the SDP, this isn’t the case onboard, so you can use your SDP, platinum voucher or charge to your account as you wish. You tell the staff at the restaurant at the time.

 

Why is this important? Well, you need to book restaurants in the correct order to make sure that you don’t end up paying in advance for a meal which you shouldn’t be charged for.

 

For example, you have a three meal SDP but want to book four meals. The meals (in the order that you want to have them) are Cagneys, Le Bistro, La Cucina and Teppenyaki.

 

This may be because you plan to use a platinum voucher for either Le Bistro or La Cucina or that you only have a three meal plan and intend to pay for one of them. Even if you will be paying for the extra meal it is often helpful to avoid prepaying (for example if you have OBC to use for it).

 

If you go online and book those meals in the order you intend to eat them then the system will assume that the first three are covered by the SDP and won’t charge you for them. The fourth one you book (Teppenyaki) will be charged for as you have no credits left. You will have to get your credit card out.

 

However, if you book Teppenyaki first then the system will assume that you will be using a SDP credit for it and the fourth one you book (for example La Cucina) will be the one that is chargeable. The payment required in advance for that restaurant is zero, so your credit card stays in your pocket.

 

When you get onboard, you can allocate the SDP credits how you wish, so the fact that the system assumed that you would use a SDP credit in Teppenyaki doesn’t mean that you have to do so.

 

There are two simple ways to remember the order you need to book things: For those who have Platinum vouchers, just remember to book your platinum meals last. Alternatively (and this works for everyone), just book any restaurants with a fixed cover charge first.

 

There is an added complication on some of the smaller ships (for example, this happened to us on the Star recently). On some cruises, bookings never open up in advance for Teppenyaki. You have to make the decision whether to go ahead and book the others (with the risk that Teppenyaki will open up later and you will have to prepay when booking), or whether to wait and see if Teppenyaki does appear nearer the cruise date (the risk here being that the time slots you would like in the other restaurants have gone by this time). I went for the first option and was able to book Teppenyaki easily after boarding as it never appeared for online booking. This does only seem to happen on a few ships (Star and Spirit are the two I am aware of), but is a complication if it does so. If Teppenyaki isn’t showing up on 90 days. it doesn’t mean that it is fully booked already.

 

Hopefully that clears up some of the confusion regarding these bookings. For the majority of people it is quite simple, but if you are booking more meals than you have SDP cover for then just be careful you don’t end up having to pay. You can get that money back (as OBC I believe), but you really have got better things to be doing when onboard than making sure that your refund arrives.

 

Keith--thank you for this excellent summary, very helpful. Question of clarification... you mentioned that there is often confusion with the bottle of wine you get with the La Cucina or Le Bistro voucher for Latitudes Platinum, I understood you to say that the bottle of wine with this voucher is one per person, not one per cabin. (Not that I could drink it all then, and we will have UBP) - but just to understand... the voucher entitles each member to a bottle of wine?

 

Thanks for clarifying --Traci :)

[KeithJenner]

Keith--thank you for this excellent summary, very helpful. Question of clarification... you mentioned that there is often confusion with the bottle of wine you get with the La Cucina or Le Bistro voucher for Latitudes Platinum, I understood you to say that the bottle of wine with this voucher is one per person, not one per cabin. (Not that I could drink it all then, and we will have UBP) - but just to understand... the voucher entitles each member to a bottle of wine?

 

Thanks for clarifying --Traci :)

 

 

 

At the time I wrote that, each platinum member received a meal for two with a bottle of wine at Le Bistro or La Cucina.

 

However, as is discussed later in the thread, the rules have now changed and each room gets one meal for two in Cagneys or Le Bistro with a bottle of wine, and one meal for two in La Cucina or Moderno with no wine.

 

These new choices are per room, so you just get the two meals for two and one bottle of wine, regardless of the number of platinums in the room.

[tbae]

I hereby recommend that Keith be our official explainer of everything :D

 

 

I second that!!!!!!!!

[tbae]

At the time I wrote that, each platinum member received a meal for two with a bottle of wine at Le Bistro or La Cucina.

 

However, as is discussed later in the thread, the rules have now changed and each room gets one meal for two in Cagneys or Le Bistro with a bottle of wine, and one meal for two in La Cucina or Moderno with no wine.

 

These new choices are per room, so you just get the two meals for two and one bottle of wine, regardless of the number of platinums in the room.

 

Thanks a million--I was kicking myself for not having waited to ask my questions as I was reading down the thread. You are AWESOME! :D:D

[AryMay]

On some cruises, bookings never open up in advance for Teppenyaki. You have to make the decision whether to go ahead and book the others (with the risk that Teppenyaki will open up later and you will have to prepay when booking), or whether to wait and see if Teppenyaki does appear nearer the cruise date (the risk here being that the time slots you would like in the other restaurants have gone by this time). I went for the first option and was able to book Teppenyaki easily after boarding as it never appeared for online booking. This does only seem to happen on a few ships (Star and Spirit are the two I am aware of), but is a complication if it does so. If Teppenyaki isn’t showing up on 90 days. it doesn’t mean that it is fully booked already.

 

Thanks for all of the helpful information.

 

We will be sailing on the Sun and have 4 meals as part of our dining package promo. I have made reservations for 3 of the meals, but Teppanyaki is not available for pre-booking.

 

I plan to make reservations for Teppanyaki as soon as we board...but where do I go to do this? This is only our 2nd NCL cruise and we didn't do any specialty dining on the first cruise.

[KeithJenner]

Thanks for all of the helpful information.

 

We will be sailing on the Sun and have 4 meals as part of our dining package promo. I have made reservations for 3 of the meals, but Teppanyaki is not available for pre-booking.

 

I plan to make reservations for Teppanyaki as soon as we board...but where do I go to do this? This is only our 2nd NCL cruise and we didn't do any specialty dining on the first cruise.

 

 

 

I've never been on the Sun, so this answer isn't specific to that ship.

 

You can go to the shore excursion desk at guest services in the atrium. That is usually what I do, but it can be busy, especially on embarkation day.

 

There are often stalls set up elsewhere taking reservations. I've seen them around the buffet area on some ships. I have also made or changes reservations at other restaurants where staff are there to do this on embarkation day despite the restaurant not being open at the time.

 

Other options are the iconcierge app, stateroom to or the TV screens which may be around the ship. I don't know which, if any, of those options the Sun has. I'd guess not the screens round the ship, maybe the stateroom TV and quite possibly through iconcierge.

[neptune18]

One more question: On the three dinner SPD, if I eat at Ocean Blue and pay the $15 up charge, does that count as one of my three?

[KeithJenner]

One more question: On the three dinner SPD, if I eat at Ocean Blue and pay the $15 up charge, does that count as one of my three?

 

 

 

Yes, it is $15 plus one of your credits.

[neptune18]

Thanks for the quick response.

[ctnurse]

Can someone walk me through booking dining reservations?

 

I have not decided if we are going to purchase the SDP. Can I make reservations and then purchase the plan later?

 

I would be making reservations for four, but my 4 year old would be eating off the kid's menu. Is it best to purchase the package before or after making reservations?

 

And how does that work when I only purchase(if I decide) 3 SDP packages, and making a reservation for 4.

Thanks

[KeithJenner]

Yes you can make reservations and then purchase the plan later.

 

However, remember that you will be charged for some restaurants (like Moderno and Teppenyaki) when you book unless you have purchased the plan before you make the booking.

 

So, if you are going to book one of those then including your 4 year old would involve having to make payment and then get a credit back when you eat. I have never done that, but I know people have. It strikes me as something that has the potential to be a problem.

 

As long as the person making the reservation has the plan then nobody will be charged, so it is fine for you to purchase 3 packages and make reservations for 4.

 

One final thing to remember is that the SDP is $10 more expensive if purchased onboard, so if you are going to buy it then it's best to decide before the cut off for purchasing online, a few days before sailing.

[francis12]

Hi I have an obc that I would like to use to purchase the 3 SDP when we board, but may I now make reservations ahead of time? We are going on the Breakaway in May. We are interested in eating at Le Bistro and Cagneys as our choices. Thanks

[KeithJenner]

Hi I have an obc that I would like to use to purchase the 3 SDP when we board, but may I now make reservations ahead of time? We are going on the Breakaway in May. We are interested in eating at Le Bistro and Cagneys as our choices. Thanks

 

The post directly above yours answers your question.

[ctnurse]

Yes you can make reservations and then purchase the plan later.

 

However, remember that you will be charged for some restaurants (like Moderno and Teppenyaki) when you book unless you have purchased the plan before you make the booking.

 

So, if you are going to book one of those then including your 4 year old would involve having to make payment and then get a credit back when you eat. I have never done that, but I know people have. It strikes me as something that has the potential to be a problem.

 

As long as the person making the reservation has the plan then nobody will be charged, so it is fine for you to purchase 3 packages and make reservations for 4.

 

 

 

One final thing to remember is that the SDP is $10 more expensive if purchased onboard, so if you are going to buy it then it's best to decide before the cut off for purchasing online, a few days before sailing.

 

Perfect! Thank you. I think I will purchase for 3 and make reservations for 4. Now I have to decide on how many days to purchase. :confused:

[MizDemeanor]

One more question: On the three dinner SPD, if I eat at Ocean Blue and pay the $15 up charge, does that count as one of my three?

 

I was not aware of an upcharge in Ocean Blue with the SDP. I knew there were exceptions to items on the menu.

 

Does this upcharge eliminate the exceptions, or do they still exist?

 

Thank you in advance.

[KeithJenner]

I was not aware of an upcharge in Ocean Blue with the SDP. I knew there were exceptions to items on the menu.

 

Does this upcharge eliminate the exceptions, or do they still exist?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

This is the wording from the website:

 

"Ocean Blue - $15 USD (does not include Seafood Extravaganza. If ordered, the upcharge is to be waived)"

I have never eaten in Ocean Blue, and don't really know the menu or prices. I'm not exactly sure what the above statement means. A literal reading would be that if you order the Seafood Extravaganza then they will charge you for it, but you won't pay the $15.

 

Your SDP credit would therefore get you your appetiser and dessert, which probably isn't worth it, and it's probably best to just not use the SDP there if you want to have that dish (which is the other possible interpretation of the above statement, although that isn't what it actually says).

 

Maybe someone else who has been there can confirm.

Edited March 14, 2017 by KeithJenner

[ryarger]

This is the wording from the website:

 

"Ocean Blue - $15 USD (does not include Seafood Extravaganza. If ordered, the upcharge is to be waived)"

 

Maybe someone else who has been there can confirm.

 

If you order the Seafood Extravaganza, they simply won't count that meal as an SDP meal. You'll pay the regular a la carte price and still have an SDP meal to be used.

[trish99]

I tried making reservations for our group of 9, online it only goes up to a party of 8. I called and was told I'd either need to wait until I'm onboard, or make 2 reservations under a different booking number, then combine them once onboard. Has anyone had experience doing that?

[TravelingAPor]

Thank you Keith for all this info. I have 4 in my cabin and I am taking the Free Specialty Dining. I keep seeing that it is for the first two people in your cabin. How will they monitor this? I also see an 18% gratuity charge. How do I pay for this? Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I've never gone to a specialty restaurant and thie Freebie is all new to me. Thank You! :)

[KeithJenner]

Thank you Keith for all this info. I have 4 in my cabin and I am taking the Free Specialty Dining. I keep seeing that it is for the first two people in your cabin. How will they monitor this? I also see an 18% gratuity charge. How do I pay for this? Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I've never gone to a specialty restaurant and thie Freebie is all new to me. Thank You! :)

 

The first two people named on your reservation will have their keycards marked to show they have the dining package, and the computer system will have the details. When they eat at a speciality restaurant the system deals with it and doesn't charge them for the meal.

 

That means that only the correct two people can use the credits as you have to let them scan your card to use the credit.

 

As for the gratuity, this should be included on your cruise confirmation and you will pay it when you make final payment on your cruise. I haven't seen this myself, as we don't pay the gratuity in the UK, but I believe that it is shown as a separate line in the costs. No gratuity is charged when you actually eat on anything covered by the SDP.

[TravelingAPor]

Thank you for the quick reply. What if I give my daughter my key card? Will she be able to eat in my place? Is my photo going to show up at the reservation desk, in the restaurant? Thanks for your reply and anyone else that may know the answer.

[KeithJenner]

Thank you for the quick reply. What if I give my daughter my key card? Will she be able to eat in my place? Is my photo going to show up at the reservation desk, in the restaurant? Thanks for your reply and anyone else that may know the answer.

 

 

 

I honestly don't know whether your photo would show up. They usually only scan one card when you arrive, but I don't know what they do when they take the cards to do the final bill.

 

My guess is that there is a reasonable chance they wouldn't spot anything, and may not care if they do, but you certainly run the risk of embarrassment if it does go wrong.

 

Personally, I wouldn't do it, but it's up to you.