probably silly question @ pc dining

[dorotha]

Okay, my online TA just confirmed that we will probably be assigned to PC dining on our 6/27 Sapphire cruise, because we didn't book 6 months before the cruise. I am trying hard not to be disappointed (I love the big dining room thing) but the first night of the cruise is my birthday and I was hoping to at least be expected somewhere. I know this is silly, but is there at least a good chance we could get into Sterling that night? Do I just get on the phone as soon as we board and beg or what?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;6;27;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700[/img]
Until I Sail for Alaska on the Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess-Alaska-2004
Coral Princess-Coastal-2003

[bjkTX]

First off - Happy Birthday a few days early!

I'm not sure what the policy is on having to book more than 6 months prior to get traditional seating since we never wanted it - but I can tell you when we got on the Diamond a few weeks ago the first thing I did was call and book our choices for the entire cruise - and we enjoyed the Sterling that first night!

Hope you get what you want - and have a great birthday cruise!

[srphnx]

Getting into Sterling first night is practically a guarentee, it will be easiest to get your preferred time by calling immediately once on board, but you can walk up at any time (wait of 15 minutes likely) or go late 9:30 and not wait at all.

The issues with Sterling are exaggerated, if you are flexible and patient or quick and crafty you will have no problems.

[B] Life is at it's best when your address floats [/B]
Two MORE open Bookings.
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[Pam in CA]

Even if you're signed up for PC dining, it's still the "big dining room" thing. The only difference is that you don't have a set time -- you can go whenever you want, make a reservation ahead of time, etc. If you find a waiter/asst. waiter that you like, you can reserve their table for every night. If you meet people you'd like to dine with, you can make arrangements to eat with them.

You won't lose anything by having PC dining except for the Baked Alaska parade and the assigned table and waiter/asst. waiter.

Not sure what the 6-month means but it's possible that the traditional dining was filled that far in advance.

Song of Norway & Song of America, 1986-88; Royal Princess 2/99; Sun Princess 1/00; Ocean Princess 12/00; Royal Princess 4/01; Grand Princess 12/23/01; Sea Princess 2/9/02; Explorer of the Seas 12/21/02; Coral Princess 8/9/03; Nordic Empress 12/27/03; Regal Princess (4/20/04)

-- Caribbean Princess (12/26/04) -- [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=9323078957"]Roll Call[/url]
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0099FF&cdt=2004;12;26;12;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
-- Royal Princess (4/21/05) -- [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=999100981&r=999100981#999100981"]Roll Call[/url]
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0099FF&cdt=2005;04;21;12;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

[srphnx]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dorotha:
Okay, my online TA just confirmed that we will probably be assigned to PC dining on our 6/27 Sapphire cruise, because we didn't book 6 months before the cruise. I am trying hard not to be disappointed (I love the big dining room thing)[B]On Saphire the Traditional DR is exactly twice the size of any of the 4 PC rooms, none are the vast cavern you get on other ships[/B] but the first night of the cruise is my birthday and I was hoping to at least be expected somewhere. I know this is silly, but is there at least a good chance we could get into Sterling that night? Do I just get on the phone as soon as we board and beg or what?

[url="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;6;27;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700"]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;6;27;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700[/url]
Until I Sail for Alaska on the Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess-Alaska-2004
Coral Princess-Coastal-2003<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[B] Life is at it's best when your address floats [/B]
Two MORE open Bookings.
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[dorotha]

Thanks, everyone! I'll stop sniffling now and sit down with the itinerary (beats working!) & figure out what wonderful place I'll get reservations for each evening! Unfortunately, I'm not patient, or crafty, or even quick, but I can be flexible if I need to be! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;6;27;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700[/img]
Until I Sail for Alaska on the Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess-Alaska-2004
Coral Princess-Coastal-2003

[KAJOKG]

You can try to switch to traditional dining as soon as you board the ship. Ask the purser where to inquire about that.

KATY

NCL NORWAY - 2000
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2001
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2002
HAL NOORDAM - 2002
HAL VOLENDAM - 2003
ISLAND PRINCESS - NOV. 2003
HAL VOLENDAM - JAN. 2004
CORAL PRINCESS - OCT. 2004

[LindaKE]

I would guess that all you would need to do in the PC dining room would be let your waiter or the maitre d' know that it is your birthday. They will make it special even there. We do like PC dining very much.

LindaKE
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;2;6;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Until Star Princess

Sun Princess(Alaska)
Carnival Inspiration

[mpk]

How bad can the wait for pc dining be? Does it ever go over 30 minutes?

[srphnx]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mpk:
How bad can the wait for pc dining be? Does it ever go over 30 minutes?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Generally NO. But that is up to your fellow pax, we sailed with a large group that tried to eat together, that knotted things up a bit.

[B] Life is at it's best when your address floats [/B]
Two MORE open Bookings.
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[bjkTX]

On our Diamond cruise we made reservations for 6:30 or 7 each evening, walked up gave them our cabin nuber and were escorted to our table. We never saw anyone waiting when we came in. I'm sure that changed on different days and different times - but that was our experience.

[kitty555]

It did seem like the earlier you went to PC the better chance you had of not waiting for a table.

I agree with the above answers. You can request a big table and let the waiter know it's your birthday in PC.

[Xoe]

You can also, right now, request traditional dining first seating and be waitlisted -- take it if you get it, and otherwised, take PC. Nothing to lose by trying. On our back-to-back Alaska north- and southbound on Coral in May, we were waitlisted for first seating, but by the time we left, it was all cleared. You can monitor it with your booking # on Princess' web site, also. And once you have the confirmed first seating, you are still not OBLIGATED to eat there, only have the RIGHT to do so.