late in port or overnight specialty discount?

[39august]

Last month on Equinox we got 30% off coupons left in our cabin for specialty restaurants on 2 different nights, One was on the night we skipped San Juan and the other was when we had a 7 PM departure from Grand Cayman. Is this a common practice when the ship is sailing later than the usual 5 or so PM? The scheduled time to leave San Juan is very late, tho' we had to miss it due to a medical emergency. In Feb. we will be over-nighting in Aruba, so wondering if we will get a coupon then.

[Cruzinram]

We have gotten 50% off several times. Usually on embarkation night and sometimes on TA's. I think you could get 30% off most anytime just by asking. I did...

[dutchclogs]

We have gotten 50% off several times. Usually on embarkation night and sometimes on TA's. I think you could get 30% off most anytime just by asking. I did...

 

Depends how booked up they are... never been offered 50% but, this has been in Europe. Hoping there is a good chance of a discount on an overnight though!

[Luvcrusn]

As stated, it depends on their booking volume. That being said, my standard operation is to ask. If you don't ask the answer is definitely no!;)

[jelayne]

Currently on the Equinox and we were in San Juan yesterday with a 10pm departure. We are in AQ and received a offer of $35 for with Silk Harvest or Sushi on 5 - good only for those 2 venues and only yesterday. Not sure if this coupon was only distributed to AQ or to the whole ship.

 

The past few times we were in AQ we were offered 50% off on a specialty restaurant for Embarkation night. That was before they started selling 1st night 30% off bookings in the Cruise Planner. This cruise we could only get 30% on the first night once on the ship, so maybe the new 30% off first night have eliminated days of 50% off

[Mr. Click]

We have gotten coupons, offers from staff stationed outside the buffet, offers from our waiters...It really does depend on how busy they are. If bookings are down, discounts are up. Supply and demand. All of the specialty dining package deals have cut into the onboard discounting because people will guy the packages and fill up the venues.

[phoenix_dream]

We have never been 'offered' much if any discount. However, we have been able to secure discounts as high as 50% (Qsine) and 30% (Tuscan) when we are in port late, and so far all the time when we are in port overnight. It really all depends on the bookings, but for overnights especially you can almost count on a decent discount, although you may need to ask for it.

[39august]

Thanks, Phoenix. Exactly what I was looking for. Since Aruba is overnight, I will ask.

[phoenix_dream]

I would also recommend you wait to ask until the day or night before, or perhaps 2 days before at the earliest. The closer to the actual time the more desperate they become to fill the restaurants.

[Northern Aurora]

39august: Through the years we have done several overnights at such ports as Buenos Aires, Venice, Malaga, San Francisco, Seattle, Quebec, and Reykjavik. I don't recall any special discounts on these overnight port calls. But let us know what happens on your cruise.

[phoenix_dream]

39august: Through the years we have done several overnights at such ports as Buenos Aires, Venice, Malaga, San Francisco, Seattle, Quebec, and Reykjavik. I don't recall any special discounts on these overnight port calls. But let us know what happens on your cruise.

But did you ask for them? We've never had them offered, but got great discounts when we asked

[PelicanLvr]

We left Aruba at 10pm in Jan 2017. We did eat dinner off the ship that night....but VERY few other people did. Don't expect the ship to be "empty" that night.

 

BTW, there are some really great "in the sand" restaurants for a nice dinner in Aruba. Great experience to try one around sunset. You can eat on the ship another night.