GEM- Orchid Garden restaurant

[Sand and Seas]

For recent Gem cruisers, just wondering about the Orchid Garden restaurant.    

Can you make reservations after boarding?  (It will not allow us to reserve in advance like the specialty restaurants we have booked.)

 

 

 

 

[bonvoyagie]

Orchard Garden is complementary so it falls into the same category as O'Sheehan's and the MDRs. 

[Sand and Seas]

23 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said:

Orchard Garden is complementary so it falls into the same category as O'Sheehan's and the MDRs. 

On our Breakaway cruise earlier this month we were able to make a reservation after boarding for Shanghais Noodle Bar.   We couldn't reserve until we boarded and times filled up fast.   Just wondering if it might now be the same on the Gem as it's been awhile since we were on a Jewel class ship.

[mking8288]

As of last week, on the Dawn's Bamboo (Asian dining) - reservations can/must be made onboard for free dining.  Couldn't do that in advance online with a booking, nor could we do it onboard with the NCL "App" interactively.  It's either calling the onboard reservation # (extension) or going to the RR Desk to see what's available.  We did that for a table of 8 and hostess told us all the slots filled up, especially toward the end of our cruise week.  

 

She offered to put smaller parties on a standby list, in case of no-shows.  

[yearsofcruising]

yup Orchard Garden is a freebie..

[Sand and Seas]

12 hours ago, mking8288 said:

As of last week, on the Dawn's Bamboo (Asian dining) - reservations can/must be made onboard for free dining.  Couldn't do that in advance online with a booking, nor could we do it onboard with the NCL "App" interactively.  It's either calling the onboard reservation # (extension) or going to the RR Desk to see what's available.  We did that for a table of 8 and hostess told us all the slots filled up, especially toward the end of our cruise week.  

 

She offered to put smaller parties on a standby list, in case of no-shows.  

It sounds like Dawn is doing the same thing as Breakaway for the complementary Asian restaurant.  I know in the past on some ships people would just line up at 5:30 or so and hope to get in.    

 

Even though Orchid Garden is a 'freebie' I'm thinking they might allow us to reserve once we board.       

Thanks for your replies🙂 

[mking8288]

Our BIL and also friends, recently off the Getaway (on T/A repo) said that (free) Shanghai Noodles dining is now by reservations only too - apparently, quite popular.  

[ggTexasGal]

10 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

It sounds like Dawn is doing the same thing as Breakaway for the complementary Asian restaurant.  I know in the past on some ships people would just line up at 5:30 or so and hope to get in.    

 

Even though Orchid Garden is a 'freebie' I'm thinking they might allow us to reserve once we board.       

Thanks for your replies🙂 

We were on the Gem about a month ago.  We tried to make a reservation for Orchid Garden at the front desk.  However, we were told we would have to just go to Orchid Garden, while they were open, to make a reservation.  We were fortunate that we to wanted to dine early, so we were simply seated right away, on that particular evening.  But, yes, reservations are required!

[Sand and Seas]

13 minutes ago, ggTexasGal said:

We were on the Gem about a month ago.  We tried to make a reservation for Orchid Garden at the front desk.  However, we were told we would have to just go to Orchid Garden, while they were open, to make a reservation.  We were fortunate that we to wanted to dine early, so we were simply seated right away, on that particular evening.  But, yes, reservations are required!

Good to know!   

I'm making a note on my 'things to do' first day.     Thanks😎

[WickedRed]

I was on the Gem earlier this month.  My friends and I just walked up and asked to be seated.  We were seated right away and the place was pretty much empty the whole time we were there.  This was the first night though, and I think it was a different story the rest of the week.  Food was excellent!

[vince_g]

Been on Gem many many times, the latest being earlier in May.  Unlike Bamboo on the Dawn, Orchid Garden does not take reservations.

[df5250]

I was on the Gem in April.  As others have said, you could not make a reservation for Orchid Garden.  I went several times during the cruise at peak times and only had to wait once.  This was a 14 day cruise, so I am not sure if it will be different on shorter cruises.  On the Dawn to Bermuda last year, we were lucky to get in once. 

Edited May 24, 2019 by df5250