robbie21 Posted July 15, 2019 #26 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Not previously mentioned is the option of booking the best times you can find on line and THEN trying to change them as soon as you get on board. Oceania holds back a portion of the reservations for folks who don't plan ahead (and for VIP's). Last time we were on Nautica (May 2019) they had a staffer taking and modifying reservations on Deck 5 at the Oceania Travel advisors desk. You can also check every day at breakfast at the Terrace for cancellations. We have always found the staff to be very helpful in dealing with groups trying to dine together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 15, 2019 #27 Share Posted July 15, 2019 20 minutes ago, Hoyaheel said: Thanks - I have calendar notifications set 😉 We're also totally flexible about dates & times. Except my in-laws want to eat on Christmas at a specialty restaurant, but none of us have priority booking. We've already warned them it probably won't be possible.... Have they been on Oceania before ? The speciaties will have a turkey but all the other items will be the same as any other night I would this the GDR would be more "Special" for Xmas dinner JMO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted July 15, 2019 #28 Share Posted July 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, LHT28 said: Have they been on Oceania before ? The speciaties will have a turkey but all the other items will be the same as any other night I would this the GDR would be more "Special" for Xmas dinner JMO Yes.... the place to be for Christmas will be the main dining room... Turkey in Polo, Chinese Turkey in Red Ginger... and Italian Turkey in Toscana just dosent cut the mustard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted July 15, 2019 #29 Share Posted July 15, 2019 25 minutes ago, LHT28 said: Have they been on Oceania before ? The speciaties will have a turkey but all the other items will be the same as any other night I would this the GDR would be more "Special" for Xmas dinner JMO Yes, I would definitely prefer the main dining room Christmas (I always do - it's my favorite place to dine) but they don't like sitting and dining for that long so I don't think they've gone more than once? Perhaps I'll cheat and tell them no specialty reservations are available and we'll eat together another night 😉 Yes, this will be their....4th or 5th Oceania cruise? I looked at the recent thread on loyalty status and didn't see anything about being able to book restaurants earlier than qualified for by room status - is that not correct? Of course, I had also read elsewhere that if in a Penthouse or whatnot - you could only book for yourself at the appointed time; would have to add "regular" cabin diners at their availability date. So it probably doesn't matter - I'll just try at my opening date and get what I get..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 15, 2019 #30 Share Posted July 15, 2019 17 minutes ago, Hoyaheel said: Yes, this will be their....4th or 5th Oceania cruise? I looked at the recent thread on loyalty status and didn't see anything about being able to book restaurants earlier than qualified for by room status - is that not correct? Of course, I had also read elsewhere that if in a Penthouse or whatnot - you could only book for yourself at the appointed time; would have to add "regular" cabin diners at their availability date. So it probably doesn't matter - I'll just try at my opening date and get what I get..... Dining reservation order is related only to booked cabin category - no relation to status. You can book the reservation with the PH booking number and 90% of the time there is no problem adding your guests with lower status at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 15, 2019 #31 Share Posted July 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Hoyaheel said: Yes, I would definitely prefer the main dining room Christmas (I always do - it's my favorite place to dine) but they don't like sitting and dining for that long so I don't think they've gone more than once? Perhaps I'll cheat and tell them no specialty reservations are available and we'll eat together another night 😉 the specialties can take long as well if more than 2 at the table we have been there for 2-3 hrs with 4 of us same s a GDR but whatever makes them happy LOL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted July 15, 2019 #32 Share Posted July 15, 2019 5 minutes ago, LHT28 said: the specialties can take long as well if more than 2 at the table we have been there for 2-3 hrs with 4 of us same s a GDR but whatever makes them happy LOL I never said they were logical ;-). They eat most meals in the Terrace Cafe, apparently. This will be our first Oceania cruise (ironically, it was our recommendation that got them on their first, they booked a bunch in a row and have been trying to get us to go with them for a while, so we finally agreed - it's the Caribbean, which, meh, I don't like sun or the beach so....But it goes to Grenada where I've always wanted to go. And I do want to try Oceania.) I imagine most evenings my husband and I will eat in the GDR and my in-laws will eat in the Terrace Cafe and everyone will be happy. Husband and I have booked La Reserve and hope to book each of the specialties. In-laws have requested one specialty restaurant meal with us and that's it so far. We just have different preferences and styles (and I was very clear in asking before we booked what the expectations on eating together would be 😉 They said we should do whatever we want) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 15, 2019 #33 Share Posted July 15, 2019 4 minutes ago, Hoyaheel said: This will be our first Oceania cruise I hope that you will enjoy your first O cruise (even though it is to the Carib ☺️) as well as the food and everything else. BTW - is this a Georgetown/UNC union? 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyaheel Posted July 15, 2019 #34 Share Posted July 15, 2019 3 hours ago, Paulchili said: ☺️- is this a Georgetown/UNC union? Alma maters. Ish. (I'm ABD from UNC but left the dissertation behind more than a decade ago.) I have been using the name for so long online I kept it. I still live in the Tarheel state so it's appropriate ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 15, 2019 #35 Share Posted July 15, 2019 18 minutes ago, Hoyaheel said: Alma maters. Ish. (I'm ABD from UNC but left the dissertation behind more than a decade ago.) I have been using the name for so long online I kept it. I still live in the Tarheel state so it's appropriate 😉 I see - I like that name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysteps Posted July 16, 2019 #36 Share Posted July 16, 2019 15 hours ago, Hoyaheel said: I imagine most evenings my husband and I will eat in the GDR and my in-laws will eat in the Terrace Cafe and everyone will be happy. We did a 16 day in South America with my folks several years ago on an O class. We dined together most nights, but (like you) I did all the specialty reservations and of our 4 we did 2 together and 2 apart - more or less the inverse of what is the best fit for you. The reservation process is well defined but the possibilities do multiply! Nice to be able to customize. Also, on some short R class itineraries they do start serving dinner at 6 pm. (or did a couple years ago). Otherwise yes dinner hours start at 6:30 for all restaurants on all Oceania ships. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bbtondo Posted July 16, 2019 #37 Share Posted July 16, 2019 21 hours ago, Paulchili said: Dining reservation order is related only to booked cabin category - no relation to status. You can book the reservation with the PH booking number and 90% of the time there is no problem adding your guests with lower status at the same time. We are a group of four couples on a med cruise next Spring. One couple is in a PH and the three remainder are in Conciege cabins. Are you saying that our PH friends can book their specialty restaurants and add our booking number to make a table of eight before we are able to book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 16, 2019 #38 Share Posted July 16, 2019 5 minutes ago, bbtondo said: We are a group of four couples on a med cruise next Spring. One couple is in a PH and the three remainder are in Conciege cabins. Are you saying that our PH friends can book their specialty restaurants and add our booking number to make a table of eight before we are able to book? Usually PH can book the reservations @ 75 days concierge at 60 days It has been reported that people in the higher cat can add guests from the lower cat when booking BUT it seems to be hit or miss Sometimes the Higher Cat people will have to wait until the right time frame to add people in the lower Cat They can try & see if it works if not just add guests where their time slot opens up Which is what we have done in the past YMMV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 16, 2019 #39 Share Posted July 16, 2019 1 minute ago, LHT28 said: Usually PH can book the reservations @ 75 days concierge at 60 days It has been reported that people in the higher cat can add guests from the lower cat when booking BUT it seems to be hit or miss Exactly - it works most of the time but not always. Might be easier to have your TA do it or call O directly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted July 16, 2019 #40 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Tables of eight (8) are not sure things! Mostly 6 and below in the Specialties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted July 16, 2019 #41 Share Posted July 16, 2019 50 minutes ago, bbtondo said: We are a group of four couples on a med cruise next Spring. One couple is in a PH and the three remainder are in Conciege cabins. Are you saying that our PH friends can book their specialty restaurants and add our booking number to make a table of eight before we are able to book? If you are on Marina or Riviera, consider booking Privee - especially if you have OBC to use for this. A real special place to have dinner for 8 people with the possibility of ordering from both Polo’s and Toscana’s menu. A much more memorable and special meal for 8 people than in any of the specialties crowded around a table intended for 6. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ORV Posted July 16, 2019 #42 Share Posted July 16, 2019 While I'm not sure about Toscana or Polo I know I have eaten at a table for 8 in RG & Jacques. Not sure how many they have in there though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bbtondo Posted July 17, 2019 #43 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Thanks everyone for your advice. We will be on the Riviera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsngoats Posted July 25, 2019 #44 Share Posted July 25, 2019 January 2020 will be our second sailing with Oceania, first with two rooms/booking #s. If I make an online reservation in Polo Grill, for example, and invite our friends in the other room, does it ‘count’ towards their allotted number of specialty reservations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted July 25, 2019 #45 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 25, 2019 #46 Share Posted July 25, 2019 2 hours ago, catsngoats said: January 2020 will be our second sailing with Oceania, first with two rooms/booking #s. If I make an online reservation in Polo Grill, for example, and invite our friends in the other room, does it ‘count’ towards their allotted number of specialty reservations? yes each cabin get a specific number of Pre reserved seatings in each restaurant does not matter how they get there it counts against their pre reserved count You can always try for more seatings once onboard depending on availability Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsngoats Posted July 28, 2019 #47 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Thanks, got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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