fb0075 Posted September 14, 2019 #1 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Trying to decide to go to a specialty restaurant THANKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 14, 2019 #2 Share Posted September 14, 2019 personal choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted September 14, 2019 #3 Share Posted September 14, 2019 We like going to a specialty on the first night because it's usually easy to get a reservation. Or maybe I should say easiER. As I have often said, we aren't people who want specialty reservations all that often but we have found that the first night is good. Probably the same can be said of the last night -- we aren't the only ones who prefer to dine in our cabin on the last night so that we can concentrate on our packing to go home. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted September 14, 2019 #4 Share Posted September 14, 2019 For some reason, in all of our cruises, the first night in the MDR is always confused. It's like everyone is new and forgot to do what they did during the last cruise. After that first night, things settle down. Is O that way in the GDR on night 1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 14, 2019 #5 Share Posted September 14, 2019 1 minute ago, ricka47 said: For some reason, in all of our cruises, the first night in the MDR is always confused. It's like everyone is new and forgot to do what they did during the last cruise. After that first night, things settle down. Is O that way in the GDR on night 1? I do not find it confused unless they have a new load of crew working in the GDR The Terrace is often a zoo on the 1st night people are tired & just want to eat & not change for dinner JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sny Posted September 14, 2019 #6 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Don't waste specialty reservations on the first night. On our first O cruise, we went to the MDR and were met with "would you like to dine at Polo tonight?" We ended up sharing a table with another couple who had also intended to go to the MDR and we had a lovely first night... and an extra specialty reservation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted September 14, 2019 #7 Share Posted September 14, 2019 1 hour ago, fb0075 said: Trying to decide to go to a specialty restaurant THANKS Your "first" night is someone else's "next" night (particularly on Insignia during the "world cruise" months). And, the GDR menu repeat pattern on all O ships is longer than those of most other cruise lines. What may change on the first day of a "new"' segment are waitstaff placements, which can sometimes cause a bit of isolated confusion. Also, as aforementioned, the first (and last) night of a cruise segment may find you more flexibility in getting desired times/tables in the specialty restaurants. My suggestion is to try to pre-select your initial reservations at your Plan A times (as it is for many folks, including us, that would be sea days at 7pm+\-) and use first/last days for extra reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdeb Posted September 14, 2019 #8 Share Posted September 14, 2019 After being settled into you room you can always go to the desk to ask if there is space available in any of the specialties. without using a prearranged reservation. if not then there is still the GDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted September 14, 2019 #9 Share Posted September 14, 2019 On our first Marina cruise -- October 2011 -- I tried to get a table for six in Jacques but since I didn't have the other couples' booking numbers our butler couldn't get a reservation. So we went to the GDR ... where we were asked if we'd like to go to Jacques. So we did ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victory2020 Posted September 20, 2019 #10 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Can you make reservations in the main dining room every night? Do you even need them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sny Posted September 20, 2019 #11 Share Posted September 20, 2019 No reservations necessary for GDR. Just show up. We have never had to wait for a table; although we are not early diners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricka47 Posted September 20, 2019 #12 Share Posted September 20, 2019 How common is it to be asked in the GDR on the first night if a specialty would be OK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted September 20, 2019 #13 Share Posted September 20, 2019 16 minutes ago, ricka47 said: How common is it to be asked in the GDR on the first night if a specialty would be OK? Rare! But it happens. On many cruises people head straight to the dining reservation desk, once aboard, and make an additional reservation for that night. There are those that attempt to eat in a Specialty every night of the cruise and they are either in the line, or their Butler daily. It always amazes me to be on a 20 day cruise with only 2 Specialty Restaurants and have people trying to eat in a Specialty nightly! Some do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieBelle Posted September 20, 2019 #14 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Riviera embarkation in May we were having lunch at Waves with sons and DIL's. We were approached at the table and asked if we would like to dine in a specialty that night, table for 6. We accepted the offer. This was in addition to our previously booked 4 reservations. Only time this has ever happened to us. However, we have requested additional reservations and have obtained them approximately 50% of the time. YMMV Katie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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