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Unlimited Dining Package - How Does it Work

CruzintheBL
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CruzintheBL

CruzintheBL

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I purchased the Unlimited dining package for myself and my companion.  After I purchased it new dining options appeared the next day for purchase to individual restaurants.  If I want to set a reservation for a specific dining time in those restaurants I have to pay individually for the restaurant; however they were included in my package.  How can I be assured I will get seated in those restaurants if others are making specific restaurant choices right now and all I have is a paid bill for unlimited dining that blocks my time but does not allow me to identify a specific restaurant?

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Host Kat Holiday Sharing Rare

Host Kat

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@CruzintheBL

 

Howdy and welcome to Cruise Critic! emo22.gif 

 

To help you out I have moved your thread to the Royal Caribbean International forum. It is a more correct forum for your inquiry about your Unlimited Dining Package on a RCI cruise and where it will be more on-topic. The majority of your fellow Cruise Critic members that have sailed RCI frequent the forum and provide feedback there. Please browse through the thread titles on the forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that will be of interest to you.

 

Cruise Critic is a great resource for new as well as experienced cruisers and we are so glad you found us! emo34.gif  Please feel free to browse the Cruise Critic Community Categories list. Read a few threads in the forums to get a feel for what each forum is about. Make sure you read any pinned threads on the top of the first page of threads in a forum. You will find very important instructions or information there.

 

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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9 hours ago, CruzintheBL said:

I purchased the Unlimited dining package for myself and my companion.  After I purchased it new dining options appeared the next day for purchase to individual restaurants.  If I want to set a reservation for a specific dining time in those restaurants I have to pay individually for the restaurant; however they were included in my package.  How can I be assured I will get seated in those restaurants if others are making specific restaurant choices right now and all I have is a paid bill for unlimited dining that blocks my time but does not allow me to identify a specific restaurant?

One of the trade offs for getting a reduced rate per meal is that you have to book your reservations on board. Only those paying full price can book in advance. 
 

we have had the UDP many times and never had problems getting the times we wanted (within 1/2 hour). Book all your reservations as soon as you board. 

Edited by Ourusualbeach
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taglovestocruise

taglovestocruise

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30 minutes ago, CruzintheBL said:

Where do you go to make the reservations once on Board?

Side note.. Check prices today, our Allure 14 night in Nov. just dropped $60.00pp on the UDP.  Like Ken we always have at least a 5 night package and never a problem unless you need 6 -7 pm. If you are on a ship with a Wonderland go there to make reservations. Wonderland seems to never have a line, everyone goes to Chop's and stand in long lines.  Make it your first stop and have all your times and days on a list, it makes it much easier. 

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adolfo2

adolfo2

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13 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

One of the trade offs for getting a reduced rate per meal is that you have to book your reservations on board. Only those paying full price can book in advance. 
 

we have had the UDP many times and never had problems getting the times we wanted (within 1/2 hour). Book all your reservations as soon as you board. 

Yes, people paying "full price" for specialty restaurants get first crack at them. Those with the dining package get the left-overs. One thing positive about NCL is that dining "package" people are treated the same when making advance reservations.

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Saturngrl

Saturngrl

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On Royal Caribbean, the posters are correct about the process.  On Cruise Planner, choose Day 1 or 2 and the time.  Upon boarding head to a Specialty Restaurant on Deck 8 or Wonderland on Deck 12 to make your reservations.  

 

On our past January 2020 cruise, we were able to book all of our preferences immediately, because we were first in line at Giovanni's on the Allure.   Hope this works for your cruise next year! 

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taglovestocruise

taglovestocruise

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6 hours ago, CruzintheBL said:

We will be on the Harmony, and it does have a Wonderland. I will take your advice and that will be the first thing we do when we board!  - Thanks you for the responses.

 

One little tip on Oasis Class,  no charge breakfast at JR before 10:30. Tip  2, be sure  to make all your show reservations as soon as they open in the cruise planner and get there at least 15 minutes early as they open the standby line 10 minutes before show time. .   happy cruising

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rusty nut

rusty nut

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Don't panic when you board and see long lines at the specialty restaurants. You can make all your reservations for any specialty restaurant, virtually anywhere on the ship.

1. Pick up any phone on the ship and press customer service.

2. Main dining room podium.

3. Any specialty restaurant.

4. Customer service desk.

5. If you are Diamond, the DLC can book your reservations.

6. The specialty restaurant podium in the promenade.

7. Heck, I think even a bartender at any bar can make your reservations.

8. This might be a stretch, but I think even your room steward can do it. 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
bigrednole

bigrednole

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On 5/4/2020 at 12:07 PM, taglovestocruise said:

One little tip on Oasis Class,  no charge breakfast at JR before 10:30. Tip  2, be sure  to make all your show reservations as soon as they open in the cruise planner and get there at least 15 minutes early as they open the standby line 10 minutes before show time. .   happy cruising

Thanks for this and to OP for asking. So, book shows on Cruise Planner the first chance we can. If we choose to buy the 3 meal package, book those immediately when we board. If I had to guess, we are looking at Chops, Izumi, and Wonderland or Johnny Rockets. 

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, bigrednole said:

Thanks for this and to OP for asking. So, book shows on Cruise Planner the first chance we can. If we choose to buy the 3 meal package, book those immediately when we board. If I had to guess, we are looking at Chops, Izumi, and Wonderland or Johnny Rockets. 

Don't waste 1 night of your dining package at Johnny Rockets.  It's only $10pp to eat there while all the other places are around $40.

Edited by Ourusualbeach
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Biker19

Biker19

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34 minutes ago, suebussy said:

Any idea if you can book each night once you get onboard using  your cruise planner (on quantum ships)?

You no longer have access to the planner on the ship - you have access to the RCI app. Booking the initial reservation is probably limited to a host at one of the venues - you might be able to move an existing reservation, if you see it in the RCI app.

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firefly333

firefly333

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On 5/4/2020 at 11:07 AM, taglovestocruise said:

One little tip on Oasis Class,  no charge breakfast at JR before 10:30. Tip  2, be sure  to make all your show reservations as soon as they open in the cruise planner and get there at least 15 minutes early as they open the standby line 10 minutes before show time. .   happy cruising

Oh I had forgotten how good the hash browns were at Johnny rockets. A whole meal by themselves for my size appetite, but free for breakfast on oasis class. A bit of a wait as very popular unless you eat early.

 

Thanks for the reminder.

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Biker19

Biker19

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10 minutes ago, brucefan21 said:

We were looking at booking Chops and the hibachi at Izumi. 

Chops might be doable but Izumi, especially for hibachi, for that many will tough - you'll need to be real flexible on timing and book as soon as you board.

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brucefan21

brucefan21

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32 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Chops might be doable but Izumi, especially for hibachi, for that many will tough - you'll need to be real flexible on timing and book as soon as you board.

Thank you for your insight!  We may do the Chops +1 option which looks like at least we can book the Chops time when we purchase it in the cruise planner.  Then we can make a beeline to book Izumi once we board and hope for the best.  

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