"Freedom Dining" in Grills and Britannia Club?

[david,Mississauga]

Perhaps this is just a change in terminology, but recently the booking site is indicating that the Grills and Britannia Club offer "freedom dining." Other lines that use that term offer no table assignment. One of the best things about the Grills and the Club is being able to dine at all meals when you wish, but you have the same table.

 

On a Holland America cruise we booked traditional dining (second sitting at dinner) on the upper level of the restaurant. The lower level was freedom dining and every time I looked there was a long queue to get in. I am hoping Cunard doesn't do away with table assignments.

[david,Mississauga]

Although the booking system isn't working properly right now, I notice a change from yesterday. The term "freedom dining" is gone and the usual descriptions have been restored.

[carlmm]

42 minutes ago, david,Mississauga said:

Although the booking system isn't working properly right now, I notice a change from yesterday. The term "freedom dining" is gone and the usual descriptions have been restored.

 

Cunard, do not mess around with assigned tables!

[ExArkie]

2 hours ago, carlmm said:

 

Cunard, do not mess around with assigned tables!

I agree completely.

[foodsvcmgr]

IMO this is the optimal dining system - no need to tinker around with it.

[tv24]

Totally agree.  And we too had the experience of long lines on HAL to wait for a "freedom table."  We switched to a set dining time and the same table each evening.

[david,Mississauga]

I have again checked a voyage that I have booked and another one that I am thinking of booking. One of them mentions a reserved table in the Grills and Britannia Club and the other one says freedom dining.

[Mudhen]

One of the reasons we spend the extra for a Grill cabin is the fixed table and arrival at our discretion. We love seeing the same wait staff and nearby table neighbors. We'd be EXTREMEMLY disappointed if they changed this and could be a deal breaker for us down the road. Please don't mess with a good thing, Cunard!

[Victoria2]

32 minutes ago, Mudhen said:

One of the reasons we spend the extra for a Grill cabin is the fixed table and arrival at our discretion. We love seeing the same wait staff and nearby table neighbors. We'd be EXTREMEMLY disappointed if they changed this and could be a deal breaker for us down the road. Please don't mess with a good thing, Cunard!

Our bookings, all QG  all say 

Dining type

Your dining time will be between 6pm - 9pm

 

so I wouldn't get too worried. 

[ExArkie]

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

Our bookings, all QG  all say 

Dining type

Your dining time will be between 6pm - 9pm

 

so I wouldn't get too worried. 

As does ours for PG. Of course, it also says that we are in the "Main Dining Room." 

 

[BlueRiband]

Elimination of assigned tables would be a deal breaker for me as well.  (It's also why I'll never sail NCL.)  Some of my best memories came from the camaraderie of a shared table. 

[57eric]

How do shared tables work when there is no assigned seating time?  Obviously you could make an agreement with your tablemates, but that sort of undercuts the concept of no assigned time.  Conversely, isn't it a bit awkward if one couple is seated as another is having their entrees cleared?

[Colin_Cameron]

My feeling is that this is likely to be an error.

 

BUT... I wonder if it could be a way to allow the staff to space people out during the current social distancing restrictions? Rather than having groups seated close together while other areas of the restaurant are empty.

[Victoria2]

2 hours ago, ExArkie said:

As does ours for PG. Of course, it also says that we are in the "Main Dining Room." 

 

It  does, but delve into your account and it does say 'Besides reservations in your main restaurant, '

which I take to mean your assigned restaurant. The site blurb still mentions 'fine dining in our Queens Grill restaurant each evening' and as that is a huge part of the price paid to cruise Queens Grill, I will expect it to remain.

 

Edit

There is in the general blurb a paragraph which which says we might be asked  to pre reserve tables in the restaurants but that's no bother to us.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Victoria2

[Victoria2]

1 hour ago, 57eric said:

How do shared tables work when there is no assigned seating time?  Obviously you could make an agreement with your tablemates, but that sort of undercuts the concept of no assigned time.  Conversely, isn't it a bit awkward if one couple is seated as another is having their entrees cleared?

We have sat down to dine as a whole table and also dined at different times. At no time is it awkward if fellow diners are at different stages of the meal.

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, 57eric said:

How do shared tables work when there is no assigned seating time?  Obviously you could make an agreement with your tablemates, but that sort of undercuts the concept of no assigned time.  Conversely, isn't it a bit awkward if one couple is seated as another is having their entrees cleared?

I agree we have only cruised in QG once and booked very early requesting a table for 2. I wouldn't have been very happy if I had to share a table as the whole point of QG is to go for dinner when it suits you and might vary day by day. Certainly wouldn't want to agree a set time with the rest of the table and would feel uncomfortable personally walking in for dinner and some on same table already on their main course. Not for me.

[BigMac1953]

We've travelled QG a couple of dozen times, but always had a table for 2. However, I know some people who enjoy socialising at large tables, of which there are only 3 or 4 in QG.

 

Those on the large tables usually make an informal agreement to have dinner together at a certain time and perhaps meet in the lounge beforehand.

 

For breakfast and lunch, they seem to turn up at random times.

 

I very much doubt anything is going to change, it doesn't need to as there are enough tables to cater for all QG pax. What good would shuffling them about do?

[57eric]

One of the least satisfactory cruise dining experiences I've had was on MSC YC, where my wife and I were assigned to a table for two.  (English speakers were a small minority.)  With difficulty, we were able to make some adjustments, but it wasn't fun.  For me, making new friends at dinner is one of the greatest joys of cruising.

 

Regarding my original post, I agree that arriving mid-meal is not so awkward.  I struggle more with the concept of leaving while others are eating (although probably preferable to sitting around an extra 45 minutes while they finish).  But if coming and going is standard procedure in these circumstances, I'm sure I can make the adjustment

[Relaxing Rita]

We have just booked PG for November 2021 

We were advised that we will be assigned our own 2 person table and dine at any time.

If however we were cruising with friends we would all be able to sit at the one table.

New Covid regulations.

[majortom10]

13 hours ago, Relaxing Rita said:

We have just booked PG for November 2021 

We were advised that we will be assigned our own 2 person table and dine at any time.

If however we were cruising with friends we would all be able to sit at the one table.

New Covid regulations.

Whoever told you that were assigned a table for 2 was wrong as on booking they are classed as "not confirmed" if you look on your Cunard invoice. You will only know you are guaranteed a table for 2 when you get onboard.

[BigMac1953]

If you ask for a table of 2 in the Grills, you will get one.

 

[Colin_Cameron]

At the moment everyone (booking as a couple) gets a table for two.

[resistk]

No telling what grills will be like post COVID.  But given the price charged any attempt economization should right be a deal breaker.

[resistk]

On 2/18/2021 at 9:28 AM, majortom10 said:

Whoever told you that were assigned a table for 2 was wrong as on booking they are classed as "not confirmed" if you look on your Cunard invoice. You will only know you are guaranteed a table for 2 when you get onboard.

The assistant maitre will usually accomodate requests.  They will try sometimes to squeeze tables too close in the Princess Grill but usually will back down if you protest the arrangement.

[resistk]

On 2/17/2021 at 3:56 PM, 57eric said:

One of the least satisfactory cruise dining experiences I've had was on MSC YC, where my wife and I were assigned to a table for two.  (English speakers were a small minority.)  With difficulty, we were able to make some adjustments, but it wasn't fun.  For me, making new friends at dinner is one of the greatest joys of cruising.

 

Regarding my original post, I agree that arriving mid-meal is not so awkward.  I struggle more with the concept of leaving while others are eating (although probably preferable to sitting around an extra 45 minutes while they finish).  But if coming and going is standard procedure in these circumstances, I'm sure I can make the adjustment

 

MSC has one of the least consistent products out there, caveat emptor.

Edited February 22, 2021 by resistk