How to get a Main Dining Room Reservation?

[RichSD]

We've never sailed on HAL before.  On other cruise lines, we're accustomed to having a MDR reservation at a specific time (when we've booked open dining) to get the table size we like and to ensure a table will be available.  How do we get an MDR reservation on HAL? 

[oaktreerb]

Talk to the “maitre’d” at the entrance to the dining room the first night you are onboard.  It is much easier to do if you arrive at 5:15/5:30 pm.  

[daisy-mae]

You can also make a phone reservation from your stateroom after you board.

[jimdee3636]

@RichSD

We're four-star with HAL (which means we've been on quite a few cruises with them), and our travel agent has always requested "late seating, table for two," and we've always gotten that confirmed at the time of booking. On embarkation day, I still go to the dining room shortly after boarding to see exactly where "our" table is, and if it's in a bad location I go and see the maitre 'd to see if something better is available.

 

My understanding, though, is that on most sailings the early dining fills up more quickly, so there may not be as much flexibility on HAL's or the maitre 'd's part.