Shared dining

[MELSMOM47]

If when making a reservation for either of the specialty restaurants. you accept sharing a table, How many are typically at the table? 4, 6, 8, 10?

[Clay Clayton]

My experience is usually 6 or 8. We have learned that we prefer 6 as with 8 the tables are too big to have a group conversation ….and the meal seems to go on too long.  
 

We enjoy the tables for two as they are close enough to chat with your neighbors if you and they wish but if either aren’t in a mood to do so, it’s not seen as being rude. 
 

While I’ve seen folks at the tables for 10 and 12 along the stern, I think those are usually groups who have requested to sit together rather than a group who asked for a shared table. 
 

oops-just saw you said at the alternative (Viking’s preferred term as “all our restaurants are special😀) restaurants.  I didn’t know you could reserved a shared table there-that must be a new feature. I don’t recall seeing any tables bigger than for six in either Chef’s Table or Manfredi’s but of course I could be wrong.  The only big tables I remember are in the Private Dining Rooms adjacent to each.  We have eaten here with a group from our roll call on a couple of cruises.  

Edited March 10, 2023 by Clay Clayton

[SantaFe1]

6 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

 I didn’t know you could reserved a shared table there-that must be a new feature.

Yes, this popped up after we had already booked our alternative restaurants last month on a Mediterranean cruise. Now, I see it on the reservations page for our upcoming Alaska cruise.  We get to book on March 21, so we shall see, although we always book for 2.  

[MELSMOM47]

[MELSMOM47]

Booked a table for 2 in the Chef’s Table and agreed to a shared table in Manfredi’s. 

[DGHOC]

If you'd prefer a table for two once on the ship just either call Manfredi's or pop down there and speak to the receiving staff. They'll happily change it for you.

[downsmead]

On our recent sailing on the Sea, we could only get shared reservations but discovered that each time we were put on a table for two!

[MELSMOM47]

1 hour ago, downsmead said:

On our recent sailing on the Sea, we could only get shared reservations but discovered that each time we were put on a table for two!

That's interesting. 

[OneSixtyToOne]

11 minutes ago, MELSMOM47 said:

That's interesting. 

Since COVID, the tables for two for DV advanced reservations have been severely scarce.

 

As I and others have noted, there were plenty of tables available when on board. Since our cruise in January (probably because of the many complaints Viking has received) the reservation system now allows advanced shared reservations.
 

As other people have noted there seems to be a disconnect between MVJ and what’s actually available on the ship. Loosening up their system to allow shared dining seems to be their short term solution.

 

We have shared reservations for our cruise next month but I fully expect tables for two to be available.

Edited March 10, 2023 by OneSixtyToOne

[MELSMOM47]

1 hour ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Since COVID, the tables for two for DV advanced reservations have been severely scarce.

 

As I and others have noted, there were plenty of tables available when on board. Since our cruise in January (probably because of the many complaints Viking has received) the reservation system now allows advanced shared reservations.
 

As other people have noted there seems to be a disconnect between MVJ and what’s actually available on the ship. Loosening up their system to allow shared dining seems to be their short term solution.

 

We have shared reservations for our cruise next month but I fully expect tables for two to be available.

This is what I love about these boards. I have the information to move forward and not stress because I know there are alternatives. Thank you. 

[photopro2]

15 hours ago, downsmead said:

On our recent sailing on the Sea

That certainly is interesting, would you mind me asking exactly when that was? 

[Pushka]

This week we were able to book a table for two in both restaurants. They did open up a few hours earlier than what was stated. 

[TayanaLorna]

On 3/10/2023 at 8:51 AM, MELSMOM47 said:

If when making a reservation for either of the specialty restaurants. you accept sharing a table, How many are typically at the table? 4, 6, 8, 10?

The specialty restaurant max table seating is 6 at Manfredi's.  We tried to seat 8 of us for a BD gathering.  Best they could do was 2 tables of 4.  At Chef's Table, the largest is 6.  When we had 8 of us, they gave us 2 tables of 4 along the wall with a little space in-between so all could easily get out.  We were able to converse that way.  We shared once with strangers at Chefs Table and had a 6 top.

[Nippy Sweetie]

Currently on board. Most shared tables seem to be for four in MDR. Suits us. We've had some most enjoyable meals with people we've shared with. Haven't bothered trying to book Manfredi's or Chef's table yet. Definitely not tonight as the ship's rocking and rolling! Feeling a bit 🤢

[photopro2]

4 hours ago, Pushka said:

This week we were able to book a table for two in both restaurants.

Could I check what cabin category you are in? The shared table issue has only ever affected those in DV cabins. If you are in a DV, that would certainly be good news.

[OneSixtyToOne]

15 minutes ago, photopro2 said:

Could I check what cabin category you are in? The shared table issue has only ever affected those in DV cabins. If you are in a DV, that would certainly be good news.

On our last cruise we had nothing available when DV reservations opened. I kept checking every day and eventually we were able to book a table for two. As I’ve pointed out before, we had no problem once on board. Plenty of tables available. 

[downsmead]

5 hours ago, photopro2 said:

That certainly is interesting, would you mind me asking exactly when that was? 

Sailing 19th February, reservations in both Manfredi’s and Chef’s Table.

As above, we couldn’t book anything when reservations first opened, but near to the sail date, shared tables became available. It didn’t indicate how many people per table but I booked once for each. We were DV.

Edited March 11, 2023 by downsmead

[Nippy Sweetie]

Am onboard currently and have met several groups who have cancelled Manfredi's reservations. Menu in MDR is excellent this cruise. Only snag is that it's so popular that the staff are struggling with service so dinner can take ages. We've been lucky with table companions though so that hasn't mattered.

Side note: the bread is diabolically bad. Don't know what's happened to the baker this trip.

[Pushka]

6 hours ago, photopro2 said:

Could I check what cabin category you are in? The shared table issue has only ever affected those in DV cabins. If you are in a DV, that would certainly be good news.

Yep I'm in a DV so good news! Choice of days wasn't too bad either. 

[photopro2]

On 3/11/2023 at 3:50 PM, downsmead said:

Sailing 19th February, reservations in both Manfredi’s and Chef’s Table.

Thanks for the extra information, now I know that date I might be able to throw a little light on your experience.

 

We were on the Viking Sea a few weeks before you and, like yourselves, had only been able to book shared tables pre-cruise. So I took the opportunity to sit down with the ship's overall restaurant manager to talk about the issue.

 

It may seem hard to believe, but from his reaction I am absolutely convinced that he had no idea that the on-shore operation was encouraging people to accept shared tables when they really wanted tables for two. He seemed genuinely shocked that was happening.

 

I also took the opportunity to ask him about something that had really puzzled me. What possible advantage Viking was gaining by putting people on shared tables? He had no clue either! He suggested that the explanation for the problems most likely stemmed from issues within the "My Viking Journey" portal (MVJ) and the systems used by on-shore agents. These are different to those used by the ships and there have been ongoing difficulties with the way they interface.

 

He was open about the fact that obviously, and inevitably, the finite space within the specialist restaurants means that they may well be fully booked in the earlier part of the evening. However, he also confirmed that there is almost always availability later, say after 8 pm. The problem seems to be that MVJ has not been making that later evening inventory available, thus requiring passengers to make these reservations once on board the ship. That fits with my experience and that of others. I have consistently been able to get acceptable reservations in the specialist restaurants once on board.

 

My gripe with Viking has always been that they continued to promote pre-boarding restaurant booking as being a cabin benefit in DV, sending out emails and so on encouraging us to book, even during the time that it was completely unavailable because of some glitch or gremlin in their system.

 

It is very heartening to hear that you were proactively moved to a table for two and (while I can't necessarily take credit) does suggest that action was taken, at least on the Viking Sea, following my conversation.

 

On 3/11/2023 at 9:30 PM, Pushka said:

Yep I'm in a DV so good news! Choice of days wasn't too bad either. 

 

Thanks for this Pushka and to Melsmom47 for the screenshots of the new look MVJ booking page. It seems as though Viking might finally be getting their act together again, not a moment too soon!

 

 

[downsmead]

@photopro2

Interesting, though the earliest booking I could get was 8pm, which we don’t mind but I am aware many people prefer earlier dining. Us getting a table may be more to do with releasing the later inventory then, but these were still only available as a shared table.