Arvia Pre-Booking Dining and Entertainment

[Megabear2]

4 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I'm OCD about getting  to the bottom of stuff

 

I absolutely guarantee to you that you don't have to be up at midnight next week to book theatre slots you want when they get released

 

You can take your time for 4 or 5 days when they get released and only if something really matters to you book it early on

 

If you waited til the morning of the cruise you would still be fine

 

Theatres only start to show full up for the busier slots once everyone has boarded 

 

Trust me. And MB will confirm this

 

There is no urgency next week for midnight theatre bookings. Have an early night!!

Sorry, I don't agree. If you want a particular slot book it at opening, and if you want 710 club do it in Southampton.  10.30 for theatre possible but nothingvearlier. 710 forget it if you don't play the game. Specialist restaurant on Arvia book early before boarding unless its Geeen & Co in which case walk up.

Edited May 28, 2023 by Megabear2

[Interestedcruisefan]

11 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

I don't need to justify my decisions to you.

Are you saying that you knew that more slots are added the next day.

I wish I was that clever.

 

I'm saying what I said all along after I saw your post that nothing I'm aware of remotely sells out 2 weeks before the cruise on Arvia

 

(my only caveat is Norwegian Taster on Iona) which I'm not sure how long it takes before Its sold out. 

 

And you have actually confirmed it tonight 

 

I think it's important I asked those questions as  it saves others who read this thread thinking they need to book everything at midnight and if your believe me will save you another midnight booking session next weeks 

 

Of course people who really want to can still book stuff at midnight 

 

One last thing I will add is that lots of people who do like to look forward to holidays enjoy booking things in advance. It doesn't have to be a bad experience.

 

(To me this is just someone with another potential bad news story about Arvia that doesn't exist in reality)

 

Things get so over dramatized on here

 

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Megabear2]

11 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Did you used to do it at midnight on the older ships?

No.  Only booking seats on a flight to the Caribbean meant a sleepless night!

[Dermotsgirl]

15 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

I'm a he !! - Brian.

I’m so sorry, Brian 😂

 

it’s just that Bee-ess sounds like the feminine version of something, like lioness or tigress, so I always assumed you were a girl! 😂

[bee-ess]

1 minute ago, Dermotsgirl said:

I’m so sorry, Brian 😂

 

it’s just that Bee-ess sounds like the feminine version of something, like lioness or tigress, so I always assumed you were a girl! 😂

Never thought of that - It is my initials - BS

[cruising.mark.uk]

22 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

You don't think that the situation may have changed since you were on. Arvia when you breezed through everything. Megabear has been on there last 2 weeks and I tend to trust her comments.

But her comments can only be about her cruise and are therefore cannot be taken as advice by future cruises.  All that can be said is that the situation differs widely cruise to cruise.  The experience on a full Arvia in the Med in mid-Apr was completely different.  Plenty of availability on board, for booking on the App and for walk-in.  I suspect Selbourne had it right in an earlier post and that only a limited number of seats in the pay restaurants are available in advance on the App, with the rest left for on-board booking.  And, as we found out on numerous occasions, oft times when the App says a venue is fully booked, if you walk up and talk to the staff the answer will be completely different.

[Interestedcruisefan]

6 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Sorry, I don't agree. If you want a particular slot book it at opening, and if you want 710 club do it in Southampton.  10.30 for theatre possible but nothingvearlier. 710 forget it if you don't play the game. Specialist restaurant on Arvia book early before boarding unless its Geeen & Co in which case walk up.

710 club (as you well know) is entirely entirely irrelevant to this thread. I'm honest. And I've warned people book that first chance you get on boarding day. 

 

This is a thread about speciality restaurant bookings at midnight 2 weeks before!!

 

That's entirely different

 

Booking for 710 club doesn't open til the day of the cruise and we all know book that first chance you get on so let's not cloud issues talking about 710 club in here for goodness sake 

 

This is a thread about the suggestion you have to book other stuff at midnight 2 weeks before the cruise or you will miss out

 

Total scaremongering.

 

And you've scarmongeered more by also bringing theatre bookings into it as next thing to book or watch out

 

Bee-ess has obviously been drawn into thinking she had to do this at some stage. From on here or somewhere else?

 

And your comments are just fuelling it now rather than calming it down

 

It's all drama that's not needed and we both know from experience people start talking about cancelling cruises or not cruising on the big ships as a result of other peoples drama on here

 

Drama that most of the time (not all) is entirely over exaggerated on here

 

 

 

[Guest ccpm]

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

But you don't have to book Epicurean at midnight when it's released to get the discount do you?

Well ICF lets just say politely I answered a different post on the subject of FOMO being the possible reason for booking at midnight. That was not particularly why I did it but a friend had sailed on Iona 4 weeks prior to me and could not get a speciality booking for the 2 of them for all of her cruise.

 

In respect of your point well yes I had the same experience as many others for my cruise it was hard to book at midnight I persevered and made, I think, 4 bookings. Then gradually got others in the morning but not every night which is my "normal". I continued to check but no joy. On board the app showed as sold out every day of my trip but my good fortune was that the 8 bookings I had made bought me a lot of goodwill and I was fitted in for the rest so 7 more. I usually sit on a table near the podium and whilst I was dining all I heard from the maitre d' was sorry no to those who popped along to ask.

 

I do love your boundless enthusiasm and it is great to hear of things being so easy and right. I am a very positive cruiser which is a good job as I cruise a lot but have seen a load of problems occur in those times. To be honest if I was Megabear I would have been off in Palma and no mistake. I don't mind a problem and work hard to solve any but I hate sloppy practice and poor management like she suffered very gallantly on Arvia. I appreciate that was not your experience but it now seems like you have set out to query anyone recording their slightly negative experience.

 

 

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

But her comments can only be about her cruise and are therefore cannot be taken as advice by future cruises.  All that can be said is that the situation differs widely cruise to cruise.  The experience on a full Arvia in the Med in mid-Apr was completely different.  Plenty of availability on board, for booking on the App and for walk-in.  I suspect Selbourne had it right in an earlier post and that only a limited number of seats in the pay restaurants are available in advance on the App, with the rest left for on-board booking.  And, as we found out on numerous occasions, oft times when the App says a venue is fully booked, if you walk up and talk to the staff the answer will be completely different.

They don't even  show as fully booked though until boarding day. And even then it's later on on boarding day.

 

So forget midnight full stop

 

Unless you enjoy booking really early of course

 

That I understand. But like I said if you choose to do it don't then complain about it and use it as another stick to beat Arvia with

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, ccpm said:

Well ICF lets just say politely I answered a different post on the subject of FOMO being the possible reason for booking at midnight. That was not particularly why I did it but a friend had sailed on Iona 4 weeks prior to me and could not get a speciality booking for the 2 of them for all of her cruise.

 

In respect of your point well yes I had the same experience as many others for my cruise it was hard to book at midnight I persevered and made, I think, 4 bookings. Then gradually got others in the morning but not every night which is my "normal". I continued to check but no joy. On board the app showed as sold out every day of my trip but my good fortune was that the 8 bookings I had made bought me a lot of goodwill and I was fitted in for the rest so 7 more. I usually sit on a table near the podium and whilst I was dining all I heard from the maitre d' was sorry no to those who popped along to ask.

 

I do love your boundless enthusiasm and it is great to hear of things being so easy and right. I am a very positive cruiser which is a good job as I cruise a lot but have seen a load of problems occur in those times. To be honest if I was Megabear I would have been off in Palma and no mistake. I don't mind a problem and work hard to solve any but I hate sloppy practice and poor management like she suffered very gallantly on Arvia. I appreciate that was not your experience but it now seems like you have set out to query anyone recording their slightly negative experience.

 

 

No I just like accuracy and correctness

 

I agree Palma shuttle queues unacceptable 

 

I'm not doubting there might be some buffering from people panic booking stuff at midnight

 

Im just saying it's unnecessary so don't do it then complain about having to do it

 

If someone didn't challenge it more people believe they have to do it and don't know any better?

 

Way too much drama

[bee-ess]

21 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

I'm OCD about getting  to the bottom of stuff

 

 

No, I think what you want to be is to be right.

 

I posted originally to describe my experience/problems last night in case it helped anyone else, but have found myself arguing with you and justifying why I tried to book at midnight.

Every one of your posts is trying to prove yourself right and the rest of us wrong.

 

Why does it matter to you.

[Interestedcruisefan]

17 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

Never thought of that - It is my initials - BS

Me too 

 

I apologise 

[zap99]

11 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

710 club (as you well know) is entirely entirely irrelevant to this thread. I'm honest. And I've warned people book that first chance you get on boarding day. 

 

This is a thread about speciality restaurant bookings at midnight 2 weeks before!!

 

That's entirely different

 

Booking for 710 club doesn't open til the day of the cruise and we all know book that first chance you get on so let's not cloud issues talking about 710 club in here for goodness sake 

 

This is a thread about the suggestion you have to book other stuff at midnight 2 weeks before the cruise or you will miss out

 

Total scaremongering.

 

And you've scarmongeered more by also bringing theatre bookings into it as next thing to book or watch out

 

Bee-ess has obviously been drawn into thinking she had to do this at some stage. From on here or somewhere else?

 

And your comments are just fuelling it now rather than calming it down

 

It's all drama that's not needed and we both know from experience people start talking about cancelling cruises or not cruising on the big ships as a result of other peoples drama on here

 

Drama that most of the time (not all) is entirely over exaggerated on here

 

 

 

Not wishing to be a scaremonger...but folk should remember to book their seats on the plane the first minute they can....or else.🤔

Edited May 28, 2023 by zap99

[Interestedcruisefan]

6 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

No, I think what you want to be is to be right.

 

I posted originally to describe my experience/problems last night in case it helped anyone else, but have found myself arguing with you and justifying why I tried to book at midnight.

Every one of your posts is trying to prove yourself right and the rest of us wrong.

 

Why does it matter to you.

Because I honestly  believe it's scaremongering others on here. In your case maybe unwittingly. Because you genuinely thought everything sold out last night 

 

Until you just checked again. 

 

I've seen a poster last week cancel a cruise on Arvia and another say they  will no longer book a cruise

 

You yourself said if you have to do this again you will stick to smaller ships

 

If I didn't ask the questions and just took your word for it others would read this thread and avoid a great ship due to incorrect information 

 

I've seen it before on here 

 

I've told you you wont need to book theatre at midnight next week when it's released 

 

That's good advice but you can  ignore it entirely if you wish 

 

No hard feelings

Edited May 28, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Guest ccpm]

3 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

No I just like accuracy and correctness

 

I agree Palma shuttle queues unacceptable 

 

I'm not doubting there might be some buffering from people panic booking stuff at midnight

 

Im just saying it's unnecessary so don't do it then complain about having to do it

 

If someone didn't challenge it more people believe they have to do it and don't know any better?

 

Way too much drama

Palma queues nothing to do with it not mentioned by me nor implied just MegaBear's husband had been looking into arrangements for her to fly home from Palma that was my reference - I would have been off and home.

 

"Don't panic" who the devil was panicking. I was trying to give an actual experience of a recent cruise in support of Bee-ess post. 

 

However I agree you seem to be a "my truth and no other'. Well fine learned my lesson moving on by.

 

 

 

[cruising.mark.uk]

I think this thread, like many, illustrates the two extremes.  Both represent the main protagonists experiences, but both only apply to the cruise they were on.  So, I agree that it is scaremongering to extrapolate from one cruise and advise future cruisers that they have to be on the app at midnight on launch day if they expect to book any dining or entertainment.  And, if you extrapolate that from one person's experience it would serve no point anyway because, according to that same person's experience, the app will fail on board and lose all your bookings anyway!  But, I also agree that it is joymongering (if that is the opposite of scaremongering)  to extrapolate advice from one particular cruise that the poster thought was almost perfect in all respects and conclude that all future cruisers on that ship will have the same experience.

 

No doubt, the truth will be somewhere mid-way between the 2.  But, the fact that there are reportedly such big variances in experiences suggest that it will be difficult to ask for or receive any reliable advice. I would advocate the counsel given many times on the other thread - always seek as wide as possible a range of reviews / opinions on the same line / ship before making any important decisions.

[Interestedcruisefan]

45 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

No.  Only booking seats on a flight to the Caribbean meant a sleepless night!

So Epicurean and Sindhu don't sell out on the smaller ships til closer til boarding day either?

 

Same as Arvia and  Iona?

 

Or is there special dust on the smaller ships so nothing sells out, the theatre is never full and nothing ever gets crowded?

 

And nobody has to pre-book anything?

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[bee-ess]

15 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

This is a thread about the suggestion you have to book other stuff at midnight 2 weeks before the cruise or you will miss out

 

3 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Because I honestly  believe it's scaremongering others on here. In your case maybe unwittingly. Because you genuinely thought everything sold out last night 

 

Until you just checked again. 

 

I've seen a poster last week cancel a cruise on Arvia and another say they  will no longer book a cruise

 

You yourself said if you have to do this again you will stick to smaller ships

 

If I didn't ask the questions and just took your word for it others would read this thread and avoid a great ship due to incorrect information 

 

I've seen it before on here 

 

I've told you you wont need to book theatre at midnight next week when it's released 

 

That's good advice but you can  ignore it  if you wish 

 

No hard feelings

I Give Up

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 minute ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

I think this thread, like many, illustrates the two extremes.  Both represent the main protagonists experiences, but both only apply to the cruise they were on.  So, I agree that it is scaremongering to extrapolate from one cruise and advise future cruisers that they have to be on the app at midnight on launch day if they expect to book any dining or entertainment.  And, if you extrapolate that from one person's experience it would serve no point anyway because, according to that same person's experience, the app will fail on board and lose all your bookings anyway!  But, I also agree that it is joymongering (if that is the opposite of scaremongering)  to extrapolate advice from one particular cruise that the poster thought was almost perfect in all respects and conclude that all future cruisers on that ship will have the same experience.

 

No doubt, the truth will be somewhere mid-way between the 2.  But, the fact that there are reportedly such big variances in experiences suggest that it will be difficult to ask for or receive any reliable advice. I would advocate the counsel given many times on the other thread - always seek as wide as possible a range of reviews / opinions on the same line / ship before making any important decisions.

 

Well I will just add that the opening poster themselves who claimed that all 8 bookings were now sold out when questioned

 

Has now confirmed that's not  the case

 

So should the thread be closed or deleted?

 

As it was false alarm?

 

 

 

 

[Angel57]

1 minute ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Because I honestly  believe it's scaremongering others on here. In your case maybe unwittingly. Because you genuinely thought everything sold out last night 

 

Until you just checked again. 

 

I've seen a poster last week cancel a cruise on Arvia and another say they  will no longer book a cruise

 

You yourself said if you have to do this again you will stick to smaller ships

 

If I didn't ask the questions and just took your word for it others would read this thread and avoid a great ship due to incorrect information 

 

I've seen it before on here 

So are you saying no negative or critical posts of problems encountered by CC members should be posted?

I read all posts and then make my own decisions as to what I should do and I’m sure that is what most do.

Your posts from on board have been informative and interesting and I thank you for those, but MBs posts and Bee-Ess’s posts are equally valid and helpful and I do think you have to be a little careful not to offend those who are taking the time to post their experiences for the benefit of others.

Kind regards.

 

 

[zap99]

6 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

 

Well I will just add that the opening poster themselves who claimed that all 8 bookings were now sold out when questioned

 

Has now confirmed that's not  the case

 

So should the thread be closed or deleted?

 

As it was false alarm?

 

 

 

 

If P&O email me and tell me I can book things, you can bet I will. Everything I can as soon as I can. I won't be the one sitting outside watching the well prepared folk inside eating, laughing and generally having a good time...oh no...not me. Me and DW will be inside the train looking out.

[bee-ess]

41 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

This is a thread about the suggestion you have to book other stuff at midnight 2 weeks before the cruise or you will miss out

If you look at my original post I didn't say this anywhere in the post - please don't imply that I did

 

I never said that it was sold out - I said that my slots were not available this morning

 

I posted to explain the situation that happened and is backed up by others on other social media

 

I was advised by a friend to book at midnight as he did not get the bookings he wanted on the ship

I am not saying if this was right or wrong, just what I chose to do.

 

You then say that when extra timeslots turned up this afternoon that you thought that would happen

 

As I said you keep grinding on and on to prove yourself right

 

This is my last and final word on the subject

 

 

Edited May 28, 2023 by bee-ess

[Interestedcruisefan]

2 minutes ago, bee-ess said:

If you look at my original post I didn't say this anywhere in the post - please don't imply that I did

 

I posted to explain the situation that happened and is backed up by others on other social media

 

I was advised by a friend to book at midnight as he did not get the bookings he wanted on the ship

I am not saying if this was right or wrong, just what I chose to do.

 

You then say that when extra timeslots turned up this afternoon that you thought that would happen

 

As I said you keep grinding on and on to prove yourself right

 

This is my last and final word on the subject

 

 

MB took your post and ran with  it. Added fuel to the  fire. Even brought 710 club in that you can't pre-book at midnight even if you wanted to

 

 My responses have been to you, her and others who have questioned me after I questioned you

 

Maybe social media has people on it who are just against  the big  ships, against the apps or who just don't understand the big ships 

 

Doesn't really matter which. Same outcome

 

There's no need to book anything at midnight unless you want to

 

That's my final word too

Edited May 28, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Megabear2]

20 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

MB took your post and ran with  it 

 

 My responses have been to you, her and others who have questioned me after I questioned you

 

That's my final word to

I politely suggest you remove me from your diatribe.  This is not about you or I, and is about Bee-ess and others going forward for Mediterranean cruises.  My comments are based on one cruise, my experience, my understanding of a very full ship, no more just advice based on that,  Why single me out, I'm really hoping everyone gets the experience they want on Arvia.  But before I too depart from this discussion, regarding the other ships there's really no problem everyone can do their thing onboard, everyone gets a fair shout, you can move your bookings, you can dance a different tune, have a coaster or not, eat where you want or shake it all about. Like it or not a full Arvia is a whole different ballgame.  Good on Bee--ess and anyone else who booked at midnight - I did to and i advise tomorrow when the entertainment opens do that as well.

Edited May 28, 2023 by Megabear2

[Windsurfboy]

Keeping out of arguement. 

 

What is process for booking online.

 

Say you want a few Epicurean nights.

 

Do you have to - book night 1, slot A and pay for it , then night 2 slot B and pay for it, then night 3  slot C and pay for it. 

 

Or can you book all the nights and slots you want and pay at end.