BND Posted June 2, 2023 #1 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Anyone run into this lately? We normally pre book a SR for lunch on boarding day to avoid the WJ. We just did this on EN in April and have done it on every first day since before shutdown and restart. We're on Jewel in Oct/Nov for a b2b 10 night each way NE/Canada cruise and neither leg has Chops available on boarding day. We did it on Jewel this past Nov also so I know they usually do it. We will see if it's even open when we board as we know we can do a walkup if it is (or if this is something new). Just wondering if anyone else has seen this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiGal117 Posted June 2, 2023 #2 Share Posted June 2, 2023 I just checked my September Explorer cruise and Chops is available for lunch on embarkation day. Maybe it's just Jewel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegirl1 Posted June 2, 2023 #3 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Keep a watch on the MDR embarkation day hours. MARINER is opening MDR for lunch on embarkation day. So far I believe it is the only ship doing this, but maybe other ships will follow. We sailed Mariner, several times in the past few months and main dining room was open for lunch. It is not widely publicized, but it is the app. It also may be a function of the Hotel Director,/F&B manager so if that changes, so could MDR lunch on embarkation day. m 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaCat3 Posted June 2, 2023 #4 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Chops is not showing as open for lunch the first day on my upcoming Wonder cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobNoxious Posted June 2, 2023 #5 Share Posted June 2, 2023 On Oasis, what specialty restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcourt Posted June 2, 2023 #6 Share Posted June 2, 2023 I just checked my cruise that is next month and only Giovanni's is open for lunch on boarding day on the Allure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted June 2, 2023 #7 Share Posted June 2, 2023 44 minutes ago, BobNoxious said: On Oasis, what specialty restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day? You can check on the app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PompeySailor Posted June 2, 2023 #8 Share Posted June 2, 2023 1 hour ago, ScubaCat3 said: Chops is not showing as open for lunch the first day on my upcoming Wonder cruise. We have these for wonder all showing as 11:30am on Day 1 (embarkation) No Chops either Giovanni’s Mason Jar Solarium Bistro Costal Kitchen Playmakers No Chops or Giovanni’s showing for current Jewel sailings either. Must be unique to Jewel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jean87510 Posted June 2, 2023 #9 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Chops is available on my July Grandeur cruise on embarkation day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilkySal Posted June 2, 2023 #10 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Not sure how many ships do this but on our last cruise on the Serenade, Chops was closed due to serving all of the suite guests and the back-to-backers in the MDR. They are all served a very upscale lunch on embarkation day! I had been able to previously book Chops on-line but, when we arrived, we were told about the closing. Since it was obviously RCCL's error to even let us book the lunch, we were able to dine with the others that day and was even refunded our pre-booking fee, so they made it right for us! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND Posted June 2, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted June 2, 2023 4 hours ago, SilkySal said: Not sure how many ships do this but on our last cruise on the Serenade, Chops was closed due to serving all of the suite guests and the back-to-backers in the MDR. They are all served a very upscale lunch on embarkation day! I had been able to previously book Chops on-line but, when we arrived, we were told about the closing. Since it was obviously RCCL's error to even let us book the lunch, we were able to dine with the others that day and was even refunded our pre-booking fee, so they made it right for us! We've done b2b lunches from Chops but it's never meant closing Chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaile Posted June 2, 2023 #12 Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) We will be sailing on Adventure of the Seas in a few weeks and I am not seeing any specialty dining (Chops or Giovanni's) as being available for lunch on embarkation day. Our most recent cruises have all been Oasis class, so of course many other options, however wondering if anyone has insight to Adventure and if there is any specialty lunch option on this ship for embarkation day. Edited June 2, 2023 by Gaile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted June 2, 2023 #13 Share Posted June 2, 2023 54 minutes ago, Gaile said: We will be sailing on Adventure of the Seas in a few weeks and I am not seeing any specialty dining (Chops or Giovanni's) as being available for lunch on embarkation day. Our most recent cruises have all been Oasis class, so of course many other options, however wondering if anyone has insight to Adventure and if there is any specialty lunch option on this ship for embarkation day. Looking at the current sailing it appears that Chops was open for lunch on embarkation day. If it is not available for reservation pre-cruise I'd just show up and see if they could seat you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3yorkies Posted June 3, 2023 #14 Share Posted June 3, 2023 I just got off Allure last Sunday. I had prebooked and paid for lunch at Chops at noon on boarding day. I showed up and it was closed, just doing reservations for future times. Fortunately I always print off all my reservations and showed it to the maitre d'. He gave me a reservation at 12:30 at Giovanni's and rebooked my Chops for day 3 lunch. I thought I would be charged for Giovanni's but they gave it to me. Both lunches were great! Wonderful start to the cruise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted June 3, 2023 #15 Share Posted June 3, 2023 I just checked the Cruise Planner online for my Adventure cruise this September, and both Chops and Giovanni's are open on embarkation day for lunch. I find the Cruise Planner to be easier to work with. Select the lunch option, and it shows you all the days lunch is available and what specialty restaurants are open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusin Cindy Posted June 3, 2023 #16 Share Posted June 3, 2023 We encountered this on The Harmony in December. Booked it, paid for it, and when we went to Chops the said the were not open on embarkation day. Offered us to come the next day or money back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND Posted June 3, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted June 3, 2023 36 minutes ago, pcur said: I just checked the Cruise Planner online for my Adventure cruise this September, and both Chops and Giovanni's are open on embarkation day for lunch. I find the Cruise Planner to be easier to work with. Select the lunch option, and it shows you all the days lunch is available and what specialty restaurants are open. That's where I look. I don't use the app except for onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristaldubois Posted June 3, 2023 #18 Share Posted June 3, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, pcur said: I just checked the Cruise Planner online for my Adventure cruise this September, and both Chops and Giovanni's are open on embarkation day for lunch. I find the Cruise Planner to be easier to work with. Select the lunch option, and it shows you all the days lunch is available and what specialty restaurants are open. I am brand new to RC. I apologize for asking a likely obvious question. But, is cruise planner online vs using the app? I have tried both. I keep thinking there must be a more efficient way to do this. And your way sounds amazing! Thank you for your help!! Edited June 3, 2023 by cristaldubois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare livingonthebeach Posted June 3, 2023 #19 Share Posted June 3, 2023 I'll be on Navigator in November -- only Jamie's Italian is open for lunch on embarkation day -- no Chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted June 3, 2023 #20 Share Posted June 3, 2023 2 hours ago, cristaldubois said: I am brand new to RC. I apologize for asking a likely obvious question. But, is cruise planner online vs using the app? I have tried both. I keep thinking there must be a more efficient way to do this. And your way sounds amazing! Thank you for your help!! Yes, on their web site. Log into your account on rccl.com. I prefer the Cruise Planner on my computer, since the screen is bigger and makes it easier to navigate. As I said above, when you search for dining options, the specialty restaurants available for lunch are listed. Click on "make a reservation" for a restaurant, then the passenger name, and all the days and times are available, including day 1. If you get the Unlimited Dining Package, still make the reservation for embarkation day lunch, pay for it, and then when you go in have them reverse the charge back to your credit card. It's the only way you can make advance reservations for lunch that day. Otherwise, you walk in and either eat then, or make a reservation for later. I prefer the advance reservation, and base the time on my assigned boarding time, then add an hour. You can take your hand luggage with you, too. They will keep it at the entrance podium for you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiel53 Posted June 4, 2023 #21 Share Posted June 4, 2023 For the last several years we have only sailed on Oasis class ships. Chops has not been open for lunch because the wait staff etc are used for the Key which is now served in the MDR. The Key passengers get a Chops lunch on boarding day as part of the program. We have gone to Giovanni's/Jamies, Playmakers and Sabor for lunches, depending upon what ship we were on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted June 4, 2023 #22 Share Posted June 4, 2023 Does anyone know which specialty restaurants are open for lunch on the Vision? The planner allows me to book any of them (Chops, Izumi and Giovani’s) however, when I look at the current sailing it looks like only Chops is open for sea day lunches. That seems odd. Can anyone report on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaile Posted June 5, 2023 #23 Share Posted June 5, 2023 (edited) Thanks. I do check both the app and log in online. Now, happy to report that Chops lunch reservations have now showed up for this 7/1 Adventure of the Seas sailing. Also the main dining menus are back on the app too. They had disappeared a couple of week ago. Can't wait to sail again soon! 😄 Edited June 5, 2023 by Gaile Incomplete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Glamazon Posted June 6, 2023 #24 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Hmmm, I am wondering about the availability of Playmakers on boarding day- and how hard it is to lug our carry-on rolling suitcase (several necessary items) into Playmakers? The Key used to be a good option but the price is soooo much higher than just the internet alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilkySal Posted June 6, 2023 #25 Share Posted June 6, 2023 On 6/2/2023 at 5:44 PM, BND said: We've done b2b lunches from Chops but it's never meant closing Chops. When we went to Chops that day for our pre-purchased lunch, we were told that it was closed due to there being too many B2B'ers and Key guests to have the lunch in Chops, so it was held in a private area of the MDR. We were allowed to join them because we should not have been able to book Chops for lunch on that boarding day, and were also refunded our pre-paid price for the mistake and the runaround. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now