booking platinum 2 free diners

[debbyfelse1963]

I know how to book the specialty restaurants with free at sea, but we will be Platinum on our next cruise and I wondered how do we book the 2 free specialty dinners.  Do we have to pre book and if so do we call NCL?

[Russiamomm]

You can book online or call them.  Or wait until you’re onboard.  Just a word of warning.  The online system doesn’t “connect the dots” for your Platinum status.  If you have some meals with Free at Sea, make sure you book the fixed price restaurants (Teppanyaki and Moderno) first.  Otherwise they will try to charge you when you book online.  
 

Also, remember they only open up around 1/3 of the time slots prior to boarding.  If you can’t book beforehand, make your reservations as soon as you board.

Edited July 27, 2023 by Russiamomm

[Middleager]

40 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Also, remember they only open up around 1/3 of the time slots prior to boarding.  If you can’t book beforehand, make your reservations as soon as you board.

Oh, only 1/3 prior to boarding.  Learn something every day.

 

We were Platinum and just reached Sapphire status.  For the last cruise we were able to book online for the 2 + 2 dinners online at 120 days out.  For our upcoming cruise we also have 2 + 2, but this time after booking 2, NCL wants to charge us.  Guess we'll need to call tomorrow to book the next 2, to not be charged.

[Russiamomm]

1 minute ago, Middleager said:

Oh, only 1/3 prior to boarding.  Learn something every day.

 

We were Platinum and just reached Sapphire status.  For the last cruise we were able to book online for the 2 + 2 dinners online at 120 days out.  For our upcoming cruise we also have 2 + 2, but this time after booking 2, NCL wants to charge us.  Guess we'll need to call tomorrow to book the next 2, to not be charged.

Yeah, call them.  They only try to charge for the fixed price restaurants.  They don’t charge up front for the a la carte restaurants.  It’s a matter of which you booked first.  You need to book Teppanyaki and Moderno first.  That way it will assume you’re using FAS meals and won’t charge you.  If you had previously booked the a la carte restaurants it will try to charge you for the fixed price restaurants because the online system doesn’t connect the Platinum dinners.

[GALSews]

14 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Yeah, call them.  They only try to charge for the fixed price restaurants.  They don’t charge up front for the a la carte restaurants.  It’s a matter of which you booked first.  You need to book Teppanyaki and Moderno first.  That way it will assume you’re using FAS meals and won’t charge you.  If you had previously booked the a la carte restaurants it will try to charge you for the fixed price restaurants because the online system doesn’t connect the Platinum dinners.

Platinum and above can book 125 days out. Also at 125 days out, you can book if you have a club balcony, and finally if you are in a suite (not club balcony) or Haven you can book 130 days out. See latitude rewards program or frequently asked questions - when can I book dining.

[tomk3212]

Another word of advice if you're booking online in advance.  Sometimes if you're trying to book a table for 2 one won't be available at the time you choose but a table for 4 will be available.  Book the 4 then change the reservation to 2 as soon as you get aboard.  That's what we had to do with 3 of our 4 specialty restaurant reservations (2 FAS, 2 Sapphire) on our TA on Epic a few months back.  Easy, peasy.  A tad dishonest, perhaps, but as long as you change them ASAP when you get aboard no harm done.

[BirdTravels]

On 7/26/2023 at 8:23 PM, debbyfelse1963 said:

I know how to book the specialty restaurants with free at sea, but we will be Platinum on our next cruise and I wondered how do we book the 2 free specialty dinners.  Do we have to pre book and if so do we call NCL?

The reservation system doesn't care about how you pay for dinner. You make that decision at dining time. You could pay with your platinum vouchers, your free at sea dinners, other vouchers, cash/room charge. 

 

You most definitely should book all dinners exactly 125 days, 12 midnight eastern time, prior to departure. You don't need to call NCL, just make your reservations online at 125 days/12 midnight. Make sure to book fixed price restaurants (Teppanyaki, Moderno) first.

 

Prime time dining (5:30 pm - 8:00 pm), especially on sea days at popular restaurants, will sell out quickly online and on embarkation day (for the limited number of tables held for onboard booking). 

[KeithJenner]

On 7/27/2023 at 2:17 AM, Middleager said:

Oh, only 1/3 prior to boarding.  Learn something every day.

 

There are a wide variety of specific proportions quoted on here, I assume based on guesses by whichever staff member people asked.

 

We know that only a proportion is released early, but we don’t know what that proportion is for sure.

[debbyfelse1963]

11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The reservation system doesn't care about how you pay for dinner. You make that decision at dining time. You could pay with your platinum vouchers, your free at sea dinners, other vouchers, cash/room charge. 

 

You most definitely should book all dinners exactly 125 days, 12 midnight eastern time, prior to departure. You don't need to call NCL, just make your reservations online at 125 days/12 midnight. Make sure to book fixed price restaurants (Teppanyaki, Moderno) first.

 

Prime time dining (5:30 pm - 8:00 pm), especially on sea days at popular restaurants, will sell out quickly online and on embarkation day (for the limited number of tables held for onboard booking). 

Thank you we only just became Platinum so I wasn't sure.  

 

 

[debbyfelse1963]

14 hours ago, tomk3212 said:

Another word of advice if you're booking online in advance.  Sometimes if you're trying to book a table for 2 one won't be available at the time you choose but a table for 4 will be available.  Book the 4 then change the reservation to 2 as soon as you get aboard.  That's what we had to do with 3 of our 4 specialty restaurant reservations (2 FAS, 2 Sapphire) on our TA on Epic a few months back.  Easy, peasy.  A tad dishonest, perhaps, but as long as you change them ASAP when you get aboard no harm done.

Yes we had to do that last time. Thx for the heads up

[debbyfelse1963]

11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The reservation system doesn't care about how you pay for dinner. You make that decision at dining time. You could pay with your platinum vouchers, your free at sea dinners, other vouchers, cash/room charge. 

 

You most definitely should book all dinners exactly 125 days, 12 midnight eastern time, prior to departure. You don't need to call NCL, just make your reservations online at 125 days/12 midnight. Make sure to book fixed price restaurants (Teppanyaki, Moderno) first.

 

Prime time dining (5:30 pm - 8:00 pm), especially on sea days at popular restaurants, will sell out quickly online and on embarkation day (for the limited number of tables held for onboard booking). 

Thx so much