Ruby is only “Dine the way we tell you”

[mcgratru]

There is no dine my way on the ruby currently. Dining is currently:

 

1. As platinum member you make dining reservations as soon as they become available months before cruise. 6:00 pm, table for 2, same table and time for fourteen nights.

2. Princess cancels all your reservations three days prior to cruise. Moves you and many, many, many others to a very early 5:20 dining time. Emails to princess unanswered. Attempts to speak to dining line in person, on ship, and on app chat,  useless as, despite explaining situation, all just say…yes have a reservation at 5:20 and we can’t change it now.

2. Dinner # 1: A 45 minute wait only to be told they cannot honor your reservation and you must share a table with 6-8 strangers….ok…always a little chaos first evening…told to speak to dining room manager re: changes to our reservation by Princess…but he is too busy to speak to us.

Dinner #2: 30 minute wait to be seated and an hour before we are served main course…twenty minutes between main course and dessert. Told must speak to restaurant manager, if he has time, but, after taking two hours to eat, are told he is too busy to speak with us. 35 minutes at guest services who try to help but cannot….told again to try to speak to restaurant manager this evening.

 

A complete mess….meanwhile first time cruisers and those who did not have a reservation are seated quickly every night and every night they try to convince us to sit at a table for 8-10 people. 

 

So….it appears it is “dine where, when and how we tell you”….very disappointing.

[memoak]

3 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

There is no dine my way on the ruby currently. Dining is currently:

 

1. As platinum member you make dining reservations as soon as they become available months before cruise. 6:00 pm, table for 2, same table and time for fourteen nights.

2. Princess cancels all your reservations three days prior to cruise. Moves you and many, many, many others to a very early 5:20 dining time. Emails to princess unanswered. Attempts to speak to dining line in person, on ship, and on app chat,  useless as, despite explaining situation, all just say…yes have a reservation at 5:20 and we can’t change it now.

2. Dinner # 1: A 45 minute wait only to be told they cannot honor your reservation and you must share a table with 6-8 strangers….ok…always a little chaos first evening…told to speak to dining room manager re: changes to our reservation by Princess…but he is too busy to speak to us.

Dinner #2: 30 minute wait to be seated and an hour before we are served main course…twenty minutes between main course and dessert. Told must speak to restaurant manager, if he has time, but, after taking two hours to eat, are told he is too busy to speak with us. 35 minutes at guest services who try to help but cannot….told again to try to speak to restaurant manager this evening.

 

A complete mess….meanwhile first time cruisers and those who did not have a reservation are seated quickly every night and every night they try to convince us to sit at a table for 8-10 people. 

 

So….it appears it is “dine where, when and how we tell you”….very disappointing.

Thank goodness for reserve dining

[2 cruises a year]

15 minutes ago, memoak said:

Thank goodness for reserve dining

Reserve dining is only for the Privileged Class.  Not everyone wants, or can afford the Privileged Class Staterooms.

[Lady Arwen]

5 minutes ago, 2 cruises a year said:

Reserve dining is only for the Privileged Class.  Not everyone wants, or can afford the Privileged Class Staterooms.

I wouldn’t call them “privileged class” people or staterooms.  They are mini suites with Reserve Dining.  Yes, they are more expensive, but certainly not exorbitantly so.  Now, full suites are definitely upscale and far more expensive.  Neither option is for everyone and Princess needs to do a much better job with MDR reservations. 

[Lady Arwen]

38 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

There is no dine my way on the ruby currently. Dining is currently:

 

1. As platinum member you make dining reservations as soon as they become available months before cruise. 6:00 pm, table for 2, same table and time for fourteen nights.

2. Princess cancels all your reservations three days prior to cruise. Moves you and many, many, many others to a very early 5:20 dining time. Emails to princess unanswered. Attempts to speak to dining line in person, on ship, and on app chat,  useless as, despite explaining situation, all just say…yes have a reservation at 5:20 and we can’t change it now.

2. Dinner # 1: A 45 minute wait only to be told they cannot honor your reservation and you must share a table with 6-8 strangers….ok…always a little chaos first evening…told to speak to dining room manager re: changes to our reservation by Princess…but he is too busy to speak to us.

Dinner #2: 30 minute wait to be seated and an hour before we are served main course…twenty minutes between main course and dessert. Told must speak to restaurant manager, if he has time, but, after taking two hours to eat, are told he is too busy to speak with us. 35 minutes at guest services who try to help but cannot….told again to try to speak to restaurant manager this evening.

 

A complete mess….meanwhile first time cruisers and those who did not have a reservation are seated quickly every night and every night they try to convince us to sit at a table for 8-10 people. 

 

So….it appears it is “dine where, when and how we tell you”….very disappointing.

This is completely unacceptable.  I feel your disappointment and I doubt if I would have been as patient as you.  They need to fix this situation immediately.  We’re encouraged to make dining room reservations months in advance and we are entitled to have those arrangements respected.  Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[Rick&Jeannie]

51 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

There is no dine my way on the ruby currently. Dining is currently:

 

1. As platinum member you make dining reservations as soon as they become available months before cruise. 6:00 pm, table for 2, same table and time for fourteen nights.

 

You *cannot* book the "same table" in advance...

[Rick&Jeannie]

53 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

2. Princess cancels all your reservations three days prior to cruise. Moves you and many, many, many others to a very early 5:20 dining time. Emails to princess unanswered. Attempts to speak to dining line in person, on ship, and on app chat,  useless as, despite explaining situation, all just say…yes have a reservation at 5:20 and we can’t change it now.

It sounds very much like there is a group onboard.  I was recently on a group cruise, but I had chosen to make my own dining reservations.  As you stated, a few days before sailing all of my self-created reservations were cancelled and converted to the "group" dining.  I was able to go back in and change them myself online prior to embarkation.

[schnapperin]

First time cruiser currently on board - non of my reservations was cancelled before boarding. Could so far always opt for a private table - but lines are super long for those with reservations 

 

it seems that the need for some passengers to have the same table at the same time is the reason for that, as there are so many empty tables inside and Long lines outside 

[Rick&Jeannie]

9 minutes ago, schnapperin said:

First time cruiser currently on board - non of my reservations was cancelled before boarding. Could so far always opt for a private table - but lines are super long for those with reservations 

 

it seems that the need for some passengers to have the same table at the same time is the reason for that, as there are so many empty tables inside and Long lines outside 

Yes, there is apparently some form of unusual influence taking place here. What @mcgratru is describing is definitely not "normal".

[startedwithamouse]

Platinum knows how the dining rooms work, and not to make reservations at 6pm. 

 

Few tables, if ANY, are becoming available for 6pm dining since the 5pm crowd is still working on dessert, if that. 

 

Plan B is to have a "$ word $" with the restaurant manager, and be seated.  You're going to tip him anyway, why not make it upfront? 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by startedwithamouse

[memoak]

1 hour ago, 2 cruises a year said:

Reserve dining is only for the Privileged Class.  Not everyone wants, or can afford the Privileged Class Staterooms.

Everyone chooses how to spend money on cruises. We choose not to pay for chefs table or winemakers dinners don’t buy jewelry or most excursions. We are casino players so we take our discounts and upgrade to reserve class 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, mcgratru said:

There is no dine my way on the ruby currently. Dining is currently:

 

1. As platinum member you make dining reservations as soon as they become available months before cruise. 6:00 pm, table for 2, same table and time for fourteen nights.

2. Princess cancels all your reservations three days prior to cruise. Moves you and many, many, many others to a very early 5:20 dining time. Emails to princess unanswered. Attempts to speak to dining line in person, on ship, and on app chat,  useless as, despite explaining situation, all just say…yes have a reservation at 5:20 and we can’t change it now.

2. Dinner # 1: A 45 minute wait only to be told they cannot honor your reservation and you must share a table with 6-8 strangers….ok…always a little chaos first evening…told to speak to dining room manager re: changes to our reservation by Princess…but he is too busy to speak to us.

Dinner #2: 30 minute wait to be seated and an hour before we are served main course…twenty minutes between main course and dessert. Told must speak to restaurant manager, if he has time, but, after taking two hours to eat, are told he is too busy to speak with us. 35 minutes at guest services who try to help but cannot….told again to try to speak to restaurant manager this evening.

 

A complete mess….meanwhile first time cruisers and those who did not have a reservation are seated quickly every night and every night they try to convince us to sit at a table for 8-10 people. 

 

So….it appears it is “dine where, when and how we tell you”….very disappointing.

One of the things I see on sailings from the US is that everyone seems to want to eat early. Often there are long lines from 4:30 on even before the doors open. If everyone wants to eat between 5 and 6 there simply are not enough tables. For those who want to eat after 7:30 there is usually no issues

 

[schnapperin]

4 minutes ago, memoak said:

One of the things I see on sailings from the US is that everyone seems to want to eat early. Often there are long lines from 4:30 on even before the doors open. If everyone wants to eat between 5 and 6 there simply are not enough tables. For those who want to eat after 7:30 there is usually no issues

 

Sadly not the real case - 7.30 pm and still lines 

[Lady Arwen]

8 minutes ago, memoak said:

One of the things I see on sailings from the US is that everyone seems to want to eat early. Often there are long lines from 4:30 on even before the doors open. If everyone wants to eat between 5 and 6 there simply are not enough tables. For those who want to eat after 7:30 there is usually no issues

 

Like you, we prefer later dining times 7:00+ is the earliest we book.  I must admit that 50%, or more, of our dining is in the specialty restaurants, so never a wait.  My DH likes to visit a different room every night and look at a different menu.  I know Reserve Class dining suits you and your DW and that’s also great.  One day we’ll try that out because our preference is mini suites.

[memoak]

5 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Like you, we prefer later dining times 7:00+ is the earliest we book.  I must admit that 50%, or more, of our dining is in the specialty restaurants, so never a wait.  My DH likes to visit a different room every night and look at a different menu.  I know Reserve Class dining suits you and your DW and that’s also great.  One day we’ll try that out because our preference is mini suites.

We also take longer cruises from 10 to 20 days as a rule. We will usually eat in specialty restaurants at least twice when the dinner menu doesn’t fit our fancy

[mcgratru]

We have told them we are willing to eat at any time that works for them…..nope. There are long lines right from 5:00 until 7:30.

 

We have asked to speak to the restaurant manager three times now and are simply told he is too busy.

 

This is not at all usual for a Princess cruise…something going on with food service in general I think…

 

Today my husband ordered a pizza. I was in the pool and noticed a waiter circling with a pizza. I got out of the pool and asked the waiter if he was looking for “husbands name”. He said yes and I pointed out where he was sitting upstairs around the pool and described what he was wearing. The waiter said he could not locate him. Again I explained and pointed to where he was at which point the waiter asked me if I could deliver the pizza. I said “No, I am going for a swim and do not want to walk up three sets of stairs to deliver his pizza.” If you go up there you will see him and he will be on the lookout for you.

 

The waiter said he was going to check with his supervisor, walked about ten feet away and put the pizza down on a table and left. I got back in the pool but no waiter returned, so, after 5 minutes, I got out and carried the pizza up to my husband…seriously have never had anything like that happen before!

 

Asked husband for a delivery gratuity! 

Then a passing waiter asked for drink orders….I got a rum & coke with no rum and hubby got wrong beer….feel like we must be on candid camera or something!…so not what we usually experience on Princess.

 

[mcgratru]

2 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Platinum knows how the dining rooms work, and not to make reservations at 6pm. 

 

Few tables, if ANY, are becoming available for 6pm dining since the 5pm crowd is still working on dessert, if that. 

 

Plan B is to have a "$ word $" with the restaurant manager, and be seated.  You're going to tip him anyway, why not make it upfront? 

 

 

No need to be disparaging….we always dine at 6 and have never had any issues before.

[mcgratru]

3 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

“This is completely unacceptable.  I feel your disappointment and I doubt if I would have been as patient as you.  They need to fix this situation immediately.  We’re encouraged to make dining room reservations months in advance and we are entitled to have those arrangements respected.  Thank you for sharing your experience.”

Makes you wonder why they bother with reservations….go back to 10 years ago and they seemed to be able to figure this out.

 

Some people had set dining times ( you even got your table number on your cruise card) and some people could walk up and be seated.

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by mcgratru

[schnapperin]

Seems that the tracking is off today - ordered food twice and they couldn’t find me 

[Lady Arwen]

2 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Platinum knows how the dining rooms work, and not to make reservations at 6pm. 

 

Few tables, if ANY, are becoming available for 6pm dining since the 5pm crowd is still working on dessert, if that. 

 

Plan B is to have a "$ word $" with the restaurant manager, and be seated.  You're going to tip him anyway, why not make it upfront? 

 

 

Sorry, but I doubt if everyone, or even a few, tip the restaurant manager either at the start or the end of the cruise.  Last time we did that it was years ago in a Las Vegas showroom.  We won’t be bribing or tipping the restaurant manager.  It’s literally his job.

[startedwithamouse]

4 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Sorry, but I doubt if everyone, or even a few, tip the restaurant manager either at the start or the end of the cruise.  Last time we did that it was years ago in a Las Vegas showroom.  We won’t be bribing or tipping the restaurant manager.  It’s literally his job.

Sorry, we always do to secure a window table every single time. 

[Lady Arwen]

Just now, startedwithamouse said:

Sorry, we always do to secure a window table every single time. 

Have you tried asking for this table without the bribe?  Just curious.

[startedwithamouse]

Just now, Lady Arwen said:

Have you tried asking for this table without the bribe?  Just curious.

You mean the upfront tip?  Why would we?  The restaurant manager has never refused it.

[memoak]

30 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

We have told them we are willing to eat at any time that works for them…..nope. There are long lines right from 5:00 until 7:30.

 

We have asked to speak to the restaurant manager three times now and are simply told he is too busy.

 

This is not at all usual for a Princess cruise…something going on with food service in general I think…

 

Today my husband ordered a pizza. I was in the pool and noticed a waiter circling with a pizza. I got out of the pool and asked the waiter if he was looking for “husbands name”. He said yes and I pointed out where he was sitting upstairs around the pool and described what he was wearing. The waiter said he could not locate him. Again I explained and pointed to where he was at which point the waiter asked me if I could deliver the pizza. I said “No, I am going for a swim and do not want to walk up three sets of stairs to deliver his pizza.” If you go up there you will see him and he will be on the lookout for you.

 

The waiter said he was going to check with his supervisor, walked about ten feet away and put the pizza down on a table and left. I got back in the pool but no waiter returned, so, after 5 minutes, I got out and carried the pizza up to my husband…seriously have never had anything like that happen before!

 

Asked husband for a delivery gratuity! 

Then a passing waiter asked for drink orders….I got a rum & coke with no rum and hubby got wrong beer….feel like we must be on candid camera or something!…so not what we usually experience on Princess.

 

We never order through the app and only order from bartenders. Never had any issues. Plenty of places to get food and lots of bars

[Lady Arwen]

12 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

You mean the upfront tip?  Why would we?  The restaurant manager has never refused it.

Of course he wouldn’t refuse it, that would be insulting to you.   The reason I ask is that we always very politely make certain requests and 90% of the time we are graciously accommodated.  No bribe ever offered or expected.  Just great service because this is what they’re paid to do.  I find the bribing thing a bit tacky and demeaning to the restaurant manager.  However, you do you and whatever you’re comfortable with.