Large group, all with Unlimited Dining - best strategy?

[DrPepper7]

Hello!

 

I will be cruising on Harmony in May with a group of 14 (9 adults, 5 children) and we have all purchased the unlimited dining package. I realize that we likely won't be able to eat all together at most, or maybe any meals, but has anyone done this before with such a large group? Do you have any suggestions for hopefully getting to eat together for at least a meal or two? Or just a general strategy for making reservations for a group that large once on board. I will be boarding as early as I possibly can and heading straight to make reservations, but any other tips? 

[lovelife]

I thought Royal was rolling out pre-cruise dining package reservations the first half of this year. Have they changed their minds??

 

From Royal:

 

1. Previous Limitation: Until now, guests with dining packages had to wait until they boarded the ship to make reservations. This process caused stress on embarkation day as they scrambled to secure dining times¹.

2. Upcoming Change: Royal Caribbean is changing this. If you buy a dining package, you’ll be able to book reservations pre-cruise. This means you won’t have to worry about making reservations on day one of your cruise. The change is expected to roll out in the first half of 2024, following the launch of the Icon of the Seas ship

[sharktums]

I've done this many times before with groups from 10 - 22 and we've done pretty well.  Like the poster above said, get on the ship early and head immediately to the specialty dining reservation desk or one of the specialty dining restaurants. Have in mind what nights/lunches you want to dine where. Have everyone's cabin numbers written down as well. Dining early or late will give you the best chance of eating together. Some ships they have put big tables together for us so we can all sit together and some ships they'll put us at separate tables next to each other. 

 

I usually make a pretty simple document and print it and give it to the person working along with a $20 bill for the trouble of making all the reservations. It is a process for them. 

[DrPepper7]

5 minutes ago, schooner_Drinker said:

 

 

I will definitely plan to use this!

 

Thank you @schooner_Drinker and @sharktums for the great suggestions! This makes me feel a bit better about our chances.

[DrPepper7]

17 hours ago, lovelife said:

I thought Royal was rolling out pre-cruise dining package reservations the first half of this year. Have they changed their minds??

 

From Royal:

 

1. Previous Limitation: Until now, guests with dining packages had to wait until they boarded the ship to make reservations. This process caused stress on embarkation day as they scrambled to secure dining times¹.

2. Upcoming Change: Royal Caribbean is changing this. If you buy a dining package, you’ll be able to book reservations pre-cruise. This means you won’t have to worry about making reservations on day one of your cruise. The change is expected to roll out in the first half of 2024, following the launch of the Icon of the Seas ship

There is no estimated date for the roll out, so I have little faith that it will be available before May. It would be nice if it is, but I highly doubt it. 

 

I haven't seen any further communication in it since the initial release. And even then, some things said first quarter and some said first half of the year.

[SG65CB]

If you booked with a travel agent have them "link" your reservations (link the booking numbers). If you booked directly with RC then call them and have them "link" the reservations. If the reservations are linked then it is easy to make dinner reservations for the group because you will not have to give them the cabin number for all of the cabins every time, the system will keep them all together since they are linked. Just provide your cabin number.

[DrPepper7]

14 minutes ago, SG65CB said:

If you booked with a travel agent have them "link" your reservations (link the booking numbers). If you booked directly with RC then call them and have them "link" the reservations.

I have them all linked in my cruise planner. Is this enough? Or do I also need to have them all linked through my TA?

 

Thanks

[SG65CB]

5 minutes ago, DrPepper7 said:

I have them all linked in my cruise planner. Is this enough? Or do I also need to have them all linked through my TA?

 

Thanks

 

I forgot you can link them yourself. That should be good. Link them once and then you don't have to recite the list of cabin numbers every time you make a reservation. 

[pcur]

Even if your reservations are linked, show up with the cabin numbers, anyway.  Go to the specialty restaurant on the first day that is open for lunch, and ask them to make all your reservations for the cruise.  As mentioned above, have the cruise days and times listed with the cabin numbers.  Give the list to the person at the podium (a tip would be nice, too), and go have lunch there.  By the time you're finished, all your reservations will be done.

 

Be flexible with the times: e.g. 5:30 - 6:30pm.  

 

All specialty restaurants have large tables, so being there on embarkation day when the lunch restaurant first opens not only gives you the opportunity to get your reservations done, but also you get to have a great lunch away from the really crowded and noisy Windjammer.

[dna1990]

We have had mixed results with pre-linked bookings, when it comes to Specialty Dining.  I would have a Plan and a Plan B, with even some Plan C options - and seek out a restaurant right as you board.

 

I will also throw it out there (for others that may be reading), that besides unexpected casino losses - the next most common family/group drama....is some dining snafu.  So really talk with your group and know what everyone's expectations are.  I know, I have seen grandmothers beside themselves who can't understand that by day 3, some of the family is wanting just to skip to the Windjammer...."one meal" she asked for and paid all the fares...but nope.  Or berating the staff when the group is split over multiple tables, etc.  

 

Yes, heavy investment in UDP, so absolutely maximize it.  But put in the plan some options for some people to opt different for some of the nights.  I know a group of three couples, all with kids.  They set it up so that one couple would dine alone in venue A while the others and all the kids went to venue B.  Then switched around nightly.  I thought that was clever.

 

And don't forget about timing for photos.  Some great photo ops may come along for a portion of the group that may not align well with a UDP reservation or something.  Unexpected long lines, or a show was crowded getting out, etc.

 

Buffer.