FLAlaska Posted April 13 #1 Share Posted April 13 Just saw this posted on FB by a PVP.. Didnt see it posted anywhere NEW - NEW - NEW Dining Room Reservations: Changes are coming to the Dining Room operations onboard. Princess will designate separate dining rooms aboard every ship in the fleet to the three table service options: -one dedicated to traditional dining offering an early and a late seating every evening - one offering reserve able dining times and -a third with open seating to support walk-ins anytime. The three table service options integrate with the line’s unparalleled OceanNow, which provides guests the convenience of ordering anything, anytime, and receiving it anywhere onboard, making Princess uniquely positioned to accommodate all guest dining preferences. The new approach will launch on Princess voyages departing September 1, 2024 and beyond. To support these changes and the transition to the new system, main dining reservations that already have been made for voyages sailing September 1 and beyond for any ship except Sun Princess will be cancelled. Starting June (Date TBD), booked guests will be able to use the app ahead of their voyage to opt for traditional seating in a dedicated dining room with the same waiter, same table and same time each night, or flexible dining, allowing them to enjoy dinner at any available time and table size of their choosing in either the Reserve able or Open Seating dining rooms. This change does not affect guests booked in specialty dining restaurants or suite or reserve collection accommodations, who enjoy a dedicated dining room on Princess ships, where no reservations are required. All reactions: 11 16 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coscab Posted April 13 #2 Share Posted April 13 What is different about this compared to the way it is now, sailing princess for the first time in December so not familiar with the way it is now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahasamatman Posted April 13 #3 Share Posted April 13 2 minutes ago, coscab said: What is different about this compared to the way it is now The way I read it, it appears they're basically reducing the number of reservable tables by 50%. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Zalfadilla Posted April 13 #4 Share Posted April 13 2 minutes ago, coscab said: What is different about this compared to the way it is now, sailing princess for the first time in December so not familiar with the way it is now. Perhaps a cheaper way to get some of the benefits associated with Club Class (or whatever it's called now)? Other than special menu of 2 or 3 additional entrees, one may walk in anytime, perhaps have the same wait staff, shared or private table? I don't know, it's worth trying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie3fan Posted April 13 #5 Share Posted April 13 1 hour ago, coscab said: What is different about this compared to the way it is now, sailing princess for the first time in December so not familiar with the way it is now. I think this means they're bringing back Traditional Dining to those that want it. TD hasn't been available in a number of years now. 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted April 13 #6 Share Posted April 13 Thanks for the information. I will have to make new reservations in June. Keep us informed if you learn the start date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torfamm Posted April 13 #7 Share Posted April 13 Cancelling all existing reservations is incredibly frustrating. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JimmyVWine Posted April 13 #8 Share Posted April 13 1 hour ago, mahasamatman said: The way I read it, it appears they're basically reducing the number of reservable tables by 50%. More like 25%. The people who opt for the traditional dining room will all have “reservations” per se. But those reservations will be for a set time each night. So 100% of the people who dine there fall into the reservation bucket. And 100% of the people who dine in the “reservations available” dining room will have reservations. But eventually those two dining options will fill up leaving the rest of the guests to dine without reservations. Right now, a ship that takes reservations for all three dining rooms can accommodate more guests who want reservations because the Traditional Dining model, while popular, is highly inefficient. Sectioning off one full dining room that will have 2 set seatings will accommodate far fewer guests than if that dining room took reservations throughout the evening. It is easy to flip a table twice under that model. (5:15, 6:45 8:15). With traditional, they can only flip once. All in all, I think this is a good model and one that longtime Princess loyalists have been asking for. But it probably will hurt the Blue Medallion folks who won’t know to book ahead. The Traditional Room and the popular times in the Reservations Room will fill up quickly with PES people who can reserve immediately upon booking. Then the remaining slots will fill up after others make final payment. But newbies who don’t know to do this will get on board and be left with mostly the walk-in option. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted April 13 #9 Share Posted April 13 My PVP also posted this and it starts fleet wide will launch feel wide on voyages departing September 1, 2024 and beyond. 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted April 13 #10 Share Posted April 13 2 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said: My PVP also posted this and it starts fleet wide will launch feel wide on voyages departing September 1, 2024 and beyond. a return to tradition ... with strictly enforced dr ..........🦄 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted April 13 #11 Share Posted April 13 9 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said: My PVP also posted this and it starts fleet wide will launch feel wide on voyages departing September 1, 2024 and beyond. Did your PVP say a date when we can re book reservations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WisCruiser2 Posted April 13 #12 Share Posted April 13 I wonder if they've found that offering everyone a variety of set times to reserve just wasn't working out? We had 7:00 reservations on the Enchanted in February, and the first two nights had a LONG line of people with a 7:00 time. After the first night, we were able to book our same table for the rest of the trip, but had to move to a 7:15 time. Hopefully, this will be more efficient. I also remember that on our last cruise pre-Covid, when it was still Traditional or Anytime, besides the aft DR being Traditional, there was an Early seating in one of the mid-ship DRs, that became Anytime around 7:00 or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torfamm Posted April 13 #13 Share Posted April 13 2 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said: I wonder if they've found that offering everyone a variety of set times to reserve just wasn't working out? We had 7:00 reservations on the Enchanted in February, and the first two nights had a LONG line of people with a 7:00 time. After the first night, we were able to book our same table for the rest of the trip, but had to move to a 7:15 time. Hopefully, this will be more efficient. I also remember that on our last cruise pre-Covid, when it was still Traditional or Anytime, besides the aft DR being Traditional, there was an Early seating in one of the mid-ship DRs, that became Anytime around 7:00 or so. I think the negative to 7:00 reservations has been that the people who arrive at 5 or 5:30 may not eat quickly enough to have tables ready again at 7 so people end up waiting a bit. We’ve had much better luck with 7:20 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted April 13 #14 Share Posted April 13 14 minutes ago, phabric said: Did your PVP say a date when we can re book reservations? Looks like date is TBD sometime in June. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JimmyVWine Posted April 13 #15 Share Posted April 13 16 minutes ago, Torfamm said: I think the negative to 7:00 reservations has been that the people who arrive at 5 or 5:30 may not eat quickly enough to have tables ready again at 7 so people end up waiting a bit. We’ve had much better luck with 7:20 Same here. On our last cruise we had a 7:00 reservation for the first night. No real wait to speak of. But when we asked the DR Manager if we could keep this table for the rest of the cruise, she asked if we wouldn't mind moving our time to 7:15 and if we did that, we could walk straight to our table without ever having to check in. Worked perfectly. She obviously knew that 7:00 would have been tight, but that 7:15 would work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreaminofcruisin Posted April 13 #16 Share Posted April 13 So, this will require updates to the app. What are the odds that it will work with the first push out ? 🙄 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LACruiser88 Posted April 13 #17 Share Posted April 13 April 13, 2024 2:30 PM EDT Princess Cruises Rolls Out Fleetwide Dining Revolution: Traditional, Reservable, Open Seating, and Anywhere Service Now Available for Every Guest Preference New Options Follow Successful Debut Aboard New Sun Princess FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced it is making a significant enhancement to the main dining options found across its fleet, designed to give guests the ultimate in flexibility and choice when it comes to their dining experience by offering three table service options – Traditional, Reservable, or Walk-in Anytime - coupled with the brand's industry exclusive OceanNow location-based "anywhere" service. (PRNewsfoto/Princess Cruises) With a dedication to personal preference and individualized service, Princess will designate separate dining rooms aboard every ship in the fleet* to the three table service options – one dedicated to traditional dining offering an early and a late seating every evening; one offering reservable dining times; and a third with open seating to support walk-ins anytime. The three table service options integrate with the line's unparalleled OceanNow, which provides guests the convenience of ordering anything, anytime, and receiving it anywhere onboard, making Princess uniquely positioned to accommodate all guest dining preferences. Making all dining formats available fleetwide follows the resounding success of this new approach already implemented aboard the new Sun Princess. With the stunning introduction of the new next level Love Boat came the debut of three-story dining room with one floor dedicated to traditional dining, another serving guests with a flexible reservation and a third for anytime walk-ins. "Our guests have been delighted with the dining flexibility aboard Sun Princess and we're pleased to extend the concept to all the other ships in our fleet," said Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises vice president of food and beverage. "Now whether guests prefer an early seating every evening, or change things up every night, or even change their mind, these flexible dining options ensure that their dining preference is effortlessly accommodated." Starting on April 15, 2024, the new approach will launch on Princess voyages departing September 14, 2024 and beyond. To support these changes and the transition to the new system, main dining reservations that already have been made for voyages sailing September 14 and beyond for any ship except Sun Princess will be cancelled. Main dining reservations for guests sailing through September 13 will not be affected. Starting June 17, booked guests will be able to use the app ahead of their voyage to opt for traditional seating in a dedicated dining room with the same waiter, same table and same time each night, or flexible dining, allowing them to enjoy dinner at any available time and table size of their choosing in either the Reservable or Open Seating dining rooms. This change does not affect guests booked in specialty dining restaurants or suite or reserve collection accommodations, who enjoy a dedicated dining room on Princess ships, where no reservations are required. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedprincess Posted April 13 #18 Share Posted April 13 In case you missed it: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3003146-new-dining-room-changes-fleetwide/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LACruiser88 Posted April 13 #19 Share Posted April 13 2 hours ago, reedprincess said: In case you missed it: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3003146-new-dining-room-changes-fleetwide/ I just requested that my post be deleted, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PacnGoNow Posted April 13 #20 Share Posted April 13 4 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said: I just requested that my post be deleted, thanks! Actually, your post gives more information. Thank you. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted April 13 #21 Share Posted April 13 Does this mean Princess has actually listened to all the requests 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PacnGoNow Posted April 13 #22 Share Posted April 13 Interesting. I read this as, if your traveling Sep 14 or later: April 15, your pre-booked MDR reservations will be cancelled. June 17, you can rebook your MDR reservations in the App, under the new plan. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG&Lcruisingnewbies Posted April 13 #23 Share Posted April 13 I like the flexibility it seems like it will provide. I’d still prefer to reserve our times but if we can’t we can try for a walk in. Or if we forget to reserve or change our mind we can adjust accordingly and I’m happy for those who prefer traditional dining too. I know getting rid of it has been really unpopular. So, as long as they implement this well and the tech works, it could make things less stressful & more flexible 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted April 13 #24 Share Posted April 13 24 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said: I just requested that my post be deleted, thanks! You have more information on your, so if it's okay, I will merge them. @LACruiser88 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JimmyVWine Posted April 13 #25 Share Posted April 13 24 minutes ago, antsp said: Does this mean Princess has actually listened to all the requests Nah. More likely JP will tell us that this is industry leading innovation and “out of the box” thinking. 😎 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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