Dining reservations

[555]

2 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

 

But with that being said…..the menu is not the same in the buffet as it is in the dining room -at least that’s what I understood you saying.

It never has been the same. Sometimes they include many of the same items, but there's no guarantee. 

2 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

What have you given up on? Making reservations? Keep trying,so many ways to try. Do you have specialty dining reservations? Is it part of your package? Do you have a travel agent? If you do they will help you. Is your cruise over 1 year away? Too early for reservations if that’s the case.

I've just given up on making reservations in the anytime DR. No matter how long I try to get the time I want, it's not offered. Neither is a private table for the times I want. 

We're not going to any Specialty dining next cruise. 

[arizonaperson]

@555  we’ll darn on nothing you want.

have you looked at my thread new dining reservations ship to ship?

you can see what others have been able to book already.

Private tables seem to be more available later,not late,but after 6 ish for the reservable/ flexible dining room. Varies of course.

I would post just your ship information,but I don’t think you have shared that. Also some said to pick dining room first and not time or private or shared table. The other variables are second pick/ choice when making reservations. I don’t know if that makes a difference??

so pick DR, then time,then shared or private table  is what others have posted.

Edited July 13 by arizonaperson

[Kay S]

3 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Am I being naive or wouldn't it have been a sensible move by Princess to find our how many passengers would like fixed dining and also at which time. 

I have no doubt Princess did lots of marketing research before making this decision.  They would not reinstate fixed dining just out of the kindness of their hearts.  😐

[555]

5 minutes ago, arizonaperson said:

@555  we’ll darn on nothing you want.

have you looked at my thread new dining reservations ship to ship?

you can see what others have been able to book already.

Private tables seem to be more available later,not late,but after 6 ish for the reservable/ flexible dining room. Varies of course.

I would post just your ship information,but I don’t think you have shared that.

We'll be on the Sun & only want a private table at 5 PM for deck 7. 

Noting complicated. 

[Sea Hag]

On 7/11/2024 at 1:45 AM, 555 said:

I really believe that "traditional dining" brings with it some desire to return to the dress codes of years past.

Lets hope that is not the case.

Not on my part it doesn't! We plan to carry on like we have in the past several years. 

[arizonaperson]

2 minutes ago, 555 said:

We'll be on the Sun & only want a private table at 5 PM for deck 7. 

Noting complicated. 

Aah,sorry I did not compile a list for The Sun Princess ,since it technically is not on the new dining program. It started the program since its inception. If you know what I mean.

I know it doesn’t help you ,but  I am  noticing dining on other ships later = more choice of private tables .

perhaps all private tables at 5 pm reservations on deck 7 are full? Seems to be a popular time for passengers to dine. Even though you don’t want second seating traditional dining,was it available to book on The Sun Princess at a private table? Or you didn’t look?

Thanks.

[OceanoPair]

Princess has been Reservable Dining in the MDR's for the last two years. Now they have added the option to return to Traditional for those that want it and Anytime for those who want to be more flexible.  I think Princess is doing a great job adding these options. Not sure what all the fuss is about. If worried about the show then Book Reservable Dining and dine when you want. If you're worried about the dining room choice then think back to when you booked Traditional Dining and they told you what dining room you had based on your cabin location. It's all about choices and thanks to Princess for doing that. The App works awesome for most and I would imagine most have already made their reservations. We have ours for reserved for 5 cruises through 2026 without a problem or complaint

[555]

1 hour ago, arizonaperson said:

Aah,sorry I did not compile a list for The Sun Princess ,since it technically is not on the new dining program. It started the program since its inception. If you know what I mean.

I know it doesn’t help you ,but  I am  noticing dining on other ships later = more choice of private tables .

perhaps all private tables at 5 pm reservations on deck 7 are full? Seems to be a popular time for passengers to dine. Even though you don’t want second seating traditional dining,was it available to book on The Sun Princess at a private table? Or you didn’t look?

Thanks.

It seems that all the nights on our trip are mixed up. Some only offer seating at 7:45 & later. Some times will show private seating while other nights only one will be shown as being available. 

This has been going on for months now.

I'm fed up and calling my TA. 

[555]

1 hour ago, Sea Hag said:

Not on my part it doesn't! We plan to carry on like we have in the past several years. 

As will most people. This new approach for Princess has worked great for just about everyone, Princess included. 

[lorri111]

I feel for the people who genuinely aren't able to make a booking but apparently there are an awful lot of people out there who will complain about absolutely anything. Nothing could ever be done right for them. How do they survive in the real world??

Edited July 14 by lorri111

[Cruisemeister2002]

16 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Aah,sorry I did not compile a list for The Sun Princess ,since it technically is not on the new dining program. It started the program since its inception. If you know what I mean.

I know it doesn’t help you ,but  I am  noticing dining on other ships later = more choice of private tables .

perhaps all private tables at 5 pm reservations on deck 7 are full? Seems to be a popular time for passengers to dine. Even though you don’t want second seating traditional dining,was it available to book on The Sun Princess at a private table? Or you didn’t look?

Thanks.

Being English it's my take that many Americans seem to want to dine at 5 p.m. and also a large proportion also seem to want a Private table and possibly therein lies the problem as restaurants only have a certain amount of tables for two and if many want the same time then regardless of how much Princess try demand may outweigh availability.

[555]

2 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Being English it's my take that many Americans seem to want to dine at 5 p.m. and also a large proportion also seem to want a Private table and possibly therein lies the problem as restaurants only have a certain amount of tables for two and if many want the same time then regardless of how much Princess try demand may outweigh availability.

I know that most English prefer to eat late but do they select large tables over privacy?

Edited July 14 by 555

[paddingtonbear]

23 minutes ago, 555 said:

I know that most English prefer to eat late but do they select large tables over privacy?

I’m from Oz, not US, but I’d prefer to eat a little later than early traditional dining but prefer larger tables to socialise.  Not much privacy when tables for 2 are placed 2foot from one another. 

[HotRoot]

Our problem with shared tables is the timing.  We only order a starter (appetizer; soup; or salad) and an entree.  Last time we shared a table one couple ordered an appetizer, a soup, a salad, and an entree.  We allowed 90 minutes for dinner.  We left before the entrees were served so we could make it to a show.

[Cruise till you drop]

44 minutes ago, paddingtonbear said:

I’m from Oz, not US, but I’d prefer to eat a little later than early traditional dining but prefer larger tables to socialise. 

Thank you Dorothy.  Do you dine with Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man ?

[Boku]

1 hour ago, 555 said:

I know that most English prefer to eat late but do they select large tables over privacy?

I'm British and prefer to eat around 18:15 on a table for two but that is my last meal of the day, no late evening snacking here.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, Boku said:

I'm British and prefer to eat around 18:15 on a table for two but that is my last meal of the day, no late evening snacking here.

That is still trio early for us   I don’t think we ever eat before 7:30 or 8;00 at sea or at home

[555]

2 hours ago, HotRoot said:

Our problem with shared tables is the timing.  We only order a starter (appetizer; soup; or salad) and an entree.  Last time we shared a table one couple ordered an appetizer, a soup, a salad, and an entree.  We allowed 90 minutes for dinner.  We left before the entrees were served so we could make it to a show.

Yep, that can be a major problem for me for sure. I hate waiting for others to finish their meal & their conversation always slows things down even more.

The last time we shared was over 20 years ago & both the wife & I said never again.😉

[Z0nker]

Dining reservations on the Ruby had only been available thru July 4, 2025 but have just opened up for July 5+. YMMV. 

[Rudy888]

On 7/13/2024 at 3:47 PM, 555 said:

As will most people. This new approach for Princess has worked great for just about everyone, Princess included. 

I thought the changes would be great. Back to traditional dining, sharing a table with others. Bot my choices are share at 5 PM or private table at 7:30

 I have gained same table & same waiters but lost same tablemates. 

[ziggyuk]

On 7/4/2024 at 4:10 PM, arizonaperson said:

@ziggyuk thank you so much for the 7:20 pm correction,it’s updated for Ruby Princess, Michelangelo DR. Appreciate it.

 

Thought I would let you know, I checked the web app again today and all the Michelangelo fixed dining options are now gone.
However, Botticelli has now opened up with the following availability. It looks like they were holding back on these dines and only listing fixed times in Michelangelo at first.

 

I have changed a number of my Michelangelo bookings to Botticelli for a bit of variety.
Cruise in April 25 on Ruby, we have no status, not paid in full and this is our first Princess cruise.

 

[Sea Hag]

1 hour ago, ziggyuk said:

I have changed a number of my Michelangelo bookings to Botticelli for a bit of variety.
Cruise in April 25 on Ruby, we have no status, not paid in full and this is our first Princess cruise.

I'm curious as to how that would work - some in Michaelangelo and some in Botticelli. A mixture of traditional and reservable? I would be surprised that the app would allow you to do that, but we all know how the app is.

[ziggyuk]

1 minute ago, Sea Hag said:

I'm curious as to how that would work - some in Michaelangelo and some in Botticelli. A mixture of traditional and reservable? I would be surprised that the app would allow you to do that, but we all know how the app is.

 

I did wonder if you could mix and match but the app allowed it. I did also wonder if while on the ship we could cancel a timed dine and just turn up to the anytime dining room if we wanted a later dine. Although we were in the traditional dining room we did book a private table so that is now available to others on the days we gave them back.

It does give the choice when booking fixed dining to book the whole cruise at the same time and table or book day by day.

[Sea Hag]

4 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

I did wonder if you could mix and match but the app allowed it. I did also wonder if while on the ship we could cancel a timed dine and just turn up to the anytime dining room if we wanted a later dine. Although we were in the traditional dining room we did book a private table so that is now available to others on the days we gave them back.

It does give the choice when booking fixed dining to book the whole cruise at the same time and table or book day by day.

That app is so zany! I guess we'll all find out onboard how well this all works.

[Cruisemeister2002]

5 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

I did wonder if you could mix and match but the app allowed it. I did also wonder if while on the ship we could cancel a timed dine and just turn up to the anytime dining room if we wanted a later dine. Although we were in the traditional dining room we did book a private table so that is now available to others on the days we gave them back.

It does give the choice when booking fixed dining to book the whole cruise at the same time and table or book day by day.

I think the dining is as you wish.If for instance you are, like ourselves on an evening excursion we won't be able to make our 7.30 shared dining that night. Also on another occasion we are  booked into a Speciality restaurant, again we wouldn't want to book our meal in the MDR. So I have gone through all the day's  and where applicable booked the MDR for all those nights, 7.30 shared. Our reservation for the Speciality restaurant also shows on the website as well as the App. We also have two casual dining meals as per the Princess Plus package. Therefore I will when  we decide which days to have these also cancel the nights in the MDR. I believe that should we for any reason need an earlier of later meal be able to either make a reservation in another dining room or do a walk in.