Better dining times available when boarding?

[Wishing on a star]

I know that this has been mentioned, especially in threads about booking Specialty Dining when this can be 'included'.  And, questions about having to pay when booking to book before the cruise.

With the new dining system, and the return of Traditional dining, etc... I wonder if anybody can report that they were able to move their anytime dining reservations, OR their Specialty dining reservations, to a better, earlier time.   (maybe the 6:00p.m. timeframe)

Especially on the SUN Princess.

 

I am seeing that this time can be the first to fill up and not be available.

[cr8tiv1]

I have been on several cruises since the restart.  I have not been on a cruise since Princess reorganized dining times.  

 

This has happened to me 3 times now (pre/post).  Specialty restaurants are almost full every night due to the complimentary dinners from the Premier Package.  It is more difficult to find an opening once on board.  Not impossible, but probably not at an early dining time. Even with suite priority, they have may have a hard time fitting you in (they will try their best).

 

Recently, I was in a suite and had breakfast at Sabatini's for 2 weeks.  My TA gifted us a specialty restaurant voucher late.  Then I was in isolation.  We had 4 days left to use the voucher.  We spoke to the Assistant Manager at Sabatini's and asked for his opinion.  

 

He told us that he was booked full for the rest of the cruise.  Some nights were "over" booked.  He suggested that we come when the restaurant opened on the overnight in Quebec, the night before disembarkation.  I really don't want to skip out on my MDR crew...but we did Sabatini's.  Said our goodbyes the night before the last night.

 

I am sure there will be availability late in the evening, but I cannot tolerate a full meal late.  

 

Good luck.  Again, this is a learning curve for Princess.  I wonder if the Maitre d' will again hold "office hours" like he/she did before.

[arizonaperson]

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

I know that this has been mentioned, especially in threads about booking Specialty Dining when this can be 'included'.  And, questions about having to pay when booking to book before the cruise.

With the new dining system, and the return of Traditional dining, etc... I wonder if anybody can report that they were able to move their anytime dining reservations, OR their Specialty dining reservations, to a better, earlier time.   (maybe the 6:00p.m. timeframe)

Especially on the SUN Princess.

 

I am seeing that this time can be the first to fill up and not be available.

Just my 2 cents…

The Sun Princess is not technically involved in the “ new” dining. Since dinner reservations were available to book on The Sun Princess all along-it started the new “ program” Also specialty dining was always bookable, not involved with new program. Of course,specialty dining books up,so does traditional,or reservable every 20 minutes. The “ whole” ship can not dine at 6 pm. That being said -there are certain exclusions. Example they sometimes hold back reservations ( specialty)for suites and I mean full suites, casino comps, other comps, etc..

Frustrating of course if you can’t reserve your first choice,but….

 

Here is what it says on the Princess website of course as we know the dates are a little bit different than what actually happened :

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. 

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.

 

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.

Edited July 7 by arizonaperson

[dreaminofcruisin]

I would say that you could go to the  Specialty restaurant once you board and talk to the people there. We have twice gotten bookings that did NOT appear on the app. They can sometimes 'squeeze' you in where the system doesn't allow it. The only thing that was different was they told us they could make the reservation for us as long as we would agree to be done by XX time. Of course, this depends on the service, but I think basically the message was they could accommodate us if we promised not to dawdle....(This was NOT on the SUN though.)

🙂

[Kay S]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

 

Good luck.  Again, this is a learning curve for Princess.  I wonder if the Maitre d' will again hold "office hours" like he/she did before.

That was always so useful.  I hope they bring it back.

[Arizona Wildcat]

Always found a person at restaurants at or shortly after boarding.  Sorted reservations at that time or the second night.

And yes, 6pm times are always very busy.

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks everyone!  Cr8tiv, your post was excellent!

It does appear that it is harder to get those prime dining times.

Note to self:  and to those reading...  If you like to have reservations and like to have those times... Make your reservations ASAP.

We have gone ahead and make some reservations for our cruise next year!

[Rick&Jeannie]

We just got off the Island. We had an SD reservation for 6:40 one evening (don't recall if it was Sabatini's or Bayou Cafe.) We wanted to push it back to around 7:30 or so. App would not let us. We just went by the restaurant earlier in the evening and made our request verbally...no problem.