Which night would be dinner with officers?

[The Traveling Man]

4 hours ago, Middleager said:

For us when we found out there's conflict, we first cancelled our SD booking.  There was not many available SD time slots open.  The SD restaurants we wanted to go said they're full (as shown on the various screens), and been Sapphire didn't matter.  I asked where the "concierge" is that might be able to help, and was told that's the CN desk.  But CN desk said they don't help with SD scheduling, and we were back at needing to contact SD restaurants.

 

It was the CN desk where we signed up for the DWO, and we didn't know we could contact the GM's secretary.  Now we've learned for the next time we could try contacting the GM's secretary.

When we have had a conflict between DWO and a previous reservation, we have gone to the restaurant reservations desk for assistance.  Before we cancelled our current reservation, we asked about other possibilities.  Once we found something acceptable, we asked the hostess to book that and at the same time to delete our previous reservation.  We sometimes had to dine either earlier or later than we would have liked.  Sometimes we even accepted a restaurant that we might not have chosen were it not for the conflict, but we always have been able to work out something.

[snorklinbarb]

On 8/6/2024 at 9:36 AM, Middleager said:

For us when we found out there's conflict, we first cancelled our SD booking.  There was not many available SD time slots open.  The SD restaurants we wanted to go said they're full (as shown on the various screens), and been Sapphire didn't matter.  I asked where the "concierge" is that might be able to help, and was told that's the CN desk.  But CN desk said they don't help with SD scheduling, and we were back at needing to contact SD restaurants.

 

It was the CN desk where we signed up for the DWO, and we didn't know we could contact the GM's secretary.  Now we've learned for the next time we could try contacting the GM's secretary.

CN will take care of you.  It's not necessary to contact GM Secretary as the schedule is not yet set.   You will get a letter advising you of the day.

 

Case in point:  Just returned from B2B Joy, both 7 night Bermuda cruises.  On first leg the Dinner With Officers was on sea day Thurs. but the 2nd cruise it was on Weds.  So even with same schedule cruise, it can vary.  I knew the GM Secretary but even for the 2nd wk she wasn't quite sure when it would be.  

 

Sorry one poster had trouble rescheduling Specialty Dining but both CN and/or GM Secretary have certainly been helpful to me before.  By the way on Joy the meeting time was 5:30 pm.  On other ships it's been later.  They try to coordinate with entertainment times, etc.  

 

A lot goes into the planning.  We've never had a huge table of 12 as some have mentioned.  2 officers plus perhaps 6-8 guests.  They place the officers strategically so that everyone has a chance to chat.  We've had wonderful experiences from the very top senior officers to a casino host.  Last month on Joy I was put with the HR Dir. and one of the bridge officers.  The previous wk was Asst. Exec. Housekeeper and Photo Mgr.  

 

Name cards are placed on the table so you will know where you should sit.

 

Be sure to confirm.  Very important.  Sometimes people no-show and it creates an issue for the GM Secretary who has put lots of effort into it (has photos of the guests in hand).  

 

Letters were sent 2 days in advance so plenty of time to rearrange a specialty dinner to another day.  

 

 

[Middleager]

1 hour ago, snorklinbarb said:

CN will take care of you.  It's not necessary to contact GM Secretary as the schedule is not yet set.   You will get a letter advising you of the day.

CN didn't help.

 

As I mentioned, in our case the DWO time was known right after we embarked and got the info sheet from the CN desk.  For our conflict I asked the SD restaurant to help re-scheduling, they were of no help.  They told me the "concierge" is the CN desk.  But when I went back to the CN desk, they were of no help.  CN desk and re-directed us back to the SD restaurant. 

 

So YMMV in how/where to try to get help.

[snorklinbarb]

1 hour ago, Middleager said:

CN didn't help.

 

As I mentioned, in our case the DWO time was known right after we embarked and got the info sheet from the CN desk.  For our conflict I asked the SD restaurant to help re-scheduling, they were of no help.  They told me the "concierge" is the CN desk.  But when I went back to the CN desk, they were of no help.  CN desk and re-directed us back to the SD restaurant. 

 

So YMMV in how/where to try to get help.

That's really unfortunate.  For higher level Latitudes guests especially, the CN desk is supposed to make efforts as the "concierge" so to speak.  On Joy the excellent CN Mgr Daniel even announced at the party that his desk is there to help in any way, reservations, etc.  

 

CN should have picked up the phone and called the AMD in charge of that particular specialty or even bumped it up to the RM.  When they say you are involved with the Officers Dinner, someone of the group should (and does) help.  Or even the GM Secretary can help when you confirm your attendance.

 

It's too bad that even with all those options,, nobody helped you.   Were you able to attend the dinner and change your reservation finally or just gave up?

 

Lastly, a note to the GM in the "Dear GM" box to share your frustration and disappointment with the CN desk might have elicited a response.  

 

Not the treatment you deserved.  They could have moved your dinner maybe to another night at the restaurant you wanted or worked with you to your satisfaction..

[Middleager]

3 hours ago, snorklinbarb said:

That's really unfortunate.  For higher level Latitudes guests especially, the CN desk is supposed to make efforts as the "concierge" so to speak.  On Joy the excellent CN Mgr Daniel even announced at the party that his desk is there to help in any way, reservations, etc.  

 

CN should have picked up the phone and called the AMD in charge of that particular specialty or even bumped it up to the RM.  When they say you are involved with the Officers Dinner, someone of the group should (and does) help.  Or even the GM Secretary can help when you confirm your attendance.

 

It's too bad that even with all those options,, nobody helped you.   Were you able to attend the dinner and change your reservation finally or just gave up?

 

Lastly, a note to the GM in the "Dear GM" box to share your frustration and disappointment with the CN desk might have elicited a response.  

 

Not the treatment you deserved.  They could have moved your dinner maybe to another night at the restaurant you wanted or worked with you to your satisfaction..

We were told to check the SD restaurant once a while to see if there're cancellations.  They don't take waitlist.  They say best to go right at the time the restaurant opens at night to check.

 

So one day we wanted to go (not right at opening or 9pm), we went to the SD restaurant as it opens, and go a table for 2 for 7pm, or maybe 6:45p.  

 

For our DWO, we were at a table of 8 or 10, with 2 junior officers (assistant manager of Housekeeping, and another assistant manager).  There were 2 other DWO tables.

[The Traveling Man]

On 8/7/2024 at 1:09 PM, Middleager said:

CN didn't help.

 

As I mentioned, in our case the DWO time was known right after we embarked and got the info sheet from the CN desk.  For our conflict I asked the SD restaurant to help re-scheduling, they were of no help.  They told me the "concierge" is the CN desk.  But when I went back to the CN desk, they were of no help.  CN desk and re-directed us back to the SD restaurant. 

 

So YMMV in how/where to try to get help.

On most NCL ships there is a restaurant reservation desk near Guest Services.  It may only be staffed a few hours a day, but those hours usually are posted.  When we have had to change our specialty restaurant reservations because of conflicts with DWO, they always have been able to help.  The few times that we have traveled in the Haven, our Concierge made arrangements for us.  Maybe we have been fortunate, but we never have experienced any major problems in rearranging our dining reservations.