Large Party Dining-Pearl

[RainbowChaser]

We are a family group of 17 adults/kids celebrating for our Papa's 80th. We will probably be doing different activities during the days on our upcoming 6/29 Alaska Cruise. We look forward to being able to have dinner together as much as possible. Anyone have any ideas how to accomplish this on Freestyle? Thanks for your help!

 

RC

[DAGVBSB]

We are a family group of 17 adults/kids celebrating for our Papa's 80th. We will probably be doing different activities during the days on our upcoming 6/29 Alaska Cruise. We look forward to being able to have dinner together as much as possible. Anyone have any ideas how to accomplish this on Freestyle? Thanks for your help!

 

RC

 

The main dining rooms will accept reservations for large groups. (they don't for parties smaller than 8-10). BUT, group reservation times for the main restaurants are limited to before 6:15 or after 8:15 p.m.. Not during the period of 6:15-8:15 p.m. Just speak to the maitre'd on the first day.

 

The specialty restaurants will accept reservations for any time that they have available for that number but you have to follow the same reservation procedures as everyone else.

 

We had a group of 17 for our cruise on the Star to Alaska in 2005 and we had no problems as long as we stuck to the time frame above. I will warn you that the largest table in the main dining room is only for 10 (or maybe one table for 12). Our group was seated at two adjacent tables, which worked out great.

[mylesf]

Your group can make a reservation in the specialty restuarants prior to cruising by calling into the group department and asking for the group coordinator of the ship you are sailing on. If you do make a reservation in a restuarant that has a fee, it must be pre-paid prior to your departure and is non-refundable. Hope that helps.

[RainbowChaser]

thanks, so it sounds like we will have more success in the main dining and should prereserve for all the nights so we get 2 tables next to each other? Will we get same spot/servers like traditional dining if we reserve same time (say 6pm every night)? Any other tips or suggestions that might make it more fun for us cruising together as a big group would be appreciated.

 

Best Regards,

 

RC

[DAGVBSB]

thanks, so it sounds like we will have more success in the main dining and should prereserve for all the nights so we get 2 tables next to each other? Will we get same spot/servers like traditional dining if we reserve same time (say 6pm every night)? Any other tips or suggestions that might make it more fun for us cruising together as a big group would be appreciated.

 

Best Regards,

 

RC

 

No, the server's rotate stations and restaurants so it is doubtful that you will have the same server's. In fact, it is better to have two different sets of waiters instead of the same waiter for both tables. It makes the dining go alot faster. (we had it both ways.) We had a favorite waiter, for example, on the Dawn and one night we asked for him and were told that the was the "relief" waiter that night and didn't have any of his own tables. (he filled in during breaks for the other waiters.)

 

 

You can set up with the maitre'd the first day a set time for each night and perhaps they can set you up at the same table for each night. Remember that there are two main restaurants, so you may want to try them both out. Perhaps the Maitre'd in the first restaurant can help you with the rest of the week.

[kdg51]

We had a large group from CC at the Italian Resaurant one night. One long table and 2 more smaller ones off to the side.

[garycarla]

To each their own, but I have seen large groups split up most nights into 2-3 smaller groups. Though it is great to have everyone at the same table, the reality is you can only talk to the ones nearest you.

 

It also cause a major issue with the servers trying to serve everyone at once. Not impossible, just difficult.

 

Enjoy the party!