Dining Room "Beepers"

[resstation]

I have read that if you have to wait for a table (Anytime Dining), you are given a beeper to alert you when your table is ready. How far can you go with it? Is there a bar nearby to have a cocktail while we wait? We will be on the Caribbean Princess.

[rdsqrl]

Yes, there's a bar at the Patisserie on Deck 5 in the atrium, so it's right outside the Island Dining Room and one deck below the Coral Dining Room. I don't know on the CB which dining rooms are for Anytime, but I'd be surprised if the Island weren't one of them -- the dining room in that position is the Anytime Dining Room on both the Crown and the Grand and it's only logical, given the bar there for waiting . . I don't know how far you can go with the beepers: I never wandered any farther than that bar!

[resstation]

Yes, there's a bar at the Patisserie on Deck 5 in the atrium, so it's right outside the Island Dining Room and one deck below the Coral Dining Room. I don't know on the CB which dining rooms are for Anytime, but I'd be surprised if the Island weren't one of them -- the dining room in that position is the Anytime Dining Room on both the Crown and the Grand and it's only logical, given the bar there for waiting . . I don't know how far you can go with the beepers: I never wandered any farther than that bar!

 

Thanks, well if there is a bar within beeper distance, I don't care how long it takes me to sit down to dinner! LOL

[paul929207]

I have read that if you have to wait for a table (Anytime Dining), you are given a beeper to alert you when your table is ready. How far can you go with it? Is there a bar nearby to have a cocktail while we wait? We will be on the Caribbean Princess.

 

Of course there is a bar within "beeping" range.

[quincytoo]

Thanks, well if there is a bar within beeper distance, I don't care how long it takes me to sit down to dinner! LOL

I agree :) When we were on the Diamondwe loved the Savoy, so did alot of other people....Once we had to wait 1/2 glass of wine, the beeper worked great (we were at the Cavier and wine bar) On the Sapphire we had to wait one whole cocktail (try the 24K Rita YUMMINESS in a huge glass :) but neither were a hardship :)

 

Beepers worked fine both times :)

[impartfish]

Depending on the time of evening you're there, just remember that the bar(s) could be packed with others waiting for their "beepers" to go off too. ;)

[Christapie]

Hate the beeper. You take it with you and feel lucky when it lights up.

[judydoc]

Wow we had no idea they had beepers. Going on another Princess in November, so that is great information!

[Sandytoes]

I have read that if you have to wait for a table (Anytime Dining), you are given a beeper to alert you when your table is ready. How far can you go with it? Is there a bar nearby to have a cocktail while we wait? We will be on the Caribbean Princess.

Palm is a bigger dining room which is located on Deck 6.

You will have to wait in the lobby area (near elevators\stairs) nothing else is in the area. On Deck 7 Club Fusion has a bar.

You are only given a beeper if you did not make reservations.

[DanJ]

When we were on the CB, the Coral on deck 6 off the atrium was an anytime dining room, along with the aft Palm. Some people went to the casino with their pager. We didn't, so I don't know if it worked in there, but I imagine it did.

[LENORA516]

When we were on the CB, the Coral on deck 6 off the atrium was an anytime dining room, along with the aft Palm. Some people went to the casino with their pager. We didn't, so I don't know if it worked in there, but I imagine it did.Today 12:58 AM

 

 

Of course it works in the casino and the shops !! (hey at least you can wander a short distance ... I was given a beeper in a local restaurant last week it wouldn't work outside the restaurant the waiting area was packed with no seats and they were 3 deep at the bar! and the wait was much longer than on the ship)

[resstation]

When we were on the CB, the Coral on deck 6 off the atrium was an anytime dining room, along with the aft Palm. Some people went to the casino with their pager. We didn't, so I don't know if it worked in there, but I imagine it did.

 

Oh no. If it works in the casino, I'm in big trouble!

[Diane Rose]

Palm is a bigger dining room which is located on Deck 6.

You will have to wait in the lobby area (near elevators\stairs) nothing else is in the area. On Deck 7 Club Fusion has a bar.

You are only given a beeper if you did not make reservations.

 

I would like to not have to make reservations since this is why I chose the Anytime Dining. If we are going to arrive somewhere between 7 and 7:30PM, what do you estimate the approximate wait time would be?

 

Is one of the restaurants busier than the other?

 

Diane

[caribbean2000]

Beepers. Reason number 10 we'll stick with traditional dining rather than so-called "anytime." Beepers are for Outback and TGI Fridays, not a cruise vacation.

[LENORA516]

Beepers. Reason number 10 we'll stick with traditional dining rather than so-called "anytime." Beepers are for Outback and TGI Fridays, not a cruise vacation.

 

 

... And I think having to eat at the same time every day, is not a vacation , its a prison... so that is why they offer both !!:)

[resstation]

... And I think having to eat at the same time every day, is not a vacation , its a prison... so that is why they offer both !!:)

 

I agree totally! Have a drink (doesn't have to be alcohol) and relax. We went on a Disney cruise in December and I hated having to "hurry up", "hurry up, we have to go to dinner". No thanks.

[resstation]

... And I think having to eat at the same time every day, is not a vacation , its a prison... so that is why they offer both !!:)

 

I agree totally! Have a drink (doesn't have to be alcohol) and relax. We went on a Disney cruise in December and I hated having to "hurry up", "hurry up, we have to go to dinner". No thanks.

[Coastaljen]

I know they had beepers on the Crown.

[cynbar]

Add my vote to those who don't mind the beeper---- we've never had to wait more than a few minutes, and the trade off is well worth it when we don't have to plan ahead. I must say that we usually make a reservation on formal nights because they have the longest waits, but otherwise, give us a beeper and point us to the bar and we're happy!

[Verycatchy7939]

Beepers. Reason number 10 we'll stick with traditional dining rather than so-called "anytime." Beepers are for Outback and TGI Fridays, not a cruise vacation.

 

 

Typical narrow minded american.

[Diane Rose]

Add my vote to those who don't mind the beeper---- we've never had to wait more than a few minutes, and the trade off is well worth it when we don't have to plan ahead. I must say that we usually make a reservation on formal nights because they have the longest waits, but otherwise, give us a beeper and point us to the bar and we're happy!

Agree totally. Thanks for the tip on formal night!

 

Diane

[G'ma]

Beepers. Reason number 10 we'll stick with traditional dining rather than so-called "anytime." Beepers are for Outback and TGI Fridays, not a cruise vacation.

 

I am SO with you. Might as well stay home.

 

This whole dining thing has gotten totally out of hand. Fees on some ships, long lines, not able to get a reservation you want.

 

That's not the cruise experience I'm looking for. I'll take the traditional dining option, too.

[G'ma]

Typical narrow minded american.

 

Nope, you're wrong. He's a typical experienced cruiser.

 

It's mostly the "newbies" or those with only a few under their belts that think these options are revolutionary and something to be desired.

 

An experienced cruiser knows that the main dining room provides a very good dining experience. They may be willing to shell out additional money for one of those "Specialty" restaurants that have cropped up lately but won't take part in all the "reservation" nonsense.

 

You all are being sold a bill of goods. It's only a matter of time where not only will you need reservations for these "anytime dining" options but you probably will shell out a few bucks, too.

 

Those of us who have been around awhile will continue to enjoy the traditional dining option....which is now, always has been and will be free......

 

Oh, and by the way, in my country, America is usually capitalized......

[Christapie]

Nope' date=' you're wrong. He's a typical [u']experienced[/u] cruiser.

 

It's mostly the "newbies" or those with only a few under their belts that think these options are revolutionary and something to be desired.

 

An experienced cruiser knows that the main dining room provides a very good dining experience. They may be willing to shell out additional money for one of those "Specialty" restaurants that have cropped up lately but won't take part in all the "reservation" nonsense.

 

You all are being sold a bill of goods. It's only a matter of time where not only will you need reservations for these "anytime dining" options but you probably will shell out a few bucks, too.

 

Those of us who have been around awhile will continue to enjoy the traditional dining option....which is now, always has been and will be free......

 

Oh, and by the way, in my country, America is usually capitalized......

 

Good job! Could not have said it better!

[DanJ]

G'ma, you can't say with any more certainty that reservations will end up costing than you can that traditional will always not have a fee.

 

Really, what is the difference in telling the cruise line a year ahead of the cruise that you want a particular seating, compared to telling the maitre d on the ship you want a particular time? Both are reservations. It doesn't make anyone a less savvy traveler by deciding to roll with it and go to dinner when they want, instead of when they have to.

 

To me, as someone who liked traditional, and only did anytime once so far, it wasn't the wait at 7-730pm or the different wait staff, but the different table mates that I didn't like about anytime. I missed the ongoing discussion that usually progressed through the week. With anytime, by the time you got past the introductions, where are you from, what do you do, how many cruises have you been on, dinner time is over. Then the same happens the next night with a new batch of people. But, that's not enough for me to lose sleep over or heaven forbid, not book a cruise because of.