Tips for booking speciality restaurants.

Our time has come for us to book the speciality restaurants.We have one booking per restaurant on Riviera on a weeks cruise...Any tips other than just book what's available?Is it wise to book one on embarkation night?We are not fussed about missing entertainment...We would like to try all the restaurants..Thanks

What we do is book online what is available and most acceptable to us then talk with a maitre'd after boarding. We've been very happy with our outcomes.

Here's a couple of things I've learned over the years. Depending on where you are in the pecking order of being able to reserve you might not get the times you want. By sharing with others quite a few more time slots become available. It's generally the early times that go first. If you're okay with eating late then you can get whatever night you want in each restaurant.

Many people don't book a specialty on embarkation night due to obvious reasons. If you are wanting to get extra reservations this is a good night to leave open and try.

What room category are you in?

Did a Specialty on Embarkment Day once, it was my wife's birthday.

Otherwise, not a fan of doing so. Depending upon how long you've been in country, one is often still jet lagged and tired from all the day's activities. There is often a lot of activity aboard on Embarkment Day, when we meet up with old sailing friends, meet and coordinate with fellow cruisers with which we have scheduled tours, wander the ship to see what has changed, watch sail away, and enjoy a few cocktails while doing all of the above. Often times the simplicity of the Terrace is all we need that first day. If we must dress for dinner, the GDR does fine! We prefer to enjoy the Specialties when we are a bit more relaxed and ready to turn our dedicated attention to the great meals they offer.

You're on the Riveria, which is an O ship. Don't forget the best reservations which are at La Reserve, and book your Specialties around those dates! ;)

What we do is book online what is available and most acceptable to us then talk with a maitre'd after boarding. We've been very happy with our outcomes.

Agree with this strategy. Definitely get the best times you can for each of the specialties. The "System" holds back a percentage of reservations so there is some flexibility once on board. On the Riviera the reservation desk in the main lobby is the gatekeeper not the Maître'D in each restaurant. They do have control after opening time at 6.30 to cover for cancellations and no shows. In my experience the reservation desk ladies are quite accommodating in changing times for existing reservations assuming, of course, that there are available times. Getting extra reservations is harder, especially on a short cruise.

Note that on a seven day cruise things are tight since everyone is entitled to one res in each specialty. You may have to live with your initial choices. On longer cruises the reservation people have more flexibility.

P.S. we nearly always score an additional reservation on sailing day due to the general aversion others like pinotlover have for the first night. Works for us :D since we usually arrive a few days early so we are not jet lagged.

Onboard you can probably get some extra same day reservations at the specialty restaurant desk in the atrium. Reservations are easier to get on long port days, people are tired and may not want to eat a big meal.

The grand dining room is terrific so we often debate whether to seek extra specialties.

We are going to be a group of 8 onboard regatta. All sorts of different cabin levels, from inside, to concierge and penthouse. 10 day cruise. How do we go about getting dinner reservations in the specialty restaurants for the group?

We are going to be a group of 8 onboard regatta. All sorts of different cabin levels, from inside, to concierge and penthouse. 10 day cruise. How do we go about getting dinner reservations in the specialty restaurants for the group?

Probably easier to call Oceania & make the reservations

Make sure you have the other peoples booking number so they can link you together

Some will only be GTY 1 reservation if that is what the cabin Category states

so you may have to check once onboard if they can get extras to join those that are in higher categories

from the FAQ's

How many dining reservations am I allowed in each specialty restaurant?

Guests are permitted to make the following reservations in our specialty restaurants - which vary by ship, category and length of cruise:

Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena

Concierge Level Veranda and above

Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant

Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant

Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant

All other categories

Cruises 17 days or less: 1 reservations at each restaurant

Cruises 18 days or more: 2 reservations at each restaurant

Once on the ship don't give up, someone will cancel during the cruise. We were in the Owners suite and had no problem with eating in one as much as we wanted---however you get tried of those dinners-so we cancelled a few that we had planned on. 7 day cruise may be a little harder.

Thank you for the help.After reading these comments,we sat down and looked at our itinerary..We have a few evenings where we sailaway a bit later and from a very scenic area.We decided not to be tied down with a time for those evenings.After that we were left with 4 nights.One being embarkation night,but we will have had a few days in Rome beforehand, so won't be tired from travelling.!

All the tips are helpful.Thank you.

Probably easier to call Oceania & make the reservations

Make sure you have the other peoples booking number so they can link you together

 

Some will only be GTY 1 reservation if that is what the cabin Category states

so you may have to check once onboard if they can get extras to join those that are in higher categories

 

from the FAQ's

How many dining reservations am I allowed in each specialty restaurant?

Guests are permitted to make the following reservations in our specialty restaurants - which vary by ship, category and length of cruise:

Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena

Concierge Level Veranda and above

Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant

Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant

Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant

 

All other categories

Cruises 17 days or less: 1 reservations at each restaurant

Cruises 18 days or more: 2 reservations at each restaurant

Good advice, thanks!