just had an email to today for our cruise in 5 weeks time
here is a quote from a bit of it
so looks like that they are now changing things sightly for dinning bookings, in that you can book throughout the evening
"For your holiday on Arvia, we’re offering advance dinner bookings for more dining venues, including Freedom restaurants. This gives you more peace of mind if you want to fit mealtimes around the entertainment you’ve booked, or simply ensure you experience the restaurants that whet your appetite the most. Reservation times are available throughout the evening on a first-come, first-served basis. And if you’re keen to dine socially, there’s a great option to share a table with other guests. Choosing to share a table may increase the booking time slots available to you."