Bugsy1966

So my question is have you experienced buying the dinner packages and getting shut out of times and dates when you got onboard to book them?

I have but the one experience to relate and it was not greatly dissimilar to Silkroad's.

We boarded the Reflection around 11.30am last August and, after first organising the life-giving internet for DW, I headed directly to the speciality dining 'lectern' next to Guest Services. Having booked a 4 night package I was looking to book times for 2 x Murano, 1 x Lawn Club Grill and 1 x Tuscan Grill.

Despite being one of the first few hundred (?) on board the times we were seeking (8.30pm in all of them) were not available for 2 of the 4 dates we had in mind. I would imagine that times between 7.00 and 8.00 might have been harder to come by. In the end, by switching a couple of restaurants around we managed to dine on all 4 of the dates we sought and, if memory serves, 2 x 8.30pm and 2 x 9.00pm.

So I would suggest that that the agent you spoke to was being a little disingenuous in saying that you will not get shut of your dates/times if my experience is anything to go by - albeit only that one experience. If you board early enough then the likelihood is you will get something close to your first choice but you may well have to be flexible.

Agreed and thanks again.

Many thanks for clarifying things. Most helpful as in view of what you say there would seem little point in purchasing a package 18 months out - might as well wait until nearer the time.

It would have been great to have been able to book specific times in speciality restaurants but I suppose you can't blame Celebrity for only allowing that (for the time being at least) for people that are willing to pay the full price.

I'll probably make a reservation or two for the French Bistro as it makes no sense to use part of any package for that and sit tight for the other venues.

Good news re being able to book the higher end specialities as part of the package as the info you quote from Celebrity certainly seems to suggest. Although one does wonder if that is an oversight and might change at some point.

Has anyone tried to book a dining package and then followed that with making reservations for their cruise?

I see that you can make table reservations online in the speciality restaurants and pay the appropriate fees but if (say) you purchase a 4 night dining package when you then go to make reservations for speciality restaurants does the system 'know' that you have purchased a dining package i.e. there is no charge for that reservation for up to 4 of them?

Also, does anyone know if there are any restrictions on how many times you can book a particular venue? It would seem spectacular value to book the aforementioned 4 night package and then use that to dine twice in Eden and twice in Fine Cut.

If anyone has tried any of the above then I (and am sure others) would be very grateful if you could relate your experience.

Anybody want to make a prediction? Here is mine. In addition to the already announced Eden specialty restaurant, Edge will likely have Tuscan Grille and QSine. Sushi-on-5........

If that survives then I'd be rather surprised. It was almost totally deserted at all hours when, by comparison, it was nigh on impossible to get a seat at Al Bacio on the Reflection last August. At some point (now?) one suspects they'll admit defeat on that idea.