SunnyKitty

Our upcoming Gem cruise will be the first since the SDP has been so widely implemented. We are like GoldMom and always liked not having to have reservations....I am hopeful that given we tend to eat later, that we won't have the same issues. <fingers crossed>

Just reserve for each night ahead of time and cancel as it goes.

We actually saw lady who came to Cagney's at 6pm and told she has La Cusine reservations for 9pm..amazingly for us - she was seated right away..

They need to have a "We'll hold your table for 15 minutes policy" and stick with it.

They said they have it.. but hostess always insisted on waiting full 30 minutes before giving away table

There are a finite number of tables, and it appears many choose the free package. Try finding a dining reservation the day of during free dining promotions at WDW. Now you do need to book ahead of time.

 

Remember the annoying pool waiters always asking if you want a drink? With the UBP, they are a thing of the past.

you know, both Le bistro and Cagney's were half empty all the time, regardless "fully booked " claim.

We were coming at 5-30 , waiting to get seated, leaving about 8 - and some tables were empty all the times continuously. I would say both places were filled at 2\3 most, may be half tables..

Our last time on breakaway there was a free dining special. We did not have this and I didn't know about booking online. We booked in the terminal before boarding and so glad we did as there were so many complaining they could not get resies except for 9:00. Don't see how they can give a perk then not have it available. If you must reserve ahead then what does the "Free Style" stand for?

we did not want to book in advance. We like to pick dinner place based on menus and feeling..

but "beg and wait" approach is not relaxing either..

MSC does.:D

sounds promising

:)

well...

What cruise line?

I am just of NCL and they relaxed dress code a lot. Now shorts and flip flops are ok in MDR and Le Bistro asks for jeans and tshirts..

as much as I was seeing around - if you had clothes they would let you in..

Not at all :)

I do it a lot on land as well. I love to eat different food and regular entree is just to huge and boring for me

Does anyone heard of cruise lines "matching" reward level from an other line?

We cruised before mostly with 1 line and although our reward status is not huge, it has some useful benefits. But I want to switch lines and start using other one..Getting same benefits there from the beginning would made switch so much easier :)

So.. was it ever done? I know I will need to call and ask, but I wanted to know first

Last week my family and friends were on Gateway. We all had SDP as part of our promo and got nice dinner on the first night at Le Bistro...

But on the third night once we tried to book a dinner we got "all specialty restaurants booked for this sailing". It was a surprise, since passing by we can see lots of empty tables, but service desk girl was firm - all booked, no reservations possible, anywhere, anytime..

Only option we got is come at 5-30 , get rejected and wait for half an hour for them to see what no one came and get the table this way. And it was not only us - usually it was about 10-20 people waiting like it, with half empty restaurant in sight and "all booked " in response.

That was disappointing...I have sailed with NCL before many times and it was never an issue to book restaurant in short notice. Actually before we always booked after seeing MDR menu and deciding. we don't care for it tonight.

I am not sure what is the reason - fault in their reservation system, to many SDP offered as a promo... not sure.. But this was not a good experience at all..

Second part of it - waiters were all trying to say " you can have only 2 appetizers with it and 1 desert". If continue to push - they were doing "only for you one time I will break rules" thing. Really ?

I checked online again and rules on the SPD says only additional entries have cost.

Sure, you can use it anywhere

my kids love cruising. They loved NCL, they loved RCL, they loved Carnival.

NCL club they liked most, it was more active and entertaining for them, but they would agree on anything - just to go on a cruise.

My observation - it is a little better to not on a school break, less kids=more attention :)

check each line rules, but "clubs" usually after 3 years

they started to add some services for smaller kids, but they do change often - it might be payed sitter, or some play time with parents ...

we have been on Carnaval 5 years ago and it was just once a day play time, but may be it changed

NCL had play room for small kids with parents, but I heard they added some services for smaller ones.

but anyway - it was fun. Peak ship with playgrounds and kiddie pool and you will have good time

Jade is much smaller ship when Breakawayon cruise with more sea days I would prefer bigger ship with more activities

you can ask - sometime they allow kids to go down one level, never up.

our son had a birthday on cruise , we went to Le Bistro and he got special cake at the end..It was cute :)

we have taken 4 NCL cruises and kids loved club 3 times out of 4.

4th time it was during school break and it was way to crowded

they did circus ( learned a lot - juggling, spinning plates .. i purchased it for home later )

they also had sports and treasure hunts and other stuff.

we also tried Carnival and RCL - it was not better ... last RCL cruise actually club was much less organized, not so many fun activities + it had many non-english speaking kids which made it harder to play

I think you gonna be fine :)

never seen a dentist on board

and.. as about doctor - it is quite expensive, would recommend to fix it now , before the trip

never seen a dentist on board

and.. as about doctor - it is quite expensive, would recommend to it now

we were taking small kids to dining on NCL

we booked for them, but never had to pay since they were not eating anything anyway may be except bread.

some toys and ipad :) to ensure quiet time :) helps

I reserved the show now

Rep on the phone told me other options already booked and what on web site are all the tickets.

So I got what was available left.

I still want to check once on board if I can move it to the sea day, but at least I have other day reserved

Thank you all, it was great help

you don;t need to prebook, but you need to register on the first day

( not sure what will happen if you not though.. )

a night - if you leave after 10pm they charge you something and usually offer some sort of mat on the floor and movies or quiet games.

Before that - usually no place to lay down.

Hm..

I checked website and they have very little shows available

Does it mean all of them booked or I would have better luck on board?

I really wanted to get the show for sea day..

Thank you so much

I would not have guessed I need to be in line that early..

leemanpa,

keep us posted :)

what is the difference between "floor seating" and regular tickets?

I am taking kids and want them to be able to see the show well..