Megabear2

As a matter of interest ICF how do you think the staff are going to handle and check 900 people in if everyone arrived 5 minutes before a show? If everyone did as you suggest and get there just a few minutes before show start would there be a different problem?

Can't speak for Iona but on Arvia 40 in the queue meant around an hour. Waiters were rushed off their feet and tables were very slow to be cleared which meant people not moving through.

It was fully booked every day it was operational so it seems very popular.

On Britannia you could pop in up to 6.00pm then app or queue took over. On Arvia it was app based for eating, don't know about drinking as I never got served or asked if I wanted a drink! It was a strange venue almost in a walkway in places nothing in my opinion anyway like the other ships. On the adverse weather days a large number of its seats became just places to sit, only the dining tables section seemed to being serviced unless you walked to the bar. Being alone doing that meant you'd lose your seat so I sat and waited in the app queue to no avail. I didn't see a waiter to ask for a drink either.

I haven't sailed RC for 5 years and never used the speciality restaurants. Celebrity gave a 4 meal package free on my sailing last year and also my upcoming one in December. I only look to book these when offers are on, never intend to pay for them. My bill on Edge last year was zero as everything was in my fare. Only on a week but we ate in every select restaurant once and Eden twice. To be honest I wouldn't use them very often unless I'm with my husband or friend. The latter is very much younger than me and wants to try everything to say she's done it.

They had a "sale" on handbags last week, 20% off. They were priced £50 with stickers each the day before, on the day of the sale they had no price tags. I watched a lady buy one - £57 then minus the 20% rang up. She remonstrated as to the sales person's embarrassment the bag she was buying had the original £50 sticker accidentally left on. Fascinating to watch as the wriggling began to say the bags had gone up in price. The lady got her bag for £50 minus 20% though .

You make good points. I was not actually intending to compare the cost, more the methodology behind how each line worked. My point on pricing was more that P&O is extremely cheap for its select dining in comparison with the pricing point of 2012. That, in my opinion, makes it likely to attract far more people to use it and as you say those with extremely large OBC will book the restaurants as to them it is "free" so to speak. However as a lone traveller the OBC offering is frequently small - some 2025 cruises currently offer £50 to £80, in fact even for a couple that's relatively small. Over the years OBC on offer has in my experience (my first sailing on P&O was 2010 on Azura so not as long as many on here) been far smaller hence my comment at the unexpected £620 for the January cruise I booked onboard. Regarding pressure I probably needed to express myself better! By pressure I really mean from individual cruisers who think they are missing out if they don't use the much trumpeted select dining on any ship, it's now perceived as a must do due to the advertising making it look far superior, building it up psychologically that if you haven't gotten in you've missed something vital from your holiday. For my part I used all options for eating except the Glass House and Keel & Cow (latter for breakfast) all were excellent including all the included options. For me the one standout was Green & Co, ironically the only one you could normally get into really easily. I've just checked me bill for there - one booked at home before departure and one via the app onboard. Total bill for them was £20.60 for first and £24.30 for the second so again much in line with the figures for Epicurean.

I never got in at Glasshouse or Keel & Cow to eat as everything was on the app and I wasn't called after quite a long wait. I did manage Keel & Cow breakfast but to truthful the MDR offering was just as good and free.

Yes, it always was. Last year the released most stuff on the Friday. I'm arriving Saturday in January and expect zilch!

Yes.

Nobody said you could book 710 club at midnight, that's you twisting words. I said if you want it book it immediately, same with entertainment unless you want 10.30pm. In fact I've taken screenshots of my app for every day to discuss with P&O on the app situation. For 10 out of 14 nights it shows not one item of entertainment available. These were taken at 9.30am every day. Of course it could be wrong, that's my discussion and also about an app not linked to other departments on tyecdhip such as the spa. They give you an electronic "diary" with half your bookings missing! Not exactly state of the art for a ship relying totally on IT.

I normally get in no problem on any cruise. Only ones I've ever booked were on Allure of the Seas and last two weeks on Arvia. I don't do late nights, always the early shows or in Arvia's case middle. Saturday evening saw around 40 people turfed away from the Take That sho, feltvsory for them.

Thanks, I'd no idea it was discounted!

Remember when Epicurean was 17 on Azura? Have a look at this archived thread... spot the very familiar name in the final post.

I tried Glass House yesterday. Joined app queue at 1.00pm two people in queue. 1.50 stil two people. I was sitting in the place about 14 people actually eating, loads just sitting. No waiters for food or drink in sight. Put myself out of queue at 2.10pm. Ate elsewhere. Lack of staff seems likely cause.

I recall mention of a first night discount some time recently. I've just checked me bill, straightforward cost minus my Peninsular discount. Green & Co I paid £10 deposit on bookiny towards my choices. I didn't use Sindhu.

Yes they do. Hence get there early if you can. No different to what's happening with Arvia and the midnight booking. The system isn't fair, never has been and it's one of the reasons I say one booking per week for certain events would be fair to give everyone a go. New cruisers on Arvia past two weeks never gotca look in at speciality restaurants. However I'm the minority when I feel guilty!

Yes, I fly premium, there are limited two seats. Much fought over. The website crashes when they open at midnight. Was 3.00am I got mine last year- as you've probably guessed I don't sleep a lot hence it being very precious. I also book my dining and entertainment at midnight along with great many others. You may think it's odd but for some of others it removes worry. To some of us if we are paying £405pp for premium economy plus £50 odd per person to choose a seat we want to sit together not one in front of each other. Full flights at that time of year too.

You had the opportunity to book in My P&O. When this became unavailable during covid restrictions you booked onboard at reception or direct with the restaurant. They were busy but not so fought over as now when many dine in them exclusively as they don't use the MDR options. They were treats.

Well actually ... remember the thread about choosing seats on Caribbean flights when they opened so folk could sit with their loved ones?

I met to lovely guys who had a full suite - they were in the complaint room with me. Their argument centred on they couldn't get any bookings for select restaurants via their butler or any other way. It was day two.

I did not have any pre booking discount, just my Peninsular one. I booked 2 Epicurean, 2 Limelight, one Beach House and 2 Green & Co. If there is another one I was unaware of it.

I politely suggest you remove me from your diatribe. This is not about you or I, and is about Bee-ess and others going forward for Mediterranean cruises. My comments are based on one cruise, my experience, my understanding of a very full ship, no more just advice based on that, Why single me out, I'm really hoping everyone gets the experience they want on Arvia. But before I too depart from this discussion, regarding the other ships there's really no problem everyone can do their thing onboard, everyone gets a fair shout, you can move your bookings, you can dance a different tune, have a coaster or not, eat where you want or shake it all about. Like it or not a full Arvia is a whole different ballgame. Good on Bee--ess and anyone else who booked at midnight - I did to and i advise tomorrow when the entertainment opens do that as well.

No. Only booking seats on a flight to the Caribbean meant a sleepless night!

Sorry, I don't agree. If you want a particular slot book it at opening, and if you want 710 club do it in Southampton. 10.30 for theatre possible but nothingvearlier. 710 forget it if you don't play the game. Specialist restaurant on Arvia book early before boarding unless its Geeen & Co in which case walk up.