First time on NCL help please

[Marie50]

I understand how the dining works and that you just show up and either you wait or not. Can you in fact make a reservation also?

Also, how do the shows work and how would you know when to go based on your dining times?

Thanks.

[kato92]

[quote name='Marie50']I understand how the dining works and that you just show up and either you wait or not. Can you in fact make a reservation also?

Also, how do the shows work and how would you know when to go based on your dining times?

Thanks.[/quote]

You can make reservations for the speciality restauranrs.
As for the shows, there are usually 2 times so you can eat first or see the show first

[UandMe4Ever]

[quote name='Marie50']I understand how the dining works and that you just show up and either you wait or not. Can you in fact make a reservation also?

Also, how do the shows work and how would you know when to go based on your dining times?

Thanks.[/quote]


[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][B]There are no reservations needed, unless you want to try and ask for a specific time every night! It then would be like a traditional time, but YOUR time. Also, shows are usually around 7:00 (early) and 9:00 later time, same show). You can decide your dining time around the shows you wish to see (or not).[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][B]Specialty restaurants almost always require a reservation...whatever time you are comfortable with, again, depending on the show that night.[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][B]We never make a DR reservation, unless specialty....We like the flexibility of deciding later in the day how tired or not we are....[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][B]We love it and do freestyle (or whatever each ship calls it)! It works well for us... 5-5:50 way too early and 8-15-8:30 is now too late to start dinner for us "older" folks....Also, cuts into show time (9:00)...and a rush for early show (7:00).[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue][B]Enjoy your cruise. I know you will!:)[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[www3traveler]

Each evening The Freestyle Daily will be placed in your cabin with a list of all the activities and show times for the following day. Usually there will be a show in the theater twice each evening, one early and one later.

[Maisie45]

We were on the Spirit at the end of January and the shows were 7:30 and 9:30pm. We just turned up at the windows or garden restaurant and 9 times out of ten we got seated straight away, there were 6 of us. If they couldn't seat us they would give you a pager thing that lit up and buzzed when a table was ready. You could go anywhere on the boat while waiting. They even gave us vouchers for a free glass of bubbly while we waited.

[beachmonkey]

We sometimes had a bit of a wait during the peak times, They gave us a pager to notify us when our table was ready. The wait was never very long. If we were just socializing in one of the bars or at the casino, we would send someone from our party to check in a few minutes before if possible.

Reservations at the specialty restaurants are needed 95% of ther time or more. We usually plan those ahead of the cruise and make changes (with notice to the restaurant or concierge far ahead of time).

That being said...this is your vacation and the key is to do what makes [B]YOU[/B] happy. No need to stress out about when to eat, shows...

[funat55]

If you make a reservation for a specialty restaurant, do you pay in advance? Is it even possible to get a table in one of the specialty restaurants if you will until you are already on board?

[kugamuga]

[quote name='Marie50']I understand how the dining works and that you just show up and either you wait or not. Can you in fact make a reservation also?

Also, how do the shows work and how would you know when to go based on your dining times?

Thanks.[/quote]
[SIZE=4][B]I was told on the Gem that I could make a reservation for the main dining room as long as the reservation was made before the dining room opened for dinner. Once the room opens no reservation will be taken[/B][/SIZE]

[sweetride]

[quote name='funat55']If you make a reservation for a specialty restaurant, do you pay in advance? Is it even possible to get a table in one of the specialty restaurants if you will until you are already on board?[/quote]

it is charged to your on board account when you make the reservation. you can wait until you get on board with no issues. they only sell a small percentage pre cruise. for the last few years my wife and i haven't made any reservations except at the brazilian steakhouse and teppanyaki. every other specialty we would call an hour ahead of time and see if they had something available and they always did. a handful of times we have just walked in and been sat right away. when the economy was great they were always booked solid for the night within a few hours of opening reservations that morning, but it hasnt been like that in a long time.

[goldens4ever]

[quote name='Marie50']I understand how the dining works and that you just show up and either you wait or not. Can you in fact make a reservation also?

Also, how do the shows work and how would you know when to go based on your dining times?

Thanks.[/quote]

I just wanted to pop in and reply also....as for the dining situation....we asked for a fun waiter the very first evening....and we got him....we had such a good time that on the way out, we asked about getting that table again....and the head waiter booked us for the rest of the cruise at that table and at the same time....there were a couple of times we had to wait a little and even one time that they made a mistake and gave our table away....without us even saying anything, they put us at another table not far away and our same waiter took our orders...

We have only cruised once on NCL...but I have to say it was wonderful!!! We are heading back out with them this summer on the new Breakaway!

Hope you have a great trip!!!