Your Feelings-Reservations for Anytime Dining?

[cormike1]

We just got off the Crown and kind of peeved at our dining experiences. We were "anytime dining" and if we went from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. we were always waiting in a fairly long line. We were told that they take 30% reservations for each night. Is that not an oxymoron.....taking reservations for anytime dining!!!!! One night we stood in line for one and had a beeper for the other and we were going to take whichever came first. The beeper went off and when my husband and friend went upstairs to turn it in there were 20 other beepers that went off at the same time. So that meant a huge line-up again. If we went for dinner after 7:45 p.m. we would get seated right away but the service was so slow that we never got out before 9:30 p.m. or later. We did not want to eat that late but really had no choice. There would be empty tables all over the dining room. The waiters had to clean off the tables and reset them plus take care of the diners that had come in and had been seated. It looked like there was not enough staff and it was very slow.

 

Did anyone else just off the Sept. 23rd sailing on the Crown have any problems with dining times?

[Pam in CA]

That's been pretty much my experience with Anytime dining which I've done several times over the years. Long waits regardless of what time you get there unless you're first in line at 5:30pm.

 

As long as Princess allows reservations, then it's fair to take advantage of that but personally, I think that slows down the seating as the table waits for the people to show up rather than passengers be seated as soon as it's ready. Even a five minute empty time impacts the wait times. IMHO, Princess does a lousy job with Anytime dining compared to other lines.

[BarbaraP]

IMHO, Princess does a lousy job with Anytime dining compared to other lines.

 

I agree with Pam, plus they allow passengers who have fixed dining times to go to the anytime dining rooms which makes matters worse:confused:

[fishywood]

Let me first say that my experience is that Anytime Dining on Princess came with less hassles (and fewer waits) that on Celebrity or HAL, and is about equal to NCL's anytime-only scheme. Though our last two Princess cruises we returned to traditional seating and will likely continue (possible exception if we get around to trying the Royal or Regal).

 

But the half-baked reservation system in place now is inefficient and clearly leaves tables unoccupied for long stretches while other people may be waiting. I can see allowing those passengers who were on the waiting list (from the day they booked) for early fixed seating but did not clear to make a standing reservation for when the doors open. But beyond that either leave it first come first seated--or make a complete reservation system with the following:

 

No ceiling on number of bookings (except complete room capacity of course);

Normal staggering like any land restaurant manages, not block seating at just 5:30 and 7:30;

Priority tiers: Elite and Suite passengers make reservations the evening before, Platinum have their window each morning (say before 8:30 or 9 AM) and after that bookings open up for all.

 

In other words, make it more fair or abandon it; the "compromise" system they have now is while not entirely broken screaming for improvement (a compromise by definition satisfies no one).

[skynight]

“*Anytime Dining offers a flexible dining experience – just like a restaurant would – and gives you the freedom to dine with whomever you wish, at your convenience between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. in elegant, upscale venues.”

 

This is how Princess states it. My experience with ATD has been both good and bad, and it is hardly ever anytime. It’s more like certain times. Let’s break it down, in an upscale land based restaurant you are able to make reservations, and many of these serve only by reservation. If you enjoy a certain restaurant on a busy evening then you know you have to make a reservation. I think this is what Princess is trying to copy. Princess’ problem is that in certain markets, the US market for sure, there is a high demand for early dining times, and Princess just does not have enough seats to meet the demand. I have found, like you, that when we walk in around 7:30/8pm, which is not our preferred dining time, we are almost always immediately seated, and the DR isn’t totally full.

 

You have to figure out the system, and work with it. If reservations are accepted, then we make them. We also request tables for 6 or 8. Waiters can serve smaller tables faster. Tables for 10 are served slowly. I don’t think elimination of reservations will improve anything. It will just add additional passengers to the lines. I also think Princess should consider what DR’s and how many tables are assigned to ATD, to increase the number of passengers that can be served.

[Steelers36]

IMHO, Princess does a lousy job with Anytime dining compared to other lines.

 

I agree with Pam, plus they allow passengers who have fixed dining times to go to the anytime dining rooms which makes matters worse:confused:

 

Maybe AT diners should head for the TD dining room to counter-balance - assuming tables are left empty there.

 

If the HW's and MD greeters were in communication, they might find they could send some passengers down to fill otherwise empty tables.

Edited October 7, 2015 by steelers36

[AKman2495]

We were just on a 15 day cruise. when we dined in the MDR, we made it a point to go before 6 pm. We never had to wait. One night we got there about 6:20 and got a beeper, but didn't have a long wait-we didn't have time to finish our firings in the bar.

 

One night, we went to the early show and ate later around 8 and, as you said, had no problem getting in. We don;t mind having a leisurely dinner aboard ship-especially if you have interesting table mates.

 

Going between 7 and 7 45 without reservations is asking for trouble, as you discovered. Land restaurants take reservations and ATD is supposed to be like that.

 

FWIW...

[Steelers36]

 

But the half-baked reservation system in place now is inefficient and clearly leaves tables unoccupied for long stretches while other people may be waiting.

 

I suppose the problem is that tables are held empty for an upcoming reservation time. They are probably not able to fill these and then realize that some other table will come free from people finished eating. Then of course the folks may show up late or not at all and the table sits until they decide to take off the res.

 

IDK if this is the case, but maybe reservations should only be allowed at the set opening or transition times and otherwise it's true AT when you show up and put name on the list. That way they wouldn't be holding tables open waiting long time for people to show up.

 

One cruise about 5 years ago we got moved to a table for 4 so could be with friends and the MD put us in the AT DR. We didn't mind at all, so it was like we had TD in the AT room. Same table, same waiters. Worked perfectly. We showed up at the typical early 6pm TD time and the table was free to be used after we left.

[fishywood]

.

 

IDK if this is the case, but maybe reservations should only be allowed at the set opening or transition times and otherwise it's true AT when you show up and put name on the list. That way they wouldn't be holding tables open waiting long time for people to show up.

 

 

Yes that is exactly the case--at least on some ships (yet another issue is that each ship is free to set its own reservation policies). So because everyone differs in number of courses and dining speed they never know how may tables will empty out quickly but will sit there unused until the next mass reservation block. Staggering reservations as land restaurants do would work better, though not necessarily better than wide open seating which is what ATD was meant to be when it begun.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...As long as Princess allows reservations, then it's fair to take advantage of that but personally, I think that slows down the seating as the table waits for the people to show up rather than passengers be seated as soon as it's ready...

 

I agree. I have also found that Princess is inconsistent in policy from ship to ship on reservations :rolleyes:. On the Golden last year, the maître d' did not allow ATD reservations for the entire cruise, yet on the Ruby last month they were taking reservations for ATD.

Edited October 7, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78

[IECalCruiser]

It has been our experience that reservations are only accepted for the first half hour or so and then after 7:30-8:00. Even when we were traveling in a suite we could not make a reservation between 6:00 and 7:30. We like to eat early but only eat in the MDR about 60% of the time. If we would book TD, our spots at the table would be empty 40% of the cruise. We appreciate the ability to book the same table and servers in ATD for the nights that we dine there.

Edited October 7, 2015 by IECalCruiser

[Musky Ike]

 

Did anyone else just off the Sept. 23rd sailing on the Crown have any problems with dining times?

 

Yes we were on the same sailing but we dine earlier (5:30 - 6:00) and did not experience much of a line. Never had a beeper. One time a bunch of us in line were escorted upstairs to the Da Vinci I believe, and got in right away but the service there was very slow. With one waiter (no assistant) for several tables. We usually do not make reservations, but did on formal nights for this cruise although it did not appear needed as the non-reservation line was not long on the first formal. On the second formal the earliest reservation I could get was7:30. We joined friends earlier without reservations and got right in. I told the head waiter We had the reservation for later and was told not to worry about it. Since he did not take our information, I presume that once you are on the reservation list they don't take you off.

 

We used to do traditional but actually find service in anytime usually faster as you are not stuck waiting on tablemates that are late or no shows.

Edited October 7, 2015 by Musky Ike

[Potstech]

There should be no reservation for ATD and those who selected Traditional Dining should NOT be allowed in the ATD area. Sorry but the selection were mad to use TD before the cruise started. As is often the case when the lines get long many at the AT dining room, will be taken to the TD dining room as space always seems to be available there. So if a person who selected TD and then makes a reservation in the AT dining venue and does not make it on time for that then they are basically holding up two sets of tables for their convenience to the detriment of other cruisers. As always there are other dining venues if a TD selectee can not make their assigned dining times.

 

As many have said it is way past time for Princess to get very consistent on many of their policies and enforce them. Do that for a few cruises and the word will get out what is being enforced. Too bad is someone gets upset but that is life.

[PrincessLuver]

There should be no reservation for ATD and those who selected Traditional Dining should NOT be allowed in the ATD area. Sorry but the selection were mad to use TD before the cruise started. As is often the case when the lines get long many at the AT dining room, will be taken to the TD dining room as space always seems to be available there. So if a person who selected TD and then makes a reservation in the AT dining venue and does not make it on time for that then they are basically holding up two sets of tables for their convenience to the detriment of other cruisers. As always there are other dining venues if a TD selectee can not make their assigned dining times.

 

As many have said it is way past time for Princess to get very consistent on many of their policies and enforce them. Do that for a few cruises and the word will get out what is being enforced. Too bad is someone gets upset but that is life.

 

Totally agree.....Princess needs to call it "Anything Goes Dining" instead of "Anytime Dining"......it should be first come first serve just like they lead you to believe when you sign up for it....:mad:

[Kingofcool1947]

There should be no reservation for ATD and those who selected Traditional Dining should NOT be allowed in the ATD area. Sorry but the selection were mad to use TD before the cruise started. As is often the case when the lines get long many at the AT dining room, will be taken to the TD dining room as space always seems to be available there. So if a person who selected TD and then makes a reservation in the AT dining venue and does not make it on time for that then they are basically holding up two sets of tables for their convenience to the detriment of other cruisers. As always there are other dining venues if a TD selectee can not make their assigned dining times.

 

As many have said it is way past time for Princess to get very consistent on many of their policies and enforce them. Do that for a few cruises and the word will get out what is being enforced. Too bad is someone gets upset but that is life.

 

There should continue to be reservation system for ATD and those who selected TD when booking the cruise, should be allowed to change from TD to ATD. Case in point: on our recent Alaska cruise we booked 5:30 TD, but after 3 nights of terrible rude service, we decided to try ATD in another dining venue. So, we called in the morning, and requested a reservation for ATD, were offered either 5:30 or 7:30 seating. Worked perfectly, and we were seated at the time we requested. No waiting. Service was excellent and professional. So, for the remainder of the cruise we reserved ATD with same table number and had the same waiter and assistant waiter. As a courtesy, I notified the TD MDR thst we decided to do ATD, so they could give our table to someone else.

We plan to do ATD on our December cruise. Reserving our dining times

[Kingofcool1947]

There should be no reservation for ATD and those who selected Traditional Dining should NOT be allowed in the ATD area. Sorry but the selection were mad to use TD before the cruise started. As is often the case when the lines get long many at the AT dining room, will be taken to the TD dining room as space always seems to be available there. So if a person who selected TD and then makes a reservation in the AT dining venue and does not make it on time for that then they are basically holding up two sets of tables for their convenience to the detriment of other cruisers. As always there are other dining venues if a TD selectee can not make their assigned dining times.

 

As many have said it is way past time for Princess to get very consistent on many of their policies and enforce them. Do that for a few cruises and the word will get out what is being enforced. Too bad is someone gets upset but that is life.

 

There should continue to be reservation system for ATD. Those who selected TD when booking the cruise, should be allowed to change from TD to ATD. Case in point: on our recent Alaska cruise we booked 5:30 TD, but after 3 nights of terrible rude service, we decided to try ATD in another dining venue. So, we called in the morning, requested a reservation for ATD, were offered either 5:30 or 7:30 seating. Worked perfectly, and we were seated at the time we requested. No waiting. Service was excellent and professional. So, for the remainder of the cruise each. each morning, we reserved ATD with same table number and had the same waiter and assistant waiter. As a courtesy, I notified the TD MDR that we decided to do ATD, so they could give our table to someone else.

We plan to do ATD on our December cruise. Reserving on each morning, our nightly ATD dining time.

Edited October 7, 2015 by Kingofcool1947

[Kinkacruiser]

Seems one should try to reserve the same table/ same time for the length of the cruise. So much for anytime dining :rolleyes:

[Kingofcool1947]

Not always. We are going to do ATD, but on some nights request 2 top, other nights open to sitting with others.

[Cruisin' Chick]

IMHO, Princess does a lousy job with Anytime dining compared to other lines.

 

I agree with Pam, plus they allow passengers who have fixed dining times to go to the anytime dining rooms which makes matters worse:confused:

 

I really don't know the number of TDers who do this. We have never tried to go to the anytime dining room on our cruises, except for the time we didn't cleared the waitlist for our preferred t.d. If for some reason we don't make it to our seating, we'll go to the Horizon, no problem. I think this has happened to us once when our girl was feeling iffy, so we ate in the buffet instead.

 

I would certainly agree with the anytime gate keepers checking cards and sending away traditional diners.

 

But I suspect much of the wait lines happen because anytime diners want to eat at the same time. And that perhaps newbies aren't told by their TAs or the Princess booking agents that it's an either/or: you can't go back and forth during a cruise.

[iceleven]

Seems one should try to reserve the same table/ same time for the length of the cruise. So much for anytime dining :rolleyes:

 

We always maintain our Anytime Dining. If the dining room line is too long for us to wait, we just go to HC and enjoy our time together. :D Life is too short and the cruises always are.

[skynight]

For those of you who attempt to place all the problems on the few traditional diners that choose to switch to ATD, I believe you are trying to simplify the dining logistics issue. The real problem is just too many passengers want to dine early, way way more than the few that might cross over. Those of you that have cruised before when there was only fixed seatings may remember many unhappy passengers that were placed in a dining time they did not request or want, and on most ships, except for room service, the buffet and other areas where food was served during the day were closed in the evening. Cruise Lines have always had difficulty seating passengers, it isn't something new.

 

When we cruised in South America we had no difficulty at all with ATD. Many of the crowd dined late, very late, until 11pm, thus table were available early.

[dtb55]

There should be no reservation for ATD and those who selected Traditional Dining should NOT be allowed in the ATD area.

 

 

I'm a traditional diner and I agree. If I don't feel like making my dining time I go to the buffet or speciality dining. I'd never go to anytime as I feel it's not fair.

[OCruisers]

The biggest problem I have with Princess Anytime Dining is allowing those with Traditional Dining to have dinner there. :(

 

LuLu

[Pushka]

I look at anytime dining as not having to eat at the traditional times of approx 6pm - too early, or 8.15 - too late. So I am happy to book for say 7.30 each night.

[msmoger]

For those of you who attempt to place all the problems on the few traditional diners that choose to switch to ATD, I believe you are trying to simplify the dining logistics issue. The real problem is just too many passengers want to dine early, way way more than the few that might cross over. Those of you that have cruised before when there was only fixed seatings may remember many unhappy passengers that were placed in a dining time they did not request or want, and on most ships, except for room service, the buffet and other areas where food was served during the day were closed in the evening. Cruise Lines have always had difficulty seating passengers, it isn't something new.

 

When we cruised in South America we had no difficulty at all with ATD. Many of the crowd dined late, very late, until 11pm, thus table were available early.

 

I agree with this assessment.

 

I'm always surprised (although by now I shouldn't be ;) ) by the percentage of folks on this board that want to eat so early. I know I'm an exception but there's no way I want to sit down to dinner when I'm on vacation at 5:30 or 6:00. I don't eat that early at home.

 

However, I'm curious. Do you think most U.S. cruisers like to eat early because they simply don't want to eat later or is it due to how they want to schedule their nights activities? I'm not judging, I'm just curious. I benefit from shorter ATD lines by dining later. :)