Reservations at complimentary restaurants

[washington126]

Should I make reservations in order to avoid lines at complimentary restaurants? I've already made reservations to 4 specialty restaurants, but noticed online that there are a few complimentary restaurants that also take reservations. I haven't done freestyle on such a large ship and was hoping to avoid long lines if at all possible.

[Demonyte]

Not sure if this has changed but in my experience people with reservations wait in the same line as those without one, just the possible "waiting for the table" -part should go away.

[JLDSMD]

We weren't on one of the large ships, but on the Dawn last week, we had a reservation for Venetian on NYE. When we got to the restaurant, we went down the left side to the left door (the line to get a table was down the right side and through the right door). A person met us at that door, found our name on the list and escorted us into the dining room and someone else escorted us right away to our table. There was no need for us to wait in the longer line.

 

Again, this was on the Dawn, so not one of the mega ships.

[roger001]

Even at peak dining times in the MDRs we've never had more than a 10 - 15 minute wait. And otherwise, no delay at all for table for two. I like the MDRs because you can be spontaneous for you dining time and not have to schedule.

[SuiteTraveler]

Should I make reservations in order to avoid lines at complimentary restaurants? I've already made reservations to 4 specialty restaurants, but noticed online that there are a few complimentary restaurants that also take reservations. I haven't done freestyle on such a large ship and was hoping to avoid long lines if at all possible.

 

On NCL's larger ships, if you want to eat in for example, the Manhattan Room, on Breakaway, then reservations are important. Yes. Make reservations so you can eat at the time you want.

[cruzsnooze]

. Yes. Make reservations so you can eat at the time you want.

I thought eating anytime meant no need reservations. It's what NCL calls freestyle cruising :D

[jpcello]

I thought eating anytime meant no need reservations. It's what NCL calls freestyle cruising :D

 

You don't need a reservation, but you'll probably have to wait if you don't make a reservation.

[TardisDance]

On the Breakaway, I've never needed reservations but then again, I tend to eat between 5:30 to 6:30 which is relatively early. Sometimes I would be waiting for the restaurant to open.

[kpjb]

Unless you're in a large group it's probably unnecessary. We never waited more than 5 minutes on the Getaway last year no matter what time we ate. There are always tables for two or four open or opening up. You might need to wait if you're looking for 10 people together, but then again that's what the bar's for.

[fshagan]

I think this is way overstated, at least for my experience. We have never made reservations for complementary dining, and have never waited more than 10 minutes for a table. Even on Epic (we haven't sailed the -Away class ships).

 

Some people are planners, and some are not. We prefer to Freestyle dining and have not noticed any difference between our first NCL cruise and our last one in October.