My Time Dining--for Platinum?

[firemanbobswife]

I just booked a last minute cruise on the Sunshine and I'm on the waiting list for early dining. I also booked FTTF which was available, so does this mean I am guarenteed to be placed in early dining?

 

 

No it means that once the Platinums are cleared, then they will begin taking FTTF (not sure if it's on a first come, first served basis or how they determine the order of FTTF folks). It's not guaranteed, though.

[Micahs Grandad]

No it means that once the Platinums are cleared, then they will begin taking FTTF (not sure if it's on a first come, first served basis or how they determine the order of FTTF folks). It's not guaranteed, though.

 

I think they are going to realize the problems and unhappyness this will cause the people who are not plat/diamond and this is not going to happen.

 

We shall see.

[firemanbobswife]

I think they are going to realize the problems and unhappyness this will cause the people who are not plat/diamond and this is not going to happen.

 

 

 

We shall see.

 

 

This has been in place for quite awhile. Not sure what you mean. Who's going to get upset? Too bad if they do. They won't know either way. We're talking about wait lists and getting cleared for their desired seating such as being assigned Early, Late, or Anytime. What are you referring to?

[Micahs Grandad]

This has been in place for quite awhile. Not sure what you mean. Who's going to get upset? Too bad if they do. They won't know either way. We're talking about wait lists and getting cleared for their desired seating such as being assigned Early, Late, or Anytime. What are you referring to?

 

When people find themselves waiting for table for quite some time and than find out that many people are able to go right in they will be rather upset.

[firemanbobswife]

When people find themselves waiting for table for quite some time and than find out that many people are able to go right in they will be rather upset.

 

 

Seems to be working fine on the Vista. It's a separate area anyway so I don't see how it would have any impact on who knows what.

 

But my response was to a question asking if they will be guaranteed to get Early Traditional Dining because they have FTTF. The answer is no. There are no guarantees. They will be taken off the waitlist after Platinums are cleared if there is space available. These are two totally different subjects.

[coevan]

Oh..I can see it now. 500 platinum guests all choosing to go to dinner at the same time...the chaos, the upheaval.

 

Glad I like late dining.

 

 

 

Sorry, but this is a ridiculous assumption, first of all 500 is a pretty high number like 17% of the ship. Not everyone chooses YTD, those that do might eat anywhere between 6-9:30. We did B2B 21 days on the Dream with YTD. We are Platinum, but never mentioned it to the hostess. We never waited more then 5 minute, we never even had to get a pager.

[MPH711]

Since this is on the Vista, I wonder when this will roll out to other ships?

[texast518]

Oh..I can see it now. 500 platinum guests all choosing to go to dinner at the same time...the chaos, the upheaval.

 

Glad I like late dining.

You have seen this happen?

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

I sailed a cruise out of Tampa, one year, with my in-laws who were retired air force. My in-laws were avid cruisers as were their friends, other retired military, the entire population of a dozen "seniors only" communities. These folks cruised once a month because they could buy last minute deals for insides at remarkably low prices...basically the same cost as a weekend spent eating out and some good entertainment. Once on board I was shocked when the announcement was made that over 500 platinums and diamonds were onboard.

 

Many sailings from retirement cities that have military bases close by and are offered during non-peak seasons are full of these "economy minded individuals" who don't have to pay air-fare or lodging and can book at the last minute and who get thrown into the "anytime" dining pool. That's a lot of people to accommodate with "head of the line" seating.

 

What may work during times when the ship isn't full of platinums may prove to be an issue when it is....just sayin'.

[NCTribeFan]

I was on the Vista inaugural and it worked just fine. But then, the MDR was only about 1/2 full most nights. It was an exhausting itinerary and I think a lot of people just went to Lido. And the more dining venues on a ship, the more other options people have. That ship has the steakhouse, asian, and italian all available every evening.

 

I don't see why it would be a big deal if they were to roll this out to ships that do NOT have a separate check-in area. Just use one side of the desk and put up a sign that it's for priority. You know, like the service desk. Then those waiting would see that the people being seated before them were using a perk that they'd earned.

 

If Carnival does this as a perk to their loyal customers, that's their decision. If someone gets upset about it, that's their problem. Want a perk? Sail the line and earn it.

 

I'm just not a fan of ATD. I'm solo again on the next two and am reverting back to late dining.

[Davey Wavey]

On the Vista currently there is a separate check in for Diamond and Platinum for Anytime Dining where you are escorted right to your table. Everyone else signs in and waits if necessary.

 

This is only on the Vista right now. No idea if it will be rolled out fleet wide.

 

I had just posted last month that on the Splendor it seemed that we were immediately seated despite people in front of us asking for the same seating arrangement and getting a beeper. I asked if anyone knew if this was a Platinum perk under the "priority dining" thing. If they were already doing it then, it was running very smoothly with no bloodshed.

[fuddrules]

When people find themselves waiting for table for quite some time and than find out that many people are able to go right in they will be rather upset.

 

What will really be irritating are the D/P's having to wait a brief time while those those checking in on deck 5 go straight to their table.

 

8 of the 9 nights we ate in the MDR we had zero wait after checking in on Deck 5. They assign your table right on Deck 5. The longest part of the process was actually finding the table in the MDR.

 

2 of those 8 nights there was a short line on the D/P side.

[okgirl]

It's only done on the ships that have YTD in the aft dining room because their is just not enough spaced in the aft elevator lobby on deck 3 to accommodate all the people.

[figdu]

It's only done on the ships that have YTD in the aft dining room because their is just not enough spaced in the aft elevator lobby on deck 3 to accommodate all the people.

 

Which probably means it ends when Vista comes to the US since our ATD usage is lower than in Europe.