Dine My Way & all new Dining questions since cruising restart!!

[arizonaperson]

Here’s what I have,not all will match with post 3223 nor is list from that posted alphabetical. My list is from fellow cruise critic members that have posted what they have reserved and what year.

 

 

Traditional dining seems to be 5 PM and 7:30 PM with a few variations.

The reservable (Flexible is Princesses new term) a.k.a. dine my way starts at 5 PM and there are slots available every 20 minutes.

 

Open seating (Princesses new term) AKA walk-in is just that. 

 

I’ll try to update list as reservations & changes are made known.
 

Caribbean Princess -2024 & 2025

Island dining room( mid deck 5) is traditional 5 PM and 7:30 PM( choice of shared table or private table, subject to availability ) May 2025 voyage at  7:30 pm -private table only as of 7-24-24.

Palm dining room( aft deck 6)-reservable starting at 5 pm every 20 minute reservations (choice of shared or private table after choosing the time-subject to availability)

Coral dining room (mid deck 6)is walk-in( enter on port side)  & Reserve collection dining room- entrance on starboard 

 

Coral Princess- October 17, 2024 voyage as of 7/9/2024

Provence ( mid forward deck 6)- Traditional at 5 pm - only shared  table availability 

Bordeaux ( mid forward deck 5)- reservable,only shared table availability at 5pm,5:20pm,& 5:40pm

 

Coral Princess -2025

Provence-Traditional 5 pm ( private & shared table)& 7:30 pm( only private table)

Bordeaux- reservable 5 pm-8:40 pm every 20 minutes(early dining times you may share a table or have a private table and the later times private table only)  & Walk ins

 

Crown Princess- 2024-2025( January & September 2025 voyages are available to book now) Traditional & Botticelli are open to reserve

Michelangelo (mid deck 5) is traditional 5 pm & 7:30pm

Botticelli (aft deck 6) is reservable every 20 minute reservations (  option of shared or private table at 6 pm)

DA Vinci ( mid deck 6)-walk in

 

Diamond Princess 2024/2025

International dining room( aft deck 6)- is traditional at 5:20 PM and 7:50 pm

Savoy and Vivaldi ( mid deck 5)-are reservable

Pacific Moon and Santa Fe ( mid deck 6)- are walk-in 

 

Discovery Princess-2024 & 2025

Juneau( mid deck 5)--Traditional 5 pm & 7:30 pm

Ketchikan(aft deck 6)-reservable every 20 minute slots ( shared & private table up & including 6:20pm and private table only 6:30 pm on)

Skagway( mid deck 6)- walk in & Reserve collection dining 

 

Emerald Princess -2024 & 2025

Michelangelo( mid deck 5) is traditional 5 pm & 7:30pm

Botticelli ( aft deck 6) is reservable every 20 minute time slots

DA Vinci ( mid deck 6)-walk-in

 

Emerald Princess 2026- as of 7-20-2024 for January 2026 voyage

Michelangelo - reservable every 20 minute time slots(reservation made at 6pm)

Botticelli -              “             “                        “

DAVinci-walk in?

 

Enchanted Princess-2024 & 2025

Santorini ( mid deck 5)-Traditional 5 pm ( shared & private tables) & 7:30 pm( private table,no shared)

Amalfi dining room(. Aft deck 6) -reservable every 20 minutes from 5 pm-8:20pm ( able to get private table)

Capri(mid deck 6)-walk in

 

 

Grand Princess 2024/2025

Michelangelo(mid deck5)- is traditional at 5 PM and 7:30 PM

Botticelli ( aft deck 6) is reservable

DAVinci (mid deck 6)- walk in & Also Reserve collection Dining room- entrance on starboard

 

Island Princess-2024 & 2025

Provence( mid forward deck 6)- Traditional 5 pm & 7:30 pm

Bordeaux (mid forward deck 5)-reservable,every 20 minutes  & walk ins

 

Island Princess-2026

Provence- reservable every 20 minutes - seen on app by CC member

 

 

Majestic Princess- 2024-2025

Symphony( mid deck 5)- -Traditional at 5pm (private table available or shared ) & 7:30 pm( only private table)

Allegro( aft deck 6)- reservable every 20 minutes 5 pm- 8:20 pm

Concerto (mid deck 6)-Walk ins

 

Majestic 2026-As of 7-25-2024 available to book- Elite 

Symphony- Traditional 5pm ( able to get private table) & 7:30pm?

Allegro- reservable every 20 minutes (5 pm-8:20 pm)

Concerto - walk in

 

 

Regal Princess 2024 or 2025?

Symphony ( mid deck 5)- Traditional 5 pm ( private or shared table) or  7:30pm( private table only)

Allegro (aft deck 6)-reservable -5 pm - 8:40 pm,every 20 minute reservation time slots

Concerto-(mid deck 6)-walk in

 

Royal Princess-2024 ( voyage 9-28-24)

Symphony( mid deck 5)-Traditional 5 pm or 7:30 pm

Allegro( aft deck 6)-reservable every 20 minutes 

Concerto (mid deck 6)-walk-in 

 

Royal Princess- April 2025

as of 7-20-24 July & October ( voyages) reservations could be made

 

April voyage as of 9-1-24 app is updated to the following:

Symphony is traditional at 5 PM and 7:20 PM as of 9-1-24

Allegro is Reservable every 20 minutes( private & shared tables up to & including 6:20 pm) 6:30 pm & after private table only

Concerto is walk in

 

Ruby Princess-2024 & 2025 ( reservations open for 7-5-25 + now)

Michelangelo ( mid deck 5) is traditional at 5 PM ( shared or private table)and 7:20 pm (private table only)-as of July 14, 2024  for a cruise/ voyage in April 2025. This dining room is full? Not able to book for either seating. 

For a cruise/ voyage in October 2024 only 5 pm is available for traditional.

 

Botticelli( aft deck 6)-reservable,every 20 minute time slots- able to get private table (6 pm , 7:00, & 7:20 pm)- as of 7-20-24 able to book private table for voyage October 2025 Also open sea days & embarkation day lunch -noon to 1:30pm. Breakfast - hours could vary.

DA Vinci ( mid deck 6)- walk in, no reservations 

 

Sapphire Princess 2024 & 2025

International D.R. (  aft deck 6)- Traditional- 

Vivaldi & Savoy ( mid deck 5)-reservable every 20 minutes - only option  in App to book so far in July 2024( but not for voyages in 7-2024)

Pacific Moon & Santa Fe-Walk in( mid deck 6)-& probably Reserve Collection dining?

 

Sapphire Princess 2026- as of 7-20-24 a CC  member booked for voyage in August in Vivaldi

Vivaldi,International , & Savoy reservable every 20 minutes ,5 pm start private or shared table

Santa Fe & Pacific Moon- nothing available,so probably walk in DR

 

Sky Princess 

This ship may or may not be following the below -it’s all over the place.

Before 9-15-24 Cielo was accepting reservations every 20 minutes.

 

October 2024

Soleil ( mid deck 5)-is reservable,every 20 minutes ( example of times booked by a CC member: 6:30 pm & 6:50pm) and 7:30 pm

Cielo( aft deck 6)-reservable every 20 minutes on app for those that have booked 

Estrella( mid deck 6)- reserve class collection- enter on port side

 

November 2024

CC member said they booked dinning,not just looked on app

Soleil- reservable ,private table available 5:30pm, 6:30 pm & 7:10 pm(this is what other passengers have booked ,not what’s currently available -subject to change based upon slots being filled ) & 7:30 pm

Cielo- reservable(5:30pm-9:10 pm) private table available 6:30pm & 7:10pm

 

April & May 2025

Soleil- Traditional 5 pm & 7:30 pm??? Or 7:50 pm??- some say this time

Cielo-reservable every 20 minutes (5pm-8:20pm)- upon availability shared or private table during those hours. Some say open at 5:30 pm not 5 pm.

Estrella- walk in

 

June 2025

Soleil- Traditional 5:30pm & 7:50pm

Cielo- reservable 

Estrella walk in

 

September 2025

Soleil-Traditional 

 

April 2026 

Soleil- shows reservable,every 20 minute time slots on App , but might really be Traditional DR a CC member posted

 

End of April/May 2026

Cielo-traditional 

Soleil-reservable every 20 minutes ( CC member booked 6:50 pm)

Estrella- walk in

 

October 2026

Soleil- reservable every 20 minute time slots 5:30 pm -9:10 pm( CC member booked 6:10 pm)

 

According to a CC member as of July 27, 2024 their app shows the following for an October voyage :

Soleil- Traditional,but 20 minute time slots??

Cielo- reservable every 20 minutes 

Estrella- walk in

 

[Crusin Karen]

I’ll be on enchanted Saturday. Amalfi is reservations, Capri is walk in. Chart has them reversed. 

[arizonaperson]

@Crusin Karen so you are on one of the first cruises to implement the new DR structure starting tomorrow 9-14-24.

I do have for The Enchanted Capri DR as walk in

Amalfi as reservable/ flexible DR. So I am confused by your post.

What dining room have you reserved if any?

There is another chart “ out there”, but not sure how accurate.

The one I have been posting is coming from fellow Cruise Critic passengers that have booked each DR,but as accurate as information I have been given.

Please let us know when you get onboard,maybe a copy of the Patter listing the DR.

Heres what I show:

Enchanted Princess-2024 & 2025

Santorini ( mid deck 5)-Traditional 5 pm ( shared & private tables) & 7:30 pm( private table,no shared)

Amalfi dining room(. Aft deck 6) -reservable every 20 minutes from 5 pm-8:20pm ( able to get private table)

Capri(mid deck 6)-walk in

[Crusin Karen]

1 hour ago, arizonaperson said:

@Crusin Karen so you are on one of the first cruises to implement the new DR structure starting tomorrow 9-14-24.

I do have for The Enchanted Capri DR as walk in

Amalfi as reservable/ flexible DR. So I am confused by your post.

What dining room have you reserved if any?

There is another chart “ out there”, but not sure how accurate.

The one I have been posting is coming from fellow Cruise Critic passengers that have booked each DR,but as accurate as information I have been given.

Please let us know when you get onboard,maybe a copy of the Patter listing the DR.

Heres what I show:

 

Enchanted Princess-2024 & 2025

Santorini ( mid deck 5)-Traditional 5 pm ( shared & private tables) & 7:30 pm( private table,no shared)

Amalfi dining room(. Aft deck 6) -reservable every 20 minutes from 5 pm-8:20pm ( able to get private table)

Capri(mid deck 6)-walk in

I was referring to the chart on previous page posted by kluv2 Cruz. I guess this is the old info effective thru today. 🤷‍♀️ I board tomorrow. My first reservation in Amalfi is Sunday so I have plenty of time to figure it out! 👍

[arizonaperson]

1 minute ago, Crusin Karen said:

I was referring to the chart on previous page posted by kluv2 Cruz. I guess this is the old info effective thru today. 🤷‍♀️ I board tomorrow. My first reservation in Amalfi is Sunday so I have plenty of time to figure it out! 👍

Thanks .So when you say your first reservation is on Sunday in Amalfi, were you able to reserve a time slot every 20 minutes? If so, that’s exactly what I show for the Amalfi dining room that starts on September 14, 2024.
If you have anything different, yes please come post any differences or upload a copy of your patter from day one or day two, and it will tell the dining Information.

 

I have no idea where the source of that other chart came from. It looks like it came from Princess, but haven’t been able to verify that. The other chart posted should not be the old dining prior to September 14, 2024 ,because there was no traditional, no walk-in, etc.
Thanks.

[Crusin Karen]

1 hour ago, arizonaperson said:

Thanks .So when you say your first reservation is on Sunday in Amalfi, were you able to reserve a time slot every 20 minutes? If so, that’s exactly what I show for the Amalfi dining room that starts on September 14, 2024.
If you have anything different, yes please come post any differences or upload a copy of your patter from day one or day two, and it will tell the dining Information.

 

I have no idea where the source of that other chart came from. It looks like it came from Princess, but haven’t been able to verify that. The other chart posted should not be the old dining prior to September 14, 2024 ,because there was no traditional, no walk-in, etc.
Thanks.

Yes all they had left was 7:20 but might be because I dine solo. I prefer to eat sbout 6 but I did not get app until last week so my bad. I also have 7:20 Thursday. All other days very late available so I’ll do something else. 

[arizonaperson]

18 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Yes all they had left was 7:20 but might be because I dine solo. I prefer to eat sbout 6 but I did not get app until last week so my bad. I also have 7:20 Thursday. All other days very late available so I’ll do something else. 

On the other days that only late times were available -I’m sure you could try the walk-in restaurant or once you get onboard call the dine line and ask for earlier in the Amalfi. Passengers will probably be going into their app and switching things around as the cruise goes on and there might be something earlier available to you, you just never know. Keep trying for 6pm.

just an observation ….it seems like more private tables were available later in the evening as opposed to earlier on most ships with the “ new dining “.

Have a great cruise.

[Crusin Karen]

^^^^thank you! I love to dress up

snd I do every night but I have no problem going to buffet every now and then. I’ll check

menus each day and if i like what they’re serving I’ll do walk in 👍

[Rudy888]

If you have a reservation on Enchanted for 7:30 in Santorini and ask on arrival for a shared table, what would happen? Anyone try it?

[memoak]

4 hours ago, Crusin Karen said:

^^^^thank you! I love to dress up

snd I do every night but I have no problem going to buffet every now and then. I’ll check

menus each day and if i like what they’re serving I’ll do walk in 👍

There should not be a major issue doing wallop especially if you are a little flexible and willing to share a table

[Steelers36]

On 9/10/2024 at 8:33 PM, l2f said:

Will adding travel party guests make everything linked together like all dining reservations. We want to pick different couples from the entire cruise group for different nights but no more than 4 a night a table.

The App used to allow a guest to add several Travel Companions.  Say you want to add 3 or 4 other couples - IDK what a limit might be. 

 

When making an actual dinner res, you select from your list of Travel Companions.  So, you could just select this person or that one and not necessarily all of them.

[t&atravel]

51 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

The App used to allow a guest to add several Travel Companions.

@Steelers36  It still does.

[CaptainSeaBreeze]

I am very disappointed in my dining options on the Ruby Princess for a 16 day Hawaii cruise on Dec2.

 

My wife has dietary restrictions and we find that it's often easier to have the same waiter every night so she doesn't that to explain every time.

 

We were waiting to see the show program to schedule dinners accordingly, but they are not out yet (all I want is the times,  not even the acts).

After Princess confirmed in chat they don't know the show times and don't know when they'll know, we decided to book a table anyway, only to find out that the only times available are 5:00pm and 8:20. Nothing in between!

 

Dinners are a big part of our cruising experience, especially with this many cruise days, and Princess is well on its way to ruining that part of the experience. It looks like we will have to do walk-in (what's your experience with the wait?) and explain dietary restrictions every night. Sigh

 

 

Edited Monday at 05:06 PM by CaptainSeaBreeze

[arizonaperson]

@CaptainSeaBreeze I am assuming only Botticelli dining room was the one open to book at the moment for 5 pm or 8:20 PM, which is the reserve/flexible dining room? I would just go ahead and book that . Once onboard, see if you can speak to someone ( head waiter or DR supervisor) in the traditional dining room with the dietary needs and see how they suggest you go about it. Do you have dietary needs marked on your cruise Personalizer or anywhere in your travel summary? Not that they always look at it.
Can’t say for sure on the Ruby Princess or voyages to Hawaii, but usually the production shows in the theater are 730pm to about 8:15 PM and then again 9:30 PM to 10:15 PM. If you can try to get a hold of a Patter aka newsletter from the Hawaii voyage, maybe not necessarily the Ruby ,it might give you some more information. Just depends on what kind of shows you like ,because there are shows in the other lounges -like the marriage match game ,liar game, and other “ shows” .Times  will vary .

I hope they can accommodate your wife properly. I know usually after the first night they have you order for the next night hence that would be helpful to be in the same dining room, same waiters, etc. but I’m sure they have ways around that as well. Not everyone that has dietary needs wants to eat at the same time every night,  What does one do at the sit down main dining room for breakfast and lunch with dietary needs ?I’m sure somebody ( from “ head”  DR supervisor) comes around and can advise what’s in each food.

 

also, the new dining scheme/ format, it just started September 14 ( 2 days ago) and as far as the wait for the walk-in nobody’s really posted what their experience is yet ,at least I have not seen any posts or threads about any of that. (Ive seen threads and posts, but everybody is answering what their experience was two weeks ago /a month ago, etc. )

Hopefully as time goes on, will hear about other cruisers experiences.

Edited Monday at 05:47 PM by arizonaperson

[CaptainSeaBreeze]

Thanks for the input. We wrote down her sister at needs for her "file" but we found that it's easier to explain I person or explain once why she'll have this and not that with real examples.

I made reservations for 8:20, so hopefully after the first show, even if it's a little late for our preference. Well see if we can change it.

Someone else said you can do walk-in if your reserved time doesn't work that day, but in a way it wasted a slot.

[arizonaperson]

This is the DR and information I show for Ruby Princess.

 

Ruby Princess-2024 & 2025 ( reservations open for 7-5-25 + now)

Michelangelo ( mid deck 5) is traditional at 5 PM ( shared or private table)and 7:20 pm (private table only)-as of July 14, 2024  for a cruise/ voyage in April 2025. This dining room is full? Not able to book for either seating. 

For a cruise/ voyage in October 2024 only 5 pm is available for traditional.

 

Botticelli( aft deck 6)-reservable,every 20 minute time slots- able to get private table (6 pm , 7:00, & 7:20 pm)- as of 7-20-24 able to book private table for voyage October 2025 Also open sea days & embarkation day lunch -noon to 1:30pm. Breakfast - hours could vary.

DA Vinci ( mid deck 6)- walk in, no reservations 

[HotRoot]

3 hours ago, CaptainSeaBreeze said:

Thanks for the input. We wrote down her sister at needs for her "file" but we found that it's easier to explain I person or explain once why she'll have this and not that with real examples.

I made reservations for 8:20, so hopefully after the first show, even if it's a little late for our preference. Well see if we can change it.

Someone else said you can do walk-in if your reserved time doesn't work that day, but in a way it wasted a slot.

If at your first meal (lunch or dinner) you tell your waiter you have dietary needs, he will find the "man in charge".  You will discuss with that person.  You will preorder your lunch and dinner the day before.  If the exact person you dealt with the day before is not available, the "new" person who comes to your table will still have all of your information.  You will not need to explain again.  They are experienced and very good with doing this.  After your first meal, you do not need to do anything special.  You will be found, whichever dining room you are in, and you will be given menus for the next day.  If you are in the MDR and eating in Specialty the next night, that is the menu you will be given.  Same if you are in Specialty and eating in MDR the next night.  We have done this on four different Princess ships in the last 9 months and this is how it worked on every one.  Enjoy your cruise.

[Boku]

17 hours ago, HotRoot said:

If at your first meal (lunch or dinner) you tell your waiter you have dietary needs, he will find the "man in charge".  You will discuss with that person.  You will preorder your lunch and dinner the day before.  If the exact person you dealt with the day before is not available, the "new" person who comes to your table will still have all of your information.  You will not need to explain again.  They are experienced and very good with doing this.  After your first meal, you do not need to do anything special.  You will be found, whichever dining room you are in, and you will be given menus for the next day.  If you are in the MDR and eating in Specialty the next night, that is the menu you will be given.  Same if you are in Specialty and eating in MDR the next night.  We have done this on four different Princess ships in the last 9 months and this is how it worked on every one.  Enjoy your cruise.

That sounds great but didn’t work so smoothly on Sky or Regal. At no time were we brought next days menu no matter what restaurant we were in and we had to remind the servers at every meal and explain what the allergy was.  Having said that we did think Princess were better than P&O with food allergies.

Edited Tuesday at 03:21 PM by Boku

[HotRoot]

4 hours ago, Boku said:

That sounds great but didn’t work so smoothly on Sky or Regal. At no time were we brought next days menu no matter what restaurant we were in and we had to remind the servers at every meal and explain what the allergy was.  Having said that we did think Princess were better than P&O with food allergies.

Never sailed on Regal or Sky.  Have sailed on Carribean, Majestic, Discovery, and Emerald and it worked the same way on all of them.

[Boku]

3 minutes ago, HotRoot said:

Never sailed on Regal or Sky.  Have sailed on Carribean, Majestic, Discovery, and Emerald and it worked the same way on all of them.

We must have been unlucky. Even though we had informed Princess of an allergy no one within any dining venue new about it until we told them, and we had to tell them at every sitting! We were never offered the next days menu unless we were already in the MDR and only the menu for the MDR.  Every meal we sat down for we were offered that evenings menu even when we had pre-ordered. When we mentioned we had pre-ordered we were asked every time who it was that took the order, the servers appeared to be clueless until a restaurant manager arrived.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

On 9/16/2024 at 12:06 PM, CaptainSeaBreeze said:

I am very disappointed in my dining options on the Ruby Princess for a 16 day Hawaii cruise on Dec2.

 

My wife has dietary restrictions and we find that it's often easier to have the same waiter every night so she doesn't that to explain every time.

 

We were waiting to see the show program to schedule dinners accordingly, but they are not out yet (all I want is the times,  not even the acts).

After Princess confirmed in chat they don't know the show times and don't know when they'll know, we decided to book a table anyway, only to find out that the only times available are 5:00pm and 8:20. Nothing in between!

 

Dinners are a big part of our cruising experience, especially with this many cruise days, and Princess is well on its way to ruining that part of the experience. It looks like we will have to do walk-in (what's your experience with the wait?) and explain dietary restrictions every night. Sigh

 

 

I’m sorry to hear that you are having difficulties. I am allergic to dairy products. We usually dine at 5:00 PM so we will be finished in time for the early shows. I did a screenshot of my post on another thread for you (I didn’t want to type it all out again). This is what I do for every cruise. I have been on over 20 cruises with Princess and they take excellent care of me.

 

I will say though that it is very hard for me to find anything safe for me to eat at the international café and there are issues with leaving cheese off of orders on the OceanNow app but I am working on that with Princess. Let me know if you have any questions for me.  
 

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:54 PM by MsSoCalCruiser

[PescadoAmarillo]

On 9/16/2024 at 11:06 AM, CaptainSeaBreeze said:

 

 

We were waiting to see the show program to schedule dinners accordingly, but they are not out yet (all I want is the times,  not even the acts).

After Princess confirmed in chat they don't know the show times and don't know when they'll know, we decided to book a table anyway, only to find out that the only times available are 5:00pm and 8:20. Nothing in between!

 

 

I’m not sure you’ve cruised on Princess before but 5pm is probably the best time to dine if you are determined to get to the early show. They usually begin about 7:30pm and the Princess Theater (assuming you’re not on the Sun Princess) is significantly undersized. You would need to be there and seated by 7pm, even earlier for a production show. 5pm is perfect so that you don’t have to rush through your meal.