Restaurant bookings

[davecttr]

Yes, fixed sitting times. The galley organisation is different than anytime dining because they have yo provide for providing large quantities of starter, main courses etc, in sequence rather than randomly

[Splice the mainbrace]

15 minutes ago, davecttr said:

Yes, fixed sitting times. The galley organisation is different than anytime dining because they have yo provide for providing large quantities of starter, main courses etc, in sequence rather than randomly

Thanks, I was curious because of what club means on Cunard with a separate restaurant. I’ve never heard of the term before for just set sittings.

[Megabear2]

I once did the galley tour followed by lunch on Azura.  The head chef escorting us had previously worked mainly on Oriana and Ventura.  He told us he was surprised on boarding Azura that she actually had a proper functioning kitchen with ovens etc as her sister Ventura had a more automated kitchen requiring less staff and offering little real cooking.  He told us Britannia was totally automated and that Azura in his opinion would be the last where "real" food preparation and cooking could happen.  

[terrierjohn]

On 10/10/2022 at 10:21 PM, Sawdan said:

We found the booking system worked quite well. Particularly the dining. We booked 3 a few days before sailing and then a few more once onboard. The rest we did day by day. Sometimes we got the times we wanted and sometimes when the times were not available we joined a queue. We did this around 30 mins before we wanted to eat and the table was usually ready by the time we got there. If you leave your phone on the my holiday page it notifies you and you have 15 mins to get there. TBH though wether we booked or not we got seated pretty quickly anyway. 

   All I would say though is if you want to dine at any of the speciality restaurants book as early as you can to get the best times. My only gripe would be that the 2 smaller MDRs Aqua and Opal were always booked so didn't get chance to dine in those ones. 

Casbantam

The fixed time booking in The Olive Grove does not work well IMO, too many people book it in advance, then cancel at last minute. So the the app says it's full, then late on a virtual queue opens up. But even then there are far too many empty tables at 6:00 to 7;00, waiting for 8;00pm bookings They could double the numbers if they only allowed a virtual queue system. Similar comments also apply to MDRs, that's a big turn off on RCI, where there are at least 50% empty tables  whilst having massive queues outside each restaurant.

I want freedom to mean just that,book when you are ready on the app and that should see a very fast throughput, with little waiting.

[grapau27]

21 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

The fixed time booking in The Olive Grove does not work well IMO, too many people book it in advance, then cancel at last minute. So the the app says it's full, then late on a virtual queue opens up. But even then there are far too many empty tables at 6:00 to 7;00, waiting for 8;00pm bookings They could double the numbers if they only allowed a virtual queue system. Similar comments also apply to MDRs, that's a big turn off on RCI, where there are at least 50% empty tables  whilst having massive queues outside each restaurant.

I want freedom to mean just that,book when you are ready on the app and that should see a very fast throughput, with little waiting.

I agree John.

This is one of our reasons for booking speciality restaurants.

[Denarius]

On 9/25/2022 at 2:59 PM, EM35 said:

You can just go to the restaurant and request a table. They will give you a pager, as pre covid, if you don't want to use the app. The advantage of the app is you can request your table from anywhere on the ship. 

 Have just returned from 14 nights on Azura and can confirm that this is so. Could not be bothered with the faff of the so called app so just turned up at the MDR when I was ready to dine. I never had to wait for a shared table, although tables for two seemed to be at a premium.

[Red Leicester]

I do have a bugbear with things being pre-booked way ahead of the cruise meaning some don't even get a look in.  Even more annoying when people book and don't turn up.  I did 14 nights on Iona plus one extra for Storm Arwyn and it was that last day we managed to book the Olive Grove as we weren't expected to be on.  Fully booked bar that.  Best meal on board though in my opinion, though I'm no foodie.  Yet walk up to any pre-booked venue on the night and they can maybe slot you in due to no-shows.  I agree with the put your deposit down and be prepared to lose it if you no-show*. 

 

This isn't cruise specific either, had similar things at Center Parcs when things sell out, excursions if you book you holiday relatively late, could argue the bookers fault for leaving it late, Tesco slots for Christmas Eve (never had one) and any form of Xbox One X / Playstation 5.  

 

* - obvious exceptions for emergencies etc etc

[PamelaElle]

14 hours ago, Denarius said:

 Have just returned from 14 nights on Azura and can confirm that this is so. Could not be bothered with the faff of the so called app so just turned up at the MDR when I was ready to dine. I never had to wait for a shared table, although tables for two seemed to be at a premium.

The tables for two always make me smile, you end up sitting so close to other tables for two you might as well be at a shared table for six. 

[Bin man]

Yes but you can eat at your own speed and not feel as if you have to wait for slower eaters or people holding things up due to conservations. We found groups of tables for two tended to click just as the bigger tables and formed a close bond 

[kalos]

1 hour ago, PamelaElle said:

The tables for two always make me smile, you end up sitting so close to other tables for two you might as well be at a shared table for six. 

Not if you know which tables to ask for ☺️

[PamelaElle]

34 minutes ago, kalos said:

Not if you know which tables to ask for ☺️

I always feel too pushy asking for a specific table, which I know is ridiculous!

[Denarius]

16 hours ago, Red Leicester said:

I do have a bugbear with things being pre-booked way ahead of the cruise meaning some don't even get a look in.  Even more annoying when people book and don't turn up.  I did 14 nights on Iona plus one extra for Storm Arwyn and it was that last day we managed to book the Olive Grove as we weren't expected to be on.  Fully booked bar that.  Best meal on board though in my opinion, though I'm no foodie.  Yet walk up to any pre-booked venue on the night and they can maybe slot you in due to no-shows.  I agree with the put your deposit down and be prepared to lose it if you no-show*. 

 

This isn't cruise specific either, had similar things at Center Parcs when things sell out, excursions if you book you holiday relatively late, could argue the bookers fault for leaving it late, Tesco slots for Christmas Eve (never had one) and any form of Xbox One X / Playstation 5.  

 

* - obvious exceptions for emergencies etc etc

On my recent cruise on Azura Epicurian was noticable by its absence from the daily program. I therefore assumed that it was closed. On passing it on the stairs however it was apparent that there were people inside eating. I was later informed by a fellow passenger who had tried to book it that it was fully booked for the whole cruise before the ship set sail. It was rumoured that some people had booked several nights.

[Red Leicester]

How is booking for several nights in advance fair for all?  I'd be livid if people are booking five or six nights in advance and then only putting in an appearance for one.

[Grandad John]

Don’t quite get the situation with Epicurean on Azura. I’m joining her in just under two weeks and when I log in to Cruise Personaliser it tells me to enquire on board, not just for Epicurean by the way but for all speciality dining! So how pray tell me are people managing to book in advance?

 

[Ardennais]

3 hours ago, PamelaElle said:

The tables for two always make me smile, you end up sitting so close to other tables for two you might as well be at a shared table for six. 

Not really. As said, you eat at your own pace. Also, English might not be your first language and there could be hearing difficulties too. 

[JeanieC,Aston]

Returned from Britannia today,,,,Sindhu was shut for the whole 2 weeks.

We requested a table for 2 in Meridian at 18:30 and told lady we liked a pre dinner drink in Atrium before Dinner.

The lady usually bleeped us at 19:30.

You could walk in if you were willing to share.

There is still staff shortages,,,when you actually get in the restaurant after maybe 1 hr wait you find half the tables in the restaurant empty.

 

Never used the App on phone,,,people getting frustrated when they are 39th in the queue and still 39th over an hour later,,,,,it’s just a case of waiting for those first in to finish dinner.

And they were queueing up at 17:30 to get in at 18:00.

[zap99]

2 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Returned from Britannia today,,,,Sindhu was shut for the whole 2 weeks.

We requested a table for 2 in Meridian at 18:30 and told lady we liked a pre dinner drink in Atrium before Dinner.

The lady usually bleeped us at 19:30.

You could walk in if you were willing to share.

There is still staff shortages,,,when you actually get in the restaurant after maybe 1 hr wait you find half the tables in the restaurant empty.

 

Never used the App on phone,,,people getting frustrated when they are 39th in the queue and still 39th over an hour later,,,,,it’s just a case of waiting for those first in to finish dinner.

And they were queueing up at 17:30 to get in at 18:00.

There seems to be a bit of a problem with the queue refreshing itself.  I refreshed it quite often and the numbers reduced.