Late seating -Rotterdam

[Stx3me]

Hello all,

Our preference is always late seating and when booking the Nov.09, 2022 sailing two months ago, we were told that there was no availability for late seating and were given anytime. We had a horrible experience with anytime three years ago and certainly don’t want a repeat. Our TA and I have reached out and they are firm that there is no availability, we are on a waitlist and that’s it.

My question is what have others experienced with this type of situation? Do the waitlists ever clear or is this a figment of HAL’s imagination?

Thanks much for your input.

[KAKcruiser]

Waitlists usually clear for late seating which is less popular than early seating.  If not, you can probably get late seating by talking to the dining room staff when you get on the ship.

[CruiserBruce]

Very high chance your seating situation can be resolved when on board.

[HUNKY]

Once onboard speak with the dining room manager, they should be at the main entrance of whichever dining room is open (not the buffet).  That person has the authority and ability to make the change.

 

BTW it is referred to as Main Dining, not "late".

Edited September 26, 2022 by HUNKY

[albingirl]

Most of the time when we dine late, the dining room is half empty anyway.  Seems most people like to be early birds. 

[Taters]

We cruised on the Rotterdam for 14 nights in Northern Europe in May and it was a last minute booking.  We also prefer late dining, which was full.  We were given Anytime Dining and actually loved it!  We never had to wait for a table and it was a wonderful experience.  Late dining never opened up for us.  Please consider that occupancy was only at 35% for our sailing.  

[RuthC]

Just now, Taters said:

We cruised on the Rotterdam for 14 nights in Northern Europe in May and it was a last minute booking.  We also prefer late dining, which was full.  We were given Anytime Dining and actually loved it!  We never had to wait for a table and it was a wonderful experience.  Late dining never opened up for us.  Please consider that occupancy was only at 35% for our sailing.  

Inability to get late dining may have had as much to do with short staffing as anything. 
Also, if there were more Europeans on the cruise (considering the area), then they tend to dine later. 

In general, there are fewer diners at main/late seating the last several years. There was a time late seating was full every cruise. 

[Chickadee910]

We are wait listed for early dining too on the Koningsdam in Jan. So it seems everyone is eating in the mdr. Lol

[SeaCapt]

This is one of those situations where your status can make a difference. We were initially waitlisted for late seating on the Rotterdam earlier this year. About a week after booking, still 6 weeks before sailing, I contacted HAL and asked to be confirmed for late seating, requesting a table for two. Agent commented on 4-star status and switched us to confirmed late seating, which showed up immediately when checking the booking online. And we were seated at our preferred table for two along the balcony rail.