Chances of a Coastal Kitchen Reservation for Jr. Suite

[cruisinelmo]

We have a family cruise reserved for Easter Week of 2024 on the Symphany of the Seas 2 Jr. Suites 1 Owner Suite and 1 Two Bedroom Grand Suite. I am assuming the ship will be at capacity. This being said how likely will the suite owners be able to make Dinner reservations in the Coastal Kitchen which will include the Jr. Suite family Members? We will plan on making reservations with the concierge first thing on arrival. We are talking about a table for 4 people and a table for 5 people. I'm assuming it might be for 3 dinner reservations for the total period of our cruise. My concern is will they honor our family Jr. Suite members when we arrive for our table. I have heard they will not split family members just wondering if this is true.

[Sunshine3601]

we were on a JR suite on Oasis that had over 6600 passengers and had no issues booking CK for dinner.    We like to dine around 6 pm and there was plenty of tables available when we arrived.   By the time we were done between 7 / 7:30ish the place was fulling up fast.     So your better choice may be to book an early dining time to get what you what for all family members.   

[alfaeric]

If you can eat early or late, the odds would be pretty good.  The fact that you are sailing over a holiday is to your advantage, as it really keeps the number of pinnacles down (high cost of cruising over holidays)

That being said, we've never been able to get into CK as a JS to even make reservations or get seated on an Oasis ship.  Maybe they move the desk outside???

[Tin can]

15 hours ago, alfaeric said:

The fact that you are sailing over a holiday is to your advantage, as it really keeps the number of pinnacles down (high cost of cruising over holidays)

 

Thats a very good point that I had not thought about before. We are cruising on Anthem over Easter (expensive) in a junior suite so hopefully we will have a good chance of booking CK.

[cruisegirl1]

With limited availability, who gets priority— the pinnacle member or a guest in a JS?  
 

thanks

m

[Tin can]

57 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

With limited availability, who gets priority— the pinnacle member or a guest in a JS?  
 

thanks

m

 

I'm guessing the priority is full suite guests, pinnacles and then junior suites. 

[The_Big_M]

Based on their wording that seems to be the case. Plus I'd expect generally fewer pinnacles than JS, so likely easier to squeeze them in.

[lovesthebeach2]

I wouldn’t assume you’ll be able to do this every night, so take what you can get  and enjoy!

[cruisinelmo]

Great conversation keep it up. I'm curious as to what is the seating capacity of the Coastal Kitchen? I'm betting on the specialty restaurants freeing up seats in the Coastal Kitchen.

[twinmommy08]

Costal Kitchen was my very first stop on embarkation day on Ovation May 2022 in a junior suite. I kindly asked for a 7 pm dinner time all week for my family of 4. The very nice manager told me he was happy to have us all week. We boarded the ship just after full suites, P/D+, and Key. That sailing was boarding by status (not quite D+ yet). 

[Lionesss]

Not a predictor, but to us it seems the earlier CK times fill up quick.

 

Later times seem to be a possibility to eat in CK.

 

We usually request 6pm and get it and have had to wait for a table from those who are seated at opening if all the tables are filled, which is ok.  

As we are finishing, there have been tables that have been empty for some time.

 

But too many variables

The ship your sailing

The number of Pinns

The number of suite guest that use the lounge.

Port or sea day

 

Good luck on getting to eat here.

 

Take care

[jptoz]

They're going to let you all dine together. Just have one of the full suites make the reservations, for the entire group. The suite concierge will contact the full suite guest 2 weeks before, do it then. 

[poocher]

Since you have people in full suites, they will be contacted by the concierge sometime around a week before the cruise.  Tell them you have JS family members you’d like to include in your CK reservations.  They were very accommodating.

Edited January 29, 2023 by poocher

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, The_Big_M said:

Based on their wording that seems to be the case. Plus I'd expect generally fewer pinnacles than JS, so likely easier to squeeze them in.

Some ships can have 100 Pinnacles (or more)  on board.  Of course, I’m not referring to a repositioning/transatlantic which is very heavy Pinnacle (Often 200 or more.)

 

Pinnacle seating is based upon availability, as is junior suites.    Availability is often limited. 
 

i’m reading a lot of posts that Junior Suite guests have enjoyed dinner in coastal kitchen. On some cruises, Pinnacles are only allowed to reserve two nights during the week.
m

Edited January 29, 2023 by cruisegirl1

[pasodancer]

On our October cruise on Symphony - we had 2 Grand Loft Suites (family of 5); it was difficult for us to get CK reservations at the times we desired - we went to the CK immediately after boarding and were told "sorry there are no times after 6:30 pm available for the entire week".  Daily we would check w/ the concierge to see if there were any cancellations and were able to get in 3x during the week...all times before 6:30pm.  We decided to do the Main Dining Room on the other nights and were extremely happy with the food quality and service provided.  

[reallyitsmema]

21 minutes ago, pasodancer said:

On our October cruise on Symphony - we had 2 Grand Loft Suites (family of 5); it was difficult for us to get CK reservations at the times we desired - we went to the CK immediately after boarding and were told "sorry there are no times after 6:30 pm available for the entire week".  Daily we would check w/ the concierge to see if there were any cancellations and were able to get in 3x during the week...all times before 6:30pm.  We decided to do the Main Dining Room on the other nights and were extremely happy with the food quality and service provided.  

 

Make your CK reservations with the concierge when they contact you the week before your sailing.  We have had no problem getting the times we want all week if we take care of it prior to boarding.

[SilkySal]

22 minutes ago, pasodancer said:

On our October cruise on Symphony - we had 2 Grand Loft Suites (family of 5); it was difficult for us to get CK reservations at the times we desired - we went to the CK immediately after boarding and were told "sorry there are no times after 6:30 pm available for the entire week".  Daily we would check w/ the concierge to see if there were any cancellations and were able to get in 3x during the week...all times before 6:30pm.  We decided to do the Main Dining Room on the other nights and were extremely happy with the food quality and service provided.  

Aren't the Grand Loft Suites Star Class, which include any meal at a specialty restaurant as well as CK? I am surprised that you chose to do the MDR vs specialty restaurants. Sorry if I am mistaken.

[Ourusualbeach]

30 minutes ago, pasodancer said:

On our October cruise on Symphony - we had 2 Grand Loft Suites (family of 5); it was difficult for us to get CK reservations at the times we desired - we went to the CK immediately after boarding and were told "sorry there are no times after 6:30 pm available for the entire week".  Daily we would check w/ the concierge to see if there were any cancellations and were able to get in 3x during the week...all times before 6:30pm.  We decided to do the Main Dining Room on the other nights and were extremely happy with the food quality and service provided.  

 

5 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

Aren't the Grand Loft Suites Star Class, which include any meal at a specialty restaurant as well as CK? I am surprised that you chose to do the MDR vs specialty restaurants. Sorry if I am mistaken.

There are no Grand Loft suites on Symphony.  Those are On Q class.  Guessing they meant either Grand suite or Crown loft suite, neither of which are Star class

Edited January 29, 2023 by Ourusualbeach

[firefly333]

4 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

With limited availability, who gets priority— the pinnacle member or a guest in a JS?  
 

thanks

m

We had a allure sailing crazy full of pinnacles. I was told by more one pinnacles were allowed one lunch and one dinner each. I think 183 onboard. 

 

I would say paying guests, js and above higher priority.  

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, twinmommy08 said:

Costal Kitchen was my very first stop on embarkation day on Ovation May 2022 in a junior suite. I kindly asked for a 7 pm dinner time all week for my family of 4. The very nice manager told me he was happy to have us all week. We boarded the ship just after full suites, P/D+, and Key. That sailing was boarding by status (not quite D+ yet). 

JS's getting into CK on Q class never seems to be an issue.  Fewer suites and a larger space.  Oasis class is a different story.

[silentbob007]

21 hours ago, alfaeric said:

If you can eat early or late, the odds would be pretty good.  The fact that you are sailing over a holiday is to your advantage, as it really keeps the number of pinnacles down (high cost of cruising over holidays)

That being said, we've never been able to get into CK as a JS to even make reservations or get seated on an Oasis ship.  Maybe they move the desk outside???

I think you have to knock on the door for entry since your card won’t open it. 

[sandebeach]

4 hours ago, Tin can said:

 

I'm guessing the priority is full suite guests, pinnacles and then junior suites. 

Master’s tier level in the casino gets access to the suite lounge and the Coastal Kitchen. I have heard that Master’s level gets priority over Pinnacle, but can not verify if that is true on all ships. 

[Bead Pirate]

13 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

Master’s tier level in the casino gets access to the suite lounge and the Coastal Kitchen. I have heard that Master’s level gets priority over Pinnacle, but can not verify if that is true on all ships. 

That is correct... they call me Master Rick 🙂

 

[alfaeric]

18 minutes ago, silentbob007 said:

I think you have to knock on the door for entry since your card won’t open it. 

We did.  To no reply.  So we just stopped trying and assume that JS privilege isn't real on an Oasis ship.  And then move on.  Just want to make sure people are aware that it is a possibility and to not get their hopes up too much.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

We were on Wonder for Thanksgiving week in an OS and our son and GF were in a JS.  We had no issue getting them a seat with us.  The first time I had a RSVP that I had made on embarkation day.  The second time was mid-week and they decided to join us after we had already gone to SL to wait for our table.  I asked Jean if he could make it a table for four and with a little longer wait they were able to join us.  I think you probably stand a better chance the later in the evening you wait.  We always went about 7:30-8:00 pm and there was plenty of space.  My observations for Wonder at that time was there were several large tables with family members who I doubt were all in even a JS.  That's because I would see them at the bar during the day and hear their cabin numbers.  Granted they could have all been downgraded from suites when Wonder took over that sailing and didn't have enough full suites to accommodate everyone.