Booking specialty restaurants - service desk or ask the butler?

[Ahaohio]

Booked first time on Azamara and have read all the recommendations on booking specialty restaurants as soon as you are on board. BUT as we are staying in a suite I have also seen that that is one of the things the butler will help you with. So which way to go? Also can the butler arrange for the drinks package upgrade?

[excitedofharpenden]

I have always done the Specialty booking myself. Prefer to have more control. You should go to see one of the bar tenders to upgrade your package. The butler won't be able to do it and the person you upgrade with will get credit for doing it. 

 

Phil 

[harrodsfan]

We just go to the designated space to sign up right when we get on board! Easy peasy, sometimes we have to tweek but that we arrange through our butler.

[Dynacruiser]

Agree with others.  Better to do it yourself.  

 

The times available are, to the best of my recollection: 6, 630, 8 and 830 pm.   I hear from others here that you can negotiate different times, but I try to stick to the assigned time slots.  Sometimes, one restaurant may be closed or booked solid one night, so you'll have to be flexible and go to the other restaurant at a different time that you prefer.

 

If you ask your butler, butler will come back to your suite and say "I couldn't get you in at the time you requested, but I found you a table at midnight".  

[shank63]

Do it yourself as soon as possible after boarding.  

[Grandma Cruising]

One other thing to note, although there are set times for booking, we’ve never found it a problem if we arrive earlier and have usually been seated straight away. We prefer to eat latish so try book for 8 or 8:30, but then often turn up at about 7:30/7:45. 

[DrivesLikeMario]

Good advice everyone.  I was wondering the same thing.  Looks like I'll do it myself instead of having the butler do it.  Thanks!

[Pride In Battle]

Where do you book it, is it the guest relations desk ?

[uktog]

52 minutes ago, Pride In Battle said:

Where do you book it, is it the guest relations desk ?

No there is a desk on the port side of Windows Cafe deck 9 which is staffed 10-1600 each day.  In addition on embarkation day they are there from 12 and often also have a second booking station set up on the Pool Deck.  You are far more likely to be successful with reservations if you visit yourself.  On embarkation day you may not see your butler until late afternoon and a lot of guests will already have made direct bookings.  Its an Urban myth that butlers have access to more slots than the reservation desks

[Pride In Battle]

7 minutes ago, uktog said:

No there is a desk on the port side of Windows Cafe deck 9 which is staffed 10-1600 each day.  In addition on embarkation day they are there from 12 and often also have a second booking station set up on the Pool Deck.  You are far more likely to be successful with reservations if you visit yourself.  On embarkation day you may not see your butler until late afternoon and a lot of guests will already have made direct bookings.  Its an Urban myth that butlers have access to more slots than the reservation desks

Thank you 

[LewiLewi]

Are you able to ask for a shared table in the specialty restaurants, ie for single passengers who want to join a table of others?

[uktog]

29 minutes ago, LewiLewi said:

Are you able to ask for a shared table in the specialty restaurants, ie for single passengers who want to join a table of others?

No you need to set up your sharing arrangements before booking eg at the single and solos event 

[tgg]

52 minutes ago, LewiLewi said:

Are you able to ask for a shared table in the specialty restaurants, ie for single passengers who want to join a table of others?

This is true for couples as well as singles. You can arrive at the main dining room and ask to be seated with another couple, a table for 6, or even a table for 8. However, in the specialties, you will not be able to ask for a table for 4 unless you provide the other two people.

 

I see this as a major drawback of eating in Prime C or Aqualina. When we stay in a suite, we hesitate to ask another couple to join us for dinner because it may be an unanticipated expense for them.

[LewiLewi]

I am staying in a suite, so this is problematical for me, as I prefer dining with others.

[crzrr]

I'm sure that you will meet people who will happily share a table - AZ passengers generally are very friendly.  Our experience has been that it is not difficult to add one or two people to an existing reservation - the staff go out of their way to accommodate.  Eating at the bar is always an option as well if you want to go to Prime C and can't find anyone.  The staff at the bar love to chat!

[Grandma Cruising]

1 hour ago, LewiLewi said:

I am staying in a suite, so this is problematical for me, as I prefer dining with others.

You don’t have to dine in the speciality restaurant, you can choose to use Discoveries MDR initially so you can share a table or two and maybe meet people who would join you in a speciality restaurant later in the cruise.

[Traveling Fools]

Regardless of cabin/suite status, you can only book specialty restaurants after you board. (A real PITA in my opinion!)

 

My last cruise on Az (also my first), the booking table was located in the Aqualina Restaurant.  When you board ask the staff when the booking table is.  Do not assume it will be in the same location others (me included) say it was for them.

 

I was fortunate that I went directly there after dropping my carry on off in my suite.  When I got there there was one couple in front of me.  When I finished booking my reservations the line stretched out the door of Aqualina into the elevator lobby. 

 

One couple with whom we had been on a land excursion before the cruise elected not to stand in line and asked their butler to book the reservations for them.  The butler was only able to secure 8 o'clock or later seatings for them.  This really interfered with their plans to watch the evening live entertainment.  We were luck enough to overcome that hurdle by showing up together at the maitre Di's desk at the same  and asking for a table for 4.  Worked every time.   

 

 

[excitedofharpenden]

6 hours ago, Traveling Fools said:

Regardless of cabin/suite status, you can only book specialty restaurants after you board. (A real PITA in my opinion!)

 

 

 

 

I've always found this to be a non-issue and at least you don't get the "book it up as soon as we can" brigade booking all the times and blocking it for others (and probably forgetting and not turning up). This is much fairer and doesn't disadvantage those who book their cruise later. And as you describe, it can be worked out. I have never had an issue getting a time that is suitable. I'm glad they do it the way they do. 
 

Phil 

[uktog]

I’m now sailing on lines that have limited pre booking and on Azamara.  The limited pre booking where the line allows one reservation only works fine as it allows me to be sure I have a reservation for a “special date” if one arises during the cruise.  It’s stressful but manageable so long as you keep a track of cruise -60 days when all bookings open. On balance I like that approach. 

One line varies the number of bookings you can make and when you can access it depending on your room category.  That does give issues and quite a bun fight the day bookings open for standard cabins not least because higher ups may have block booked as Phil describes. I don’t like that approach.  

 

The Azamara system works up to a point for me.  I’ve never had an issue getting a reservation but I have had to be flexible with dates/times/venues. Given the new tarrif for specialities I think problems will be even less particularly taking account of how good Discoveries has been at least on two ships.  

What I do really think needs changing is the rigidity of the two sitting timings.  I know people have correctly pointed out that they’ve managed to negotiate reservations at 7:15 or 7:30 but staff make it feel like such a big deal to do this.  I think they should be changing to reflect what the other lines and indeed shoreside restaurants do in running a multiple sitting operation with reservations being available every 15 minutes across the opening times.  If small shoreside galleys can do this to Michelin standard so can Azamara. I think the binary option of reservation windows is what adds to the tensions.  
 

And suite guests should be charged the penalty if they don’t cancel at least 24 hours ahead unless for extenuating circumstances.  (A penalty is advertised but the managers are pressured to waive it). Some frequent suite dwellers seem to expect their precise  table to be available every night regardless of whether they come or not.  I know it really frustrates the restaurant managers but they can’t say a thing.  It’s not fair on other guests. 

[Pride In Battle]

15 minutes ago, uktog said:

I’m now sailing on lines that have limited pre booking and on Azamara.  The limited pre booking where the line allows one reservation only works fine as it allows me to be sure I have a reservation for a “special date” if one arises during the cruise.  It’s stressful but manageable so long as you keep a track of cruise -60 days when all bookings open. On balance I like that approach. 

One line varies the number of bookings you can make and when you can access it depending on your room category.  That does give issues and quite a bun fight the day bookings open for standard cabins not least because higher ups may have block booked as Phil describes. I don’t like that approach.  

 

The Azamara system works up to a point for me.  I’ve never had an issue getting a reservation but I have had to be flexible with dates/times/venues. Given the new tarrif for specialities I think problems will be even less particularly taking account of how good Discoveries has been at least on two ships.  

What I do really think needs changing is the rigidity of the two sitting timings.  I know people have correctly pointed out that they’ve managed to negotiate reservations at 7:15 or 7:30 but staff make it feel like such a big deal to do this.  I think they should be changing to reflect what the other lines and indeed shoreside restaurants do in running a multiple sitting operation with reservations being available every 15 minutes across the opening times.  If small shoreside galleys can do this to Michelin standard so can Azamara. I think the binary option of reservation windows is what adds to the tensions.  
 

And suite guests should be charged the penalty if they don’t cancel at least 24 hours ahead unless for extenuating circumstances.  (A penalty is advertised but the managers are pressured to waive it). Some frequent suite dwellers seem to expect their precise  table to be available every night regardless of whether they come or not.  I know it really frustrates the restaurant managers but they can’t say a thing.  It’s not fair on other guests. 

So you are saying you can book one of the specialists restaurants before you travel ? Thanks 

[uktog]

14 minutes ago, Pride In Battle said:

So you are saying you can book one of the specialists restaurants before you travel ? Thanks 

On another line yes not on Azamara 

[ChucktownSteve]

When we sailed Regent, to obtain additional specialty reservations above the pre-sailing ones,we could ask for a sharing table once onboard. That enabled them to accommodate more people and make it easier to obtain additional reservations.

Edited April 26 by ChucktownSteve

[Grandma Cruising]

I know speciality booking times on Azamara are offered at 6/6:30 and 8/8:30 however we have never had a problem with arriving earlier than our booking time. We like to eat somewhere between 7:15 and 7:45. We book the 8 or 8:30 time, then turn up at about 7:45. We’ve nearly always been seated immediately and no-one has ever told us we are too early!

[uktog]

14 minutes ago, Grandma Cruising said:

I know speciality booking times on Azamara are offered at 6/6:30 and 8/8:30 however we have never had a problem with arriving earlier than our booking time. We like to eat somewhere between 7:15 and 7:45. We book the 8 or 8:30 time, then turn up at about 7:45. We’ve nearly always been seated immediately and no-one has ever told us we are too early!

Indeed that’s why I’d like Azamara to open up the schedule for these time slots officially- it would work for so many guests 

[fruitmachine]

3 hours ago, uktog said:

Indeed that’s why I’d like Azamara to open up the schedule for these time slots officially- it would work for so many guests 

The trouble is that they can't guarantee that lots of 'early' diners won't linger for a longer meal.  There's no guarantee that you'll get on an 8.00 booking at 7.15 and folk would start to get angry if their 7.15 table was still occupied at 7.30. 

The alternative is that they keep that table free from opening until 7.15, in effect reducing the total capacity of the restaurant as you'd only get one sitting on it in the whole evening.

 

IMHO the system works well - if there's a table free early you can occupy it early.