Specialty Restaurants Question on Vista

[Syd58]

We have 2 TA cruises booked on Vista in 2025.  Booked in Concierge, one is 22 days and one is 24 days.  I called Oceania and the rep said we only can have 1 reservation per specialty restaurant at each of the 4 restaurants.  In essence, we are entitled to only 4 specialty reservations for a 22 or 24 day cruise.  This is the same for people that are not concierge. The only difference is we can book at 60 days out, a few days earlier.  Very disappointed in this. Is there any chance we might could get a reservation once on board and get into one of the specialty restaurants for late dining.  We prefer late dining (very late is fine). Thanks

[Woofa]

Yes, definite possibilities for multiple on board reservations especially if your open to eating late and/or sharing.  You can check once on board and again everyday. Either at the service desk or even at the restaurants themselves.  Envy you two TA's on vista, have a great time 

[Flatbush Flyer]

6 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

We have 2 TA cruises booked on Vista in 2025.  Booked in Concierge, one is 22 days and one is 24 days.  I called Oceania and the rep said we only can have 1 reservation per specialty restaurant at each of the 4 restaurants.  In essence, we are entitled to only 4 specialty reservations for a 22 or 24 day cruise.  This is the same for people that are not concierge. The only difference is we can book at 60 days out, a few days earlier.  Very disappointed in this. Is there any chance we might could get a reservation once on board and get into one of the specialty restaurants for late dining.  We prefer late dining (very late is fine). Thanks

The limit on reservations only applies to those you can book prior to embarkation. Once you are onboard, you could possibly eat in specialties every night and at no added charge. All that takes is checking with the restaurant reservation desk on any given morning for a space available table that evening. Your best bet at getting added reservations is willingness to share tables and flexibility about dining go time.

 

One important point though. Specialty restaurants on O are not like specialty restaurants on mass market ships (where you pay extra for better food). On O, all the food is “better” (ingredients and preparation). The difference in O dining venues is menu focus and ambiance of the dining venue.

[1985rz1]

17 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

We have 2 TA cruises booked on Vista in 2025.  Booked in Concierge, one is 22 days and one is 24 days.  I called Oceania and the rep said we only can have 1 reservation per specialty restaurant at each of the 4 restaurants.  In essence, we are entitled to only 4 specialty reservations for a 22 or 24 day cruise.  This is the same for people that are not concierge. The only difference is we can book at 60 days out, a few days earlier.  Very disappointed in this. Is there any chance we might could get a reservation once on board and get into one of the specialty restaurants for late dining.  We prefer late dining (very late is fine). Thanks

If you prefer late, you should be fine for getting additional reservations onboard.  Here's the FAQ for advance reservations:

 

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005477653-How-many-dining-reservations-am-I-allowed-in-each-specialty-restaurant

[Syd58]

Thanks all.  It seems unfair that you pay extra for Concierge and don't get any more early access to specialty restaurant reservations than non-Concierge. Not sure we will book Concierge again.

Edited July 25 by Syd58

[EJL2023]

12 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

Thanks all.  It seems unfair that you pay extra for Concierge and don't get any more early access to specialty restaurant reservations than non-Concierge. Not sure we will book Concierge again.

You do get earlier access to reservations. Concierge is 60 days out while regular staterooms are 45 days out.  Or perhaps you meant more?? Your comment was a bit unclear.  If the latter…you are correct…no more. 

Edited July 25 by EJL2023

[Syd58]

3 minutes ago, EJL2023 said:

You do get earlier access to reservations. Concierge is 60 days out while regular staterooms are 45 days out.  

Yes, I'm aware of this, but to only be able to make 4 total pre-cruise reservations for specialty restaurants for a 22 or 24 day cruise doesn't seem right..

Edited July 25 by Syd58

[AMHuntFerry]

To back up Flatbush Flyer's comment, we typically have just one reservation in each specialty and have actually cancelled our reservation in favor of the GDR (after seeing that day's menu). There is only one specialty that we are interested in getting extra reservations, and we have been successful getting an extra there when we tried.

[ORV]

1 hour ago, Syd58 said:

Yes, I'm aware of this, but to only be able to make 4 total pre-cruise reservations for specialty restaurants for a 22 or 24 day cruise doesn't seem right..

The link was posted in an earlier post, I'll put the pertinent information below, but it's been this way for years, and was that way when you booked your cruise. There are a considerable number of perks you get for Concierge level, so it's not all about the number of reservations. But if you wanted more you could have spent more and gone for the PH level, which would double your reservations. 

 

Guests are permitted to make the following reservations in our specialty restaurants - which vary by ship, category, and length of cruise: 

Marina, Riviera, Vista and Allura
Owner’s Suite, Vista Suite, and Oceania Suite 
Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant 

Penthouse Suite 
Cruises 17 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 2 reservations at each restaurant 

Concierge Level Veranda, Veranda, Ocean View, and Inside Stateroom 
All cruises: 1 reservation at each restaurant 

[Syd58]

Great to hear.  Will try once we're on board.

[Syd58]

2 minutes ago, ORV said:

The link was posted in an earlier post, I'll put the pertinent information below, but it's been this way for years, and was that way when you booked your cruise. There are a considerable number of perks you get for Concierge level, so it's not all about the number of reservations. But if you wanted more you could have spent more and gone for the PH level, which would double your reservations. 

 

Guests are permitted to make the following reservations in our specialty restaurants - which vary by ship, category, and length of cruise: 

Marina, Riviera, Vista and Allura
Owner’s Suite, Vista Suite, and Oceania Suite 
Cruises 7 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 8-17 days: 2 reservations at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 3 reservations at each restaurant 

Penthouse Suite 
Cruises 17 days or less: 1 reservation at each restaurant 
Cruises 18 days or more: 2 reservations at each restaurant 

Concierge Level Veranda, Veranda, Ocean View, and Inside Stateroom 
All cruises: 1 reservation at each restaurant 

Am aware that higher levels get more specialty restaurant reservations pre-cruise. Also, am well aware of the perks for concierge level.  Whether the extra amenities justify the extra cost likely is individual specific. For us, not sure it does, especially on lengthy cruises where pre-cruise specialty restaurant reservations are limited to 1 reservation per restaurant..

[ORV]

8 minutes ago, Syd58 said:

Am aware that higher levels get more specialty restaurant reservations pre-cruise. Also, am well aware of the perks for concierge level.  Whether the extra amenities justify the extra cost likely is individual specific. For us, not sure it does, especially on lengthy cruises where pre-cruise specialty restaurant reservations are limited to 1 reservation per restaurant..

We all have to look at what the guidelines are and the cost and then decide what works for us. 

[osandomir]

After many years for us Oceania specialty restaurants add very little value to the cruise experience. We actually often prefer the GDR because of the variety of choices. Some of our specialty reservations remain unused. But if you want them, especially on the longer cruises, you’ll have a good chance to get extra and it’s even more likely for the late dining which you prefer.

 

And by the way, to address your concerns, concierge level if not critical in some cases can be of little more help when you ask for additional reservation on board.

Edited July 26 by osandomir

[alcpa1]

Don't make reservations for the first night. They are almost always available when you board.

[Woofbite]

What are the concierges for?  Can't they handle such requests?

 

[sunlover12]

11 hours ago, osandomir said:

After many years for us Oceania specialty restaurants add very little value to the cruise experience. We actually often prefer the GDR because of the variety of choices. Some of our specialty reservations remain unused. But if you want them, especially on the longer cruises, you’ll have a good chance to get extra and it’s even more likely for the late dining which you prefer.

 

And by the way, to address your concerns, concierge level if not critical in some cases can be of little more help when you ask for additional reservation on board.

It's good to know someone else is thinking the same thing.  The specialty restaurants are nice but we don't want to eat there 4 nights out of 11. We like the GDR and Terrace because of the variety.  On our upcoming cruise in September we only booked 1 night each at Polo and Toscana.  2 more nights wouldn't add value for us. 

We'll use all of our allotted reservations on Vista next year as it will be our first cruise on it.

[ORV]

2 hours ago, Woofbite said:

What are the concierges for?  Can't they handle such requests?

 

That's usually not in their wheelhouse. You want to either ask your butler if you have one, and if not, talk to the person at the reservations desk. You really want to be nice to these folks. 

 

Concierges do have many other functions though. I personally have never had to use them. 

[Socal404]

On 7/25/2024 at 3:17 PM, Syd58 said:

We have 2 TA cruises booked on Vista in 2025.  Booked in Concierge, one is 22 days and one is 24 days.  I called Oceania and the rep said we only can have 1 reservation per specialty restaurant at each of the 4 restaurants.  In essence, we are entitled to only 4 specialty reservations for a 22 or 24 day cruise.  This is the same for people that are not concierge. The only difference is we can book at 60 days out, a few days earlier.  Very disappointed in this. Is there any chance we might could get a reservation once on board and get into one of the specialty restaurants for late dining.  We prefer late dining (very late is fine). Thanks

We were on an 18 day cruise on the Vista in March. We were in a Penthouse suite, but don't think that makes any difference. We were able to make 2 reservations in each specialty restaurant. Yes, you can make additional reservations once onboard, however, you'll probably only get later times, and probably have to share a table.

[1985rz1]

13 hours ago, Socal404 said:

We were in a Penthouse suite, but don't think that makes any difference. We were able to make 2 reservations in each specialty restaurant.

On Vista, PHs get 2 advance reservations per restaurant on a 18 day or longer cruise, but Concierge gets only 1.  For cruises that are 17 days or less, both get only 1.