Making reservations in specialty restaurants

[janymac]

How do you make reservations for the speciality restaurants? Can we make them as soon as we board?

Do they menus for the main dining rooms as soon as you get onboard?

 

janymac:p

[smeyer418]

How do you make reservations for the speciality restaurants? Can we make them as soon as we board?

Do they menus for the main dining rooms as soon as you get onboard?

 

janymac:p

yes they have the menus out at central area. You can make reservations 24 hours before in a regular room 48 hours before in a balcony room and if you have access to the concierge at any time. On most ships the reservation desk is in the area by the front desk. occasionally they have more than one place(on the Gem there were three plus the phone for 4)...

[meaclasact2]

On our recent Jade cruise, I called the restaurant from the cabin phone and made the reservations myself. Never encountered a problem - and I called the day I wanted the reservation. We were in an AB and I guess we could have called in earlier, or I could have had the concierge do it, but it was just as easy for me to do it myself.

 

Happy sailing!

[tamarara65]

we just sailed the Spirit this week. Reservations were never a problem here. We like to eat later. Around 8 and found that most of the restaurants were half empty by 8:30. The crowd aboard our ship was a little older. Which my account for the earlier dining. We had to wait a few minutes for a table when we went at 7.

[janymac]

We wanted to try a few of them, the last few cruises we have not been able to get a reservation. I won dinner at the Bistro doing the free spin at the casino and would like to try a few more of them.

I saw something about screens on the new ships, what do they tell you?

We are on the Gem this time, we have been on the Sun and Dawn and loved both of them so know we will love the Gem.

 

janymac:p

[Cosmopolitan]

We wanted to try a few of them, the last few cruises we have not been able to get a reservation. I won dinner at the Bistro doing the free spin at the casino and would like to try a few more of them.

I saw something about screens on the new ships, what do they tell you?

We are on the Gem this time, we have been on the Sun and Dawn and loved both of them so know we will love the Gem.

 

janymac:p

 

Do you cruise during school vacations? If so, could explain why you couldn't get a reservation.

The screens only show the "daily" (that day's) activity.

Make your reservation BEFORE the day that you want to dine at a specialty restaurant same day may be too late.

Have a great cruise.

The Gem is lovely:)

[Cosmopolitan]

and...congrats on the free dinner at LeBistro:)

[nlvc12]

Do you cruise during school vacations? If so, could explain why you couldn't get a reservation.

The screens only show the "daily" (that day's) activity.

Make your reservation BEFORE the day that you want to dine at a specialty restaurant same day may be too late.

Have a great cruise.

The Gem is lovely:)

 

I believe you can only reserve a day ahead of time if you are in a Balcony or higher Category...

 

fyi..

 

Nancy

[smeyer418]

I believe you can only reserve a day ahead of time if you are in a Balcony or higher Category...

 

fyi..

 

Nancy

 

one day 24 hours for everyone 2 days for balcony more if you are in a concierge served room as I said above.

[Cosmopolitan]

I believe you can only reserve a day ahead of time if you are in a Balcony or higher Category...

 

fyi..

 

Nancy

 

Yes...guess I didn't make myself clear! 24 hours in advance.

 

Didn't want them looking at the screen the same day they wanted the ressie:)

Not that the screens are "accurate";)

[janymac]

Yes, we have cruised at the holidays but had not really worried about where we were going to eat. We have a few cruises under our belt and want to go to a few of the specialty restaurants but wanted to make sure I was not missing something yummy being served in the main dining rooms!!

If I can see what they are serving each day, we can plan accordingly. We like to eat early so we can go to the shows also...

I am getting excited with every passing day and the Gem sounds just like it's name. I will never had a bad time on a cruise and we have had some really stupid things happen to us but never let it get in the way of having a great time.

If we get into the specialty restaurants, so be it..... as long as we dine together..that is all that counts to me..

 

Thanks for all the feedback... makes it so much more easier before we even board the ship!!

 

janymac:p

[jauyeung]

Does anyone know the exact hour the 24hrs beforehand I can call to make a reservation? I cruise on the 26th of this month and am wondering if I can call at 9am? 12pm? Who do I call, the general number or the NCL sales consultant who I booked the cruise with?

 

Thanks!

[Toyz711]

Does anyone know the exact hour the 24hrs beforehand I can call to make a reservation? I cruise on the 26th of this month and am wondering if I can call at 9am? 12pm? Who do I call, the general number or the NCL sales consultant who I booked the cruise with?

 

Thanks!

 

you use the phones in your cabin or around the ship, it's like a phone in a hotel...they have extensions listed. the reservations desk will be one of those extensions. it's not really an exact 24hrs, since the reservations desk isn't open 24 hrs. it's just a way of saying you aren't suppose to be able to make reservations before that time period.

you can make reservations as you walk around the ship...at the reservations desk, some times at the restaurant itself....through any of the ship's phones, etc.

at times, early in the morning, the reservations will have a line....i have had good luck checking later in the day and getting the times when people cancel. BUT i don't do the surcharges very much...if i can't get in, it's not a big deal for us.

[jauyeung]

oh ok, thank you. I thought we would be able to make a reservation 24hrs before the ship sails. I go on the 26th so I was hoping to be able to call in for a reservation on the 25th. I guess I'll just do it first thing when I get onboard.

[Vyhanek]

It used to be much, much more difficult to get a reservation in ANY of the specialty dining restaurants. I think you will find it's much easier these days. At least that is what I have found recently. I think when NCL chose to increase the fees for these places many people have reached their price point and say "no thank you".

 

A LONG time ago it used to be that you could make reservations on the first day for the whole week. It was nutty then trying to get reservations.

 

Then about 3 years ago I would say NCL changed the system so that you could only reserve the day ahead beginning at 8am. This was also nutty, you couldn't call from your room because the reservation desk's phone was jammed with callers, if you went to stand in line to make your reservation in person you needed to be in line by say 7:30am on the day before and stand there and wait for them to begin taking reservations at 8. The line would get really, really long and you were still lucky to get ANY reservation.

 

Things changed when the prices increased. You should have no problems dining in any place you choose now. We even were able to walk into Cagney's a few nights with a party of 5 with NO reservation during SPRING BREAK last year. Dont worry about it.

[jauyeung]

It used to be much, much more difficult to get a reservation in ANY of the specialty dining restaurants. I think you will find it's much easier these days. At least that is what I have found recently. I think when NCL chose to increase the fees for these places many people have reached their price point and say "no thank you".

 

A LONG time ago it used to be that you could make reservations on the first day for the whole week. It was nutty then trying to get reservations.

 

Then about 3 years ago I would say NCL changed the system so that you could only reserve the day ahead beginning at 8am. This was also nutty, you couldn't call from your room because the reservation desk's phone was jammed with callers, if you went to stand in line to make your reservation in person you needed to be in line by say 7:30am on the day before and stand there and wait for them to begin taking reservations at 8. The line would get really, really long and you were still lucky to get ANY reservation.

 

Things changed when the prices increased. You should have no problems dining in any place you choose now. We even were able to walk into Cagney's a few nights with a party of 5 with NO reservation during SPRING BREAK last year. Dont worry about it.

 

That's excellent news! Thanks! I won't worry so much now.

[crusinmama22]

I too say thank you. I am new to free style. I am sure I will like it -- but now I have to make reservations -- where before all I had to do was show up.

 

It will be fine -- (I keep telling myself that!)

 

Only time will tell !

[smeyer418]

I too say thank you. I am new to free style. I am sure I will like it -- but now I have to make reservations -- where before all I had to do was show up.

 

It will be fine -- (I keep telling myself that!)

 

Only time will tell !

 

 

It really is no different than an all inclusive resort. You can go to the buffet at any time. You can go to the non-reservation restaurants at any time. Only if you wan to go to the specialty restaurants do you have to make a reservation and that is true on every cruise line. the difference here is you have many more choices that you have to make, You can even go to the same non-reservation venue every day and night and probably get the same table and same waiter- how boring is that!

[uppitycats]

I just got off the Jewel last week. Here is what is says in every edition of the newsletter, Freestyle Daily, that is delivered to your room each evening, listing the next day's activities:

 

"Restaurant Reservations: Reservations aren't required for any of our restaurants. But if you want to make a reservation, say for a special occaion, feel free. Reservations can be made for the day of or the next day before dinner time. Just call extension number 050 or visit us as the Desk located hear Java Cafe, Deck 7."

 

Note: Reservations aren't required for any of our restaurants.

 

It was our experience that only once did we see people being turned away, one night, at Le Bistro. Every other night we simply walked up to the reception area of whichever specialty restaurant we wanted to eat at. were greeted by the hostess and seated, within seconds. Only once were there others in line, and then only a couple or two...and this was even on the nights when the ship offered a "buy one get one free" meal at the specialty restaurants.

 

5:30 and 7:30 seem to be "peak times", when the lines were a bit longer, but again, no more than 2-3 couples waiting to be seated. And once inside, there were plenty of empty tables. We ate at the Sushi Bar, Chin-Chin, Le Bistro, Tango's, and Mama's...and never had any reservations (except for the 2for1 nights) and never had a wait.

[odblnt]

On the Pearl's repo, we found about 8:00 to be another peak time with the rush of folks just out of the first show. Shows were at 7:00 and 9:00.

[newmexicoNita]

It used to be much, much more difficult to get a reservation in ANY of the specialty dining restaurants. I think you will find it's much easier these days. At least that is what I have found recently. I think when NCL chose to increase the fees for these places many people have reached their price point and say "no thank you".

 

A LONG time ago it used to be that you could make reservations on the first day for the whole week. It was nutty then trying to get reservations.

 

Then about 3 years ago I would say NCL changed the system so that you could only reserve the day ahead beginning at 8am. This was also nutty, you couldn't call from your room because the reservation desk's phone was jammed with callers, if you went to stand in line to make your reservation in person you needed to be in line by say 7:30am on the day before and stand there and wait for them to begin taking reservations at 8. The line would get really, really long and you were still lucky to get ANY reservation.

 

Things changed when the prices increased. You should have no problems dining in any place you choose now. We even were able to walk into Cagney's a few nights with a party of 5 with NO reservation during SPRING BREAK last year. Dont worry about it.

the only time we have had trouble is the Habachi table becasue there are so few seats and only 3 seatings. the second time was on the Star last year when the Italian dining room was still free and we tried on the very last day to get reservations. When alternative dining first went into affect the policy was like it is today, then people griped about the 24 hour policy so it was switched to making them the very first day if you wanted, people griped again and NCL went back to 24 hour policy...To be honest I liked it when we could make them the first day. Some lines let you reserve the specialty dining rooms even prior to sailing.

 

Nita

[DMH15]

smeyer418-

 

You are so right. I have been to quite a few all-inclusives that limit you to the number of times you can even go to the specialty restaurant. At least on NCL if you are willing to pay, and can get a res - you're in.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Does anyone have a copy of the menus? My parents are going on NCL over New Years and I'm an RCL gal....for now, lol :p

 

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