75 day dining reservations (soon)

[Travelcat2]

Thanks to txladycruiser on the "How to book dininer reservations online", I called Regent to verify that we can make advance reservations 75 days in advance. While she was told that this will take effect this week, the person I spoke with said they are working on it and will do an "email blast" when it goes into effect. Think this is something we should be watching for.

Note: This site is great for helping you figure out the date for making reservations http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html.

[OrpingtonT]

Thanks totxladycruiser on the "How to book dininer reservations online", I called Regent to verify that we can make advance reservations 75 days in advance. While she was told that this will take effect this week, the person I spoke with said they are working on it and will do an "email blast" when it goes into effect. Think this is something we should be watching for.

Note: This site is great for helping you figure out the date for making reservations.

I await the "e-mail blast"

[smilingcruiser]

Travelcat - Thank you for time and date.com :):)

[rallydave]

Another simple method for calculating the correct is in Excel. First make sure the cell is in date format. Then simply go to another cell and enter = (cell with date) - (number of days you want to subtract and hit enter. Note, you may need to fix the format of the cell with the formula to see the date. This will tell you when you can book tours, dinner, final payment, etc.

[Rally]

Another simple method for calculating the correct is in Excel. First make sure the cell is in date format. Then simply go to another cell and enter = (cell with date) - (number of days you want to subtract and hit enter. Note, you may need to fix the format of the cell with the formula to see the date. This will tell you when you can book tours, dinner, final payment, etc.

As an MBA from a certain vintage, I depend on a time-tested method. I count on my fingers.

[Rally]

Another simple method for calculating the correct is in Excel. First make sure the cell is in date format. Then simply go to another cell and enter = (cell with date) - (number of days you want to subtract and hit enter. Note, you may need to fix the format of the cell with the formula to see the date. This will tell you when you can book tours, dinner, final payment, etc.

This is helpful, Rallydave, if you do not have a spouse. If you do have a spouse, relax. It will be dealt with. If you do not have a spouse, I believe Johnny Walker will give a more appropriate answer.

[rallydave]

This is helpful, Rallydave, if you do not have a spouse. If you do have a spouse, relax. It will be dealt with. If you do not have a spouse, I believe Johnny Walker will give a more appropriate answer.

Well, I do have a spouse and she doesn't deal with any of this cruise stuff; leaves it all up to me including tour and dinner reservations. As to Johnny; Bombay is more to my liking.:)

[Travelcat2]

Travelcat - Thank you for time and date.com :):)

YW! That site has been a great help to us.

[Hambagahle]

This will be good news - when it happens, TravelCat...thanks for telling us!

I just went onto the Regent site, though, and it hasn't happened yet for my 7th April cruise (and for some strange reason, Regent doesn't seem to e mail me about anything...maybe they think that e mails to Switzerland cost more than those to the US??)

So I wait and check...

[Travelcat2]

This will be good news - when it happens, TravelCat...thanks for telling us!

I just went onto the Regent site, though, and it hasn't happened yet for my 7th April cruise (and for some strange reason, Regent doesn't seem to e mail me about anything...maybe they think that e mails to Switzerland cost more than those to the US??)

So I wait and check...

What a shame that you do not receive emails from Regent. I could cut and paste it into a thread. . . but, in a matter of hours, it should be on the Regent site.

As far as the 75 days goes, two people from Regent have verified that it will happen. You know how they tend to run a bit slow in terms of meeting deadlines when it comes to their computer system. Next month I can make reservations for P7 -- we do want to try it on the Navigator, but are not big fans of that dining venue. We can receive the same (or better) steaks in Compass Rose.

[Hambagahle]

TravelCat -
I checked again just now, and - nothing! So I am waiting. Meantime IF someone (Orpington T?) gets an e mail about the 75 day reservations opening up on the site, could they please either e mail me at Thompson @ verbier.ch OR put it on this thread!! I would be MOST grateful. I live in a wonderful country BUT our meat is "lamentable". The cows have to live on such steep hills they get all tense, and the meat is really tough!! So my husband and I are longing, absolutely longing, for steak at Prime 7!!

Take pity on a poor Swiss!!:(

[jhp]

Oops wrong link. Deleted.

[AtMaui]

40 days away from the TA and still no email about restaurant reservations. Still waiting!!

[Lovesatq]

Thanks for the information but I also don't receive emails direct from Regents. Believe this might be because I use a TA but not sure. Will keep my eyes open for the change. Thanks again......

[DaveFr]

Thanks for the information but I also don't receive emails direct from Regents. Believe this might be because I use a TA but not sure. Will keep my eyes open for the change. Thanks again......
If you haven't done so already, go to www.rssc.com and enroll in the E-News & Offers program (lower left corner of the page). This should get you on Regent's email list.

Dave

[Hambagahle]

many thanks, DaveFR - I jsut signed up!! AND to my joy there was no problem putting in a Swiss phone number!!

[olivegrove]

Dear Hambagahle
I notice that you were on Union Castle Line in 1952. My Father would have been 2nd Engineer at the time aboard Denota Castle. He also served on Rowellan Castle, Durban Castle and Edinburgh Castle. Could your paths have crossed?

[Threechicks]

Good luck with that. I have registered at least five times and never receive any e-mail. I finally e-mailed them about it and received a phone call yesterday. They went over my profile and found that they had an incorrect house number for my mailing address (regular mail) and insisted that once that was fixed I would receive my e-mail. That made no sense whatsoever as they had my correct e-mail address so I am waiting to see what happens. I do receive their printed material by regular mail.

[HonTri]

Good luck with that. I have registered at least five times and never receive any e-mail. I finally e-mailed them about it and received a phone call yesterday. They went over my profile and found that they had an incorrect house number for my mailing address (regular mail) and insisted that once that was fixed I would receive my e-mail. That made no sense whatsoever as they had my correct e-mail address so I am waiting to see what happens. I do receive their printed material by regular mail.

We NEVER receive any regular mail from RSSC. The only e-mails have been about our up coming cruise! Also has anyone been able to book dining reservations for the April 17th cruise?:confused:

[mrsdel]

We, too, are booked on the April 17th Mariner cruise but have not yet seen the dining option show up and we are within 75 days. My question is this. We have a "Guaranty" cabin so do not have a cabin number. Will we still be able to make a reservation? Are you required to put in a cabin number to hold the reservation?

[DaveFr]

We, too, are booked on the April 17th Mariner cruise but have not yet seen the dining option show up and we are within 75 days. My question is this. We have a "Guaranty" cabin so do not have a cabin number. Will we still be able to make a reservation? Are you required to put in a cabin number to hold the reservation?
My memory is that they want your name and booking number. We had a Guaranty suite last September and I was able to make dining reservations before a suite was assigned to us.

Dave

[kvisf]

Perhaps the Regent website update has changed things, but we were able to successfully book online in 2007 without assigned cabins, as we were on GTY status, too.

[Hambagahle]

Dear Hambagahle
I notice that you were on Union Castle Line in 1952. My Father would have been 2nd Engineer at the time aboard Denota Castle. He also served on Rowellan Castle, Durban Castle and Edinburgh Castle. Could your paths have crossed?

Sadly no - we travelled on the Pretoria Castle, from Southampton to Port Elizabeth. (we had the Old Vic on board, going out for a SA tour!) Those Union Castle ships were the lifeline to England for all of us who lived in SA and Rhodesia then...very few flights and very few people went by plane!!

[silkismom]

Has anyone heard anything more on this???

[Travelcat2]

Haven't heard a thing. So far two of us have called and were told it would be soon. Maybe tomorrow someone else will give them a call and get an update:confused:

[Hambagahle]

I just checked the RSSC site - at 22.14 CET, which is 8.14pm in the Eastern US...anyway - nothing!

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week... who knows?

[rallydave]

I just checked the RSSC site - at 22.14 CET, which is 8.14pm in the Eastern US...anyway - nothing!

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week... who knows?

Interesting Time Stamp. Got your message at 3:15 CST which is 4:15 EST so a bit confused about CET which I believe is one hour later than Great Britain Time used to be called GMT.

Your time zone in Switzerland is 7 hours later than CST and 6 hours later than EST so 22:14 CET is 4:14 in the Eastern US and not 8:14 which would only be a 2 hour difference from your 22:14 CET.

So, I certainly believe your 22:14 CET but that is 4:15 in the Eastern US. believe the Regent website updates at midnight EST which is now about 7 1/2 clock hours away. Using that logic, you should see an update, if there is such at 06:00 CET.

Get up early tomorrow and check out the Regent site.

[OrpingtonT]

Interesting Time Stamp. Got your message at 3:15 CST which is 4:15 EST so a bit confused about CET which I believe is one hour later than Great Britain Time used to be called GMT.

Your time zone in Switzerland is 7 hours later than CST and 6 hours later than EST so 22:14 CET is 4:14 in the Eastern US and not 8:14 which would only be a 2 hour difference from your 22:14 CET.

So, I certainly believe your 22:14 CET but that is 4:15 in the Eastern US. believe the Regent website updates at midnight EST which is now about 7 1/2 clock hours away. Using that logic, you should see an update, if there is such at 06:00 CET.

Get up early tomorrow and check out the Regent site.

I checked this morning at 0700 UK time (0200 EST). No joy yet.

[San Jose King]

I was informed by Regent this morning 2/15, that starting tomorrow there will be a trial to make dining bookings 75 days in advance. This will apply to only 3 cruises at this time. They did not tell me which ones other than it did not apply to my 4/7 Mariner voyage.

[OrpingtonT]

I was informed by Regent this morning 2/15, that starting tomorrow there will be a trial to make dining bookings 75 days in advance. This will apply to only 3 cruises at this time. They did not tell me which ones other than it did not apply to my 4/7 Mariner voyage.

Interesting, thanks. But I'll keep trying!

[Travelcat2]

I was informed by Regent this morning 2/15, that starting tomorrow there will be a trial to make dining bookings 75 days in advance. This will apply to only 3 cruises at this time. They did not tell me which ones other than it did not apply to my 4/7 Mariner voyage.

Thanks so much for calling. I'm guessing that the trial will be for cruises just hitting the 75 day mark. The current 30 days in advance has worked fine for us. We just don't want to miss a change to 75 days and miss the opportunity to book our preference.

[Ruelle2]

Hi everybody! The online dining reservation feature is up and running I just made some reservations.

[owtrspace]

Thanks for the heads up! Just logged in and it was available for my 3/29 Nav cruise... got a table at P7... :)

[Travelcat2]

Thanks! Not sure why they changed it, but, at least we all know about it.:)

[HonTri]

Hi everybody! The online dining reservation feature is up and running I just made some reservations.

Thanks I just tried but the reservations(for dinning) would not take my input. Kept coming up with an error:(! I had to call Regent that worked!:) Also I was not put on hold!! Hope others on our cruise have better luck:p

[Travelcat2]

Another thread on this subject that was just started shows the announcement from Regent. Guess those of us on this thread just knew a couple of weeks in advance:-)

[OrpingtonT]

Hi everybody! The online dining reservation feature is up and running I just made some reservations.

Thanks for this. I had tried for our 7 April cruise a few hours earlier and the feature wasn't up. However, after your post I tried again with complete success. Many thanks.

[yarlenna]

Thanks for the heads up! We made our reservation with no problems.

[rpjsaj]

I am on the April 25th cruise on Navigator to Bermuda. Online reservations for Prime 7 were allowed as of this morning (not available yesterday). We are traveling with 2 other couples and a single (total of 7 of us). We were not able to make reservations for a table this large for any day of the cruise. I had to split us up at a table for 4 and a table for 3 (one at 7:00 and the other at 7:30). I was then advised to speak to the Maitre d' when I got onboard and he (or she) might be able to accommodate us. Hopefully we can get the 2 tables for the same time and near each other, or preferably push the tables together. So, be aware that they don't seem to be able to accommodate groups larger than 6. The Regent rep admitted that this was very new to them and they were struggling to work with the new system.

[tallship]

Just made reservations for April 7th Mariner - no glitches - Thanks, Regent

[regent traveller]

I tried last Friday to make dining reservations for our 15 April cruise from Cape Town. Then I tried to add our friends Hank & Sondra who are on the WC. I had to call Regent because I knew their cabin number but not their booking number. The system wouldn't take their booking number because they were on the full cruise. He made reservations for us but said he would get back to me after he talked to their systems person. Has any one else had this problem? We have been seggys many times on WC and have made some great friends and would like to be able to make advance reservations with them. It's not just the great itins and wonderful service that keep me coming back to Regent it's also the interesting travelers that we meet.

[Travelcat2]

Wish I had an answer. . . . however, I only have a question. Does the system now ask for the booking number of the people you are making a reservation for? This would be good for people to know if advance. In our case, we only know the name and suite number and need to make a booking in a couple of weeks.

[OrpingtonT]

Wish I had an answer. . . . however, I only have a question. Does the system now ask for the booking number of the people you are making a reservation for? This would be good for people to know if advance. In our case, we only know the name and suite number and need to make a booking in a couple of weeks.

Yes. You will need the booking number of every party you are making the reservation for. For example, it recognises 2 people, my wife and myself, when I enter my booking number. In this way more than one booking for each speciality reataurant for each booking number would be refused.

[sable1]

Hi Jackie,
Thanks for checking on this. If you need our booking number, you can just e-mail me if you want.

rssc03 @yahoo .com

And the kitty photo looks different from Target (aka my sweet Sable).

Jaonne

[Travelcat2]

Yes. You will need the booking number of every party you are making the reservation for. For example, it recognises 2 people, my wife and myself, when I enter my booking number. In this way more than one booking for each speciality reataurant for each booking number would be refused.

Thank you!

[jhp]

That's plain silly, and precludes the booking person from enjoying the ability to get onboard, meet new people, and enjoy a meal in a specialty restaurant for which they've paid the privilege to have. In the past, I've reserved a table for 6 and just put in the comments that I didn't know yet who my guests would be.

I'm getting on the Mariner tomorrow in Rio. Didn't pre-book anything, so it will be interesting to see how it works once onboard.

[Mark_T]

That's plain silly, and precludes the booking person from enjoying the ability to get onboard, meet new people, and enjoy a meal in a specialty restaurant for which they've paid the privilege to have.

The alternate view though is that by allowing one couple to book a table for 6 you are potentially denying 4 other people from getting the reservations that they have paid for the privilege of having.

I do like that they seem to be closing the loophole that previously allowed people to get multiple reservations in the speciality restaurants by having each of say 3 couples book a table for 6 on different nights.

Insisting on having the reservation numbers makes sure that everyone gets a fair chance of enjoying the facilities.

Also once on board it is often possible to pick up additional vacancies so it is not impossible to get a second chance or to expand/combine an existing reservation.

[OrpingtonT]

It is also possible to say on the reservation form on-line if you are prepared to share a table with unspecified others.

[Mark_T]

It is also possible to say on the reservation form on-line if you are prepared to share a table with unspecified others.

I agree and that is what we often do, but it is not what jhp is trying to do.

We all pay for the privilege of being able to dine in the speciality restaurants, but what we do not pay for is the right to book a table for 6 then decide who to invite.

If travelling with other friends then it is perfectly possible to make a combined booking of course, just can't expect to do it in advance with the expectation of inviting random people you meet once on board, nor should we be able to do that as it reduces the booking opportunities for others.