Open-seating policy on Thomson Dream?

[MrsP1981]

Hi - i am booked on the Dream two weeks today (all being well with repairs!) and wondered if anyone can give me more info on the 'open-seating policy'?

i think they have the same policy on a couple of their other ships. Do you just turn up when you're ready to eat and you can get a table or put your name down for one?

Any info gratefully received!

[Cymro1953]

Hi Mrs. P,
Yes, you just turn up at the restaurant and they'll show you to to a table. You should be able to ask for a small table but might have to wait.

Looks like everything is OK for the cruise, people are already receiving their tickets. All except me :(. No sign yet.

Berwyn

[MrsP1981]

That sounds ok, i'm cruising with my Mum and we want to sit just the two of us really (not very sociable i know!). Do you know if we would have to stand and wait until a table of 2 is available or can you put your name down and go back in 30 mins or something?

i posted on another thread about tickets, we go on 22 April (hopefully!) and i called yesterday and they said they posted my tickets two weeks ago! They are having to resend them so it may be worth you called to be on the safe side?

[Cymro1953]

That sounds ok, i'm cruising with my Mum and we want to sit just the two of us really (not very sociable i know!). Do you know if we would have to stand and wait until a table of 2 is available or can you put your name down and go back in 30 mins or something?



Hi,
No we're like you, would ideally like a table for 2. But let me at the food and will share a larger table. It was interesting last time as you met different people each time.
Really, we are all waiting for you and Isabel (perthorchid) to let us know how it goes. (It'll be too late for us as we'll be boarding as you leave).

I answered about tickets on the other thread. Still no sign of ours).

Berwyn

[john_l]

That sounds ok, i'm cruising with my Mum and we want to sit just the two of us really (not very sociable i know!). Do you know if we would have to stand and wait until a table of 2 is available or can you put your name down and go back in 30 mins or something?

i posted on another thread about tickets, we go on 22 April (hopefully!) and i called yesterday and they said they posted my tickets two weeks ago! They are having to resend them so it may be worth you called to be on the safe side?


When you get a table for two on the first night, ask the waiter can you have the same table for the rest of the week. There should be no problem with this and they will reserve it for you so long as you turn up roughly the same time each evening so they can reuse the table again for later dinners.

[perthorchid]

hi mrs p, i am on the 22nd too. i'm travelling solo this time (for the first time on my own) Hope to see you around

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Mrs. P,
Yes, you just turn up at the restaurant and they'll show you to to a table. You should be able to ask for a small table but might have to wait.

Looks like everything is OK for the cruise, people are already receiving their tickets. All except me :(. No sign yet.

Berwyn

Mmm...Shown to the table..So I take it the Dream is not like Ocean Village then where you turned up when you were ready and walked in and sat at any vacant table without having to be shown by a waiter?:confused:

[Cymro1953]

Mmm...Shown to the table..So I take it the Dream is not like Ocean Village then where you turned up when you were ready and walked in and sat at any vacant table without having to be shown by a waiter?:confused:

That's the buffet restaurant Jim :D
Even on the Escape they show you to your table in the main dining room

Berwyn

[Jim The Scot]

That's the buffet restaurant Jim :D
Even on the Escape they show you to your table in the main dining room

Berwyn

Understand,so I take it your talking about the restaurant where you pay a supplement?

I`m a buffet man myself but might let my wife treat me to some posh nosh :)

[its,only,me]

Understand,so I take it your talking about the restaurant where you pay a supplement?

I`m a buffet man myself but might let my wife treat me to some posh nosh :)

No jim it,s the MDR he is taliking about , not the one that you pay for ,on the IE they show you to a table then you go up for your own meal

mrs.c

[MrsP1981]

Understand,so I take it your talking about the restaurant where you pay a supplement?

I`m a buffet man myself but might let my wife treat me to some posh nosh :)

You don't need to pay a supplement in the main dining room, it's just another option for you rather than the buffet. i quite like to do buffet for lunch then sit down and get served food at dinner!!

[Cymro1953]

After years of camping and caravanning, as long as the grub's good we don't mind where we eat as long as someone else is cooking it and doing the washing up. And of course not paying extra for the a la carte restaurant.

Berwyn

[MrsP1981]

Absolutely agree, and i've never had reason to complain on cruise ships before about food, always very well fed! i find you forget what it's like to feel hungry!

i would like my Mum to experience the dining room though as she doesn't get out much and it does make you feel special :)

When it's just me and hubby we're happy enough with the buffet.

[Jim The Scot]

No jim it,s the MDR he is taliking about , not the one that you pay for ,on the IE they show you to a table then you go up for your own meal

mrs.c

Got ya I think mrs c

So Thomson cruises have a show to your table MDR,buffet restaurant and a supplement restaurant?


I`ve only ever sailed with OV I can`t recall what you would call a MDR and the only restaurant you were shown to your table was the one where you paid a supplement.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Hi Jim,

I think you will find Thomson is much better than Ocean Vilage!
We sailed first on Thomson Celebration and then on OV. But we then went back to Thomson, before trying other lines. They all have their good and bad points, but, personally,we did not like OV - we found it too informal.
I wouldn't go with Cunard - too snobby - they have differerent dining rooms according to what sort of cabin you have, but Thomson, Princess and RCI seem to have got it about right.
By the way we sail 4th May and have got our tickets, so Berwyn is already wound up!!
Linda

[Cymro1953]

By the way we sail 4th May and have got our tickets, so Berwyn is already wound up!!
Linda

Tight as a coiled spring ready to go BOIINNG !! :D:D

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

But we didn't get a 'phone call from TA, just called in on offchance, so wonder when they would have 'phoned???:(

[Cymro1953]

But we didn't get a 'phone call from TA, just called in on offchance, so wonder when they would have 'phoned???:(

I'm lucky, ours is pretty good, they'll ring as soon as they've got them in and sorted

Berwyn

[Jim The Scot]

Hi Jim,

I think you will find Thomson is much better than Ocean Vilage!

Linda,if it is I`ll be more than happy.We loved OV2 so much we cruised with her 3 years on the bounce

They all have their good and bad points, but, personally,we did not like OV - we found it too informal.

I loved OV2 so much so we cruised with her 3 years on the bounce.Depends what you class as too informal Linda,if you mean nobody in dinner suits,shirt n tie jacket type dress I agree(if it had been I wouldn`t have cruised on her) but found the majority of gents were casual but smart at nigh,trousers,polo shirt or shirt and the majority of the women wore smart dresses.Quite frankly the dressing up to the hilt and formal nights are not for me,each to their own of course




By the way we sail 4th May and have got our tickets, so Berwyn is already wound up!!
Linda

Funny you should say that...No I better not ;)

[Cymro1953]

It's Mrs. I'm trying to keep calm Jim and Linda,
I've got to crowbar her onto the plane yet, never mind with no tickets either.

Berwyn

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Hi Jim,
No I didn't mean really formal. As I said, I wouldn't go with Cunard for that reason. On Thomson, RCI and Princess you have a choice of dining rooms - buffet or waiter service. On our first cruises we used the buffet, but when we went to the Baltic on Jewel of the seas,we were allocated fixed dining and when we tried it, we liked it as we had a really nice group of people on our table. But obviously you could be put with people you didn't like. One couple on our table had originally been put on a table for 4 with a couple of Croatian honeymooners who spoke no English, so asked to be moved!!
A friend of ours said he wouldn't go on a cruise as he wouldn't like all that dressing up! But that is the point - you can either dress up and go to the Main dining room or dress less formally and go to the buffet.
On OV you do not have that choice, but as you say different people like different things. The daughter of a work colleague went the week before us on OV2 and hated it so much she wanted to get off at the first port! Another friend loves OV. I enjoyed the cruise, the food was fantastic,and the ports of call very good, but people were coming to dinner in shorts and vests, (which I presume they had been wearing all day!!) I don't know about you, but I like to have a shower and change after a day in the sun.
Most ships have a dress code for the MDR which is formal or smart-casual. My husband wore a suit for formal nights on the Jewel, others had DJs. So I bought him a DJ for Christmas (very good value at Matalan!!) and I must say he looked great in it. I bought a long dress (also Matalan!!) and we really enjoyed "dressing up" and you don't need to spend a fortune.
Sorry,I have written a book!!
By the way how do you put quotes on? I did it once, but can't remember how I did it!! getting old!!
Linda