alternative dining procedure

[mrs. jones]

What is the procedure for obtaining reservations in the specialty dining rooms? We're on Nautica 11/5 and are new to Oceania. Do you simply show up on day one and make a reservation? Any advice/suggestions/reviews would be greatly appreciated.

[LHT28]

If you are on the Concierge level cabin your butler can make your reservations for you
you can go to the specialty dining rooms and make them in person and I think you could also call them and make your res.

2 for each restaurant if Concierge
1 for each if in other cabins
I think the owners suites have unlimited

you can also ask on the evening of if they have any spaces available once your quota is used

[YOW]

We were able to get repeat visits by speaking with the maitre d' on the same day as early as breakfast time (there is a stand at the entrance to the Terrace).

[mrs. jones]

Thanks to you both! It sounds like there's no mad rush at these places, or am I wrong about that? We'll most likely book on the first day and it would be so much easier to just make a call. (we aren't consierge class) YOW, since you made repeat visits, I'd be interested to hear your opinion of them. Again, many thanks.

[Catalina]

What if you have 4 couples that are friends on the cruises? Can each couple make a reservation for 8 at each of the specialty restaurants?

[LHT28]

As I understand it you get your allotted number of reservations then if they have space you may get to dine more often.
They go by cabin number not the group you travel with

They try to make sure each cabin gets a chance to dine in the specialty restaurants.
No extra charge like some cruise lines.

[shoshona2]

When you make a reservation for the specialty restaurants and want to sit with someone in another cabin, you must have their cabin number with you. It all goes into the computer. If you use up your two reservations for each specialty restaurant (for Concierge, PH and Suites), you can ask if there are any openings when you see the Maidre d' at breakfast or lunch in the Terrace Cafe. PH and Suites have Butlers who can also make reservations for them. Everyone else has one reservation per restaurant, but can ask the Maidre d' if there some more reservations available.

Several nights, we were so tired from the day's sightseeing and just went up to the Terrace Cafe which is called Tapas at night. They have a server carving roast beef which was as good as any restaurant I have eaten in in LA. They turn down the lights and use tableclothes for ambiance and it was so relaxing. My husband had pasta made to order and was so happy.

We never had a problem in the Grand Main Dining Room for a table for two or a table for eight and the ship was fully booked.

sheila

[Jane110]

MrsJones,

Don't worry. You'll have you alloted visit and within 5 days into the cruise, you'll probably be able to book another if you choose. on our two O cruises, we never had a problem.

The food in the main dining room is just as good as in the specialty restaurants. The specialty restaurants are the Polo Club which specializes in steaks - but you can get a steak any night in the MDR. The other one is italian.

The attraction is the smaller room that the specialty restaurants are in. It's cozy and intimate. But trust me, the food's not better, just different. And the main dining room is very pretty and the service is excellent. The food on Oceania is the best at sea, IMO, in all areas.

[timbo89]

Sheila - I think that Tapas on the Terrace became our favorite place to eat as well on our cruise in February. On our first cruise we ate at the specialty restaurants a few times, but we really became comfortable with the laid back atmosphere of Tapas at night on this last cruise in Feb...

I guess that's one thing that's really nice about Oceania - you have a wonderful choice of dining venues. Some people like one area, others like another.

[mrs. jones]

Many thanks to all of you who have contributed to this thread. I guess I have images of cruises past where you must pay for the specialty diningrooms and must race for a reservation or be shut out. Then again, those were on much larger ships with more passengers. Maybe that's the difference. Looking forward to trying both venues on Nautica, but from the tone of some of the Oceania threads, Tapas seems to be the big favorite. Viva la difference!

[Bruin Steve]

It being my first Oceania cruise coming up...and being far more accustomed to ships with traditional dining, I've got a couple of additional questions...

First, let me say I'm not "big" on pre-planning my dinners (the traditional dining ships take most of the planning out of it...and I always wait until I'm on the ship to reserve a specialty restaurant)...and I've always scheduled those to coincide with later hours in a port--since they tend to get in the way of my traditional early seating...

With the "open" seating, the port hours really don't become a factor...and we will undoubtedly want to eat in the alternative restaurants at least a couple of nights out of 14, if not more...

But, when to eat in which may be more a result of two factors:

What's on the menu...and...
Who we might want to dine with...

Am I correct in assuming the Main Dining Room has different menus each day while the specialty restaurants remain a constant?
If, so, do the post (and at what time) a sample menu for the main dining room for each specific night?

The point is, that if nothing on the main dining room menu catches my eye, that may be the night I want to eat ion one of the specialty restaurants...

Also, since we're going on this thing on our own (rather than with another couple or in a group), I am assuming we may meet people on board we might like to dine with...maybe in one of the specialty restaurants...
So, I guess, how flexible is it? If you've made a reservation for a particular night, is it difficult to change the reservation to four or six?

Are certain days easier to get a reservation than others? Like at sea days...or earlier in the cruise rather than later?

Thanks...

[shoshona2]

Dear Steve,

The menus for the specialty restaurants are posted right outside their respective doors and are also available on Oceania's website. The Main dining room also posts their menus for that day's lunch and/or dinner at their entrance.

Just go with the flow -- if you have a butler, he can make your specialty restaurant reservations. If not, go up to the Polo Grill the day you board, and give them the dates you wish to dine there or in Toscana. You can ask for a table for two (there are several in each restaurant) or a table for six or eight and join other diners. They do this so you can meet other people on the ship.

Since most of Oceania's cruises are fully, don't expect to decide the night you want to dine in a specialty restaurant. They are small and don't usually get a cancellation. If you book a table for four, it's hard to make it a six if someone else wants to dine with you.

Sheila

[Pecoraro]

If not, go up to the Polo Grill the day you board, and give them the dates you wish to dine there or in Toscana.


Do they confirm your reservation right then and there or do they hopefully wait until all of the requests have been received from all cabins?

How does the priority status for the suites work into this? Do they leave a certain amount of tables open for them each night?

Does it make a difference when you get there? We are on a cruise that doesn't leave until 11:00 P.M. and don't plan on arriving at the port until after 6:00 P.M. or later. I would hate to think that reservations are made on a first come first serve basis as that just promotes pushing and shoving that I have seen on some of the other cruise lines.

[Bruin Steve]

The Main dining room also posts their menus for that day's lunch and/or dinner at their entrance...don't expect to decide the night you want to dine in a specialty restaurant.
So, Sheila, from that info, I guess I can't wait around to find out what's on the Main Dining Room menu that night...I should book ahead of time and take my chances?
I was sort of hoping I could scroll down the menu and say "Hmmmmm...Broiled Trout...Coq Au Vin...Osso Buco...Eggplant...Pork...Nope, don't like any of these choices...looks like a good night to go to a specialty restaurant"...and, on the converse, I don't want to reserve a specialty restaurant only to find one of my favorite dishes makes the Main Dining Room menu that night...

Oh, well...

[Jancruz]

Remember it does not really matter what night you eat in the specialty restaurants..the menus in the 2 small restarants never changes and the buffet in Tapas is usually the same menu as the GDR..
Jan
*************

[ClaudiaF]

[quote=Pecoraro]wrote:
Do they confirm your reservation right then and there or do they hopefully wait until all of the requests have been received from all cabins? Yes they confirm when you make your resy or tell you what time they have available on that evening. They send a reminder card to your cabin for that evenings resys also.

How does the priority status for the suites work into this? Do they leave a certain amount of tables open for them each night? not sure.but usually suites get the time they request so ................

Does it make a difference when you get there? no, as you can only make resys in person at certain times, which are posted in the daily schedule of activities you receive each day in your cabin..or only make resys at certain times ( also in that info paper) by phone from cabin ..by butler /if you have one..he will take care of it for you
We are on a cruise that doesn't leave until 11:00 P.M. and don't plan on arriving at the port until after 6:00 P.M. or later. I would hate to think that reservations are made on a first come first serve basis as that just promotes pushing and shoving that I have seen on some of the other cruise lines. :eek: this is grown up time on wonderful ship..there is no shoving and pushing..enjoy your cruise

[shoshona2]

Hi Claudia,

Welcome home!!

You are absolutely right, there is no shoving and pushing. We were also able to get an additional reservation for the last night on the ship in Toscana since everyone was packing and some people cancelled. Love that Chocolate Lasagna which is back on the menu.

Sheila

[Jane110]

So, Sheila, from that info, I guess I can't wait around to find out what's on the Main Dining Room menu that night...I should book ahead of time and take my chances?
I was sort of hoping I could scroll down the menu and say "Hmmmmm...Broiled Trout...Coq Au Vin...Osso Buco...Eggplant...Pork...Nope, don't like any of these choices...looks like a good night to go to a specialty restaurant"...and, on the converse, I don't want to reserve a specialty restaurant only to find one of my favorite dishes makes the Main Dining Room menu that night...

Oh, well...

I understand your question Steve and there's no set answer. You may indeed be able to snag a same day specialty restaurant resy or you may not. People do cancel and resy's open up. We were able to get a couple at the last minute but then other times they couldn't accomodate us.

In the main dining room, you always have the option of a plain steak or grilled salmon if the osso busso/pork/ eggplant is not what you want.

[grizzlycruiser]

A slight detour from the original post but.....We have made several cruises on Oceania and like everything about the experience. However, in trying to find a cruise from California to Florida through the Canal we find Oceania is NOT going to work. Given our love for the Oceania dining options, country club casual style and no ankle biters, what cruise line do you recommend we choose for our next excursion.

Thanks (and sorry for the detour)

[LHT28]

However, in trying to find a cruise from California to Florida through the Canal we find Oceania is NOT going to work. Given our love for the Oceania dining options, country club casual style and no ankle biters, what cruise line do you recommend we choose for our next excursion.

Thanks (and sorry for the detour)

Why not O?
We are looking at the Panama cruise in Jan.

[grizzlycruiser]

Good suggestion BUT we are doing the Miami to Miami on January 2 and don't want to do 26 days in a row on O (or any cruiseline for that matter). Since the Jan cruises are the only Canal ones that O does in '07 I'm looking for options. I appreciate your suggestion, but O just won't work for me.

Thanks

[jagoffee]

I suggest that you consider Celebrity. I recently completed the LA to FLL cruise and it was excellent. Obviously different than Oceania, but worth considering.

[grizzlycruiser]

Thanks - I'll check it out.

[azkitty]

Grizzlycruiser: If one of your main concerns is open seating for dinning, You could check out Princess. It would be a different experience and I can't recommend, never having been on them. We are trying Princess in Feb. for Buenos Aires to Santiago. Am sure it will be a lot like RCI except that they the open dinning. I would have loved to do Crystal but too $$ for that one and I feel O. is too small for what probably will be rough seas. We were also able to get a the best balcony cabin for a lot less than O. We have done Celebrity (Mercury) through the Panama and were disappointed in the ship and food. Perhaps our expectations were too high. At least with Princess, we have no great expectations and kind of feel we know what it will be like. Unlike RCI, they do have a self service laundry like Crystal and we like that for long cruises. Our June 8 Med. cruise, we will be our first on O. so we will see how it compares. In the long run, we would chose Crystal even with an obstructed view cabin because of their wonderful programs, exceptional food and fellow passengers who we found very compatible and interesting. Didn't mind the assigned seating or formal nights. Made great friends with our tablemates. We also had the same opportunities for specialty restaurant dinning and boarding. There was no class distinction on the ship.