Open Seating - Can we Get it Changed?

[mill231]

We are a group of 12 that just booked the Westerdam for June. The problem is all of the regular seating times are full and we all want to sit together. Has anyone else had this problem? Will we have any luck with getting it changed once we're on the ship or will we be stuck waiting forever each night to be seated together?

[hammybee]

Given your size, why not put your travel agent to work for you, now.

[sealovers]

We are a group of 12 that just booked the Westerdam for June. The problem is all of the regular seating times are full and we all want to sit together. Has anyone else had this problem? Will we have any luck with getting it changed once we're on the ship or will we be stuck waiting forever each night to be seated together?

I booked our Sept '08 Alaska (Westie) cruise many, many months ago and listened to my TA's accolades of 'As you Wish' dining. I went along with it. After reading many negative reviews and regrets, I called yesterday to change to upper dining, set time. Yes, it is waitlisted, but I think that enough booked guests request a set time, HAL will have to adjust their schedule. If not, well I still have the option to cancel and book an Alaskan cruise elsewhere, or select another sailing date. Since this is relatively a new adventure for HAL, I'm thinking they will learn which cruise destinations and sailings have a higher demand for set dining times. I'm sure they will get the kinks ironed out. I just don't want to try it while they're 'ironing'!:D

[mill231]

I tried to have my TA get me a regular time, but he said that even the waitlisted is full so they've closed it. He said that I'd have to talk to the Maitrede once onboard. It would seem to me like they would realize if all of the waitlists are full that they need to open more "regular times" up. I guess I don't quite understand. Do they have a seperate dining room for us "anytime" diners? We really all want to dine together and I have always enjoyed having the same waiters each night.

[Jen&Joe]

I think you can request the same table every night with AYWD by calling the dining room each morning. Check out the sticky post at the top for all the details on it.

[FreeStyleNCL]

I think you can request the same table every night with AYWD by calling the dining room each morning. Check out the sticky post at the top for all the details on it.


ya I've seen same family(8~10) sitting at a same table. and you can also make reservations for early or late dinner seating times. approximately between 6~8 no reservation is taken to accommodate walk ins but if you do it early, i think you can get reservations anytime because everytime I went to eat around 7, there were people going in the "RESERVATIONS ONLY" side lol

[MSPCUBS]

Just back from the Volendam. Was scheduled for anytime dining. After the first night (a disaster), went to the maitre d the second day and asked for 8:00 set dining. He asked how big of a table we wanted and viola - we got the set dining. Now I will say our tablemates were on the "interesting" side, but we enjoyed having the set dining.

[pms4104]

As an aside ... not sure any tables seat 12. I think the typical configuration is a max of 10 people. Maybe 2 tables for 6 would be easier for HAL to accommodate?

[maxsmamma]

If your travel agent isn't having much luck, you can try on board. The last time we were on HAL, the first day I met with the maiter-dee. There was a time listed in the daily porgram, and I got their early, and was the second in line. We didn't get the time we wanted, but we did get a table together. It was worth it for the time I waited in line.

[mill231]

I guess as soon as I board I will head straight to the maitre de and try to get things changed. Ifigured that we would have to go with 2 tables and that's why I was worried about waiting forever to get tables together each night. If we can make ressies I won't mind it so bad. If we can get the same tables everynight then we should have the same waiters also so it woule be just like having traditional seating.

I just wanted to see if anyone else had tried this, but as I read more I have found out that they haven't implements "anytime" on Westerdam yet. It sounds like on other ships they do work with people so that's somewhat reassuring. I may call HAL and request to be put on a waiting list even if it doesn't do any good.

[LoveMyBoxer]

If you see the Maitre'D as soon as you get in, you will be able to reserve the same tables every night. We had the same table and best waiter and assistant waiter every night on our 14 day X-Mas/New Year's Cruise. Just a head's up that DH did "tip" the Maitre'D when he made the reservation. Not sure if it helped, but we did get what we wanted.