Specialty dining reservation online questions

[trvlfan]

This is a two part question:

Never having been on Regent (or any cruise ship for that matter), I am not familiar with the timing of the evening entertainment vis-a-vis dining at the specialty restaurants - and how long one should expect dinner to take? If we wanted to attend the evening show, what time does it usually start, and what time is appropriate to book one's table at Signatures or Lattitudes? I know this is subjective to how slowly one likes to dine, but it is more of a question of how slowly one is served...

My second question is about the actual booking online process for the specialty restaurants: If we plan to dine with someone in another cabin, can I book the table for the whole party through my one online booking (Regent site states "...one booking per cabin ")? Or does each cabin have to book independently, and then somehow inform the maitre 'd that we would need a table for 4 or 6 or whatever.... Also, at the moment, the other party does not have a cabin assignment, since they booked a "GTY" cabin - so how would one give that cabin#?

I don't want to have the other cabin book separately, if I can do it all directly as one reservation....

I know, I know, this was about 5 questions - sorry and thanks!;)

[RachelG]

You can book the entire party on your reservation. When you go in to make the reservation, it will ask you if you want a table for 4 or 8. The other party does not have to have a cabin assignment.

As far as timing, the shows usually start at 9:30 or 9:45. In Latitudes, service is really fast (set menu that is the same for every table), so not an issue. If you are a fast eater, you probably could even have a reservation as late as 8:30 and not miss the show. (There is plenty of seating in the theater, so you don't really have to show up early to get a good seat.)

Signatures is much slower--here a meal can take as long as 2-3 hours depending on how many courses you order and how much talking you do. Usually we make our reservations there for 7:00 or 7:30 to allow plenty of time to enjoy the meal.

[trvlfan]

RachelG:

Thank you, thank you!! That answered absolutely every question I had! 9 days to booking my restaurants! Can't wait.:D

[Travelcat2]

We like to be in Compass Rose on the night(s) of the Captain's Reception (usually the 2nd night) and Farewell. Dining seems to be a bit "special" on those two nights. This time we're doing Latitudes on the first night and Signatures on the 3rd (no particular reason).

[poss]

Cat: Which night is usually the farewell-- last? (even tho first isn't the welcome)

trvlfan: In addition to what travelcat mentioned, you might want to take into consideration whether you enjoy "dressing up" or not. I.e. if you don't especially enjoy jacket (men) kind of thing, you might want to make your Signature reservation for a night that's an informal night. That way, you'd have one less "dressier" dinner costume. (I.e. not Signature plus informal Compass Rose-- just the one.) One other idea for trvlfan: Since this is your first cruise, you might enjoy the first night in Compass Rose (instead of Latitudes, e.g.) just so you can get the "feel" of being in one of those grand cruise ship dining rooms. CR is also lovely in the respect that you can choose to sit by yourself or ask to join a table for four or six. Don't need to decide that ahead of time either. When you come to the dining room, you'll be asked and can just decide on the mood of the moment. I love that particular aspect of CR (may be true in other dining venues also, but I associate with CR).

Bon Appetit!

[Travelcat2]

Poss: the Farewell dinner is "usually" the night before the last night (probably because many people are packing on the last night in order to have their luggage outside of their suite by 11:00 p.m.). On a 7 night cruise, there isn't all that much time in between these events.

I haven't looked up your schedule ... ours is docked on the first night in Istanbul. It will be interesting to see how many people will utilize the time to see the city and how many will be onboard. I can't even figure out when the muster drill will be (probably second day -- after we set sail around 4 p.m.).

Having the first night at Compass Rose is probably a good thing for most people. The speciality restaurants are not typically very booked for the first night. We just want to say our "goodbye" to Latitudes -- although not popular with most, we are going to miss it.

[lc7467]

If I have a b2b cruise do I get to make 2 for each restaurant or the 1 and 1?

[poss]

On b2b, you can make 1 res in Signatures for first week, another one for second week. Likewise for Latitudes.

Cat: We, too, very much enjoy Latitudes-- will much miss!

[lc7467]

what is happening with Latitudes?

[poss]

Reports are that it's turning into some sort of "steak house" after dry dock?
(My vote would've been for anything but. But there are plenty of other good choices on board. Not a big deal.)

[Wendy The Wanderer]

We will soon be in the position to book online for the Paul Gauguin, if we wish. And we're traveling with another person. I thought we both had to book, and then go and tell the maitre'd when we boarded that we wanted to sit together. (I doubt we'll bother actually, probably wait until we board.)

There's a fair number of people who like to book Signatures for the first night, they say it's not crowded. Haven't tried it, but might, next time. By then Latitudes will be history, and will be a steakhouse or something.

[trvlfan]

trvlfan: In addition to what travelcat mentioned, you might want to take into consideration whether you enjoy "dressing up" or not. I.e. if you don't especially enjoy jacket (men) kind of thing, you might want to make your Signature reservation for a night that's an informal night. ...
Bon Appetit!

Poss: Thanks - we actually did think of that, and are booking Signatures on the 2nd "informal" night, Oct. 7th. The first "Informal" night is the 5th,with the Captain's Reception at CR, which we want to attend (and meet our fellow CC members!). So like TravelCat, we are booking Latitudes on our first night aboard. From all the foodie reviews, I can't imagine a bad meal anywhere - it's just the dressing up part that I'm not crazy about!

[BILLP1]

The last few cruises we have booked the speciality restaurants on the first night. We have found that on the first night everyone showed up to eat around the same time and in Compass Rose we had to wait for a table. Easier to have a reservation and eat at the time that we wanted..

[RachelG]

Absolutely agree--that is why we tend to book a specialty restaurant the first night. Usually do Latitudes the first night as we aren't ready to really dress up.

[Skeezics]

New to Regent. Have questions about the specialty dining. I take it Latitudes is more casual, Signatures dressy. Also, on a 14 day cruise or longer, we dine appoximately 7 times or more in the specialty restaurant. (Celebrity). Is it possible, when on board, to book that many nights on Regent? I know I can book one on line before the cruise. We are in a Horizon Suite . . .does that give you any priority for specialty dining? I know on Celebrity when in a RS or PH you do get priority. Thanks in advance. Barb

[Travelcat2]

Usually you have to book extra nights in "speciality" restaurants one at a time. If you have a Penthouse or above suite, your butler can make the reservations for you (and may have priority -- not sure about this).

Latitudes is is more casual than Signatures. Usually a man would not have to wear a jacket to Latitudes.

trvlfan: because our cruise does not have any "formal" nights (:) ), ties won't be required for Signatures. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to dress on Regent -- especially for women.

Quick comment about Latitudes -- some people do not find the food spicy enough. . . simply ask for some hot sauce . . . it will do the trick!

[lc7467]

Yeah!! I just booked my first specialty restaurant reservation online for the 9/27 Venice to Istanbul cruise. One night in each restaurant and because I am back to back with the 10/4 on to Athens I got two nights on that one also. Is 7:30 a good time to still make the shows?

[xrvlcruiser]

One comment: Be aware that the menus in Signatures and Latitude may not change on a one week trip.

[lc7467]

Thanks for the heads up. I can only hope then that the food is so great I would eat the same dish twice or hope the selection is enough to choose another.

[xrvlcruiser]

Latitude has a quasi-set menu:there is a choice of the main course but the rest is set . . .

Signatures has a "normal" menu with several items to chose from for each course.

[cruzndiz]

I have seen posters discussing that the specialty restaurants will be changed when the Mariner is in dry dock right before I cruise....but the woman from RSSC who emailed me about some various questions claims that she knows nothing about either of those restaurants changing? What gives?:confused:

[lc7467]

Something to look forward to!