Do request a specific table number?

[ekerr19]

Ok, I'm really curious now. On another thread, Heather responded to a post I made about requesting a specific table number in the dining room. She said she thought that HAL would not do it - we've done it periodically, but not on every cruise.

Does anyone else have experience requesting a specific table number from the ship's dining room diagram? I'm not talking about the number of people you are seated with - but the actual table number. For example, on our upcoming Volendam cruise we are looking at requesting table #20 or #22 (upper level, 4 person table, by the windows)

[gizmo]

Yes, you can request the table number. There is no guarantee you will recieve it but Hal will do the best they can. :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

I wish I could remember the thread I saw this discussion. I just did a search with no luck, but I know that someone was talking about requesting a specific table # and a couple of others said even when calling HAL directly they were told it could not be done. In fact they were told that the seating is worked out by the Maitre D's aboard ship and they can do nothing about it.

So now my question is: Does anyone have the seating diagram for the Oosterdam? One of the first things I do after embarking is check out our table location. For the most part we're always very lucky, but you never know ... I'd love to put in a request.

[Esme]

We've often requested a certain table and only once that I can remember, did we not get it. That was because it was a large table for 10 and a family travelling together on our Xmas cruise last year had requested a table for 10.

You can request a specific table - whether you get it or not us up to the Maitre'd and his staff.

[viennacruiser]

I have the seating plan for the Zui, :) which I got off another thread:D :D
My DH and I are going to look it over and request a specific table for our cruise in March ..anyone else going to try??
Nancy

[serendipity1499]

Yesterday, on another thread, I was able to pull up the seating chart for the Zuiderdam, which was put on-line by Candy..Kelmec requested it & Robaot , I think had it...look at page 2 of that thread & Candy says to click on "Zuidy Upper DR" & "Zuidy Lower DR"...Have been told that the Oosterdam & Westerdam use the same configuration....It's in Word Format..When printed, the chart was a small version but I was able to enlarge it on my printer..The table Numbers are difficult to read, but you can make out a great deal of them...

We e-mailed ships services Aug 8 & requested a table for 8 late seating upper..This was part of their reply on Aug. 12:

QUOTE:This is to confirm that you have the 8:PM dinner sitting.In addition, a table for 8 is on request.UNQUOTE

Good Luck, Happy Sailing

Betty

[serendipity1499]

Sorry Nancy, You beat me to it..Guess you & I were posting at the same time..Betty

[viennacruiser]

Betty, I am going to try for my table this week:D ....will let you know how it goes:)
Nancy

[gizmo]

Esme is correct. The seating is worked out by the maitre'd. Ship Services and reservations can not guarantee the table. You won't know until you board.

Call your TA and she can submit the request.

[serendipity1499]

Thanks Nancy....Betty

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yesterday, on another thread, I was able to pull up the seating chart for the Zuiderdam, which was put on-line by Candy..Kelmec requested it & Robaot , I think had it...look at page 2 of that thread & Candy says to click on "Zuidy Upper DR" & "Zuidy Lower DR"...Have been told that the Oosterdam & Westerdam use the same configuration....It's in Word Format..When printed, the chart was a small version but I was able to enlarge it on my printer..The table Numbers are difficult to read, but you can make out a great deal of them...

We e-mailed ships services Aug 8 & requested a table for 8 late seating upper..This was part of their reply on Aug. 12:

QUOTE:This is to confirm that you have the 8:PM dinner sitting.In addition, a table for 8 is on request.UNQUOTE

Good Luck, Happy Sailing

Betty
Thanks, Betty. Got it! Question now: Who did you all email to request what you want. I'm not even that fussy, but would really like a round table for 8 to 10 people.

[MandyGirl]

A few weeks ago when I called to set up Pinnacle reservations for embarkation night for our upcoming Zuiderdam cruise, I asked about requesting a specific table number for our normal dining time. I was told "no" that we could not do that because if everyone starts requesting a table then they can't determine who should and should not get their request. (I had referenced that posters on the message boards had said they were able to and she still told me 'no'.)

Of course, I'm sure if I called back and asked again I might possibly get someone who says "no problem" since answers can seem to vary from one rep to another. Since it won't make or break my cruise, I just left it alone. Got the alternative dining reservations made though! :)

Just my personal experience recently...

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we first started cruising we were only able to request a table by the window - a table for 4 - etc.

About 4 years ago we discovered that you could request a certain number. Our TA got copies of the various ships. Since then we request a certain table number and have yet to be turned down. It is really up to the maitre'd as he is the one who handles the requests and table assignments.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I just edited my above post but doubt anyone will see it. Doesn everyone think we have a better chance with Ship's Services? Calling or emailing?

MandyGirl, you must have been the person who had posted this because I remembered seeing it somewhere:o . Oh well, I'll give it a try. I just really want a round table for 8 or 10 and most of the 8's and 10's are oblongs which I hate.

[MandyGirl]

Good luck Heather! I'm wondering if it's best to just do it through the TA. Or... like I said... maybe just talking to someone different.:)

[gizmo]

I think you have a better shot with your TA.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I think you have a better shot with your TA.
In most cases you're probably right, but in my case I don't think so. Long story and a boring one. So now that I have my docs I think I'll take it from here. First I've tried an email ... next a call and we shall see. It's not really a biggie because generally we're very fortunate with where they put us. Just lucky I guess.:)

[Tinknock50]

Esme is correct. The seating is worked out by the maitre'd. Ship Services and reservations can not guarantee the table. You won't know until you board.

Call your TA and she can submit the request.
You can also e-mail HAL yourself.
I have gotten my exact table 4 times.

[doone]

We have never asked for a specific table number, but we do ask for a round table. Those long tables are so hard to talk to others in your party. Sometimes I wish they just had round tables for more than 4 people in a party.

[iluvcruzin]

Heather - call Ship services and request a layout of the dining room for your ship. They can e-mail it to you. The one I recieved for the Maasdam is fuzzy but it can be made out. I was told they don't guarantee table requests. However, my TA faxed my request in. We will see in a couple weeks if it was honored.

[starysacz]

Our TA usually faxes our request for tables at the time of booking to HAL and follows up about a month before the cruise with another fax. Our request has always been honored for the past six cruises. Good Luck!!:)

[serendipity1499]

Re my e-mail to HAL & their reply...I went on Hal's e-mail (on the WEB site) & sent in the request for a table for 8..I too will not contact our agent because they are a large wholesaler with blocked space & the group seems to be very LARGE..There are six of us in our party & I just put in booking numbers & sent in my request..At the same time I thanked them for answering my previous e-mail about shipboard credit..(which they refused due to our big group discount).. I don't have an e-mail address for ships services..Received an answer from the Internet Dept..When we were four of us on the Amsterdam last year, we did the same thing & they did grant our request for a round table for eight, but I have never given them a specific table number..Good Luck & Happy Cruising...(30 days to go) Betty

[HeatherInFlorida]

We have never asked for a specific table number, but we do ask for a round table. Those long tables are so hard to talk to others in your party. Sometimes I wish they just had round tables for more than 4 people in a party.
They definitely have round tables for 6, 8 and 10. But not as many as they have of the long ones which I hate! Might as well have a table for 4 if you're stretched out like that.

I have the Zuiderdam DR schmatic and I think they're the same. There are several round tables for 8 and 10.

I tried emailing thru the HAL website and they must be full because I keep getting it back undeliverable. I'm going to call Ship's Services tomorrow because the location isn't important to me, but a big round table is. So hopefully they can honor that ... we shall see and I'll definitely let you all know when we return!:D