Seven Seas Mariner Dining Reservations Necessary?

[60614]

Is it necessary to book these in advance? The website says

"In fairness to all guests, only one online reservation in each specialty restaurant will be accepted per suite for each cruise. Guests may inquire once on board if there is availability for additional nights if desired."

Are Prime 7 and Signatures the two "Specialty" restaurants? How difficult is it to get a reservation or to eat at these places more than once?

[Travelcat2]

Prime 7, being a new dining venue, will book up quickly (to get the date and time you want, it's a good idea to book online). Whether you can book a 2nd night once you are on board will depend on how long the cruise is and whether or not the ship is full. If, for instance, you're on a 7 night cruise that is fully booked, it would be extremely difficult to get a 2nd reservation.

The same probably holds true for Signatures, although it is not nearly as popular as Prime 7. Again, if you want a specific day, be sure to book online!

[mrlevin]

Last few cruises I have never booked Singatures or Latitudes (now Prime 7) in advance and have had no problems getting in when I wanted. However, if I were only sailing a seven day cruise, I would probably go ahead and make an online reservation.

[Travelcat2]

Last few cruises I have never booked Singatures or Latitudes (now Prime 7) in advance and have had no problems getting in when I wanted. However, if I were only sailing a seven day cruise, I would probably go ahead and make an online reservation.

Most people could book Latitudes as many times as they wished since it was rarely full (the reason it is no longer there). A recent cruiser that was unable to book online due to the ongoing computer problems was faced with a 45 minute line-up to book Prime 7.

[mrlevin]

Why would anyone stand in line 45 minutes for dining reservations. There are easier ways to do this; at least, I have always had an easier way. It is not foolproof but I have not been disappointed yet although I have had to go on a different evening than originally desired. No, I am not going to post here because then it would be useless. I am sure folks can figure out a solution if they would bother to think about it instead of acting like lemmings and standing in line.

[Travelcat2]

Why would anyone stand in line 45 minutes for dining reservations. There are easier ways to do this; at least, I have always had an easier way. It is not foolproof but I have not been disappointed yet although I have had to go on a different evening than originally desired. No, I am not going to post here because then it would be useless. I am sure folks can figure out a solution if they would bother to think about it instead of acting like lemmings and standing in line.

It sounds like your experiences may have been prior to the computer problems. Unfortunately, things have changed for many customers of Regent. It was explained best by a frequent poster on CC, "DebbieH103" -- who is also a TA. Despite doing everything she could think of to assure that she had a reservation to dine in Prime 7, there was no reservation when she got on board. She then had to stand in line for 45 minutes (apparently like a "lemming":confused:) because it was important that she and her husband dine there on a certain evening.

Yes, there are other ways of doing it. Our Butler could have easily obtained a reservation for us. Since the Op wanted information about dining reservations in speciality restaurants (and did not indicate that they were in a Butler suite), I offered the best information I had available.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Prime 7 is very popular right now because it's new. Fine, that will pass probably.

But, the fact is, we are each guaranteed one reservation per cruise, so I wouldn't sweat it. If people were lined up, I would come back later. Unfortunately you can't snag the maitre'd during lunch service, since those rooms aren't open, but I presume you can phone them? I agree with Marc about lemmings--something I'm not about to do on board when I'm supposed to be having a great time.

[Travelcat2]

Prime 7 is very popular right now because it's new. Fine, that will pass probably.

But, the fact is, we are each guaranteed one reservation per cruise, so I wouldn't sweat it. If people were lined up, I would come back later. Unfortunately you can't snag the maitre'd during lunch service, since those rooms aren't open, but I presume you can phone them? I agree with Marc about lemmings--something I'm not about to do on board when I'm supposed to be having a great time.

Wendy, I really do not believe we are guaranteed one reservation per cruise. I've heard that statement before, but, have never read it in any of Regent's literature. I suppose on a 7 night cruise, you could probably get into Prime 7 OR Signatures once. But, for Prime 7, it does not seem possible for everyone on board ship to dine there once if they wanted to. Please let me know if I'm incorrect about the guarantee:confused:

This really should not have turned into a debate. Since the Op now has the opportunity to book dining reservations 28 days in advance, I was recommending that they do so. It was suppose to be a simple answer to a simple question.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wasn't trying to debate you Jackie, just pointing out what I thought I knew. Who knows if it's still true, but it's certainly what I was told on my first ever Radisson cruise.

[DebbieH103]

I waited in line over an hour to get a reservation at Prime 7 on the first Voyager sailing with it because all the online reservations were lost, and there was only 1 meeting on 1 day to fix it.

Once that initial drama was over, they figured out how to use the new computer system, and you could stop by Compass Rose during any meal (never any other time) and book Prime 7 or Signatures.

Even on the Christmas cruise that was full and the first week the restaurant was open, it was easy to get a second reservation if you were willing to share a table. A second night at a table for two was another story...I am glad we experienced it both alone and with others. This is the one restaurant where we were absolute pigs, having starved all day both times to enjoy it. Our dining companions in their 90s said, "it must be nice to be young and hungry".

[Travelcat2]

Wasn't trying to debate you Jackie, just pointing out what I thought I knew. Who knows if it's still true, but it's certainly what I was told on my first ever Radisson cruise.

Sorry -- I wasn't referring to your post. It would be nice if it were true, but, I have heard of people that could not get a reservation to the "old" Portofino during the entertainment days (so glad they are gone).

Debbie -- glad you came in and posted -- I couldn't remember exactly how long you waited -- just that it was an extremely long time!

[linda_22003]

We've been satisfied with one visit to each specialty restaurant, and it's easy to book when we board. No long lines, in my experience.

[DebbieH103]

I posted again last night, but the boards went down as I was saving. I forgot I never went back in.

I just wanted to clarify something on my earlier post. I think it is important to book ahead or on the first day on Voyager especially due to the room layout. There are not that many tables for two. Mariner's space is set up differently, and from what I can see has a lot more of the smaller tables than Voyager.

I still would book in advance. If another menu suits you more on the night you picked, cancel onboard and rebook so someone else can go.

[Travelcat2]

Just a small clarification. we have not had difficulty getting a reservation for Signatures. Prime 7, according to what I have heard, definitely requires advance reservations. Again, my point is that there are 700 passengers on the Mariner/Voyager. Unless Prime 7 holds 100 people (and it certainly does not look like it does), it is not possible for every person to dine there in one week.

[DebbieH103]

Voyager holds probably about half that. The two nights we dined there, they were not doing single seating. A few tables were reused. Of course, we were there the first week, and I am sure they have tweaked it. There are some passengers that never bother with reservations anywhere because they just don't want tied down and don't care what they are missing elsewhere if they are plenty happy with the main dining room. The new reservation system was smart enough to tie the cabin to all their dinner reservations, and I think if they could tell you were not going to get in all week, they would perhaps handle it this way with a second seating. There were something like 656 on the Christmas cruise, and I know some ate there 4 times. Of course, it was so new, I know some guests thought it was still Latitudes.

I just like to have something down on the books so I know for sure we will not get completely disappointed at not getting to experience it. Prime 7 is just way too good to miss.

[takeavacation]

Is there an additional fee for the "specialty restaurants"?

[cwc]

NO... No fee... no tips and all drinks included (of course alcoholic type too)