I’m now sailing on lines that have limited pre booking and on Azamara. The limited pre booking where the line allows one reservation only works fine as it allows me to be sure I have a reservation for a “special date” if one arises during the cruise. It’s stressful but manageable so long as you keep a track of cruise -60 days when all bookings open. On balance I like that approach.
One line varies the number of bookings you can make and when you can access it depending on your room category. That does give issues and quite a bun fight the day bookings open for standard cabins not least because higher ups may have block booked as Phil describes. I don’t like that approach.
The Azamara system works up to a point for me. I’ve never had an issue getting a reservation but I have had to be flexible with dates/times/venues. Given the new tarrif for specialities I think problems will be even less particularly taking account of how good Discoveries has been at least on two ships.
What I do really think needs changing is the rigidity of the two sitting timings. I know people have correctly pointed out that they’ve managed to negotiate reservations at 7:15 or 7:30 but staff make it feel like such a big deal to do this. I think they should be changing to reflect what the other lines and indeed shoreside restaurants do in running a multiple sitting operation with reservations being available every 15 minutes across the opening times. If small shoreside galleys can do this to Michelin standard so can Azamara. I think the binary option of reservation windows is what adds to the tensions.
And suite guests should be charged the penalty if they don’t cancel at least 24 hours ahead unless for extenuating circumstances. (A penalty is advertised but the managers are pressured to waive it). Some frequent suite dwellers seem to expect their precise table to be available every night regardless of whether they come or not. I know it really frustrates the restaurant managers but they can’t say a thing. It’s not fair on other guests.