reserving specialty restaurants online

[Jeffrc1]

Is this possible? I am 1 week away from final payment and I really want to eat at the specialty restaurants most days and reserve the sanctuary for the duration of the cruise. Hopefully this is available, because I really look forward to eating in a private setting each night (in the air conditioning), in case someone suggest balcony dining.

[Toto2Kansas]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

Is this possible? I am 1 week away from final payment and I really want to eat at the specialty restaurants most days and reserve the sanctuary for the duration of the cruise. Hopefully this is available, because I really look forward to eating in a private setting each night (in the air conditioning), in case someone suggest balcony dining.

Sorry, but you are outta luck on these two items. You can not reserve the specialty restaurants or the sanctuary until you get onboard.

[Jeffrc1]

That really stinks. I am a long time RCCL cruiser and usually eat in the specialty restaurants every night. based on my schedule I am arriving in San Juan(14 day) at 3:30pm for a 11pm departure, so it looks like I will not get either. I really consider these things esential to any cruise I take. Any suggestions. Or should I just cancel?

[paragonj]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

That really stinks. I am a long time RCCL cruiser and usually eat in the specialty restaurants every night. based on my schedule I am arriving in San Juan(14 day) at 3:30pm for a 11pm departure, so it looks like I will not get either. I really consider these things esential to any cruise I take. Any suggestions. Or should I just cancel?

I would think you could still get specialty restaurant reservations. Sanctuary, you're probably out of luck.

[SeaUl8r]

I am assuming you are sailing on the Caribbean Princess. I have sailed on her 3 times and we have never had trouble getting in the specialty restaurants every night. (maybe not always at prime time, but no problem if you don't mind eating a little later) I have never used the Sanctuary so I can't answer about that.

[Jeffrc1]

Thanks for the information. Is there any way to guarantee either? Based on what everyone is saying I can only book on the ship? What if I fly in one week before the cruise, make the reservations then fly back and show up the next week. I have been looking forward to this cruise for quite a while and really wanted it to be exactly like I like it.

What if I offered twice what they normally charge? I don't like waiting in lines or missing out on things that I am looking forward too.(who does?)

Is there anyone that I can talk to at the cruise line?

Since it is a B2B does that mean that the people getting on during my second week may not have an opportunity to eat at the restaurants since I and many others will have been on a week and could have booked the restaurants completely?

WOW I sound spoiled.. I may be, but I know what I like and what I don't...

[Jeffrc1]

Originally Posted by SeaUl8r

I am assuming you are sailing on the Caribbean Princess. I have sailed on her 3 times and we have never had trouble getting in the specialty restaurants every night. (maybe not always at prime time, but no problem if you don't mind eating a little later) I have never used the Sanctuary so I can't answer about that.

This eases my mind a little, because restaurants are more important than the sanctuary. Although, I really only wanted to use the sanctuary 3 or 4 times and was willing to pay for the entire 2 weeks because I heard there were people waiting in line to get a spot at 6am (2 hours) some days, and I hate lines.

[captainron]

Of course there is...as long as you wait til you're onboard.

You are no more special than any of the other 2999 passengers, whether you cruised with RCCL or not. See previous posts that have already advised you of same. Do you just not believe people or think you're more special than everyone else?

Ciao for now!!!

[cattolica]

cancel...............it is very apparent that you are not going to be happy cruising Princess go back to RCCL...seating in specialty restaurants isn't all that private anyway.

[captainron]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

Thanks for the information. Is there any way to guarantee either? Based on what everyone is saying I can only book on the ship? What if I fly in one week before the cruise, make the reservations then fly back and show up the next week. I have been looking forward to this cruise for quite a while and really wanted it to be exactly like I like it.

What if I offered twice what they normally charge? I don't like waiting in lines or missing out on things that I am looking forward too.(who does?)

Is there anyone that I can talk to at the cruise line?

Since it is a B2B does that mean that the people getting on during my second week may not have an opportunity to eat at the restaurants since I and many others will have been on a week and could have booked the restaurants completely?

WOW I sound spoiled.. I may be, but I know what I like and what I don't...

If you're on a b2b, you are effectively doing two separate voyages. They will allow you to book up to the last night of each voyage. That being the case, the first day of the 2nd half of your b2b you will have the opportunity to line up and book for your second week's preferences.

Each voyage has a separate number and this is to allow everyone the same opportunity to reserve. Yes you may in fact have an advantage if you stay onboard, so check your copy of The Patter for timings and the extension to call for reservations to each venue you decide to choose.

Ciao for now!!!

[Toto2Kansas]

Might be just the cruises we have sailed on in the past, but we have NEVER had a problem with dining at the specialty restaurants. In fact, we rarely even make a reservation ahead of time. When they open for dinner, we check to see when they have any available tables open for that evening, and that is when we have dinner.
I have never been a planner for things like this, especailly days in advance, and still not had a problem one with it.

Good Luck!

[Schplinky]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

That really stinks. I am a long time RCCL cruiser and usually eat in the specialty restaurants every night. based on my schedule I am arriving in San Juan(14 day) at 3:30pm for a 11pm departure, so it looks like I will not get either. I really consider these things esential to any cruise I take. Any suggestions. Or should I just cancel?

Do you know anyone on your roll call? Maybe they could help you with this by making your requests onboard?

I do hope that Princess adds this to their pre-bookings on their web-site. We've been on other lines (RCL, Carnival, Celebrity) that pre-book specialty restaurants online and since we like to plan, we appreciate this convenience. On the other hand, I find Princess's web-site more helpful in some ways so maybe it's a trade.

It's a shame some have been unkind to you. I don't think trying to figure out how to have the vacation you want should be seen as considering yourself more special than others. Everyone on this board comes here looking for tips for how to make their vacation special and better than it would have been. That's why we're all here doing our research.

[zoncom]

Why not go on Celebrity? Better restaurants , better food. You can prebook speciality restaurants on phone or online with credit card. Saw Carib. @ $669 on new X ships. Love their Solarium adults only pool, no cabana needed.

[Alli Cruiser]

Jeff,

We were on the Crown recently and both speciality restaurants were sparsely attended. Each morning in Horizon they had someone circulating with menus table to table trying to get people to make a reservation. The night we were at Sabatini's (for 2 1/2 hours) there were only 8 tables occupied.

I don't know if this is atypical, a sign of the economy where people don't want to pay extra, or just this cruise. I sure hope Princess is able to keep the speciality venues going as I view it as a nice change from the dining room.

Call the dine line when you get on as others have suggested and I wish you all the best on your upcoming cruise.

[TracieABD]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

Is this possible? I am 1 week away from final payment and I really want to eat at the specialty restaurants most days and reserve the sanctuary for the duration of the cruise. Hopefully this is available, because I really look forward to eating in a private setting each night (in the air conditioning), in case someone suggest balcony dining.

You can try to board as early as possible to make these reservations (I would go to the Sanctuary first), but there is no pre-reservations.

[spatsmcd]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

Is this possible? I am 1 week away from final payment and I really want to eat at the specialty restaurants most days and reserve the sanctuary for the duration of the cruise. Hopefully this is available, because I really look forward to eating in a private setting each night (in the air conditioning), in case someone suggest balcony dining.

You can do the balcony dining, they can setup the table in the room and not on the balcony.

[junglejane]

We were on the July 19 British Isles cruise on the Crown Princess. We ate at the Crown Grill twice. It was not busy either time, nor did it ever appear more than 1/2 full any time we walked by. The second time we ate there, we just walked up at 7 pm and asked to be seated (we were a family of four, including two kids ages 8 and 12). We were seated at a window table. I don't know whether it was because it was a very port intensive cruise, but I think you would've had no problem eating there any night you wanted on our cruise.

We didn't eat at Sabatini's this time, but judging by how often they were "pushing" it on the Princess TV channel, I have to assume it wasn't that busy either.

Has anyone else noticed the specialty restaurants being surprisingly "un-busy"? Or was this just a fluke?

[Colo Cruiser]

Sometimes you can just walk up with no problem.
I suggest you go to the desired Restaurant on embarkation day and make the res you want. They will give you a card with the time/date on it. I stick those on the side of the vanity mirror in the cabin as a reminder.

[skellis]

I was on the Brillance of the Seas in February and ate in Portofino every night. I did that because the food elsewhere was not very good. After my second dinner there I was told to just come in whenever I wanted and they would find a table for me, or I could pre-reserve a set time. The food was very good and the service was fantastic.

On Princess, you can arrange every night on the DINE line, or as you walk around stop by the restaraunt and they have someone there, at least at Sabatini's with the schedule book for the entire cruise. It would not surprise me if they would allow you to book for your entire B2B. Although, a warning Sabatini's may not be your best choice for regular dining as there is a set menu (except for entree) and is served the same way every night. Its a lot of food and a long meal. You can try it and if you don't want to do it for multiple nights change to other venues.

If I were you I would reserve Sanctuary first and the restaraunts later.

Bon Voyage

[wrecks]

Originally Posted by Jeffrc1

based on my schedule I am arriving in San Juan(14 day) at 3:30pm for a 11pm departure, so it looks like I will not get either. I really consider these things esential to any cruise I take. Any suggestions. Or should I just cancel?

You said you were a week away from final payment, so that means your cruise is probably the end of October. Weather could be a factor and given the distance you have to travel perhaps you should arrive a day early. That would also let you board the ship earlier and have a great chance on reserving the items you want.