Steelers36

The expectation has been 5:00pm and 7:30pm for a while. Perhaps 5:30pm and 8:00pm in Europe. IMO, 2.5 hrs is a long time, but it has been the case in recent times. The DRs are opening by 5pm and they will expect Early TD to begin then. Guest will need to make reservations for 6:00pm if want to begin later and then request a table block if they want TD experience.

Not quite because prior to DMW, a guest could not book a specific time each night. Either had to live with one of the two offered TD times or be a walk-up. At least until on board and could make a special request.

It is different because PCL removed the TD option when releasing DMW App and any subsequent updates. This was done while still promising to deliver a TD experience. In order to get TD experience, guests have to make the request on board of DR Mgr or DR Host. It would have been impossible to program a working model for TD in DMW. TD is not the same as booking the same time and DR in DMW because DMW does not block the guest into the same table each night and that principle is key to TD (same wait staff and location each night of voyage). What I would say now is DMW Is going to work the way I pitched it to PCL back in 2021: 1. Guest still sets up their Dining Party before making a booking. 2. DMW asks if guest wants TD - Y or N. If Y, DMW asks if Early or Late (generally, 5:00pm or 7:30pm). DMW then asks if Private or Sharing. END The list of guests requesting Early and Late TD goes to the DRO (just like in the old days) and the DRO sets up the tables with his big DR map just like before. I can see DMW having an occupancy limit and preventing requests once the max is reached. This used to be the case in POLAR cruise booking system prior to DMW when guests would elect dining choice at time of booking their cruise. Once TD was full, the guest would be allocated to ATD until boarding where they could make a request for TD. 3. If N, guest is then offered the booking options we see now. (Either book individual nights and times or same time each night). However, only 1 DR will be offered until occupancy filled. IMO, it would be useful if all guests were encouraged to access DMW and it also asked up front if guest wants to elect Walk-Up. At least there would be a positive response from most guests and it might help DROs with plans and allocation of space in the DRs. What I mean is that instead of guessing a non-use of DMW means Walk-Up, they will literally have more data on guest elections.

Yes, if/when existing reservations are flushed, all guests who want either of the set TD times or to book their own times in advance will need to go back and re-book in DMW as of an appointed re-open date. I also think Anytime is an out-dated term and may cause confusion between reserved times using DMW and true (random) walk-up. IOW, "anytime" is really just the walk-up choice and not making a reservation.

DMW came into being in June 2021. Yes, it may be the case for some folks that their TD choice may be fully-subscribed by the time they book their cruise or attempt to use DMW. Same thing can happen now in DMW if they want a prime time and go to book late in the game. We shall have to wait and see if they bring back meeting the DRO in afternoon of embarkation day to make DR requests and changes. I would say a guest not having success in DMW will be able to make on-board arrangements just as they can today. I also don't see any change if using DMW to book a different set time than PCL will offer for TD. Example: Early TD is going to be 5:00pm (perhaps 5:30pm in Europe) and guest wants 6:00pm. Use DMW to book a 6:00pm slot each night and then make the request on board to block off the table. DR Mgrs will be able to direct any walk-up overflow to one of the other DR's if under-used.

Yes, the plan is to separate the three dining options into their own DR. That said, DROs will be able to adjust and send overflows to under-utilized DR's. Yes, DMW is still going to allow guests to book the same time for all days - subject to availability of times when you book. However, please understand that DMW never could and will not be blocking you into the same table and wait staff each night. That only happens by request on the ship and with manual intervention by DR Mgr or DR Host to block that table for you.

Yes, welcome to CC and the Princess Forum. Ask around when you do go on that cruise and you will likely collect some ideas and references for good TA's that also offer true discounts. I agree - no point in booking with a TA that charges same as Princess list price.

But the cabinmate ought to be paying CA of $17/day, so reduced again. Also, do they want internet. And, do they drink non-alcohol? Best to both get the Plus and first person pays the other person part of the package cost ($60 less what they actually spend a la carte).

And even that can be refuted as long as you want Internet and pay the CA. Cabinmate also has to pay CA and may also want Internet. Even with just CA, you may as well book Plus Cruise Fare and pay cabinmate $43/day (Plus, less CA). Your cost would be $113/day. With standalone, your cost is $115, unless get Internet discount (which I am sure you do). Surely cabinmate will consume at least some non-alcoholic beverages. ETA: Of course it is also worthwhile considering the CD offer and Ocean Now if it might be used. We don't, so I overlooked. Just the basics, I would seriously look at forcing the Plus fare if it means value to one person as I think it will work out better to recompense the cabinmate for a differential between $60 and their actual a la carte costs in most circumstances.

The standalone drink packages are "offered" as a marketing ploy so PCL can illustrate what a huge bargain the cruise fare packages are.

Did you lose your original account? I recognize your handle. Your posts are odd in that none of them allow a feedback of Thanks, Like, or Ha-Ha. Also, no info on your membership or geo-location. IIRC, you are from the UK somewhere.

PCL already knows the percentage of guests who book shore excursions with them. It should follow that the same percentage of guests would be interested in the shorex OBC out of those booking a package. But it comes down to how much extra is one paying to get that OBC, doesn't it. The survey doesn't discuss that aspect, so the results are not very meaningful IMO. As for the SD question, unlimited SD interest might depend on the number of available options on a particular ship, but again, how much are they charging for all the extra "free" meals? There are limited number of guest who always dine at SD. Note that Signature guests already have their own dining venue, so it's all about the money IMO.

They could just turn one MDR Into a SD location since so many guests would be looking for their "free" meal. That leads me to concur with @Thrak's assessment.

For total clarity, you can gamble in the casino and charge slot machine purchases or table chips to your cabin account. When your account is settled at end of voyage, any OBC does offset against charges. This has been the case even though PCL official policy is that OBC cannot be used in the casino. But, indirectly, it has worked. That said, one or more members here posted a while back about a policy change because it has been speculated that PCL might change the accounting program to prevent OBC from off-setting casino charges. I would say that has not been implemented or there would have been an active hot thread about it.

You cannot both explore Vancouver and board early. Get to Van a day or two early for that. They can open boarding around 11am, but will begin check-in at least an hour before that and you wait until boarding begins if processed early enough. At Van, I would probably be arriving at the terminal for check-in well before 10am if I wanted to be processed and among the first to board.