Please stop making reservations for the MDR!

Anyone know how important reservations are on the 4 day Sky cruises?

I did not make a reservation for the MDR on my 4 day Sky cruises. The only wait was to be seated. I was asked if I would sit at a shared table, which I look forward to as a single traveler. I think there were a couple or two who had to wait longer for a private table around 7PM.

I also wish they would do away with reservations in MDR and shows as the only reason I make reservations is because I know that other people inevitably will and don't want to end up missing out/waiting... at least I have them there as an "just in case" scenario.

 

My holiday would be a whole lot more relaxed and enjoyable if I didn't have to make reservations purely for the sake of not missing out/ having delays which in turn stresses me out! If everyone just came and went as they pleased it would be truly "freestyle".

 

I think NCL has gone so "freestyle" with reservations for everything that it actually makes it more rigid and stressful than having a pre-assigned seating or first in dest dressed scenario.

 

That's just my personal opinion, I know others beg to differ :)

"Freestyle" doesn't mean you do what you want, and the rest of us do what you want. If people want to make reservations to ensure they aren't handed a pager and sent off to drink swill champagne, that's their "freestyle".

LOL....another illogical 'complaint'.

I actually agree with the OP on this. While I haven’t noticed reservations causing a problem, I suspect it complicates what is meant to be a simple process. Though reservations certainly shouldn’t be skipping the hostess line. If the wait is only for the maitre’d and not for tables, that isn’t what reservations are for. But many of the restaurants where I live only take reservations for large groups anymore because the process of holding tables for people that may or may not come and may or may not be on time, only slows down the seating for the people that are there.

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I believe that that system that NCL has in place is at least partially designed to share with the guests the status of the availability of dining times and some of that comes from people making reservations in advance. I like the system, it provides useful information so people can plan a dining time or can see what the availabity is for a dining time either in advance or in real time particularly if there is some thing that they wanted to do in the evening.

Some people can take in in stride to walk up to the host and wait a bit, some do not like that approach and want more of a guarantee that they will be able to be seated at the approximate time they prefer.

There are mutiple options for various lifestyles. Its no different than land based restaurants that take reservations. People who have made reservations will usually be seated before guets that have not if party size is equal. Its not cutting a line by any means.

The only time I've ever had to wait at an MDR is simply because lots of people arrive at once (like when the theater lets out), and it takes a little time to get all the parties seated. I've never had to wait for an actual table.

The only time we have made MDR reservation was on the Epic when we had a party of 6+. We probably will this Fall since we'll be on the Breakaway with the same larger party .

I just came off the Breakaway last week.with 4900 passengers. I had reservations for 6:30 at the Manhaten resturant and the line to get in was out the door to the elevators. I just walked by all of them to the reservation podium and was seated in a few minutes. If I did not have those reservations I would off waited a good 30 more minutes. I will always make them online in advance.

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

Sorry to oppose you but after a 30 minute wait to get a table at Taste on the Getaway (not too bad since there was an adjacent bar :D) we made reservations for the other nights we wanted to eat in the MDR.

I suppose that is part of my frustration. Most of the time when we wait a few minutes in line it is because we are waiting for someone to seat us, not for a table. So when you cut to the front of the line, you are delaying everyone. If there are no tables, fine (not really, I don't think MDRs should take reservations at all). But if tables are available and we are waiting for someone to seat us, wait your turn.

 

V

Being Platinum plus allows me to cut the line even without reservations, sorry all my days at sea paid for that perk but on the plus side for you I may eat in the MDR once every 3 or 4 cruises.

I think you should continue to reserve - especially if you want to dine after 7 pm when the crowd swells as everyone wants to eat at around 7 pm. I think it is always better to get in by 6:30 - you still have someone willing to serve you - LOL. When the bulk of the guests come in - you tend to have problems with waiting for your and drinks. If you do reserve make sure you have a print out handy when their system fails- which happened at the Jewel ( which they had no idea until a few of those who reserved complained). You would not want to get the 3rd degree from the staff wanting proof of your reservation when the queue has swelled. Yes, they demanded proof....without checking where the problem came from - their end !

Hmmm. What an odd thread.

Oddest thread ever.

It never ceases to amaze me how people get so upset over things other people choose to do.

Freestyle, according to NCL, means doing what you want when you want and as you like to do it.

As someone who prefers a traditional dining set up, when we cruise NCL we make a reservation at our preferred time for the first night. If we like the server, we will make a reservation for the following night (as for as long as the reservation will be accepted) for the same server at our preferred time.

It has varied from ship to ship. In some cases, we are told we need to do the reservation daily and when the maitre d' sees that we do show up each night (and appropriately dressed for the MDR in which we are eating), will gradually extend the number of nights we can reserve in advance until the maitre d' will just make us a standing reservation for the length of the cruise (and this has happened usually by the third night of the cruise).

Because the waiters do rotate around the dining room, we end up rotating around the MDR with the waiter.

However, because we will probably never be sailing NCL again, those of you who object to reservations will not be seeing us walk by you again.

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

Yes - everyone, please stop. Now. "Vic" has spoken. :rolleyes:

I suppose that is part of my frustration. Most of the time when we wait a few minutes in line it is because we are waiting for someone to seat us, not for a table. So when you cut to the front of the line, you are delaying everyone. If there are no tables, fine (not really, I don't think MDRs should take reservations at all). But if tables are available and we are waiting for someone to seat us, wait your turn.

 

V

No one is "cutting". Make a reservation next time.

If you prefer, we'll only show up for dinner after you have been seated.....:rolleyes:[/quot:loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry:LMAO

 

It has varied from ship to ship. In some cases, we are told we need to do the reservation daily and when the maitre d' sees that we do show up each night (and appropriately dressed for the MDR in which we are eating), will gradually extend the number of nights we can reserve in advance until the maitre d' will just make us a standing reservation for the length of the cruise (and this has happened usually by the third night of the cruise).

 

That's so nice that you were allowed to do that. When we were on the Breakaway in December, we were not allowed to make reservations for the MDRs at all once on board. Prior to boarding, we were able to though.

No one is "cutting". Make a reservation next time.

I do agree and understand what he is saying. Once I've checked in, and you've checked in, and we are waiting for someone to seat us, at that point a reservation should be irrelevant. At least, that's how it works at land restaurants. At that point, you are no longer waiting on a table. One has already been assigned. You are just waiting for someone to walk you there.

I've never seen people on ships with reservations move past those waiting to be seated before though. At that point, you are past both podiums, and if there is any line, it's usually only 2 or 3 parties.

On the Breakaway last year we were told after the first night it was not necessary to make a dinner reservation since we were a party of 2. The Manhattan Room was the only MDR reservation we made. Other than the speciality reservations, we just showed up, told them how many and either waited less than 5 minutes or were seated immediately.

If you have a large group, it may make sense to reserve in advance.

MARAPRINCE

Whether it's NCL's mega ships or "older" ships that we really prefer ... the delays we've seen at the MDR entrance is at the podium. Reason: the host/ess (must) insist on swiping your Guest Keycard(s) ... to make sure they get an accurate headcount (joke in the old days on the Dawn with the ship captain, the executive chef has to keep a tally on how many 1/2 lobster tails were consumed, AYCE or not ...)

That is the bottleneck, pay attention - next time you walk up to the MDR's podium. Then, they printout the numbered ticket, assign the "escort" to bring you to the table with the menu, etc. That is part of the reason for the slow moving lines and the delays at peak dining times, whether you have a reservation or just walking in. That's one or two podium, with a line of 50 to 100+ guests, the ones in the back clueless which line is for what - or, if there is an express or priority/elite line, etc.

We've done "traditional" dining on other lines, and with their early or late seating system - when the door is open, except for the first evening where everyone (except the seasoned vets familiar with MDR setup/layout & table plans) scrambled & struggled a little bit to walk around, look & find their assigned table and then sit down ... by the next evening, it's quick and easy. You know your wait team & they recognize you, no swiping of everyone's Guest Keycards, unless you are ordering from the bar, etc. (NCL used to have plenty of wine & beverage runners in the MDR ... nowadays, the waiter/ess & assistants do it ALL themselves).

On the BA 2 years ago, midway thru the cruise, with a MDR dinner reservation for a table of 6, and one of the hostess insisted on swiping every one of us, all 6 guests' cards - when all that was asked at other times - were just 1 keycard (or, keycards from 3 staterooms). It slowed the lines down further and the next day, the HD called back & apologized ... besides, they're no longer serving lobster tails or what not already.

Reservations or not, the bottleneck is NCL's check in process - especially for the big MDR, the small(er) ones usually aren't too bad, unless - like everyone - trying to time it before catching the evening show.

Sigh, another odd first world problem ...

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

.........So just make a reservation

Hey I didn’t even realise you could book at the mdr on Ncl. We never have and we wait, but OP thanks because I and probably many more will now book.

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Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

I don't think it is any of your concern what reservations others make.

Just a heads up for you....we are on Getaway May 20th and have made reservations for 3 night's for 30 ppl.

on various of our cruises, if we like a section of the restaurant with a particular waiter, we always make reservations in fact we were told we could do that. I for one don't see the problem with making reservations. I also have to admit, that grand majority of the time we don't make reservations and our waiting time has not been that big of a deal.