Chose Dinner Seating, What about Table Prefs?

[LunarGirl25]

I apologize in advance if this question has been asked before.

 

Just booked our cruise on the Mariner for January, and went to rccl.com to view the reservation, choose a seating, etc. I was wondering how you choose a table size through the website, if you can at all. Playing around with pricing, I noticed that on orbitz.com as youre initially booking it asks you for the table size you prefer, but not so with RCCL.

 

My boyfriend and I are cruising together and think a medium to large table would be good. Your thoughts?

[Host Kewlguy]

Any seating requests can be made after you board the ship with the Assistant Maitre'd. We head straight for the dining room as soon as we board the ship. He is usually standing outside the main entrance to the dining room. We request a table for two every cruise but always get assigned a table for 6 or 8. After speaking to the Assistant Maitre'd everything is usually taken care of since many tables are available at late seating (which we always request).

[2forthesea]

Tell me about it, kewlguy!! Same thing for us, too. My TA makes a special effort every single time to get us a table for two, and every single time we have to see the maitre 'd and get our table for 8 changed to what we want!

 

TA says it's because RCCL considers a "small" to be a table for 4, and their forms, etc. don't have an "extra small". Celebrity has this available when making reservations, but not RCCL.

 

It's a joke to us to see how badly they messed up our dinner reservations every cruise. They usually "make" a table for us, which is kind of cool, because you get to sit in unusual spots, since the table is so small. Once we got off to the side of the grand staircase, and it was like being in a private little dining room, but we got to see all the people coming down the stairs. Kinda cool

[Host Kewlguy]

Since the Assistant Maitre'd expects to be tipped on the last night, he is the man to talk to when any special requests need to be made in the dining room. They work very hard and I know I leave them a generous tip at the end of every cruise.

[LunarGirl25]

Alright. Thanks.

 

So I'm already making a list of stuff to do as soon as we board.

 

1) go to dining room and request table

2) make reservation at portofinos

3) book shore excursions

4) TOUR THE HUGE SHIP!

[Host Kewlguy]

Alright. Thanks.

 

So I'm already making a list of stuff to do as soon as we board.

 

1) go to dining room and request table

2) make reservation at portofinos

3) book shore excursions

4) TOUR THE HUGE SHIP!

 

Sounds like you're good to go LunarGirl. Just don't forget to bring your pillow and fan from home. ;)

[Michuck]

Don't forget to make your spa reservations! They fill up real quick!!

 

Michele

[Guest nhrich]

Alright. Thanks.

 

So I'm already making a list of stuff to do as soon as we board.

 

1) go to dining room and request table

2) make reservation at portofinos

3) book shore excursions

4) TOUR THE HUGE SHIP!

Theresa, you can do #3 before you leave home. They can be booked through RCCL's website. Then you'll have one less thing to worry about doing after you board.

 

Rich, ACC

Carefree Vacations

[Terpnut]

Alright. Thanks.

 

So I'm already making a list of stuff to do as soon as we board.

 

1) go to dining room and request table

2) make reservation at portofinos

3) book shore excursions

4) TOUR THE HUGE SHIP!

If I were you, I'd book your shore excursions LONG before embarking the ship!

[LunarGirl25]

hmm...good point.

 

if i want to book independently from RCCL how far in advance do most places accept reservations? or, rather, when SHOULD we?

 

:) not five minutes ago did I get a call from our "guest vacation specialist" at rccl asking if i had any questions.

[Terpnut]

A lot depends on your itinerary and excursion options. For Alaska, for example, you can check out the many excursion-related threads and see that many people are booking helicopter or whale-watching tours MONTHS in advance and supposedly many are selling out. If you want to go RCL tours, go to their web site and you can buy them now!