Pre-Booking Specialty Dining

[booklady26]

We're sailing on the Breakaway next month.

 

My husband & I are Platinum Latitudes so we have 2 free dinners in Le Bistro. In addition, as part of the deal when we booked our cruise we get a free dinner in La Cucina.

 

I want to book them ahead of time to make sure we get the days and times that we want. But in order to do that, our credit card is charged the full price for the dinners when they're booked.

 

NCL customer service tells me that there's no way around this if I want to book a specific time in advance and that I'll need to go to guest services once on board and they will refund the money to my credit card at that time.

 

I don't usually book ahead but I've been reading that it's tough getting good dining times on the Breakaway unless you do book in advance.

 

Has anyone had any experince with this?

[Va. Plumber]

You indicate that you are Platinum members. I think one of the benefits is concierge service. The concierge can generally get you in just about any time you want once you board.

[Demonyte]

In theory Platinums will have access to concierge, reality can be somethIng different (for sure it's not the same level of servie as for suite pax) - on our only non-suite cruise as Platinums on Pearl this Feb we didn't get any information about how we could get in touch to even the concierges assistant(s).

 

But for OP, you will have no problem making the reservations immediately after you have boarded - only about a third of the tables can be reserved online so if you book all your desired times on the embarkation day onboard, you should not have any difficulties getting the times you want.

[NLH Arizona]

I had a little different situation on my cruise on the Pearl. I had pre-booked (and paid for) all my specialty dining and then the casino wanted to comp me a meal. Since I already had that night booked at the Teppanyaki restaurant, they called reservations and had it switched over to them and told them to refund my payment.

 

Everything went well, except for the refund. First I was told it would be refunded to my shipboard account and then in checking on the day of disembarkation, it was not there. They told me to call corporate upon my return home. I called and they said it should have been credited to my shipboard account and they would have to check with the ship. It took a couple of weeks of calling until they finally agreed that it was not on my account and refunded it directly to my credit card.

 

Not sure if my situation has any bearing on yours, but thought I would let you know.

[sunshine55]

Just got off Breakaway on Sunday. As long as you book as soon as you get on ship, you will have no problem getting reservations. They limit the reservations of pre-booking so those who get on ship can have access to all times.

[booklady26]

In theory Platinums will have access to concierge, reality can be somethIng different (for sure it's not the same level of servie as for suite pax) - on our only non-suite cruise as Platinums on Pearl this Feb we didn't get any information about how we could get in touch to even the concierges assistant(s).

 

I totally agree with this. I once tried to use the concierge as a Platinum guest in a mini-suite to make a reservation in a specialty restaurant and was quickly and frostily told that there was no tables available for the time I wanted. The response was so quick I don't think he had time to actually check.

[garycarla]

Just wait until you board. You will be fine.