Select Dining

[scottie920]

Website allows booking of time slots for Select Dining. Has anyone any experience of this? Are you guaranteed time and table size if you pre book and can it be changed either on line before sailing or whilst on ship?

Many thanks.

[WestLakeGirl]

Guarantee is a strong word but generally they honor those time requests

[karanadowns]

In a very recent cruise we did not have to wait at our nominated time or table size. But we were shunted all over the port side dining area despite requesting a table in the same general area. I gather from comments here it is usual to give some money very early in the cruise to the person who allocates the tables at the door to ensure satisfaction.

 

When we were twice shunted into a comparably remote area we found the next morning we had drinks charges on our account despite the drinks ordered and consumed being with our designated package. Yes the charges were removed but the incredulous look on the person's face when I complained will be etched in my memory for ever. Is this this a negative comment? Well no, it is merely the truth.

[villauk]

Website allows booking of time slots for Select Dining. Has anyone any experience of this? Are you guaranteed time and table size if you pre book and can it be changed either on line before sailing or whilst on ship?

Many thanks.

 

Previously, we've pre-booked online, however, just one word of caution: if you keep the same time slot it doesn't guarantee you the same table.

 

We had an incident on our last cruise where we were perfectly happy with the waiter and table we had been given from the first evening at our preset time. Then on the 4th night, we were suddenly moved to another table because the party that had been sitting there had complained and requested to be moved. So, they moved our party of seven to their table and the other guests were placed where we had been sitting since embarkation evening.

 

According to the Maitre'd, in select dining, you are not guaranteed any particular table - no reserving of tables/seating (understandable), however, we were a tad shocked to suddenly be moved to say the least. The other party had moved for a reason and we soon understood why. After our meal, we chatted to the Maitre'd and she advised us to come to dinner 20 minutes earlier and she would accommodate us at our original table. So, even your preset times may have to change to suit your needs :).

[karanadowns]

In other words the bullies won and you were discomforted. Common theme here.

[Hotel CA]

In other words the bullies won and you were discomforted. Common theme here.

 

You are fast becoming the leading contender for 2014's HCY award (Happiest Cruiser of the Year)

[karanadowns]

Great ship, great meals, the peripherals were questionable.

[wallie5446]

Previously, we've pre-booked online, however, just one word of caution: if you keep the same time slot it doesn't guarantee you the same table.

:).

 

The only time that will 'guarantee' the same table, is Traditional early or late seating. With select you are 'guaranteed' you may come whenever you desire, not the table. Now, they do try an accommodate to the best of the abilities.

[mittchelandsophie]

Website allows booking of time slots for Select Dining. Has anyone any experience of this? Are you guaranteed time and table size if you pre book and can it be changed either on line before sailing or whilst on ship?

Many thanks.

 

I recently called celebrity twice to book select dining time for 9 people only to have the system crash both times. I was finally able to get it done last week though the reservations looks very different for example: 1st & 6th night shows all 9 of our names at 7:15, nights 3, 4, 5 & 7 show just 2 of us at 7:15. I called yesterday expressing some concern and I was reassured that our reservations are all linked and we should all be seated together. They did tell me to see the maitre d upon arrival! I also booked Tuscan for 9 on the 2nd night through wedding coordinator only to find out yesterday that its only booked for 4. I cant imagine what would have happened if we showed up for my wedding dinner with 9 people to only have a table of 4. This is my first celebrity cruise and my wedding cruise and I'm hoping I'm able to write a great review when I return. I'm not impressed yet!

[villauk]

The only time that will 'guarantee' the same table, is Traditional early or late seating. With select you are 'guaranteed' you may come whenever you desire, not the table. Now, they do try an accommodate to the best of the abilities.

 

Which is why I was pointing that fact out to the OP :). Obviously, we were more upset to be moved from our preferred table area, which we had been seated at since embarkation (very long dinner :D), because someone else had complained about their seating arrangements - we'd been perfectly happy with our allotment up to that point ;).

Edited October 21, 2014 by villauk

[scottie920]

Thanks all for replies. Seems like everything pros and cons! We are only a party of two so would only be looking for a table for two. Never cruised with Celebrity before is there any tables on the Century that we wouldn't like to be sat in?

[wallie5446]

Which is why I was pointing that fact out to the OP :). Obviously, we were more upset to be moved from our preferred table area, which we had been seated at since embarkation (very long dinner :D), because someone else had complained about their seating arrangements - we'd been perfectly happy with our allotment up to that point ;).

 

Sorry if I came across as curt, not the intended feeling. Ya'll have sailed Celebrity way more than we and know the in's & out's way better than we do :)

[Rob the Cruiser]

Sorry to veer off-topic a wee bit, but...

 

Our reservation indicates we have Select Dining but we are booked in AQ, therefore Blu is our dining option. In this example, there is no Select Dining in Blu. It's first come first served, correct?

[Barwick Cruiser]

Sorry to veer off-topic a wee bit, but...

 

Our reservation indicates we have Select Dining but we are booked in AQ, therefore Blu is our dining option. In this example, there is no Select Dining in Blu. It's first come first served, correct?

 

Correct!

[dalgirl]

I thought the whole point of select dining was to go to dinner when you wish and they will find a table and sit you there. Like in a restaurant. Am I missing something? I chose select so that I wouldn't be locked into a time or table.

[swigso]

Sorry to veer off-topic a wee bit, but...

 

Our reservation indicates we have Select Dining but we are booked in AQ, therefore Blu is our dining option. In this example, there is no Select Dining in Blu. It's first come first served, correct?

 

Blu is anytime/Select dining, it used to say either traditional

or late till the we page was fixed. You can though also book

a table in Blu at a set time if you wish

[AlbertaCruisers]

I thought the whole point of select dining was to go to dinner when you wish and they will find a table and sit you there. Like in a restaurant. Am I missing something? I chose select so that I wouldn't be locked into a time or table.

 

I think the answer is yes and no. Yes, I think that is the intention of select dining, but no, I don't think that is the only reason to use it. For example, we love traditional dining, but 6 is way to early and last year on the Summit late dining ended up at 8:45, which was way too late. This year we are going to try Select dining for the first time because I want to eat at around 7:30, which we find is when we have had time for some drinks at the martini bar and are ready to eat. I hate waiting in line, and I actually find just going to diner when you want stressful (I know it is odd, but I feel that that requires planning (i.e. planning when you want to eat), knowing we eat at the same time each night just works for me) so I have booked for 7:30 every night (8 the first night because of sail away). We will see how it works, but I'm hoping that means we can walk in (at least without too much of a wait). It will be interesting to see, but in theory I'm excited to eat a bit earlier, but still have a set time that we go to eat each day.

[Seahorse44]

From experience - we have been doing select dining (for 2) around 7:30 on the last four or five cruises. I usually ''reserve'' them in advance, but it isn't a guarantee that you won't have to wait a few minutes, particularly on the first formal night when everyone wants the dining room, not the other venues. 7-7:30 is a busy time. Also, We let them know ahead of time if we are not coming. We have been pleased with select dining and most of the time you don't have to wait. You can see if the line starts to get long from the martini bar on the S class ships!

[butterflymama]

We too chose Select Dining because I do not like to be tied down with reservations. We have no set schedule on vacation and would like to keep it that way.

 

We did a cruise last Feb with Royal Car. on the Explorer. We chose "my time dining". Each night I would reach the podium and ask for a table for 6. Each night the response was "Do you have a reservation?". NO! " After a few nights of this I told him that we picked My time to dine on our time. It did seem like they were pushing for reservations.

Some nights there was a wait. We just left and went to the bar for a drink and came back again. We didn't wait on a line.

 

I was told by a friend to make a reservation for the first evening. She said the MDR was a confused mess on the first night. (summit last june) They made their next night's reservation as they were leaving the MDR each night.

 

This time we are just a table for 2 and I don't care where we sit, as long as it is a table for 2!

[dalgirl]

That is good news - I really don't have a set time when I eat on a cruise: If there is some entertainment we want to see we may go to dinner early. If we have a late lunch, then dinner will be pushed back. It is good to know that you can eat when you want. I don't mind a line if they will give out a beeper, I can find a cozy bar to wait out the time. Do they have beepers if there is a wait? If not, they should implement the system.

[wallie5446]

I thought the whole point of select dining was to go to dinner when you wish and they will find a table and sit you there. Like in a restaurant. Am I missing something? I chose select so that I wouldn't be locked into a time or table.

 

We too chose Select Dining because I do not like to be tied down with reservations. We have no set schedule on vacation and would like to keep it that way.

 

 

This time we are just a table for 2 and I don't care where we sit, as long as it is a table for 2!

 

Correct! As mentioned, "the whole point of select dining".

Sometimes we are luckie enought to have the same staff ea dinner service, other time no.

[butterflymama]

Correct! As mentioned, "the whole point of select dining".

Sometimes we are luckie enought to have the same staff ea dinner service, other time no.

 

If there is a wait, will they let you wander away for a drink?

Waiting on a line seems silly to me. I have no problem waiting at the bar ;)

We've been to several all inclusives that have the beeper system and it works out really well.

[UKPete71]

I don't mind a line if they will give out a beeper, I can find a cozy bar to wait out the time. Do they have beepers if there is a wait? If not, they should implement the system.

We've just got back from the Eclipse and were given a pager for the MDR a couple of times when we asked for a particular waiter's area and there was only a short wait for the current diners to finish.

[keishashadow]

Was surprised to see that select dining option was still available for our upcoming cruise today.:) Had TA book it and paid the gratuities. Now we have a bigger OBC since one of our perks was pre-paid gratuities...more casino time!

 

Have found when booking RCCL & CCL, it is advantageous to pre book a time as late as would be convenient for us. If we managed to pull it together earlier, we stopped by the podium to see if we could be accommodated. If not we went to have a cocktail or two, keeping our original time slot.

 

Is there a way to pre-book select dining times pre-cruise on Celebrity that I'm not seeing on the website?:confused: Not sure if it'd be necessary to reserve on the Summit anyway for two people with select dining. We prefer a table for 2 (or with another couple if fine also) with a seating between 6:45 pm and 7:30 pm, basically depending on what time the shows start. I have no preference as to view or location, it's all good to me.

Edited October 21, 2014 by keishashadow

[wallie5446]

I was just reminded on another thread that in April a big part of the area used for select dinning will be turned into the Suite only dinning area. Creating possibly an even longer wait time for those on select.