What would you do to improve DD?

[steveru621]

Well we tried DD, can't say I was impressed. I still prefer MDR traditional 8:30. No reservations, and the shows are scheduled around dinner, not the other way around. And with traditional dining the only lines I remember was first night to be escorted to your table. But it did save us the $40 for our Traditional dining room waiters.

 

Given I don't think it will go away (Ha Ha), and I probably will want to cruise the Anthem in 2016, let me suggest some improvements.

 

1. Reduce the time to 1.5 hours from 2 hours that a table is scheduled to be tied up. Right now a table reserved for 7p is tied up from 5:30p-9p. Maybe keep it at 2 hours for tables larger than a 4 top.

 

2. Bar service still brings your drinks, why can't you order directly from them (the experts)? The waiter knows nothing about drinks! I ordered a simple vodka and tonic and our waiter types away on his iPad for what seemed like minutes. It was funny though! We stopped ordering after dinner drinks because it was such a hassle. RCI lost money. Also no more after dinner shots!

 

3. There does not seem to be any way to pre-reserve to put people together for ONE night that would LIKE to sit with strangers. We asked each night and only one night they put us with others. One night they put us at a table for 12 with no one else scheduled! Why not add a large table option to the reservation system?

 

4. If you find a waiter that you like, be able to add that same table number to your reservation for the next time you are in that dining room.

 

5. Too many spots are held back for walk-ups. If you could actually get a reservation there would be less walk-ups.

 

6. Finish the Android app!

 

7. Charge a ten dollar fee if you don't cancel your reservation by a certain time. I wanted that time, was told it was not available, and you didn't show up!! I've read here that people made reservations and just showed up any time they wanted! I wanted that time, was told it was not available, and you didn't show up!!

 

8 I have no opinion on the assistant waiters. Traditional mainland restaurants manage to pull it off every night.

 

Just my two cents.

[koxler]

Someone on another thread has what I thought was a good idea. Reservation packages that could be selected. For people who don't want to book each restaurant individually have a package with specific restaurants and time preferences included.

 

Example:

Basic Package #1

- Only complementary restaurants

- Prefernce 8:30pm (times within 30 minutes of preference)

 

Package #2

- Includes one specialty restaurant (you get to choose)

 

All the restaurant package

- Each restaurant one night

- Provide a slight discount on specialty dining fees

 

Etc...

 

Just thinking this might help with some of the trouble with reservations. Generally I don't mind and booked mine a while ago but would probably take this type of option if it was available.

[cruisenfever]

4. If you find a waiter that you like, be able to add that same table number to your reservation for the next time you are in that dining room.

Steve we were able to do this during our 19 days on board with no problem. This included Silk, American Icon and Coastal Kitchen.

[steveru621]

Steve we were able to do this during our 19 days on board with no problem. This included Silk, American Icon and Coastal Kitchen.

 

:D See my ideas are taking hold already! Thanks we did not know, it was apparently a secret.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Someone on another thread has what I thought was a good idea. Reservation packages that could be selected. For people who don't want to book each restaurant individually have a package with specific restaurants and time preferences included.

 

Example:

Basic Package #1

- Only complementary restaurants

- Prefernce 8:30pm (times within 30 minutes of preference)

 

Package #2

- Includes one specialty restaurant (you get to choose)

 

All the restaurant package

- Each restaurant one night

- Provide a slight discount on specialty dining fees

 

Etc...

 

Just thinking this might help with some of the trouble with reservations. Generally I don't mind and booked mine a while ago but would probably take this type of option if it was available.

 

I really like this idea. I would definitely love to see this rolled out onto the ships with DD.

[hallasm]

This is an excellent topic for a thread.

My Time Dining worked, while Dynamic Dining doesn't.

Might be, that there is a lot of 'no show' - At my cruise there were a lot of empty tables in the restaurants even when there was no available seating- I believe the problem is, that a lot of guests are making reservations in advance, before they really know the program of the day.

At my Quantum Maiden TA cruise I did not make any reservations in advance - made the reservation using Royal iQ or at the entrance to one of the restaurants during the day - and for my Quantum cruise in January, I will not make any reservations in advance either!! Again only make reservations at the day - there is sufficient space in the restaurants.

To me is should be similar to NCL free style - except for the reservation hype.

[heatherb1958]

Two lines, guests with reservations, guests without, simple.

We were lucky on the TA in that we had reservations for every evening and did not have to wait too long to be seated but when we were leaving the lines were long and only one at each restaurant.

There were enough staff at each restaurant reception to handle 2 lines.

 

IF we go on Q class again we will wing it.

[Treacher1]

On another thread - someone posted a pic that showed a sign - one for guests with reservations and one for those without - so this should make things better - 2 different lines.

[steveru621]

On another thread - someone posted a pic that showed a sign - one for guests with reservations and one for those without - so this should make things better - 2 different lines.

 

It makes a lot of sense, but on our 12/12 cruise there were no signs at the 4 complimentary restaurants.

[edjny]

Two lines, guests with reservations, guests without, simple.

We were lucky on the TA in that we had reservations for every evening and did not have to wait too long to be seated but when we were leaving the lines were long and only one at each restaurant.

There were enough staff at each restaurant reception to handle 2 lines.

 

IF we go on Q class again we will wing it.

 

To go along with this... If the person with the reservation is more than 10 minutes late, cancel the reservation and open the slot up to the people standing by without a reservation.

[ezcruizer]

Absolutely NOTHING. Love love love the concept.

[Boston lab girl]

I was on 12/12 and I agree with some of the suggestions 2 lines would be great.

Only holding the reservation for 15 minutes.

Allowing guests to ask for alone or to be seated with others.

Also the plans which could be an easier way to start and then people could edit.

 

Other than that it wasn't that bad. RC is tweaking as they go and each cruise going forward will see improvements. Maybe even some of these suggestions.

 

The hardest part was remembering when the reservation was for.

[beachnative]

Abandon the model of having only one waiter assigned to a group of tables. There is a need for assistant waiters...either assigned to each waiter (as in Traditional Dining) or assigned to a two or three waiter group. The DD complementary restaurants are now about 50 waiters short for number of guess dining.

 

Two lines for each complementary restaurant...one for reservations and one for people without resrvations

 

Drop reservation if more than 10 minutes late and send the late party to the standby line.

 

Improve the reservation system so that cancelled reservations are dropped from the TV calendar. (There was also a gltich that created two reservations for some of our nights for the SAME restaurant).

Edited December 23, 2014 by beachnative

[Hoopster95]

Wow, great thread! :D

 

1. Reduce the time to 1.5 hours from 2 hours that a table is scheduled to be tied up. Right now a table reserved for 7p is tied up from 5:30p-9p. Maybe keep it at 2 hours for tables larger than a 4 top.

Excellent thought

 

2. Bar service still brings your drinks, why can't you order directly from them (the experts)? The waiter knows nothing about drinks! RCI lost money. Also no more after dinner shots!

Interesting... they also don't know what to do with a half bottle of remaining wine if you wish to save it for the next night's dinner, especially if in a different venue.

 

3. There does not seem to be any way to pre-reserve to put people together for ONE night that would LIKE to sit with strangers. We asked each night and only one night they put us with others. One night they put us at a table for 12 with no one else scheduled! Why not add a large table option to the reservation system?

I don't know what happened to you here, but I was able to cancel and re-book and link to Merion_Mom twice with no problems. As you know in my review as solo, I was able to sit with many others on the other nights in group tables. Bad luck that one night you asked for a group table?? So for me, I didn't see this at all

 

4. If you find a waiter that you like, be able to add that same table number to your reservation for the next time you are in that dining room.

I can see this being a disaster if many cruisers ask for the same waiter, can't be done imho

 

5. Too many spots are held back for walk-ups. If you could actually get a reservation there would be less walk-ups.

Possibly. But I could argue the exact opposite... no reservations allowed pre-cruise, maybe day of cruise only. No one has to worry one bit 6 months before their cruise, just walk up to any restaurant you want on any night. This now becomes exactly like NCL free-style though

 

6. Finish the Android app!

Yep, I feel IT is Royal's #1 issue company wide... website, Royal IQ, cruise planner, etc. Not only that, Royal IQ did not have the compass on it. Should be really easy to load it on a nightly basis to the server. Then you can point and click on events you want to attend for your calendar.

 

7. Charge a ten dollar fee if you don't cancel your reservation by a certain time. I wanted that time, was told it was not available, and you didn't show up!! I've read here that people made reservations and just showed up any time they wanted! I wanted that time, was told it was not available, and you didn't show up!!

Absolutely and unequivocally the best idea you have here imho :D... but what a backlash RCL would have on their hands with complaints of adjusting cruiser's bills. I think it should be made incredibly clear and very strict that your table will be given up 10 minutes after your scheduled time. And enforce it. You just know many will bitch and complain about this too, but they will learn and would alleviate many issues ongoing.

 

8 I have no opinion on the assistant waiters. Traditional mainland restaurants manage to pull it off every night.

As mentioned by a couple of others answering to my posts, I must've been lucky. I had no issues with the wait staff and the asst help they had when bringing out meals to large tables

[Hoopster95]

Abandon the model of having only one waiter assigned to a group of tables. There is a need for assistant waiters...either assigned to each waiter (as in Traditional Dining) or assigned to a two or three waiter group. The DD complementary restaurants are now about 50 waiters short for number of guess dining.

 

Two lines for each complementary restaurant...one for reservations and one for people without resrvations

 

Drop reservation if more than 10 minutes late and send the late party to the standby line.

 

Improve the reservation system so that cancelled reservations are dropped from the TV calendar. (There was also a gltich that created two reservations for some of our nights for the SAME restaurant).

 

 

Just got to this post, excellent points.... 3rd point better than what I said. And looky here, two "cheerleaders" you and me actually agreeing on some issues and coming up with good ideas alongside one of our negatively affected CC brothers. Who woulda thunk it? LOL!!! :p:D

[bob brown]

I booked our cruise the day RCI made it available, and was assigned early traditional dining. When they revealed the new DD, we called RCI, and asked to be reserved in the Grande for the entire cruise when it opened at 5:30 PM.

The first night, we were seated at table number 135, a table for two near the entrance.

We received excellent service from our waitress, and asked to have that table for the rest of the cruise, at the same time, and we did. Between the regular offerings on the menu, plus the supplemental 'simple fare' menu, we found enough variety for our 8 day cruise. Plus we did also receive a few 'off-menu' items that we requested a day in advance.

 

So you can have virtual "traditional dining" if you choose.;)

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Plus we did also receive a few 'off-menu' items that we requested a day in advance.

 

So you can have virtual "traditional dining" if you choose.;)

 

I'm glad you had a great time in Grande. Can you share what "off-menu" items you were able to request a day in advance?

[Mattsudds]

Some of the things Inwould suggest make DD more workable. I agree with the original suggestion. However I believe to truly make it work there are bigger structural issues which will need addressing regarding capacity and adjacent bar waiting areas.

1) significantly improve the technology. Make it easier to book and easier to see if there is space.

2) Redesign the whole area and out a bar near each restaurant where people can wait for their table or friends and a have a. Drink

3) Imorive staff training. Make sure the simple tastes menu is always given.

4) Increase capacity. A traditional main dining room seats half the passengers and the Dynamic Rooms only seat 1/3rd. This isn't enouh for RCI at present.

[Turtles06]

From the excellent suggestions above to release a reserved table if the guests haven't shown up within ten minutes of their reservation time, what is actually happening now? There's really no excuse for being late on a ship. It's not like you were held up by an accident on the highway.

[fish6]

Steve we were able to do this during our 19 days on board with no problem. This included Silk, American Icon and Coastal Kitchen.

 

Is it true that people in a Family JS can still have dinner in Coastal Kitchen? I had made reservations months ago and they are still in my cruise planner. I would hate to show up there only to be turned away :(

[Keasel]

Increase capacity. A traditional main dining room seats half the passengers and the Dynamic Rooms only seat 1/3rd. This isn't enouh for RCI at present.

 

Exactly. This is the problem on Quantum.

 

The roles of the waiters and assistant waiters and better reservation software are details that can be worked out.

 

But without more capacity, any dining system is going to have problems.

 

Remove all the cabins on deck 6 between the aft staircase and 270 and create a new restaurant. It can be called MDR classic.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Exactly. This is the problem on Quantum.

 

The roles of the waiters and assistant waiters and better reservation software are details that can be worked out.

 

But without more capacity, any dining system is going to have problems.

 

Remove all the cabins on deck 6 between the aft staircase and 270 and create a new restaurant. It can be called MDR classic.

 

Royal Caribbean removing cabins in favor of more public spaces?! HA! :D;)

Edited December 28, 2014 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[bob brown]

I'm glad you had a great time in Grande. Can you share what "off-menu" items you were able to request a day in advance?

 

Nothing really special....requested chocolate chip cookies for desert a few times, plus a simple iceberg lettuce and tomato salad other times....things like that...

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Nothing really special....requested chocolate chip cookies for desert a few times, plus a simple iceberg lettuce and tomato salad other times....things like that...

 

Thanks....:)

[allready]

Just got off yesterday, I can verify there are two lines. That really doesn't help because they couldn't sit those with reservations so were turning away people without reservations. The no reservation line was empty, and the reservation line at different restaurants at many moments extended back to the elevators -- maybe 100-150 people on line at a time.

 

What I think would help:

1. Target 90 minutes for dinner (as OP stated), which means the waiter needs to be at the table reasonably fast, take orders, deliver food on time (which would solve the cold food issue too).

2. Bring back the assistant waiter so #1 can be achieved

3. Bring back bar service so #1 can be achieved

4. Fix the reservation system so that there is less confusion at hostess station

 

if they can reduce their table turn around they will not have the back up they experienced last week, and not so many angry and upset people.

 

The focus will turn to the quality of the food and boring menus vs the lack of service.