Specialty Dining PreReserved by Princess

[StayingAfloat]

My TA said that the 50th Anniversary special that includes a speciality dinner for two is prearranged by Princess and I cannot pick the restaurant or day or time. Has anyone who has cruised this season have that experience? How did it go?

[weedpindle]

You will be able to change time and place if you use the phone reservation number. I did it on another promotion. No problem.

[paul929207]

Just check with the reservation people on board

[skynight]

We had this promo. We just called the DINE line mentioned the assigned restaurant, day and time, and requested a change. No problem. Call on the first day.

[eandj]

Definitely book on the first day. We received a "gift" of a specialty dinner, but did not receive notice of it until the third day of our cruise. :rolleyes: By then, the specialities were well booked and we had tobook a time that wasn't even near our normal dinner time.

[Colo Cruiser]

It is usually open to change. Do this once onboard as soon as possible. ;)

[cruisequeen4ever]

My in-laws were able to change theirs once onboard.

[azgrandmax3]

Our experience has not been great using the reservation line. So right after boarding and a calm lunch in the dining room we head to the restaurant we prefer. Make our reservations or change what has been booked for us (the freebie). NO problem.

[ohiocyclist]

So have any of you learned about the assigned restaurant/date before boarding? Seems like this is hit-or-miss from what I am reading. Sailing 18 July on the Star and have not received anything from Princess.

[caribill]

So have any of you learned about the assigned restaurant/date before boarding? Seems like this is hit-or-miss from what I am reading. Sailing 18 July on the Star and have not received anything from Princess.

 

There will be no information pre-cruise.

 

Look for a card in your cabin when you embark.

[ohiocyclist]

Thank you - will make this one of our first stops once on board if what Princess has assigned to us is not going to work for us. Arriving on the train as the conclusion of the land portion of our cruisetour. Am assuming that pax who are just cruising will already be in Whittier and onboard by the time the train shows up. Is that correct?

[caribill]

Thank you - will make this one of our first stops once on board if what Princess has assigned to us is not going to work for us. Arriving on the train as the conclusion of the land portion of our cruisetour. Am assuming that pax who are just cruising will already be in Whittier and onboard by the time the train shows up. Is that correct?

 

Most will. Some will not.

[wangy26]

I would also like some help regarding the free specialty dining promotion. We will be sailing on Grand Princess Aug 15 from Vancouver Alaska North bound. Here are my questions:

 

1. As I understand there are two specialty restaurants on Grand; Sabatini and Crown Grill. Do we have choice for either one of them or just whatever they assign us for this promotion? Which one is the better one if we have choice?

 

2. We don't want to miss the nights when the main dining room serves better food (such as lobster, etc.). Is there anyway to find out the menu for the main dining room for each day so we can pick the right day to go to the specialty restaurant?

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

[lazyriver]

we have the same dining promotion. talked with princess and they said you get the "coupon, voucher,?" when you board.

[caribill]

I would also like some help regarding the free specialty dining promotion. We will be sailing on Grand Princess Aug 15 from Vancouver Alaska North bound. Here are my questions:

 

1. As I understand there are two specialty restaurants on Grand; Sabatini and Crown Grill. Do we have choice for either one of them or just whatever they assign us for this promotion? Which one is the better one if we have choice?

 

2. We don't want to miss the nights when the main dining room serves better food (such as lobster, etc.). Is there anyway to find out the menu for the main dining room for each day so we can pick the right day to go to the specialty restaurant?

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Which is better depends on your food preferences. Some like the Northern Italian menu of Sabatini's and some like the menu for the Steakhouse (name depends on the ship: Crown Grill, Bayou Cafe, Sterling Steakhouse). (menus for all can be found on the Princess web site).

 

If you do not like the assigned day and restaurant (which you will learn once you get to your cabin from a card there), you can go to the restaurant you want and ask to have the reservation changed. They will know (or can find out) what the menus are for the main dining room.

[Colo Cruiser]

we have the same dining promotion. talked with princess and they said you get the "coupon, voucher,?" when you board.

 

Yes, there should be a voucher in your stateroom upon arrival.

[ohiocyclist]

Had the voucher in our stateroom but it had no information on it as to location, date or time. Had to go to one of the restaurants to learn about our assignment. That seemed like a bit of a time waster not only for us but also for the host, who had a decent line of passengers asking him the same question. Doesn't matter which restaurant you go to - they will have lists for both restaurants at the host/hostess stand up front.

 

Fortunately we had a very agreeable assignment. Crown Grill at 7:30, just 15 minutes difference from our late seating preference, and well after the ship pulled out of port so plenty of time to get cleaned up from our day on land. Great evening.

 

Don't forget to bring your voucher, as they will collect it from you as your form of payment. :)

[Gabby1162]

What about the suite perk of free specialty dining coverage charge for the first night?

[emmak8]

Our experience is that we were able to change both the date and the restaurant. Just make sure you take care of this as soon as possible so you get what you want.

[Colo Cruiser]

Had the voucher in our stateroom but it had no information on it as to location, date or time. Had to go to one of the restaurants to learn about our assignment. That seemed like a bit of a time waster not only for us but also for the host, who had a decent line of passengers asking him the same question.

 

Fortunately we had a very agreeable assignment. Crown Grill at 7:30, just 15 minutes difference from our late seating preference, and well after the ship pulled out of port so plenty of time to get cleaned up from our day on land. Great evening.

 

 

Its a free dinner! :rolleyes:

[UandMe4Ever]

Hi, we are sailing on the Regal Princess 10-24. Is that "free dinner in a specialty" offered to all cruisers for their 50th or just the "chosen ones". We are platinum and just have a regular balcony.

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Edited August 7, 2015 by UandMe4Ever

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi, we are sailing on the Regal Princess 10-24. Is that "free dinner in a specialty" offered to all cruisers for thier 50th or just the "chosen ones". We are platinum and just have a regular balcony.

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

 

Only free for suites.

[SwissDave]

Hi, we are sailing on the Regal Princess 10-24. Is that "free dinner in a specialty" offered to all cruisers for their 50th or just the "chosen ones". We are platinum and just have a regular balcony.

 

 

 

Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

 

The correct answer is it depends if you booked with that promotion or not. If you did then you will have the voucher in your cabin when you board.

 

Suites get the cover charge paid for on the first night only in steak house or sabatinis.

[UandMe4Ever]

Thanks for your reply. We booked w/ the promotion of $200 OBC before this new one. Did OK in the long run. DH got his $100 Military, plus we had a $50 credit from the last Princess cruise...We don't drink enough to need the Beverage package, and for the most part we eat in the MDR. Sometimes we will go to 1 or 2 specialty restaurants. No need to pay the extra $$$ for a drink or dining package. Besides, this cruise went up $200 since we booked.

 

It's all good :-)

[Colo Cruiser]

Only free for suites.

 

Amended to add........

 

Forgot about the new promo. So if you have the free dinner through the new promo then yes either that or booked in a suite. :)