Please stop making reservations for the MDR!

[Victress2007]

Hey I didn’t even realise you could book at the mdr on Ncl. We never have and we wait, but OP thanks because I and probably many more will now book.

 

 

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:D

(y)

[Homosassa]

When you reserve a specific time with a specific waiter, the same table is ready for you each night.

 

On all the ships but one, we walked straight in to our table. On the one ship we had to wait on the line, but once checked in, we walked straight to our table.

 

On the ships that rotated the waiters around the MDR, our waiter would tell us the night before the change where the new section was and our table number so that we could still proceed directly to our table.

[jackcat16]

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

Lol. I always make reservations. My right My free style. :D

[DMH15]

If NCL allows reservations then it is perfectly ok to. Or not to.

 

People are free to decide.

 

 

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[jackcat16]

Jeez folks, I was trying for a little light hearted discussion. Make your reservations - enjoy your dinner. I will eat at my odd ball times and enjoy a drink while I wait.

 

Happy Friday!

V

Be honest, you just wanted to see what it felt like to be flamed. ;):D:D:D Happy Friday to you too.

[AusQueen]

The only MDR you cannot reserve at is the Chin Chin. Not crazy about that place but still it is an option especially for long haul cruises.

[Motegi]

We made rervations at the MDR on our last cruise because we wanted a window seat and had a show to catch. We asked the night before and they recommended that we make a reservation in this case.

 

Unfortunately when we got to the MDR the maitre’d said that there was only one line for all guests. We ended up at least 20 people back and didn’t get our window seat...

[yorkshirephil]

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

 

Please keep us informed of which cruises you are going on:evilsmile:

[LrgPizza]

Actually no 'checking in' does not mean you have been assigned a table. It means you are on the list waiting for a table. A table is not assigned to you until you are about to be seated. If you go to Outback at 7:00 and there is a 20 minute queue, then I show up with a reservation for 7:00, I do not have to wait in the 20 minute queue. That is the whole point of a reservation.

 

 

You misunderstand what I am saying. Say your name has been called at a restaurant. Then you walk from the waiting area to the podium. Yes, your table is ready, or they wouldn’t have called your name. That’s what I mean. Once you are past the 2nd podium on the ships, you have a table. You just need to be seated. At that point, people with reservations are not shoved in front of you.

[david_sobe]

This thread is wrong on so many levels. The OP sailed on a smaller traditional ship and said each night with a party of 7 or 8 they had no problem getting a table. Try that on Getaway, Escape, or Breakaway during peak dinner times. NOT GONNA HAPPEN They have waiting lists and ask right away. Do you have a reservation? Sometimes they even give out a glass of sparkling wine while you wait

Who really cares if someone has a reservation. I don't understand how that messes anyone up. Hello!!! You even need reservations for most entertainment on NCL these days. You are not on POA where you can just walk into the theater. The theater shows require reservations on the newer ships.

Its just reality and unfortunately is the norm now.

[GinnyHoppa811]

So what I’ve learned here is that our group of 10 should definitely make reservations on the Bliss this summer.

 

 

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[Gershep]

So what I’ve learned here is that our group of 10 should definitely make reservations on the Bliss this summer.

 

 

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Yes

[BirdTravels]

So what I’ve learned here is that our group of 10 should definitely make reservations on the Bliss this summer.

The Manhattan Room will have a large section of tables set up for groups (6, 8, 10, 12 tops). It will be harder to get big tables in the Taste and Savor.

 

That being said, while you think it is great all eating together in the MDR nightly, others in your group will probably want to do activities and try other restaurants.

[GinnyHoppa811]

Tbh, I’d kill not to eat with all 10 but I get a 1/6 vote on the matter and less than than truly because I’m not willing to cause a scene. Good to know about the difference in restaurants. I hadn’t considered test at all. Food allergies are going to be a thing so I really have no idea at this point what the best idea will be beyond upping my alcohol tolerance and drinking heavily (currently this means 2 shots so..)

 

 

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[csopi]

Feels good to walk past all the people that don’t have reservations, kind of like having tickets to a hockey game and walking past all the ones haggling with scalpers outside to get one.

[MyTMo777]

MDR reservations are apparently new. No one mentioned them on our first two cruises (2013 & 2015). On our one in Jan. this year I found out it was a thing from people talking about it on this forum, but we didn’t make any because getting seated in the MDRs on our past cruises had never been a problem. Here’s why I don’t like reservations in the complimentary dining rooms (and I did tell NCL this): we had to wait for a table for four at the Venetian on the Dawn because all of the empty ones were reserved. We arrived 45 minutes before the opening of Teppanyaki’s to be told that they were completely booked with reservations for that night. This seems very unfair to me on a cruise line that prides itself on “freestyle” dining. I don’t expect to walk up to one of the specialty restaurants and walk in without a reservation; that’s what the MDRs are supposed to be for! How am I supposed to know 6 months before I cruise whether I’ll feel like eating at 6 pm on a port day, or whether I’ll want a nap when I get back on board and would rather eat at 8? I’d like to make that up “freestyle” as I go, and not be treated like a second-class cruiser because I didn’t make a reservation. If you want a reserved seating time, book a specialty restaurant or sail on a line with assigned dining time, and leave NCL’s MDRs to those of us who want to be flexible with our options. That’s why we chose NCL, and now they’re screwing it up.

 

 

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[TrpngBilly]

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

 

I think your beef should be with the cruise line and not your fellow cruisers. And, if you really want your message to have an impact it might be more effective for you to voice your opinion about this outside the MDR's and speak directly to those who are committing such a flagrant violation of your vacation expectations.

[Lucky TGO]

Pays to be prepared!

 

I agree.

Tony

[DarkJedi]

Tbh, I’d kill not to eat with all 10 but I get a 1/6 vote on the matter and less than than truly because I’m not willing to cause a scene. Good to know about the difference in restaurants. I hadn’t considered test at all. Food allergies are going to be a thing so I really have no idea at this point what the best idea will be beyond upping my alcohol tolerance and drinking heavily (currently this means 2 shots so..)

 

 

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When you board go see the Restaurant Manager, they handle all the food places on board. Explain your allergy situations and they will take care of you, in some cases you will need to select your meals the day before, DW has to do that, but they are fantastic about taking care of allergies.

[Homosassa]

MDR reservations are apparently new. No one mentioned them on our first two cruises (2013 & 2015). On our one in Jan. this year I found out it was a thing from people talking about it on this forum, but we didn’t make any because getting seated in the MDRs on our past cruises had never been a problem. Here’s why I don’t like reservations in the complimentary dining rooms (and I did tell NCL this): we had to wait for a table for four at the Venetian on the Dawn because all of the empty ones were reserved. We arrived 45 minutes before the opening of Teppanyaki’s to be told that they were completely booked with reservations for that night. This seems very unfair to me on a cruise line that prides itself on “freestyle” dining. I don’t expect to walk up to one of the specialty restaurants and walk in without a reservation; that’s what the MDRs are supposed to be for! How am I supposed to know 6 months before I cruise whether I’ll feel like eating at 6 pm on a port day, or whether I’ll want a nap when I get back on board and would rather eat at 8? I’d like to make that up “freestyle” as I go, and not be treated like a second-class cruiser because I didn’t make a reservation. If you want a reserved seating time, book a specialty restaurant or sail on a line with assigned dining time, and leave NCL’s MDRs to those of us who want to be flexible with our options. That’s why we chose NCL, and now they’re screwing it up.

 

 

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No, reservations are not new. The first time I made reservations for the MDR was 2007.

 

And once again like many others, you misunderstand the concept of freestyle dining. It means being able to chose how one wishes to dine. They accommodate those who wish a set time with the same waiter (traditional) or those who want to think that they are actually able to just walk into a restaurant whenever they wish (in actuality it means lines and wait time).

 

However, there is a drawback to opting for the set time with the same waiter. The time that one reserve for does follow the usual traditional two seating times. That means one can only either have "early" which is somewhere around 5:30 PM or "late" which is somewhere around 8:30 PM. The time will vary depending on the hours of the MDR for dinner.

 

And just like in traditional seatings, if you don't show up within 10-15 minutes of your seating time, you lose the table for that night (and maybe for the rest of the cruise unless you followed traditional dining etiquette and tell the MDR you will not be using the table ahead of time).

 

And yes, on the ships where we have had the set reservations, there has been a separate entrance for us to use (even on the one ship where they made us wait on line to check in for the first three nights). That is probably the reason why some have stated in their posts that they have never seen someone "jump" the line.

[Tansy Mews]

But many of the restaurants where I live only take reservations for large groups anymore because the process of holding tables for people that may or may not come and may or may not be on time, only slows down the seating for the people that are there.

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That's what I wondered - keeping a table free for the time someone reserved means fewer turnovers per table, doesn't it?

 

Frances

[DarkJedi]

That's what I wondered - keeping a table free for the time someone reserved means fewer turnovers per table, doesn't it?

 

Frances

 

Depends on the place. Are you talking mass turnover places like Applebee's?

 

 

Many places like that take reservations for large groups because then they know to sort of clear an area, then they assemble the tables after everyone has shown up, not before. So even with reservations you still wait.

 

However if I make reservations to Mr T's (local place) and show up on time, I expect to be seated on time. If I am late, I expect to wait.

 

 

If I made reservations and realized that they were taking walk ups ahead of me, I would let them know my opinion, and I would leave since they do not value me as a client or consider that we had an arrangement that they have chosen not to honor. Walk ups are no different with reservations than with any other appointment, you get fit in when there is a room, appointments come first.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Whether it's NCL's mega ships or "older" ships that we really prefer ... the delays we've seen at the MDR entrance is at the podium. Reason: the host/ess (must) insist on swiping your Guest Keycard(s) ... to make sure they get an accurate headcount (joke in the old days on the Dawn with the ship captain, the executive chef has to keep a tally on how many 1/2 lobster tails were consumed, AYCE or not ...)

 

That is the bottleneck, pay attention - next time you walk up to the MDR's podium. Then, they printout the numbered ticket, assign the "escort" to bring you to the table with the menu, etc. That is part of the reason for the slow moving lines and the delays at peak dining times, whether you have a reservation or just walking in. That's one or two podium, with a line of 50 to 100+ guests, the ones in the back clueless which line is for what - or, if there is an express or priority/elite line, etc.

 

We've done "traditional" dining on other lines, and with their early or late seating system - when the door is open, except for the first evening where everyone (except the seasoned vets familiar with MDR setup/layout & table plans) scrambled & struggled a little bit to walk around, look & find their assigned table and then sit down ... by the next evening, it's quick and easy. You know your wait team & they recognize you, no swiping of everyone's Guest Keycards, unless you are ordering from the bar, etc. (NCL used to have plenty of wine & beverage runners in the MDR ... nowadays, the waiter/ess & assistants do it ALL themselves).

 

On the BA 2 years ago, midway thru the cruise, with a MDR dinner reservation for a table of 6, and one of the hostess insisted on swiping every one of us, all 6 guests' cards - when all that was asked at other times - were just 1 keycard (or, keycards from 3 staterooms). It slowed the lines down further and the next day, the HD called back & apologized ... besides, they're no longer serving lobster tails or what not already.

 

Reservations or not, the bottleneck is NCL's check in process - especially for the big MDR, the small(er) ones usually aren't too bad, unless - like everyone - trying to time it before catching the evening show.

 

 

Sigh, another odd first world problem ...

 

 

I thought they swipe the keycard to determine who eats where, and therefore assign the correct amount of DSC to the waitstaff. Oh wait-------they don't do this in the buffet.

[csopi]

As has probably been said before, reservations are no different than appointments for a doctor, hairdresser, or even a mechanic for car repair.

You don’t have one, you wait.

You don’t want to take the time to make one or you want to use the argument that you don’t know when you will be hungry ( Most people eat at regular times, not all) then it is still no problem, that’s what the buffet is there for, bon appetite.

[navybankerteacher]

Please! You're messing it up for everyone. The reason we sail NCL is for freestyle. You probably won't keep the reservation anyway.

So unless you have a group of 8 or more - just don't! We sailed POA with a group of 7, never made reservations at the main dining room and never had a wait of more than a couple minutes. There are plenty of larger tables.

 

Thank you,

Vic

 

"Freestyle" is advertised as cruising the way you want it to be. If you can discipline yourself enough to make plans, and you want to be able to reserve a certain size table at a certain time, "Freestyle" should be able to accommodate you.

 

Actually, it should be able to assign you to the same table the same time every night of your cruise if it really to be the way you want it to be.

 

Should "Freestyle" only apply to people who do not like to plan ahead? Sounds like Olive Garden or Applebee's to me - where you always have to wait if you show up at a popular time.