Question about dinner resos and attending a show right after

[GettotheSun]

So another newbie question, but I wasn't sure about timing of dinner and being able to make a show time.  I've seen many posts about slow dinner service, but my question would be about being at a specialty dining restaurant and making the 'early' show.  I have booked Burn the Floor already for a 7:30pm show but have a dining reso for Moderno at 5:30pm; this is for all 4 of us (2 adults and 2 teen/tween).  And then similarly I have booked a 5:30 dinner at Le Bistro later in the week, but just for me and my partner followed by Millon Dollar Quartet for 7:30pm (again just the 2 of us).   

 

I assume if we are in the specialty dining and tell the waiter/waitress we are seeing one of the shows at 7:30, they'd make sure we were out in time?  We don't eat dessert at dinner (typically), so wouldn't be planning to do so for these dinners to save time.  N.B. not saying we don't eat dessert but just not right after dinner, lol.

 

Also, we are in the Haven and I heard we perhaps get special seats but do we have to be at the Haven proper and be escorted down to get those seats?  I'm not really that fussed about special seats, as I've already booked the shows I want to see (other than Cirque Dreams & Steam and perhaps the comedians/magicians).  I just didn't understand the protocol of Haven guest spots at the shows.  And would that mean being at the Haven proper earlier still to be at the show on time?  Maybe more conducive if you eat earlier and watch the later show perhaps?

[ppcox]

5 minutes ago, GettotheSun said:

So another newbie question, but I wasn't sure about timing of dinner and being able to make a show time.  I've seen many posts about slow dinner service, but my question would be about being at a specialty dining restaurant and making the 'early' show.  I have booked Burn the Floor already for a 7:30pm show but have a dining reso for Moderno at 5:30pm; this is for all 4 of us (2 adults and 2 teen/tween).  And then similarly I have booked a 5:30 dinner at Le Bistro later in the week, but just for me and my partner followed by Millon Dollar Quartet for 7:30pm (again just the 2 of us).   

 

I assume if we are in the specialty dining and tell the waiter/waitress we are seeing one of the shows at 7:30, they'd make sure we were out in time?  We don't eat dessert at dinner (typically), so wouldn't be planning to do so for these dinners to save time.  N.B. not saying we don't eat dessert but just not right after dinner, lol.

 

Also, we are in the Haven and I heard we perhaps get special seats but do we have to be at the Haven proper and be escorted down to get those seats?  I'm not really that fussed about special seats, as I've already booked the shows I want to see (other than Cirque Dreams & Steam and perhaps the comedians/magicians).  I just didn't understand the protocol of Haven guest spots at the shows.  And would that mean being at the Haven proper earlier still to be at the show on time?  Maybe more conducive if you eat earlier and watch the later show perhaps?

I think it will be fine based on you have 2 hours and 

a) you have early reservations -not peak time

b) you are in a Speciality restaurant where I have found the service to be very good.

c) you plan to tell the host and server of your show plans on arrival 

d) you are a Haven guest 

 

I personally would like to have a relaxing diner and not worry about the time but if you want to do dinner then show then it should work.

 

[GettotheSun]

2 minutes ago, ppcox said:

I think it will be fine based on you have 2 hours and 

a) you have early reservations -not peak time

b) you are in a Speciality restaurant where I have found the service to be very good.

c) you plan to tell the host and server of your show plans on arrival 

d) you are a Haven guest 

 

I personally would like to have a relaxing diner and not worry about the time but if you want to do dinner then show then it should work.

 

 

Thank you!  I picked the earliest reso time available and 2 hours seemed very reasonable to me.  

And by the way, I agree with you, I would rather not be worried about the time and "making the show".  I might see if I can change the time of the Million Dollar Quartet if there is a later show (I'm assuming so but would have to check).  

 

Not sure if anyone else can provide guidance on the Haven protocol for seats at the shows?  I'm more curious than anything, as we already have resos, but is the perq that if you are Haven and get escorted down you get better seats?  Sorry for dumb questions.

[MeHeartCruising]

You will have more than enough time to make your shows unless you choose to extend your meals.  With early 5:30 reservations, the restaurants will be moving quickly.  We had 5:30 reservations this past week and barely took an hour to finish our meals and depart the restaurants.  We never even mentioned any time constraints to the waiter.   I've never stayed in the Haven, but I usually see an area of the theatre sectioned off for Haven guests and often guarded by an employee.  You arrive when you wish and just head to that section.  I also have found that those seats are not where I would want to be sitting for most shows.  At showtime, they generally seem to stop guarding the section, allowing anyone to sit there as the show starts.  I would show up 30 minutes early and sit in better seats.  The Haven section seems to usually be on the upper level and off to one side.  I prefer middle-of-the theatre sections myself.

Edited January 12, 2020 by MeHeartCruising

[GettotheSun]

3 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

You will have more than enough time to make your shows unless you choose to extend your meals.  With early 5:30 reservations, the restaurants will be moving quickly.  We had 5:30 reservations this past week and barely took an hour to finish our meals and depart the restaurants.  We never even mentioned any time constraints to the waiter.   I've never stayed in the Haven, but I usually see an area of the theatre sectioned off for Haven guests and often guarded by an employee.  You arrive when you wish and just head to that section.  I also have found that those seats are not where I would want to be sitting for most shows.  At showtime, they generally seem to stop guarding the section, allowing anyone to sit there as the show starts.  I would show up 30 minutes early and sit in better seats.  The Haven section seems to usually be on the upper level and off to one side.  I prefer middle-of-the theatre sections myself.

 

Great thank you! 

 

I did figure this to be the case, but you read some posts about it taking 2.5 hours to eat dinner - granted those seemed to be limited to the MDR, but still - 2.5 hours to eat dinner?  I'd be leaving after the apps and going to the buffet, lol.

 

Also interesting advice on the Haven section. I also prefer middle of the theatre type of seating, really best seats in the house.  Although takes time to leave when the show is done, haha.

[lovetrauma]

You will definitely make the early show. As far as the Haven seats. They are sectioned off to the left side about half way up. When I was in the Haven I chose to skip the section and instead sit in the middle section. The only good thing is you know if you are running late you have that seating area until 15 minutes before the show. Then they open it up to everyone and standby guests. 

[herdingdogmom]

Ask your concierge when you meet him on embarkation day about the show seating and when to get there.  

 

The Jewel and Dawn class ships have the suite seating that is on the second level on the sides. As far as I know the Getaway seating is better for Haven guests.  Again, you concierge will be able to help you get what you want.  

 

Let the servers at the restaurants know when you need to leave.  We did this on the Escape and it went very smoothly.  I'll admit, Moderno is my least favorite specialty restaurant as the meat servers can be very slow -just load up on the salad bar and leave when you are ready to go.

 

 

[GettotheSun]

19 hours ago, lovetrauma said:

You will definitely make the early show. As far as the Haven seats. They are sectioned off to the left side about half way up. When I was in the Haven I chose to skip the section and instead sit in the middle section. The only good thing is you know if you are running late you have that seating area until 15 minutes before the show. Then they open it up to everyone and standby guests. 

 

Thanks!  I do like that if running late we can still get the Haven seats so long as not 15 min or more late.  I guess we just flash our Haven cards and we are allowed into that section?  (seems a bit obnoxious but I guess how else would they do it?)

Edited January 13, 2020 by GettotheSun

[GettotheSun]

17 hours ago, herdingdogmom said:

Ask your concierge when you meet him on embarkation day about the show seating and when to get there.  

 

The Jewel and Dawn class ships have the suite seating that is on the second level on the sides. As far as I know the Getaway seating is better for Haven guests.  Again, you concierge will be able to help you get what you want.  

 

Let the servers at the restaurants know when you need to leave.  We did this on the Escape and it went very smoothly.  I'll admit, Moderno is my least favorite specialty restaurant as the meat servers can be very slow -just load up on the salad bar and leave when you are ready to go.

 

 

 

Thanks to you as well.  I did wonder about Moderno and would it be a problem given the food is brought to you seemingly in a somewhat random fashion and time.  I booked this for the 2nd evening (sea day) and thought it might be nice to see a show if we were at sea all day.  Do you think I should rebook Moderno for a different night (with no show plans) and eat in the Haven restaurant that evening so as to avoid any stress?   I tend to be the king of overthinking.

[herdingdogmom]

Moderno should be fine.  Have the cards up while eating your salad and tell your server when you need to leave.  They can deliver dessert to your room for after the show.

 

Frankly, we don’t bother with Moderno anymore and I would love to try the Haven restaurant!