Need Help With Dining Reservations on NCL's PRIMA

[jljlinda]

My wife & I booked the March 19 sailing on the Prima a few days ago and have since tried to book our dinning. We cannot find any option to book dining after trying multiple times.  We have encountered the comment "Not available to book."  each time we have tried to book. Anyone know where we need to go after boarding to book our dining and entertainment?  Thanks in advance for any help that might be offered. Jerry & Linda

[mjkacmom]

I’m sure all pre-cruise dining spots are booked already, they hold some open to book after boarding, hopefully you are in an early boarding group if you want specialty restaurants reservations. We’ve never made reservations for the MDR’s on any NCL ship.

[MNcruisingcouple]

Get to the port and get checked in early (no matter what check in time you have), then you'll get and early boarding group.  As soon as you board, ask someone where to go for restaurant reservations and make them immediately.  If you do that, you should be able to get the reservations you want.  

[Melloinvt]

We sailed Prima Feb 26-Mar 5 - booked it Feb 3 - never could pre-book dinners or shows or anything - got on board kind of late (1:30 ish) - the interactive screens by elevator did not allow any bookings either (and yes, ignore your embarking time and just show up early, they will process you).  We gave up trying to book anything using the screens or hanging out at Guest Services (long lines always) - changed into our suits (we had them in our carry on) and enjoyed the afternoon in the sun (and yes claiming 2 deck chairs together is a huge challenge btw and people get quite snarky.)  Then for ha-has  we stopped at Le Bistro around 5:45 to see if and when we could get reservations - they could have seated us then so we told them we were going to change and come back - we were back within half an hour and they seated us right away - lots of open tables - they did start filling up shortly after we ordered.  Was a very lovely dinner - very attentive service!  (The pear desert and the chocolate thing were both amazingly yummy!)  Then after our Cozumel port we did the same thing at Los Lobos - no problem at all getting seated (this time we showed up all dressed and ready right at 5:30) - it did start filling up by the time we ordered (get the chocolate thing for desert - is sooo good! and bring paper napkins with you so if you get the Chiros don't pour on the sauce - keep it on the side - and wait until no one is looking and wrap up the remainder of what you don't eat and stick them in your bag - they will not let you leave the restaurant with any leftovers so you have to be sneaky - think they know anyway... - we were so glad we did this because the next day at port, we did not have time to get anything to eat and we snacked on those!).  Strongly suggest you arrive ready to be seated right at 5:30 and you will most likely get a really good table and the best service.  We also ate at Hudson's twice (got seated right away both times) first time was about 5:45 ish - got a wonderful table by the window - had amazing attentive service - 2nd time was about 6:30 ish - not so great table but the dining room is lovely and well appointed - service was not as good as it was much busier but was still wonderful.

 

Seems as though there is a "stress" that gets communicated about the difficulty of booking dining which causes some anxiety and worry - with us, we let it go, relaxed and winged it (wung it?) - worked out very well!  Enjoyed Indulge for a couple lunches but wish they stayed open past 2 - we like their small servings and would be perfect for a 2:30 - 3:00 bite but they shut down and reopen for dinner - we never did dinner there because we like the fancier Hudson's - did a meal at Local at 4ish - was good - at the bar - fish and chips - the second was around 7:30 ish in the restaurant place - like a cafeteria - not good - had to move to a different table because of vaping guy next to us (yeah vaping people all over the place btw) and food selection not good.  The take-away - don't stress, plan to do a specialty dining your first night, show up early, and enjoy great service!  (and ask to be seated away from "rules-don't-apply-to-me" vaping people - they will move you but probably won't ask the vaping people to stop vaping - they don't like to be told to not vape in public spaces - early in our cruise, we tried to ask someone politely if they could please not vape but it did not go well - people were already crabby about not being able to find deck chairs - and a scene did break out toward the end of the cruise... the overcrowding was definitely an issue on our cruise!).  Oh and btw - we splurged on the priority access and it really helps with getting a tender in getting off the ship at some ports - and we enjoyed breakfast in our room every morning!!  No stress no crowds - we ate leisurely on our little balcony in our jammies - and we ordered whatever breakfast foods we wanted - didn't always arrive exactly correctly but whatever did arrive was fantastic and very much enjoyed!!!  (and we were so lucky - had no vaping neighbors!).  

[mimi05052012]

We were on Prima last week. Dining reservations could be made/changed all week at the hibachi restaurant, Hasuki. We had already booked ours but made changes there during the week. Entertainment reservations were at the theater on embarkation day 

[Sugar Magnolia]

We were on the Prima last week and were able to book dining and entertainment (Donna Summer and Price is Right) on embarkation day at the Prima Theater, Deck 6 Forward. We were on board by noon and were able to book everything we wanted, including specialty dining at a reasonable hour.

 

Friends who were unable to book entertainment on embarkation day (because shows were "sold out") were able to get into the shows by joining the virtual queue on the NCL app approximately an hour to hour and half prior to the shows. There were always seats available as many people make reservations but fail to show up.

 

[OrangeCatRamblers]

3 hours ago, Melloinvt said:

We sailed Prima Feb 26-Mar 5 - booked it Feb 3 - never could pre-book dinners or shows or anything - got on board kind of late (1:30 ish) - the interactive screens by elevator did not allow any bookings either (and yes, ignore your embarking time and just show up early, they will process you).  We gave up trying to book anything using the screens or hanging out at Guest Services (long lines always) - changed into our suits (we had them in our carry on) and enjoyed the afternoon in the sun (and yes claiming 2 deck chairs together is a huge challenge btw and people get quite snarky.)  Then for ha-has  we stopped at Le Bistro around 5:45 to see if and when we could get reservations - they could have seated us then so we told them we were going to change and come back - we were back within half an hour and they seated us right away - lots of open tables - they did start filling up shortly after we ordered.  Was a very lovely dinner - very attentive service!  (The pear desert and the chocolate thing were both amazingly yummy!)  Then after our Cozumel port we did the same thing at Los Lobos - no problem at all getting seated (this time we showed up all dressed and ready right at 5:30) - it did start filling up by the time we ordered (get the chocolate thing for desert - is sooo good! and bring paper napkins with you so if you get the Chiros don't pour on the sauce - keep it on the side - and wait until no one is looking and wrap up the remainder of what you don't eat and stick them in your bag - they will not let you leave the restaurant with any leftovers so you have to be sneaky - think they know anyway... - we were so glad we did this because the next day at port, we did not have time to get anything to eat and we snacked on those!).  Strongly suggest you arrive ready to be seated right at 5:30 and you will most likely get a really good table and the best service.  We also ate at Hudson's twice (got seated right away both times) first time was about 5:45 ish - got a wonderful table by the window - had amazing attentive service - 2nd time was about 6:30 ish - not so great table but the dining room is lovely and well appointed - service was not as good as it was much busier but was still wonderful.

 

Seems as though there is a "stress" that gets communicated about the difficulty of booking dining which causes some anxiety and worry - with us, we let it go, relaxed and winged it (wung it?) - worked out very well!  Enjoyed Indulge for a couple lunches but wish they stayed open past 2 - we like their small servings and would be perfect for a 2:30 - 3:00 bite but they shut down and reopen for dinner - we never did dinner there because we like the fancier Hudson's - did a meal at Local at 4ish - was good - at the bar - fish and chips - the second was around 7:30 ish in the restaurant place - like a cafeteria - not good - had to move to a different table because of vaping guy next to us (yeah vaping people all over the place btw) and food selection not good.  The take-away - don't stress, plan to do a specialty dining your first night, show up early, and enjoy great service!  (and ask to be seated away from "rules-don't-apply-to-me" vaping people - they will move you but probably won't ask the vaping people to stop vaping - they don't like to be told to not vape in public spaces - early in our cruise, we tried to ask someone politely if they could please not vape but it did not go well - people were already crabby about not being able to find deck chairs - and a scene did break out toward the end of the cruise... the overcrowding was definitely an issue on our cruise!).  Oh and btw - we splurged on the priority access and it really helps with getting a tender in getting off the ship at some ports - and we enjoyed breakfast in our room every morning!!  No stress no crowds - we ate leisurely on our little balcony in our jammies - and we ordered whatever breakfast foods we wanted - didn't always arrive exactly correctly but whatever did arrive was fantastic and very much enjoyed!!!  (and we were so lucky - had no vaping neighbors!).  

 

 

Wait hold up - am I reading this correctly that people were vaping in the MDRs??? *****!!! That's a no go for me. And you're saying staff can't stop this? 

 

You might remember that I'm on the now-infamous Soca cruise in April which already promises to be very weed-forward. I literally cannot handle this if vaping will be happening indoors. 

[Melloinvt]

I believe that people who vape may be able to abstain while they have dinner at those nice dining rooms.  We encountered vaping in Local, Indulge, Syd Norman's, some hallways, and various places outdoors - we did not encounter it in Hudson's, Le Bistro, or Los Lobos (we were outside in Los Lobos) or the Improv - but we were way up front there.  In the elevators I saw a couple people holding their vaping things but they didn't vape while we were in the elevator with them. We happen to be a bit attuned to that behavior probably more than the average person.

[OrangeCatRamblers]

18 minutes ago, Melloinvt said:

I believe that people who vape may be able to abstain while they have dinner at those nice dining rooms.  We encountered vaping in Local, Indulge, Syd Norman's, some hallways, and various places outdoors - we did not encounter it in Hudson's, Le Bistro, or Los Lobos (we were outside in Los Lobos) or the Improv - but we were way up front there.  In the elevators I saw a couple people holding their vaping things but they didn't vape while we were in the elevator with them. We happen to be a bit attuned to that behavior probably more than the average person.

 

 

You have blown my mind. People vaping indoors. Omg. And I'm on the weed music festival cruise. I know people have different opinions but it bothers me very much. And the staff does nothing!! 😯😯😯

 

Seriously what can be done in these situations. We've all accepted that cigarette smoking never happens indoors anymore, why is vaping ok?

 

In Indulge!!! I am just gobsmacked. 

 

[CruiseManMikeFromPA]

12 hours ago, Melloinvt said:

I believe that people who vape may be able to abstain while they have dinner at those nice dining rooms.  We encountered vaping in Local, Indulge, Syd Norman's, some hallways, and various places outdoors ...

Wow, I agree the indoor vaping is a surprise to me too. I have seen people sneaking outside in non-smoking areas but I am not sure if I have ever seen active vaping inside in many cruises. We did book the Donna show online, must have been good timing. Too bad NCL did not fill another show in with Noise boys being done. 

[dexddd]

Hasuki, deck 7 aft was the place to make reservations last September.  Had all menus there.

[sid_9169]

I believe they had several tables set up in the theater on embarkation day for making / changing dining reservations, as well as entertainment... You should be able to get whatever days / times you want...

[The Traveling Man]

9 hours ago, CruiseManMikeFromPA said:

Wow, I agree the indoor vaping is a surprise to me too. I have seen people sneaking outside in non-smoking areas but I am not sure if I have ever seen active vaping inside in many cruises.

NCL's terms and conditions, as listed on their website, specifically prohibit vaping in most areas of the ship.  If someone started vaping in a restaurant near me, I would ask the staff to remind the offender of the published rules.

 

Smoking, including cigars, pipe, electronic cigarettes and vapor smoking devices, is not permitted in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, children's pool areas, Vibe Beach Club, Posh Beach Club or The Waterfront.

[OrangeCatRamblers]

13 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

NCL's terms and conditions, as listed on their website, specifically prohibit vaping in most areas of the ship.  If someone started vaping in a restaurant near me, I would ask the staff to remind the offender of the published rules.

 

Smoking, including cigars, pipe, electronic cigarettes and vapor smoking devices, is not permitted in or near venues serving food, the jogging track, outdoor sporting venues, children's pool areas, Vibe Beach Club, Posh Beach Club or The Waterfront.

 

 

But many people have posted that staff are turning a blind eye. What can be done then? 

[The Traveling Man]

3 minutes ago, OrangeCatRamblers said:

 

 

But many people have posted that staff are turning a blind eye. What can be done then? 

Get the name of the staff member, particularly if they are a manager or an officer, go to the Guest Service Desk, and report the incident.  If they choose to do nothing about it and you believe that your cruise experience is being diminished by someone smoking or vaping near you, then your alternative would be to ask for a reduction in your daily service charge.  If the staff is failing to provide an expected service, such as enforcing the rules regarding smoking, then you may choose to reward (or rather NOT reward) their service appropriately.