Advance Reservations at Specialty Resturants

[Derek King]

I haven't posted much on this site, but had just booked my 2nd NCL cruise. November on the GEM.

 

I booked thru CAS and based on my last cruise play got a comp Oceanview besides being happy about that, the person i spoke to(Ron)

 

Told me that in the next few weeks you will be able to book reservations for speciality rests thru NCL.com.

 

He told me to keep checking the next 2-4 weeks.

 

I hadn't read this anywhere on the boards so i figured this might interest some people.

[lambs2]

Thanks for the update. There has been an earlier thread about the advance reservations for Specialty Dining and it's great to have that confirmed with another report. Hope they offer a plan that saves a few $$'s for early booking!:)

[gbcruise]

Im looking forward to the rollout of this program too! I am a confessed planner & plan most details in advance so I have hardly any decisions to make once of vacation. While some people have to know what they are hungry for right at the time they are ready to eat I am one that can eat whatever whenever so planning which specialities in advance is no problem & to save money all the much better ;).

If by chance Derek King you are on the Nov TA from Barcelona come on over to our active rollcall!

[kamfan]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that I am not happy about this. I am very much an in the moment kind of guy and do not want to have preplan my meals. I even dislike having to decide the day before. Food is something that I like to have to meet my mood for the moment, not something that should have to be planned days, weeks or even months in advance.

 

For those of you that feel the need to plan in this kind of detail, you really need to get help.:p

[Heads&Tails]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that I am not happy about this. I am very much an in the moment kind of guy and do not want to have preplan my meals. I even dislike having to decide the day before. Food is something that I like to have to meet my mood for the moment, not something that should have to be planned days, weeks or even months in advance.

 

For those of you that feel the need to plan in this kind of detail, you really need to get help.:p

 

I'm with you on this one! The 48 hours advance ressies for balcony suites works just fine for us.

[uppitycats]

To me, having to make advanced reservations for specialty restaurants takes the "free" out of "freestyle". When we sailed on the Jewel last fall, it was great to be able to decide, "hey, let's go French tonight", and walk up to the French restaurant, wait 5 minutes, and be seated. I don't like to have to do that much planning. I'm on VACATION, after all!!

[Derek King]

Thanks for the update. There has been an earlier thread about the advance reservations for Specialty Dining and it's great to have that confirmed with another report. Hope they offer a plan that saves a few $$'s for early booking!:)

 

Maybe i am pessimistic, but if anything i could see them charging some fee for prebooking...not discounting.

[LADYKADY]

Maybe i am pessimistic, but if anything i could see them charging some fee for prebooking...not discounting.

 

 

Very smart indeed. I agree.

[njhorseman]

Maybe i am pessimistic, but if anything i could see them charging some fee for prebooking...not discounting.

 

Very smart indeed. I agree.

 

 

Read the first post, qouting an NCL executive, on the thread where this topic was discussed at length. It clearly says you would save money by booking one of the packages.

[snorklinbarb]

njhorseman is referring to the new specialty restaurant packages that are supposedly going to be rolled out. As it states, the lowest pkg would be 3 specialties and yes, all the pkgs would save money over the individual prices added up. The pkgs would be bookable in advance online.

 

That's a little different from spec. restaurants being able to be booked in advance. I don't think NCL has announced in any way that you could book say Le Bistro in advance as a one shot deal.

 

Within the scope of Freestyle, there are those who do lots of advance planning and want all their ducks in a row. Others prefer to be more spontaneous. I guess NCL will see how if they can satisfy both.

[CC Help Michell]

To me, having to make advanced reservations for specialty restaurants takes the "free" out of "freestyle". When we sailed on the Jewel last fall, it was great to be able to decide, "hey, let's go French tonight", and walk up to the French restaurant, wait 5 minutes, and be seated. I don't like to have to do that much planning. I'm on VACATION, after all!!

 

Did I miss something? Everything I've read about this new system says you'll have the ability to make reservations ahead of time, not that you will "have" to. I think this gives more choices, not fewer, because those who hate the whole "I hate getting up early to make reservations on my vacation" thing can avoid it entirely -- remember how much flak NCL took over that over the last couple of years? I guess it's true -- they can't please everyone.

[Derek King]

Read the first post, qouting an NCL executive, on the thread where this topic was discussed at length. It clearly says you would save money by booking one of the packages.

 

Just found that other thread, guess i should have posted this there instead of a new thread.

 

He didn't go into detail with me about the program, just that it should be on the website in a couple of weeks.

 

But if it is some type of package deal that was discussed, sounds good.

Guess they are having problems filling those resturants in this economy.

[Teesa1021]

I haven't posted much on this site, but had just booked my 2nd NCL cruise. November on the GEM.

 

I booked thru CAS and based on my last cruise play got a comp Oceanview besides being happy about that, the person i spoke to(Ron)

 

Told me that in the next few weeks you will be able to book reservations for speciality rests thru NCL.com.

 

He told me to keep checking the next 2-4 weeks.

 

I hadn't read this anywhere on the boards so i figured this might interest some people.

 

 

I have a CAS card I used on the Gem last year. How do you qualify for a discounted or comped room?

[garycarla]

I have a CAS card I used on the Gem last year. How do you qualify for a discounted or comped room?

Though the question is a bit off topic, here is the answer - you need to have played pretty heavy to qualify - did you get at least $25 cash back at the end of the cruise? If so, call Casinos at Sea. There are many message threads here about CAS if you want more info.

[garycarla]

re: Advance Reservations.

 

We love NCL and freestyle. Not having to PLAN a dinner time. It is great.

 

But, if they start this, people will book tables in advance. Then they get on the ship and have to make sure they schedule the day just right to make it to dinner. They they complain about being on a schedule. Okay, maybe not everyone will do that.

 

BUT - for those of us that like freestyle, the options have just been reduced because all these people are making advance reservations.

[Derek King]

Though the question is a bit off topic, here is the answer - you need to have played pretty heavy to qualify - did you get at least $25 cash back at the end of the cruise? If so, call Casinos at Sea. There are many message threads here about CAS if you want more info.

 

That's what i did after reading this forum. Just called the number, it took a little while for them to get my play from last cruise. Told me i could get a comp oceanview room or pay discounted amount for balcony and up for 7 day gem cruise nov 1st.

 

I play tables and slots, had about $100-120 or so in cash back after 7 day cruise. That was taking advantage of all the double/triple hours. Also you get free drink card to use while playing. looking forward to that.:D

[CanadianTwosome]

I posted on the other thread and I'll say the same thing here. There is nothing negative about this program. The only people it's going to appeal to are those who like to plan things in advance, and those people head straight for the reservations desk once they're on board anyway, so it's no different if they 'prepay' their bookings or not. From the blog quoted, nobody is able to make actual reservations ahead of time anyway - just prepay a block of reservations. You still have to make the actual reservations once on board.

 

I'm a planner, at least to the extent that I already know that on the Epic in 2010 we will be dining at Cagney's, Teppanyaki, the Circus restaurant, and whichever Asian restaurant serves dim sum. Do I know which days/evenings we'll be doing so? Of course not, but I feel very confident that given the opportunity to prepay three or five specialties and get a discount will appeal to me, because I know we're going to be doing it anyway. For everyone else, IGNORE the plan. Do you care about the Kid's Crew backpack? How about the 'Happy Birthday' decorations? What about the existing Le Bistro package? This plan will be no different. It will either appeal to your or not, and you can either take advantage of it or not. Otherwise, you can just pretend it doesn't exist. :)

[terrymtex01]

I posted on the other thread and I'll say the same thing here. There is nothing negative about this program. The only people it's going to appeal to are those who like to plan things in advance, and those people head straight for the reservations desk once they're on board anyway, so it's no different if they 'prepay' their bookings or not. From the blog quoted, nobody is able to make actual reservations ahead of time anyway - just prepay a block of reservations. You still have to make the actual reservations once on board.

 

I'm a planner, at least to the extent that I already know that on the Epic in 2010 we will be dining at Cagney's, Teppanyaki, the Circus restaurant, and whichever Asian restaurant serves dim sum. Do I know which days/evenings we'll be doing so? Of course not, but I feel very confident that given the opportunity to prepay three or five specialties and get a discount will appeal to me, because I know we're going to be doing it anyway. For everyone else, IGNORE the plan. Do you care about the Kid's Crew backpack? How about the 'Happy Birthday' decorations? What about the existing Le Bistro package? This plan will be no different. It will either appeal to your or not, and you can either take advantage of it or not. Otherwise, you can just pretend it doesn't exist. :)

 

I could not agree more. I think what the folks who are dreading this new choice from NCL are thinking is that it will hender then being about to get a last minute reservation, etc. I honestly do not think this will increase folks eating in the specialty restaurants to the point like it was a few years ago where you couldn't get a reservation unless you booked it first thing when they were available to book. I may be way off base about that, it may fill them to the brim, but the bottom line is if that is the case, NCL is a business and they would not likely get rid of something so successful. However I truely do not believe anyone has anything to fear. We typically eat 75 to 80% of our evening meals in specialty restaurants, but this new fixed dinning menu will take us away from that to some extent. I bet we start eating in specialty restaurants 50% or less.

[gbcruise]

I certainly respect that many people cruise NCL because of freestyle, that appeals to me as well. I have to make way to many decisions in my daily life as is, to vacation means that I can turn off any decision making & live in every moment away from everything, including where I'm eating. I like structure to a point, if I didnt like it I certainly couldnt work in the job positions that I am in. This program is a add on, if people want to take advantage then it's available, if not, especially with the low turnout lately in the speciality restaurants their most likely will still be room to add your reservations once on board. It's also a marketing attraction, slightly lower the price & book 3 restaurants when some would only orginally book one.

[newmexicoNita]

I haven't posted much on this site, but had just booked my 2nd NCL cruise. November on the GEM.

 

I booked thru CAS and based on my last cruise play got a comp Oceanview besides being happy about that, the person i spoke to(Ron)

 

Told me that in the next few weeks you will be able to book reservations for speciality rests thru NCL.com.

 

He told me to keep checking the next 2-4 weeks.

 

I hadn't read this anywhere on the boards so i figured this might interest some people.

 

I haven't heard this, but if it is true, that would be great!!