Norbert

Help! <BR> <BR>We're scheduled to depart next week on the Galaxy. We requested late seating (and booked well ahead too!) but got main. Is there any recourse BEFORE we get on the ship and have to start begging the Maitre d'?

Gail

We are also going on the Galaxy next week (Sec.23). WE booked NINE MONTHS ago and requested late seating, but got Main. We have been wait-listed for late seating since we booked and still did not get it. Our travel agent has made LOTS of phone calls. At this point, just see the Maitre D when you get on board.

norbert

We hope that our agent can do something but it sounds like this is not possible from your experience! <BR> <BR>

nala

We are leaving on the Galaxy Dec 30th. Also requested late seating and got Main! Our flight is not scheduled to land in San Juan until 5:30pm Saturday so I am really concered about what our chances are going to be with the Maitre D by the time we finally are aboard.

LateSeat McLateness

I had a similiar thing happen to me and what I did when I got there was just start screaming like a girl and that seemed to work. Also I've never been on a cruise. What are they like?

Gotcha

I'm wondering about a nice crisp twenty dollar bill for the Maitre D'... what do you think? <BR> <BR>By the way, ignore the last post...he's the same as Cruise McCruisey on the "My Cruise" thread; just needs to take his meds...

Jill

They did this to us on our cruise too, first and last one we'll ever take. Seems like (from reading cruise reviews, etc. on other sites) no cruise line paus the slightest attention to requests for late/early seating. If you get what you want it's pure luck. I did a little ranting and raving and lo and behold we got late seating, but we had to stand in line to see the dining room manager to do so. I'd never take a cruise again, I like control over when I eat, with who and what time. Good luck.

Jill

They did this to us on our cruise too, first and last one we'll ever take. Seems like (from reading cruise reviews, etc. on other sites) no cruise line paus the slightest attention to requests for late/early seating. If you get what you want it's pure luck. I did a little ranting and raving and lo and behold we got late seating, but we had to stand in line to see the dining room manager to do so. I'd never take a cruise again, I like control over when I eat, with who and what time. Good luck.

Howie

I sort of like the idea of the crisp 20 dollar bill but on the other hand, my experiences with these situations suggests that, believe it or not (!), the Maitre d' might not take kindly to the attempted "bribe" (or early tip?). <BR> <BR>Suggest the cool calm and collected approach but as noted above, screaming may be required! <BR> <BR>

hamlet

From my own experience, this is how it works. When you book your cruise you put in your preference and the cruise line may or may not give you what you ask for. I don't know at that point they pay attention to requests or not. I think to some extent they do because they have always put a family with a kid(s) with another family with kids. If you don't get what you want there is really is nothing you can do about it until you are on board. At that point you go to the maitre d's "office hours" to tell him what you want. Chances are that there will be a line, but you won't be waiting for hours and this is what everybody else has to do also. Explain your situation nicely, and if necessary, and if it's possible make up a little story on why you have to have your desired seating. I do not recommend throwing a fit or screaming at everyone so you can be labeled a troublemaker for the rest of the cruite. Sure they will do everything they can to pacify you - or so it would seem. He can also change your seating time - but he can also match you up with the worst waiter in the dining room and a set of table mates that will ruin your cruise for you. You really DON'T want to be on the bad side of the people who handle and bring food to you. Anyway, the maitre will probably tell you to stick with what you were assigned for the first evening and then tell you to stop by the dining room later that night or the next day and he'll let you know what he worked out for you. I also offered the maitre $20 during my chat with him - openly, not trying to be slick and just said "Thank you." He refused the money. I think it's not really that $20 isn't enough for him, but that they can't go taking money up front and then later find out the change just isn't possible. Of course, if you want to tip him at the end of the cruise, I am sure he would gladly accept it.

Laura

Seems that the people that are never going to take another cruise again because of not getting one of two seating times should look into Norwegian Cruise Line (all ships), Princess Cruise Line (Grand Princess starting 1/01 and Golden Princess starting 5/01) and Carnival Cruise Line (Imagination, Paradise, Destiny and Triumph by the end of 2001). These ships have flexible dining so they have up to five different dining times in the evening.

Betty

I've sailed several times prior to our first cruise in May with RCCL. My husband had never cruised and it was hard to get him on this one. We too booked late seating and didn't get it. When we got on board late and were told to wait in this long line to speak with the Maitre 'D. Turns out there were two lines, two MD's for 2 dining rooms. The Purser sent us to the wrong one. After having our name added to the bottom of a very LONG list we were told to go to dinner (now) for the early seating and they would see what they could do for the next night. My husband was mad. He's complaining about the "cruise" experience and I'm complaining about never having this problem on other cruise lines. Not impressed with RCCL. Our first dinner was horrible. We were stuck in the back corner with all the family tables. We're not big fans of dining with kids so we started thinking about the Windjammer Cafe for the rest of the cruise. <BR> <BR>Later that night, we get notification that we've been moved to the late seating for the rest of the cruise. Thank God! We arrive on formal night and it looks like this little table for six was stuck in between tables. One couple is sitting there. She's Asian, he's white. (I should make note that my husband is Asian, I'm not). I make a comment quitely to my husband that we've been moved to the "mixed" table. We sit down and the lady there says the same thing. &lt;g&gt; <BR> <BR>We go through the polite pleasantries. Where are you from? Toronto. So are we! Where abouts? Richmond Hill. So are we!!! Where exactly? Turns out they live less than a mile from us. Small world. Got to give the MD credit for this match. They've now become our new best friends. <BR> <BR>Something that started out bad, turned out to be the best part of the cruise. <BR> <BR>You just never know! &lt;g&gt;

Kathy

Jill, If you try to get a certain reservation time at a restaurant and they are all full do you decide to never go to a restaurant again?? If the seats are all full in early seating they can't just add another dining room! Most cruise lines do try very hard to make you happy. As a travel agent that has worked very hard to get my clients what they want I do know that you can usually get your prefered seating if you are booked early and if your TA is truly helpful. Those of you that always look for the very cheapest deal and would never use an agent may have a bit harder time. As with getting the restaurant or hotel reservations that you want at home, you do need to plan well. Those who don't are always the biggest and loudest complainers!

Kathy

OOPS! Norbert and Gail, I hope you were able to get the seating you want. It seems that you have done everything in the correct manner and maybe that will be helpful in your request on board. Both of you say your travel agents tried hard for you with a lot of phone calls. I hope they made them to the right people. It does make a big difference who you talk to. Good luck and Happy Cruising!

Gail

Celebrity's web site says for the travel agent to send a fax on letter head to the courtesy coordinator for the ship we're sailing on requesting the change in seating. Our agent also did that in addition to the calls to Celebrity. We leave tomorrow. The problem is we don't get into San Juan until 5 PM, so we'll get to the ship late. Hope it's not too late to make the change.

maggie

What, may I ask, is wrong with early seating? We had early seating last year on the Grand Princess. This enabled us to take in all the shows, etc. Early seating, btw, is 6:00...

hamlet

I prefer late sitting over early because 1) I don't like to have to rush to get ready for dinner if I have been in port all day until 5pm, 2) sometimes I am not hungry at 6pm and am used to eating dinner later than that and, 3) I don't want to feel rushed while in the dining room because the dining room has to get everyone out and reset the tables for 2nd sitting.

Sandy

Don't worry too much if you don't get changed. On your cruise I think that you will be on board fairly early every day. We got stuck with early on a cruise we booked really late once and were worried but found that it wasn't bad except for one day when we had to hurry a bit. We actually enjoyed the Midnight Buffet on that cruise instead of still being stuffed from dinner. I think we may try early again now......depends on the port departure times.

claire

There are merits to both. I had late on other cruises I'd taken, but on our last one, we couldn't get late. We ended up really enjoying the early dinner--we even requested early on our next cruise. We had a window table for 8, and only two nights did one other couple join us, so we got really got a private window side table, which we'd never have gotten at late seating. <BR> <BR>You never know; sometimes there is pleasant serendipity in a situation you don't initially like. <BR> <BR>Agree you sometimes have to rush a bit to get there in time, but you also have the entire evening to play. We prefer to eat early and not go to bed on a full stomach, might not bother others. Don't dismiss the early until you've tried it, you may be surprised.

Kate

hi <BR>Speaking as a travel agent, I believe when you book your cruise, depending on how many others have already booked is how they do seating. If they get everyone calling and requesting late seating, at some point the dining room is going to be full, which they have to start to fill the room for early seaters. They should tell you up front if the late seating is already full, why they do not Im not sure. I had an experience on the Imagination this April where I booked late and got early, but it turned out to be better for me. The days we were at port, I ate elsewhere and the days at sea, I had time to get to the dining room and have an early dinner, then hit the shows. The best advice I can give is to book early as possible. The longer you wait, the less you will receive what you want. <BR>Happy Sailing!