Dinner Seating Help Needed
 

Booked HAL cruise and then found we are wait listed for 8 pm dinner seating. How do we switch to earlier dinner to accommodate traveling with 4 young children who are usually in bed at 8 pm? Is there a particular plea that works? Or do we just plan to eat in the buffet every night? Help!

Once kind of a similar thing happened to me. I faxed the ship, explained my problem and first thing I did when I boarded was to talk to the person in charge of the places and I was already set up.

Well, if you are wait listed for the late seating, doesn't that mean you are actually assigned to the earlier seating? That is what you want - just ask to drop the waitlist.

Otherwise, as Simone said, fax and then go directly to the Maitre D' once you are onboard.

Travel agent told me all earlier dinner seating was already booked, which didn't make sense if we are wait listed for late seating. Will fax HAL per your suggestions. Thanks!

Hi,

Actually, sending a fax isn't the best way to get your dining seating changed.... The cruise lines gets hundreds of faxes and can't respond to each fax request.

Ask your travel agent to waitlist you for the early dinner seating - there is a 5:45 p.m. and a 6:15 p.m. seating on HAL. The waitlist may clear and your travel agent should check with HAL on a regular basis!

Also, when you board the ship, check the daily schedule for the time and location of the dining room staff. They are available in a public room, usually near the library and they can usually accommodate dining request changes. Also, check with the maitre d' at dinner if your seating companions aren't a match.

Have a great day!
Julia