Booked 1 yr 3mo out-no early seating? C'mon on!

[Mmketeer]

Okay,
Am I the only one that this happens too? I swear I just booked my DCL cruise for June 2008 (next year) and they tell me early seating is already sold out! Unbelieveable! I booked a year in advance last time too and didn't get it then either and wait-listing did me absolutly no good. We ended up with the late dining time then too. UGH!
Okay rant over, for now. Thanks for listening/reading.

 

[Vivianne]

I booked 2 months before my Wonder cruise. Second seating. I see it as a positive. My goal is really to see the ports as this may be my one trip. I'll make the best of it! We're two adults.

 

[Selket]

I just booked for an Oct. 07 trip and got early seating but I think I was one of the last. That is one reason I went ahead and put a deposit on a 9/08 trip was to get the 1st seating.

 

[SNicksed]

Don't sweat it. As soon as you board, go to Rockin Bar D (on Magic) and change your seating time. I did it last October. It was painless and there was no line.

 

[tvguy]

Okay,
Am I the only one that this happens too? I swear I just booked my DCL cruise for June 2008 (next year) and they tell me early seating is already sold out! Unbelieveable! I booked a year in advance last time too and didn't get it then either and wait-listing did me absolutly no good. We ended up with the late dining time then too. UGH!
Okay rant over, for now. Thanks for listening/reading.

Not unbelievable at all. Most cruise lines book a year in advance, Disney tends to book even further out. Ship would only have to be half sold if everyone wanted early seating to sell out early seating.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Don't sweat it. As soon as you board, go to Rockin Bar D (on Magic) and change your seating time. I did it last October. It was painless and there was no line.

Don't count on this. We sailed on a full ship and couldn't change to early seating.

 

[SNicksed]

Don't count on this. We sailed on a full ship and couldn't change to early seating.

True. I did go in October when it was slower. But it's worth a shot.

 

[angelam]

You never know, it might work out. We booked a little over a year in advance for the Feb 17th sailing, and were waitlisted for early seating. We were never notified ahead of time that our time had changed, so I had just assumed we had the late seating. I didn't plan on trying to change it once we boarded, becuase I figured I'd give it a try. Well, when we got our dining tickets, it had us down for the early seating. Keep your fingers crossed. It might work out in your favor.

 

[birkner]

Okay,
Am I the only one that this happens too? I swear I just booked my DCL cruise for June 2008 (next year) and they tell me early seating is already sold out! Unbelieveable! I booked a year in advance last time too and didn't get it then either and wait-listing did me absolutly no good. We ended up with the late dining time then too. UGH!
Okay rant over, for now. Thanks for listening/reading.

We always book a year or more out, 18 months for our December 2007 cruise and 16 months for our May 2008 cruises.

Every time we ask for late seating but DCL ALWAYS assigns us early seating. Since we are from the West Coast, we prefer early seating. I guess we are in the minority here who always have to change from early seating to late seating. I wish we could pass it to a fellow DISer but it just doesn't work that way with DCL.

Noel

 

[Skuba2]

A year or so in advance does sound like early enough, but if you read these boards you'll notice people are disappointed they can't waitlist for 2011 and the new ship. "Planning early" in dis terms could really mean up to 2 years in advance. Do put your request in now by asking them to note your reservation with your concern. There are always spots left open to allow the head server to arrange the tables as needed.

DG

 

[MrsJobba1]

sorry you did not get the early seating -but get on the waitlist - people often drop out !

 

[Mozart]

When we booked our cruise, we had to specifically request early seating due to my father's diabetes. We were told by a DCL agent at that time, that they hold back nearly 50% of early dining for people with medical issues such as this. If you have one, they have a form that they will require your doctor to fill out which states that someone neads early dining because of ______.

Put yourself on the waitlist. As time approaches, they will begin to open these up. They purposely keep back alot more than they need.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I have also found the site CAN be a bit fluky at times. I am going on the Eastern in November. I was ready to book last weekend. On the front page both dining times were available, but as went along in the reservation I got an error code telling me there was no first seating availability. I didn't book. I tried again the next day and got the same thing. However, later on when I tried - I got first seating! (and of course I booked then)

So you can try calling DCL or as many have suggested, seeing if you can switch onboard.

Usually I LIKE 2nd seating better, but wanted to do 1st on this cruise since I won't be doing excursions that make it a rush to get to dinner on time. That way maybe I'll have room to at least consider some of the late night buffets. With late seating I couldn't even LOOK at food then!

 

[Zandy595]

When we booked our cruise, we had to specifically request early seating due to my father's diabetes. We were told by a DCL agent at that time, that they hold back nearly 50% of early dining for people with medical issues such as this. If you have one, they have a form that they will require your doctor to fill out which states that someone neads early dining because of ______.

I didn't even know that was an option. So far we've been lucky and gotten our (requested) early seating. I'll have to remember that when we book our next cruise because both MIL and FIL have diabetes and need to eat early or it messes up their blood sugar levels.

 

[Mozart]

Once you've booked your reservations, call or have your TA call DCL and give them your doctor's fax number. They'll fax the form to the office, and the doctor will have to fill it out and fax it back. All you have to do is make sure the doctor knows why he's doing it.

I do know that DCL will not send you the form, nor accept it any way except a fax directly from a doctor's office.

 

[Zandy595]

Once you've booked your reservations, call or have your TA call DCL and give them your doctor's fax number. They'll fax the form to the office, and the doctor will have to fill it out and fax it back. All you have to do is make sure the doctor knows why he's doing it.

I do know that DCL will not send you the form, nor accept it any way except a fax directly from a doctor's office.

Thanks for the info, I'm going to copy that into my saved info for the cruise.

 

[dreamcometrue]

well, June is summer break for pretty much everyone, so it's going to be one of the busiest time to cruise. Are you doing the West Coast cruises? They are all pretty close to being sold out, I think! And I am sure the Wonder cruises in the caribbean are selling fast too since the Magic won't be there that summer!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Go to Rockin Bar D..I ALWAYS request 2nd seating ( even when I booked 13 months ahead ONBOARD) and they gave me first seating..I went right on and changed it both times..they told me because i was a CC member that I was given the choice seating (1st) but...I DIDN'T WANT FIRST!! lOl

 

[SnowWhite2]

We booked on-board Feb 5, 2007 for a Feb 2, 2008 cruise and were told only 2nd seating available. I called yesterday to get on waitlist for 1st seating and they changed it right then - no wait list. I was surprised. Keep calling DCL and inquiring about the change especially the morning after the final deposits are due.

 

[bubba's mom]

Am I the only one that this happens too? I swear I just booked my DCL cruise for June 2008 (next year) and they tell me early seating is already sold out! Unbelieveable! I booked a year in advance last time too and didn't get it then either and wait-listing did me absolutly no good. We ended up with the late dining time then too. UGH!
Okay rant over, for now. Thanks for listening/reading.

I'm sorry....we are probably sitting at your table. We booked almost as soon as the dates came out and chose main seating. I had been reading since it was a "double dip" cruise, it will sell out quick, so I was ready to put my money down. Maybe we'll still get to "meet" on the ship tho! I wish you on getting that main seating tho!