best likelihood of second palo brunch

[Karlzmom]

I know I can only notebook one brunch and then have to gamble for a second. Is the a "better" way to to pre book to up the odds of getting a second one? We are doing an Alaska cruise, so brunch is on the first full day, Tracy Arm day and the last full day. Realizing my mileage may vary....how would you book to have best chance to snag a second brunch? TIA!

 

[dcassetta]

Book the day you are most interested in ahead of time. Then, upon boarding make reserving additional brunch times your first priority. Check your first day Navigator for the location where they are doing Palo reservations.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Book Tracy Arm or first sea day and aim to get the second sea day, that way you have six days to get it.

 

[Karlzmom]

Hadn't thought of it that way..... great suggestion!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hadn't thought of it that way..... great suggestion!

Yes when " fishing" for extra slots at Palo, book an early day then you have more if the cruise to get the extra one later on.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Book Tracy Arm or first sea day and aim to get the second sea day, that way you have six days to get it.

Ooh...that's good thinking! I'm on an Eastern Caribbean with sea days Sunday, Monday and Thursday. I thought I would book online for Thursday and get Sunday or Monday onboard because otherwise I might end up with brunch two days in a row... This changes my thinking - perhaps I should book early online and hope for later availability or cancellations.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Ooh...that's good thinking! I'm on an Eastern Caribbean with sea days Sunday, Monday and Thursday. I thought I would book online for Thursday and get Sunday or Monday onboard because otherwise I might end up with brunch two days in a row... This changes my thinking - perhaps I should book early online and hope for later availability or cancellations.

Yes book early and seek out later ones for extras, - works for me.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

One of the advantages of longer cruises is more Palo openings. On the Panama Canal 14 night that just finished, they had loads of openings and, as leaving each time (we did 3), they suggested making another booking.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We had two Panama crossings 2005 and 2008 and both had a high number of castaway club members one had 1800 repeat cruisers on it, and getting any palo slot was like finding a needle in a haystack.

 

[Weedy]

FYI: the day you board go to Palo and book your second brunch (or 1st) . On the cruises I've been on it has opened at 1pm to book on the ship . Disney holds a percentage of the Palo reservations for onboard booking.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

FYI: the day you board go to Palo and book your second brunch. On the cruises I've been on it has opened at 1pm to book another ( or 1st). Disney holds a percentage of the Palo reservations for onboard booking.

It also holds back some slots for concierge and they might not take them all up.

 

[over50visits]

We always like to eat brunch in Palo twice on 7 day or longer cruises. We book the first online early in the cruise, then go to Palo late on embarkation day (or the next day) to see if we can book another.

I know a lot of folks think you should go to the Palo reservation desk immediately when it opens, but we know others didn't get a chance to book online, so we like to wait to give them a chance first before we see if there are openings left over. It's a great experience, no need to "hoard" if others want to try it also.

I don't think we've had much of a problem getting a second brunch using this technique. Maybe once or twice, but can't recall for sure. Usually we can get in a later day seating.

 

[Flossbolna]

We had two Panama crossings 2005 and 2008 and both had a high number of castaway club members one had 1800 repeat cruisers on it, and getting any palo slot was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Things must have changed. Last year out of the 2400 cruisers, only 500 were not Castaway Club members and every time we ate at Palo they kept suggesting that we make another reservation. There were a few days that were booked solid (Mother's Day, Pirate Night), but towards the end of the cruise, lots of brunch and dinner availability. So our experience was very much like what @GoofyNewfie reported.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Things must have changed. Last year out of the 2400 cruisers, only 500 were not Castaway Club members and every time we ate at Palo they kept suggesting that we make another reservation. There were a few days that were booked solid (Mother's Day, Pirate Night), but towards the end of the cruise, lots of brunch and dinner availability. So our experience was very much like what @GoofyNewfie reported.

Mine were 'mad' on those cruises, gone in seconds no chance of extras, I think the price hikes, have released the pressure a bit.

 

[Flossbolna]

Mine were 'mad' on those cruises, gone in seconds no chance of extras, I think the price hikes, have released the pressure a bit.

That might be it. My experience was also that a lot of the repeat cruisers were extremely seasoned Platinum CC Members. Like over 20 cruises. I wonder whether at some point one starts getting bored with Palo Brunch after so many cruises. I know that I would. I guess 10 years ago there were far less of those guests and more repeat cruisers with just a few cruises who are still madly in love with Palo.

 

[Flossbolna]

Mine were 'mad' on those cruises, gone in seconds no chance of extras, I think the price hikes, have released the pressure a bit.

Oh, but I think I have seen the same phenomenon that you mention on my upcoming Norway cruise. All Brunch reservations were gone before such lowly Silver CC Members like myself could even attempt booking them. I am now going to enjoy the fun of trying to get one on the ship!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Oh, but I think I have seen the same phenomenon that you mention on my upcoming Norway cruise. All Brunch reservations were gone before such lowly Silver CC Members like myself could even attempt booking them. I am now going to enjoy the fun of trying to get one on the ship!

I think there is a certain 'crowd' who go on first time special cruises who are regular cruisers and highly organised and they get the slots on seconds.

 

[lilbuddy88]

We always like to eat brunch in Palo twice on 7 day or longer cruises. We book the first online early in the cruise, then go to Palo late on embarkation day (or the next day) to see if we can book another.

I know a lot of folks think you should go to the Palo reservation desk immediately when it opens, but we know others didn't get a chance to book online, so we like to wait to give them a chance first before we see if there are openings left over. It's a great experience, no need to "hoard" if others want to try it also.

I don't think we've had much of a problem getting a second brunch using this technique. Maybe once or twice, but can't recall for sure. Usually we can get in a later day seating.

I love that you do this. Being considerate of people you don't even know can be rare these days.

 

[lilbuddy88]

Oh, but I think I have seen the same phenomenon that you mention on my upcoming Norway cruise. All Brunch reservations were gone before such lowly Silver CC Members like myself could even attempt booking them. I am now going to enjoy the fun of trying to get one on the ship!

Are you on the 7 night or 9 night? Don't be so down on being silver ... Gold didn't get us one either lol. We're on the 9 night.

 

[Karlzmom]

Thanks for the great tips. I appreciate the help.

I am toning this down a bit, but just have to work it out....I must say *Wow*, as I never considered being willing to stand in line for a meal reservation (when the line is open to all) as "hoarding" before.......Now I'm wondering what other events/experiences a cruiser need be cautious of to avoid being gauche.

This could be a whole new pre-cruise game: Should a cruiser limit themselves to only one "tasting" per cruise or is one of each type ok? How many sessions of Bingo? Should you be issued a ration card for deck chair usage? I know ,set a limit of one slice of pizza as not everyone got a piece of they like best and only two twists, not three on your ice-cream cone (and don't even consider using the bowl that came in your FE....excursion tracking (you saw whales last year! No whales for you!).......gee this could easily fill the next 90 days.

Sorry, just made me chuckle a bit.