Checking In Online: PAT vs Dining Reservations

[Castillo Mom]

Hello all! Our window for checking in online opens this evening so I want to be prepared.

We will be traveling with extended family and have four staterooms that are linked. I will be checking all of us in and also taking care of dining reservations for all of the adults in our party which include Palo brunch, Palo dinner and Remy dinner. We've already booked non DCL excursions so we don't need to worry about that.

Is it better to select our PAT first, followed by dining? Palo brunch is very popular so not sure whether I should try to snag that first or not before moving on to select our PAT.

I understand that they hold back slots for onboard booking but I'd like to have everything lined up if at all possible so as not to have to make a beeline to Guest Services upon boarding.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello all! Our window for checking in online opens this evening so I want to be prepared.

We will be traveling with extended family and have four staterooms that are linked. I will be checking all of us in and also taking care of dining reservations for all of the adults in our party which include Palo brunch, Palo dinner and Remy dinner. We've already booked non DCL excursions so we don't need to worry about that.

Is it better to select our PAT first, followed by dining? Palo brunch is very popular so not sure whether I should try to snag that first or not before moving on to select our PAT.

I understand that they hold back slots for onboard booking but I'd like to have everything lined up if at all possible so as not to have to make a beeline to Guest Services upon boarding.

If the Palo dining is the most important thing, then go for that first. It's quite likely that early PATs (if that's what you're going for) will be available. I know that many first time cruisers have been able to select the earliest window, even at only 75 days out. And others have reported not actually doing their check in until later in the day when their window opened and still getting an early PAT. And, even if you don't get exactly the same PAT, it's bound to be, most likely, the 2 windows next to each other (only a 15 minute difference)

If all of your rooms are linked, then you will be able to select those eligible (adult) for the adult dining from all the rooms while making the first reservation. But, I believe, each reservation has to select their own PAT during the check in process.

In your shoes, I'd probably do 1) Palo brunch; 2) Palo dinner; 3) Remy dinner; 4) Online check in. One note, you must complete all previous pages (something like 5 or 6 of them) before the PAT page will "unlock". Now, "completion" could be the default answer, correct information; gibberish, but something must be entered. You can go back to correct any "misinformation" later.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Fabulous, this is exactly the info I needed. Thank you so much!