First Dining Available vs Ship Capacity

[OrlandoDisneyFan]

Would you think there is any correlation between first dining availability and passenger load?

I am sailing 12/1 (5 days from now) and I went to the DCL website just to double check that my Florida Resident rate had not fallen since I booked (it has not) and when I went throught the motions of booking a phantom cruise first dining was still available, as well as many cabins across various stateroom categories, even at FLR rates.

In the past, waiting till the last minute to sail on FL Res rates, I have always been wait listed for first dining.

Would you think this is an indicatrion of a less than full ship?

PS...I booked this cruise maybe 3 weeks ago and got a 12:00-12:30 port arrival time....so I'm thinking that is also a good sign????

PPS...Palo AND Remy still with availability, but this is a Daddy/Daughter trip with my DD7 so those are out for me.

 

[momtoejanda]

I just re-looked out our 1/29/12 sailing and EVERY category is still available. This could be good or bad.

I went through the motions as well and can get main dining, can still get a port arrival of 11, and Remy and Palo are available. All the cabanas are gone though.

so much for me staying up late to get all these things!!!

 

[kcashner]

They are more interested in having dining balanced between main and late seating than the absolute number of guests at each. Early on, since most people request main, anyone who doesn't request gets late. Now they are trying to fill ships--if there is someone who won't cruise unless they can have main, they will be attracted by the availability.

It tells you nothing about how full the ship is.

The only way you can get an idea is to wait until the gty guests have assignments and then see what is left on line. Prior to that, you may still see every category available--all that tells you is that they are willing to sell all levels. You don't know how many/what category gty guests are waiting for an assignment!

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I just re-looked out our 1/29/12 sailing and EVERY category is still available. This could be good or bad.

I went through the motions as well and can get main dining, can still get a port arrival of 11, and Remy and Palo are available. All the cabanas are gone though.

so much for me staying up late to get all these things!!!

I am on that cruise too, sadly Palo brunch is NOT available (but YES dinner was the last time I checked). We actually picked second seating diner from the beginning so I never really looked into that.

I'm hoping it's not a full sailing as it will help my chances for Palo brunch; not to mention shorter lines for things.


Have you signed up to the cruise meet thread yet?

 

[OrlandoDisneyFan]

I am on that cruise too, sadly Palo brunch is NOT available (but YES dinner was the last time I checked). We actually picked second seating diner from the beginning so I never really looked into that.

I'm hoping it's not a full sailing as it will help my chances for Palo brunch; not to mention shorter lines for things.


Have you signed up to the cruise meet thread yet?

I didn't think they did Palo brunch on the 3 night cruises.

I did check in at the cruise meet, but since I booked so last minute, I did not get involved with the FE exchange, etc.

 

[momtoejanda]

I am on that cruise too, sadly Palo brunch is NOT available (but YES dinner was the last time I checked). We actually picked second seating diner from the beginning so I never really looked into that.

I'm hoping it's not a full sailing as it will help my chances for Palo brunch; not to mention shorter lines for things.


Have you signed up to the cruise meet thread yet?

Sorry, yes, I meant the dinners were available. The tea and brunch were not.