Reserving Main Seating/Late Seating Question

[Melrosgirl]

I booked a cruise and am waitlisted for main seating. A friend of mine just booked the same cruise and got main seating. How does the waitlist work? I hate waitlist and usually will not book a cruise without main seating confirmed (I hate the runaround on the first day of the cruise trying to change things). This cruise is over a year away, so I was surprised that the main seating was booked, but apparently it isn't totally booked.? Anyone know why this would be? (we have different TA's.)

 

[Melrosgirl]

btt please

 

[the kabuki]

Don't know when you're going, but we on the Jan 8th cruise, and had no problem getting main seating.

I ended up changing it to late after reading everyone's opinions here though
Maybe you should contact your TA again.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Don't know when you're going, but we on the Jan 8th cruise, and had no problem getting main seating.

I ended up changing it to late after reading everyone's opinions here though
Maybe you should contact your TA again.

THe cruise isn't until August 2006 (!!).

 

[mommasita]

THe cruise isn't until August 2006 (!!).

NOt 100% on this one, but why don't u link your reservation with your friends, and then you will more than likely be together?

 

[the kabuki]

THe cruise isn't until August 2006 (!!).

Well it does seem to be far enough away that you should be able to get main dining if you wish. I would contact your TA and tell her that your friend (who used another travel agent..ahem...) got it with no problem. I can't imagine that it's booked already, especially when it's not a holiday season or anything.

 

[msnmom]

The same thing happened with us. We are going in November and we booked a year in advance. We requested 1st seating but got 2nd.. Our friends booked a week after us (different T/A) for the same week and got 1st seating. I called our T/A back and told him this and he said that some T/A's reserve a "block" of 1st seatings, 2nd seatings, etc. My T/A called Disney back directly and was told again that they would have to put us on a waitlist for 1st seating... ?? It confuses me!! Either way, we decided to stick with 2nd seating. Had it last time and had no problems with it at all..

Can't wait until November to experience the Magic again...

 

[Melrosgirl]

So b/c my TA already booked their allotment of main seatings, I have to get second seating? That seems crazy. It should be first come, first served, shouldn't it? Why would a cruiseline do this?

 

[the kabuki]

Well if your friends' TA blocked a portion of dining times, maybe you could bring this up to your TA and casually mention that you may transfer your ressie over to that TA if he or she is unable to get you the time you want.

Again, it does seem as if you're far enough out that you should be able to get 1st seating

 

[the kabuki]

So b/c my TA already booked their allotment of main seatings, I have to get second seating? That seems crazy. It should be first come, first served, shouldn't it? Why would a cruiseline do this?

I agree that does sound nuts, it should be 1st come 1st served

 

[crisi]

It isn't the cruiseline in that case, its the TA.

Lets say I'm a TA and I book a block of six rooms - all first seating. As my clients call me I can give out those six rooms - and as the ship fills I can sell them to my clients for less then my competitors because I bought the rooms when they were still cheap. Plus my clients get first seating.

Now, if I'm a TA who books rooms as the clients come in, I won't have reserved rooms with first seating available, nor will I have the pricing that a TA who booked a block will get.

I'm sure there is risk to the TA in booking a block, not sure what it is. But don't blame Disney. Apparently in order to switch TAs the first TA has to agree to release the reservation, so you may find switching to be difficult, but you might want to cancel and rebook with your friends TA. Or try a company like Dreams that specializes in Disney cruises, so I suspect they always at least start with a block (they may have sold their block, but I suspect that they start with one).

 

[Melrosgirl]

Or try a company like Dreams that specializes in Disney cruises, so I suspect they always at least start with a block (they may have sold their block, but I suspect that they start with one).

My TA is Dreams Unlimited. I emailed them yesterday morning, but haven't heard from their reservations dept.

Edited: I got an email from DU today. They were able to get me main seating, too! Yippee!!