Should we book 2 nights at Palo? What will we miss?

[TigerB]

We are DVC owners who are going on the DCL for the first time on Feb 4 - Feb 11, 2006. We are doing a 7-day eastern carribbean cruise. No kids, just my husband and I and my parents. We are staying in separate cabins and it's my mom's 50th birthday surprise cruise. We are a family that likes to experience everything...so, should we make 2 Palo reservations (since we are in 2 separate cabins, I assume we can make 1 reservation per cabin?) or does that mean we lose out on a restaurant? How many restaurants are on ship - the Magic - I think they are Lumiere's, Animator's, and maybe 2 others? On a 7-day, do you ever repeat a restaurant? Or, if we booked 2 different Palo nights, would we miss out on another restaurant? We love to dress up and be adults, so the formality of Palo twice wouldn't phase us.

Also, being DVC members (we booked with points), can we make Palo reservations ahead of time? Thanks!

 

[barkley]

everyone can now book palo's ahead of time. you cannot book more than one night unless you do it 2 on one night and 2 on another (the on-line system will only let you book 1 dinner, 1 brunch, 1 high tea) for the number of adults assigned to your cabin.

there are 3 restaurants on board (in addition to palos) so you will repeat 2 of them twice and one a third time.

 

[TigerB]

So if my husband and I are staying in cabin 1, and my parents are staying in cabin 2 across the hall, can we get a reservation for four people and then them get a reservation under their cabin # for 4 people?

Or are you saying that if we want to dine together, we have to have our own reservation and THEY have to make their own reservation?

 

[glindamood]

I have only tried to make Brunch reservations using the on line system and it did allow me (in a cabin with 2 people) to make a reservation for 3-4 people. I don't know if dinner is different. It was my understanding that DCL was checking the people any group going to Palo as you are only allowed (technically anyway) to make one reservation for Palo, more can be booked on the ship.

If you are staying in a concierge cabin you can book at 120 days (I think, never has applied to me), if you are a Castaway member (repeat cruiser) you can book at 90 days and then 60 days for first time cruisers. Make sure that you can log in on the DCL website for your cruise prior to the time you want to make the reservation and remember that they open up at 3AM Eastern time.

DCL does rotational dining in their 3 restaurants (Lumiere's, Anamator's Palette and Parrot Cay) so you will be in each location twice with one 3 times. There is a formal and semi-formal night as well as Pirate night and other special events. There are websites with copies of the menus so you can decide what you want or don't want to miss.
http://www.dcltribute.com - this sight has lots of information and navigators to help you with your decision.

Happy Planning!