Wait-listed for early dinner: what are the odds?

[MarkLem]

I'm trying to iron out a second 7-day cruise on the Magic for 12/31/06. For our first cruise last January, I used Dreams Un and everything went clockworkd smooth including the price. There were 5 of us with a Cat 4.

For this time around, there are 6 (Grandma is going!). I'm trying to use Dreams again, but am having quite a different experience. I asked for 2 joining Cat 10's & early dinner seating, and they came back with 3 Cat 10's (have no idea why) and wait-listed for early dinner.

What are the odds of getting the early dinner what with being wait-listed?

Thanks

 

[JanDave]

Hi: We are waitlisted for early dining on the 6/16/05 Wonder. If we don't get early dining once we board, I will contact the dining room manager of the restaurant we are assigned to each day to check for early dining availability. I have seen many empty chairs/tables at dinners because cruisers have different options -- Palo, room service, Topsiders/Beach Blanket, etc.

Jan

 

[justKim]

My family just got back from our first cruise on the Wonder. We were wait listed also, but we booked our trip less than 3 months out. When we got our kttw cards, we were still at second seating. We went to Wavebands for some other stuff (check on Palo, check on the kosher for some in our party) and asked about the wait list. They took our names and said that since we have a baby with us, that our chances are improved, but that they couldn't guarantee anything. I told him that our TA had us listed as waiting to switch to early seating, but he said that didn't matter. Huh? We were put on his list at around 1 o'clock and by 5 we got a phone call saying that we had early seating and gave us our new dinner rotation.

I was surprised when he told us that being put on the wait list "on land" wasn't always enough. Anyone that has done this before?

 

[mickeyboat]

We were waitlisted too, and booked 6 months in advance. When we got to the ship, we found we were switched.

Good luck. I think they will do everything possible to accomodate your request.

Denae

 

[rae519]

Again, hats off the the Head Servers who go out of their way to assist passengers who want different seating or special servers! They do work hard for their clients!

Rae

 

[Rainbowsteph]

I'm happy to see that we still have a chance to get the early seating that we're wait-listed for! I've been calling to check and as of yesterday (our cruise is tomorrow!!!), we hadn't been changed yet. We will try to see what we can do about it once we're on board.

It's funny, but the people I've talked to at the DCL reservation line said seatings are changed up to 2 days before sailing and then there will be no more switching. Oh well...thanks for letting me know it is still a possibility!!!

Late seating or not...WE'RE STILL EXCITED!!!!

 

[justKim]

It's funny, but the people I've talked to at the DCL reservation line said seatings are changed up to 2 days before sailing and then there will be no more switching. Oh well...thanks for letting me know it is still a possibility!!!

I think that 2 days out is as late as DCL communicates with the dining staff on the ship.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

 

[momto2dkids]

We were waitlisted for early dining on our upcoming cruise(12/11/04) when we booked 7 months ago, however within a couple of weeks I called our TA back and asked to be removed from the waitlist as my DH and I decided that being from the west coast(3 hour time difference), that late dining might actually be better for us. When we received our cruise documents a few weeks ago, to my surprise, we had been switched to early dining anyway! As long as I am on the ship I really don't care

Keep the faith!!

 

[tvguy]

Hi momto2dkids.....greetings from Carmichael.
I agree, for west coasters Late Seating may almost be too early for our body clocks. By the time everyone is home from work/school/soccer/baseball in our house, it's usually 7 pm or later before dinner gets dished up at home.

 

[rae519]

Always remember - a please and a smile with a good attitude gets you farther than a demand with an attitude!!!!

Rae

 

[coloradogirl13]

Do you have to make a reservation for the early dinners or do you just walk on in the ship.

 

[rae519]

Do you have to make a reservation for the early dinners or do you just walk on in the ship.[/QUOTE

Request to be waitlisted if you can't get main dining. Then when you embark, go to Dining Room Changes (often at Palo) - it will be in the Navigator you receive when you have your paperwork checked. That's where the real Magic of the DCL takes place!!!

Rae

 

[crisi]

A lot of people have posted success stories - either by waitlisting and getting switched pre-cruise - or by making changes on board. But several people have posted that they didn't have any luck - waitlist never came through and they weren't able to get it switched once they boarded either.

Hope for the the best, plan for the worst.

(I'd also contact Dreams - you are still a year out from that date, and 3 cabins instead of two - I'm wondering if they simply mixed up quotes....)