Waitlisting Palo brunch - success rate?

[squirk]

Palo brunch is booked solid for my upcoming Feb. cruise. We are already doing Remy brunch with my MIL, but my wife and I would like lunch for just the two of us. We don't want to do Remy/Palo dinners, because that is designated "family time" for everyone to get together.

In addition to checking the DCL site frequently to see if something opens up, I am guessing what I need to do is go to GS as soon as I board and ask to be put on a wait list, right? Or do I need to go directly to Palo and make my request there directly? Does it matter either way?

Finally, I know it is hard to assign numbers to something like this, but for those who have done this, what was your success rate? In addition to people cancelling (and thus opening up their slot), I always hear about DCL "holding back" slots for folks who aren't able to book online ahead of time. Not sure if that's an urban legend or if it's really true.

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Palo brunch is booked solid for my upcoming Feb. cruise. We are already doing Remy brunch with my MIL, but my wife and I would like lunch for just the two of us. We don't want to do Remy/Palo dinners, because that is designated "family time" for everyone to get together.

In addition to checking the DCL site frequently to see if something opens up, I am guessing what I need to do is go to GS as soon as I board and ask to be put on a wait list, right? Or do I need to go directly to Palo and make my request there directly? Does it matter either way?

Thanks!

No, if you go immediately upon boarding to the Palo dining changes location (check the Navigator you get at check in for what location), it's quite possible you'll be able to book an actual reservation. They don't make all reservations available for the online reservation process, and hold some back to book onboard. Once those are full, they will start a wait list.

 

[okamy]

On two of our trips, I was unable to book Palo or Remy brunch online, but I was successful in booking it once we had boarded. Both times, I went to the place designated in the Navigator as soon as possible after boarding. (We always try to get very early boarding times, so this helped.) The first time, I showed up about 15 minutes before they were scheduled to open, but they had opened early and were able to help me. The second time, I started checking about 15 minutes before the scheduled opening but they didn't open until the posted time. Good luck!

 

[lorimay]

We just booked a last minute Florida Resident rate cruise for end of Jan. and there are no times left for Palo brunch online, I too am hoping to get onboard ASAP and get a table.
Thankfully we are Platinum so we can arrive early to port and get onboard very quickly. I will cry without a Palo brunch.

Good Luck!

 

[squirk]

Gracias. As always, your helpful nature is much appreciated.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Being able to book online precruise: 1 out of 5
Being able to book immediately upon boarding: 3 out of 4
The one time we weren't able to book and were on the waitlist, they left a message on our stateroom phone that a slot had opened up. Sadly we weren't in our room at all that day and missed it.

 

[Aby]

We weren't able to book brunch for our first cruise online, but had absolutely no problems booking once on board. We've also been able to book extra brunches onboard too so I don't think you'll have a problem if you go to dining changes as soon as they open.

 

[o&smom]

We have always been able to get a reservation once on board. Check your Navigator before you board so that you know where they are making reservations for Palo. Enjoy your brunch - always a favorite of ours!

 

[Flossbolna]

Make sure to be at the designated place for Palo reservations early. The one cruise where we could not get a brunch reservation, we were there 5 minutes before the official start time. There was already a line in front of us and they were already booking people. Not sure when they started. When we got there, they did not have anymore tables for 2 available (yes, they told us if we were a party of 4, we could get a reservation) and were put on the waitlist. We should have been the first on the waitlist as the people in front of us got a reservation. We got several phone calls from Palo during the cruise informing us that we were still on the waitlist, but nothing had become available. In the end it turned out ok as we did other fun things on both sea days. But at first I was not amused that they started booking before the advertised time.