csrsue Posted March 3, 2023 Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 We've booked the UDP for our upcoming June cruise to Alaska, and we have soooo many questions. I've tried to look, but we're still a little unsure how the whole thing works. Questions: Can we go to Izumi and get some sushi and soup maybe, say, around 5:00 (just an example for the times and restaurants), and then go to dinner at Chops around 6:30? Or is it one restaurant per day for the dinner? Can you order more than one entrée at the specialty restaurant? I know lobster is excluded. Not a problem there. More than one appetizer or dessert? Can we have appetizers and dessert at a specialty restaurant and then hop over to the MDR for the My Time dining and have something small? Not saying we would do any of these things (or maybe we will! Who knows. LOL!) but we're just not sure how it works and don't want to miss out on anything or expect more than what we are allowed, if that makes sense. I feel like I need this whole UDP explained to me on the most basic of levels. Eeek! We're experienced cruisers but have never done this dining plan. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted March 3, 2023 Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 My experience w the UDP is the answer is yes to all of the above. The only hiccup I believe is that there has to be a certain buffer of time between reservations on a particular day if you're doing the same meal at 2 places (not sure if that also includes the MDR though). The most important thing is make your reservations the first thing you do aboard the ship...find a quiet restaurant and do it there, since it's bonkers on the promenade deck once you board. csrsue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanalo217 Posted March 3, 2023 Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 One exception to the multiple entrees at a specialty restaurant is Chops. You can only have one there but multiple apps and desserts were fine. csrsue and Ryan79 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csrsue Posted March 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2023 Thanks, Gabe and amanalo217! Appreciate the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lusimtk Posted March 4, 2023 Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 Is it true it will be extremely hard to reserve a table in specialty restaurants? We are thinking of purchasing a package but wondering what will happen if we can’t get a table for majority of the nights? Do they offer a refund or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted March 4, 2023 Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 1 hour ago, lusimtk said: Is it true it will be extremely hard to reserve a table in specialty restaurants? We are thinking of purchasing a package but wondering what will happen if we can’t get a table for majority of the nights? Do they offer a refund or what? We have gotten a refund for the package before when we boarded and my mother wasn't willing to be flexible with what times and restaurants were available. Usually if you make it a point to make reservations as soon as you board, you won't be shut out if you are flexible with when you want to dine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 4, 2023 Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 I have never failed to get a specialty dining reservation that was satisfactory to me. I have had to be a bit flexible on exact times on occasion but never anything I couldn’t live with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMaxRebo Posted March 4, 2023 Report Share Posted March 4, 2023 3 hours ago, lusimtk said: Is it true it will be extremely hard to reserve a table in specialty restaurants? We are thinking of purchasing a package but wondering what will happen if we can’t get a table for majority of the nights? Do they offer a refund or what? We just had our first RCL cruise and got the UDP and that was one concern I had We went right to one of the restaurants after boarding and made all our reservations and got everything we wanted - only thing we had to switch days for two as the one we wanted for that first night was full, but other than that, no issue In the end for our week we did 5 dinners (ate in the MDR the other nights) and 3 lunches (sea days) plus one stop at Playmakers. So overall I think we got our $ worth for sure. SheSellsSeashells and FloatyBoaty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lusimtk Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 14 hours ago, TheMaxRebo said: We just had our first RCL cruise and got the UDP and that was one concern I had We went right to one of the restaurants after boarding and made all our reservations and got everything we wanted - only thing we had to switch days for two as the one we wanted for that first night was full, but other than that, no issue In the end for our week we did 5 dinners (ate in the MDR the other nights) and 3 lunches (sea days) plus one stop at Playmakers. So overall I think we got our $ worth for sure. can you tell me what was the price per person? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMaxRebo Posted March 5, 2023 Report Share Posted March 5, 2023 8 hours ago, lusimtk said: can you tell me what was the price per person? It varies by cruise, etc but with the precise discount booking online we paid, I think, $246 / person Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lusimtk Posted March 6, 2023 Report Share Posted March 6, 2023 13 hours ago, TheMaxRebo said: It varies by cruise, etc but with the precise discount booking online we paid, I think, $246 / person great, thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr martini Posted March 6, 2023 Report Share Posted March 6, 2023 we had UDP recently for the first time after always being a late seating family, we had zero problems with reservations and in fact the restaurants were half empty or even less attended than that after 7pm or so. one of our favorite things to do is grab coffee and desert, you are free to mix it up however you'd like! waiters were all great, very understanding and open to whatever we wanted to do. we walked into Giovanni's on boarding day for lunch without a reservation, no problem. made everything else from there. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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