specialty dining Reserving specialty dining on app (or web) after dining package purchase

[BluePheonix883]

Did anyone buy an unlimited specialty dining package after the date that we are supposed to be able to use it to reserve dining on the app (or web), but not actually reserve the dining until later? I ask because I have an unlimited package (bought after the date that we were supposed to be able to use it to reserve dining times before the cruise) for Star of the Seas. No specialty dining even showed up online or on the app when I purchased it (not surprising as the ship isn't even out yet). However, a few specialty restaurants are starting to show up online (and app). I don't see how I can use my dining package to reserve times. The app and website only allow me to pay for a time. Hopefully this explanation/question make sense. I cannot find an answer anywhere on this site or on reddit.

[AshleyDillo]

I've made reservations with the dining package via the Cruise Planner. 

I had to go to the menu that opens under your initials in the corner and then choose Order History. 

It should show you a list of all your Cruise Planner purchases.  You'd look at the details under the one for Unlimited Dining Package.  Mine gives the option to Modify, Cancel, and View reservations.  Choosing modify gives me the options to choose reservations for each day of the cruise.

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I have the UDP on a 3 night Jewel (the middle cruise of a B3B) and while it will allow me to book my dining times, the choices for times are a joke…like a choice between 5:00, 5:30 or 6:00. ..something like that.  If those are the only choices for pre-booking I will just wait until I board.  Pathetic.

[BluePheonix883]

Thanks, Ashley! I don't see anything but "cancel" there now. However, it might still be too early. This gives me hope!

[Gilley]

I just purchased the 3-night dining package for my Symphony Cruise in April.  I don't see any options to book dining times.  Is this normal.  Will it open up closing to sailing date or must I wait until I board the ship?

[WAAAYTOOO]

6 minutes ago, Gilley said:

I just purchased the 3-night dining package for my Symphony Cruise in April.  I don't see any options to book dining times.  Is this normal.  Will it open up closing to sailing date or must I wait until I board the ship?

Yes, this is normal.  Currently, the only package that allows you to prebook dining prior to boarding is the Unlimited Dining Package - and even that is very limited in when you are permitted to reserve dining.  For the multi-night packages you still have to wait until you board to make reservations.  For what it's worth, I have had absolutely no problem finding the restaurant and times that I want when I book onboard.  Just make it a priority when you first board and you will have lots of options.

[Gilley]

32 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes, this is normal.  Currently, the only package that allows you to prebook dining prior to boarding is the Unlimited Dining Package - and even that is very limited in when you are permitted to reserve dining.  For the multi-night packages you still have to wait until you board to make reservations.  For what it's worth, I have had absolutely no problem finding the restaurant and times that I want when I book onboard.  Just make it a priority when you first board and you will have lots of options.

Thanks so much.  You have eased my worries.

[Bill Johnson]

On 1/30/2025 at 12:45 PM, AshleyDillo said:

I've made reservations with the dining package via the Cruise Planner. 

I had to go to the menu that opens under your initials in the corner and then choose Order History. 

It should show you a list of all your Cruise Planner purchases.  You'd look at the details under the one for Unlimited Dining Package.  Mine gives the option to Modify, Cancel, and View reservations.  Choosing modify gives me the options to choose reservations for each day of the cruise.

 

I board Oasis this Saturday and purchased the UDP a while back. My party of 6 friends all bought the UDP, but it will not even let me add my cabin mate to the reservation. When I did Utopia and Independence recently, I had no problems doing this all on the app prior to the cruise. Why the trouble now?

[Lovetocruise2002]

On 4/15/2025 at 7:13 PM, Bill Johnson said:

I board Oasis this Saturday and purchased the UDP a while back. My party of 6 friends all bought the UDP, but it will not even let me add my cabin mate to the reservation. When I did Utopia and Independence recently, I had no problems doing this all on the app prior to the cruise. Why the trouble now?

I just bought the UDP for my WN cruise in August. It let me purchase the package, but it won't let me add any reservations. I can bring up the screen that @AshleyDillo posted, but when I go to select a restaurant and time, it says there is an error and it cannot add. Guess I will try again in a few days.

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

it says there is an error and it cannot add. Guess I will try again in a few days

Sadly, nothing new there as I'm sure you know.

It would be a huge pain IMO but I did read accounts of people being able to make reservations over the phone when they had similar errors in the CP.

[J3N]

This happened to me on Wonder. I did call and a rep was able to make the reservations for me. However when I boarded the ship just to double check they didn't have any of the reservations I booked even though they were on my calender. I was able to get the restaurants and times I wanted on-board 

[OCSC Mike]

2 hours ago, J3N said:

This happened to me on Wonder. I did call and a rep was able to make the reservations for me. However when I boarded the ship just to double check they didn't have any of the reservations I booked even though they were on my calender. I was able to get the restaurants and times I wanted on-board 

FWIW, as we were pondering the UDP for Wonder leaving tomorrow (we passed), I would have been able to make all my reservations online and virtually EVERY time slot for every restaurant was available as I randomly clicked around... and this was 2 days before the cruise. Maybe it was a fluke but there must not have been a ton of interest if everything was available that late.

Just sharing for future reference. Maybe the system is working better now. Making reservations online is obviously so much easier than over the phone.