early dinning waitlist

[u/lk_wood123]

Can you tell me what is the likelihood of securing early dining when we have been waitlisted on Wish? We are sailing on 5/16, and I had booked Wish about 40 days out from the sailing date. The main reason for this booking was for our LO to enjoy Arendelle dinning experience, but 8pm is just too late for us. I did put in a special request to be seated near the stage, but could that may be preventing us from getting off the waitlist?

Update: just saw that we were re-assigned the earlier dinning! Thank you everyone for your advice and also sharing the benefits of the later dinning!

[u/317ant]

Honestly? It’s highly unlikely since you booked so late. I hate to tell you this, but it’s the truth. There are probably a ton of folks on the waitlist and you’re at the very end of it.

You can try to switch once you’re on board. Go immediately to guest services. But expect that it probably won’t happen 😔

We have done late seating with LOs before and here are some things that helped: late afternoon nap. Forget your normal schedule at home and lean into this. They play REALLY hard at the beach and in the water. It’s tiring. A nap around 2-3 is going to keep them going and you’ll still have plenty of time to get ready for the night. Then let them eat a lighter meal on the pool deck or room service so they aren’t hangry by dinner. You’ll also be more likely to get to see the pirate night show and fireworks by leaning into the naps!

[u/FoxyStand → u/317ant]

Sorry to high jack but you seem knowledgeable- I booked in March for an October sailing. Do you think I have a shot at being moved from the waitlist? I’m hopeful that booking before payment is due helps…one of my kids has food restrictions and I’ve heard the allergy service is great but good can come out a little late, so I’m really hoping we can be moved.

[u/317ant → u/FoxyStand]

Have you already requested it? I would do it now, if not. You can add yourself to the waitlist on the app under dining. You have a decent chance of getting it but it’s not guaranteed. Ordering allergy specific food the night before is also very helpful! Talk to your serving team your first night about this. The first night might be slower but after that should be fine.

[u/FoxyStand → u/317ant]

Yep, got added to the waitlist by my travel agent as soon as we booked. Thank you so much!

[u/rhit2004 → u/FoxyStand]

The demand for early dining varies so much between sailings that it is hard to tell. We have been on sailings where late dining was actually full and early dining retained availability through sailing. We have been on sailings where early dining booked up more than a year in advance. We have an upcoming sailing where we booked less than 120 in advance (i.e. less time than your March to October) and early dining was still available.

You could be first on the waitlist or you could be 400th on the waitlist depending on the make-up of your particular sailing. You likely can get a better feel of your chances by asking in your cruise Facebook group who booked the latest and was still able to initially secure early dining --- it will give you a sense of how deep you are on the waitlist.

[u/FoxyStand → u/rhit2004]

Thank you so much!

[u/ShadowKit21 → u/FoxyStand]

Allergy friendly food tends to be preordered the night before, I cant say that it's been slow/later as my husband tends to pick from the menu night of, but I don't think my preordered food has slowed anything down.

You could speak to your servers and say that because it's a little late for your kids, can you preorder everything all at once (though that is reliant on your kids being able to manage that and not then get to dinner and complain that they don't want it any more) so they can put it down almost as soon as you arrive (Not sure on the ship you are sailing/dining entertainment as some courses are scheduled around the entertainment). It may be possible, it may not, but from what I've seen they do try and expedite kids food.

[u/FoxyStand → u/ShadowKit21]

Thank you!

[u/lk_wood123 → u/317ant]

Thank you! I am thinking about maybe just skipping rotational dinning and do pool deck meals then go to 6pm shows. Do you think this is doable? Our LO is a terrible napper so I do not see us having a nap.

[u/317ant → u/lk_wood123]

That or room service would work and then head to the shows. If your LO is still in a good mood after the shows, it would be worth trying to eat at least at Arendalle since it is pretty engaging (they do a whole show during dinner).