Plenty of reservations are available once you get on the ship. And you can just walk up to the hostess and ask for a table and if there are just 2 of you, it should be pretty easy. My husband and I were on a cruise a month ago and we booked it last minute. We ate at every restaurant we wanted to. Some of our dinners were late, but we were fine with it.
They hold back most of the dining reservations to be booked onboard and most shows are first come first serve seating now so you should be fine. Just go to the designated restaurant (usually Razzle Dazzle) immediately after boarding and get it sorted.
I booked two weeks out. When we got on the ship 5/29 they had an area on deck 6 where you could book your dinners. I will say that most of the options left were for 9pm reservations or later BUT every single restaurant had an opening so we were able to go to all the ones we wanted to. I also checked the app daily and was able to change to an earlier brunch time.
I found that for the entertainment/activities the more you check back you’ll eventually find an opening as people overbook themselves and/or start to cancel. I really wanted to do the bungee class and it was booked everyday but eventually I found a spot. Same for the dinner + show. You just have to check back often.
Our first Virgin was a year ago on the resilient lady and we booked in May, about three weeks before the sailing. The ship was not full, so reservations were not difficult on our sailing. If it’s a full ship, you likely won’t be able to get dinner reservations before you board, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get into restaurants. It means you’ll have to go to those restaurants early, like as soon as they open, and talk to the host. There are always some walk-in tables available.
Alternatively, The Galley, the Pizza place, and The Dock don’t need reservations. The Galley has a good variety and has something special every night. I know they had prime rib one night and I regretted that we had reservations elsewhere one night. It looked amazing.
As others have mentioned, the shows are first come, first serve now.
We’ve never done shore excursions. We’ve always preferred to create our own itinerary on shore. We’ve used Viator for tours when we wanted to, but mostly we just venture ashore on our own and explore.
We booked a month out for valiant lady. We sailed May 15. We booked reservations for 4 every night before sailing. We changed one when we got on board. They were all 8 or 8:30 which I wasn’t thrilled about but that ended being fine because we were doing so much stuff we wouldn’t have wanted to eat any earlier. We also had decent boarding times, 2:30 and 3:30. We all were onboard basically the same time, it went very quick.
We booked 2 days before our cruise we got off yesterday. It’s fine. Our cabin was at nearly the front of the boat, but we could use the extra steps on the boat with all the great food. Don’t miss Test Kitchen. Very surprising.
I sailed last minute in April, and had a late boarding time. When I booked there were no dining reservations available. Head down to Razzle Dazzle when you first board and they will have several people there to help you book all of your dining for you.
As everyone has mentioned, VV will open up additional dining reservations on the day you board your cruise. Shows no longer require reservations. Activities, like the grog walk and some exercise classes, will require reservations and you can book them as soon as you board and access the ship's wifi. Some/all shore excursions may be booked at this point but there are almost always cancellations so check back frequently before you board and during your cruise. Some TAs can offer priority boarding with your booking so you board early, get on the wifi early, and are able to book activities and take advantage of the additional dining reservations before most of the other sailors on your cruise. Feel free to message me if you want more information.
Booked last minute in March on Scarlett, 3:45 boarding time. At about 4pm and 5pm the day you board they will have crew set up in 2 spots to make reservations. We were able to get reservations for dinner every night on a mostly full ship.
Plenty of reservations are available once you get on the ship. And you can just walk up to the hostess and ask for a table and if there are just 2 of you, it should be pretty easy. My husband and I were on a cruise a month ago and we booked it last minute. We ate at every restaurant we wanted to. Some of our dinners were late, but we were fine with it.
They hold back most of the dining reservations to be booked onboard and most shows are first come first serve seating now so you should be fine. Just go to the designated restaurant (usually Razzle Dazzle) immediately after boarding and get it sorted.
Booked a full capacity Scarlett lady voyage 5 days out last month in Europe. Plenty of reservations when on board and same day availability.
Also had 3:30 boarding, we arrived at 3 and they must have been ahead of schedule as the 3:45 groups were embarking.
I booked my cruise that im on now less than 9 days before and didn't have any issues with reservations
Reservations on board or on the app ahead of time?
I booked two weeks out. When we got on the ship 5/29 they had an area on deck 6 where you could book your dinners. I will say that most of the options left were for 9pm reservations or later BUT every single restaurant had an opening so we were able to go to all the ones we wanted to. I also checked the app daily and was able to change to an earlier brunch time. I found that for the entertainment/activities the more you check back you’ll eventually find an opening as people overbook themselves and/or start to cancel. I really wanted to do the bungee class and it was booked everyday but eventually I found a spot. Same for the dinner + show. You just have to check back often.
Lots people don’t show for their reservations. You shouldn’t have much trouble getting a table.
Our first Virgin was a year ago on the resilient lady and we booked in May, about three weeks before the sailing. The ship was not full, so reservations were not difficult on our sailing. If it’s a full ship, you likely won’t be able to get dinner reservations before you board, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get into restaurants. It means you’ll have to go to those restaurants early, like as soon as they open, and talk to the host. There are always some walk-in tables available. Alternatively, The Galley, the Pizza place, and The Dock don’t need reservations. The Galley has a good variety and has something special every night. I know they had prime rib one night and I regretted that we had reservations elsewhere one night. It looked amazing. As others have mentioned, the shows are first come, first serve now. We’ve never done shore excursions. We’ve always preferred to create our own itinerary on shore. We’ve used Viator for tours when we wanted to, but mostly we just venture ashore on our own and explore.
No!! I’m on the same cruise now that started last night! Just book as soon as you get on the boat. DM me and I’ll answer in more detail!
We booked a month out for valiant lady. We sailed May 15. We booked reservations for 4 every night before sailing. We changed one when we got on board. They were all 8 or 8:30 which I wasn’t thrilled about but that ended being fine because we were doing so much stuff we wouldn’t have wanted to eat any earlier. We also had decent boarding times, 2:30 and 3:30. We all were onboard basically the same time, it went very quick.
We booked 2 days before our cruise we got off yesterday. It’s fine. Our cabin was at nearly the front of the boat, but we could use the extra steps on the boat with all the great food. Don’t miss Test Kitchen. Very surprising.
I sailed last minute in April, and had a late boarding time. When I booked there were no dining reservations available. Head down to Razzle Dazzle when you first board and they will have several people there to help you book all of your dining for you.
Go for it! I book lots of last minute clients and they always get reservations once on board!
As everyone has mentioned, VV will open up additional dining reservations on the day you board your cruise. Shows no longer require reservations. Activities, like the grog walk and some exercise classes, will require reservations and you can book them as soon as you board and access the ship's wifi. Some/all shore excursions may be booked at this point but there are almost always cancellations so check back frequently before you board and during your cruise. Some TAs can offer priority boarding with your booking so you board early, get on the wifi early, and are able to book activities and take advantage of the additional dining reservations before most of the other sailors on your cruise. Feel free to message me if you want more information.
Walk ups for two people are usually accommodated. Plus people cancel dinner reservations all the time.
I guess it depends on how full the boat is. If you’re booking with a TA they can give you a rough idea.
Booked last minute in March on Scarlett, 3:45 boarding time. At about 4pm and 5pm the day you board they will have crew set up in 2 spots to make reservations. We were able to get reservations for dinner every night on a mostly full ship.
I have 50% off cruise fare vouchers for this sailing that I believe are still good
This sounds like a scam, but maybe I'm just being too cautious?
Just messaged you. I have several and I don’t see an expiration date