Passenger on NCL Star sues NCL over unavailability of specialty restaurant bookings

**Ally** · 04-30-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

A California woman sued NCL, alleging the Miami-based cruise operator failed to disclose it may be impossible to get reservations at specialty restaurants for those passengers not booked in the upscale cabins that get priority access.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court Monday by Fort Lauderdale attorney Paul M. Hoffman seeks refunds for the cruise and incidental costs for Eva Gularte, her sister and mother, for a voyage on the Norwegian Star, plus attorney's fees. It seeks class-action status for all NCL passengers who had similar problems in the past three years.

NCL, which offers ''freestyle dining'' aimed at giving passengers choice, said it hadn't been served with the suit and couldn't comment.

NCL is sued over top restaurants - 04/29/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

**Ally** · 05-02-2008, 07:29 AM

I have now seen this in several different online media sites. I honestly cannot understand what the problem is. It has been known for years that if you want to book a table in a speciality restaurant on an NCL ship you have to book it as soon as you board.

When I was aboard Crown in 2005 I booked tables for Christmas Day & New Year's Eve within 15 minutes of boarding....last year I booked a table for 16 within 20 mins of boarding and as soon as the booking facility opened.

I had no problem making those bookings, but I can quite understand it if it was left any later in the cruise. As with everything it is first come, first served. Also I was in the standard cabins and still got my bookings done without a problem.

Its a shame this family didn't get their booking, but maybe they should have been quicker.

Russell Benton · 05-04-2008, 08:36 AM

Fair enough Ally , as you are clearly an experienced cruiser. However to many who are not, NCL freestyle cruising is portrayed as being a facility where you could go to a different restaurant every night. Clearly this is not the case without the formality of booking.

Also I have to say as soon as I get on ship I want to relax not dash around ,as you now seem to have to do, to reserve various activities that you might want to try during the course of the cruise

Russell

**Ally** · 05-04-2008, 08:42 AM

On the NCL ships there are 3 ways to book tables....in person, over the phone and via the television interactively. The speciality restaurants aren't actually reserved for the 'posh cabins' first, basically its down to those cabins having butlering staff who can get through quicker.

With 10 speciality restaurants plus 2 standard to choose from on one ship, I just have a problem understanding why this family did not get booked. In the travel document pack supplied before you cruise it does state that if a speciality restaurant booking will be required then make it as soon as possible after boarding.

I am not sure but under the new Freestyle 2.0 system being rolled out across the fleet at the moment, you might be able to pre-book in advance from your home (like you can with Costa and as you are starting to be able to do with RCI).

**middy** · 05-04-2008, 08:46 AM

Have to admit that I have only done two days on an inaugural cruise, So not the greaatest basis to make comments as they were only just getting used to things. But I did get frustrated waiting in line for the main dining room. Plenty of tables, plenty of staff waiting eagerly but you could not go in till allocated a table at the desk.