Todd, here is the deal--we love La Terraza over the main Restaurant (ambiance, italian food, service--pace allows you to linger) (to be balanced, others like The Restaurant better) but in order to book a night or two (we booked five) you must do it between 3-5 pm, day of boarding or it is booked solid (wish they would institue on line booking like regent--more fair)..so depending on the time you arrive in SJ to board, you may be rushed to book LT...if you pay $100 pp
for early boarding you can board as early as 1030 am, have a liesurely lunch, book LT easily, and for you (new SS sailor) get to know the ship. I have not done early embarkation, but will not board a SS ship without it now (April's boarding process was too rushed for Ida and I)...you can find more posts in support of EE by searching the SS thread on CC...Hope this helps..r/wes