This discussion has gone down a strange path. Let me ask a couple of questions and present a couple of scenarios.

I can't find the right number so I will use an estimate of 80 seats in Signatures. They can turn the whole restaurant over once so that is 160 per night. Let us say Voyager is full with 700 pax (i.e., there are as many three person cabins as single passenger cabins). Let us say everyone wants to eat at Signatures during the cruise. There is total room for 1120 passenger meals to be taken in Signatures.

Setting up a priority system does not limit anyone from eating at Signatures. All 700 passengers get to eat at least once if not twice or more.

However, lets say I want to eat on Tuesday because my favorite meals are on the menu in Compass Rose on Monday and Wednesday. Well, 160 people get to eat in Signatures on Tuesday. Who should have first choice on eating there on Tuesday. What real harm have I done to any sailor by choosing Tuesday? Have any of us always gotten our first choice for dinners in Signatures?

Now, let me go out on a limb since I don't know the real information as I have never gone to the spa. Let us say that the spa can only perform 150 massages on a cruise. How do you determine which of the 700 passengers that want massages get to have one? Normal economics would say that they should raise the prices until demand only equals supply; do we really want them to raise prices? Or, which of the 350 ladies on board get to have their hair done on formal night? I know that there is not room for all since Arlene has not always been able to get an appointment. So, if Arlene gets priority on formal night, that is not limiting anyone from getting an appointment on another day. Of course, they could just raise salon prices on formal night to lower demand; does anyone prefer that?

Maybe spa appointments are plentiful too. Maybe I am wrong in hypothesizing that there is a limited number os spa appointments. Then, all we are doing is setting priorities.

In both instances, there are multiple ways to set priorities. The mass market approach...everyone race to the spa on embarkation. The current Radisson aproach........everyone queue at spa at certain time on embarkation day. Or maybe, for repeat customers, the chance to not have to queue up.

Now, to close, I think many of us (including me) have been hypocritical. Many of us, including me, have gone on embarkation day and made Signatures or Latitudes reservations for a party of 4, 6, or 8. Then a friend or family member, has done the same. End result, we have eaten in Signatures or Latitudes much more often than those that did not know "how to play the system." This way of playing the system has been recommended many times both on cc and here. I know many of us here have done the same. I also remember cruising with a wonderful couple on Diamond. He was in a wheel chair and she pushed him around everywhere. I wonder how they did in terms of getting dining reservations on their trip on Voyager. It would sure have been nice if they had some way of getting a reservation to Signature without standing in line.

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I am not going to apologize for wanting dining priorities. Unlike some here, I never book big suites. Those in big suites already get priority for dining reservations; that is one role of the butler. (This is same situation as JAM posted regarding Crystal.) I think us guys booking small suites but booking often, should get some perks.

There is total room in all specialty dining rooms (except for maybe Latitudes) for all to get a chance. All we are talking about is selection of night. Also, there is no talk of priority system at Compass Rose. That restaurant can seat all of us.

I hope many of you that disagree with me would still like to cruise with me. Otherwise, since I seem to stand alone on this question, it will sure be lonely on future cruises. :(

Thanks for listening,

Marc