We are sailing in April in the Voyager, first time back in a couple years. I noticed that dinner in La Veranda is now by reservation. How long has this been going on? Is it a hassle? We have always enjoyed the flexibility of dropping in when getting back late from excursions. Looks like this will be more of a problem.

Blitz, reservations for La Veranda is news to me! I haven't heard anything about that change, maybe someone else has?

When we were on the Mariner in Dec they talked about turning La Veranda into an Italian restaurant with reservations in 2012. Maybe it's done already...
Jim

I made dining reservations for the Voyager two days ago. There was no option for La Veranda.

Apparently this is kicking in next summer, so no immediate worries.

If you look at the restaurant options for the ships on the Regent web site, you'll see the description of the change for "Sette Mari at La Veranda". Starts in June.

While it sounds very nice, essentially an upgrade to what they've been doing for dinner in La Veranda, it removes or will make this harder to be a last minute decision. Our normal MO has been to review the menu for Compass Rose and decide which restaurant to eat in on any given evening when we didn't have servations elsewhere.

I'm guessing that one reason they are doing this is to provide more "reservation only" options so that all passengers will feel they have access whereas if they weren't paying attention they'd miss out on Prime 7 or Signatures (or maybe even both).

It'll be interesting to see if pre-cruise reservations are offered for Sette Mari. Since we'll be on Voyager starting 13 June, we'll either be the last cruise before the change or, perhaps, one of the first with it. Our access to dinner reservations open on 15 March so we'll see what shows up at that time and post if others haven't done so before then.

So it starts in the summer. That's good news that it will be no inconvenience and hopefully they will be trying out the Sette Mari menu/service enhancements when I sail in April.

When we first cruised on the Navigator (I think it was our TA cruise in 2009) the evening meal at what was then Portofino (since renamed la Veranda) was by reservation only. You made those with Paulo, the Maître d'hôtel, not on the website prior to sailing. We ate there once and didn't like it.

Since then there have been lots of comments, especially recently, about how lovely the evening dining at la Veranda is - across the fleet. it seems that "Sette Mari" will start 12th June this year but while the comment "reservations required" is there, it is not clear if these are made prior to sailing or once on board.

This afternoon, Frank Del Rio posted the following good news on CruiseCritic:

"Based on a number of "experiments" recently conducted onboard Mariner with Titanium, Platinum and Gold Seven Seas Society members, we have decided NOT to make Sette Mari reservations only.

Instead, we will have our customary appetizer/antipasti/soup/salad/dessert buffet plus a pasta station preparing the two fresh pasta's of the day. A waiter will then pass out menus from which guests can select 5 additional pasta's plus 8 entrees both of which will be served by waiters.

The overwhelming belief by the Society Members was that they did not want to loose the convenience and flexibility of a buffett (come anytime) restaurant. We believe that the new hybrid concept of part buffett and part sit down, menu driven restaurant will be the best of both worlds.

We'll give a try. If it works, and guests like it great.
If it doesn't work, we'll revert to the existing buffett only.

Let us know what you think.
FDR"

The 10 or so comments since this was posted were all favorable regarding keeping La Veranda a "no reservations" restaurant.

Thank you for posting that. I think this is a good idea, so long as Navigator goes to table service for entree's, just like it is on the other ships already. Other than than that, I don't think there's a change from what we have already.

I like the no-reservation concept and also buffet plus entree menu if you want.


Usually I just prowled the tasty buffet and topped it off wih a dessert or two

I like what they have done as well, TedC!

I don't see how this changes anything from the way it is currently. Every time we have eaten at la Veranda on any of the ships the antipasti has been buffet. And then you ordered your main course from the menu. Which was then served to you at your table...

I think not having reservations required is a good idea.

We will try it out next month and report back!
Gerry

Gerry, I had the exact same reaction. For quite some time, dinner didn't require reservations, the antipasti was a buffet, and main courses were ordered off the menu. So what's new? I guess the fact that it is going to be Italian all the time instead of switching, e.g., to a French bistro.

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Eugene

Voyager and Mariner were always the antipasti buffet and order from the menu.

The Navigator changed to a straight buffet after the addition of Prime Seven as the kitchen space upstairs is small and at night is primarily dedicated to Prime Seven.

This can cause confusion if the ship being discussed is not clarified.

I was wondering if the Navigator situation was different. Thanks for clarifying, Ngaire.

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Eugene