Ever wonder why online cruise bookings are considered complex? Just consider that Crystal Cruises has expanded its dining options for 2011 sailings, and in July 2010 it plans to debut an online Priority Check-in and Planning Center to handle guests' dining preferences.
Open Dining by Reservation has been added to the current Classic Main Seating and Classic Late Seating dining choices for sailings starting in January 2011 onboard the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.
The Open Dining by Reservation option means guests who have fully paid up-front for their sailings can -- even before they set eyes on the ship -- make reservations in the main dining room and also in the ships' specialty restaurants.
Crystal currently offers an online pre-registration service for dining reservations, but the online PCPC, coming in July, will expand those services, Crystal says.
The cruise line says details about PCPC will be available at the end of June.
Still, the line says, prior to boarding, guests are limited to reserving one night in each of the ship's specialty restaurants using the PCPC, but once onboard, they can make arrangements with the Maitre D' for additional nights in the specialty restaurants.
Or they can dial "0" and make their reservations.
See -- this cruise stuff isn't simple, and we're only talking about dining options here.
Shore excursions anyone?