cruise question- related to dining

aggiebug · October 2010

we have the option of choosing choose our time dining so we can eat whenever we want. or we can choose either 6 or 8 pm dining

With the first we won't be rushed during our port days (only one day we could be out past 6)

but with the 2nd you sit with the same people and the waiter gets to know you and what you like.

both seem to have benefits so I wanted to get some opinions from those who have been on a cruise before.

Thanks for the help

bellebride116 · October 2010

The first couple of cruises we went on we did the later seating. However, the cruise we went on this past April we did the seating where we can go whenever we want and we LOVED it. We got a private table for the two of us each night and we were never rushed or worried about being a certain place at a certain time. We were allowed to plan each day a little differently! We would still dine the other way, but we prefer the any time.

strlzfan11 · October 2010

I say choose whenever you want to eat. If you're going to be on your honeymoon you don't really want to share every meal with a bunch of other people (some of whom might be old enough to be your parents or older) do you?

Beachy730 · October 2010

I've always done the timed seating dinners. I really prefer the 8:00 time because you can take your time getting ready and getting to dinner. Even when you leave the ports at 5, you still have to get back to your room and shower and get ready, and the 6:00 always feels rushed.

I've never been on a cruise that gave you the option of always doing pick your own time for dinner. There was always a buffet that you could go to whenever you wanted, but never a sit down dinner that you just walked in. I guess its just your personal preference. I love H, but I liked having someone else to talk to during dinner too. The couples we were sat with we really had nothing in common with, but we had a good time talking with them anyways.

christikao · October 2010

Cruise Lines usually put you with people around your age if you decide to sit with others. You can also request to be seated with just you and your DH. For us the 6 PM seating is way too rushed. Most of the time you have to be back on the boat by 5:30 PM and that doesn't give you a lot of time to get ready. For Royal Caribbean you can pick a set time but then you can also book my time dining for the nights you don't feel like eating around a set time. The only thing is you have to pre-paid the gratuity instead of waiting until the last day to pay for it. Also spa specials are always offered during port days so FI and I always book the spa appointments for 5 PM and then get ready for our 8 PM dinner after.

[Deleted User] · October 2010

I have done both the late seating and the anytime dining. And I have to say that on my next cruise it will defintely be the late seating again for me. The anytime dining we had to call ahead to make "reservations" or go and possibly stand in line like a restaurant before we were seated. The late seating you knew where to sit and when to be there, it gave us enough time to get ready and not feel rushed from the day, and if there are any meals that you cant make it for the time or decide not to there are always other options of eating.

lyndausvi · October 2010

I prefer late seating. I like taking my time getting ready, going out for cocktails then heading to dinner. For me to do that for the early seating we would have to start getting ready at 4 pm. Too early for us

We normally eat late anyway.

SuMmErKuTiE · October 2010

I prefer to sit at the same table every night with the same waitstaff because they get to know you and it's fun. DH and I usually get a private table and don't sit with strangers for dinner. We choose the second seating (8:00ish) so even on days we're in port on an island we have enough time to get ready for dinner without feeling rushed.

aggiebug · October 2010

Thanks so much ladies I knew you would give great advice! This is our first cruise, we are taking a carnival cruise to Alaska. So excited!

akcrrr · October 2010

I have been on quite a few cruises and any time dining is definitely the best option in my opinion. Most recent cruise was another Carnival ship in may and we did anytime dining with them. We never had to wait and they always asked if we wanted to be seated with other people or by ourselves and it was nice to have the choice. They can also seat you in the same section (same waiters) if you request it although if you come as soon as the doors open you might have to wait.

If you really do not want to do the anytime then do late seating. As other people have said it gives you time to relax and get ready before dinner and if you are starving you can always grab a snack at the buffet

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_cruise-question-related-dining?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:a3772a55-90f2-4a7f-8b36-8008ccb67073Post:ce1a1fa1-0b13-4cad-b207-4fc8fdf90f9a">Re: cruise question- related to dining</a>:
[QUOTE]I prefer late seating. I like taking my time getting ready, going out for cocktails then heading to dinner. For me to do that for the early seating we would have to start getting ready at 4 pm. Too early for us We normally eat late anyway.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

This.

Beachy730 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_cruise-question-related-dining?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:a3772a55-90f2-4a7f-8b36-8008ccb67073Post:1870ce10-6842-45e4-844b-ab62945c0bb8">Re: cruise question- related to dining</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks so much ladies I knew you would give great advice! This is our first cruise, we are taking a carnival cruise to Alaska. So excited!
Posted by aggiebug[/QUOTE]

When is your cruise? H and I didn't do a honeymoon because we had to move cross country very soon after the wedding, and he is getting deployed soon. We are planning on doing an Alaskan cruise in May for our "honeymoon" even though it will be almost a year later. Carnival does the Alaskan cruises right out of Seattle so thats what we plan on doing.

Beachy730 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_cruise-question-related-dining?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:a3772a55-90f2-4a7f-8b36-8008ccb67073Post:1195774d-be06-4620-97cf-eb6aa7f21de8">Re: cruise question- related to dining</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: cruise question- related to dining : we leave from Seattle on May 24th! Yay for a honeymoon even if it is a year later ;)
Posted by aggiebug[/QUOTE]

Thats actually one of the dates we looked at to go on. That would be pretty funny if we ended up on the same cruise.

aggiebug · October 2010

agreed! can it just be here yet?

sunnysarahinNC · October 2010

late seating all the way! most of the ports i've been to, you don't have to be back to the ship until 5 anyways...gives you time to shower, and grab cocktails (or apps if you're starving!).

i've always cruised RC, and my family's always been matched perfectly with another. in fact, one of my girlfriends went for her HM this past May, and they were placed with another HM couple, both brides were even nurses! she said it was fun to have another couple to link up with during some of the excursions etc.

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