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Planning My First Cruise


ChuckL88
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Hi all

I am currently planning my first cruise and have plenty of questions.

I will be sailing on Carnival Spirit for a 9 night cruise, from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia on the 9th of December 2019.

I will be travelling as part of a group of 11 if all goes according to plan.

We are considering your time dining. The youngest will be in a high chair.

1. Are there tables on board this ship big enough for all of us?

2. Is there normally a long wait for a table this size?

3. If we decide to eat somewhere else for dinner do we still inform the MDR?

4. Can we all eat at different times or separately if some want to dine elsewhere?

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If you have "Your Time Dining", you may be a large group, or break into smaller one. YTD is like a regular restaurant..Larger parties are harder to seat than 2 or 4. You can call the dining room and make reservations for the nights you will be dining as a large group. As long as everyone has YTD, you may eat separately or together...your choice.

 

If you do "traditional" seating, then your table is waiting for YOU.... since you will be seated as a group there, someone not showing won't affect anyone else except your own party!

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1. Yes.

2. Not sure.

3. No need to.

4. Yes.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Hi Paul, thanks for your answers and welcome.

 

Just wanted to cover all basis as travelling with a larger group, will probably have lots more questions for you :)

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If you have "Your Time Dining", you may be a large group, or break into smaller one. YTD is like a regular restaurant..Larger parties are harder to seat than 2 or 4. You can call the dining room and make reservations for the nights you will be dining as a large group. As long as everyone has YTD, you may eat separately or together...your choice.

 

If you do "traditional" seating, then your table is waiting for YOU.... since you will be seated as a group there, someone not showing won't affect anyone else except your own party!

 

Thanks CB for your help in clarifying this all, I like the idea of "Your Time Dining" because of its flexibility and just wanted some clarity into how it would work with a group of my size :)

 

Plenty more questions to come

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I would suggest traditional, based on the size of your group. It gives the staff time to plan for your large group.

 

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks for the advice Broadwaybaby, I will take this into consideration.

 

The reason I am leaning towards "Your Time Dining" is because we like the flexibility of it.

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I am also wondering about taking food around the ship, I have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

If so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? e.g. arcade, gym or library.

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"Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino."

God I hope not. Let there be some places on the ship we can go without having people bringing in food.

 

Can't comment on the casino, but I have never seen anybody walk into a show lounge/theatre with a plate full of food from the MDR or buffet. However, I have seen them bringing snacks, fruit, etc.

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i am also wondering about taking food around the ship, i have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

no

if so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? E.g. Arcade, gym food no; drink yes or library food no; drink yes. .

 

To make sure that you are assigned to the same table or at least tables close to one another, link your reservations.

 

DON

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I think YTD is great, as I like flexibility as well. But please don't think that your group needs to be connected at the hip to each other. You have a diverse age grouping so there will be evenings or tour times when each might want to go off and do their own thing. Dining might be one of these times, the toddler/infant will dictate more of what its parents will do, as such make it clear to everyone that there is no need to be together the whole time. '

Have a great time!

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When we did our family cruise 12 yrs ago on Sapphire Princess we opted for the early traditional dining. That way the 18 of us were able to plan our days however we liked but we all met for dinner every night to share our days. We also often went to the theatre after. They seated us in an elevated part of the MDR at three round tables. It worked well

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"Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino."

God I hope not. Let there be some places on the ship we can go without having people bringing in food.

 

Sorry to offend Barbara, wanted to know if it was allowed

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Can't comment on the casino, but I have never seen anybody walk into a show lounge/theatre with a plate full of food from the MDR or buffet. However, I have seen them bringing snacks, fruit, etc.

 

Thank you Heidi,

 

That is exactly what I wanted to know wouldn't think about eating my whole meal in there just wanted to know for snacks and a small dessert.

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I think YTD is great, as I like flexibility as well. But please don't think that your group needs to be connected at the hip to each other. You have a diverse age grouping so there will be evenings or tour times when each might want to go off and do their own thing. Dining might be one of these times, the toddler/infant will dictate more of what its parents will do, as such make it clear to everyone that there is no need to be together the whole time. '

Have a great time!

 

Thanks for the help Sauer Kraut, that is why I want YTD so flexible and easy to manage. Dinner might be one of the only times we come together as a whole group but who knows.

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When we did our family cruise 12 yrs ago on Sapphire Princess we opted for the early traditional dining. That way the 18 of us were able to plan our days however we liked but we all met for dinner every night to share our days. We also often went to the theatre after. They seated us in an elevated part of the MDR at three round tables. It worked well

 

Thanks again Barbara

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Your Time Dining is SO flexible! Based on your questions, it sounds like the option you should choose. Here are answers to any questions you could possible have about dining on a cruise: http://laurenofalltrades.blogspot.com/2017/11/anytime-dining-101.html

 

Thanks Lauren

 

I really do think YTD will work best for us, and your blog is amazing keep up the good work :)

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