Benefits of Early v. Late Dinner Seating

[mcbrides]

What has been your experience or preference for dinner seatings? It seems like the early seating might be hard to get back on board and ready for, but does the late seating cause you to miss evening entertainment?

 

Thanks!

Stasha

[cmason]

you don't miss any entertainment, they usually have two shows or they are after the late seating. We had late seating last time, and found that we had to go to the shows before dinner, and though we had plenty of time to get ready, dinner was too late for us. It was tough waiting for dinner that late, as you were getting hungry, and didnt want to eat and "spoil your dinner". We didnt roll out of dinner until after 10pm, by which time we were getting tired.

 

Most days the ship was scheduled for departure around 5 or 6 anyway, so we were already on board by 3 or 4, plenty of time to get ready for early dinner.

 

Chose the main seating this time around, so though we may need to get in from port earlier,we will be able to have dinner and a show, plus a nitecap before it gets too late.

 

...left until Navigator of the Seas 11/13/04

 

[TonyaJune]

We usually have the early seating because for us waiting to eat dinner at 8:30 is just too late for us. We rarely have to rush back to the ship to get ready for the main seating which is usually 6:00 or 6:30. Most times we are back on the ship by 4:00. I enjoy going to the show after dinner and then we go dancing.

 

UNTIL I SET SAIL ON THE JEWEL OF THE SEAS

[headusher]

Late seating works better for us because there is no need to rush back from an excursion or tour. There's time to take a nice shower and relax with a drink. I like to eat A LOT!!! So the late seating allows me to munch before the dinner. On the last cruise I was on the sushi bar opened at 5pm so I was able to fill up on sushi, take a break and then head for dinner.

 

I guess the biggest advantage about the late seating is there is no rushing around after a hard day at play.

 

Grandeur in three days!!!!

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[KruzinKiwi]

It's really a matter of personal preference. On our Alaska cruise we did main seating because it got dark earlier but on our Caribbean cruises we like to go to the second seating.

 

The big advantage for us of the 2nd seating is we can sit out on deck and have drink and watch the ship sail away and/or the sunset rather than be inside getting ready for dinner. We then go inside and change about 6:30 - 7pm and then find a bar for a drink before dinner.

 

The shows for 2nd seating are either before dinner or after dinner. If they are after dinner (the norm) then they don't start until 10:45 and finish about 11:30. Doesn't leave much more evening - especially if you want to go to the casino or be off the ship early the next morning. That's the main disadvantage of second seating.

 

We don't usually get hungry because we have late lunch in the Windjammer about 2-3pm. Also, you can always get food at the cafe promenade if you get real hungry around 6pm and many of the bars we found give us free nibbles with a drink.

 

 

KruzinKiwi

[kml2000]

If you have children, they are able to get to the clubs for the evening activities with early seating. The wait staff are usually tuned into serving the kids quick so they can take off for their evenings of fun.

 

I don't like to eat late. I don't tend to stay up very late and like to have time for my food to settle before going bed. You also aren't stuffed for any midnight or evening buffets and/or snacks (room service maybe).

 

I had early seating for my last two cruises and we didn't have to rush back from ports.

 

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Karen

 

 

[Bonster]

We are going with early seating this time around. I found that the late seating was nice for not rushing back from excursions, however, we did not leave the dining room until approx. 10:30 pm on some nights, talk about ruining your appetite for the late night buffets! Anyway, I agree, it is a matter of personal preference. I will be able to compare the two after our next cruise which is coming up in over a week!!

 

 

Nordic Empress 1995

Radiance of the Seas 2001

Galaxy 2003

Explorer of the Seas 2004

[weinoh]

We prefer late seating mainly because 6:30 is just too early. We eat later than that when we are not on vacation. While I do admit 8:30 is a bit late. I would prefer 7:30- 8:00 but there is no such animal unless you prefer to go to the Windjammer. Its all personal preference.

Don't fret too much over the decision. Hope you have a great time.

 

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[fireguy091]

I prefer late. Early enterfears with afternoon cocktail partys on the balcony and being able to unwind from the days activities.

 

 

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[inkspress yourself]

I've only cruised once before and we ate the early dinner. Everyone I knew said we should because our daughter was so young (almost 3). That didn't work for us. Normally we stay up late and sleep late so we are used to being up late.

 

We missed most of the dinners because after we spent the day on a hot beach (which I love to do) I was exhausted. I slept through 4 of the dinners.

 

This time we are planning on the late dinner. That way I can spend the day at the beach, come back to the ship and sleep, and then go to dinner.

 

But that is just our family's preference. My daughter and I nap a lot.

 

Dawn

[banderboo]

If you have kids I'd go with early seating. We had late seating on both of our previous cruises and the adults had no problems. However, late seating interfers with the teen activities so it was a fight to try to get the girls to stay for dinner.

 

Diane

Legend of the Sea 9/12/04

Voyager of the Sea 8/24/03

Sovereign of the Sea 07/01

[skigirl]

It really is a matter of personal preference. One thing you might consider is what time you will be leaving ports. We did early on the AOS last summer because it was at 6:30 and we usually left ports at 5:30, which meant you had to be onboard by 5:00. So there was still plenty of time to watch the ship sail away, shower and have a drink. Also last summer their late seating was 9:00 and that was just way too late. We've done late, too, and it is ok if you are in port later, but I did hate the feeling of going to bed stuffed.

[JJohn]

We always book late seating unless we are with a group. Had early seating on AOS last Jan and it didn't give us time to relax at the pool with a cocktail or two (or seven) which is nice after a hard day of relaxing at the pool having a cocktail (or seven). We eat late anyway so the late seating works just fine for us. Hope to see you in Jan on the Brilliance. We'll be by the pool.

[GypsyOBRN]

I have found late seating to be better for us because, like others have stated, I don't like to rush back from the shore to shower and get ready for dinner.

 

I have found a good plan on my last cruise was to order room service of appetizers while getting ready for dinner. That way, you don't go hungry waiting for a late dinner and if there is something really yummy, you can order it yet again, at dinner.

 

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[ws293]

I'm not sure this is true for everyone, but there are so many food on the cruise ship 24 hours a day, if we pick the first dinning seating, we are not hungry enough to have a good dinner. Therefore the 2nd dinner sitting at 8:30pm works best for us.

 

Past Cruises:

Enchantment of the Seas - May 12, 2002

Sovereign of the Seas - Sept. 1997

[Nitra]

I have always done late seating and never missed anything I wanted to see. I hate to be rushed and to me early seating was too early. Also we always have someone in our group off the west coast and for them it works out to be about the right time. If I get too hungry before dinner I go to the windjammer and grab a small plate of food and take it back to my cabin.. LOL Only done this a few times because then I am usually too full to eat dinner. Have to time this stuff right. Also if you are in port you have time to relax and even take a short nap before dinner if you want. Just more relaxed to me.

 

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[joyceyw]

We prefer late seating. we live on the left coast and the time difference still is a little early for us 8:30 is 5:30 we usually eat around 6:30 - 7:30. We don't feel rushed coming back from excursions. We absolutely love drinks at sailaway which is sometimes during early seating. Plus most children go to early seating.

 

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[kc320]

We used to do late, but as we've gotten older we switched to early. We usually eat at home around 5-6 so it falls in with our regular schedule. If we are going to be in port late or on an excursion we just skip the dinning room that night. For our Serenade cruise coming up, we leave most of the ports at 5, which means we have to be onboard by 4:30, which gives us time to relax & get ready for dinner by 6.

Really a personal preference though, that's the joy of cruising, try something and if it doesn't work for you do it different next time.

 

Halloween on the Serenade

[DVC Calif]

Dining main seating allows you to build that appetite back up in time for the midnight buffet!!!

 

 

Steve

[breal6]

what midnight buffet?

didnt they stop all but the caribbean night at the pool buffet?

 

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[GrannyJ]

We did early seating on our 4-nighter this week for the first time because we had a young'un with us, but I'll definitely go back to second seating on the next cruise. Coming back from shore excursions in the tropical heat, I was just too wiped out to make a 6:00 dinner comfortably.

[TomCat32174]

Early or late? Have done both. For me, later is better for reasons so many have stated... able to take a nap, ship port departure. When we have done early, it seemed that we were rushed by the wait staff since they had to get ready for late seating, but if you like to relax while eating, late would be ebst, plus it allows you to enjoy dessert, which in my opinion is the best course!!

 

 

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[dougp26364]

We've done early on our first two cruises. Two of the next three we've scheduled second seating. Mostly because we have our adult children traveling with us on the Caribbean cruise and I don't want them to be rushed in port. It's a rare opportunity for them to travel beyond the 48 and I want them to have all the time available to explore.

 

When we go on our Med cruise, I want all the time I can have while in port. I'd rather not feel pressed for time trying to see the sights.

 

It also helps that my wife and I have always kept odd dinner ours. Dinner can be anywhere from 5pm to 10 pm, depending on what's going on around the house. Plus, there's always something to snack on around a cruise ship. A little glass of wine, a few pieces of cheese and fruit while sitting on the balcony is a nice way to relax and keep hunger under control at the same time.

 

Of course with early seating, there's time to relax and enjoy the night while allowing dinner to digest before heading off to bed.

 

In the long run it really doesn't matter to me if I eat early or late, I'll still enjoy myself just as much. The choice is made by the circumstances or itenary.

 

Future cruises

Explorer OTS - Easter Caribbean 11/04

Monarch OTS - Mexico Baja 1/05

Brilliance OTS - Mediteranian 10/05

 

 

Past cruises

Vision OTS - Alaska 7/03

Legend OTS - Alaska 7/02

 

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