Sailaway from Rome

[yogoshady]

We are booked into early 6.00pm dining on the Mariner of the Seas which sails out of Rome at 7.00pm. We are generally happy with an early set dining time because we are looking forward to getting to know new people however this is our first cruise and it would be an unforgettable experience to watch the ship leave port on our first day.

Where would we be up to an hour into the meal?

Would it be rude if we had finished our main meal to excuse ourselves from desert to watch the sail away.

I have also read on posts about the sailaway parade. When does this happen? Does it happen on all ships.

What is the norm on board, do people on early dining just usually choose to miss seeing the ship leaving if it clashes with their allocated dining time.

 

Thanks for your advice...

[Brandis]

Civitavecchia isn't that nice a port. Also, Rome is nowhere near the port so you won't see the city either.

 

Of course, you could have dinner at the buffet upstairs the first evening, then you can eat pretty much whenever you like or you could also quickly walk outside during the meal to watch the ship leave.

[FLACRUISER99]

Or it might leave late! It's is OK to leave early & skip desert.

[bbrad8]

yogoshady: Not sure that you will actually see your dinner seating at 6:00 PM for your sailing (honestly not trying to do anything other than alert you to the possibility that your dinner time will be later). Honestly, would not be surprised to see that dinner times actually end up being 6:45 PM and 9:15 PM (usual times for European cruising).

 

As for the departure, we sailed on the October '10 Navigator TA that departed from Rome (actually Civitavecchia is the port of departure). This is a highly industrial European port, just so you know.

 

Have not looked, so do not know your itinerary, but an hour in to our departure (we headed toward Toulon, France) there was not much left to see. IF you are desiring to see sailaway activities for this cruise, you may need to adjust your dinner seating OR consider MTD.

 

Honestly, we are not 'Main Seating' people, so can't answer your question about peoples practices during that seating. I would caution you that you may well not be finished w/ your main course an hour into dinner (assuming this seating stays w/ a 6 PM schedule).

 

What ever you decide to do, hope you enjoy your cruise!!!

 

Bruce

[wantocruisemore]

For our upcoming Navigator sailing out of Civitavecchia (Rome) next July, we have the early seating in the MDR and it is for 6:45pm. I would not think there would be much to see at sailaway due to the port. And as others have stated, the dinner may be later the first night anyway.

[Greghouseo]

Civitavecchia isn't that nice a port. Also, Rome is nowhere near the port so you won't see the city either.

 

Of course, you could have dinner at the buffet upstairs the first evening, then you can eat pretty much whenever you like or you could also quickly walk outside during the meal to watch the ship leave.

 

You exactly put what I was going to say.

 

If I was intent of Sailaway, which I always am I would miss my first MDR meal in order to see it.

[mjldvlks]

This is OP's first cruise, so seeing sail away -- even from Civitavecchia -- is a big deal. My time dining may be the only way to do both. If first seating is at 6:45 and sail away is at 7, it will be hard to do both.

 

If you have to make a choice, go to sail away. You'll have several nights in the dining room, but you will never have another first cruise.

 

You might consider stopping by to tell your wait staff why you won't be joining them the first night. Don't underestimate the creativity [and eagerness to please someone they will be wanting a tip from] of the wait staff. They might be able to take your order in advance or something to allow you to duck out for a few minutes and then come back.