Can't decide which dining to do!!

[williamson_ja]

We are a family of 7 people. Me and dh with kids ages 6-18. Here are our concerns. If we have late dining (which we have liked on other cruiselines) the kids will miss out on some of the fun kids club activities. Dining early means having to rush back from shore excursions to get ready for dinner earlier than we normally would eat. Any time dining might have really slow seating for a group of 7. We also really like having the same servers so that they can get to know our likes and dislikes- have our drinks ready and we don't have to wait to eat.

 

Each option seems to have bad things. I can't decide which good thing is the most important and which bad thing is the worst. Anyone have a similar situation that can tell me what they did and if it worked (or didn't).

Thanks for the help.

[FIVEONTHEAVENUE]

We are a family of 7 people. Me and dh with kids ages 6-18. Here are our concerns. If we have late dining (which we have liked on other cruiselines) the kids will miss out on some of the fun kids club activities. Dining early means having to rush back from shore excursions to get ready for dinner earlier than we normally would eat. Any time dining might have really slow seating for a group of 7. We also really like having the same servers so that they can get to know our likes and dislikes- have our drinks ready and we don't have to wait to eat.

 

Each option seems to have bad things. I can't decide which good thing is the most important and which bad thing is the worst. Anyone have a similar situation that can tell me what they did and if it worked (or didn't).

Thanks for the help.

 

Im on the same boat as you. (maybe. Pride?) But I ruled anytime dining. It just sounds like a hassle but the others scenarios are the same. I like late dining (which is what I booked as) for the same reasons that you do but did realize that it seems to interfere with Camp Carnival. I think I might just leave it alone and see how it works out. We have Steakhouse Reservations for first night so its not an issue for the orientation and Welcome Aboard Family Party. If you plan on eating in the steakhouse, try getting a reservation for first night around the camp activities. Not only does this help with that but you also get a free bottle of wine for booking on first night of sailing.

[Boatingmom]

When i was single, I booked late seating. Ever since we started to sail with my children, we had early seating to accomadate their schedule(early bed time). This cruise (one week and 2 days away) we are eating at late seating. This was decided because we found it was too much of a rush to do early seating last cruise. We found the children ate burgers, fries, pizza and ice cream when they came back from excursions and were not even hungry at early seating. I'm sure they'll get cranky with lat, but I can always offer them the option of the kids club. They are usually real troopers on a cruise so I hope this time is no exception. I'll let you know.

[cajunchick]

With 7 people you might have a hard time with anytime. For one thing I don't think it is set up to seat 7 people together. those kinds of tables are in traditional dining. You might get seated close to eac other, but all I have ever seen are tables set up for 2-4 people. There might have been one round table on each side of anytime dining room but I can't be sure.

I only do anytime, and yes you can ask for the same wait team. Enjoy your cruise whichever you decide. :)

[emmasmom123]

We had the same dilemma on our upcoming cruise next Sunday. Initially we booked the late dining at 8:15pm, we figured that we would try to fit in a siesta around 5:00pm. After some great suggestions and advice from fellow CC members, we changed to 6:00pm and are now waitlisted. Doing the 8:15 dining time would have taken us to about 9:45/10:00 leaving no time to do anything with the kids. Our kiddies are a little younger (7&3) and this is our first cruise..hopefully we made the right choice. Our kids are excited about the movies under the stars and finishing at midnight would be far too late for them.

 

I'll post a review when we return and let you know how we made out.

 

Jenn

[Colorado Kat]

I would choose early seating. If you are late coming back from a shore excursion, you can always eat on Lido for that one time.

[Jolimont]

There's always the buffet if you're that indecisive. But I'd pick any time or early.

[CanWeGoYet?]

With young children I would go with early seating. Kids 7 or 8 & up, late seating. It works out a lot better with port days imho, and if there is some activity they really must do with the kids club - it isn't the end of the world if they miss out on the MDR. There are food options elsewhere & pretty much around the clock. Not hard to get a nice plate of food from the lido buffet or, pizza and salad, or room service for that matter. I'd never give up having the same wait staff in the MDR. To me the good service of having the same servers is one of my favorite things on a cruise.

[Gordonzoo]

We choose the anytime dining this time for the single reason of mixing the company. Last year's table mates were great but three years ago we were stuck with a male version of Debbie Downer. His family joined our table on the 2nd night. We had to listen about why he shouldn’t have to tip, the bad food, and how he thought the shows weren’t up to par with what they had in New York... Never a positive comment. I know you can change tables but we stuck it out. It was interesting to watch how some people choose to go thru life and I bet we all know someone like that. Remember smiles are contagious.

BTW our plane leaves to San Juan tonight

[wasiii]

.....I also have never felt rushed back from port to get to dinner. We had late seating once, it wasn't bad but a little too late for me.

 

This time however, we're going to try anytime dining.

 

wasiii

[Oompaland]

1st. Early seating. 2nd. Anytime.

 

You are on vacation with your kids. Enjoy them! Later dinner brings tired children and speaking from experience, they are more joyful to around when they are not overtired and cranky. ;)

[SASA13]

We do the anytime dining, and when we find a good waiter (usually the first or second night), we request him/her everytime after that. We have never waited more than 20 minutes for a table, and we will never go back to the "regimented" dining schedule.

[serene56]

 

Each option seems to have bad things. I can't decide which good thing is the most important and which bad thing is the worst. Anyone have a similar situation that can tell me what they did and if it worked (or didn't).

Thanks for the help.

 

 

anytime dining for 7 people-- the wait times may make it not so fun- especially with kids in tow- Most kids have the patience of a flea.

 

Depends on what ship you are sailing-- and what time do your ports get finished. Do you have a lot of late port times?

 

When we sailed the Pride we had two late port times. 10pm and 7pm. (which we ate at the buffet) (its the same food minus a few things only)

[golfadj]

With kids early dining. Can always go to lido when running late.

[ChefSusan]

If it was me I'd opt for early dining. You have little ones who might like to have the opportunity to participate in any of the Camp Carnival activities that occur early evening. This way, they can do that, and you and your husband can then go off and watch a show, gamble in the casino, or catch an act in the Comedy Club.