My Time Dining vs Traditional Dining - Group of 12

[elainesj]

I will be on the Liberty of the Seas in March 2012 with 2 other families. There will be 12 of us with kids ranging from 3 yrs to 11 yrs. several of the littler kids can be rambunctious.

 

Right now we are booked for 6pm traditional dining.

 

I quite like the thought of MTD so we can be flexible with our scheduling based on what we're doing that day. I also like the idea of not having a reservation and going for dinner when we are ready. With some of the younger kids, it's nice to have the flexibility of strolling in whenever we are ready.

 

This is our first cruise - is MTD a good idea, particularly with our group? I can see us mostly using the MDR although on occassion, we may feed the kids first in windjammers or something.

 

Also, what are the impacts of MTD on all the shows we want to see? We love shows and will likely want to see them all.

 

Thanks!! I've been learning a lot reading all the threads here.

[cb at sea]

As long as getting your group together isn't like "herding cats", then MTD will work...but you will need to make reservations for a group that large, which may defeat the purpose. Just like in any restaurant, large groups generally have a wait if they aren't expecting you at a given time.

And, you'll have to schedule your dinner AROUND the show times, unlike traditional dining, where the shows are scheduled around YOU!

 

Frankly, keep your traditional....your table will be ready, everyone will be certain of what time to show up, and you won't have to worry about missing any shows!!!

[Mewissy]

I would recommend traditional as well.

 

As cb explains, MTD would require a reservation or at least a wait for a group your size, so strolling in wouldn't be quite that simple.

 

As for the kids, there are other options for you to feed them if they're having a bit of an "off" day or just wouldn't cooperate.

[Ginnyfyr]

I would stick with traditional dining as well. We typically cruise with several family friends (all adults) so we're usually a group of 9-12 for dinnertime. With that big a group, we've always found traditional is better as it gives us all a set time to eat together and catch up on what we all did that day. As someone else mentioned, it also ensures that a large enough table will be ready for you so you can eat right away.

[gerif]

You might even consider taking late dining and feeding the kids early from the buffet then sending them off to Adventure Ocean while you enjoy your dinner and show. You don't have this option if you take early dining and if they become "rambunctuous" you would need to remove them from the dining room.

[johneeo]

I will be on the Liberty of the Seas in March 2012 with 2 other families. There will be 12 of us with kids ranging from 3 yrs to 11 yrs. several of the littler kids can be rambunctious.

 

Right now we are booked for 6pm traditional dining.

 

 

Stick with the 6:00 dining. You will have a set table reserved for your group every night at a set time. Everyone will know this and plan accordingly, without having to schedule times every day.

 

And if you cannot make the 6:00 seating on any evening, no big deal, just go to the WJ.

[It'sRC4ME]

One more reason to stick with traditional dining: you will have the same waiters every night, and they will learn your groups quirks and preferences. The right number of high chairs will be waiting for you. If any of the kids need something to eat right away they will bring them something to snack on right away. Having a fixed dining time and waitstaff will be two less chaotic things about what is sure to be a little bit of a chaotic group!

[Liltx31]

Spring Break right? Stick with traditional. In past spring break cruises MTD had long lines and waits. Luckily dh and I eat at the last possible time so for us not bad. I can't imagine that with 12 it would be a pleasant experience. My kids only eat with us the first night and formal night. Other nights we feed them room service which they love and then send them to AO when it opens. Works well for all of us. That would only work if you switch to late dining though. Are they still doing the family dining where they pick up the kids half way through early dining? If so that might work.

[elainesj]

I'm REALLY hoping to use the Family Time dining and see those kids get whisked away. If not, we may take a break in the dinner and escort the kids there ourselves.

 

I do anticipate to do many things together as a large group with the kids - particularly the dinner and shows so it seems to make sense to have dinner all together.

 

Thanks so much for all your experienced advice - it really helps in making our decision. Based on all your feedback, traditional dining should work best for our crew. Hopefully we can get a table tucked away in the back of nowhere so we'll cause the least disruption for other guests.

 

E

[lrn2cruise]

My vote is for MTD. With the kids, they may want to go to AO and not even go to the MDR. You will have a much peaceful dinner that way and can relax.

 

Feed the kids with Room service/serrentos/WJ and enjoy your evening!!!

[mamacat3]

My vote would also be for MTD. We had a group of 13 of us and there was not a problem with waiting . We would tell them the night before what time we were coming to dinner and our table was ready and waiting and we always had the same servers. With the children I'm not sure how family MTD works but I'm sure they will work with you.

 

Happy cruising!!:)

[uksimonusa]

On Freedom last month, party of nine, they would only let us make reservations for 6.00 and 8.00 for my time dining, we may as well have stayed with traditional