Cruise Dining???

[mrskirkman]

Ok....my hubby and I are going on our first cruise this March. I'm sure to some this is a stupid question, but I haven't been able to find answers for it. Can somebody explain to me how the dining system works?? What's the difference between the dining room and the buffet?? Are they both free?? We have been waitlisted for the early dining time, so does that mean if there isn't enough room for us at dinner, we have to go to one of the restaurants to eat?? Thanks.

[serene56]

the buffet serves the same as the dining room minus a few items.

you serve your self.

 

the dining room-- you get waited on.

 

if you are wait listed for early you may get that-- or any time dining-- which you show up anytime between 5:45 and 9:30 and get seated.

or you could get late dining which is at 8pm

 

both are free

 

I am on vacation so I like being pampered-- so I prefer the dining room.

There is also a time difference to how long it takes. when eating at the dining room you should allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes.

 

 

what ship and when are you leaving

[runner15km]

What cruise line, this will help with more specific answers.

[GORDONCHICK]

Ok....my hubby and I are going on our first cruise this March. I'm sure to some this is a stupid question, but I haven't been able to find answers for it. Can somebody explain to me how the dining system works?? What's the difference between the dining room and the buffet?? Are they both free?? We have been waitlisted for the early dining time, so does that mean if there isn't enough room for us at dinner, we have to go to one of the restaurants to eat?? Thanks.

 

If you would tell us the cruise line and ship, that would be very helpful.

 

On all lines, the buffet and MDR is included in your fare. However, if you're sailing on Celebrity, they do not have a buffet in the evening. Besides buffets, dining rooms, and specialty restaurants, there should be a burger grill and a place to get pizza (also included). Room service is available. That's included too (some exceptions), but you should tip a few bucks each time.

 

We can give more info if you provide more specifics.

[Cruisin' Chick]

As others have said, we really can't explain what will be on your ship unless we know which one it is. Else, posters will be giving you info that might confuse you.

[JimAOk1945]

Please let us know which ship and cruiseline you are sailing on. Without this information, we may give you incorrect information.

[mrskirkman]

Sorry, that was my first ever post so I left out some info. We are cruising on the Carnival Glory ship. Thanks for your help!

[serene56]

guys burgers. free'but closes'at 6pm

soft serve ice cream free 24 hours

pizza free 24 hours.

 

there is a cafe located'on the promanade deck- prices are on the cakes.

strawberried choc dipped 4 for 5 bucks.

 

steakhouse.35 p ps hould try it at least once coz you will never get that type of meal land side. and its not the same food that is in the dining room

[kingoftheicedragons]

We've sailed Carnival, but I can't say we've ever done the evening buffet, so I don't know what kind of food is on there. Both the buffet and the MDR are included in the cost of your fare.

 

Most food on the Carnival Glory will be free. The exception is the steakhouse, Chef's Table, coffee shop, and gift store/candy store. You don't need to worry about "accidentally" going to the steakhouse or Chef's table, and the gift store/candy shop is obvious. Even the coffee shop will be fairly obvious--they will have prices posted on the wall for their coffee. I'm not sure if they have prices posted for their bakery goods or not, or if you need to ask on prices.

[serene56]

Here is the dining room menu

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalConquest2012/menus/mdr_dinner.html

 

 

formal night is Monday and Friday. Most people are not dressed in tuxes and ball gowns any longer.

[rbuenger]

If you would tell us the cruise line and ship, that would be very helpful.

 

On all lines, the buffet and MDR is included in your fare. However, if you're sailing on Celebrity, they do not have a buffet in the evening. Besides buffets, dining rooms, and specialty restaurants, there should be a burger grill and a place to get pizza (also included). Room service is available. That's included too (some exceptions), but you should tip a few bucks each time.

 

We can give more info if you provide more specifics.

Celebrity most certainly has the buffet open for dinner on ALL ships....

[Algebralovr]

If you would tell us the cruise line and ship, that would be very helpful.

 

On all lines, the buffet and MDR is included in your fare. However, if you're sailing on Celebrity, they do not have a buffet in the evening. Besides buffets, dining rooms, and specialty restaurants, there should be a burger grill and a place to get pizza (also included). Room service is available. That's included too (some exceptions), but you should tip a few bucks each time.

 

We can give more info if you provide more specifics.

 

Celebrity does have a buffet in the evening, it just does not have the same choices as the main dining room. There is plenty of food and choices there. Plus, Celebrity has their warm scones from 4-5 in the afternoon,along with other tea choices.

 

You may also be able to order room service during dinner time and get the same choices as if you were in the MDR.

[thinfool]

Both the buffet and the MDR are included in the cost of your fare.

 

Thank you....nothing on a cruise is free. Many nice things are included, but not really free.

[crusinpsychRN]

Lobster won't be on the buffet on elegant night.

 

Also there's room service, just tip the person who delivers.

[JimAOk1945]

On our Royal Caribbean cruise last Christmas, lobster was served on the second Elegant Night. I asked for two entrees and got them! The waiter never blinked an eye. I'll remember that on my upcoming RCI cruise in December! :p:D

[Doug R.]

Thank you....nothing on a cruise is free. Many nice things are included, but not really free.

 

Adding to a new cruiser's confusion, eh???? :rolleyes:

[maryred]

Ok....my hubby and I are going on our first cruise this March. I'm sure to some this is a stupid question, but I haven't been able to find answers for it. Can somebody explain to me how the dining system works?? .

The standard food for all three basic meals plus snacks and self service drinks are included in your fare price. Additional dining venues and specialty treats are extra, as well as service beverages (other than those listed w/ out a price on the menus).

How breakfast and lunch in the dinning room (MDR) are run will depend on what your itinerary is: at sea or in port that day. On sea days the Glory will have the Comedy Brunch available in the aft MDR most likely between the hours of 9 am and 1:30 pm. The brunch is open seating, you just show up at the door and the host(ess) will seat you possibly w/ other people. You then proceed to order from the menu. With the brunch you can return later for a second meal as long as the MDR doors are open. Then they also have an informal tea on sea days around 3:30/ 4 pm where you can have a nice relaxed cup your choice of blends and some traditional English snacks on a come and go basis for about an hour w piano music. Once they close from tea service they start preparing for dinner service. On port days the MDR will only be open for breakfast and dinner.

The buffet will open generally at 6 am starting with continental breakfast items then move to a more traditional breakfast offerings until about 10 am. At that point most of the major hot item serving stations will start to close down to switch over preparing for lunch items, but things like fruit and cereal will still be available for the picking until actual lunch begins. Around 11 am the deli will open for made to order sandwiches, and the grill may start offering thing like hot dogs and hamburgers (not sure if they still do since the 2.0 upgrade). Not sure if the Mongolian Grill is still open but if it is this area is very popular for lunch so line up early if this is your preference for lunch. If looking for a more secluded lunch spot, if it is still there since the 2.0 upgrade, try the fish-n-chips house just above the back end of the buffet. Around 2 pm or so they stop bring out new trays of food to the hot service areas, again shutting them down to switch over to the dinner menu. Again the fruits and salads stations as well as the desert area will remain open for late afternoon snacks. Once dinner time rolls around, about 5:30 pm the hot stations will re-open w/ a selection of items that mirror what the MDR is serving as long as it's a dish that can be sustained in a chaffing dish setting (not everything offered in the MDR will be available at the buffet).

Also available and included w/ your fare is 24 hour room service (please tip the delivery person), a pizza window, soft serve ice cream, and self service drinks. The gratis drinks include water (fountain or dispenser), coffee, juice at breakfast times, lemonade at lunch & dinner, and hot & iced teas.

 

 

 

What's the difference between the dining room and the buffet?? Are they both free??

Both are free. For differences there are many such as times open and the menu offered, with biggest IMHO being in the MDR you are served while at the buffet you serve yourself.

 

 

 

We have been waitlisted for the early dining time, so does that mean if there isn't enough room for us at dinner, we have to go to one of the restaurants to eat?? Thanks.

No that means you are possibly not getting your most desired dinner seating. You may wind-up with late set seating at 8 pm or Any Time Dinning (ATD) or still may have set dinning at 6 pm. Either set dinning times you show up at the specified MDR and level at a specific time for a specific table then proceed to order as if you where at a restaurant locally except everyone is served about the same time more like at a wedding or event dinner, & ended w/ a skit or dance routine from your servers just before dessert is served. ATD is where you show up at the MDR between 5:45 and 9 pm to be seated for dinner (a wait my occur if you go at a popular time) just like restaurants on land. ADT and set dinning have the same menu but because people show up at different times you lose out sometimes on the entertainment.

 

DO CHECK THE CARNIVAL FAQs section at Carnival's website for sample menus. Do check out the speciality dinning areas on your ship and compare it to the daily posted menus for the MDR and buffet in case you wish to upgrade for a fee your dinner plans. Don't be afraid to try something new or order more than one menu item from a section of the menu, it's not uncommon for experience cruisers to order 3 starters, 2 main course or add extra side dishes (portions are smaller than USA based restaurants). If for some reason you miss you set dinning time you can not go to one of the other offering in the MDR, you will need to order room service or go to the buffet. If you are hungry before the MDR opens for dinner or after your seating is finished you may also visit the buffet or order room service. Also search the web for samples of the FunTimes to give you insights into what activities and schedule times for the buffet have happened in the past.

[serene56]

Lobster won't be on the buffet on elegant night.

 

Also there's room service, just tip the person who delivers.

 

 

Onion soup isnt either.. (sigh) and room service menu is rather limited.. it is what it is-- and no substitutions. and no hot breakfasts

 

http://zydecocruiser.net/menus/roomService.htm

[kitty9]

Celebrity most certainly has the buffet open for dinner on ALL ships....

 

Celebrity's buffet at night is nothing near to what it is for lunch and it does not include any of the menu items from the main dining room. Celebrity's evening buffet is limited to salads, pizza and pasta, maybe one carved meat item, some desserts and sushi. They used to have a casual dining area in the buffet with table cloths and china with waiters, but that's not the case anymore.

[Missywantstotravel]

I have to say thanks for the menus and the pictures. I don't go on a cruise for another year. It's a good thing it's dinner time because those pictures made me hungry, lol. Good pics by the way. :):). Son saw them and went "nom, nom".

[GORDONCHICK]

Celebrity does have a buffet in the evening, it just does not have the same choices as the main dining room. There is plenty of food and choices there. Plus, Celebrity has their warm scones from 4-5 in the afternoon,along with other tea choices.

 

You may also be able to order room service during dinner time and get the same choices as if you were in the MDR.

 

Um, no they don't. They have a made to order pasta station (where the made to order Belgian waffles are in the mornings). There's also pizza. But other than a salad bar, there is no buffet - which is much, much different than the other lines that have full buffet service.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Sorry, that was my first ever post so I left out some info. We are cruising on the Carnival Glory ship. Thanks for your help!

 

As you can tell by some of the answers (about other cruiselines, which will be irrelevant to your upcoming experience), it does help if we know which ship.

 

I strongly suggest you read up on Carnival as many of your questions will be answered on their website:

 

http://www.carnival.com/cruising.aspx

 

about your ship:

 

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-glory.aspx

 

And apparently the current name for the main dining room type of dining is "signature dining" which includes the assigned (or traditional) dining and the "Your Time Dining". When you first booked your cruise, you should be asked which type you want. If you are waitlisted for one, you'll have the other type. What you have for your cruise will be listed on your cabin card that you get when you first check in at the pier. There should be info in your cabin about how to get to your dining room, or it could be in the first day's ship newsletter.

 

There will be other options, such as the buffet and the restaurants that have a cover charge. But other than the last, you won't have to pay specifically for any meals, but many beverages, especially liquor will require you to have your cabin card swiped (which means these charges will go on your account).

 

In fact, all of the options should be listed -- including where breakfast and lunch are (if I remember from our last Carnival cruise, one of the dining rooms will have open seating or else you can go to the lido buffet).

[swain girl]

Onion soup isnt either.. (sigh) and room service menu is rather limited.. it is what it is-- and no substitutions. and no hot breakfasts

 

http://zydecocruiser.net/menus/roomService.htm

 

I am going to have to remember that on buckets of ice cream with room service yum. Lol

[Jimnbigd]

When you first check in, you'll get a ship's card about the size and look of a credit card. This is both your room key and your ship's charge card. Most purchases on the ship use your card and not cash. (The casino however will be more than happy to take all of your cash. :rolleyes:)

 

As a rule, if they ask for your ship's card, it is not free (OK, not "included in the cruise price"). If that happens and you don't want to pay, just say you did not realize there was a charge, and cancel the order.

 

I think most people eat breakfast and lunch in the buffet, and dinner in the dining room. But breakfast in the dining room can be a real treat. It is sort of weird the first time you get up and leave the dining room without paying. And, it is all you can eat in both the buffet (of course) and also the dining room. Order whatever you want. I usually get 4 or 5 starters (appetizers) and 2 entrees (main courses). And if you have late dining, you can always go to the buffet when it opens in the evening to get a bite before dinner. When I last sailed Carnival there was also a place than had "free" sushi. I'm not sure if there is one on your ship. The buffet will probably be open late night too (until midnight or 1am or so) with some snack items. You'll get a daily newsletter, delivered to your cabin the night before, telling you what is open for dining, and also what and when the shows and activities are.

 

The buffet is a big place. I suggest you walk it first before loading up your plate. I always love the made-to-order Reuben Sandwiches from the deli area in the buffet. The deli can be slow because it is all made to order, but it sure is good. Does anyone know if there is a Mongolian grill in this ship? If so, "yummy". Again, made-to-order and slow, but really good. All at no extra charge.

[originolsin]

On our Royal Caribbean cruise last Christmas, lobster was served on the second Elegant Night. I asked for two entrees and got them! The waiter never blinked an eye. I'll remember that on my upcoming RCI cruise in December! :p:D

 

I had a total of 8 lobster tails one time! That was back when Princess gave you 2 per plate instead of the big shrimp and one lobster tail. I am 6' 155lbs, so I can use all the extra calories. They will bring you as many as you want!