'Cons' of late dining time?

[Ehpride]

I like late dining because I don't have to rush. Before dinner, I tend to grab a snack (sushi, taste bar, veggies from room service, etc) to tide me over. Then I get ready for dinner, go have a drink and take pictures.

 

You do miss some activities like some of the family comedy, but I prefer the adult comedy anyway.

[BigRed93]

If I had early seating I would be asleep by 9pm. We like late seating. Except for maybe missing the bingo before the later shows(if thats your thing) there really is no "con" for me. Eat, then walk it off, dance it off, laugh it off, go to bed late. Don't have to get up for work in the am. :)

 

 

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[Gilgo Surfer]

I always choose late seating for all of the reasons stated here. There were many times I would be going back to my cabin in my swimsuit and flip-flops and folks were already in suites and gowns on their way to dinner. This seemed way too early for me.

[e150club]

I always choose late seating for all of the reasons stated here. There were many times I would be going back to my cabin in my swimsuit and flip-flops and folks were already in suites and gowns on their way to dinner. This seemed way too early for me.

We also like late seating. No cons. Gilgo,Cedar,Venetian,Tanner park. All LI. TOB.

[Gilgo Surfer]

We also like late seating. No cons. Gilgo,Cedar,Venetian,Tanner park. All LI. TOB.

 

Someone's got the Babylon sticker.:D

 

Did you get to any concerts at Tanner this summer? I didn't. Last year I saw the Michael Jackson Tribute... pretty good!

[GlendaleCruiser]

I don't like Late Dining because I just cant eat that late and then go to bed.

They have Showtimes early and late so if you eat Early then you got to later showtime. If you eat Late, you go to the showtimes while Early diners are eating.

 

I've had Your Time Dining, but I miss having a dedicated wait staff and I like getting to know my tablemates and seeing them every evening.

[wannago35]

We had early dining on our last cruise, did it because the group we traveled with had kids and we said if we didn't do anything else together, we'd have dinner every night. We were the only couple without kids if I remember right and it was just too early for us and didn't like rushing back from port and having to get dressed to go to the MDR. We're doing ATD this time around so that we can go whenever it works for us, which is usually later than 6pm.

[Lovefuninthesun]

You guys might be convincing me to stay with late. I usually spend some time laying in a drunken coma like this after days in port...[ATTACH]284146[/ATTACH]

...this is a girl that needs a bit of time to freshen up. ;)

 

Hahaha! I remember that pic from a review- cracked me up then, cracks

me up now!!

 

 

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[christyran1228]

I preferred the late seating ... the only problem we had was that the comedians that performed on our trip were so good, we didn't get out of dinner early enough to be able to even get a seat for the 10:00pm shows. It was SRO every night. So one night we stood, and the other night we just left and missed it. :( I think that was the only thing that really disappointed me about our trip.

 

Apparently we were ridiculously lucky with our table mates ... we had a great bunch and that was what I actually looked forward to the most.

[poptart]

There are pros and cons to early and late dining therefore:

 

ATD is the way to go in my opinion. We were thrilled when CCL started offering it. Early is too early and late is too late (victim of GERD here)

 

So we go when it pleases us, we check out the funtimes and decide what time we want to eat according to what we want to do afterwards.

 

 

The waiters are so rushed nowadays you don't have time to get to know them anyway. As long as I have good service I am happy.

 

Also last time we cruised on the Legend, the rest of our group went to early dinner while I stayed out and took pictures of us going under the bridge. So I got to dinner late....threw the waiters out of sync.

 

This year we can all stay and watch us go under the bridge! May be a line when we head to dinner, but we can get a pager and find a seat and have a drink.

 

:D

[CDNJehn]

Do the servers still perform in the ATD/YTD dining room?

[Bimmie Girl]

If you're unable to get the your time dining, then I would always go for the early. If your ship departs at 6pm, you have to be back on board by 5pm. If you are at a table to yourselves, you could show up a few minutes late.

 

We had to make the same decision since there was a wait list for your time by the time we booked for next month. We went with 6pm so we would not be eating too late and we would still feel like doing some things on board afterward. Besides, the ship gets into ports early and I don't want to get to bed but so late.

 

Husband and I always chose late dinning for the reason's you mentioned. We did miss a lot of activities in the evening. Last cruise we barely made it to dinner, we were falling asleep during dinner, LOL. this next cruise we are sailing with 11 family members so picked early dinner. Husband is not happy about it. I am looking forward to actually doing things after dinner instead of practically going to bed. I even fell asleep waiting to the adult only comedy in the evening when we did late dining because I was so full sitting and waiting after dinner, LOL IF YOU CAN GO WITH ANYTIME, I would go with that. We can't because we don't want to hassle with all 11 of us being put together. so went with early. enjoy your cruise what ever you all decide.;)

[Midwestgal]

Our upcoming cruise we went back to the late seating. We were never really hungry at 6:00 and did feel rushed at to ES to get to the MDR.

Are there not shows before dinner for the late seating??

[crewsweeper]

They do schedule some major entertainment around the dining schedules by having 2 shows and 2 family comedy events. The piano bar and disco don't get rolling until very late anyway. I've never "missed" any shows due to timing of dinner, although in retrospect there have been many shows I wish I had "missed".:p

 

DW's biggest drawback to late dining is that it is just too much heavy food and rich desserts too late. We usually eat around 7PM or earlier at home. Plus, on the ship, you find yourself noshing on things like the taste bar offerings or grabbing sushi and cookies from the buffet area around 6 PM to tide you over.:eek:

[luckycruzer]

i have always chosen late.....will not change...for anyone,or thing its suits me.

[Lovefuninthesun]

We love eating late.

We like to take our time getting ready. Then we go to the atrium bar, have a martini and listen to the music, waiting until time for the MDR to open for the late seating.

[PA Beachlovers]

We have been on two cruises and both times took late dining. We have found that it gives us time to relax and take a nap to energize us again for the evening so that we can take in the comedy show or whatever and not fall asleep.

[CDNJehn]

Do the servers still perform in the ATD/YTD dining room?

 

Can anyone comment on this? I think I might miss the performances...but I likely won't care if ATD/YTD is more convenient for us.

[crewsweeper]

Can anyone comment on this? I think I might miss the performances...but I likely won't care if ATD/YTD is more convenient for us.

 

Yes if the YTD and traditional seated are in the same dining room. Not sure on the separate YTD rooms on some ships.

[quickrate]

Omeprazole takes care of Gerd.

 

 

so do digestive emzymes available in any health food store.

Pat

[poptart]

Do the servers still perform in the ATD/YTD dining room?

 

If you are there at the right time! You can ask the hostess what time they sing and dance and they will tell you. I'm thinking the 1st time is about 7:30.

 

I know for traditional dining it is about the time desert is served.

[CDNJehn]

Yes if the YTD and traditional seated are in the same dining room. Not sure on the separate YTD rooms on some ships.

 

Great, thanks. Not sure how Liberty is set-up. Not a make or break for me, but good to know.

[sjcruiser]

We've always done late seating, and most times skip the MDR for the buffet or other venue. After our last cruise on the Pride, and only enjoying 1 or 2 shows during the entire week, we now opt not to rush during dinner, and if we miss the show, so be it. It will still give us time to make the comedy shows, piano bar, or other musicians playing in the lounges, along with our nightly stop to the casino, before bringing in the morning in the nightclub.

[Davey Wavey]

A big con especially for those with kids in the kids clubs is the main event for the day is at 8pm. The family can do whatever all day but we all meet for dinner. Late dining made that a big problem. I excused the kids a few days for special Club O2/Circle C events.

[oreomaximus]

We have always done late except last cruise we did YTD. Late dining has a lot more pros than cons than early. I would never choose early unless I had kids. WE always make the late show with the late dining also. Since your not going to the shows you have no real con. The Comedy shows go til 11pm or midnite. I would hate early dining we would always feel rushed and have to cut our day short. Late dining you take your time and stop for a pre dinner cocktail or glass of wine on the balcony. It's awesome.

 

Well said. I concur and agree with you 100%. I have a two year old and if I were bringing her along, we would have to go to early dining. But if its just me and my husband, we can stay out on land or enjoy whatever excursion we want and return to the boat at our leisure. We can then take a nap or maybe a quick dip in the poo or hot tub, have time to wash/dry wet hair plus have several pre-dinner cocktails before dinner. Perfect.