Please explain dinner times and gala nights

[NJFrench]

Will we be assigned a dinner time? I thought I remembered choosing one when I booked? Kids are 8 and 10 so an earlier slot would be good for us.

 

Packing now and a little concerned over the dress code on the Fantasia. We are living in France and clothing is expensive and cut for tiny French, so I am hoping not to shop too much.

 

Plan on packing suit and blazer for my husband. Some nights he will wear jacket with different slacks or the slacks with dress shirt. For gala he will wear the suit and tie.

 

I have two dresses that I would wear to a summer wedding, shoulders covered, dressy, but understated. I do not have any type of gown. For the other nights I have dress slacks and skirts paired with nice tops and jewelry.

 

For my son, I have collared shirts and am hoping to find him a jacket for the gala to wear with shirt and tie.

 

Daughter is 8 and has several sundresses and nice skirt sets.

 

Thanks!

[Bracarense]

That is more than OK to wear.

Just use what you want. Relax and enjoy your cruise.

[hkto]

There is no dress code police. Suitable attire is just a suggestion, i.e. wear white on white night. Dinner seating (1st or 2nd) as well as table# is assigned for the cruise duration.

[NJFrench]

White??? We really don't wear white, especially the kids. Oh well!

[AmoMondo]

White??? We really don't wear white, especially the kids. Oh well!

 

Don't stress - almost no one observes the white night or the red, white and green night for Italian night. I never do and never feel out of place. Most however do dress nicer on the 2 gala nights and what you're proposing to pack sounds spot on. There will be a few in gowns and dinner suits but they are in the minority.

 

You should have been asked to express your preference for first or second sitting and table size when you booked.

[NJFrench]

Thank you makes me feel much better. We are living in France for a year and did not bring too many dressy things.

 

I definitely remember picking the early dinner time!

[Out to sea!]

How do you know if your requested seating has been granted? My edocs only state that early seating was requested.

 

As for clothing, I also read on the website that no shorts or jeans are supposed to be worn around the ship after 1800. Really???

[NJFrench]

Mine says First Requested and also says Wait List.

 

My kids are 8 and 10 and we have some early port times. I really hope we get the first seating. Isn't the late one at 9:00?

[Bibble]

How do you know if your requested seating has been granted? My edocs only state that early seating was requested.

 

As for clothing, I also read on the website that no shorts or jeans are supposed to be worn around the ship after 1800. Really???

 

We're in the same boat! (no pun intended - LOL!)

I just read about "no shorts after 6pm".

After 6:00pm, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and bare feet are not permitted in the ships' public areas.

 

I'm only doing a 2-nighter, but wow, that's VERY different from Carnival & RCCL. I'm glad I saw that here. I wouldn't be allowed out of my cabin if I didn't!!

[NJFrench]

We're in the same boat! (no pun intended - LOL!)

I just read about "no shorts after 6pm".

After 6:00pm, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and bare feet are not permitted in the ships' public areas.

 

I'm only doing a 2-nighter, but wow, that's VERY different from Carnival & RCCL. I'm glad I saw that here. I wouldn't be allowed out of my cabin if I didn't!!

 

I can understand the no shorts rule for the dining room on gala nights, but not for public areas. With long port days, we were thinking that we'd be in the pool at night. Is it even open at night.

[Out to sea!]

I can understand the no shorts rule for the dining room on gala nights, but not for public areas. With long port days, we were thinking that we'd be in the pool at night. Is it even open at night.

 

From what I read, the pools are open until 2200. So, do you have to wear slacks in the pool? :D

[Out to sea!]

We're in the same boat! (no pun intended - LOL!)

I just read about "no shorts after 6pm".

After 6:00pm, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and bare feet are not permitted in the ships' public areas.

 

I'm only doing a 2-nighter, but wow, that's VERY different from Carnival & RCCL. I'm glad I saw that here. I wouldn't be allowed out of my cabin if I didn't!!

 

Yes, much different that CCL (though that may be a good thing). I'm just wondering if this is a rule meant for the European market or also for the American market. I don't want to break the rules but this seems very unusual for a mass market cruise ship. And as I joked about in an earlier post, how would one get to and use a pool?

[Bibble]

Yes, much different that CCL (though that may be a good thing). I'm just wondering if this is a rule meant for the European market or also for the American market. I don't want to break the rules but this seems very unusual for a mass market cruise ship. And as I joked about in an earlier post, how would one get to and use a pool?

 

Exactly!

I'm cool with "different", just want to be prepared. But also don't want to spend the night dressed up if I could be in jeans at the casino... I guess I'll just have to overpack! LOL!

[AmoMondo]

Yes, much different that CCL (though that may be a good thing). I'm just wondering if this is a rule meant for the European market or also for the American market. I don't want to break the rules but this seems very unusual for a mass market cruise ship. And as I joked about in an earlier post, how would one get to and use a pool?

 

Jeans are sort of Ok on casual nights and probably more lax on US sailings. In Europe, we don't wear shorts in the evening especially not going to a restaurant. I wouldn't bank on using a pool in the evening. They are not open .that late usually and you don't need jeans to go to a pool anyway. As for the OP going on the Fantasia, depends on when you're going but it may not be warm enough to contemplate using a pool after dinner even if it.bwere still open.

[glittergal1]

I sailed Fantasia in March , I love the Gala nights I always wear a ling sparkly dress and so did a lot of other ladies there were some lovely ball gowns as well as ladies in separates but most people made an effort especially on the late dinner sitting which originally was 8.45 when I booked but 8.15 once on board which was better .as for white night I always wear white well its white night and I like to get in with the spirit of it all as well as red white and green Italian night . It could have something to do with the fact Monday to Friday my work uniform is totally black from head to foot lol :D

[Out to sea!]

Jeans are sort of Ok on casual nights and probably more lax on US sailings. In Europe, we don't wear shorts in the evening especially not going to a restaurant. I wouldn't bank on using a pool in the evening. They are not open .that late usually and you don't need jeans to go to a pool anyway. As for the OP going on the Fantasia, depends on when you're going but it may not be warm enough to contemplate using a pool after dinner even if it.bwere still open.

 

There was an info page somewhere on the MSC website that stated pools on ships in the Caribbean are open until 2200.

[Bosjoe]

There was an info page somewhere on the MSC website that stated pools on ships in the Caribbean are open until 2200.

 

That is correct and they are, compare to the European cruises.

[Out to sea!]

That is correct and they are, compare to the European cruises.

 

Quick question if you don't mind. To this point, the Mariner OTS has been my favorite ship in terms of layout and ambiance. I see you have sailed her as well as the Divina so if I may ask, how do you compare the Divina to the Mariner OTS?

Edited April 17, 2014 by Out to sea!

[Bosjoe]

Quick question if you don't mind. To this point, the Mariner OTS has been my favorite ship in terms of layout and ambiance. I see you have sailed her as well as the Divina so if I may ask, how do you compare the Divina to the Mariner OTS?

 

Divina has more Beauty then Mariner in my opionion. But ease of the layout of ship goes to Mariner. It gets a little confusion in some areas of Divina. Royal ships are very well designed for areas. The Divina has an atrium area compare to a promenade. I like them both, lately though I dislike the mall type crap the Royal has been pushing. Sidewalk sales, passing flyers out. I know they need to make money, but sometimes it seems to much, how much gold by the inch and cheap watches do we need.

 

I never have a problem with service on any ship, I am pretty laid back and don't sweat the minor things, with that said I did book Divina again for September. They offer bargain basement prices but not bargain basement ambiance.

[Out to sea!]

Divina has more Beauty then Mariner in my opionion. But ease of the layout of ship goes to Mariner. It gets a little confusion in some areas of Divina. Royal ships are very well designed for areas. The Divina has an atrium area compare to a promenade. I like them both, lately though I dislike the mall type crap the Royal has been pushing. Sidewalk sales, passing flyers out. I know they need to make money, but sometimes it seems to much, how much gold by the inch and cheap watches do we need.

 

I never have a problem with service on any ship, I am pretty laid back and don't sweat the minor things, with that said I did book Divina again for September. They offer bargain basement prices but not bargain basement ambiance.

 

Thank you for your input. You are right, you can't beat the pricing (which is why I picked her over our standard Carnival fare) and I can't wait for December to get here! :)

[jdvmd]

Will the Sinfonia also have the White night, Italian theme nights?

[Skier52]

How do you know if your requested seating has been granted? My edocs only state that early seating was requested.

It is usually printed on your cruise card. So if it's not on your documentation (which in my experience only says "sitting requested") check your card on embarkation where it will say Table -- Seating --- Rest --- near the bottom of the card. For "seating" read SITTING (1st or 2nd), for "Rest" read Restaurant

 

My image shows where they will be (the YC has free dining arrangements and not sittings)

 

 

If you want to change dining arrangements the Maitre D' holds court on the day of emabarkation and will try to accomodate requests to change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete

Edited May 1, 2014 by Skier52

[Skier52]

Will the Sinfonia also have the White night, Italian theme nights?

Last October on the W. Med contiuous loop itinerary (Genoa, St. Tropez, Mallorca, Minorca, Sardinia, Salerno, Genoa) there were 2 Theme nights:- " WHITE "and "PARTY 60s-70s-80s",, as well as 2 GALA nights.

 

Pete

Edited May 1, 2014 by Skier52

[Out to sea!]

It is usually printed on your cruise card. So if it's not on your documentation (which in my experience only says "sitting requested") check your card on embarkation where it will say Table -- Seating --- Rest --- near the bottom of the card. For "seating" read SITTING (1st or 2nd), for "Rest" read Restaurant

 

My image shows where they will be (the YC has free dining arrangements and not sittings)

 

 

If you want to change dining arrangements the Maitre D' holds court on the day of emabarkation and will try to accomodate requests to change

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete

 

 

I guess my question should have said "How do you know if your request has been granted prior to sailing?". Yes, I know it will be on the key card and my cruise documents state as you said, early seating requested. It would really suck to get on board only to find out then that your request was not granted.

[Skipper Tim]

I guess my question should have said "How do you know if your request has been granted prior to sailing?". Yes, I know it will be on the key card and my cruise documents state as you said, early seating requested. It would really suck to get on board only to find out then that your request was not granted.

 

If you booked with MSC directly, login on their website and select 'My reservations'. It will tell you what sitting you have been assigned to or if you are wait-listed. If you used a TA, your TA will have access to this information.

 

If you didn't get your preferred sitting, simply make a beeline for the maitre'd when you board. There will be a timetabled slot and venue in the first day's Daily Programme especially to change dining arrangements - sitting, table size, dining companions etc.. It is usually around the same time that cabins become available. The cruise cards of all those affected must be presented, only one person need attend.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Skipper Tim