Anthem Dining Classic Question

[CheerMom15]

Hi! We are new to cruising at this will be our first ever cruise. We are going on the Anthem of the Seas June 2016. I know that the Classic dining rotates you through 4 of the restaurants on board on a cycle. There is one restaurant in the list of 4 that does not appeal to me at all and I would prefer not to eat there. Can I make reservations at another restaurant for that night or choose to eat somewhere else? Are the any repercussions for not showing on that night?

 

Also, is the early or later dining option better if we would like to attend shows and whatnot?

 

Thank you!

 

Kristy

[cb at sea]

You can certainly reserve a specialty restaurant whenever you want...or eat in the buffet! There are no requirements that you use the dining room nightly...or, at all!

 

Generally, early seating goes to the shows after dinner, and late seating goes before dinner. Then, there are some "late night" shows that start after all meal service is done.

[Blondynka]

I really recommend trying the specialty restaurants if you can... we preferred them to the 4 basic ones. Our favourite specialty restaurants were:

 

- Devinly Decadence (they took away the fee for this one I believe)

- Chops Grille

- Chef's Table (this was our all-time favourite... amazing food and and generous wine "samples"... in my opinion each "sample" was a full glass)

 

It is your holiday, feel free to go with the flow and do whatever you want and don't feel tied down to your dinner arrangements :)

[Biker19]

Someone who has a DD Classic reservation will have to confirm if the system will allow you to reserve anything else online before sailing but I have a feeling, not. That won't prevent you from making one once you board. As a courtesy you might want to mention to your table mates and server you won't be showing the night you plan to skip out on them, but there should be no repercussion for not showing.

 

It will be up to you to decide how your dining plans interact with the shows, but the times for DD Classic were made so that you can make most of the shows.

 

Don't fret too much about every detail before you board, invariably your well laid plans will change after the first day anyway.

[denatravels]

Someone who has a DD Classic reservation will have to confirm if the system will allow you to reserve anything else online before sailing but I have a feeling, not. That won't prevent you from making one once you board. As a courtesy you might want to mention to your table mates and server you won't be showing the night you plan to skip out on them, but there should be no repercussion for not showing.

 

 

 

It will be up to you to decide how your dining plans interact with the shows, but the times for DD Classic were made so that you can make most of the shows.

 

 

 

Don't fret too much about every detail before you board, invariably your well laid plans will change after the first day anyway.

 

 

I would be surprised if they couldn't reserve a specialty restaurant in advance. That would be Royal Caribbean saying "no-- we don't want your upcharge and are ok if there are no available spots when you board". Try it: I think it will work. Please let us know either way.

[CheerMom15]

Thank you all for your advice! Looks like the "classic" will be the best way to go for dinner then. I most certainly will let our other table mates know we won't be joining them on the nights that we are supposed to go to the one restaurant. I will also try and make reservations for perhaps the "Chops Grille" as the husband and I both love steak!

 

So aside from the 4 dining areas that you rotate through that is included, there is also a buffet area? Is that open for lunch as well or all day? I'm just trying to understand this whole dining options deal! Sorry for all the questions!

 

Kristy

[Biker19]

I would be surprised if they couldn't reserve a specialty restaurant in advance. That would be Royal Caribbean saying "no-- we don't want your upcharge and are ok if there are no available spots when you board". Try it: I think it will work. Please let us know either way.

Right, I was talking about the 4 complementary venues when mentioning likely lack of reservation ability.

[Biker19]

So aside from the 4 dining areas that you rotate through that is included, there is also a buffet area? Is that open for lunch as well or all day? I'm just trying to understand this whole dining options deal! Sorry for all the questions!

 

Kristy

 

Yes, the rest of the dining options are the same as on other ships. The Windjammer (buffet) is open all day, though food is served at only certain times (like 11:30-3:00 for lunch, 5:30-10:00? for dinner). The rest of the time you can get drinks and perhaps some light snacks there. As mentioned above you do have a 5th restaurant dining option that is included - Devinly Decadence.

[CheerMom15]

Right, I was talking about the 4 complementary venues when mentioning likely lack of reservation ability.

 

Just to make sure I understand, I should be able to make reservation at say Chops Grille on the nights I don't want to eat at one of the 4 complimentary ones but I wouldn't be able to make a reservation for say The Grande for that night?

[Biker19]

Just to make sure I understand, I should be able to make reservation at say Chops Grille on the nights I don't want to eat at one of the 4 complimentary ones but I wouldn't be able to make a reservation for say The Grande for that night?

Making a reservation at any specialty venue like Chops should not be an issue - we just need confirmation that once booked in Classic the other complementary venues are no longer available. All of this of course is online ahead of time - once you board you can go to any venue and make a reservation. So even if you can't reserve it ahead of time you can go to Grande after you board and make a reservation in person. Grande is the only one I would bother with - that seems to be quite popular, despite the dress code requirement.

[CheerMom15]

Making a reservation at any specialty venue like Chops should not be an issue - we just need confirmation that once booked in Classic the other complementary venues are no longer available. All of this of course is online ahead of time - once you board you can go to any venue and make a reservation. So even if you can't reserve it ahead of time you can go to Grande after you board and make a reservation in person. Grande is the only one I would bother with - that seems to be quite popular, despite the dress code requirement.

 

I am actually really excited about the Grande. We have 5 kids and don't get to get fancy and go out to eat ever, so it will be fun!

 

I will also do my best to report back and let everyone know how the reservation process goes. I'm guessing it will be a while since I won't know until shortly before the cruise which restaurants we will be assigned on which days.

[UK Cruiser2]

I am actually really excited about the Grande. We have 5 kids and don't get to get fancy and go out to eat ever, so it will be fun!

 

5 Kids,I guess you don't go out much,or you haven't in the past ;);)

[CheerMom15]

I am actually really excited about the Grande. We have 5 kids and don't get to get fancy and go out to eat ever, so it will be fun!

 

5 Kids,I guess you don't go out much,or you haven't in the past ;);)

 

Hahaha... We try to take a trip (even if it is just a weekend) every year for our anniversary or just to be alone... Hence the 5 kids. This year, we will not be having any "celebration gifts" as we are both done having kids! lol

[Biker19]

I'm guessing it will be a while since I won't know until shortly before the cruise which restaurants we will be assigned on which days.

 

Recent cruisers have reported that the order of the venues is not decided until you board and you find it on a printed sheet in your cabin. The rotation may stay the same but the starting venue might not be known till you board.

[ranchette]

recent cruisers have reported that the order of the venues is not decided until you board and you find it on a printed sheet in your cabin. The rotation may stay the same but the starting venue might not be known till you board.

what are the seating times?

[Biker19]

what are the seating times?

 

I believe RCI tried to match most of the other ships with 6 and 8:30 dining times. Like many other things about Anthem, things could change once it crosses the Atlantic.

[nelblu]

what are the seating times?

 

I'm booked for 5:30pm for our August 6, '16 cruising N/E & Canada. Had a blast on the recent Feb. Quantum cruise. Food was good and the WJ food/selection was better than other RCL cruises that I've taken in the past 5 years.

 

Also, FYI, there's a complementary restaurant "Coastal Kitchen" which is reserved for suite Pax only.

[CheerMom15]

Do any of your recommend a particular dining time over the other? We aren't super picky about what time we eat, but I am thinking the later option would be better since the latest we leave any port is 8PM. How long before a ship departs a port do you have to be back on the ship? I just would hate to cut the time that I can be on land having an adventure down just to eat dinner... But if we would have to be back on the ship by then anyway, it wouldn't matter :)

[Biker19]

All aboard time is typically 30 min before sailing. The thing is, everyone else might be doing the same as you and on that 8PM departure day try to show up at dinner around 8PM. To lessen your wait you obviously need to go at non-peak times, before 6 or after about 8:30. I remember once the longest line at Grande was at 8 which I thought was late. A lot of it depends on the time of the shows and port schedule. But you never know - you could go at 7 and walk right in.

[CheerMom15]

All aboard time is typically 30 min before sailing. The thing is, everyone else might be doing the same as you and on that 8PM departure day try to show up at dinner around 8PM. To lessen your wait you obviously need to go at non-peak times, before 6 or after about 8:30. I remember once the longest line at Grande was at 8 which I thought was late. A lot of it depends on the time of the shows and port schedule. But you never know - you could go at 7 and walk right in.

 

 

Ok! Sounds good! I was more thinking if we chose to do the classic, which would be the preferable time table. But after talking to my husband, he said if we can, he would prefer to be at the earlier classic meal time. Thanks again for answering all my questions!

[CheerMom15]

I'm booked for 5:30pm for our August 6, '16 cruising N/E & Canada. Had a blast on the recent Feb. Quantum cruise. Food was good and the WJ food/selection was better than other RCL cruises that I've taken in the past 5 years.

 

Also, FYI, there's a complementary restaurant "Coastal Kitchen" which is reserved for suite Pax only.

 

Thank you for your reply :) We aren't going to do a suite this time as its our first cruise and I don't think we will be spending that much time in our room :)