How flexible are dining options?

[skidaddle]

We are taking our first HAL cruise in May and have signed up for the late MDR dining. I read all the threads on CC, but am still confused about our options and proper actions to take.

 

If we want to dine earlier for some reason, do we notify the MDR and ask for an earlier time? Do we notify the MDR that we are not coming and just go to the Lido? Do we need to notify the MDR the evening we go to the Pinnacle Grill?

 

If we choose to get room service should we let the MDR know?

 

Is the MDR open for lunch or do we go to the Lido or one of the sandwich places?

 

Thanks so much for your advice.

[Hlitner]

Good questions and hopefully this thread will not get "hung up" about nomenclature (happens too often on the HAL threads). When you book you can request the fixed Early Sitting (usually dinner about 5:30 - 6:00) or the late sitting (around 8). If you do not want fixed dining for dinner you can get select or open dining (some will call it Anytime Dining) which allows you to go to the MDR anytime from about 5:30 until 9 and ask to be seated. You can also request a reservation for a specific time/table although the Maitre'd might restrict reservations at the busiest times.

 

As to lunch, on sea days the MDR is open and the hours will be posted in your daily schedule (often it is 12:00 - 1:30). On port days the MDR is usually closed. Alternatively, the Lido (buffet) is open every day for lunch and you just go anytime during the normal hours (also posted in your daily schedule). There are also some other options (which can vary by ship) such as the "Dive In" grill where you can get burgers and hotdogs during most of the afternoon. HAL has been making a lot of changes in the past few months so we hesitate to say exactly what will exist on your cruise/ship :). But you will not go hungry.

 

If you order room service (available 24 hrs a day) there is no need to notify the MDR. However, if you have fixed dining and share your table with others, it is common courtesy to notify the MDR or at least one of your tablemates so they do not hold up service waiting for you to arrive.

 

Hank

[POA1]

We are taking our first HAL cruise in May and have signed up for the late MDR dining. I read all the threads on CC, but am still confused about our options and proper actions to take.

 

If we want to dine earlier for some reason, do we notify the MDR and ask for an earlier time? Do we notify the MDR that we are not coming and just go to the Lido? Do we need to notify the MDR the evening we go to the Pinnacle Grill?

 

If we choose to get room service should we let the MDR know?

 

Is the MDR open for lunch or do we go to the Lido or one of the sandwich places?

 

Thanks so much for your advice.

If you are not going to be at your assigned seating, it's always polite to tell your servers - and any table mates. (Just a politeness thing.)

Edited March 3, 2016 by POA1

[POA1]

l

 

Is the MDR open for lunch or do we go to the Lido or one of the sandwich places?

 

Thanks so much for your advice.

 

On sea days, you'll usually find the dining room serving lunch. (Also the Pinnacle.) We're sticklers for table service at dinner, so we gravitate towards the MDR. However, at lunch, we're more likely to dine at the Lido or burgers and hot dogs venue. (Apparently we're only fancy when the sun goes down.)

[RuthC]

If we want to dine earlier for some reason, do we notify the MDR and ask for an earlier time?

Fixed seating, which your late dining is, is precisely that: fixed.

If you wish to dine earlier some night, you can't just go to early fixed seating, or open seating that night. You must use one of the alternatives, such as Lido, Canaletto, Pinnacle, Tamarind (on ships with that venue), or room service.

 

Yes, as POA said, if you are not going to be at your table some night, it is polite to let your server or tablemates know.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hope you have better luck with the dining room open for lunch than what we had on our Eurodam cruises in October.

First week it was open only 2 out of 7 days. The day it was open only 1 day for lunch.

[Krazy Kruizers]

If you are not going to be at your assigned seating, it's always polite to tell your servers - and any table mates. (Just a politeness thing.)

 

 

 

Agree -- we always let our dining room staff know the night before whenever we were going to somewhere else the next evening.

[stargazers]

As someone who always has fixed dining, we appreciate when you let people know if you are dining elsewhere. We often wait to order until everyone has been seated. If we know someone is not coming, we don't wait.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

Kristy

[marymunro]

This is a great thread, I had the same questions. How long do you typically wait for a table with open seating? Is it difficult to get a table for 4 for a party of 4?

[dakrewser]

This is a great thread, I had the same questions. How long do you typically wait for a table with open seating? Is it difficult to get a table for 4 for a party of 4?

 

It all depends on what time you go, just as with any restaurant.