How The Whiners Ruined Dynamic Dining

[TeeRick]

I have not yet read the whole thread, but here is my take on it.

 

Those that complained they did not like the Dynamic Dining were on a cruise and got exactly what was advertised to them and that they booked and paid for.

 

I will be sailing on the Anthem in December and will NOT be getting what was advertised to me, and that I booked and paid for. I was looking forward to Dynamic Dining with the four different restaurants. I would have like to have tried it. May I have had issues with it? Its possible, but I would have like to have tried it.

 

I read posts on Facebook and on here that people have been on ships with Dynamic Dining multiple times, and did not like it. The simple solution would be to either know what to expect when boarding, or to look into a ship that does not offer it.

 

I, and many others will not have the chance now to try something they were looking forward to.

 

I completely agree with you. We booked Anthem and we are on the Nov 27th sailing that will be the first cruise without DD. That is not what we signed up for as we wanted to experience something different. All of this happened right at our final payment date so no time to decide what to do. Of course we are going and I'm sure we will very much enjoy it. It is still a great cruise on a great ship.

[Stitchman]

I did dynamic classic. Quite enjoyed it. Probably because I didn't have to book up for my restaurants.

You pay all that money and then can't get into the restaurant you want.

Big queues and empty eating venues. Never seen anything like it.

Glad they decided to stop it really.

 

 

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[Stitchman]

If you snooze you lose.

I have not yet read the whole thread, but here is my take on it.

 

Those that complained they did not like the Dynamic Dining were on a cruise and got exactly what was advertised to them and that they booked and paid for.

 

I will be sailing on the Anthem in December and will NOT be getting what was advertised to me, and that I booked and paid for. I was looking forward to Dynamic Dining with the four different restaurants. I would have like to have tried it. May I have had issues with it? Its possible, but I would have like to have tried it.

 

I read posts on Facebook and on here that people have been on ships with Dynamic Dining multiple times, and did not like it. The simple solution would be to either know what to expect when boarding, or to look into a ship that does not offer it.

 

I, and many others will not have the chance now to try something they were looking forward to.

 

 

 

 

 

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[venicia]

I guess I am one of the whiners, we did not like DD in any way what so ever. We sailed on Quantum and here I guess is another whine, I'm not going to sail on Anthem since we were not overly impressed with Quantum. It seems there are more complaints about Anthem than the other ships???? We'll stick to Oasis class ships and some of the smaller ships.

 

On our sailing on Quantum there were so many complaints I felt so sorry for the crew, there were some extremely nasty comments from passengers. Even though you had your reservation, there were lines to be seated each night. Most of the time the food came out cold when you were finally able to place your order.

 

Maybe we just had a bad sail date, but it was among one of the worst cruises we have taken in our 60+ cruises. (not all with RCCL) The crew was trying so hard to please, but we preferred to have my time dining and before you jump all over me about NCL, nope don't like them, not sailing with them. Things change and sometimes you hit the ball out of the park and some times its just a loser as far as many are concerned.

 

I'm very glad Royal listens to ALL their customers, including the ones on cruise critic.

[davy jones]

 

Big queues and empty eating venues. Never seen anything like it.

 

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That pretty much sums up why DD failed. Poor execution.

[flag fan]

I think I misunderstood Dynamic Dining. I thought it was like traditional dining, but your table switches restaurants (and cuisines) every night. This is what (I have read) they do on Disney ships. That sounded interested and something I would want to try.

 

From the posts, it sounds like for Dynamic Dining, passengers had to make reservations every night, which sounds just like My Time Dining, except perhaps you were required to switch restaurants every night. If that is the case I can see why it failed as it seems to combine the worst features of both kinds of dining. I am confused.

[magiccruiser1]

If you snooze you lose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please tell me how that is the case? I booked a cruise back in June and was sold a certain product/service. I am now not getting it because some people didn't like it, even though it was what they chose. I am past my final payment and was when the change was announced. I am now stuck with getting something I do not want, and if I cancel, I am penalized. Either way, I lose out on something I wanted, or lose money to leave.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

We have tried My Time Dining once.

 

We have tried Dynamic Dining once.

 

No thank you to either one.

 

Our preference is to have a steady, relaxing, and predictable location and time for dining in the evening.

 

That said, we also respect and understand that other people may prefer other choices.

 

But as for the premise and title of this thread...what has become clear to us seeing things firsthand and also after reading numerous threads on this topic is that there were plenty of people who simply did not like the concept or execution of Dynamic Dining.

 

I do not nor would not consider these folks "whiners" as some have branded them. In contrast, those who like the concept should not be labeled "gypsy diners" as some have defined in other threads on this topic.

 

It seems that passengers pay a good amount of money to enjoy their cruises, with dining being one of the many important experiences onboard.

 

Choices are good, and personal preferences shouldn't carry a "right or wrong" label with them as long as they don't impose upon others.

[Merion_Mom]

I think I misunderstood Dynamic Dining. I thought it was like traditional dining, but your table switches restaurants (and cuisines) every night. This is what (I have read) they do on Disney ships. That sounded interested and something I would want to try.

 

From the posts, it sounds like for Dynamic Dining, passengers had to make reservations every night, which sounds just like My Time Dining, except perhaps you were required to switch restaurants every night. If that is the case I can see why it failed as it seems to combine the worst features of both kinds of dining. I am confused.

 

No.

 

There were ultimately two kinds of DD.

 

1. DD Choice, which is like MTD, where you make your own reservations each night for any time and any restaurant. It worked very well for many people, but others did not like it.

 

2. DD Classic, which is like the rotational dining that you described.

[holden0301]

We really enjoyed DD on our March Anthem cruise. I liked trying different restaurants each night.

 

We are booked again on Anthem this April and im disappointed DD is no longer offered. Now we are stuck in one restaurant the whole cruise unless we pay unless we pay for specialty dining. Not happy but we love the ship so we will keep the cruise.

[flag fan]

No.

 

There were ultimately two kinds of DD.

 

1. DD Choice, which is like MTD, where you make your own reservations each night for any time and any restaurant. It worked very well for many people, but others did not like it.

 

2. DD Classic, which is like the rotational dining that you described.

 

Thank you for explaining this. I usually sign up for traditional dining but for my Harmony of the Seas cruise I signed up for My Time Dining because I wanted to try a lot of different restaurants during the cruise. I would have liked to try DD Classic. Oh well.

[Merion_Mom]

Thank you for explaining this. I usually sign up for traditional dining but for my Harmony of the Seas cruise I signed up for My Time Dining because I wanted to try a lot of different restaurants during the cruise. I would have liked to try DD Classic. Oh well.

 

Dynamic Dining never existed on any ships outside the Quantum class.

 

You would not have had it on the Harmony anyway.

[Stitchman]

Also, people had booked up months in advance and didn't bother turning up for dinner, leaving others high and dry. That's the downside of DD. Selfish "super reservation bookers".

Because DD Classic is for better choice of words "Normal dining times " either early or late.

 

But DD Choice was where many got 9:30 dining times as that was all they could reserve. It was NOT flexable and definetly NOT your choice of a dining time. Then you had to try to change to a more reasonable time once on board. It worked for some, not for others, either way you had to try to reschedule or hope to get lucky with the hostess. More wasted time and stress on vacation. Who needs that on a stress free vacation?

 

I'm playing Devil's Avocate here, We liked DD Choice and made it work for us. We are sad to see it go.

 

 

 

 

 

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[avalon007]

Here in Australia we have just received an email advising that DD is now classic or My Time for the inaugural Quantum class season here later this year - I have no issue with that part.

 

But we have conflicting info regards the menus in the 4 included restaurants - Chic, Silk, Grande & American Icon.

 

The RCCL guy I spoke to yesterday advised that each restaurant will retain it's original menu but with expanded options for those who don't like that particular cuisine & that Grande would still be formal each night?

 

Someone else on our Roll call thread has advised that they heard all 4 have the same menu & that if you are on classic you eat only in Grande or Chic & rotate between them & the My Time Diners use the other 2 restaurants?

 

Can anyone with recent experience on the quantum class ships advise how things are actually working re menus & venues?

 

Thanks!

[Clarea]

... Can anyone with recent experience on the quantum class ships advise how things are actually working re menus & venues?

 

Thanks!

The change will not occur until November, so no one has any experience with the new dining yet.

 

These sample menus were published:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=51058974&postcount=18

[The_Big_M]

Here in Australia we have just received an email advising that DD is now classic or My Time for the inaugural Quantum class season here later this year - I have no issue with that part.

 

But we have conflicting info regards the menus in the 4 included restaurants - Chic, Silk, Grande & American Icon.

 

The RCCL guy I spoke to yesterday advised that each restaurant will retain it's original menu but with expanded options for those who don't like that particular cuisine & that Grande would still be formal each night?

 

Someone else on our Roll call thread has advised that they heard all 4 have the same menu & that if you are on classic you eat only in Grande or Chic & rotate between them & the My Time Diners use the other 2 restaurants?

 

Can anyone with recent experience on the quantum class ships advise how things are actually working re menus & venues?

 

Thanks!

 

As said above by clarea, the change hasn't occurred yet.

 

As for the comments, the Grande will not be formal each night, but formal nights across ship will be reinstated, likely like other cruises. The first comment on menus is also incorrect, in that there is a common base across all the 'MDRs' but with each restaurant having additional. The location split of MTD and traditional is correct.

 

Incidentally, haven't received any e-mail here from RCL. Their consistent email distribution again at work perhaps.

[kutchyone]

Wow "avalon 007" you really received some bad info from the RCCL Rep you spoke to. That's sad. I have not received an email yet.

 

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Edited September 17, 2016 by kutchyone

[avalon007]

As said above by clarea, the change hasn't occurred yet.

 

As for the comments, the Grande will not be formal each night, but formal nights across ship will be reinstated, likely like other cruises. The first comment on menus is also incorrect, in that there is a common base across all the 'MDRs' but with each restaurant having additional. The location split of MTD and traditional is correct.

 

Incidentally, haven't received any e-mail here from RCL. Their consistent email distribution again at work perhaps.

 

Well the email was incorrect anyway - it said since we had booked traditional dining so we would be allocated a time - not so, our booking online & confirmed via phone with RCCL has always been & still is My Time Dining & that is what is on my confirmation email PDF as well.

 

I will definitely check as soon as on board though just in case as these things can get screwed up. :rolleyes:

 

I don't care about the introduction of classic dining, but the loss of the varied menus is the most annoying thing for me, along with no chance to dine in certain venues just to enjoy the décor! I wanted to sit in Grande & enjoy the styling - but seems as a My Time diner it's not available - unless I guess they have tables available later in the evening? I will definitely give it a try & see what can happen if I ask.

 

Oh well, just hope the rest of the ship lives up to the hype now they have gutted Dynamic Dining which was for many of us one of the main attractions.

[Stitchman]

At the end of the day, RCI realised Dynamic Dining wasn't a success.

@ merion mum. There must have been an overwhelming majority of "whiners". They wouldn't have changed it for just a few.

Now all they have to do is re instate smoking in the independence of the seas casino, and I'll be a mega loyal customer.

 

 

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[sambao21]

That's a bummer....just got off anthem and really liked the variety of options. I speak only for myself but I like it better but I can understand why people wouldn't. certain people don't like change...they know what they like and want to be guaranteed a enjoyablee experience.

 

For me, the food was good, service was as good as anything I've experienced in MDR. they catered to my wife who has food allergies (they would bring menu from the next days restaurant so she could preorder and the would prepare it just right), and we never had to wait to be seated.

[woodyren]

Also, people had booked up months in advance and didn't bother turning up for dinner, leaving others high and dry. That's the downside of DD. Selfish "super reservation bookers".

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This will not change with MTD. If people book and don't show results will be the same. The main problem with any dining in Quantum ships is the ratio of places in the "free" venues to total passengers slightly compounded by less dining staff. There seem to be far less complaints about the food.

 

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[woodyren]

When we sailed Quantum last year for 39 nights we actual cancelled our previous plans and switched to the Quantum repo. One of the main reasons was the introduction of DD. If for I had booked a ship with DD advertised and it was one of the main drivers for my choice only to turn have it pulled after payment I would be all over RCL for either a full refund or decent compensation for NOT delivering the product as advertised.

 

As others have said this is a far different situation to those who booked a cruise knowing it had DD and then did not enjoy it.

 

For what it's worth I personally think DD would have been very popular in cruises in Australian waters. Nearly all Aussies I met on Quantum liked it a lot.

 

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Edited September 17, 2016 by woodyren

[Stitchman]

@woody. We were (the first I believe) to do the classic dining, rotating with staff and table mates. The food and experience was good. But seeing loads of queues every night outside of half empty dining rooms was quite bad I think.

 

 

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[magiccruiser1]

When we sailed Quantum last year for 39 nights we actual cancelled our previous plans and switched to the Quantum repo. One of the main reasons was the introduction of DD. If for I had booked a ship with DD advertised and it was one of the main drivers for my choice only to turn have it pulled after payment I would be all over RCL for either a full refund or decent compensation for NOT delivering the product as advertised.

 

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This is exactly why I and many people are upset about this. Even with bad reviews from others, I booked knowing that Dynamic Dining was part of the package and wanted to try it.

[Danswife12]

MEH -Anthem is close my home and I am excited to try it now that DD is gone. Sailed on Quantum a couple years ago and found the menus to be severely lacking. We have a large family and found ourselves going to American Icon and eating burgers almost every night until we were reduced to going to the Windjammer.