What is more popular MTD or TD?

[mcatmcat]

Hello

 

I always do TD late seating because it forces my family and friends to be ready at a certain time if not it will take them forever, but I have considered the option of MTD because the shows are always before dining time with a little time between the show and dinner.

based on your observation and not your preference is MTD more popular now than traditional dinning?

[Clarea]

I think the popularity of the various dining plans varies with demographic, itinerary, etc.

[Bothofus]

Among those I know, traditional dining (esp. the late) is more popular.

 

That, personally, is my least favorite :) We've done MTD ever since it became available.

 

Rachel

[sandancer]

In the Med MTD is very popular as most cruises are port intensive and it's good to not be tied into a set time for dining. Personally we would never go back to TD as we have got so used to strolling down to the MDR when we feel like eating. Lots of others thinking along the same lines.

 

 

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[handbellplayer]

We've had MTD on every cruise we've taken since it was introduced. We've never looked back.

[cb at sea]

Depends on the ship...we prefer traditional, too, but we do it because we enjoy tablemates! On all but Oasis class and Harmony, the shows are scheduled around the traditional seating times, so there's no guesswork or preplanning needed!

[luvscruising2007]

We always do Traditional, Late seating. It works for us. But if we ever sail with an itinerary that has long port stops, or even into the evening we might try MTD. We enjoy table mates so that is one reason we stick with TD.

[pinkrosesdeb]

I am surprised to say that we are happier with MTD! I was once a traditional dining only person but we tried MTD and loved it. Haven't done traditional in our last 5 or 6 cruises and I am pretty much a creature of habit, didn't think this old dog could learn many new tricks. I believe they both have their perks but MTD just suits us.

[Bailey & Sophie]

We did TD for many cruises. Then tried MTD for the first time last Feb on Legend. It was pretty chaotic. Our waiter switched us to a permanent late seating. It was nice but found we were unable to get to the shows.

Last June in Alaska we switched completely to the buffet for dinner. We waltzed in when ever we wanted, ate with the whales every night and we were able to time it to get to the shows if we wanted.

[Langley Cruisers]

We have absolutely no problem with either. We would probably do TD but we don't eat in the MDR every night. We mix it up - usually Windjammer and perhaps MTD in the MDR on Formal Night.

 

I don't really know how to answer your question, though; both TD times are usually full, so that is two seatings per night. MTD starts earlier and with all who come and go, could they possibly have three seatings (turnovers) per night? Not really sure. :confused:

[karena1]

 

That, personally, is my least favorite :) We've done MTD ever since it became available.

 

Rachel

 

Same here. Have done MTD since it started and would never do anything else. We love the flexibility to eat when we feel like it. We rarely make reservations as to us the whole point of MTD is going when you feel like it.

[L454S]

Done MTD since it was available on Princess first then RCI. Never looked back.

 

I think as mentioned above, demographics and itinerary, might play a part in the numbers of TD guests. We always try to sit at a railing table on the top deck and do see the TD below us and it always looks pretty full.

[George C]

I have done traditional last sitting for all of my 60 cruises, but recently do more specialty then anything else

[cookiersmom]

We have been sailing on Celebrity, but the question is the same. We prefer TD because we like developing relationships with our table mates (always request larger tables) and consistent wait staff who learn our preferences for beverages as well as other details. We always do late seating so that we don't have to rush back from shore excursions. This gives us a chance to relax, get cleaned up, and maybe stop by either an early show or the casino for a bit before dinner.

[Biker19]

It's not the current ratio that matters as much as the trend - and that trend is certainly pointing toward increasing number of MTD slots. Even though in the short term RCI failed to move those numbers even faster with DD, long term it will eventually get there.

[pk_crusing]

We just did a cruise on Voyager had no choice but TD, I thought this meant we where put at the same table every night, but alas the second night we where put in another section and had to request our third seating was back where we wanted to be. Next two cruise are MTD and I am looking forward to it.

[tip]

Same here. Have done MTD since it started and would never do anything else. We love the flexibility to eat when we feel like it. We rarely make reservations as to us the whole point of MTD is going when you feel like it.

 

Exactly!

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Have tried My Time Dining a couple of sailings...

 

Don't like it at all...won't use it again if at all possible.

 

The larger the ship, the more opportunity for a massive influx of people coming at the same time...only to have to wait long periods of time for a table...and sometimes stuck at table locations in less-than-desirable positions.

 

Have experienced this multiple times first hand.

 

No thank you. Traditional dining only here.

[KeywestK]

For years we did TD late seating. When MTD was introduced, we tried that and never looked back. For our upcoming cruise next month, we are doing TD early seating, because our friends that we are sailing with prefer that. My husband's attitude is as long as he can get to the shows in the evening, he's happy:)

[BillOh]

I think the popularity of the various dining plans varies with demographic, itinerary, etc.

 

I agree, but I do sense a ship toward MTD in the past few years. Pure subjective and noting what decks each was on.

[JuliaMS]

If your are looking at the ship as a whole TD is more popular because more are using it. And early is more popular because there is always a wait list. Individually everyone has their own choices and reasons.

 

We like early TD because we like having the same waiter the whole week and like eating then doing shows and evening activities. We have a cruise booked for August 2017 and January 2018 and are waitlisted for early on both. If I have to make a reservation for MTD and be there at a specific time how is that better that TD? Without a reservation it's a wait.

[pinkrosesdeb]

You have more options on timing with MTD, whereas TD you have 6 or 8 or whatever. With MTD, you can do 6:15, 7:30, whatever works for you but you DON'T have to make reservations. We never found people waiting more than 10 mins or so without and we were able to sit pretty much at the same table with the same staff every night if we liked them the first night.

[jletsgo]

We book MTD for same time each night and ask on the first night to be seated with the same wait staff each night. Have never been denied.

 

 

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[Biker19]

If your are looking at the ship as a whole TD is more popular because more are using it.

 

Maybe, but that is changing in favor of MTD. There are some ships with a three level MDR which have MTD on two of those levels and traditional on only one.

[dreadpirate3]

We book MTD for same time each night and ask on the first night to be seated with the same wait staff each night. Have never been denied.

 

 

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This is what we do as well. Same staff, same area for the table, but not always the same table.