Dining info for "first timers"

[chrismch]

We'll be on Carnival Freedom in January. Trying to figure out the dining options. See there are Chic and Posh Dining areas. Is there any difference between them? Are they what would be considered the MDRs?

 

We chose the anytime dining option. Can we make reservations for the MDR? Or is the only option to show up and see what's available?

 

What's the best option for dining on embarkation day for dinner?

 

Question on the shows/ What time do they run? How early do we need to show up to get a seat?

[Rosefloater]

We'll be on Carnival Freedom in January. Trying to figure out the dining options. See there are Chic and Posh Dining areas. Is there any difference between them? Are they what would be considered the MDRs?

 

We chose the anytime dining option. Can we make reservations for the MDR? Or is the only option to show up and see what's available?

 

What's the best option for dining on embarkation day for dinner?

 

Question on the shows/ What time do they run? How early do we need to show up to get a seat?

Chic and Posh are the MDR's. There is no difference in the food served.

 

Think of ATD as a land based restaurant where you just show up and wait to be seated. There are no reservations. If there is a wait, you will be given a buzzer.

 

We let the hostesses know we will sit anywhere (either at a table for us or a shared table). Sometimes people will be waiting for a private table, while we are seated right away at a shared table.

[RWolver672]

We'll be on Carnival Freedom in January. Trying to figure out the dining options. See there are Chic and Posh Dining areas. Is there any difference between them? Are they what would be considered the MDRs?

 

We chose the anytime dining option. Can we make reservations for the MDR? Or is the only option to show up and see what's available?

 

What's the best option for dining on embarkation day for dinner?

 

Question on the shows/ What time do they run? How early do we need to show up to get a seat?

 

I'm not sure which dining room is for anytime dining but you will be assigned to only one of the two. It will be on your Sail and Sign card when you get them.

 

There are many options for dining on embarkation day. MDR, steakhouse, pizza, buffet, etc. Lots of people choose the steakhouse (Costs extra) on the first night because they give you a free bottle of wine on the first night.

 

There are two shows. One is early for the people that have late dining, then another one afterwards for the people that have early dining.

[cruizergal70]

If you have Any Time Dining, you can attend any show you want as you can plan your dining around the show schedules. You are free to go to dinner before or after the shows. The show schedules will be listed in the Fun Times (which you get daily) or in the free app.

[Barsnikel]

Here is a pdf document attached. It will answer a lot of your questions

Tips For New Cruisers.pdf

[jsglow]

With ATD you arrive as you wish and will be assigned to a table with your preference (dine as a couple or share with others). Going forward you can ask for the same waiters if you like and they will try to fulfill that request. If it doesn't matter, sometimes any modest wait can be eliminated.

[maryred]

See answers below in red.

We'll be on Carnival Freedom in January. Trying to figure out the dining options. See there are Chic and Posh Dining areas. Is there any difference between them? Are they what would be considered the MDRs?

Yes these are the 2 main dinning rooms, they will have the same menu options as each other, so the only difference is the decor and if they are set time dining or ATD open seating.

We chose the anytime dining option. Can we make reservations for the MDR? Or is the only option to show up and see what's available?

Carnival does not accept reservations for ATD, reservations are only for the at fee specialty restaurants. For ATD you show up at the assigned MDR (usually the mid-ship one) to give your name, cabin #, and table preference to the hostess. If they have a table matching your request ready you will be seated immediately, if not depending on how long the wait they will either ask you to stand aside (10 minutes or less) or give you a beeper that you can wait at the bar or nearby lounge for it to signal.

 

What's the best option for dining on embarkation day for dinner?

This will depend on what embarkation day activities you wish to attend or participate in. Most first timers want to go to the sail away party which is scheduled to happen right after the safety briefing (muster) and last about an hour. If you ship has a 4 pm departure there is no impact on the dining times, but on cruises that leave later this can influence where you may want to eat. If traveling with children or teens you may want to attend (& I strongly recommend that you do even if you or the kids don't think you will use the services) the camp/club family orientation, which happens either at 5 p or 8 pm depending on the departure time. Another popular thing is the Welcome Aboard show, which gives an overview of available entertainment during the cruise. This show is usually scheduled for 10 or 10:30pm (consult the FunTimes or Hub app once on board), with the theater starting to fill about 30 minutes prior.

Remember specialty restaurant dining can take 3 or more hours as each course (generally 5 of them) is prepared fresh and to your specifications. But still the Steakhouse is popular in part because of the wine special. The free wine is nothing to write home about but the discount off the others on the wine list make it worth it to some people.

Question on the shows/ What time do they run? How early do we need to show up to get a seat?

This is a bit of a loaded question. Each Cruise Director and Entertainment Director has leaway on when to schedule these along with input from the cast, comedians, and musicians.

The main theater productions and fly-on specialty acts preforming in the main theater, will revolve around the set time dining schedule. The most popular option is a 6:30/7pm show for those eating late then a 8:30/9pm show for those that ate at the early seating. A few other CDs and EDs will schedule all main theater show to happen after both dinners, about 8/8:30pm for the ealry sitting and 10/10:30pm for the late sitting. The most popular shows will have a pre-show starting about 15-20 minutes prior to the main production, it is best to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the show or pre-show for choice on seats. Each production show is about 45 minutes long, but fly-on speciality acts may preform for an hour or more.

For ATD passengers the busiest times for the MDR mimic the time frame for set time dining so these passengers can also attend shows without much thought to scheduling. Our person preference is to see a show first then spend 30 minutes or so in a lounge listening to music or in the casino, then going to diner usually by 8:30. Afterwards we will catch one of the comedy shows or go to a lounge for musical entertainment. A couple of nights we might go to the dance club if one of the themed hours is appealing to us.

There will be 5 comedy shows each night, except embarkation day and one port night when they switch out the 2 comedians. Usually there is 2 PG shows at 7:30/8pm and 8:30/9pm; then 3 adult only rated R shows 9:30/10pm, 10:30/11pm, and 11:30/midnight. The 2 comedians will alternate show times, so sometimes the 9:30/10 pm and 11:30/midnight shows are the same jokes. For the family level shows there is rarely a line and people can walk right in up to the start of the show. BUT with the adult comedy people will start to line up during the previous show to claim prime seats or avoid SRO conditions. When a line forms, they will completely clear the comedy club after the previous show having those passengers join the back of the line if they wish to see the next act. Each comedy preformance is about 30-45 minutes long.

Lounge preformers set their own timetable but the ED schedules where they play. Each set they muscial preformers do is 30-40 minutes long, and most will have a theme. The piano player is in the piano bar most nights accepting requests for sing along type songs.

[chrismch]

Maryred... Thanks for all the details! What are those "pre-shows"? Who does them?

[chrismch]

Here is a pdf document attached. It will answer a lot of your questions

 

Thank you for that very well written report. I was surprised by the fact that we would be charged by Carnival for turning on our phones and automatically being linked to their service. I've never had that happen on a cruise before.

We do like to check in on messages especially right before sailing, but I guess we'll wait to get off the ship in the ports

[Schoifmom]

Maryred... Thanks for all the details! What are those "pre-shows"? Who does them?

 

The pre-show lasts for about 15 minutes immediately prior to the actual show. It is run by the entertainment staff (sometimes the actual singers/dancers) and are designed to get the crowd "pumped up" for the show. I always enjoy attending them, they are great fun!

[chrismch]

What a great idea! If people come early that's much better than looking at an empty stage.

[sanmarcosman]

The pre-show lasts for about 15 minutes immediately prior to the actual show. It is run by the entertainment staff (sometimes the actual singers/dancers) and are designed to get the crowd "pumped up" for the show. I always enjoy attending them, they are great fun!

Huh? Isn't this when bingo is played?

[Schoifmom]

Huh? Isn't this when bingo is played?

 

Bingo is often prior to the pre-show.

[coevan]

Thank you for that very well written report. I was surprised by the fact that we would be charged by Carnival for turning on our phones and automatically being linked to their service. I've never had that happen on a cruise before.

We do like to check in on messages especially right before sailing, but I guess we'll wait to get off the ship in the ports

 

 

 

It never happened on your cruise because it can't. Yes, when you are aboard at sea, you will see a "cellular at sea" on your phone. You can not be charged until you use the phone. When you get to a port, the signal will change to the most powerful local carrier, usually Digicel. You will not be charged by them either, unless you use your phone. AT&T and Verizon have $10 a day plans which include, calling, messaging and data, but not at sea. When aboard, put your phone on airplane mode and you will not be charged anything