Brand New to This

[Jaclynroseg]

Hi everyone,

 

My family and I (husband, 3 sons-15, 13, and 11- and daughter-5) are taking our first cruise in a few weeks on the Paradise. I have a bunch of questions but I’ll try not to throw them out all at once. Okay, first can someone explain the dining? It says “your time” from 5:45-9:30. Does that mean we can show up any day at any time and sit at any table? Do our children have to eat with us? Which brings me to my second question? When I cruised when I was younger I went to the clubs and met some friends I kept through college. We cruised in August though. Will there be a lot of other teenagers on this cruise in January? I’m really hoping my kids make friends to hang out with.

 

 

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[trvlgirlmq]

The Anytime Dining is just that, go to the dining room listed on your Sail & Sign card between the times listed. If you like your servers from the first night you can request their station. You do not have to eat together. If the adults want to go alone and the kids eat buffet that is fine.

 

Probably won't be a lot of kids in January.

[HawkIVette]

AnyTime is just like going to a restaurant on land. You go to the front desk, and if they have a table for you right away, you get seated. You may have to wait a bit for a large group, just like at home.

Any Time is nice if you don't like being tied down to a schedule. If you are running late because of an excursion or something, you just go at your schedule any time between 5:45 and 9:15.

[Schoifmom]

YTD is just like a land-based restaurant. Go check in at the hostess station at your assigned dining room. They will escort you to a table. Your kids (I'm assuming teens) are not required to eat with you. They can go to the Lido or check in separately at the MDR. It's really fairly flexible regarding this.

 

Like trvlgirlmq said, if you love your server on the first (or any other night), you can request to be seated in their section.

[summersigh]

The Anytime Dining is just that, go to the dining room listed on your Sail & Sign card between the times listed. If you like your servers from the first night you can request their station. You do not have to eat together. If the adults want to go alone and the kids eat buffet that is fine.

We have friends who cruise with their school age kids. Most evenings they have a "family dinner" in the Lido where the kids eat and the parents have coffee while spending pleasant family time together - with YTD you could even do this in the dining room. When the kids are done they go off to the kids clubs and the parents go off to a romantic dinner for 2.:hearteyes:

[mdsgu]

There will be kids on just about ANY Carnival cruise, regardless of when it is. While school is in session, there will be fewer, but your kids should be able to make friends (even if it is just for the week). They are all old enough for Camp Ocean and whatever they call the older groups.

 

Like others have said, with YTD, you show up and they seat you when a table is available. Generally, the earlier you show up the shorter time you have to wait. And if your kids prefer to eat on Lido at the buffet, you'll have an easier time scoring a table for 2 as opposed to one for 6.

[JerseyGirlJen]

Probably won't be a lot of kids as they just started back to school after Christmas break. There will be some, there always is. If you're going over the MLK holiday you'd have better luck with kids as some districts close school.

 

 

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[CoW mAn]

The kids don't have to eat with you, you can show up at any time during that time frame and they will seat you. Here's a rundown of the majority of the food options and how they work

 

[YOUTUBE]xCOokNivXkI[/YOUTUBE]

[momonthego17]

The kids don't have to eat with you, you can show up at any time during that time frame and they will seat you. Here's a rundown of the majority of the food options and how they work

 

 

 

[YOUTUBE]xCOokNivXkI[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

 

Nice video! Covered everything about Carnival dining. The room service advice of “a dollar per item” seems a little high to me. I usually tip $3 for room service bfast, which is one tray delivered. If it’s a plate of cookies and milk, $2. Bucket of ice, $1.

Love the ending of your video[emoji23]

 

 

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[A&Jfamily]

We give our teens free reign on the ship - they are well mannered and the ship is pretty small so they are easy to find. So because they have their days and evenings to relax as they chose, mom requires family dinner (we set the time sometime during the day) and family shore excursions. It’s a nice balance between family time and down time.

 

 

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[CoW mAn]

Nice video! Covered everything about Carnival dining.

Thanks! :D We also have a similar video that expands on the card I mentioned

 

 

The room service advice of “a dollar per item” seems a little high to me.

I agree! ;p

[summersigh]

We give our teens free reign on the ship - they are well mannered and the ship is pretty small so they are easy to find. So because they have their days and evenings to relax as they chose, mom requires family dinner (we set the time sometime during the day) and family shore excursions. It’s a nice balance between family time and down time.

That sounds great ... so many families are so busy with school, sports and other stuff back in the "real world" they often don't get to spend any quality time as a family.

[HawkIVette]

We give our teens free reign on the ship

 

Ah, so it was your kids that were knocking on all the cabin doors on Deck 7.

 

Nah, Just kidding. I am sure they behave themselves very well.

 

And to the OP, I am sure they will find some new friends on the ship. With all the activities scheduled for the younger generation, and even just hanging out around the pool, they will make friends very easily.

 

If they can't find a friend by the second day, just send them to Deck 7 Aft around 10:30 at night. They can help all the other kids running the back loop of hallways knocking on cabin doors.