A Good Reason to Choose the Late Seating

[firemanbobswife]

That would be families and fossils. Fun people know late is great!

 

I’m not normally part of a family when I cruise nor fossil but am lots of fun and can’t eat that late. We prefer to do things in the evening and not have to worry about being at dinner later. We eat then go to the casino, bar, or Serenity hot tubs or whatever else we want to do. Since they shut down the hot tubs in Serenity at 10pm we wouldn’t get to go if we ate late. We prefer those to the adults only ones at the aft of Conquest Class ships.

Edited September 21, 2018 by firemanbobswife

[TEXSUN46]

Me and my wife have practiced intermittent fasting for a long time so we only eat between the hours of 11am and 7pm, late dining is not an option for us.

[meatloafsfan]

We also opt for late seating and generally have really great service. Things just seem more relaxed when all of the tables aren't full and the servers aren't rushing for the next set of guests.

[BlerkOne]

Me and my wife have practiced intermittent fasting for a long time so we only eat between the hours of 11am and 7pm, late dining is not an option for us.

 

Of course there are valid reasons for choosing early dining, including medical reasons.

 

Interesting are others, who say they can't eat late, eat early, and then complain about a lack of late night when they get hungry and/or overserved.

[ILvisitor]

Why does assigned seating take longer than YTD? Seems like with YTD you are in and out within the hour.

[firemanbobswife]

Of course there are valid reasons for choosing early dining, including medical reasons.

 

Interesting are others, who say they can't eat late, eat early, and then complain about a lack of late night when they get hungry and/or overserved.

 

Not me. If I’m hungry later I’ll have a piece of pizza but that’s usually around midnight or so. Only ordered room service once and that was when I didn’t really care for my dinner in the MDR. I got some chicken wings which were decent. But I can’t eat a full meal starting at 8:30pm every night. That’s just too much.

[BlerkOne]

Why does assigned seating take longer than YTD? Seems like with YTD you are in and out within the hour.

 

Some people enjoy conversation and relaxing.

 

Other reasons include everyone needs to be present to be seated in YTD and if not sharing a table, tend to all be on the same or similar schedule.There is pressure to turn over tables quickly in YTD to accommodate the next group. Etc. Etc.

[firemanbobswife]

My last cruise in April, my Australian friends did a B2B. The first week they did YTD. The second week when we came on they had early with us. They much preferred assigned. They said the service was way better and they felt less rushed. They were very glad they changed for the second week. I’ve never done YTD so I don’t have any experience with it. I choose early because of the things that I previously mentioned as well as I want “My table” ready with no wait. I also like the fact that they already have my drink waiting for me when I get there.

[mediccruzin]

Aside from the better attention from wait staff at late dining, I feel you get a more fun/metropolitan crowd (e.g. the old people who need to go to bed early and those with young children tend to go to early dining).

 

AFA missing the shows, well they're "entertaining"in a simplistic way, but they're not for us...

 

Obviously, my opinions. To each their own....

Not all old people go to bed early. Some that work early hours go to bed early. I have to be at work at 4:30 am.

[Lottacruises]

Who cares when other people eat dinner? Lol, there is no right time for dinner, is there?

[cathyoo]

Some people have reported having to wait for 10-15 minutes. Personally we've NEVER had to wait for a table with YTD but based on other reports, if you go at peak times during elegant night, then you may have a 10-15 minute wait. I've never experienced this though. You can have the same waiter each night, don't worry about losing that aspect.

We cruise with many others and it is more than a 10-15 minute wait if you want to sit with or near 10 or more family/friend.

[IntrepidFromDC]

Love late seating...it does allow one to eat a snack after a day ashore and time for a nap, if desired. Also better for avoiding kids, geriatrics, and other cranky types.

 

We are kindred! Nice to see the reasons some people like early dining so the supply of late dining remains decent for us! I never go back to the cabin before 1am, so eating at 8 is perfect. What's NOT perfect is the MDR, but seeing Carnival's recent trend (Horizon) to add more and more upscale dining makes me very happy! We had the best teppanyaki meal we've ever had on the Horizon.

[coevan]

Who cares when other people eat dinner? Lol, there is no right time for dinner, is there?

 

 

Sure there is, the right time to eat is when you are hungry. This is why we like YTD.

[Lottacruises]

Sure there is, the right time to eat is when you are hungry. This is why we like YTD.

And when you eat is perfectly fine with me, I won't try to convince you otherwise!

[alydinva]

We did late seating on the Pride in December and I have to say that we did not experience excellent service. While our servers were nice and friendly, the food took forever to come out and dinner was lasted longer than an hour (usually closer to 1.5 hours) every night. It took way too long.

[Nightrythm]

Not following, get YTD and go to dinner at 8:30, we like the flexibility and lack of kiddos eating later

 

I enjoy the traditional dining experience. I like eating at the same table, with the same servers and the same set of "new friends." I can eat at a restaurant at whatever hour I want on land. I want a different experience when I cruise.

[Nightrythm]

Royal came up with a method that if you so choose you were assigned to a specific table group with a specific group of dining staff. Your group and it's waiters rotated to the different dining rooms each night - maintaining the concept of sharing dinner with the same group of passengers and same staff.

 

Disney does this same thing. I really enjoyed it. It gave you a chance to check out different venues, but the comfort of the same team.

[tonit964]

And when you eat is perfectly fine with me, I won't try to convince you otherwise!

 

My parents used to always choose early traditional dining. When I told them we chose late dining and the reasons why, it made sense to them and they switched to late dining.

 

It doesn't necessarily need convincing but another perspective that someone would switch.

[quickrate]

I love late seating. I don't think I'd enjoy if it was all YTD.

We love late seating!! Just because we have a late dining time doesn't mean you have to eat a lot. I stick to fish and seafood entrees, pass on bread and starches and eat salads and veggies. never miss shows as they have early and late shows. we like to come back from port, get dressed for dinner, go have a cocktail or two at alchemy and then go to dinner.

Pat

[BlerkOne]

Sure there is, the right time to eat is when you are hungry. This is why we like YTD.

 

One problem is if the rest of the YTD people get hungry at the same time, somebody waits.

[quickrate]

We did late seating on the Pride in December and I have to say that we did not experience excellent service. While our servers were nice and friendly, the food took forever to come out and dinner was lasted longer than an hour (usually closer to 1.5 hours) every night. It took way too long.

different strokes for different folks! We always take 1.5 hours to dine and sometimes longer. We love taking our time, drinking wine and laughing and talking with our friends. for us, dining is an experience.

Pat

[GradUT]

Hey R!

I thought that might be you from another post in a different thread. just confirmed it. Table 103. We sat on the other side, husband and wife, not the other couple on the end. Enjoyed your company. How is S? Say Hi for A, and I.

R

 

Hey, R and A! We enjoyed our late dining experience with you both. Have fun on your next cruise. R and S.

[BNBR]

There is a reason that late seating is empty.... This isn't some secret. Most people don't want to be finishing up dinner after 10PM.

[BlerkOne]

different strokes for different folks! We always take 1.5 hours to dine and sometimes longer. We love taking our time, drinking wine and laughing and talking with our friends. for us, dining is an experience.

Pat

 

I think 90 minutes is probably reasonable which still puts you out well before 10

[firemanbobswife]

I think 90 minutes is probably reasonable which still puts you out well before 10

 

Unless you’re eating at 8:30pm. 90 minutes equals an hour and a half which puts you out right at 10pm not well before.

Edited September 22, 2018 by firemanbobswife