Does Princess no longer have fixed dining times?

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

6 hours ago, Over from NZ said:

You might need to look inward on that one. Just sayin'..

Very happy with our choice. Just because some people like socialising it doesn't mean everyone does 🙂 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

6 hours ago, leck57 said:

 

I actually quite like that. We have met a few great people right beside us and every night we basically dined together. On the other hand if they appear crashing bores you can just not make eye contact and eat away by yourselves.

We hate that... the biggest issue is that if we don't want to talk and next door keep trying to engage us. We are not rude people and so if they speak to us we engage back but now they have trapped us for that meal. It is a difficult situation we like to avoid.

 

Look, I have no issue with people wanting to socialise at dinner and if you enjoy that then great. But it is not for us... sorry. We do our socialising in the bar, in the hot tubs, at the pool and yes, we have met some lovely people. But not at dinner. That is a time for us to discuss the day and plan tomorrow while enjoying our food. It is just how we do it.

[helenb]

11 hours ago, leck57 said:

 

I actually quite like that. We have met a few great people right beside us and every night we basically dined together. On the other hand if they appear crashing bores you can just not make eye contact and eat away by yourselves.

 

I agree. It is the best of both worlds. There are people with whom you can converse, yet you can ignore them if they don't seem like they would enjoy your conversation. And officially, you are at 2 different tables, so you do not have to wait for them to be seated, order, finish a course, etc. Each table can eat at its own pace. Much nicer than being at a 4-top with no escape and being locked into the other couple's dining style.

[ArizonaStorm]

When one is an extrovert, it is easy to assume that EVERYONE is an extrovert.  But it's not true.  I'm an introvert who loves to cruise.  With balcony cabins and small dining tables, I'm much more comfortable signing up for a cruise than I was in the past.  

 

I've cruised both ways.  Last month I was aboard the HAL Koningsdam for 17 days to and from Hawaii.  I enjoyed my balcony cabin, eating alone in dining rooms, and quietly reading in off-hours next to a window in a comfy chair in lounges around the ship.  There are more introverts than you would assume on your ship -- and it is by our very nature that you don't notice us.  We draw inwards, and are very comfortable spending time alone.  You assume we're lonely, if alone...but we're actually doing quite fine, reading, walking around the ship, working out in the fitness room, lounging in the sun, and eating in a restaurant.  

 

I enjoy good food, and I like it served to me rather than standing in lines at a buffet.  Sitting alone, I tend to eat fairly quickly -- at least compared to the "talkers".  Honestly, I'm paying for two as a solo cruiser, yet I use a table for half as long.  So the smart mâitre d' understands that giving me my own table is quite efficient.  

 

Oh, here's another way to figure out who some of the introverts are on your cruise -- when you are all streaming off the ship for port excursions, many of us will be waiving goodbye to you from high above, smiling as we look forward to a wonderful day of quietly enjoying the ship!  

 

Just remember, if everyone was an extrovert, you would find the theaters and crowded late night venues MUCH more crowded.  You're welcome!

[tserface]

Fixed dining times are problematic with the new ships having so many specialty restaurants.  There used to be only one or two alternatives (besides the buffet).  If you are at a fixed table with others and half of the people don't show up because they go elsewhere the experience is diminished.  So, allowing you to select a table to frequent the first night is a good compromise.  If you do go to another venue or a different time your table is released after a few minutes after the time you were supposed to arrive.  It's kind of a win-win.  With the fixed tables, some of them had to sit empty if people didn't arrive since the flexible and fixed dining rooms were different.

[OzKiwiJJ]

On 2/22/2024 at 3:34 AM, victory2020 said:

We eat in the dining room every night. We do not do specialty dining or buffet. And we dress for dinner.

Mostly that's what we do although once in a while we might go to Sabatinis for dinner.

 

We've done traditional dining in the past with mixed results. We've had just a few really great tables but as many, if not more, that weren't, and some where we were the only couple at a table for 6 or 8 and once at a table for 10 (we had amazing service that time).

 

What we love now is the ability to choose whether we want just a table for two one night, or if we're feeling sociable so want to join a share table. Are we planning on going to the show - we'll have a table for two. Have we had a relaxing sea day - we'll join a share table for some (hopefully) interesting conversation. Tired and just want a quick meal - that's a table for two. It's just so much more flexible.

[MissP22]

On 2/20/2024 at 11:54 AM, DallasGuy75219 said:

Hated being forced to eat and make small talk with strangers 1) with whom I had nothing in common, 2) with children they couldn't control, and/or 3) who eat at a snail's pace with no considerstion that they're holding up the rest of the table.  

 

Not my idea of an enjoyable vacation.

 

 

There obviously many who think the way you do or the 2 top tables wouldn't be in such high demand.

 

 

 

 

On 2/21/2024 at 3:49 AM, Snaxmuppet said:

We always insist on a table for 2 that is not with a bench seat on one side. We like to both sides have chairs. Does that make us difficult... probably... sorry... but we really don't like the bench seating. It isn't a true table for two for us and there is still the pressure to talk to the people on the next table along... or at least to listen to their conversation... Agggh!

 

While it's difficult not to overhear the conversations of nearby tables in the crowded DR's, we find that just a quick hello & holding our conversations to a quiet whisper sends a signal that we prefer not to engage in lengthy discussions. 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

35 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

While it's difficult not to overhear the conversations of nearby tables in the crowded DR's, we find that just a quick hello & holding our conversations to a quiet whisper sends a signal that we prefer not to engage in lengthy discussions. 

You have been luck. Not everyone is as lucky as you to have compliant neighbours. Several times we have almost been forced into conversation. On one occasion I almost had to be rude and deliberately ignore the questions from next door.

 

I realise that this may be quite unusual and that most people are polite if they sense that their neighbour does not want to engage but we don't want to be in that position. It makes us feel uncomfortable and unrelaxed.

 

I am sorry if this reluctance to engage in conversation with the table next door is somehow annoying to you but it is how we feel and as it is our holiday I don't see that we should be forced into conversation.

[karatemom2]

We started cruising as a family when our kids were 5 and 10 on Disney. But we quickly graduated over to Princess for the better itineraries, prices and casino. Now, while my kids are perfect 😊, I was well aware that many others don’t care to dine with children, even those as wonderful as mine. So we just got in the habit of requesting a table for our family only. Sometimes we would meet new friends onboard and share a meal or two, but that was by mutual choice. 
 

Now. 20 plus years later, even though my DH and I are venturing off adults only, we still prefer our own table. I am not an introvert or antisocial, but I work in a field that requires me to be “on” much of the time, including a lot of external lunches, dinners, Chamber events, etc. it’s fine and I don’t hate it, but I don’t want to be that person on my vacation. I want to relax, chat with just my DH overly a leisurely meal, and not feel pressed to be ever so cordial and witty with strangers. I need a break. 
 

People have all sorts of different reasons why they want to dine without sharing a table and others have reasons they love to share a meal with others. Thank goodness modern cruising has evolved to offer choices. While some might pine for the “good old days”, I am firmly on the side of “it’s my vacation, my choice”. 

[MissP22]

4 hours ago, Snaxmuppet said:

You have been luck. Not everyone is as lucky as you to have compliant neighbours. Several times we have almost been forced into conversation. On one occasion I almost had to be rude and deliberately ignore the questions from next door.

 

I realise that this may be quite unusual and that most people are polite if they sense that their neighbour does not want to engage but we don't want to be in that position. It makes us feel uncomfortable and unrelaxed.

 

I am sorry if this reluctance to engage in conversation with the table next door is somehow annoying to you but it is how we feel and as it is our holiday I don't see that we should be forced into conversation.

Oh, I very well know your feeling.

I talk to people all day long from the morning coffee line, buffet, pool and even before the shows but at dinner we don't wish to chatter away about sometimes meaningless things. I like having a relaxed meal & get to the show lounge to get our seats.

I often wonder why some people would choose a table for 2 & then almost force a conversation to nearby neighbors.